
obhāsa — light, luster, radiance, appearance, manifestation

Ingredients
1 cup salted butter (melted)
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 (11 oz) bag milk chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Combine all ingredients, except chocolate chips in a medium sized bowl. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
2. Pour peanut butter mixture into a 9 x 13 pan.
3. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave (at 50% power) for 1-2 minutes. Stir chocolate and pour over the peanut butter mixture. Spread chocolate with a spatula. To even out chocolate, tap pan on the counter.
4. Refrigerate bars for one hour. Cut while bars are still cool. Enjoy
Thank you Jim Rose Circus
Fully Raw Pumpkin Pie Brownies! If you love pumpkin pie, you’ll love this twist on this delicious dessert!

Practice Silence. Make a commitment to set aside some time everyday to reconnect to the silence inside of you, whether it be through meditation, gardening, or any other activity that brings you back to yourself.
Deep within each of us is a great well of health, abundance, knowledge, guidance. When we enter the silence and stay in the silence, we come into direct contact with that sacred well. In that place dwells our True and Higher Self: It is that part of us that exists and operates in a place where there is no time– no past, no future, only the present moment … One of the most powerful spiritual practices you can adopt is also one of the easiest to do.
“When I am silent, I fall into the place where everything is music.” – Rumi

“Any thought that you have had about yourself, however deflated or inflated, is not who you are. It is simply a thought. The truth of who you are cannot be thought, because it is the source of all thoughts. The truth of who you are cannot be named or defined.
Words like soul, light, God, truth, self, consciousness, the universal intelligence, or divinity, while capable of evoking the bliss of the truth, are grossly inadequate as a description of the immensity of who you truly are.
However you identify yourself: as child, adolescent, a mother, a father, an older person, healthy person, sick person, a suffering person, or an enlightened person – always, behind all of that, is the truth of yourself. It is not foreign to you. It is so close that you cannot believe it is you.
The truth of who you are is untouched by any concept of who you are, whether ignorant or enlightened, worthless or grand. The truth of who you are is free of it all. You are already free and all that blocks your realization of that freedom is your own attachment to some thought of who you are. This thought doesn’t keep you from being the truth of who you are. You already are that. It separates you from the realization of who you are.
I invite you to let your attention dive into what has always been here, waiting openly for its own self-realization.
Who are you, really?
Are you some image that appears in your mind? Are you some sensation that appears in your body? Are you some emotion that passes through your mind and body? Are you something that someone else has said you are, or are you the rebellion against something that someone else has said you are? These are some of the many avenues of misidentification. All of these definitions come and go, are born and then die.
The truth of who you are does not come and go. It is present before birth, throughout a lifetime, and after death. To discover the truth of who you are is not only possible, it is your birthright.
—–
How do you tap into the truth about you that lies beneath everything else?
Can you share an experience of a time you felt this truth?
What do you understand by “the truth of who you are does not come and go?”

Vacīpakopaṃ rakkheyya;
vācāya saṃvuto siyā.
Vacīduccaritaṃ hitvā,
vācāya sucaritaṃ care.
Let one guard oneself against irritability in speech;
let one be controlled in speech.
Abandoning verbal misconduct,
let one practice good conduct in speech.
Dhammapada 17.232
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Be a better leader in your community. As the world rapidly transforms around us each day, there is a growing need for us to create sustainable human communities. And in that vision, great leadership is paramount –leadership that not only calls for clarity of vision, but also a healthy dose of empathy that allows us to identify with, and understand, one another’s situations, feelings, and motives.
“If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.” ~ Chinese Proverb
WEEKLY HOROSCOPES by Beverley Taylor
GENERAL PLANETARY INFLUENCES November 17-23, 2014
A couple of influential planetary changes this week, that will affect us in subtle ways, that we may not notice at first. First Venus has now moved into Sagittarius, also Neptune has now started traveling Direct again, gradually clearing away confusion, and at the end of the week the Sun moves into Sagittarius.
