::: Flights Of The Mind :::

:: Hold Your Head High ::

2011-12-30T13:49:00.000-08:00

http://nethugs.com/inspirational/hold-your-head-high/

Author: Unknown - Submitted By: Kelly R.

:: Hold Your Head High ::

Standing for what you believe in regardless of the odds against you,
and the pressure that tears at your resistance
...is Courage.

Keeping a smile on your face when inside you feel like dying,
for the sake of supporting others
...is Strength.

Stopping at nothing and doing what's in your heart that you know is right
...is Determination.

Doing more than is expected, to make another's life a little more bearable,
without uttering a single complaint
...is Compassion.

Helping a friend in need, no matter the time or effort,
to the best of your ability
...is Loyalty.

Holding your head high
And being the best you know you can be when life
seems to fall apart at your feet,
Facing each difficulty with the confidence that
time will bring you better tomorrows,
And never giving up...
...is Confidence.

Hold your head high
and make your life better every day!

Author: Unknown - Submitted By: Kelly R.

:: Sarah Mclachlan - In The Arms Of The Angel ::

2011-12-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

Love this ... voice of Sarah Mclachlan suits the lyrics so well...

:: Rain On Me ::

2011-12-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

Rain On Me (So Sensual) ~ Thierry David
David30906 on YouTube

:: WHY MARRIAGE? ::

2011-10-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

by Mari Nichols-Haining

Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body...

Because I need a forever friend to trust with the

intimacies of me,
Who won't hold them against me,
Who loves me when I'm unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me...

Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold...

Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship...

Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements...

Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole...

Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me,
I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage...

Because with this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.

Greetings...

2011-10-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

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:: Steve Jobs ::

2011-10-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

An iPhone displays an image of Steve Jobs as it sits with a memorial to the Apple founder and former CEO outside an Apple Store, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011 in New York. Jobs passed away Wednesday at the age of 56.
(AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Steve Jobs leans against his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle/Corbis)

By Taylor Hatmaker, Tecca | Today in Tech

For all of his years in the spotlight at the helm of Apple, Steve Jobs in many ways remains an inscrutable figure — even in his death. Fiercely private, Jobs concealed most specifics about his personal life, from his curious family life to the details of his battle with pancreatic cancer — a disease that ultimately claimed him on Wednesday, at the age of 56.

While the CEO and co-founder of Apple steered most interviews away from the public fascination with his private life, there's plenty we know about Jobs the person, beyond the Mac and the iPhone. If anything, the obscure details of his interior life paint a subtler, more nuanced portrait of how one of the finest technology minds of our time grew into the dynamo that we remember him as today.

1. Early life and childhood
Jobs was born in San Francisco on February 24, 1955. He was adopted shortly after his birth and reared near Mountain View, California by a couple named Clara and Paul Jobs. His adoptive father — a term that Jobs openly objected to — was a machinist for a laser company and his mother worked as an accountant.

Later in life, Jobs discovered the identities of his estranged parents. His birth mother, Joanne Simpson, was a graduate student at the time and later a speech pathologist; his biological father, Abdulfattah John Jandali, was a Syrian Muslim who left the country at age 18 and reportedly now serves as the vice president of a Reno, Nevada casino. While Jobs reconnected with Simpson in later years, he and his biological father remained estranged.

Reed College

2. College dropout
The lead mind behind the most successful company on the planet never graduated from college, in fact, he didn't even get close. After graduating from high school in Cupertino, California — a town now synonymous with 1 Infinite Loop, Apple's headquarters — Jobs enrolled in Reed College in 1972. Jobs stayed at Reed (a liberal arts university in Portland, Oregon) for only one semester, dropping out quickly due to the financial burden the private school's steep tuition placed on his parents.

In his famous 2005 commencement speech to Stanford University, Jobs said of his time at Reed: "It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5 cent deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the seven miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple."

Breakout for the Atari

3. Fibbed to his Apple co-founder about a job at Atari
Jobs is well known for his innovations in personal computing, mobile tech, and software, but he also helped create one of the best known video games of all-time. In 1975, Jobs was tapped by Atari to work on the Pong-like game Breakout.

He was reportedly offered $750 for his development work, with the possibility of an extra $100 for each chip eliminated from the game's final design. Jobs recruited Steve Wozniak (later one of Apple's other founders) to help him with the challenge. Wozniak managed to whittle the prototype's design down so much that Atari paid out a $5,000 bonus — but Jobs kept the bonus for himself, and paid his unsuspecting friend only $375, according to Wozniak's own autobiography.

4. The wife he leaves behind
Like the rest of his family life, Jobs kept his marriage out of the public eye. Thinking back on his legacy conjures images of him commanding the stage in his trademark black turtleneck and jeans, and those solo moments are his most iconic. But at home in Palo Alto, Jobs was raising a family with his wife, Laurene, an entrepreneur who attended the University of Pennsylvania's prestigious Wharton business school and later received her MBA at Stanford, where she first met her future husband.

For all of his single-minded dedication to the company he built from the ground up, Jobs actually skipped a meeting to take Laurene on their first date: "I was in the parking lot with the key in the car, and I thought to myself, 'If this is my last night on earth, would I rather spend it at a business meeting or with this woman?' I ran across the parking lot, asked her if she'd have dinner with me. She said yes, we walked into town and we've been together ever since."

In 1991, Jobs and Powell were married in the Ahwahnee Hotel at Yosemite National Park, and the marriage was officiated by Kobin Chino, a Zen Buddhist monk.

5. His sister is a famous author
Later in his life, Jobs crossed paths with his biological sister while seeking the identity of his birth parents. His sister, Mona Simpson (born Mona Jandali), is the well-known author of Anywhere But Here — a story about a mother and daughter that was later adapted into a film starring Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon.

After reuniting, Jobs and Simpson developed a close relationship. Of his sister, he told a New York Times interviewer: "We're family. She's one of my best friends in the world. I call her and talk to her every couple of days.'' Anywhere But Here is dedicated to "my brother Steve."

Joan Baez

6. Celebrity romances
In The Second Coming of Steve Jobs, an unauthorized biography, a friend from Reed reveals that Jobs had a brief fling with folk singer Joan Baez. Baez confirmed the the two were close "briefly," though her romantic connection with Bob Dylan is much better known (Dylan was the Apple icon's favorite musician). The biography also notes that Jobs went out with actress Diane Keaton briefly.

7. His first daughter
When he was 23, Jobs and his high school girlfriend Chris Ann Brennan conceived a daughter, Lisa Brennan Jobs. She was born in 1978, just as Apple began picking up steam in the tech world. He and Brennan never married, and Jobs reportedly denied paternity for some time, going as far as stating that he was sterile in court documents. He went on to father three more children with Laurene Powell. After later mending their relationship, Jobs paid for his first daughter's education at Harvard. She graduated in 2000 and now works as a magazine writer.

8. Alternative lifestyle
In a few interviews, Jobs hinted at his early experience with the psychedelic drug LSD. Of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Jobs said: "I wish him the best, I really do. I just think he and Microsoft are a bit narrow. He'd be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram when he was younger."

The connection has enough weight that Albert Hofmann, the Swiss scientist who first synthesized (and took) LSD, appealed to Jobs for funding for research about the drug's therapeutic use.

In a book interview, Jobs called his experience with the drug "one of the two or three most important things I have done in my life." As Jobs himself has suggested, LSD may have contributed to the "think different" approach that still puts Apple's designs a head above the competition.

Jobs will forever be a visionary, and his personal life also reflects the forward-thinking, alternative approach that vaulted Apple to success. During a trip to India, Jobs visited a well-known ashram and returned to the U.S. as a Zen Buddhist.

Jobs was also a pescetarian who didn't consume most animal products, and didn't eat meat other than fish. A strong believer in Eastern medicine, he sought to treat his own cancer through alternative approaches and specialized diets before reluctantly seeking his first surgery for a cancerous tumor in 2004.

9. His fortune
As the CEO of the world's most valuable brand, Jobs pulled in a comically low annual salary of just $1. While the gesture isn't unheard of in the corporate world — Google's Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Eric Schmidt all pocketed the same 100 penny salary annually — Jobs has kept his salary at $1 since 1997, the year he became Apple's lead executive. Of his salary, Jobs joked in 2007: "I get 50 cents a year for showing up, and the other 50 cents is based on my performance."

In early 2011, Jobs owned 5.5 million shares of Apple. After his death, Apple shares were valued at $377.64 — a roughly 43-fold growth in valuation over the last 10 years that shows no signs of slowing down.

He may only have taken in a single dollar per year, but Jobs leaves behind a vast fortune. The largest chunk of that wealth is the roughly $7 billion from the sale of Pixar to Disney in 2006. In 2011, with an estimated net worth of $8.3 billion, he was the 110th richest person in the world, according to Forbes. If Jobs hadn't sold his shares upon leaving Apple in 1985 (before returning to the company in 1996), he would be the world's fifth richest individual.

While there's no word yet on plans for his estate, Jobs leaves behind three children from his marriage to Laurene Jobs (Reed, Erin, and Eve), as well as his first daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs.

[Image credit: Ben Stanfield, Heinrich Klaffs]

:: Naiharwa --Pt.Kumar Ghandarva ::

2011-07-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

Simply Love this and eyes well up with emotion while listening to this ....

Pt.Kumar Ghandarva

Naiharwa Hamaka Na Bhaave
Hamaka Na Bhaave Naiharwa Aa..., Naiharwa, Naiharwa Aa Aa Aa....
Naiharwa Hamaka Na Bhaave, Hamaka Na Bhaave Naiharwa Aa...
Naiharwa, Naiharwa Aa Aa Aa....
Saai Ki Nagari -2 Param Ati Sundar, Ati Sundar
Jahaan Koyi Jaave Na Aane - (2)
Chaand Suraj Jahaan - (2)
Pawan Na Pani - (2)
Ko Sandes Pohonchaave - (2)
Darad Yahaan -3 Saai Ko Sunaave
Naiharwa.... Aa Aa... Naiharwa, Naiharwa Aa Aa....
Bin Satguru Aapano Nahi Koyi, Aapano Nahi Koyi
Jo Yah Raah Bataave - (2)
Kahat Kabira Suno Bhai Saadho, Suno Bhai Saadho
Sapane Mein Pritam Aave - (2)
Tapan Yahaan Jiya Ki Bujhaave
Naiharwa.... Aa Aa... Naiharwa, Naiharwa Aa Aa....

