Before we even realize it, the end of summer is right here. Labor Day week-end, back to school, return to routines, perhaps the end of summer romance. Early autumn can be bittersweet, letting go of freedom and play, but this is also a good time to become aware of the passage of time, and take a look and see how, truly, we are spending our days. Have the summer months brought fulfillment and growth? What do we take from them into the cool days to come?

This newsletter is dedicated to those who wish to learn the simple laws of love, how to practice them in all their relationships. Combining Eastern and Western teachings and practices, it will also offer psychological, spiritual and practical wisdom on handling all kinds of

When we grow up we put our toys away and want the real thing."

Uchiyama Roshi

Most of life is playing with toys. It's fun, enchanting, passes the time and distracts us from one of our greatest fears - boredom, nothing doing - being no one special. When there aren't distractions and entertainment, some don't even know if they're really alive. To fill this gap they use their time searching for new scenery, people, places, books, activities, friends. They tell others about their exciting vacations and adventures and feel as if they've been fully living their lives. They may never face the crucial question of what it means to really live one's life. What is the best use of the precious time we've been given? How do we taste our lives one hundred per cent? Once these questions are answered all kinds of sorrow, depression and anxiety fade away on their own.

The great Zen Master Dogen says; "If fish are taken out of water they will not live. Water is life for fish, air is life for birds." What is life for man? Are toys and fantasies our true life? If they are, as we grow, why do we crave that which is real?

Fantasies are like imaginary flowers dancing in front of our eyes. While some of these flowers are beautiful, others are simply weeds. Whether they are weeds or beautiful blossoms, delusions obstruct our view. They do not provide a clear picture of our lives or those in it. Actions based upon delusions do not lead to where we think we are going, nor do they provide the returns we so long for.

Let's look at our craving for toys for a moment. When we play with toys we feel as though our lives have purpose. Wonderful fantasies usually accompany our play. But fantasies can be dangerous friends. Along with being unreal and unsatisfying we easily grow addicted to them.

Chasing after toys and fantasies comes from not knowing who we really are, what we are doing here. It is a yearning to make oneself feel important or make life seem worthwhile. This craving is based upon the feeling that just as it is life is not worthwhile, and that just as I am, I am not of value. But this is wholly untrue.

It has been said that all of man's troubles and anguish arises from his being unable to be alone with himself in a room, with nothing to do. In order to realize and live from the truth of our lives, we must slowly be able to do this and to realize that a life of chasing after toys and entertainment will never provide the sense of meaning and fulfillment we long for. This is a life of hypnosis and addiction to dreams.

When our toys or fantasies are worn out, or break in half, we immediately grab for new ones to play with. It's important to learn how to step out of this cycle, if we are to get a new taste of life, a taste that is free of the endless disappointment that fantasies bring. When a fantasy arises, when a craving for a new toy appears, if we do not grab at it, but stay fully awake in that moment, able to tolerate what may feel like loss, a new understanding of living arises. - a new sense of who you really are. This is a sense that cannot be taken away and that is not dependent upon anything.

To begin, become simple, learn how to stand in your own reality , let go of the false and become able to tolerate what might feel like emptiness.. This emptiness you feel initially will pass - and be replaced with that which is filled with unbreakable joy. To do this, simply allow life to arise as it does, and be with it in an accepting manner. When fantasies or cravings arise rather than chase after them, allow them to come and then to go. As you see them for what they are, the false, shaky sense of life dissolves and you learn how to stand on your own two feet on this precious earth. Now you are approaching the palace where our true happiness and security reside.

Letting go of old ways, relinquishing delusions, is an on-going process. As you do this, there are all kinds of fantastic surprises and adventures waiting in a world which needs you and which you need. in order to make your lives whole and worthwhile. Why not try it and see?

This is article is based upon Dr Shoshanna's book, Jewish Dharma (A Guide to the Practice of Judaism and Zen), www.jewishdharma.com

Jewish Dharma (A Guide to the Practice of Judaism and Zen)

Each chapter deals with different life issues, such as loneliness, relationships, conflict, finding peace and understanding and ways of healing suffering. The book includes personal narraitive, parables, quotations, discussion and specific exercises so the reader can integrate the material into their lives.