The Sun is now in it’s last few days in instinctive, secretive, power seeking Scorpio, holding a strong but subtly, deep influence on us all. On Sunday it moves into adventurous, broad-minded Sagittarius, more details to follow next week.
The Moon starts the week in curious, analytical Virgo. On Tuesday it moves into charming, harmonious, peaceful Libra. Friday the Moon moves into determined, jealous, strong-willed Scorpio, with a New Moon on Saturday, giving a need for a fresh start. On Sunday the Moon moves into broadminded, humorous, optimistic Sagittarius, finishing the week there.
Mercury is settled in auspicious, intuitive, obsessive Scorpio, making us notice details in more depth.
Venus has now moved into emotionally free, unrestricted Sagittarius, giving a more open minded approach to love and relationships.
Mars has now moved into persistent, reliable Capricorn, making us focus on our ambitious more objectively.
Jupiter is now over half way through compassionate, outgoing, positive, understanding Leo, staying there until well into 2015.
Saturn remains in responsible, shrewd, strong-willed Scorpio, until the end of 2014. It is now traveling Direct, enabling self expansion in some respects.
Uranus remains in assertive, blunt, energetic, self-willed Aries, for several years, and can make us individualistic and rebellious, unexpected events or disruptive emotional matters, may distract us, or help us see things differently. Uranus is currently traveling Retrograde until December, helping us be more imaginative, and come up with ingenious, creative ideas.
Neptune remains in compassionate, sensitive, intuitive Pisces for the foreseeable future, and helps us gradually develop more empathy, compassion, and build understanding, in various ways, but shows a need to remain realistic. It’s now traveling Direct again, giving a more comprehensive outlet.
Pluto remains in Capricorn for quite a few years, so is a very long term influence, showing knowledge gradually acquired on deeper levels, with more realistic ways of recycling & developing our intuitive knowledge further, to use practically.
SPECIFIC PLANETARY ASPECTS THIS WEEK
Sun and Saturn conjunct this week – Good self control, but also possible reservations about some situations.
Sun and Mars sextile – Plentiful vigour and concentration, with many new ideas.
Sun and Moon sextile Monday – A balanced outlook, with harmonious dealings with others.
Sun and Jupiter square – Some tendencies to go to extremes, and do far more than expected, causing possible imbalance.
Sun and Moon conjunct Saturday – Motivation to achieve goals and progress.
Moon sextile Mercury and Saturn Monday – A natural curiosity about people and situations. Possible caution emotionally, regarding relationships.
Moon trine Pluto and Mars Monday – Emotional issues can be handled by using positive willpower. A firm and forceful attitude, without being abusive and belligerent.
Moon sextile Venus Tuesday – A need for calm, happy dealings with other people.
Moon sextile Jupiter Wednesday and Thursday – A philosophical attitude, and support shown to others.
Moon square Pluto Wednesday – Intense emotions can cause problems in relationships.
Moon square Mars Wednesday and Thursday – A need to beware possible loss of temper, or volatile emotional outbursts.
Moon opposite Uranus Wednesday – Unpredictable emotions can cause issues in relations with other people.
Moon sextile Pluto Friday – A deeper understanding of a situation or person.
Moon sextile Mars Saturday – Impulsiveness, but also respect for others.
Moon conjunct Mercury Saturday – Sympathy and understanding shown to other people.
Moon square Jupiter Saturday – A happy-go-lucky mood, but possible erratic behaviour.
Moon conjunct Venus Sunday – An affable approach to others, with friendliness shown.
Moon square Neptune Sunday – Probable difficulty separating fact and fiction.
Mercury sextile Pluto and Mars – Decisiveness, with good planning and strategic skills. Keen mental penetration enables better analytical skills.
Mercury square Jupiter from Tuesday – A need to ensure ideas are practical and not too grandiose for realization.
Mercury inconjunct Uranus – A probable need to self-impose obligations to immediate personal environment and loved ones.
Venus square Neptune – Possible subconscious difficulties in close interpersonal relationships.