:: CARING.COM ::

2011-07-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

CAREGIVING BRINGS IN MANY POSITIVES INTO ONE'S LIFE....

BUT AT SOME POINT ,ANY CAREGIVER WHO GOES BEYOND HIS/HER OWN NEEDS IN GIVING CARE TO ANOTHER PERSON....WHETHER IT IS A PARENT/ KID .....GOES THROUGH SOME TRAUMATIC EMOTIONS ALSO....AND THAT PUTS ONE ON THE PATH TO CAREGIVER BURNOUT!!!
An enlightening article on the same topic:

The 7 Deadly Emotions of Caregiving

How guilt, resentment, and other powerful caregiver feelings can raise your stress and sap your energy -- and what you can do to avoid the damage.

By Paula Spencer Scott, Caring.com senior editor

Nobody would ever choose a smiley face as the perfect symbolic emoticon for a caregiver. Caregiving for an ailing loved one is just too stressful -- often triggering damaging emotions that can not only undermine your good work but harm your health, as well. Here's how to cope:

Caregiver emotion trap #1: Guilt

Guilt is virtually unavoidable as you try to "do it all."

What causes guilt: Guilt stems from doing or saying what you believe is the wrong thing, not doing what you perceive to be enough, or otherwise not behaving in the "right" way, whether or not your perceptions are accurate. Caregivers often burden themselves with a long list of self-imposed "oughts," "shoulds," and "musts." A few examples: I must avoid putting Mom in a nursing home. I ought to visit every day. I shouldn't lose my temper with someone who has dementia.

Risks of guilt: Caregiver guilt is an especially corrosive emotion because you're beating yourself up over faults that are imagined, unavoidable -- or simply human. That's counterproductive at a time when you need to be your own best advocate.

What you can do: Lower your standards from ideal to real; aim for a B+ in the many aspects of your life rather than an across-the-board A+. When guilt nags, ask yourself what's triggering it: A rigid "ought"? An unrealistic belief about your abilities? Above all, recognize that guilt is virtually unavoidable. Because your intentions are good but your time, resources, and skills are limited, you're just plain going to feel guilty sometimes -- so try to get comfortable with that gap between perfection and reality instead of beating yourself up over it.

********************************************************************

Caregiver emotion trap #2: Resentment

This emotion is still so taboo that many caregivers are loathe to admit to it.

What causes resentment: Caregivers often feel put-upon and upset because of imagined slights by others, including siblings and adult children who don't do enough to help. Caregiver resentment is especially felt toward the person being cared for, when the caregiver's life feels hijacked by responsibility and out of his or her own control.

Risks of resentment: Without enough support or noncaregiving outlets, feelings of being ignored, abandoned, or criticized can fester into anger and depression.

What you can do: Simply naming this tricky emotion to a trusted confidante can bring some release. Try venting to a journal or anonymous blog. Know that resentment is a very natural and common response to long-term caregiving, especially if your work life, marriage, health, or outside activities are compromised as a result. Know, too, that you can feel this complicated emotion yet still be a good person and a good caregiver.

Caregiver emotion trap #3: Anger

Some people outwardly show their anger more than others, but almost no one is never angry.

What causes anger: We get mad for reasons both direct (a balky loved one, an unfair criticism, one too many mishaps in a day) and indirect (lack of sleep, frustration over lack of control, pent-up disappointment).

Risks of anger: Chronic anger and hostility have been linked to high blood pressure, heart attack and heart disease, digestive-tract disorders, and headaches. Anger that builds up unexpressed can lead to depression or anxiety, while anger that explodes outward can jeopardize relationships and even harm others. Managing caregiver anger not only helps your well-being but makes you less likely to take out your fury on your loved one.

What you can do: Rather than trying to avoid anger, learn to express it in healthy ways. Simple deep-breathing exercises can channel mounting anger into a calmer state, for example. Talk yourself down with soothing chants: It's okay. Let it go. Ask yourself if there's a constructive solution to situations that make you angry: Is a compromise possible? Would being more assertive (which is different from anger) help you feel a sense of control? Laughing at absurdities and idiotic behavior can provide a healthier biological release than snapping.

******************************************************************************

Caregiver emotion trap #4: Worry

A little goes a long way, but sometimes we can't turn off the fretting.

What causes worry: Good intentions, love, and wanting the best for your loved ones are the wellsprings of worry. Focusing intensely on the what-ifs provides a perverse kind of comfort to the brain: If we're worrying, we're engaged. Of course, that ultimately triggers more worry and upset because it's engagement without accomplishing anything.

Risks of worry: Being concerned is harmless. Overworry and obsessing, however, can disrupt sleep, cause headaches and stomach aches, and lead to mindless eating or undereating.

What you can do: If you notice worrying thoughts interfering with getting through the day or sleeping at night, force a break to the cycle. Try setting a timer and resolving to focus on something else when the five minutes is up. Then flip negative thoughts to their productive side: How can you help? Who can you call? Are there possible solutions? And don't be shy about seeking out a trained counselor to help you express and redirect obsessive ruminations more constructively.

Caregiver emotion trap #5: Loneliness

Your world can shrink almost before you realize what's happened.

What causes loneliness: Friends may back away out of uncertainty or a belief they aren't wanted. Intense time demands lead you to drop out of outside activities. If you're dealing with dementia, the loss of your loved one's former level of companionship is another keenly felt social loss adding to isolation.

Risks of loneliness: Your very brain is altered: People with large, rich social networks have different brain structures, new research finds. Loneliness seems to curb willpower and the ability to persevere, and it can lead to overeating, smoking, and overuse of alcohol. Lonely people also have more cortisol, the stress hormone. And social isolation is a risk factor for dementia.

Find local resources to help you. Closest Area Agency on Aging >>

What you can do: Expand your social circles, real and virtual. Arrange respite help, so you can add at least one outside activity, such as one you've dropped. Take the initiative to reach out to old friends and invite them over if you can't get out easily. Consider joining a support group related to caregiving or your loved one's illness. In online forums, you can find kinship with those who know just what you're going through.

*************************************************************************

Caregiver emotion trap #6: Grief

Don't think this one applies yet? Think again.

What causes grief: Although most people link grief with death, anticipatory grief is a similar emotion felt by caregivers who are coping with a loved one's long-term chronic illness, especially when there are clear losses of ability (as in dementia) or when the diagnosis is almost certainly terminal.

Risks of grief: "Long good-byes" can trigger guilt as well as sadness if one mistakenly believes that it's inappropriate to grieve someone still alive. Mourning the loss of a beloved companion is also a risk factor for depression.

What you can do: Know that your feelings are normal and as painful as "real" (postmortem) grief. Allow yourself to feel sadness and express it to your loved one as well as to supportive others; pasting on a happy face belies the truth and can be frustrating to the person who knows he or she is ill or dying. Make time for yourself so that you're living a life outside of caregiving that will support you both now and later.

Caregiver emotion trap #7: Defensiveness

Protecting yourself is good -- to a point.

What causes defensiveness: When you're doing so much, it's only natural to bristle at suggestions that there might be different or better approaches. Especially if you're feeling stressed, insecure, or unsure, hearing comments or criticisms by others, or reading information that's contrary to your views, can inspire a knee-jerk response of self-protection: "I'm right; that's wrong!"

Risks of defensiveness: While nobody knows your loved one and your situation as well as you do, being overly defensive can make you closed-minded. You risk losing out on real help. You may be so close to the situation that you can't see the forest for the trees, for example; a social worker or friend may have a perspective that points to what really might be a better way.

What you can do: Try not to take everything you hear personally. Instead of immediately getting cross or discarding others' input, vow to pause long enough to consider it. Remember the big picture. Is there merit in a new idea, or not? What you're hearing as a criticism of you might be a well-intentioned attempt to help your loved one. You may decide things are fine as is, and that's great. But if you start from a point of calm and confidence, the focus becomes (as it should be) your loved one, not you.

:: Amy Winehouse ::

2011-07-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Singer Amy Winehouse Dies at Age 27 !!

Wish she didn't say "No, No, No"........to REHAB :(

:: Children Work In Kabul Brick Factory ::

2011-07-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.zimbio.com/

(May 13, 2010 - Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images Europe)

An Afghan child shows their chapped hands at a Brick factory, where some children work from 8am to 5 pm daily, on May 14, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Child labour is common at the brick factories where the parents work as labourers, desperate to make more money enlisting their children to help doing the easy jobs. Brick factories are an economical, business that is still thriving. The land used is dry and barren which is perfect for the making of bricks providing work almost all the year round. A few years ago all factories changed from wood to coal causing further problems with pollution. The factories have been pushed out of the city limits because of this issue. Workers can make an average of USD 200 to 300 per month. For 1,000 bricks the factory will get about USD 45.

Afghan children sorting bricks in Kabul, Afghanistan.

:: The Interview With God Movie ::

2011-06-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching an inspirational video called "The Interview With God" and it was amazing. The images and timeless poem that are shown in this video are sure to uplift your spirit and bring a smile to your face.

You can view this wonderful video at: The Interview With God Movie

This video has been seen by over 10 million people worldwide and is one of the most viral videos on the net. After you watch it, please consider referring this site to your friends.

Hope you enjoy!

:: SAI RAM ::

2011-04-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

BHAGWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

:: SIR CLIFF RICHARD ::

2011-04-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

SUCH IS THE MYSTERY.......
HEARD THIS SONG SO MANY YEARS BACK....
I was just spellbound ...and the impact it has on me, whenever I listen to it is still the same !!!

Let the day fall all around you
And let the breath of life surround you
What a day it should be a holiday
And these lazy days are hard to come by
Here for our pleasure,a moment to treasure
Stay with me and lend me your company

For you,you show to me
All the world gives for free
And there's no more that a man can ever ask for
And if we,we could see half he gave us to see
Then we'd be half way to finding the answer

So where will all the seasons go
It's for us to ask,it's for him to know
It's too much for me,for such is the mystery
And all these things we take for granted
But how did they get here,when were they planted?
If we could see,then what would the answer be?

