Something to Consider...

"The world is made up of people, but the people of the world forget this. It is hard to believe that, like ourselves, other people are born of women, reared by parents, teased by brothers and sisters, consoled by wives (or husbands or partners)...flattered by grandchildren, and buried by ministers and priests (or other religious leaders) with the blessing of the church and the tears of those left behind."
-Menninger, 1942 Love Against Hate, New York: Harcourt, Brace (parentheses mine)

Consider that this was written during WW II, a very dark point in world history... And we, unfortunately, have many dark aspects in our world still today. This quote reminds me that we're all human, and most of us just want to have what we need in life and live peacefully. I hope we as the human race can work toward a world where everyone has their basic needs met, and there is more peace than violence and destruction... Love, Jennifer

Good quote :)

"With all the diversity in the world, people of different religious groups, color, race, education, development, and maturity, there is one thing in common among all of us. One thing that ties each one of us to every other one, we are all moving into the future, at the same speed, simultaneously on this journey." - Unknown author

We have the power to make the future better than the present if we all work together for the betterment of humanity! I'm committed to this... Are you??

Love and Peace, Jennifer

Coming to terms with white supremacy

As a privileged white female I have had to come to terms with the white supremacy inherent in our culture and in our institutions. Unfortunately, it is becoming even more visible in our social interactions in this country, and in our government as well. While I do not subscribe to the notions of white supremacy, I have to accept the fact that I'm part of it...we all are...because of the society we're living in. This article may seem a bit harsh at times, but it's actually right on... We need to understand this legacy and ourselves better, so that we can redefine what whiteness means and what it will be in the future...preferably more inclusive and appreciative of diversity. Love and Peace, Jennifer

https://theestablishment.co/white-people-i-dont-want-you-to-understand-me-better-i-want-you-to-understand-yourselves-a6fbedd42ddf#.x5520lu9p

A good quote to remember :)

"A Senegalese poet said: 'In the end we will conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.' We must learn about other cultures in order to understand, in order to love, and in order to preserve our common world heritage."

-Yo Yo Ma, White House Conference on Culture and Diplomacy

Humanity: like a jigsaw puzzle

Hello beautiful people,

With all the disunity and divisive things occurring in our world, I like how Rabbi Shapiro describes  below how we all fit into a jigsaw puzzle. With one exception: I don't believe we blend into the whole and disappear when we fit into our own place in the puzzle. Most puzzles still look bumpy even when they are put together. I prefer humanity to be a little bumpy, but a gentle bumpiness that includes everyone's unique and wonderful contributions...

-Love and Peace, Jennifer

"Consider a jigsaw puzzle.  Each piece has its place and no other piece can fit that place.  Yet no one piece makes sense on its own. Each piece needs the whole for its integrity and coherence.  And the whole needs each piece to fulfill its purpose and bring meaning and order to the puzzle.  Once a piece is in its proper place,  its separateness is surrendered.  We know a piece is in its place when it blends with the whole and disappears.

What is true for a puzzle is true for Reality, with one exception:  There is no hand putting us in our place.  We must do that for ourselves.  We must discover our place and take it.  And when we do this, we discover the integrity and meaning of the whole; we discover the divine energy that flows through all things and links each to the other and all to God."

- Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro,  Wisdom of the Jewish Sages

 

Wisdom from Gandhi for troubled times...

This website has an array of wonderful Gandhi quotes:

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mahatma_gandhi.html

I happened to catch the 1982 movie about Gandhi yesterday and it was very inspiring. One thing he said in the movie that is not listed on this website (paraphrased) is: Truth and Love will always win out - no matter how bad things look... If you look back into history, dictators and "evil" regimes or people don't last forever - they eventually fall, and love and peace will prevail in the long run, because it's stronger... Think on this, when times are difficult, he said... And he said this during very turbulent times, like we're experiencing today, only worse... Even though we may grieve all the suffering inflicted by others, let us remember Gandhi's wise words about revenge: "An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind." Thank you Gandhi, "great soul", for your example...

Love and Peace, Jennifer :)

Let Us Open Our Hearts, by Amma

I recently learned about Amma, the hugging saint from India. I've been touched by her words in The Language of the Heart. Here is one of her meditations:

Let Us Open Our Hearts

We are not isolated islands,

we are connected links in a chain.

Each kind word, each smiling face,

each good action benefits our neighbor,

our community, our nation, and our world.

Let us pray and meditate together,

and we shall reach the shore of peace,

spreading the sweet holy fragrance of Love

and vibrations of unity and harmony.

Turning our minds to the supreme Consciousness,

let us open our hearts and chant the words:

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings everywhere be happy.

-Amma

Regarding religious beliefs and differences, I also like this meditation from Amma:

There Is Only One

There is an infinite power independent of 

and transcending every created thing.

That power is God, and there is only one.

Christians call God Christ;

Muslims call God Allah;

Hindus call God Shiva, Krishna, Mother - 

But all are the same God.

The supreme Self says, However

you conceive of me, I am there.

-Amma

I grew up Christian and was a strong believer into adulthood, however, there came a time when those beliefs no longer resonated with me. I felt lost for a few years, yearning for a connection with the Great Beyond and knowing that there is something bigger and greater out there, but not knowing how to connect with that Essence. It is through messages like these that I have found peace, knowing that however I try to connect with the One, it is ok. Sometimes I feel like this Essence/Spirit is a culmination of all the positive energy of humanity past, present, and future. But we didn't create ourselves, so I suppose it is also the Source of this energy. I don't feel I need to know or understand the details...they just get in the way. The real message is spreading Love and Peace and being caring and generous towards others. We are all human, and our differences are less than our similarities. If we can embrace compassion instead of intolerance and fear, we will go a long way toward a better future for all... Love and Peace, Jennifer