Compassion For Haitians and All Humanity

Greetings, Lovers of Life!
This morning I read my friend Britt's post on the Earthquake in Haiti. I don't follow the "news" at all, partly because there is so much media brainwash and "bad" news reported. I relate to my friend Darren's teacher, Lee Lozowick, that it is important to 'make judicious choices about what kind of impression food we will eat.' In reference to films with suffering content, he says , "We should already be so deeply in touch with the reality of suffering, it should be such a cellular knowledge for us, that we hardly need to go to a movie to remind us of it." I agree.

The devastation and suffering in Haiti is part of daily life. It is not my daily life, yet a part of me and of humanity I cannot deny, even if it hurts to see it. The world has plenty of sorrow and devastation. We need not be resigned to it. Thankfully, trusted sources, like Britt can keep us up to speed on how to "do good" and make a difference. She offers several options for making donations and participating in relief and support efforts to Haiti.

According to the U.S. UNICEF press release: "Funds are urgently needed to provide safe water, temporary shelter systems, essential medical supplies etc. . . . Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has a population of 9.6 million inhabitants, of which more than half are under 21 years old."

I saw photos of the Earthquake and instantly my heart ached with the suffering of the Haitians in their reality. In addition to making a donation towards relief efforts, I began to practice Tonglen. Tonglen is Tibetan for 'giving and taking' (or, sending and taking). Wikipedia says "in this practice, one visualizes taking onto oneself the suffering of others, and giving one's own happiness and success to others."

'It is a practice of 'using what seems like poison as medicine. Using suffering as the path to compassion for all beings.' Pema Chodron writes,"Tonglen reverses the usual logic of avoiding suffering and seeking pleasure and, in the process, we become liberated from a very ancient prison of selfishness... It awakens our compassion and it also introduces us to a far larger view of reality. It introduces us to the unlimited spaciousness that Buddhists call shunyata. By doing the practice, we begin to connect with the open dimension of our being...

Tonglen can be done for those who are ill, those who are dying or have just died, or for those that are in pain of any kind. It can be done either as a formal meditation practice or right on the spot at any time. "

Please, give yourself and all of humanity a gift. Read more about the simple steps to practice Tonglen, and make it a part of your daily, on the spot awakening of compassion. Donate your consciousness and loving kindness to the people of Haiti and to all of humanity.

And a special thanks to my mother in law,Terra, for introducing me to this practice. She is a Bodhisattva beacon and an awakener of compassion in the world.

From Doubt To Devotion

Today's One Love Nugget goes out to a sister who wrote in about taking action on her Big Visions. She writes "I must acknowledge the part of myself that fears and doubts. As the part of me that dwells in possibility grows larger everyday, there is still a valid part that is scared and unsure. Gabriela, do you have any suggestions for assuring this part that everything is ok?"

This question is universal. I don't know anyone on the planet who doesn't have moments of fear and doubt. On this miraculous life journey, it is natural, human and humbling to have moments of fear and doubt. Sometimes there is wisdom and valuable insight to discover in our fears or doubts that can support us in redirecting, or reevaluating details of our visions. Journal, writing out a dialogue with these parts or speak out loud in the loving witness of a creative companion or intimate friend. Go ahead and HAVE your fears, so that they don't "have" you. Often when we speak these voices, their gifts are revealed and the energetic charge, that otherwise halts our progress, loses steam and dissolves. In a nutshell, yes, all parts ARE valid, so let every one of them drink of the love, even the scared, self doubting ones. This will enrich your journey with the WHOLE of you being honored and included.

On a more meta level, sometimes my fears and doubts are a sign to me that I need to plug back into my Source. Reconnecting to the Genius that moves through us and staying surrendered there often puts everything into perspective and restores peace. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love gives an excellent talk about nurturing the genius of creativity.

My perpetually reSOURCEful friend, River, recently shared with me that , Louise Hay, Affirmation-Healing expert, found that "I approve of myself" was one of the most powerful mantras she had seen in action. I have been integrating it and find it stops self doubt in its tracks. My energy immediately, shifts from monkey mind to meta mind.

