“If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it, even if I did not have the ability in the beginning.”
~~~ Mahatma Ghandi
Barack Obama always believed he could. The motto that the throngs of people at his rallies would chant was, “Yes! We Can!” There’s no question that back on the day he decided to take a run at this election campaign, he may not have had all the abilities he needed to succeed. But as Ghandi said in the quote above, “But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it, even if I did not have the ability in the beginning.” President-Elect Obama has acquired all the ability he needed.
Last night we saw the possibility of a future built on the belief that we could. We knew there would be obstacles along the way — and we knew there would be even greater obstacles for the days ahead. Most importantly, we also saw the truth for the first time in many years.
Last night we saw the multitudes cheering around the world. We saw the faces of people wet with the tears of joy and hope. This morning I looked at photos from around the world of cheering people and shots of newspaper headlines from country after country expressing their faith in the hope of our country. We’re seeing the same sort of connectedness between countries we saw right after 9/11.
Last night we saw the end of an era of bitterness, deception, hatred, and greed. As we looked at this ending, we also the beginning of a new era.
As I watched President-Elect Barack Obama give his acceptance speech I saw a crowd of over 250,000 people rapt with attention to his every word. I saw people who knew we had won this long fight for the Presidency, but I also saw people who seemed to understand there was work to be done by every one of us to make our hopes and dreams a reality.
Here’s a link to the speech in case you didn’t get a chance to see it. I like this version because it covers all the participation of the two families — the Obama’s and the Biden’s. (It’s about a half-hour, so be prepared!)
The other thing I noticed last night, and this morning, is the lack of any feeling of gloat by our President-Elect. Yes, there was obvious joy, but there was also a seriousness about him. I felt he knew how great a burden he was facing. Another aspect of this great man was also evident. After facing almost two years of sometimes brutal attacks on his character, his race, and his family, there was evidence of the soul of the man and how he believes. It showed in his placidity and humility at this moment of great triumph.
Throughout his campaign, Barack Obama gave us an unfiltered look at his intelligence and his grace. These aspects of who he is were seen as elitist by some and arrogant by others. My hope is that those who saw him in this way will come to learn in the coming years about his dreams of hope and freedom for us all and be willing to help him make these dreams a reality.
Now is the time for all of us to understand how we are all connected. In many of the past articles in this blog I’ve talked about the fact of how our hopes and dreams are not so different from those of our neighbors. We’ve been in an environment based on fear and greed for these past eight years which has led us to yearn for new, truthful leadership. This election proves my point. While there are still some who favor the old regime, by far, the greater majority of the people in the United States, and in the world, are not buying it any longer.
We saw the excellence and professionalism of the way Barack Obama and his team managed this campaign. Can there be any doubt as to how he will govern? He led us all to this victory — we have all won. We won our country back from the brink of disaster. Now it’s up to us help our new leader preserve our earth and our nation. It’s up to us to help President Obama bring the United States back into the fold of world leadership.
Can we return to the days when we were respected by the world? Can we become the nation working for peace and hope for all beings? Can we do the work necessary to help our new President turn our way of thinking away from being fearful into focusing on hope and peace?
Yes we can!
==========================================================
I would like to thank all the people who worked so hard on this campaign. Everyone single person who donated dollars, made phone calls, knocked on doors, held house parties, did data entry work, put out lawn signs, wore badges, sent out emails, wrote letters and all the other Get Out The Vote projects deserves our heartiest, sincere, thanks. Your work is appreciated. This could not have happened without you.
===========================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
~~~ Buddha
==============================================
“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”
~~~ Buddha
Namaste!
I share these words for you in closing — .
“Be happy now, my dear friends. Today is all we have. Be good to one another. Take comfort in whatever spirituality you are so inclined (or not), and learn to be happy despite your circumstances. Follow your path; pursue your dreams. Work hard, love your family, be generous and forgiving. Do it today, while you still have the flicker of life, for one day your own candle will dim.”
You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.
Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.
==================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, Buddhism, Buddhist, Bailout, dreams, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, new story, Big Picture, Mother Earth, sustainability, compassion, Barack Obama[/tags]
“When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for
one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness… ”
Today I would like to occupy a little more of your time than usual. I have a few words to pass along about why this is “The Really BIG Picture” of today’s title — and then give you some, what I believe are, interesting things to watch and listen to.
First about today’s quote — Do you recognize it? They are certainly profound words, aren’t they? These words were agreed upon by 56 people on July 4, 1776. Here we are, 232 years later, and it makes me sad to see how many people who live in, and who are citizens of this great country, have forgotten, or have chosen to ignore, this basic principal.
I wrote about how prejudice is still running rampant in this country in my last article in this blog. Today, we’re just a few days away from one of the most important elections this country has ever seen. And still, there are people who feel that the ideals upon which this country was founded — that all of us are created equal — there are people to whom this just doesn’t seem to matter.