Mars and Pluto remain conjunct – Very strong desires, with the persistence and determination to get results.
Mars sextile Saturn from Thursday – Well directed and productive actions, using sound and practical common sense.
Mars and Pluto square Uranus – A desire for complete freedom to act without hesitation or restraint. A need for freedom and independence, and rebellion against too close interactions.
Mars inconjunct Jupiter – Potential difficulty in establishing priorities, or in dealings with other people.
Jupiter and Saturn remain square – Questioning of personal skills can exacerbate self confidence.
Jupiter and Uranus trine – An original, creative, determined and practical outlook.
Jupiter and Pluto inconjunct – A possible need to make significant adjustments in life to justify personal knowledge.
Saturn and Pluto still sextile – A deeper sense of inevitable changes and transformation naturally occurring.
Saturn inconjunct Uranus – Probable difficulty at times establishing priorities in obligations undertaken.
Neptune and Pluto sextile long term – A need for positive reactions to circumstances and general changes that occur within society.
ARIES 21 March – 20 April
You may find be focusing deeply on emotional or relationship issues, trying to rationalise them. You feel more philosophical & brave. You remain professional, wanting to quickly progress & focusing on professional goals. You’re enterprising, daring & optimistic, remain focused, & are serious about your objectives. You’re original, contemplative & erratic, focusing on your career.
TAURUS 21 April – 21 May
You relate closely to a partner, and enjoy time spent with them, reaching a deeper understanding. You may be emotionally quite intense. You’re enterprising & adventurous, very keen to increase your knowledge. You enjoy time spent at home, with your family. You’re loyal & supportive to a partner. You’re intuitive, view friends idealistically, or have inflexible views.
GEMINI 22 May – 21 June
You carry a heavy workload, supporting workmates, but are methodical & responsible, if tense.
You need a strong bond & to identify closely with a partner. You’re maybe focusing too much on partnership issues, becoming pre-occupied. You’re outspoken enjoying challenging discussions. You’re working hard, but stuck in a rut. You’re idealistic & ambitious, but rather compulsive.
CANCER 22 June – 23 July
You enjoy free time with loved ones on joint outings, communicating positively, winning people over. You need a harmonious working atmosphere. You might be more argumentative, disagreeing with a partner. You astutely manage money well, but may take some risks, so try to capitalise on personal skills. You’re professional & original, but naive, & manipulative a partner.
LEO 24 July – 23 August
You enjoy time spent at home with loved ones, working methodically, with a practical approach. You also need some excitement, & personal attention. You’re disciplined & work hard, but may suffer from stress overload. You’re expressive, honest, & persuasive but uncertain at times. You seek more mental stimulation, have many ideas, but investigate any health problems.
VIRGO 24 August – 23 September
You enjoy communicating, with people around you, & just keeping in touch with others. You find time spent with loved ones is positive & nurturing. You’re resourceful but can seem intolerant at times, so remain positive, as you’re cautious but also focused. You may be argumentative about money with a partner, & seem vague at times, but are intense & passionate.
LIBRA 24 September – 23 October
You may be prone to overspending, or more impulse buying than usual, but can bargain astutely. You enjoy getting out & about, & socialising with intellectual people. You sort out home matters with confidence. You enjoy meeting your friends. You might need to watch your expenditure. You dislike any partnership restrictions, need to watch your health, & are rather changeable.
SCORPIO 24 October – 22 November
You have a direct but subtle approach, & are charismatic & eloquent, winning people’s support. You’re drawn to making luxury buys, or status symbols. You’re still very forthright, saying exactly what you think. You’re ambitious, motivate & work hard towards goals. You may lack self esteem at times. You’re innovative, with some original ideas, imaginative, & very detailed.
SAGITTARIUS 23 November – 21 December
You appreciate privacy & time to yourself, as you’re very intuitive, but your mind & heart clash. You’re charming & sociable, needing harmony around you. You’re stimulated to deal with financial matters but generous. You’re focused, impulsive, & motivated. You may feel down at times. You’re imaginative, & expressive, busy at home, but capable & financially astute.
