 March
2004
 
Meditations with James Van Praagh
The words “practical” and “spiritual” are
seldom used in the same sentence. But, for those on their journey
to spiritual healing and enlightenment, James Van Praagh’s
book Meditations provides real and practical, as well as inspirational,
assistance for the path.
This book has a simple and inviting
format of one or two-page instructions or exercises in meditation,
interspersed with single-page
inspirational messages or affirmations. The structure leads one
forward in this powerful little book to experience section after
section of beautiful exercises in meditation, contemplation,
and self discovery. Through guided imagery, we learn to find
our own sacred space within; to release guilt, negative thoughts,
and painful past experiences; to heal our bodies with light;
and to embrace balance, abundance, and our true spiritual magnificence.
This book is a must-have for
those who seriously wish to achieve peace and enlightenment through
their spiritual path.
— Patricia J. Gentry
 www.tobeablessing.com Who you are speaks to me so loudly that
I can hardly hear what you are saying.”
That profound statement, uttered more
than a century ago by Ralph Waldo Emerson, also speaks a great
deal about this unusual
site.
This is a site about finding meaning in not only ourselves, but
in others around us that lies beyond mere words or surface appearances.
As the site’s founder, Honey Judith Rubin, expresses it, “We
are good to the core because Eternal Goodness created us and
what is eternal cannot be degraded.”
That goodness can be discovered in
many of the fascinating narratives to be found in the “Stories” section of the site.
Many of them tell us not to underestimate the importance of a
kind word given to another, or even just a smile or a friendly
touch. One story tells of a woman who called her hairdresser
to make a special appointment for an “event” that
evening. During the session, he chatted with her amiably, laughed,
handled her kindly, and told her how beautiful she looked. A
few days later, he received a note stating that she had planned
to commit suicide that night and wanted to look proper for her
funeral! However, his kind attention changed her mind. Links
to some twenty-five related sites are also available.
The site visitor is offered an opportunity to submit his or
her own story for publication on the site. If you have a tale
to
tell from which others may learn and profit, why not submit it?
It may just be the story that can help someone.
— Cliff Johnson
 
A Whole Life's Work: Living Passionately, Growing Spiritually
How one strikes a balance between
achievement and ambition, and contentment and happiness in
our Western world—that
is the subject of this book, written by a Buddhist teacher and
author of Work as a Spiritual Leader.
What is the purpose of work?
Originally—and still today—it
is to survive, but work, in the sense of purposeful activity,
also encompasses much more than that. As for the “pursuit
of happiness,” the author posits that happiness is related
directly to work—not just work as in “survival” or “livelihood,” but
work in its wider sense, “a purposeful activity that advances
our individual and collective search for meaning.”
Richmond identifies eight “modes” of our work lives:
the Earner, the Hobbyist, the Creator, the Monk, the Helper,
the Parent, the Learner, and the Elder. Each outer mode corresponds
to an inner mode of consciousness that is loosely based on one
of the Buddhist essential spiritual virtues. These modes help
us to better understand our lives’ relationship to work,
and to the community and greater world beyond.
— Jan
Suzukawa
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