Inspired by the tremendous power of the human heart

[Aurora Carlson]

Dear everyone, I would like to share with you these three stories I have recently read about. They are a testimony of the greatness of our spirit, and to me, a proof that compassion in action is what will heal our world. Please read them and allow these great people to inspire you.

The first story is about Jorge Munoz, a simple busdriver in New York who for the last five years has used every moment when he is not working or sleeping to prepare meals and deliver them to the homeless, unemployed, hungry people of his city. The food is leftovers collected from local restaurants, and Jorge, together with his family, uses almost all his small income to support this activity. Read the story of Jorge here

The second story is about Betty Makoni from Zimbabwe. She was raped when she was six years old, one of the countless victims of the myth that raping a young girl will cure AIDS. Her mother told her to keep silent. Three years later, she witnessed how her father murdered her mother. Read the story of how she created 700 groups for raped girl-children and three entire villages for healing in Zimbabwe here

The third story is about Efren Peñaflorida from the Phillippines. He grew up in a slum where becoming ruthless members of gangs was the only way for teenagers to survive. But he refused to live that way. Together with other teenagers, he created teams of educators with a pushcart classroom. They make and sell crafts and collect recyclable items to fund the school materials in their shopping cart. They help other children and teenagers learn to read and write and to brush their teeth. Read Efren's story here

These are just three stories about ordinary but extraordinary people. You can read about seven more such people here. You can also vote for which of them you think should receive CNNs hero award. For me, it is hard to vote for only one of them, because they are all amazing in the way they refuse to accept limitations to how much compassion can accomplish. I will pick one, but more important, I will continue to ask myself in what way I can be as extraordinary as they demonstrate it to be possible.

Thank you for reading, may your life be joyful and supremely meaningful!

love,
aurora

[Liviu Caliman]

Reading as an outsider/witness, I'd like to say that this is a very interesting exchange, and would like to thank Aurora and Mieke.

And because this discussion may be read by others, i'd like to add just one more comment, highlighting the need we have to know ourselves, our true self, the one Aurora talks about; and to also practice detachment.

When the true self is "found", when we are aware of it, everything we do is infused with it, and our activities become reflections of the true, higher self that we are. The expression of our self returns to us social images and feedback, in various ways.

Along the life journey, one also needs to practice detachment: whatever we do, the joy or sorrow of our accomplishments or failures need not be confused with the true self. Aware of who/what we are, in spirit, the test is to not let (our or other's) praise, criticism or indifference - which act on the outer/social self and feed or threaten the ego - get attached to the true, inner self/spirit.

My own experience tells me that this is not very easy.

Thank you Aurora and Mieke for allowing me the space to reflect, and to add from my (limited) experience.

Metta,
Liviu

[Mieke van der Poll]

Dear Liviu,

I have read your comment on page two of this discussion. However at the end there was no link given to reply to it. (I have just now noticed that it is placed under your latest comment).

So I reply to you here, under your first comment, and I believe it is most appropriate because of your remark about the timely reminder that 'being' and 'doing' are almost... synonyms.

Because that IS the duality we have to deal with.

I know one thing for certain: I receive my inspiration from the Universe and I always give it back to the Universe.

All my life this has been a wave of ups and downs. A wonderful process of learning how to deal with that creative energy inside. This energy reveals itself in every natural law. Not only in the Law of Attraction.

Creative energy has everything to do with the four main forces in nature: Gravity, ElectroMagnetic, Strong and Weak forces. The four seasons in a human life have everything to do with this too and it is Nature that reveals this through us by the four seasons Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

At a certain age a human being becomes aware of this fact that his/her life also consists of those four natural seasons: youth, adolescence, adulthood (middle age) and old age.

I have experienced this in this beautiful complex of Life gardens in my own country. See my calendar 2010 project on my personal page here on ANH. You are able to download the pdf file if you like.

After that insightful message, the Universe did let me experience this again by allowing me to translate a wonderful book "Self Designed Universe" of an Indian author by the name of Harbhajan Singh. Indian Culture, beautiful culture. It a synchronistical event.

And now in my old age, while the strong forces of Ego slowly melt into the weak force of relativity, the universe gives me another chance of expressing this creative energy by offering me the chance to unite my expressive creativity with yet another culture: the Islam.

When I look back over the past 6 years, it all fits so wonderfully together in all kinds of synchronistical events that I can only be so very grateful that I am able to have such beautiful and meaningfull experiences on the Internet with people I hardly know but nevertheless have a soulful connection with.

And it already started when the WWW was introduced in the nineties. During that time I was a member of a computer club in the U.K. and we had this wonderful exchange of creative energy already.

I can only be so grateful for this. And yes, all these experiences have boosted my ego, while on the other hand, many negative things have happened to me too.

I guess creating a balance between the negative and positive is what it is all about.
Me, I am dancing with my shadow everyday :). And the labyrinth is a magnificent tool and symbol!

But I always follow my heart, no matter what.........