CAPRICORN 22 December – 20 January
You have a busy social life at present, enjoying getting out, you’re drawn to like-minded friends. You find it hard to express your emotions, & can feel lonely. You’re very direct speak your mind You’re spontaneous, & handle business matters or joint finances positively. You offer a lot of support to your close friends. You’re restless at home, & can seem vague & somewhat elusive.
AQUARIUS 21 January – 19 February
You put in a great deal of hard work, & are professional & responsible, with a practical approach. You’re very affectionate & caring to your friends. You’re very thoughtful, but also need your privacy & personal space. You feel more optimistic about a relationship. You’re responsible, & very professional. You’re imaginative, & flexible, financially limited, & focused, but secretive.
PISCES 20 February – 20 March
You have a sense of adventure, may feel stifled by circumstances, & new knowledge intrigues you. You enjoy fulfilling professional goals, but may carry much more responsibility. You offer a support to your colleagues, but those who are lazy annoy you. You enjoy challenges that can improve your knowledge. You’re financially erratic, self deceptive & drawn to spirited friends.
Disclaimer
I can’t guarantee anything shown on these horoscopes, they can only offer general information, as written by Beverley Taylor or Astrologymix so please note that they should be considered for entertainment purposes only. However I do make every effort to ensure the information I give is as accurate as possible. If you do have any queries please feel free to contact me.

By analyzing a meteorite that crash-landed in India eight decades ago, researchers have discovered the first experimental evidence suggesting that our solar system’s protoplanetary disk was shaped by an intense magnetic field which propelled massive amounts of gas into the sun over the course of just a few million years.
In the study, MIT graduate student Roger Fu and colleagues from Cambridge University, Arizona State University and elsewhere studied a space rock known as a Semarkona, which fell to Earth in northern India back in 1940 and is said to be one of the most pristine relics of the early solar system. They extracted individual pellets known as chondrules from a small sample of the meteorite and measured the magnetic orientations of each grain.
As the study authors reported Friday in the journal Science, they found that the meteorite had not been altered since its formation. With that established, they then measured the magnetic strength of each chondrule and calculated the original magnetic field in which those grains were created. Their calculations revealed the early solar system’s magnetic field was between five and 54 microteslas, or up to 100,000 times stronger than what currently exists in interstellar space.
While astronomers have long observed the process of protoplanetary disk evolution throughout the galaxy, the mechanism by which planetary disks evolved has remained a mystery to scientists for several decades, the researchers said. Based on their measurements, however, the researchers believe that the magnetic field would likely have played a major role in the formation of the solar system and of Earth-like planets.
Image Caption: Magnetic field lines (green) weave through the cloud of dusty gas surrounding the newborn Sun. In the foreground are asteroids and chondrules, the building blocks of chondritic meteorites. While solar magnetic fields dominate the region near the Sun, out where the asteroids orbit, chondrules preserve a record of varying local magnetic fields. Credit: Science
More information available here: http://b4in.org/rBiN

Above: Sun Root/tree/foundation; standing on a firm platform to
achieve a slow and nourishing penetration into the
heart of the matter
Below: Zhen Shake, arouse, inspire, excite; thunder rising
from the Earth
The Wisdom:
All things are possible now.
Energies are increased.
Be generous and focused
And your situation will flourish.
Gaia and all sentient beings , you, have the window of opportunity opening into extraordinary times. In stillness you will find a refreshed cycle of personal growth, rejuvenation, increase, development and gain. You will sense these abundant times and will feel you need to go forward and seize the opportunity. While in certain times this is the appropriate act, that of the warrior, in this window just the opposite is called for. Stillness and mindfulness are now your allies to allow you to fully see what is possible.