For you,you show to me
All the world gives for free
And there's no more that a man can ever ask for
And if we,we could be half he wants us to be
Then we'd be half way to finding the answer

Today we'll see butterfly
And we'll smell the grass and we'll feel the sky
Oh what a day,let no one take this away
But I will live my life forever,asking the questions
But answers will never come to me
For such is the mystery

For you,you show to me
All the world gives for free
And there's no more that a man can ever ask for
And if we,we could be half he wants us to be
Then we'd be half way to finding the answer

:: RONALDO ::

2011-02-14T15:08:00.000-08:00

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo retires

Ronaldo's full name is Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima.

:: HAFIZ -- The Astonishing Light of your own Being ::

2011-02-07T14:42:00.000-08:00

From: " I Heard God Laughing :" Renderings of Hafiz: by Daniel Ladinsky

One day the sun admitted,

I am just a shadow.
I wish I could show you
The Infinite Incandescence (Tej)

That has cast my brilliant image!

I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness,

The astonishing Light

Of your own Being

:: ONE PLANET...ONE HUMANITY ::

2011-01-31T12:21:00.000-08:00

From Humanity Healing :

When you look at the view of Earth from space, you are immediately in awe of what you do see: the incredible beauty of Creation. It is not until you look closer that you realize what you do not see. You do not see lines partitioning countries. You do not see separation between races. You do not see division between religions. You do not see the walls people build to isolate themselves from each other.
There is just One Planet. There is only One Humanity.

:: LAYOUT EXPERIMENT ::

2010-05-13T13:51:00.001-07:00

A DESIGN EXPERIMENT :) for a web site am developing...

:: Paul Nawrocki ::

2010-04-24T16:39:00.000-07:00

Paul Nawrocki

NEW YORK –

When laid-off toy company executive Paul Nawrocki hit the streets of Manhattan wearing a sandwich board and handing out his resume, he became the face of the recession.

At the end of 2008, with the giants of Wall Street collapsing and bank accounts dwindling, this lone, mustachioed job hunter with the sign proclaiming he was "almost homeless" seemed like a mirror of a slumping nation's fears and troubles.

Nawrocki appeared on CNN and was shadowed by South American photojournalists. In a handful of weeks, he gave more than 100 interviews in TV studios and on the street. He began to think of his photograph like a Post-it note — stuck next to seemingly every article about the economy.

The world decided he was a weather vane for the nation's economic troubles. And maybe he was: Even though the attention faded, his troubles did not.

Having the eyes of the world on him didn't land the then-59-year-old any viable job interviews. His wife was sick, and keeping his health care was a struggle. He began to decide between the doctors and the mortgage.

Well, if Paul Nawrocki is a sign of the times, then times are looking up.

Because last month, after collecting 99 weeks of unemployment, Nawrocki finally found a job.

He's not the only one. While unemployment remains high, the nation added 162,000 jobs last month — the first significant job growth since the downturn began.

"It was good. It felt good," the Beacon, N.Y., resident says of his first day back at an office — 25 months after he was asked to leave his old one. "It felt like all new again because it had been so long."

Nawrocki hopes he's back on his feet after the long, dark stretch. But he knows he's still on shaky footing. The financial damage of the last two years won't just disappear.

SOURCE ::YAHOO

:: Soichi Noguchi ::

2010-03-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

FROM ISS ---INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION from Astronaut Soichi Noguchi

FROM ISS ---INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION from Astronaut Soichi Noguchi

:: Welcome to Heaven ::

2010-03-13T13:07:00.000-08:00

::Anonymous ::
Once upon a time there was a huge boat parked in a rather large port. News spread all over the town that the boat was leaving for heaven. Masses of people showed up and started a huge crowd, a huge line. People from all over the place came to get in line to get on this massive boat. There happen to be a man that worked in the port who tied the smaller boats up and did some odd jobs along the dock. Since he worked in the port, he was near the front of the line.

People started to get edgy as they were walking on the boat going to heaven. Some people yelled at each other, threw elbows as they worked their way to the front, as there was limited space on the boat going to heaven. The man who worked in the port saw what was going on with the people in the port, saw the people getting angry with each other and throwing elbows to get to the front, so he started letting people go in front of him. He had a gracious spirit about it and wanted to bring peace into the chaotic situation. He let most everyone go in front of him until everyone was on the boat going to heaven and there was no more room on the boat. As the boat was untied and pushed off to set sail, the people on the boat mocked him a bit that he was stupid enough to let all the others on the boat, but he himself missed it.

As the boat was leaving the port, God walked up behind him, put his arm on his shoulder and said with a smile, “Welcome to Heaven.”

:: Solitude ::

2010-03-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

The paintings are a favorite of mine and depict the mood of solitude ....
Solitude doesn't mean loneliness.

http://www.youtube.com/user/JAYASEKERA

A Prelude in C# minor entitled Solitude, set to paintings by Vilhelm Hammershoi.

:: Young Artists for Haiti ::

2010-03-07T14:59:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/ya4haiti

Young Artists for Haiti - Talents in 7 Countries Perform and Plead for Your Help ::
If you like this video, please consider donation for both Haiti and Chile earthquake victims at http://american.redcross.org/youngarts-pub or your local Red Cross!! Thank you for supporting the humanitarian quest of these talented young artists!

Read more about them at http://YA4Haiti.org. Again, donation accepted at http://american.redcross.org/youngarts-pub

http://american.redcross.org/youngartists-pub

:: Contemplation ::

2010-03-06T03:40:00.000-08:00

A painting by Isaac Snowman

:: Percy Bysshe Shelley ::

2010-03-06T02:47:00.000-08:00

I arise from dreams of thee
In the first sweet sleep of night,
When the winds are breathing low,
And the stars are shining bright
I arise from dreams of thee,
And a spirit in my feet
Has led me -- who knows how? --
To thy chamber-window, sweet!

The wandering airs they faint
On the dark, the silent stream, --
The champak odors fall
Like sweet thoughts in a dream,
The nightingale's complaint,
It dies upon her heart,
As I must die on thine,
O, beloved as thou art!

O, lift me from the grass!
I die, I faint, I fall!
Let thy love in kisses rain
On my lips and eyelids pale,
My cheek is cold and white, alas!
My Heart beats loud and fast
Oh! press it close to thine again,
Where it will break at last!

Percy Bysshe Shelley

:: Fereydoon Moshiri ::

2010-02-20T02:43:00.000-08:00

Let Us Be Humans

A dove was nipping seeds,
A weeping willow was dancing,
A sparrow was building a nest,
The Sun was watching.

From atop the aspen trees, dawn was returning.
With swallow’s merriment, daytime was beginning.

Nature’s musicians freely lay on this wide-open grass,
Making music in Dastan and Nava¹ modes.

The meadow was decorated like butterfly wings.
The colorful butterfly, flew here and there, Spring.

I’ve witnessed that in every particle of matter
There’s indeed someone’s loving soul, someone’s bright breath!

This pure and caring soul is blown into all.
This bright breeze pours out of earth’s heart
And blows on all.

If eyes are to both the visible and invisible keen,
They would see the commotion within this scene.

Sun, like a mother, full of kindness, gleams.
Down the sky’s pure mirror, light streams.

Earth’s heart beats to the same tune as Time.
Soundwaves of music of growth! O, what joyful chime!

Clouds arrive, full of giving and self-sacrifice.
Bestow their necklaces to the fields of rice!

So that grass may sing refreshed, river cries.
To turn sap into rosewater, water tries!

Soil toils to let seeds sprout!
Wind dances so buds may sing aloud!

Bird sings so that rock is not alone,
Sun strives to make amber from the stone!

From afar, grapevine steals kisses from the sun, in hundreds.
So that sheaves of grapes may grow, in hundreds!

Cedar helps the newly rising morning glory
Climb up her branches.

♦

Blissful are those who worship sun and earth
For there’s only love and kindness, no hostilities, no hatred.

Suddenly, tears well up in my eyes
I choke in my burning chest, ah!

But why then can we not be this way?.
Come to our senses and wish to be humans.

¹Two modes of Persian classical music

Translated by Franak Moshiri
Summer 1998

:: Wolfgang Borchert ::

2010-02-20T02:10:00.000-08:00

In That Fair World

May I be allowed,
To behold the hue of that fresh blossom
As I stand at the base of this wall?

And, through this bloody, thorny fence,
This barbed wire,
May I drink a sip of springwater?

May I be allowed ?Outside, In Front of the Door?1
And to regain my strength,
Rest by this tree, may I?

Or, must I pass through this road,
A stranger, now and always,
Swallow centuries of ?YOU MAY NOT,?
Like a dagger piercing my patient throat?

In the shadowland of this vast cerulean tent,
It would have been fair,
If trees, land, water or sunshine,
Did not belong to anyone!
Or, better yet,
Belonged to all.

A world of friends, all familiar,
One big house, this globe, and its dwellers,
One family,
Bond by fibers of their souls!

Together, for one another,
With helpful hands,
Keeping pace.

In that fair world,
Green meadows have the horizon for border!
Flower gardens have walls of breeze!

With each blooming sprout,
The surging of light,
The rapture of love.
In every song,
The warmth of a caress,
The tune of compassion.
Gardeners? smiles shine like lanterns,
Farmers? chants soar to heavens!

We toil together.
Hearts, abundant with joy of living,
Faces, fresh as gardens of miniature roses,
Eyes, teeming with love!
We sow love like seeds in soil.
We compose poetry like buds on trees!

We, and everyone alike,
Full of music,
Free of bonds,
Emancipated,
Fortunate ...

1 :: Wolfgang Borchert ::

Translated by Faranak Moshiri, 1997

:: Valentines From Space ::

2010-02-17T01:52:00.000-08:00

Hearts in Space - Sixty Symbols

http://www.youtube.com/user/sixtysymbols

Heart-shaped astronomical objects to mark Valentine's Day. We also look at Carl Sagan's pale blue dot. More at http://www.sixtysymbols.com/

:: Pravsworld ::

2010-02-09T15:02:00.000-08:00

Felt like posting this again ...:)

Just pasting some images that I loved...

From Pravsworld

:: Gregorian - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face ::

2010-02-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

Like Gregorian :)

A fantastic work from Gregorian - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

Lyrics:

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies my love
To the night and the empty skies

The first time ever I kissed your mouth
I felt the earth turn in my hand
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command my love
That was there at my command

The first time ever I lay with you
And felt your heart beat close to mine
I thought our joy would fill the earth
And would last 'till the end of time my love
And would last 'till the end of time

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies my love
To the night and the empty skies

-----------------

:: WISH YOU WERE HERE ::

2010-02-06T16:07:00.000-08:00

Gregorian & Vangelis - WISH YOU WERE HERE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FfaX13S7qI
http://www.youtube.com/user/cafemedia

So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have you found? The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

::Morning ::

2010-02-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya5ICVKUERg
http://www.youtube.com/user/jesserussell

:: Embracing Skeletons ::

2010-02-04T14:34:00.000-08:00

Very touching...