I’m not going to go on one of my big rants today about the terrible things being said by Americans about other Americans. Instead, I’m going to ask you to do four things. One — If you’re registered to vote in this election, BE SURE TO VOTE!
The second thing I’m asking of you is to watch this video. It features the person I support for the Presidency of the USA, Barack Obama. This is the speech he delivered on Monday, October 27, 2008, in Canton, Ohio. It’s being called “The Closing Argument“. I feel this speech makes the choice in this election starkly clear. I looked for some excerpts that were shorter, but the couple I found didn’t do the speech justice. As usual, I’ve included a link in case the video doesn’t play for some reason.
The third thing I’d like you to do is read this blog post by Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama. This was a post she wrote on the same day that her husband gave the above speech. She wrote it for the Blogher community. It will only take a couple of minutes to read, but it will give you a clear idea of who this person is and why she would also be a good role model for parents and spouses in our country.
Or — if you’d rather read it here, I’ve included the text for you:
One Week to Change
by Michelle Obama
The leaves are turning, the air is crisper, and my girls are completely wrapped up in their preparations for Halloween. Yep, it’s definitely fall.
Malia and Sasha spent hours this weekend putting the finishing touches on their costumes. Then they paraded around with their friends at the Halloween party we hosted on Saturday night. Malia was what she calls an “evil fairy,” and Sasha was (I can hardly believe I’m writing this) a corpse bride. They were both aiming for terrifying, but as Barack put it, they really are just too cute to be scary.
In a few days, we’ll go trick-or-treating. And then, just a few days later, it’s Election Day.
After 21 long months, the big day is almost here.
This campaign has been such an incredible experience for me and for our family. I’ve learned so much. And I don’t just mean how to travel to five states in two days, or where to find places for kid-friendly fun anywhere in America on a moment’s notice. (Though, believe me, these are extremely useful skills.)
I’ve learned that there is so much more that unites us as Americans than divides us—no matter what our differences may be. I’ve seen neighbors pitching in when the folks around them need a hand—without being asked, and sometimes without even being noticed. Strangers seeing each other struggle, and standing up to say, “I don’t know you, but I want to help.”
This is exactly what Barack has been talking about for years. The fundamental values and experiences that bring us together… regardless of our race, our political party, our socioeconomic status, our age or our gender… all the threads that connect our lives and our futures. Because the truth is, we are in this together. We will rise and fall together. And the only way that we’ll build a better future for our kids is by coming together and working together for change.
As Barack always says, We don’t live in red states or blue states… we live in the United States. And during the past 21 months, as I’ve traveled around this beautiful country, I’ve seen the truth of his words again and again.
Now, with just one week to go until Election Day, I’d like share with you one of my favorite memories from the campaign trail, for you to get a sense of the extraordinary strength and kindness I’ve seen on my travels.
Throughout this campaign, I’ve hosted round table discussions with women—both to introduce myself and our family to the American people, and to hear the questions and concerns of folks all over this country. A few months ago, I was in Kansas City, Missouri, meeting with a group of local women, when one woman started talking about her son.
He had some developmental problems, and his pediatrician urged her to give him as much enrichment as she could. But she didn’t make enough money to afford daycare. So instead of spending his days playing with other children in a lively environment, this little boy was spending his days sitting in a relative’s living room, waiting for his mom to finish work.
This mother was heartsick over how to give her son a better quality of life during these crucial formative years.
Another woman was participating in the discussion that day: a nun named Sister Berta, who runs a nonprofit agency that cares for low-income children while their mothers are at work. And after we finished our discussion that day, Sister Berta quietly went over to the woman, and offered her son a spot at her center—for just $10 a week.
It almost seemed like a miracle. Right when that woman was brave enough to tell her story, there was someone listening who could help her. And two people who didn’t know each other before that morning found their lives on a different path after we left.
I think about that moment all the time. Because that right there—that sense of cooperation, that unity—that is why Barack is in this race. Because he believes so deeply in our ability to come together in times like these—times of crisis—to overcome any challenges that we face.
It’s going to take all of us working together to build a better future. And we have to start now. This election gives all of us the opportunity to change our world. So please, make the most of this moment. Educate yourself, and your friends and family, about the issues at stake in this election. And please, no matter who you vote for, make sure you vote.
I know we can do this. I’ve met so many strong and compassionate folks on the campaign trail. Folks like Sister Berta, who knows that we rise and fall together—and who can’t stand by if the situation demands that she step up.
My family is committed to this campaign because of people like her, and people like you.
So I’ll be carrying so many stories in my heart during these final days, wherever I go—whether I’m on the campaign trail, or collecting candy from our terrified neighbors, as I go door-to-door with our ghoulish girls.