This is a time when you will see immediate benefits from trusting yourself. Trust that there are unseen forces at work that are augmenting your normal patterns of growth and gain. Look to any given situation in your life, be it your work, a relationship, your health, your art, or your inner development. Focus on how you want things to grow and change for the better; trust your intuition as to the process, and then from your stillness go for it. You will see positive results.
With an open and fearless heart make a plan. Once you have made a commitment to your path and you apply the current energetics to the tasks ahead, make some preparations for the increase that is rapidly approaching. By putting energy that is infused with positivity into your movements, you will get what you want, no doubt about it; there will be an abundant harvest. So set the scene so that you can channel a portion of the bounty to the widest circle possible—family, tribe, associates, neighbors. Sharing the harvest (materially if you can and definitely spiritually, in terms of generating loving-kindness) is not only fun and satisfying; it is a vital component in assuring the return in the cosmic cycle to the freedom, peace, and abundance all are envisioning at this momentous time of shifting of the ages. Sharing like this allows you to join energetically with those of like consciousness, whether they are standing right by your side, are next door, or are on the other side of the globe.
Come to know the importance of community in these times as you prepare to share good fortune that has been wrought from commitment and integrity. Family and friends are indeed important to recognize and embrace, however the benefits are to put first on your list your community and neighbors. The harmonic frequencies of combining your energies with the ones of like desires and of like mind are the fuels that can support during times of abundance and time of want. These movements please spirit.
What has seemed in the past to be beyond your skills, influence, or capabilities is no longer your truth. It is time, with humility and grace, to accomplish the great work before you. Look at your fears, write them down and make a ritual of burning the paper, and blow the ashes to the wind in this way you will release yourself from old patterns of, doubt and fear. If you feel you don’t have enough of what it takes, know that enough is less than you think. Amaze yourself—jump into the void with all that you have and you will find your energy multiplying. In these moments visualize beneficent rays of light surrounding you, your family, and your tribe. Share the light you see and feel with a silent dedication.
This time of augmentation has come about when one has done well and survived recent dangers and obstacles. Much has been integrated as a result of these recent experiences. You will be able to clearly see the tasks before you and will proceed with safety along your path, toward your goals. Find a way to share and work with others; this will increase opportunities and focus. These are awesome times of great abundance in all ways. Take time each day , or many times in your day, to find stillness and to be in gratitude for what has been your path and be open to what is on arrival.
In these times the benefit is to consider Gaia, our earth and community in its wholeness, by contributing to an emerging planetary consciousness. This is what “sharing the harvest” denotes. The correct attitude at this time is to be confident. self-assured, generous and loving.
Look to those who have gone before you and have, through their efforts, accomplished great things. Emulate their behavior and confident attitude. Mentors or guides may manifest at this time; look to them and find and amplify their qualities in yourself.
Be gracious, ethical, and compassionate, and you will not only accomplish what the Tao calls the “great work,” you will also bring clarity to areas formerly clouded by doubts and fears. Know that at this juncture you are going to have help every step of the way. This is a precious time, when your guides, inner or outer teachers, and wisdom ancestors are right at hand, lending support that will deliver you from fears, doubts, and the nagging loneliness that you have felt whose source is so hard to pinpoint. Look to all the hurts of the ego and the heart that have blocked your progress over a lifetime. Through conscious awareness, and ritual, you can now let it all go and let love in.
In your days be the light for your community and in so doing you will be the love you desire and admire.
In Lak’ech:
“You are I and I am you”
BobbyK

Work to deepen your social interactions; find opportunities to remind others of their importance in your life.
Social media has transformed our daily lives — adding a brand new, and often much more complex, dimension to our interactions. And though it has facilitated the ease of our connections, there is a flip side. For example, studies have shown an inverse relationship between an individual’s Facebook usage and their sense of self-worth. And, we are only just beginning to understand its true impact on our lives.