This pair of embracing human skeletons was found at a Neolithic archaeological dig site near Mantova, Italy, in this photo released by Reuters on February 6, 2007. Archaeologists believe the couple was buried 5000-6000 years ago, their arms wrapped around each other.

::Powerful Affirmations.::

2010-01-31T16:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/spiritualmind7

Affirmations are positive sentences that describe a desired situation, and which are repeated many times, in order to impress the subconscious mind and trigger it into positive action. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the affirmations, they have to be repeated with attention, conviction, interest and desire.

Imagine that you are swimming with your friends in a swimming pool. They swim fifteen rounds, something you have never done before. As you desire the respect of your friends, you want to show them that you can make it too. You start swimming, and at the same time keep repeating in your mind: "I can do it, I can do it...". You keep thinking and believing that you are going to complete the fifteen rounds. What are you actually doing? You are repeating positive affirmations.

More than often, people repeat in their minds negative sentences and statements concerning the situations and events in their lives, and consequently bring upon themselves undesirable situations. Such sentences and statements work both ways, to build or destroy. It is the way we use them that determines whether they are going to bring good or harmful results.

Affirmations work in the same manner as creative visualization. The repeated words build mental images and scenes in the mind, and help to focus on the aim, object or situation one wants to achieve or create. Frequent repetitions affect the subconscious mind, which in turn reshapes and affects the way one thinks, acts and behaves.

The conscious mind, the mind you think with, starts this process, and then the subconscious mind takes charge. This means that the most frequent thoughts that pass through your mind, ultimately affect your life and your destiny.

Affirmations work like commands that are given to a computer. They influence us, other people, events and circumstances. It might seem strange to you, but they do also influence the people we meet, our circumstances and the events we encounter.

Sometimes they work fast, but more often they need time. Repeating positive affirmations a few minutes, and then thinking negatively, neutralizes the effects of the positive words. You have to refuse negative thoughts, otherwise you will not attain positive results.

We mentally repeat negative statements, without even being aware of the process. We use them when we tell ourselves that we cannot do something, that we are too lazy, or when we believe we are going to fail. The subconscious mind always accepts and follows what we tell it, whether it is good or bad for us, so why not choose only positive statements?

How to Repeat Affirmations
It is advisable to repeat affirmations that are not too long, as they are easier to remember. You can repeat them anytime your mind is not engaged in something in particular, such as while traveling in a bus or a train, waiting in line, walking etc, but do not affirm while driving or crossing a street. You may also repeat them in special sessions of about ten minutes each, several times a day.

There should be no physical, emotional or mental tension while repeating them. The stronger the concentration, the more faith you have in what you are doing, the more feelings you put into the act, the stronger and faster will be the results.

It is very important to choose only positive affirmations. If for example you desire to lose weight, do not say, "I am not fat, I am losing weight." By saying this sentence you are repeating to your subconscious mind that you are fat. The word "losing" also evokes negative images. It is better to say, "My body has an athletic form, and weighs the right and healthy weight". Such words evoke positive images in the mind.

It is important to affirm in the present tense, not the future tense. Saying: "I will be rich", means that you intend to be rich one day, in the indefinite future. You are actually telling yourself that some day you will be rich, never now. It is better and more effective to say, and also feel, "I am rich now", and the subconscious mind will work overtime to make this happen now, in the present.

As to results, sometimes they may come fast, and at other times might take more time to manifest. Getting results depends on how much time, energy, faith and feelings you invest in repeating your affirmations, on the strength of your desire and on how big or small is your goal.

By using the power of affirmations you state what you want to be true in your life. You see reality, as you want it to be. For a while, you ignore your current circumstances and your doubts, and concentrate on a different reality.

:: George Winston ::

2010-01-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

George Winston - Thanksgiving

http://www.youtube.com/user/equivocaly

:: Welcoming ::

2010-01-31T14:55:00.001-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/Winterscapes

Michael Manning

:: Welcoming ::

2010-01-31T14:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/Winterscapes

Michael Manning

:: ITS A BEAUTIFUL WORLD ::

2010-01-31T14:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/robertosromero

:: MIHAI EMINESCU ::

2010-01-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

MAID OF THE MIST
Based on a Poem by MIHAI EMINESCU
http://www.youtube.com/user/wintermood

:: You Raise Me Up ::

2010-01-31T08:38:00.000-08:00

You Raise Me Up

http://www.youtube.com/user/wintermood

"You Raise Me Up"

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up... To more than I can be.

:: The Question Holds the Lantern ::

2010-01-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

I really his love works...unfortunately John O"Donohue is not physically present :(

The Question Holds the Lantern

John O'Donohue, Ph.D.

Humans have an uncanny ability to domesticate everything they touch. Eventually, even the strangest things become absorbed into the routine of the daily mind with its steady geographies of endurance, anxiety and contentment. Only seldom does the haze lift, and we glimpse for a second, the amazing plenitude of being here. Sometimes, unfortunately, it is suffering or threat that awakens us. It could happen that one evening, you are busy with many things, netted into your role and the phone rings. Someone you love is suddenly in the grip of an illness that could end their life within hours. It only takes a few seconds to receive that news. Yet, when you put the phone down, you are already standing in a different world. All you know has just been rendered unsure and dangerous. You realise that the ground has turned into quicksand. Now it seems to you that even mountains are suspended on strings.

If you could imagine the most incredible story ever, it would be less incredible than the story of being here. And the ironic thing is that story is not a story, it is true. It takes us so long to see where we are. It takes us even longer to see who we are. This is why the greatest gift you could ever dream is a gift that you can only receive from one person. And that person is you yourself. Therefore, the most subversive invitation you could ever accept is the invitation to awaken to who you are and where you have landed. Plato said in The Symposium that one of the greatest privileges of a human life is to become midwife to the birth of the soul in another. When your soul awakens, you begin to truly inherit your life. You leave the kingdom of fake surfaces, repetitive talk and weary roles and slip deeper into the true adventure of who you are and who you are called to become. The greatest friend of the soul is the unknown. Yet we are afraid of the unknown because it lies outside our vision and our control. We avoid it or quell it by filtering it through our protective barriers of domestication and control. The normal way never leads home.

Once you start to awaken, no one can ever claim you again for the old patterns. Now you realise how precious your time here is. You are no longer willing to squander your essence on undertakings that do not nourish your true self; your patience grows thin with tired talk and dead language. You see through the rosters of expectation which promise you safety and the confirmation of your outer identity. Now you are impatient for growth, willing to put yourself in the way of change. You want your work to become an expression of your gift. You want your relationship to voyage beyond the pallid frontiers to where the danger of transformation dwells. You want your God to be wild and to call you to where your destiny awaits.

You have come out of Plato’s Cave of Images into the sunlight and the mystery of colour and imagination. When you begin to sense that your imagination is the place where you are most divine, you feel called to clean out of your mind all the worn and shabby furniture of thought. You wish to refurbish yourself with living thought so that you can begin to see. As Meister Eckhart says: Thoughts are our inner senses. When the inner senses are dull and blurred, you can see nothing in or of yourself; you become a respectable prisoner of received images. Now you realise that ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty’ and you undertake the difficult but beautiful path to freedom. On this journey, you begin to see how the sides of your heart that seemed awkward, contradictory and uneven are the places where the treasure lies hidden. You begin to become true to yourself. And as Shakespeare says in Hamlet: To thine own self be true, then as surely as night follows day, thou canst to no man be false.

The journey shows you that from this inner dedication you can reconstruct your own values and action. You develop from your own self-compassion a great compassion for others. You are no longer caught in the false game of judgement, comparison and assumption. More naked now than ever, you begin to feel truly alive. You begin to trust the music of your own soul; you have inherited treasure that no one will ever be able to take from you. At the deepest level, this adventure of growth is in fact a transfigurative conversation with your own death. And when the time comes for you to leave, the view from your death bed will show a life of growth that gladdens the heart and takes away all fear.

:: John O'Donohue - Swanlight ::

2010-01-30T18:40:00.000-08:00

With deep respect and regard to John O'Donohue...

Learn more about him :John O'Donohue

SWANLIGHT

If it could say itself January
Might brighten its syllables on the frost
Of these first New Year days whose cold is blue.

Meanwhile in this corner of its silence
A weak winter sun lowers down behind
The moor that rises away from the lake.

Beyond reach of light, the shadowed water
Succumbs to this darkening of spirit
That would deny the bog today’s twilight.

All of a sudden something else breaks through
To appear at the far end of the lake
In two diagrams of white, uneven light.

I have never seen white so absolute
And alone, glistening in awkward form
Dreaming across the water a bright path.

As it stirs and changes I see what it is:
Two swans have found the mirror in the lake
Where a V of horizon lets light through

To make them light-source and light-shape in one.
Now they swim and fade through windows of reed
And disrobe the lake of apparition.

I look and look into their vanishing
See nothing. Departing that perfect ground
I knew I had been hungry for a blessing.

:: John O’Donohue ::

2010-01-30T18:36:00.000-08:00

Simply love these lines :"May the nourishment of the earth be yours, may the clarity of light be yours, may the fluency of the ocean be yours, may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life. "

Beannacht
("Blessing")

On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.

And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.

:: The Hubble Deep Field: The Most Important Image Ever Taken ::

2010-01-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

My addiction to astronomy :)

http://www.youtube.com/user/tdarnell

n 2003, the Hubble Space Telescope took the image of a millenium, an image that shows our place in the universe. Anyone who understands what this image represents, is forever changed by it.

How Can the universe be 78 billion LY across? I explain that in this article:
http://www.deepastronomy.com/hubble-deep-field.html

http://www.deepastronomy.com/hubble-deep-field.html

There is also a link to a science paper on the topic, that paper actually states 96 billion LY.

http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0310233

:: Walt Whitman ::

2010-01-29T15:00:00.000-08:00

Leaves of Grass

Walt Whitman
What chemistry!
That the winds are really not infectious,
That this is no cheat, this transparent green-wash of the sea which is
so amorous after me,
That it is safe to allow it to lick my naked body all over with its
tongues,
That it will not endanger me with the fevers that have deposited
themselves in it,
That all is clean forever and forever,
That the cool drink from the well tastes so good,
That blackberries are so flavorous and juicy,
That the fruits of the apple-orchard and the orange-orchard, that
melons, grapes, peaches, plums, will none of them poison me,
That when I recline on the grass I do not catch any disease,
Though probably every spear of grass rises out of what was once
catching disease.