*****************************************
Finally today, with only four days until the election, I’d like you to watch this short video. It concerns the first thing I asked of you — and that was to be sure you vote. There has never been an election this important to every single one of us, not only here in the USA, but also throughout the world. This video came into my life just yesterday from a new friend of mine I met in the http://www.beta.intent.com ning group, Jim Aycock. He and a couple of film maker buddies of his, George Smith and Michael Mills, put this video together which features a song written by Jim called, “We the People“. Jim gives tons of credit to his wife, Cindy, for being the driving force behind the making of this wonderful video.
Please watch it and enjoy it — and then get out and vote. And be sure those you know do the same. Again, I’ve included a link in case the video doesn’t play for any reason.
========================================================== Be sure to vote. Be sure to check your registration before you vote by contacting your local voter registration office. If somehow your registration is being purged, you will know by checking first. Do it now, so you won’t be pressed for time just before election day. If you can, vote early to avoid long lines at the polls. And my last bit of advice — tell everyone you know to do the same.
===========================================================
Thanks for hanging in here with me. I appreciate it.
=================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
~~~ Buddha
==============================================
I meditate every day to help keep me sane in this crazy world we live in. Those glimpses we get of peace, love, acceptance and happiness when we’re meditating will soon grow into more than glimpses if we keep practicing. Keep those feelings alive. A meditation can be as simple as one, deep, conscious breath. When something happens in one of your moments to cause you to suffer, just stop and take one of those breaths and remember, “This too shall pass!” Another thing that is wonderful, especially at certain times of the year, is to have a fresh flower where you work. Just stop from time-to-time and look at it — don’t label it — don’t judge it — just be with it for a couple of moments. It really does work. I’m looking at mine as I write this.
“Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature”
~~~ Gerard de Nerva
=======================================
“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”
~~~ Buddha
Namaste!
I share these words for you in closing — .
“Be happy now, my dear friends. Today is all we have. Be good to one another. Take comfort in whatever spirituality you are so inclined (or not), and learn to be happy despite your circumstances. Follow your path; pursue your dreams. Work hard, love your family, be generous and forgiving. Do it today, while you still have the flicker of life, for one day your own candle will dim.”
You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.
Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.
================================================================
In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.
Regular, daily meditation can give you …
(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –
— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.
With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution
— The Holosync Solution
================================================================
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[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, Buddhism, Buddhist, Bailout, dreams, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, new story, Big Picture, Mother Earth, sustainability, compassion, Barack Obama[/tags]
” Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
~~~ Buddha
I don’t know where to start today. Yesterday I began writing this blog article about five different times. I scrapped every one of them. Today is my normal day to post an article here, so I’m back at the drawing board to try again. I keep thinking I’d better get off my soapbox with all the “rants” about politics and corruption, and get back to writing more uplifting articles about being better human beings. Since I also write another blog about Buddhist Belief (http://www.buddhistbelief.com) I thought perhaps writing how a Buddhist would feel about all the crazy politics might be something I could write and not feel the need to toss it in the recycling bin. Who knows — here we go for another try ….
I don’t even come close to having any idea what Buddha, or Jesus, or any other of the spiritual avatars we’ve come to know would say about the things going on in our USA political arena. I do know what Buddha taught about the dangers of greed, hatred and ignorance. The Buddha called those the three poisons. Those three aspects of human nature we’re seeing displayed so prominently in this Presidential election cycle are the three primary thieves of our happiness. Greed grabs our desires — hatred plays on our fears and insecurities and convinces us to find blame in everyone other than ourselves — and ignorance clouds our minds so we lose sight of the visions we seek.
Greed is what brought the economy of the world to its knees. Greed has a slew of relatives like jealousy, ambition, addiction, pride, grasping and clinging. All of which lead us into being dissatisfied with our lives. We find ourselves frustrated, irritated, annoyed and even depressed by the way our life is playing out. When we’re being greedy we don’t tend to be generous. It makes us want what we want when we want it and we don’t give a hoot how we get it.
Hate seems to be playing a role this year as well. It is one of the most destructive things we can carry within us. If you look at prejudice against people of different races — or people with differing religious practices — or people with different sexual preferences — or people with opposing political beliefs — it’s all still prejudice and prejudice is embodied in hatred. Whenever we’re caught in the web of believing only our way of being or thinking is the right way — and attacking anyone who says anything opposed to what we believe as being wrong — we then create a concept of someone being the enemy and worthy of such attack. I see much of this kind of behavior in the way we’re being bombarded with nasty mailings and vile robo-phone calls.