“I fear the day technology will surpass our human interaction.” ~ Albert Einstein

Just Because You Didn’t Post It, Doesn’t Mean It Didn’t Happen
Our lives are overrun by social media. Not a half hour goes by that we are not confronted with a screen. While there are many virtues in technology today, the sheer volume of information we’re confronted with is not only overwhelming, but distracting. We are so used to being “plugged in” that it has become a default way of being: you’re probably not a stranger to checking Instagram or Facebook on your smart phone while waiting for a pot to boil. We all do this. And while we proclaim that we’re so busy and that we have no choice but to stay connected at all times, this simply isn’t true, is it? The less flattering reality is that we have become reliant on this distraction. We can’t wait for a friend to arrive at a coffee shop without reaching for our newsfeeds.
Ironically, you’re probably standing in a queue somewhere as you read this. Why do we do this? Why has it become so difficult to look up and smile at a stranger? Our constant access to technology has become a screen between ourselves and others; a social mask behind which to hide ourselves. But there’s a price to pay. And that’s loneliness.
Social media isolates us
We have never been more connected, but at the same time, we have never been more isolated from each other. We fear connection and really being seen. It’s become easier to create a profile so that world sees only your flattering angles and how interesting you are. Everyone has become so cool. It has never been more about image. It’s all we have access to. The surface is all we’re willing to share. You don’t ‘like’ that controversial post because you’re worried what someone might think. You do ‘like’ that controversial post because you’re trying to make a point. It’s all so calculated, so conceited. Even if you’re not aware of it, everything we choose to share online says something about how we want others to perceive us.
Some might argue that social media offers an incredible opportunity for self-expression and a way of connecting with like-minded communities. And this is true. But very few people only log in once a week to read an article or catch up with a friend. Most people are on social media ALL THE TIME. We can’t eat a meal without posting a photo of it; we can’t meet a friend without telling everyone about it. And while there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this, the energy we invest in living our lives online is totally out of whack. We have lost connection with the moment, with the person sitting across the table with us, with ourselves.
So what do we do? How do we begin to rid ourselves of all this superficiality? It’s so simple. TURN IT OFF! Nothing bad will happen. I promise. You might actually enjoy that meal a lot more if you’re not fiddling with filters while you eat it. Your partner might actually feel more witnessed if you’re not on your phone while they tell you about their day. You might feel more connected to them if you actually start listening to what they’re saying without distraction. And you don’t have to post a pic of your running shoes every time you go to gym. It still counts. Show up for your life because it’s happening right now. You can smell it, see it, touch and taste it. Don’t miss out because you’re afraid. Who knows, maybe the girl at the book shop likes you back. So put down your phone and go speak to her because life doesn’t happen on a screen.

Kāyappakopaṃ rakkheyya;
kāyena saṃvuto siyā.
Kāyaduccaritaṃ hitvā,
kāyena sucaritaṃ care.
Let one guard oneself against irritability in bodily action;
let one be controlled in deed.
Abandoning bodily misconduct,
let one practice good conduct in deed.
Dhammapada 17.231
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita

ingredients:
1/2 cup butter – chopped
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips –
3/4 cup sugar –
1/2 cup brown sugar –
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract –
2 teaspoons red food coloring –
3 eggs –
1 1/2 cup flour –
1/4 teaspoon salt –
1/2 cup white chocolate – chopped, plus garnish
instructions:
preheat oven to 350 degrees. line a 9×9 inch baking pan with foil so the edges hang over the side. grease or spray lightly with cooking spray.
microwave the butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl in 30 seconds intervals, until just melted. remove from microwave and stir until melted. allow to cool for about 5 minutes. blend in the sugars, vanilla, red food color and eggs on at a time. dust in the flour and salt, mixing until just combined. fold in the white chocolate chips. spoon the batter into the prepared pan, spreading into an even layer.
bake until set, about 40 – 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. remove from oven and let cool. using the aluminum foil handles hanging over the side, gently lift the brownies out of the pan. cut into squares and garnish with white chocolate curls.