A Jewish heart is warm, giving, devoted to family and friends; a Zen eye is fresh, direct, spontaneous and in the moment. These practices are like two wings of a bird; both are needed to be able to fly.

Why not give this as a holiday gift?

To Get A Copy of Jewish Dharma

It's so easy to tell little lies, to exaggerate or fill our relationships with pleasantries, compliments and other meaningless comments.. It is hard to see how this takes the reality out of our lives, disempowers us and drains meaning from our relationships. Try telling the truth instead, both to yourself and others. This does not mean to "dump" negative feelings or blame out onto the world. It means to take responsibility for how you are feeling and to voice it in an authentic, compassionate and sensitive way. To say, "The way I feel is --", or "the way I see it is - ". Then allow time for the other to absorb what you say and also allow them to respond in a way that is true for them.

You will be amazed how this simple exercise will not only change the quality of your days, but strengthen your sense of yourself and develop respect for others.

Save Your Relationship (21 Basic Laws of Successful Relationships

--Deborah Durbin

Many books have been written about the query letter. But few have been written by literary agents, who receive thousands of queries each year and who grapple with them on a daily basis. Even fewer books have been written by literary agents who are currently active, who are willing to write from the trenches and offer their perspective on why they reject query letters, and why they accept them.

New York literary agent Noah Lukeman, President of Lukeman Literary Management Ltd, has represented multiple New York Times bestsellers, winners of the Pulitzer Prize and American Book Award, National Book Award Finalists, and has written three critically-acclaimed books on the craft of writing (The First Five Pages, The Plot Thickens, and A Dash of Style). During his last 13 years as a literary agent he has read thousands of query letters and now, for the first time, he offers his insights on the query letter, sharing an insider's perspective, giving insights and practical tips about what works and what doesn't.

HOW TO WRITE A GREAT QUERY LETTER: INSIDER TIPS AND TECHNIQUES FOR SUCCESS is a must-read for any writer serious about being published. Designed for writers of fiction and non- fiction, for screenwriters and poets, it speaks to a broad range of authors, offering principles that will help lead to success no matter what your craft. Practical, engaging, filled with exercises, anecdotes and sidebars, this 80 page e-book takes you on a journey, will transform your query letter from a document that could be rejected to a document that will make agents take you seriously.

HOW TO WRITE A GREAT QUERY LETTER includes:

· The 3 Paragraph Rule

· 3 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Plot Paragraph

· 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Author Bio

· Fiction Versus Non-Fiction (How a Query Letter Will Differ)

· Checklist: 30 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Query Letter

just download your book HOW TO WRITE A GREAT QUERY LETTER

As of May, 2007, Mr. Lukeman has made his e-book HOW TO WRITE A GREAT QUERY LETTER free, as a way to give back to the writing community. .

NEW! If you would also like to read 20 free pages of Noah Lukeman's new book, How to Land (and Keep) a Literary Agent, go to:

www.writeagreatquery.com.

How To Write A Great Query Letter (Click Here)

Give A Gift

Give a session with Dr. Shoshanna in person or on the phone, or invite Dr. Shoshanna to talk or offer a workshop in your community. She speaks on various topics including:

Becoming Fearless (Re- Claiming Your Original Safety, Strength and Resilience)

Relationships as Spiritual Practice (A New Look at Love)

Discovering Authentic Peace of Mind.

Dr. Shoshanna's programs are available as talks, half day workshops, full day , or week-end workshops.Contact us for more information. topspeaker@yahoo.com

I

Week-end, December 11 - 14th, Zen Mountain Monastery, Relationships as Spiritual Practice, (Contact: mro@mro.org.

More coming soon -

Whenever we begin a new relationship after the loss of someone we held dear, it is natural to remember the other person more intensely in the beginning and to remember our feelings for them. Often we compare the new relationship with the one we have lost. This happens because as we begin a new relationship, it becomes more real that the other one is really one.

There is no reason to run away from the new person. Just allow yourself to feel what you feel and stay focused on the present. Focus on the person you are with now, the qualities about him that attracted you. Notice the ways in which you are happy together and give the relationship time to grow. You were with the other person a long while, this relationship is new. Everything takes time and there are many phases we go through.

Most of all realize that you may be suffering guilt at moving on. However, whatever love you shared with another in the past is never gone, but lives on inside of you forever.