One of the principles taught by Buddha was things like hatred, ignorance and greed are the very things causing us to be dissatisfied and unhappy. One of the reasons why we suffer so much is our belief that we are all separate from each other. We really do foolishly believe we can hurt someone else without hurting ourselves. We have this desire to always feel we’re more important than the other guy. This kind of thinking only destroys everything around it — including ourselves. It even has drastic effects on our health — both physical and mental. Prejudice makes us quick to judge or find fault, it closes our heart and shuts down our sensitivity. I read something or heard this somewhere (probably on the Internet) about a family where the word “hate” was not allowed to be spoken in their home. Why not try that in your homes? Just don’t let the word be spoken. It will make a difference.
When you’re thinking about pointing your finger in accusation at the other guy, just remember, there are three or four fingers pointing right back at you.
*****************************************
Just one more bone to pick and then I’ll get out of here and stop ranting.
I’m sure by now most of you have heard about the Republican National Committee giving Sarah Palin some extra spending money for clothes, hair, and make-up for herself and her family. I don’t know if the figures I heard are true or not, but it was apparently in the six-figures somewhere. Fortunately, I didn’t make any campaign contributions to the Republican party, so I truly don’t have a bone to pick about how they use their money.
But, this comment is not about clothing — I don’t know a thing about fashion. So, ladies, don’t send me letters about picking on someone’s need for style. This is about the issues. It’s just the concept of how we choose people to lead our country. Is this about how they feel about our health care or national security or the economy? Nope! It’s about what they’re wearing or how they tie their tie. This last comment is about the economy and how the candidates feel about it and what their basic understanding is about how we should be using our dollars.
This little video clip I want to show you took place this past July, so I presume that both Barack and Michelle have purchased some new clothes since then. I haven’t heard about them using campaign funds for it, though. My guess is they have enough money of their own to buy a good suit of clothes. I do believe their basic values are rooted deeply in the way they feel about how you and I may have to dig deep to get something nice to wear. Here’s what I mean …
The Obama family sat down for an interview with Maria Menounos of “Access Hollywood.” One of the topics discussed was the Obamas’ style icon status, which amused the family because, as Michelle points out in the interview, Barack is wearing pants he’s had for 10 years, and says that his belt and shoes are pretty shabby, too (“I hate to shop,” he explains). Michelle also reveals that the sundress she’s wearing is from the Gap: “Fortunately they make pretty stuff at all price ranges…[Barack] will be happy to know that this is, like, a $30 dress.” Her husband then high-fives her and daughter Sasha screams out “Mommy buys everything from Gap!”
Here’s a video of that interview…. (Use the link if it doesn’t play for you for some reason) …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vkWRIcezc0
=============================================
I don’t know what the next week will bring, so I can’t guarantee we’ll get back to the “other topics” we used to write about. At some point, I know we will. There just aren’t any promises for the immediate future.
And .. Thanks for hanging in here with me. I appreciate it.
======================================================= My advice to everyone is this. Be sure to vote. Be sure to check your registration before you vote by contacting your local voter registration office. If somehow your registration is being purged, you will know by checking first. Do it now, so you won’t be pressed for time just before election day. If you can, vote early to avoid long lines at the polls. And my last bit of advice — tell everyone you know to do the same.
====================================================
And .. Thanks for hanging in here with me. I appreciate it.
There’s more to come next week. Come back and help us to continue this important conversation. Invite your friends. We need many more people to be listening and sharing.
=================================================
Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
~~~ Buddha
==============================================
I meditate every day to help keep me sane in this crazy world we live in. Those glimpses we get of peace, love, acceptance and happiness when we’re meditating will soon grow into more than glimpses if we keep practicing. Keep those feelings alive. A meditation can be as simple as one, deep, conscious breath. When something happens in one of your moments to cause you to suffer, just stop and take one of those breaths and remember, “This too shall pass!” Another thing that is wonderful, especially at certain times of the year, is to have a fresh flower where you work. Just stop from time-to-time and look at it — don’t label it — don’t judge it — just be with it for a couple of moments. It really does work. I’m looking at mine as I write this.
“Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature”
~~~ Gerard de Nerva
=======================================
“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”
~~~ Buddha
Namaste!
I share these words for you in closing — remember these words …
“Be happy now, my dear friends. Today is all we have. Be good to one another. Take comfort in whatever spirituality you are so inclined (or not), and learn to be happy despite your circumstances. Follow your path; pursue your dreams. Work hard, love your family be generous and forgiving. Do it today, while you still have the flicker of life, for one day your own candle will dim.”
You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.
Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.
================================================================
In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.
Regular, daily meditation can give you …
(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –
— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.
With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution
— The Holosync Solution
================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhist Belief, Buddhism, Buddhist, Bailout, The Secret, Law of Attraction, dreams, spiritual energy, hope, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life, new story, Big Picture, Mother Earth, sustainability, compassion[/tags]
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