Now I am terrified at the Earth, it is that calm and patient,
It grows such sweet things out of such corruptions,
It turns harmless and stainless on its axis, with such endless
successions of diseas'd corpses,
It distills such exquisite winds out of such infused fetor,
It renews with such unwitting looks its prodigal, annual, sumptuous
crops,
It gives such divine materials to men, and accepts such leavings from
them at last.

Leaves of Grass Walt Whitman

:: Happy Days...Oh My Friend ::

2010-01-29T09:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Days Movie ...song Oh My Friend ::

http://www.youtube.com/user/kirani4u

:: Arerey Arerey Manasey Jarey ::

2010-01-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

Liked this one :) Teenagers :}

http://www.youtube.com/user/mickyzzzzone

:: City Of Angels ::

2010-01-29T09:05:00.001-08:00

An all time favorite :)
Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/user/generalvash21

Verse 1

And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
Verse 2

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
Chorus

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
Verse 3

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything seems like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know your alive

Chorus

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
Chorus

I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

:: Clearing Your Mind ...Allowing Spirit in ::

2010-01-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

DAILY OM
Set aside time each day to unclutter and settle your mind. Whether through yoga, dance, walking or journaling.

After a full day out in the world, stories, words, images, and songs from any number of sources continue to play in our heads hours after we encounter them. Even as we lie in bed, in the quiet dark, our minds continue noisily processing all the input from our day. This can leave us feeling unsettled and harassed. It also makes it difficult to take in any new information or inspiration. Like a cluttered house that needs to be cleared if it is to have room for movement and new life, our minds need clearing if they are to be open to new information, ideas, and inspiration.

Too often, the activities we choose to help us relax only add to the clutter. Watching television, seeing a movie, reading a book, or talking to a friend all involve taking in more information. In order to really clear our minds, we need a break from mental stimulation. Activities like yoga, dancing, or taking a long walk help to draw our attention to our bodies, slowing our mental activity enough that our minds begin to settle. Deep breathing is an even simpler way to draw attention away from our mental activities. Once we are mentally relaxed, we can begin the process of clearing our minds. Most of us instinctively know what allows our minds to relax and release any unnecessary clutter. It may be meditation or time spent staring at the stars. Whatever it is, these exercises feel like a cool, cleansing bath for the brain and leave our minds feeling clear and open.

Setting aside time to clear our minds once a day creates a ritual that becomes second nature over time. Our minds will begin to settle with less effort the more we practice. Ultimately, the practice of clearing our minds allows us to be increasingly more open so that we can perceive the world as the fresh offering it is, free of yesterday’s mental clutter.

:: Anjali Anjali ::

2010-01-27T17:31:00.000-08:00

Anjali Anjali Pushpanjali - Duet (TELUGU) - A.R.Rahman - S.P.Balasubramanyam

http://www.youtube.com/user/sx42007

Great song composed by ARR and excellently rendered by SP Balasubramanyam, the pride singer of Telugu people and the haunting voice of Chitra.

:: Siri Malle Neeve ::

2010-01-27T16:54:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/user/VVeerla
A hearty song sung by SPB composed by Rajan Nagendra. Ranganath and Lakshmi did the visuals. Btw, where're these gems in Telugu now-a-days?

:: kabhi kabhi mere dil mein ::

2010-01-27T16:29:00.000-08:00

An evergreen song from old hindi film Kabhi Kabhi (Mukesh).

:: Consciousness ::

2010-01-26T15:59:00.001-08:00

WHAT IS CONSCIOUSNESS ???
What is Extra Sensory perception?

The many questions ....:(

Silencing the glitter
of the stars —
night rain.

Uko

:: Consciousness ::

2010-01-26T15:59:00.000-08:00

WHAT IS CONSCIOUSNESS ???
What is Extra Sensory perception?

The many questions ....:(

:: A Dance of Freedom ::

2010-01-26T15:39:00.000-08:00

A Dance of Freedom By: Michael Edan

Copyright 2007

n the 1999 film “American Beauty”, winner of 5 Academy Awards including Best

Picture, and directed by Sam Mendes, one of the characters says to another “Do you

want to see the most beautiful thing I’ve ever filmed?” Then you see a home movie of a

plastic bag slowly developing relationship with the wind on a deserted city street corner.

With the accompaniment of simple yet potent narration and poignant piano background, it

is one of the more memorable screen moments I cherish, surprising and eloquent in its

emotional impact, up there with Fellini’s sudden arrival of a peacock in his classic film

“Armacord”. What is it about a deserted street corner, a plastic bag and the wind that

evokes such a strong response. As I sit and watch and feel the developing dance between

bag and wind, I become aware of a sensation within my chest of “something” expanding.

As I remain present with this “something expanding” I come to realize it is the living and

pleasurable response of “freedom” arising within me.

Everyone desires freedom because we know innately that our essence is free. Whenever

we have a moment that expresses the experience of freedom, it always feels good, it is

always welcomed within the body.

Freedom can sometimes look like chaos. The winds that carry our bag (anything

expressing the reality of our being alive) can be cross currents, or buffeting winds, or

calm eddies, or whirling eddies. They express change. If we don’t resist the change of the

current then we simply move with it. In moving with it we discover buoyancy. In

discovering our buoyancy we experience a deeper experiential awareness of safety. In

discovering a deeper safety we allow trust to bloom more fully. In allowing trust to bloom

more fully we expand into the possible. In allowing ourselves to expand into the possible

we discover and learn new things about ourselves, environment and life. In discovering

new things we expand our options for creative choices and play. In expanding our

options of creative choices and play we create a new world.

A plastic bag is a receptacle to hold something. It can hold things, beliefs, concepts,

emotions, desires, goals. The heavier the bag, the more difficult it is for the wind to carry.

The more inert it becomes. The less it moves. Then we call it garbage.

The dance of the plastic bag and wind echoes the core of human desire and

longing….reunion and ecstatic fusion with the invisible transcendent, spirit, God. It is the

heart of divine discontent that fuels all creative ventures. And it mirrors the deep ache in

the gut to find a way to imbibe, express, share the somehow known but forgotten bliss in

abandonment of the yes. This is more than celebration, it is ecstasy of the sublime within

the simple and ordinary.

So in the plastic bag of my life….what is it filled with? What past events, memories,

dreams, concepts, beliefs, identifications, traumas, contentment’s and discontents have I

put into it. What conditionings are in this bag that perhaps weigh it down. To what degree

have I emptied it? Emptied myself. Myself as empty vessel to be carried by the winds.

What winds? The winds of desire? The winds of some unknown force or destiny or

consciousness? The winds of change? The winds that Lear howled against, and yet

ultimately in belated wisdom submitted to in blindness and humility? Is wisdom and

humility ever really belated if it provides one with wisdom and humility? Is our suffering

only because of our addiction to filling up the bag with whatever novelty of gratification

entices our desire to be filled, fulfilled, from an unacknowledged fear of emptiness, and

thus preventing us from discovering the freedom and joy of being carried, guided, within

the split second changes of a force that ultimately, perhaps, cannot be explained, or

controlled, but that nonetheless has our best interest at heart. And even if it doesn’t have

our best interest at heart, it can still be recognized as a phenomenon of beauty. Perhaps

that is the main reason for any kind of creation at all. It is an act, sometimes delicate,

sometimes small, sometimes desperate, to reveal or allow some semblance of the

awesome magnificence of life through a token of gratitude. And this small token is

recognized as beauty. And in that our heart somehow sings because it reminds us of what

really matters.

Why is this so hard? Why the resistance of emptying our bag so that we can fly? Perhaps

it’s habit. Perhaps it’s fear. Perhaps it’s something that is so ancient and unyielding that

we can no longer put a name to it, let alone even recognize its existence in the

background….or underground. Like a shadow it is a ghost that haunts us, that follows us,

year after year, decade after decade, century after century, civilization after civilization,

and probably world after world. It is the irony of our life. That this seemingly insubstantial

shadow, this unseen invisible partner, this ancestral thread of resistance, has morphed into

the chains imprisoning us from the longed for delight of that which is our light, light as air,

that we long to dance with once again.

And so this image of the bag dancing with the wind haunts my mind. Or rather it feeds my

mind with an evocation, it’s seemingly simple and innocent gesture that at heart is really

supplication, is invocation, is sacred prayer, of that which lingers deep in the heart. That

seed that may or may not sprout into conscious recognition, but nonetheless is still there,

in deep soil, oh so deep soil of the soul. This image that evokes an awakening of the seed

within, that golden seed sprouting its desire to release the chains of resistance and

forgetfulness, and to rise buoyantly, triumphantly, despite its solid surface, to receive the

warmth of sun and new life. This image that reminds me. This image that beckons me.

This image that moves through space….. and an inner space responds.

A Dance of Freedom By: Michael Edan

Copyright 2007

:: Reflections of Passion -Yanni ::

2010-01-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

Yanni - Reflections of Passion

:: Moody Blues ::

2010-01-26T14:32:00.000-08:00

Moody Blues ---Nights In White Satin

Very old song...but loved it :)

:: Nostalgia ::

2010-01-26T14:21:00.000-08:00

Yanni 's Nostalgia
Yanni - Nostalgia (Live At The Acropolis)

:: Yanni ::

2010-01-26T13:36:00.000-08:00

YANNI ...10 years ago, while practicing painting , Yanni 's music used to keep me going :)

Another piece :

Samvel Yervinyan (Violin) is just amazing
Duduk is just so melancholic ...and flowing...
A breathtaking performance by Pedro Eustache (Duduk), , & Armen Movsessian (Violin).

::150,000 Haiti Quake Victims Buried ::

2010-01-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

::150,000 Haiti Quake Victims Buried ::Just shocking figures.

What more can we do , other than pray for all the Haitians at this juncture, and help in whichever way we can.

I can also be reached at :helpindiatsunami@yahoo.com
Thanks and Regards
Hope.