All the best.

Save Your Relationship (21 Basic Laws of Successful Relationships

Author, You Are The Healer: Discover Your Miraculous Potential to Heal Yourself and Others

www.amazinghealer.com

Gene@amazi ng nghealer.com, (914) 232-4409

I wish to highly recommend Gene Krackhel. Gene has testified success in working on people with cancer and breakthroughs in helping people deal with stress and release fear, grief and anxiety. His speciality is fixing broken hearts.

Formerly on the staff at Northern Westchester Hospital's Center for Health and Healing, Gene now devotes all his time to his own healing practice in Katonah, while collaborating with therapists, hospitals, MD's and other health care professionals.

His workshops are given in large corporations, organizations, colleges, holistic centers, etc. He has been featured on TV and radio talk shows and has released several CD's of his work.

Contact him directly at

Gene@amazinghealer.com

Gene Krackhel

Probably the biggest need all of us have is to experience a wonderful, loving relationship where we can be ourselves, and share our lives with someone meaningful. This is exactly what you will be able to create when you begin to work with the unique program inside my e-book, Save Your Relationship.

In the program you will discover the common mistakes people make in relationships and how to turn them around. You'll see why it's impossible to fail at love, once you understand how to build a foundation that can weather any storm.

Why not throw away old relationship habits and start new right now?

To find out more and order a copy, go to the website, http:.//www.truthaboutlove.com

GIVE A GIFT

Give a session with Dr. Shoshanna in person or on the phone, or invite Dr. Shoshanna to talk or offer a workshop in your community. She speaks on many topics including:

Save Your Relationship (21 Basic Laws of Successful Relationships

From Anger to Peace of Mind (The Anger Diet)

Journey Through Illness , Loss and Change

Jewish Dharma (A Guide to the Practice of Judaism and Zen) and how it can heal your life

Dr. Shoshanna's programs are available as talks, half day workshops, full day , or week-end workshops.Contact us for more information. topspeaker@yahoo.com

Or, perhaps you'd like to give someone you care for a copy of one of Dr. Shoshanna's books such as Zen and The Art of Falling In Love, filled with delightful stories,guidelines and steppingstones to love, based on Zen practice.

Get a copy of Save Your Relationship today.

Everyone wants to be beautiful, young, healthy, fit and to feel good about themselves. There is no end to available diets and workouts, but the most important diet has been overlooked.

This is a diet that releases stress, lets you sleep soundly at night, reduces cravings and brings new friends into your life. This diet gets rid of the number one toxin that destroys well-being - anger.

In Dr. Shoshanna book, The Anger Diet, you'll learn about the 24 forms of anger, the lies anger tells you, and how to stop it fast with the Emergency Technique. Each day you'll give up a different form of anger and replace it with a life changing antidote. The life changing effects of this diet will appear soon after starting.

There's no need to keep going the way you have been. Choose to feel good today. Get a copy of The Anger Diet and see how easy it is to say no to upset.

The greatest obstacle we have to feeling good, healthy and loving is anger which accosts us in many ways and camouflages itself.

Melt Away Toxic Feelings On The Anger Diet

In this revealing, intimate book, I ask the men themselves and they provide some startling and enlightening answers. Drawing on hundreds of interviews, I present men's own words and perspectives about the various reasons their relationships fell apart. You'll be surprised and relieved to hear what they have to say. Usually the reason men leave, has nothing to do with you. Some of the topics covered in the book include, The Fear of Committment, Ghosts of Past Relationships, The Mid-Life Crisis, The Repetition Compulsion, Competition With In-Laws, The Fantasy Woman, and many others.

Why keep going without understanding?Take new steps today to learn more about men and relationships, feel better about yourselves and findthe courage to love again.

Living by Zen (Timeless Truths for Everyday Life). www.livingbyzen.com

In this book you will discover the 2,000 Year Old Zen Secrets To Being Calm, Balanced and Positive, No Matter What Is Going On.

Probably the biggest need all of us have is to feel calm, balanced and positive no matter what is going on in our lives. This is exactly what you will feel when you begin to work with the unique program inside this e- book.

Living By Zen explores the things that steal your peace of mind, different ways you handle stress and why they do not work.

Download the book now and enjoy.

Living By Zen