work together with people worldwide to help ourselves and each other to live whole-centred and balanced lives by making constructive changes within ourselves and in the world

We won’t have to be like Al Gore who has demonstrated inspiring leadership on global warming. If everybody makes one small effort everybody to save energy, we will see a huge difference around the world. So, today, hubby complained that our fit sheet was so thick that it was still wet after we ran it in the dryer. After a day sitting the dryer in a hot early summer day, it gave out very bad smell. So he suggested that we wash it again and run it twice in the dryer. “How about we wash it again and let it dry in the sun tomorrow? We are definitely using renewable energy!” I joked with him. But seriously, what’s wrong with this idea?

Recently, the world seems to be bombarded with bad news such as wars, declining economy everywhere, and the protests against Chinese Olympic Game. I can feel the anger, frustration, and fear of a lot of people around me. What shall we do to make a change? For a very long time, I don’t have much time to reflect on these affairs that seem to be too noble and too big for me, somebody who is just trying to make a living. But the other day, when I was standing in line to check out groceries, I decided to let the guy who only had a couple of items to go first. Amazingly the store assistant who seemed to be tired and bored started to joke with us. She told the guy behind me that she was about to close; however, suddenly, she opened up her lane for a few more people. I am so glad that a small random act of kindness can make a difference!

because I have found compassion is not so much to release other people from our anger, but to free ourselves from our own bitterness, anger, and sorrow.

Photo credit: flopper @flikr

If a man speaks and acts with a good mind, happiness follows him like his shadow. Those who act in evil are followed by the thought: “I have done wrong,” and the memory of the act is stored to work out its inevitable retribution in the lives to follow. But those who act from good motives are made happy by the thought, “I have done good,” and are made happier by the thought that the good act will bring continuing happiness in the lives to follow.

What do you want to remember from this past week?

Reflect on your experience over the last 7 days. What was memorable about it? Write a short summary.

If you are not learning and moving forward, you are unconsciously entrenching older patterns more deeply. You are actually going backwards. So take a few minutes each week to reflect on what matters most in your life.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

—Lao Tzu

Temple is in our hearts, not a structure standing in glory for worship.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Take it.” – A Chinese proverb

According to Covey, a personal mission statement focuses on what you want to to do (character) and to do (contributions and achievements) and on the values of principles upon which being and doing are based.

“People can’t live with change if there’s not a changeless core inside them… With a mission statement, we can flow with changes. We don’t need pre-judgments or prejudices. We don’t need to figure out everything else in life, to stereotype and categorize everything and everybody in order to accomodate reality.”

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.