:: Beyonce ::

2010-01-21T11:53:00.000-08:00

IF I WERE A BOY ...BEYONCE KNOWLES

If I Were A Boy lyrics
Songwriters: Carlson, Britney; Gad, Toby; Knowles, Beyonce;

If I were a boy even just for a day
I'd roll out of bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted
And go drink beer with the guys

And chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
And I'd never get confronted for it
'Cause they stick up for me

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man

I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he's taking you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it's broken
So they'd think that I was sleeping alone

I'd put myself first
And make the rules as I go
'Cause I know that she'd be faithful
Waiting for me to come home, to come home

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man

I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he's taking you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

It's a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake
Think I'd forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong

But you're just a boy
You don't understand
And you don't understand, oh
How it feels to love a girl
Someday you wish you were a better man

You don't listen to her
You don't care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
'Cause you're taking her for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
But you're just a boy

:: Khalil Gibran ::

2010-01-17T12:23:00.000-08:00

Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.

You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.

Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,

And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.

Love one another but make not a bond of love:

Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.

For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together:

For the pillars of the temple stand apart,

And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

KHALIL GIBRAN

:: Allow The Heart To Guide ::

2010-01-14T18:00:00.000-08:00

Your mind
will give you knowledge.
Your heart
will tell you what to do with it.

:: Walt Whitman ::

2010-01-12T18:09:00.000-08:00

~Walt Whitman~

Happiness,
not in another place
but this place...
not for another hour,
but this hour.

~Walt Whitman

:: Khalil Gibran ::

2010-01-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

~Kahlil Gibran~

Tenderness and kindness
are not signs of weakness and despair
but manifestations of
strength and resolution.

:: Choice ::

2010-01-12T17:10:00.000-08:00

~Eckhart Tolle ~ from "The Power of Now"

Choice implies consciousness -
a high degree of consciousness.
Choice begins the moment you dis-identify
from the mind and its conditioned patterns,
the moment you become present.

:: Success ::

2010-01-12T16:59:00.000-08:00

Success

Success depends on the degree to which
you are at peace with yourself.
If you have people around you who you love,
and you have peace with what you are doing,
it doesn't get any better than that.

~Og Mandino~

:: Joseph Campbell ::

2010-01-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

~Joseph Campbell ~

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe,
to match your nature with Nature.

:: Randy Pausch ::

2010-01-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

Plz visit: http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture. for more info.

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium.
In his moving presentation, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.

:: Richard Bach ::

2010-01-12T15:55:00.000-08:00

~Richard Bach~

No matter how qualified or deserving you are,
you will never reach a better life
until you can imagine it for yourself
and allow yourself to have it.

:: INSTALLING LOVE. EXE ::

2010-01-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

A post by Cris Narciso Asuncion in a group that has United Hearts as a theme:)
INSTALLING LOVE. EXE

Customer Service Rep:
May I help you?

Customer:
I'm not very technical, but I think I am ready to install it now.
What do I do first?

CS Rep:
The first step is to open your HEART.
Have you located your HEART?

Customer:
Yes I have, but there are several programs running right now.
Is it okay to install while they are running?

CS Rep:
What programs are running?

Customer:
Let me see....I have PASTHURT.EXE, LOWESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE, and
RESENTMENT.COM running right now.

CS Rep:
No problem.
LOVE will automatically erase, PASTHURT.EXE from your current
operating system.
It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer
disrupt other programs.
LOVE will eventually overwrite LOWESTEEM.EXE with a module of its
own called HIGHESTEEM.EXE.
However you have to completely turn off GRUDGE.EXE and
RESENTMENT.COM.
Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed.
Can you nturn those off?

Customer:
I don't know how to turn them off.
Can you tell me how?

CS Rep:
My pleasure.
Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE.
Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and
RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.

Customer:
Okay, I'm done.
LOVE has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal?

CS Rep:
Yes it is.
You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the
life of your HEART.
Do you see that message?

Customer:
Yes I do.
Is it completely installed?

CS Rep:
Yes, but remember that you have only the base program.
You need to begin connecting to other HEARTS in order to get the
upgrades.

Customer:
Oops...I have an error message already.
What should I do?

CS Rep:
What does the message say?

Customer:
It says "ERROR 412 - PROGRAM NOT RUN ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS."
What does that mean?

CS Rep:
Don't worry, that's a common problem.
I means that the LOVE program is set up to run on external HEARTS
but has not yet been run on your HEART.
It is one of those complicated programming things,but in
nontechnical terms it means you have to LOVE your own machine before
it can LOVE others.

Customer:
So what should I do?

CS Rep:
Can you find the directory called "SELF-ACCEPTANCE"?

Customer:
Yes, I have it.

CS Rep: Excellent, you are getting good at this.

Customer:
Thank you.

CS Rep:
You're welcome.
Click on the following files and then copy them to the MY HEART
directory:
FORGIVESELF.DOC,SELFESTEEM.TXT, REALIZEWORTH.TXT, and GOODNESS.DOC.
The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching
any faulty programming.
Also, you need to delete SELFCRITIC.EXE from all directories, and
then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely
gone and never comes back

Customer:
Got it.
Hey! My HEART is filling up with really neat files.
SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now, and it shows that
WARMTH.COM, PEACE.EXE, and CONTENTMENT.COM are copying themselves
all over my HEART!

CS Rep:
Then LOVE is installed and running.
You should be able to handle it from here.
One more thing before I go...

Customer:
Yes?

CS Rep:
LOVE is freeware.
Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet.
They will in turn share it with other people and they will return
some really neat modules back to you.

Customer:
I will.
Thank you for your help.

:: ENSO -UMA - Fractal ::

2010-01-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Just felt like posting some fractal ENSO -UMA that I created with a new flame file.

Enso is a symbol [ the flame that I created in Apophysis cannot be posted ]

In Zen Budhist painting, ensō symbolizes a moment when the mind is free to simply let the body/spirit create. The brushed ink of the circle is usually done on silk or rice paper in one movement (but the great Bankei used two strokes sometimes) and there is no possibility of modification: it shows the expressive movement of the spirit at that time. Zen Buddhists "believe that the character of the artist is fully exposed in how she or he draws an ensō. Only a person who is mentally and spiritually complete can draw a true ensō. Some artists will practice drawing an ensō daily, as a kind of spiritual exercise." [ source:Wikipedia]

MONSTER-UMA-FRACTAL

Posting this fractal Just for fun [ the flame file that I created cannot be posted :) ]

:: Hymns From The Vedas - Creation ::

2010-01-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

Hymns From The Vedas - Creation from User adeline108 on YouTube

Created for and by Sai Devotees of Prashanthi Nilayam

:: MadhurAshtakam ::

2010-01-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

Madhurashtakam by Dr.M.S. Subbulakshmi...from user rmsundaram1948 on YouTube

Mahaprabhu Srimad Vallabhacharya (1479-1531) is one of the greatest sage- philosophers of India, who belonged to a Telugu family, was one of the foremost followers of Bhakthi Marga and established his philosophy of Pushti Marga in North India during the 16th century. His Bhakthi was much more than devotion. It was becoming mad in the thought of God. According to him the devotee does not see anything except his Lord everywhere. Madhurashtakam written by him sees sweetness in his lord inch by inch. This translation in to verse has taken the liberty of adding the name of the lord , here and there , so that the meaning is very clear and the translation becomes a verse.

The song is sung by Dr M.S.Subbalakshmi.
Sanskrit lyrics:-
1.Adharam Madhuram, Vadanam Madhram,
Nayanam Madhuram, Hasitham Maduram,
Hrudhayam Madhuram, Gamanam Maduram,
Madhuradhipather Akhilam Madhuram.

2.Vachanam Madhuram, Charitham Madhuram,
Vasanam Madhuram, Valitham Madhuram,
Chalitham Madhuram, Bramitham Maduram,
Madhurathipather Akhilam Madhuram.

3.Venur Madhuro, Renur Madhuraha,
Panir Madhuraha, Padhou Madhuram,
Nrithyam Madhuram, Sakhyam MadhuraM,
Madurathipather Akhilam Maduram

4.Geetham Madhuram, Peetham Madhuram,
Bhuktham Madhuram,Suptham Madhuram,
Roopam Madhuram, Thilakam Madhuram
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.

5.Karanam Madhuram, Tharanam Madhuram,
Haranam Madhuram, smaranam Madhuram,
Vamitham Madhuram, Samitham Maduram,
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.

6.Gunja Madhura, Mala Madhura,
Yamuna Madhura, Veechi Madhura,
Salilam Madhuram, Kamalam Madhuram,
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.

7.Gopi Madhura, Leela Madhura,
Yuktham Madhuram, Muktham Madhuram,
Drishtam Madhuram,Sishtam Madhram,
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram

8.Gopa Madhura, Gavo Madhura,
Yashtir Madhura, Srushtir Madhra,
Dhalitham Madhram, Phalitham Madhuram,
Madhurathipather akhilam Madhuram.

:: Pandit Jasraj ::

2009-12-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

I am interested in different genres of music...like most of the people :)
Here goes one of my favorite pieces by Pandit Jasraj ji.

Sri Krishna- Kasturitilakam by Pandit Jasraj from user baba6660 on YouTube

:: Deepak Chopra ::

2009-12-25T13:43:00.000-08:00

How Does “I Am Love” Make You Feel?

Adapted from Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 1998).

Most people have the highest resistance at the surface of their minds, because this is where their most public and guarded reactions operate. Your social self, the one who behaves the way you’re supposed to, is superficial; it was trained primarily to make a good impression and not to be too revealing.

These upper layers of your awareness will not respond very profoundly to such a strong statement as “I am love.” Going deeper, we hit levels of the most recent frustrations, wishes, and unreleased emotion. When you touch these layers, quite unexpected or irrational reactions comes out. The statement “I am love” may trigger an angry outburst that is related to a recent incident when you didn’t feel loved at all.

Deeper still are the layers where your most entrenched feelings are stored. If you feel basically unlovable, there could be a lot of pain and resistance at this level. But beneath even the most rigid conditioning, there is a layer of awareness that agrees without equivocation to the words “I am love.”

The reason you can love and be loved is that this layer of your consciousness evokes that feeling; this is where the deepest human values are known. Without such knowledge–not just of love but of beauty, compassion, trust, strength, and truth–these words would be meaningless.

