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Greetings and Namaste!
Valentine's Day is a perfect time for remembering not
only those whom we love, but our capacity to choose
love and to be chosen, embraced by love. In the face
of calamity, turmoil, the malignant horrors that
humans are able to inflict upon each other, whether in
Tibet, Iraq, Rwanda, New Orleans, or countless other
places, we're all inspired by the light that shines
through stories of love, like a brilliant blossom in a
scorched desert, tenaciously alive, asserting its living
presence through a person's choice to be loving,
forgiving, kind and compassionate, even in the most
dire circumstances.
Each and everyone of
us has the capacity, moment-by-moment to choose
love, to be aware of the other choices we make and
change course, to choose love, this instant, the next
instant and the one after that. At all times, in all
places, choose Love. This is the way of the Buddha,
of Christ, of Gandhi, of countless anonymous saints
and sages of all traditions. Choose love. Not just
when it is easy, coated in chocolate, wrapped in
attractive cloth, but when it means embracing what is
right there, present, in any shape, form or situation.
The Flames of Love
Let the flames of Love cleanse you
Of all clinging to illusion.
Let Love illumine the Truth.
Love is the most precious gift.
Love is the most sublime path.
Love is the most profound meditation.
Love is the highest attainment.
In Love - the fullness of compassion.
In Love - timeless patience.
In Love - unbounded awareness.
In Love - all is illuminated.
In Love - vast spaciousness.
In Love - form and emptiness embrace.
In Love - I and Thou disappear.
In Love -
Kalidas
2007
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Ryokan
19 Century Japanese Zen Master
Poem Composed Following A Terrible
Earthquake
Day after day,
At noon and midnight, the cold was piercing,
The sky was thick with black clouds that blocked out
the sun.
Fierce winds howled, snow swirled violently.
Wild waves stormed heaven, buffeting monster
fish.
Walls trembled and shook, people shrieked in
terror.
Looking back the past forty years,
I now see that things were racing out of control:
People had grown lax and indifferent,
Forming factions and fighting among themselves.
The forgot about obligations and duty,
Ignored notions of loyalty and justice,
And only thought of themselves.
Full of self-conceit, they cheated each other,
Creating an endless, filthy mess.
The world was rife with madness,
No one shared my concern.
Things got worse until the final disaster struck -
Few were aware that the world was star-crossed
And dreadfully out of kilter.
If you really want to understand this tragedy, look deep
inside
Rather than helplessly bemoan your cruel fate.
Leave off your mad rush for gold and jewels -
I've got something far more precious for you:
A bright pearl that sparkles more brilliantly than the
sun and moon
And illuminates each and every eye.
Lose it and you'll wallow in a sea of pain;
Find it and you'll safely reach the other shore.
I'd freely present this treasure to anyone
But hardly anyone asks for it.
Ryokan
From Dewdrops On A Lotus Leaf
John Stevens, translator
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Winter Programs
Anam Cara, Bedford, NY
Saturday Feb. 21 and March 21
7:30pm
Kirtan
Night!
With Satya, Ma and
Kalidas. Join us in this ancient and
ecstatic practice
of chanting the names of the Divine.
Everyone is
welcome!
February 27-March 1, 2009,
Friday
Evening-Sunday
Afternoon Mysteries of the Divine
Feminine and Kundalini Empowerment
Retreat Led by Lawrence Edwards,
Ph.D.
The extraordinary power of
Consciousness that allows us to directly know
the
Infinite is called
Kundalini in the yogic tradition. In this
retreat you will be guided through ancient
practices
that awaken and unfold the inner power of
meditation
and
yoga, Kundalini.
Through this innate
power of Consciousness we will explore the
archetypal realms of transcendence, wisdom and
grace. Through the power of mantra, chanting,
breath
work, and the profound tales of mystical
traditions,
including the Black Madonna, Inanna, Kali and
Kundalini, we will further access the inner
source of
true knowledge and ultimate freedom. That
source is
the Divine within. Through this process you
will be
empowered to deepen and sustain your meditation
practice at home. Many people take this retreat
repeatedly in order to delve more and more
deeply into
the mysteries of true meditation and further
unfold the
power of Kundalini. Sharings from others who
have
taken the retreat can be found through the
program
link
below. Pre-registration is required. Fee: $270,
includes meals but not accommodations.
Meditation
Group
Every Tuesday
Evening:
starts promptly at 7:30pm at our center at
the Anam Cara Foundation in Bedford, NY. All are
welcome!
Directions
are on the Anam Cara website. If you wonder
whether the group is being held on a particular
Tuesday evening there will always be a
message stating if it is cancelled on
that
night on 914-234-4800.
Click here to find out more about the programs....
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Thank you all
for your notes of appreciation for our newsletter.
Everyone has
the heart to be a true friend of the soul, an Anam
Cara. By embodying that ideal ourselves we may help
another to find it in themselves.
Our highest nature is always manifest in
relationship - to all other beings, to the
environment, in relation to our own body and
mind. Becoming mindful of the quality of our
relationships
allows us to learn where the light shines and where it
needs to shine more. The ideal of Anam Cara is to
continuously endeaver to expand the depth and the
inclusiveness of the loving kindness we bring into
every relationship.
If
you have any
suggestions, comments or sharings, for our
newsletter please don't
hesitate to e-mail me and I'll do my best to
respond.
The Anam Cara
Foundation is a 501
(C) 3,
non-profit
educational organization dedicated to teaching
meditative practices. Our non-denominational
programs are open to all. There are free meditation
instructions and downloadable audio files of guided
meditations on our website.
Thank
you for
the many ways you have shown
support for The Anam Cara
Foundation. Because
of
your gifts we can offer free programs and instruction to
thousands of people. If you would like to make a
tax deductible donation please send it to address
listed below.
I look forward to welcoming you
in person to our programs.
With great
appreciation and love, I thank you all.
May all beings realize complete freedom from suffering and may all our actions reflect only wisdom, compassion, patience and loving kindness.
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