[Aurora Carlson]

Dearest Mieke,
of course your project can lead to so much growth and joy for you and everyone. It is obvious it has great potential, like all creative projects people embark on. But if the ego has a finger in it... then the "flattery" you mention will tend to be important, and might influence your actions. The ego is that part of us that loves appreciation and hates criticism... and that is a source of enormous suffering. As long as we are dependent on other's appreciation or lack of it ... we are never safe, never at peace. We become dependent on the results of our actions, instead of being focused on the purity of their source. We become like a great singer who sings for the applauds and not the joy of singing :)

It is indeed very important to show appreciation, to be able to receive it too. Sincere appreciation is love. But the ego is the mechanism that makes us unhappy if we don't get this appreciation, or if we even suspect that we don't... the mechanism of chasing appreciation and recognition. We all have an ego, but in my experience... we are better off if we free ourselves of it.

Still, I think I understand what you mean when you describe your childhood as "without ego". You probably mean "not allowed to have healthy boundaries, not appreciated and respected, powerless". And it is of course a very healthy thing to learn to love and respect oneself and to find self-power. But this Self one learns to love and respect is not the passing person, but the essence of who we all are. The love and respect are then unconditional, directed to all beings, regardless if they appreciate us or not.

I know these are kind of philosophical discussions... but when put into practice it becomes a simple matter of noticing the difference between constriction, fear, antagonism and limitation (ego) and the openness and wideness of our undefended and loving spirit. At every moment, if we are honest, we can judge for ourselves where we come from, and choose spirit. In this way, we can free ourselves and enjoy a different kind of existence.

I wish you a warm and loving evening, friend!
aurora

[Mieke van der Poll]

Dear Aurora,

I am not dependent on anyones appreciation or criticism. I am grateful that I haven't lost my spontaneity.

I receive everything from the Universe and give it back to the Universe.

I am not attached to it, only in the way that what I start I want to bring to a good end.
And not for fame, fortune or whatever. I might even be able to help Soma with this project in one way or another.

I have learnt one valuable lesson: I will never ever let money get involved in any way anymore.
So ABundant EXchange: yes, but never ever commercially for me again!!

[Aurora Carlson]

God morning dear Mieke :)

May I ask- the lesson to "never ever let money get involved in any way anymore"... would you consider it as coming from Spirit or ego? Is it a decision that frees you and allows more abundance into your world, or one that barricades you behind a wall?

If you receive everything from the Universe and give it back to the Universe... then why hold on to anything?

love,
aurora

[Mieke van der Poll]

Yes Aurora, this is a conscious decision that frees me and allows more abundance in my world.

I can explain to you all the reasons why but I don't think that will be wise. Let's say that it is a result from my experiences in life.

I guess it comes from both Spirit and Ego. I still believe that Ego is not a bad thing if handled consciously :)

One is able to observe one's ego too you know: dancing with your Shadow. A great waltz in the Labyrinth :)

Once Amit Goswami said it so beautifully: you be and you do , you do and you be.
And Frank Sinatra even sang a song about this: "dobedobedo":)

Am bedoing in a happy way!

[Aurora Carlson]

Perfect then, dear Mieke- you seem to know what you're doing. Happy dobedoing :)

[Mieke van der Poll]

Dearest Aurora,

I have a special gift for you :) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjgxxeA83FQ

Have you seen the link: 'give a gift' added to every person in a group who his a member of the Alliance for a New Humanity?

Abundant Exchange?

Love from Mieke

[Aurora Carlson]

Thank you so much Mieke! I love ABBA :) I'll put a small gift on the wall. No, I had not seen the new link, I have my attention totally glued to my preparations for this weekend's workshop. But I see it now, seems like Ning is answering to the collective intention! Nice...
Wishing you abundance of everything you love,
aurora

[Aurora Carlson]

Dear Liviu,

I can hear you loud and clear :)

About detachment... my experience has taught me that it is not only not easy, but it's a real torment to try to not be attached, when you are :)) But after I noticed that it is my own attachment that hurts, and not the situation out there... I (the person) realized that letting go as soon as possible is the best way to stop hurting.

But still, detachment is not really a matter of will. It is what automatically happens the more we look through the eyes of the witness. At some point... the scenery is not worth holding on to anymore :) Just a projection, a mirage, a playful Self-expression. And instead of holding on, there is only metta.

I love reading your writings, Liviu. But don't let it inflate your ego, lol...

hugs and a big smile,
aurora

[Liviu Caliman]

"I love reading your writings, Liviu. But don't let it inflate your ego, lol..."

My ego loooved the first sentence, Aurora!
I know this because I, the silent witness, noticed it becoming inflated.
Now I laugh at it...

Isn't life real fun...?

Mieke and Aurora,
may you be always blessed...

[Aurora Carlson]

Yes Liviu, life is incredibly fun, and this growth into who we really are can be so joyful :) Nothing is more hilarious than observing the ego in certain situations. The laughter, I've concluded, is a combination of spiritual metta-smile and egotic neurosis-release. It's so embarassing and confusing to the person to slowly be dissolved into something it longs for, something it can't be until it lets go of itself...

Yes, may all beings everywhere be blessed :) We already are...