Love is part of essential human nature. We recognize it because it vibrates in us, however far below the conscious level. Being able to live from this level brings complete fulfillment, but that happens only when you resolve the layers of conflicts and contradictions that constitute your resistance.

When you resist the flow of life, what you are actually resisting is your own inner nature, for everything that happens to us is a reflection of who we are. This isn’t a mystical statement; it is part of the apparatus of perception. To perceive is to grasp the meaning of something.

:: Wayne W. Dyer ::

2009-12-19T02:50:00.000-08:00

Sweep It Clean, Inside and Out

by Wayne W. Dyer

For a moment, let’s imagine what it would be like to be fully alive without a physical shell or any of the stuff we need and desire for maintaining life on Earth. We’d have a mental energy that allowed us to move forward or backward, up or down, instantly creating whatever we desired. We’d be free to wallow in an exquisite existence without time or space as we know it. We’d be in a state of pure bliss, in love with everything and everyone. We’d have no duties or bills to tend to, no fear of losing anything, no one judging us, no possessions to insure, no demands on our time, and no goals to achieve.

What we’re envisioning is actually the world of Spirit, which we experienced before we came here and will return to when we shed our body (or as William Butler Yeats poetically called it, our “tattered coat upon a stick.”)

Inspiration is a state of being here now in this material world, while at the same time reconnecting to our spiritual origins. In order to be receptive to inspiration, we need to eliminate the ego clutter that accumulates all too easily for most of us—after all, if we’re preoccupied with events and activities that have nothing to do with inspiration, we’re unlikely to notice its summons. So in order to achieve a reunion with our ultimate calling, we need to emulate the clear, uncomplicated world of Spirit.

This doesn’t mean that we should sit around doing nothing, awaiting Spirit’s arrival; instead, it means having faith that our spiritual connection flourishes in a life dedicated to joy, love, and peace. If our daily activities are so overwhelming that we don’t make these things our priority, then we’re disregarding the value of living a simple life.

--------------------------------

My 12-Step Program To Simplicity

Here are 12 very specific tools for simplifying your life. Begin using them today if you’re serious about hearing that ultimate call to inspiration.

Unclutter your life. You’ll feel a real rush of inspiration when you clear out stuff that’s no longer useful in your life:

If you haven’t worn it in the past year or two, recycle it for others to use. Get rid of old files that take up space and are seldom, if ever, needed. Donate unused toys, tools, books, bicycles, and dishes to a charitable organization.

Get rid of anything that keeps you mired in acquisitions that contribute to a cluttered life. In the words of Socrates, “He is nearest to God who needs the fewest things.” So the less you need to insure, protect, dust, reorganize, and move, the closer you’ll be to hearing inspiration’s call.

Clear your calendar of unwanted and unnecessary activities and obligations. If you’re unavailable for Spirit, you’re unlikely to know the glow of inspiration. God will indeed work with you and send you the guidance—and the people—you need, but if you’re grossly overscheduled, you’re going to miss these life-altering gifts. So practice saying no to excessive demands and don’t feel guilty about injecting a dose of leisure time into your daily routine.

Be sure to keep your free time free. Be on the lookout for invitations to functions that may keep you on top of society’s pyramid, but which inhibit your access to joyful inspiration. If cocktail parties, social get-togethers, fund-raising events, or even drinking-and-gossiping gatherings with friends aren’t really how you want to spend your free time, then don’t. Begin declining invitations that don’t activate feelings of inspiration.

I find that an evening spent reading or writing letters, watching a movie with a loved one, having dinner with my children, or even exercising alone is far more inspiring than getting dressed to attend a function often filled with small talk. I’ve learned to be unavailable for such events without apologizing, and consequently have more inspired moments freed up.

Take time for meditation and yoga. Give yourself at least 20 minutes a day to sit quietly and make conscious contact with God. I’ve written an entire book on this subject called Getting in the Gap, so I won’t belabor it here. I will say that I’ve received thousands of messages from people all over the world, who have expressed their appreciation for learning how to simplify their life by taking the time to meditate.

I also encourage you to find a yoga center near you and begin a regular practice. The rewards are so powerful: You’ll feel healthier, less stressed, and inspired by what you’ll be able to do with and for your body in a very short time.

Return to the simplicity of nature. There’s nothing more awe inspiring than nature itself. The fantasy to return to a less tumultuous life almost always involves living in the splendor of the mountains, the forests, or the tundra; on an island; near the ocean; or beside a lake. These are universal urges, since nature is created by the same Source as we are, and we’re made up of the same chemicals as all of nature (we’re stardust, remember?)

Your urge to simplify and feel inspired is fueled by the desire to be your natural self—that is, your nature self. So give yourself permission to get away to trek or camp in the woods; swim in a river, lake, or ocean; sit by an open fire; ride horseback through trails; or ski down a mountain slope. This doesn’t have to mean long, planned vacations that are months away—no matter where you live, you’re only a few hours or even moments away from a park, campground, or trail that will allow you to enjoy a feeling of being connected to the entire Universe.

Put distance between you and your critics. Choose to align yourself with people who are like-minded in their search for simplified inspiration. Give those who find fault or who are confrontational a silent blessing and remove yourself from their energy as quickly as possible. Your life is simplified enormously when you don’t have to defend yourself to anyone, and when you receive support rather than criticism. You don’t have to endure the criticism with anything other than a polite thank-you and a promise to consider what’s been said—anything else is a state of conflict that erases the possibility of your feeling inspired. You never need to defend yourself or your desires to anyone, as those inner feelings are Spirit speaking to you. Those thoughts are sacred, so don’t ever let anyone trample on them.

Take some time for your health. Consider that the number one health problem in America seems to be obesity. How can you feel inspired and live in simplicity if you’re gorging on excessive amounts of food and eliminating the exercise that the body craves? Recall that your body is a sacred temple where you reside for this lifetime, so make some time every single day for exercising it. Even if you can only manage a walk around the block, just do it. Similarly, keep the words portion control uppermost in your consciousness—your stomach is the size of your fist, not a wheelbarrow! Respect your sacred temple and simplify your life by being an exerciser and a sensible eater. I promise that you’ll feel inspired if you act on this today!

Play, play, play! You’ll simplify your life and feel inspired if you learn to play rather than work your way through life. I love to be around kids because they inspire me with their laughter and frivolity. In fact, if I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times: “Wayne, you’ve never grown up—you’re always playing.” I take great pride in this! I play onstage when I speak, and I’m playing now as I write.

Many years ago I was given a tremendous opportunity to appear on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The man who took a chance on me, booking me even though I was an unknown at the time, was a talent coordinator named Howard Papush. It was my first big break, and I went on to appear on The Tonight Show 36 additional times. Now it’s my turn to say thank you to Howard. He’s written a wonderful book titled When’s Recess? Playing Your Way Through the Stresses of Life, which I encourage you to read. (Howard also conducts workshops that teach people how to play and have fun in life.) In the book, Howard shares this great quote from Richard Bach: “You are led through your lifetime by the inner learning creature, the playful spiritual being that is your real self.” I couldn’t agree more—by all means, get back in touch with your real, playful self, and take every opportunity to play! Notice how it makes everything so sweet, and so simple.

Slow down. One of Gandhi’s most illuminating observations reminds us that “there is more to life than increasing its speed.” This is great advice for simplifying your life—in fact, slow everything way down for a few moments right here and now. Slowly read these words. Slow your breathing down so that you’re aware of each inhalation and exhalation...

When you’re in your car, downshift and relax. Slow down your speech, your inner thoughts, and the frantic pace of everything you do. Take more time to hear others. Notice your inclination to interrupt and get the conversation over with, and then choose to listen instead. Stop to enjoy the stars on a clear night and the cloud formations on a crisp day. Sit down in a mall and just observe how everyone seems in a hurry to get nowhere.

By slowing down, you’ll simplify and rejoin the perfect pace at which creation works. Imagine trying to hurry nature up by tugging at an emerging tomato plant—you’re as natural as that plant, so let yourself be at peace with the perfection of nature’s plan.

Do everything you can to eschew debt. Remember that you’re attempting to simplify your life here, so you don’t need to purchase more of what will complicate and clutter your life. If you can’t afford it, let it go until you can. By going into debt, you’ll just add layers of anxiety onto your life. That anxiety will then take you away from your peace, which is where you are when you’re in-Spirit. When you have to work extra hard to pay off debts, the present moments of your life are less enjoyable; consequently, you’re further away from the joy and peace that are the trademarks of inspiration. You’re far better off to have less and enjoy the days of your life than to take on debt and invite stress and anxiety where peace and tranquility could have reigned. And remember that the money you have in your possession is nothing but energy—so refuse to plug in to an energy system that’s not even there.

Forget about the cash value. I try not to think about money too frequently because it’s been my observation that people who do so tend to think about almost nothing else. So do what your heart tells you will bring you joy, rather than determining whether it will be cost-effective. If you’d really enjoy that whale-watching trip, for instance, make the decision to do so—don’t deny yourself the pleasures of life because of some monetary detail. Don’t base your purchases on getting a discount, and don’t rob yourself of a simple joy because you didn’t get a break on the price. You can afford a happy, fulfilling life, and if you’re busy right now thinking that I have some nerve telling you this because of your bleak financial picture, then you have your own barrier of resistance.

Make an attempt to free yourself from placing a price tag on everything you have and do—after all, in the world of Spirit, there are no price tags. Don’t make money the guiding principle for what you have or do; rather, simplify your life and return to Spirit by finding the inherent value in everything. A dollar does not determine worth, even though you live in a world that attempts to convince you otherwise.

Remember your spirit. When life tends to get overly complex, too fast, too cluttered, too deadline oriented, or too type A for you, stop and remember your own spirit. You’re headed for inspiration, a simple, peaceful place where you’re in harmony with the perfect timing of all creation. Go there in your mind, and stop frequently to remember what you really want.

A man who personified success at the highest intellectual and social levels would hardly seem one to quote on simplifying our life, yet here’s what Albert Einstein offers us on this subject: “Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury—to me these have always been contemptible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind.”

Written by Wayne Dyer

I was looking for this article and found it on this blog :
http://wellnaturally.blogspot.com/

::Sarah McLachlan ::

2009-12-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

Angel by Sarah McLachlan from user seraeska on YouTube

"Angel" is a song by Sarah McLachlan that originally appeared on her 1997 album Surfacing. As McLachlan explained on VH1 Storytellers, the song is about the Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996. McLachlan explained that there's nothing constant when you are on the road; everything becomes the same.