Who can blame us? It’s a competitive world out there and it’s not easy to “make it” anymore. But more than that, we are just overwhelmed. There is so much poverty, suffering and injustice in the world, it’s difficult to endure. So we shut down, cutting ourselves off from all the pain. We ignore the beggar at the car window; pretend the stray dog who scratches at your gate isn’t there. We don’t want to see, and more importantly, we don’t want to feel because feeling means having to do something, and we don’t have the energy.
The Importance of Compassion
The problem with this coping mechanism is that while we mitigate our pain, we also diminish our capacity for compassion. We become hard and cold; chewed up and spat out by our own cynicism. And what’s left? Well, very little joy, that’s for sure. The truth is some of the most profoundly beautiful moments in your life will be born of pain. It is only when we are open and able to feel true and unbridled compassion for others that we are really living. This doesn’t mean you have to give money to every homeless person you see or that you need to start an animal shelter in your backyard. It means you don’t have to block yourself off from the suffering around you. It won’t break you. It can’t because you are not separate from the world around you so it is really your suffering too. Don’t run away from it. Embrace it with all the softness and kindness you can muster.
It’s true that you can’t help everyone. But when you allow yourself to live your life with your heart open, it becomes easier to respond authentically to what does come your way. You can’t help every stray animal, but maybe you can help the one that scratches at your gate every day. Maybe he’s there because you are the one person that can help find him a home. And to that little creature, it matters. It won’t be easy. It’ll be inconvenient. You’ll have to shuffle your schedule around, buy dog food and put up posters. You’ll feel your heart want to shut down again just so you don’t have to go out of your way like this. You’ll hear yourself saying things like ‘I have a life you know’ and ‘this isn’t my responsibility’.
But you won’t listen and you’ll go out of your way anyway because you’ll realize that it’s actually not going out of your way at all. You and this being are one after all so by helping it you’re really helping the whole, of which you are a part. So you put him on a lead and take him for a walk. It’s clear he’s never been on a lead before, and he’s a little unsure. But he gets the hang of it quickly enough and looks up at you, his eyes full of trust and wonder. Your heart breaks, but never has a moment been more full, more meaningful and joyous than this.
Source: Silent Journey
The universe is full of mysteries that challenge our current knowledge. In “Beyond Science” Epoch Times collects stories about these strange phenomena to stimulate the imagination and open up previously undreamed of possibilities. Are they true? You decide.
By David Gutierrez, contributing writer to Natural News
In the largest such study ever conducted, researchers have found evidence that consciousness continues even after brain activity has ceased. This evidence of life after death came from a study led by researchers from the University of Southampton and published in the journal Resuscitation.
“Contrary to perception, death is not a specific moment but a potentially reversible process that occurs after any severe illness or accident causes the heart, lungs and brain to cease functioning,” lead researcher Dr. Sam Parnia said. “If attempts are made to reverse this process, it is referred to as ‘cardiac arrest’; however, if these attempts do not succeed it is called ‘death.’ “
The AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation) study sought to use the scientific method to investigate the experiences typically described by the imprecise terms near-death experience (NDE) and out-of-body experience (OBE). Researchers interviewed 2,060 patients who had survived cardiac arrest from 15 hospitals across Austria, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“In this study we wanted to go beyond the emotionally charged yet poorly defined term of NDEs to explore objectively what happens when we die,” Dr. Parnia said.
The researchers found that 39 percent of cardiac arrest survivors interviewed described a sense that they had been “aware” following cardiac arrest. But many had no specific memories associated with the perception.
“This suggests more people may have mental activity initially but then lose their memories after recovery, either due to the effects of brain injury or sedative drugs on memory recall,” Dr. Parnia said.
Of those who reported a perception of awareness, only 2 percent described an experience consistent with the popular idea of an OBE, such as seeing or hearing events taking place around their bodies. Nine percent reported experiences consistent with the popular idea of an NDE, such as feelings of warmth or the presence of a light. Forty-six percent, however, reported experiences that were not consistent with either an OBE or an NDE, including fearful or persecutory experiences.