Speaking of monkeys...become like Hanuman, he is the embodiment of divine love, "compassion in action, devotion in motion." Hanuman directed all his energy towards merging with Ram (also known here as the God of your heart). Becoming like Hanuman means embodying the unlimited power that lies within us as we merge with our Source. We can be held and allied here as doubt redirects into devotion to our divine expression as an act of service.

Join me, "put your feet into the river, give your life to something bigger" and let me know if this helps assure the whole of you that everything is beyond OK, and right in the sweet spot. Follow your heart, trust your genius and Godspeed ahead...

Loving Humanity This Holiday Season

Today, I had a wild experience. I was stopped at a red light and caught site of the driver in front of me. I could only see half of his face in his side view mirror. He was several years my senior, had a seasoned face, a blank stare. Yet somehow, I saw eternity in him. There was nothing in his expression to bring on such a profound response, though suddenly I was washed with a wave of love for humanity. A subtle sense came over me as if seeing into his soul. I felt his humanness and my love for him...for all of us, in our vulnerable, miraculous, mysterious state. He caught my gaze a few times and though I smiled, the exchange had so much transparency that I felt I should look away. I even did a few times, still allowing love to gaze through my eyes. In a moment we were driving, and life moved on, as it always does.

I have a practice of seeing the Divine in all beings as I walk through the world. I really look at people, noninvasively, yet deeply. I am humbled and graced over and over again by how often hearts are wide open and love is reflected right back...in a gesture, a smile, a warm exchange. Some people are caught off guard but delighted, others are shutdown. Though overall from where I am standing, we live in a loving world.
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This week I have been calling homeless shelters. While I can't offer housing, food for a month or a job, I do want to offer a One Love Alliance charitable event. I'd like to bring warm socks and sandwiches to a group of homeless people. I want to offer them kindness, with a smile. Wherever they are - gathered, isolated in survival, roaming the city of Tucson, or standing at scattered street corners, they are my people too. Humanity has every face under the sun. I mumble and grumble and judge just like anyone else, yet at the core, I love life, I love humanity and I want to see us all thriving. I especially feel this surge as we approach this time of year.

For me, the spirit of this season is full of magic and wonder, good will and the power of community, ritual and light in the darkness. I love the inner quiet that Solstice invites, I love the feast of lights, the joy of creating a heartfelt offering. I love baking cookies (and eating them). For Talia, my 3 year old, the holiday time is still about the sparkly sweetness of life. No consumer, toy hungry, gift fixations here (Yet).

This Holiday Season, I want to focus on loving humanity. Today, I spoke with a friend about our mutual value of instilling a sense of gratitude and love amidst what is often an overwhelming, consumptive, pressure cooker of cultural energy this time of year.

We committed to do at least 5 things that weave together the traditions we loved growing up, evolved along with our heart's joy and the current times.
Here are some of my ideas...What are yours?

• I will donate to my favorite charity, Amala Foundation, who I LOVE, especially their Global Youth Peace Summit, and their focus on the World's Children.
  
• I will repeat the 29 Day Giving Challenge , as recently featured in my friend, Britt's Blog (Also check out her past posts for amazing Have Fun, Do Good Holiday Ideas).
  
• I will paint a recycled cardboard Xmas tree as a family Solstice art project.
• I will bake and cook delicious, nourishing homemade food to share.
  
• I will give of my time, including the gift of leisure time with loved ones.
• I will get out onto the earth, go within and give deep thanks and praise.
• I will see the holidays through the eyes of a child.
• I will gather and connect with my beloveds both near and far.
  
• I will sing, and dance, play my guitar, and play in general.
• I will celebrate life. Now and Now and Now.
  

"There is only one nation-the nation of humanity
There is only one religion- the religion of love
There is only one language,- the language of the heart"
Sai Baba