:: Raat Hamari To ::

2009-11-27T14:51:00.000-08:00

LYRICS :)

:: Kabhi Khwaab mein Ya Khayaal Mein ::

2009-11-27T14:06:00.001-08:00

Kabhi Khwaab mein Ya Khayaal Mein

:: WESTLIFE ::

2009-11-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

WESTLIFE - FLYING WITHOUT WINGS

Must be posting it again...redux??
Simply love the lyrics

From YouTube user syahiira94

Flying Without Wings

Everybody's looking for a something
One thing that makes it all complete
You'll find it in the strangest places
Places you never knew it could be

Some find it in the face of their children
Some find it in their lover's eyes
Who can deny the joy it brings
When you've found that special thing
You're flying without wings

Some find it sharing every morning
Some in their solitary lives
You'll find it in the words of others
A simple line can make you laugh or cry

You'll find it in the deepest friendship
The kind you cherish all your life
And when you know how much it means
You've found that special thing
You're flying without wings

So, impossible as it may seem
You've got to fight for every dream
Cos who's to know which one you let go
Would have made you complete

Well, for me it's waking up beside you
To watch the sunrise on your face
To know that I can say I love you
In any given time or place

It's little things that only I know
Those are the things that make you mine
And it's like flying without wings
Cos you're my special thing
I'm flying without

And in this place I long to be
You'll be where it ends
I'm flying without wings
And that's the joy you bring
I'm flying without wings

:: Anam Cara ::

2009-11-18T15:37:00.000-08:00

First to understand ...better read "Anam cara " by John O Donohue who passed away suddenly when he was around 52 years of age.

It is a Celtic ritual formalizing Friendship !!

::The Four Elements ::

2009-11-18T14:46:00.000-08:00

~ Water ~

The Four Elements ~ Water from YouTube user...newhealing

Impressions of the first element, "Water", on music by Deuter.
Track "Temple of Silence" from the CD "Garden of the Gods".

Loved it.

:: Rumi ::

2009-11-18T11:30:00.000-08:00

Rumi needs no introduction :)

Looking into the Creek

The way the soul is with the senses and the intellect
is like a creek.

When desire weeds grow thick,
intelligence can't flow,

and soul creatures stay hidden.
But sometimes the reasonable clarity

runs so strong
it sweeps the clogged stream open.

No longer weeping
and frustrated, your being grows as powerful
as your wantings were before,

more so. Laughing
and satisfied, the masterful flow lets
creatures of the soul appear.

You look down,
and it's lucid dreaming.

The gates made of light
swing open.

You see in.

:: Roanan Keating ::

2009-11-16T17:12:00.000-08:00

I Hope You Dance -- Ronan Keating I Hope You Dance

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

Chorus: I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking
Loving might be a mistake but it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
I hope you dance (time is a wheel in constant motion always)
I hope you dance (rolling us along)
I hope you dance (tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance (where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,

dance (hold for 2 4 counts),
I hope you dance,
I hope you dance (time is wheel in constant motion always)
I hope you dance (rolling us along)
I hope you dance (tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)
I hope you dance (where those years have gone)
(tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)

(where those years have gone)

A Beautiful video:

:: Goo Goo Dolls ::

2009-11-16T13:58:00.000-08:00

IRIS... by ...Goo Goo Dolls -------from YouTube user generalvash21

Simply loved this movie "City of Angels"

Watched it again today and just googled up for this song...makes one realize how precious human life is and how to appreciate all that LIFE is offering...
Enjoy:)

:: Stevie Wonder ::

2009-11-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU..by Stevie Wonder

Listened to this longtime back

Enjoy this Youtube from user bhjsa20 :)

:: Alison Krauss ::

2009-11-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

Alison Krauss - When You Say Nothing At All

Liked it ...there is something about her voice!
especially the lines ..."You say it best, when you say nothing at all "

from user meestermister on YouTube...enjoy :)

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart.
Without sayin' a word you can light up the dark.
Try as I may I could never explain,
what I hear when you don't say a thing.

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me.
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me.
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall.
You say it best, when you say nothin' at all.

All alone I can hear people talking about,
but when you hold me near you drown out the crowd.
Old Mr Webster could never define
what 's bein' said between your heart and mine.

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me.
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me.
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall.
You say it best, when you say nothin' at all.

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me.
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me.
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall.
You say it best, when you say nothin' at a

:: Savage Garden ::

2009-11-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

I Knew I loved You Before I Met You ...by Savage Garden

.and I knew I loved this song before I heard it ..kiddin :) Enjoy :)

Maybe it's intuition
but some things you just don't question
Like in your eyes, I see my future in an instant
And there it goes,
I think I found my best friend
I know that it might sound
more than a little crazy
but I believe...

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

There's just no rhyme or reason
Only the sense of completion
And in your eyes, I see
the missing pieces I'm searching for
I think I've found my way home
I know that it might sound
more than a little crazy
but I believe...

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I've found you

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

:: Phil Collins ::

2009-11-15T13:26:00.000-08:00

One More Night --Phil Collins

Heard this ages back...now again on YouTube...Phil Collins in a live concert ...from user GoodTimesMusic

Enjoy :)

One more night, one more night
I've been trying ooh so long to let you know
Let you know how I feel
And if I stumble if I fall, just help me back
So I can make you see

Please give me one more night, give me one more night
One more night cos I can't wait forever
Give me just one more night, oh just one more night
Oh one more night cos I can't wait forever

I've been sitting here so long
Wasting time, just staring at the phone
And I was wondering should I call you
Then I thought maybe you're not alone

Please give me one more night, give me just one more night
Oh one more night, cos I can't wait forever
Please give me one more night, ooh just one more night
Oh one more night, cos I can't wait forever
Give me one more night, give me just one more night
Ooh one more night, cos I can't wait forever

Like a river to the sea
I will always be with you
And if you sail away
I will follow you

Give me one more night, give me just one more night
Oh one more night, cos I can't wait forever
I know there'll never be a time you'll ever feel the same
And I know it's only words
But if you change your mind you know that I'll be here
And maybe we both can learn

Give me just one more night, give me just one more night
Ooh one more night, cos I can't wait forever
Give me just one more night, give me just one more night
Ooh one more night, cos I can't wait forever

:: Rod Stewart ::

2009-10-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

Rod Stewart -Have I told You lately.....

Originally by Van Morrison:

Loved this song, especially the lyrics the first time I heard it...longtime back....

Enjoy this YouTube video from leprincedeuphor

(Van Morrison)

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you theres no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you do

For the morning sun in all its glory
Greets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter
And somehow you make it better
Ease my troubles thats what you do
Theres a love thats divine
And its yours and its mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the one, to the one

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you theres no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you do

Theres a love thats divine
And its yours and its mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the one, to the one

And have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you theres no one else above you
You fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles thats what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles thats what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles thats what you do

:: Gheorghe Zamfir ::

2009-10-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

SOUND OF SILENCE by Gheorghe Zamfir.

I was looking for some art by Rassouli on the web, but realized that the God's palette is capable of creating such awesome scenes /masterpieces that we see in the above video. Thanks to Kotasierota on Youtube for the same.

:: Henry van Dyke. ::

2009-05-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

Use what talent you possess -
the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best

-Henry van Dyke

:: Eckhart Tolle ::

2009-05-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

In the words of Eckhart Tolle :

The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral, which always is as it is. There is the situation or the fact, and here are my thoughts about it. Instead of making up stories, stay with the facts. For example, "I am ruined" is a story. It limits you and prevents you from taking effective action. "I have 50 cents left in my bank account" is a fact. Facing facts is always empowering.

Why do anxiety, stress, or negativity arise? Because you turned away from the present moment. And why did you do that? You thought something else was more important. One small error, one misperception, creates a world of suffering.

People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe. It changes constantly. They look upon the present moment as either marred by something that has happened and shouldn't have or as deficient because of something that has not happened but should have. And so they miss the deeper perfection that is inherent in life itself, a perfection that lies beyond what is happening or not happening. Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is untouched by time.

:: Joseph Campbell ::

2009-05-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

From "The Power of Myth " by Joseph Campbell

"Now, I came to this idea of bliss because in Sanskrit, which is the great spiritual language of the world, there are three terms that represent the brink, the jumping-off place to the ocean of transcendence: sat-chit-ananda. The word "Chit" means consciousness. "Ananda" means bliss or rapture.
I thought,
"I don't know whether my consciousness is proper consciousness or not;
I don't know whether what I know of my being is my proper being or not;
but I do know where my rapture is.
So let me hang on to rapture, and that will bring me both my consciousness and my being."
I think it worked."

:: Swami Chinmayananda ::

2009-03-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him.

Swami Chinmayananda

:: Christmas ::

2008-12-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

This is a quotation that I got on this Christnas day from....LIVING LIFE FULLY mailing list..
Though I do not celebrate....:) just felt like sharing it here

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL THOSE WHO DO CELEBRATE :)

Charles Dickens, from A Christmas Carol

"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew: "Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they were really fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"

Charles Dickens, from A Christmas Carol

:: Michael Crichton ::

2008-11-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

Michael Crichton dies of cancer :(

:: Barack Obama ::

2008-11-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

::First Moon Mission :::

2008-10-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

:: MICHAEL BOLTON ::

2008-09-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

ONCE IN A LIFETIME

[ From the movie- ONLY YOU ]

People fill their lives, with empty nights,
And days that slip away
Some search till the end of time, but never find,
The open arms of fate
One moment comes along, someone who's a dream to you,
All at once your dreams come true

[Chorus:]
Once in a lifetime, you find the one you really love
For now and forever, one love that never ends
Once in a lifetime, when every star that lights the sky
Will shine with one reason, leading your heart to the one love you find
Just once in a lifetime

Some people live their lives in compromise,
And hide their dreams away
Some never take the chance, within their hands,
To claim the prize they make
When faith is all you need, to hold the hand of destiny,
Find the love that's meant to be

[Chorus]

If you believe in the power of love
And you believe that dreams come true
Magic will fill your heart, when that moment comes along
Just once in a lifetime
Once in a lifetime, when every star that lights the sky
Will shine with one reason, leading you home to the one love you find
Just once in a lifetime, Just once in a lifetime

Found the video on Youtube from user ehrynL85

Enjoy:)