Perhaps the study’s most significant finding was what may be the first-ever clinical confirmation of an OBE. In this case, a 57-year-old social worker accurately reported things that were happening around him after his brain activity had ceased.
“This is significant, since it has often been assumed that experiences in relation to death are likely hallucinations or illusions,” said Dr. Parnia said, “occurring either before the heart stops or after the heart has been successfully restarted, but not an experience corresponding with ‘real’ events when the heart isn’t beating.
“In this case, consciousness and awareness appeared to occur during a three-minute period when there was no heartbeat. This is paradoxical, since the brain typically ceases functioning within 20-30 seconds of the heart stopping and doesn’t resume again until the heart has been restarted. Furthermore, the detailed recollections of visual awareness in this case were
consistent with verified events.”
The man’s memories were not only accurate but even helped the researchers place his experience in time.
“The man described everything that had happened in the room, but importantly, he heard two bleeps from a machine that makes a noise at three minute intervals. So we could time how long the [experience] lasted for,” Dr. Parnia said.
“He seemed very credible and everything that he said had happened to him had actually happened.”
“The researchers are to be congratulated on the completion of a fascinating study that will open the door to more extensive research into what happens when we die,” wrote Dr. Jerry Nolan, editor-in-chief of Resuscitation.
Source: Epoch Times
WHY IT’S GOOD TO GO OUT OF YOUR WAY FOR PEOPLE
We’re taught when we’re kids to be kind and to be generous. We’re told that it’s nice to share and that we should look after those weaker than us. We tell our kids this too, but somewhere along the way it just becomes too damn difficult, and inconvenient, to take anyone but (perhaps) our immediate family and friends into account. To be fair, these relationships can be minefields all on their own; taking copious amounts of energy to negotiate effectively. Essentially, we become insular, turning inwards, concerned only with maintaining the balanced rhythm of our own lives, ignoring the whole.
Who can blame us? It’s a competitive world out there and it’s not easy to “make it” anymore. But more than that, we are just overwhelmed. There is so much poverty, suffering and injustice in the world, it’s difficult to endure. So we shut down, cutting ourselves off from all the pain. We ignore the beggar at the car window; pretend the stray dog who scratches at your gate isn’t there. We don’t want to see, and more importantly, we don’t want to feel because feeling means having to do something, and we don’t have the energy.
The Importance of Compassion
The problem with this coping mechanism is that while we mitigate our pain, we also diminish our capacity for compassion. We become hard and cold; chewed up and spat out by our own cynicism. And what’s left? Well, very little joy, that’s for sure. The truth is some of the most profoundly beautiful moments in your life will be born of pain. It is only when we are open and able to feel true and unbridled compassion for others that we are really living. This doesn’t mean you have to give money to every homeless person you see or that you need to start an animal shelter in your backyard. It means you don’t have to block yourself off from the suffering around you. It won’t break you. It can’t because you are not separate from the world around you so it is really your suffering too. Don’t run away from it. Embrace it with all the softness and kindness you can muster.
It’s true that you can’t help everyone. But when you allow yourself to live your life with your heart open, it becomes easier to respond authentically to what does come your way. You can’t help every stray animal, but maybe you can help the one that scratches at your gate every day. Maybe he’s there because you are the one person that can help find him a home. And to that little creature, it matters. It won’t be easy. It’ll be inconvenient. You’ll have to shuffle your schedule around, buy dog food and put up posters. You’ll feel your heart want to shut down again just so you don’t have to go out of your way like this. You’ll hear yourself saying things like ‘I have a life you know’ and ‘this isn’t my responsibility’.
But you won’t listen and you’ll go out of your way anyway because you’ll realize that it’s actually not going out of your way at all. You and this being are one after all so by helping it you’re really helping the whole, of which you are a part. So you put him on a lead and take him for a walk. It’s clear he’s never been on a lead before, and he’s a little unsure. But he gets the hang of it quickly enough and looks up at you, his eyes full of trust and wonder. Your heart breaks, but never has a moment been more full, more meaningful and joyous than this.
Source: Silent Journey
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