09-25-2009, 02:11 PM
Hello dear friend, and thank you for your beautiful post.
I understand your urge, indeed, it can be seen to be echoed in 3D Sunset's post a few months back in the thread 'Why are you here, at Bring4th?'. In which he mirrors your feeling towards doing something rather than being something. A spin off from this has been the creation of our monthly group meditations which take place on the date of the month therein (i.e. Sept 9th, Oct 10th, etc).
However even a group meditation is still just a group exercise in being. As far as actually doing, I have a few things that I try to put in to daily practice.
1. Kindness and honesty towards all, including ourselves. This is akin to your example of smiling at random people on a bus. I also have just recently started attempts at complete honesty with other people, forgoing small excuses for being late (as an example). This has been something I've decided to take on a challenge to myself, for futher self development and general blue ray center blockage-clearing. I've also taken on the challenge of "guard-down" interaction with everyone that I come in to contact with. Which sort of goes along with the honesty challenge. This was inspired by our own forum member Mikesc:
2. Financial donation to charities. My wife and I donate a small sum of money to different charity each month. I feel a general sense of joy in helping others this way, and I think it's a fantastic way to say "I love you" to the world population as a whole, since I have no idea who specifically benefits.
3. Reduction of meat intake. I do not wish to promote any sense of moral duty attached to this because I know that not everyone shares my view and also some people need to eat meat in order to keep their body complex healthy. I do not feel it is 'wrong' to eat meat. But since I am in good health I (personally) see the elimination of certain meats from my diet as a service to the Earth. Specifically red meats since that is such a large contributor to environmental harm. I still eat poultry and fish at this time. However I have considered possibly changing that down the road also.
Those are the three 'big' things that I participate in as regards physical service. Later on down the road, when my infant children are older, I'm hoping to donate personal time in the way of activism (feeding the hungry, doing AIDS walks, "adopt a highway", etc.)
Great thread might I say. Curious to hear about others' thoughts.
I understand your urge, indeed, it can be seen to be echoed in 3D Sunset's post a few months back in the thread 'Why are you here, at Bring4th?'. In which he mirrors your feeling towards doing something rather than being something. A spin off from this has been the creation of our monthly group meditations which take place on the date of the month therein (i.e. Sept 9th, Oct 10th, etc).
However even a group meditation is still just a group exercise in being. As far as actually doing, I have a few things that I try to put in to daily practice.
1. Kindness and honesty towards all, including ourselves. This is akin to your example of smiling at random people on a bus. I also have just recently started attempts at complete honesty with other people, forgoing small excuses for being late (as an example). This has been something I've decided to take on a challenge to myself, for futher self development and general blue ray center blockage-clearing. I've also taken on the challenge of "guard-down" interaction with everyone that I come in to contact with. Which sort of goes along with the honesty challenge. This was inspired by our own forum member Mikesc:
http://www.bring4th.org/forums/showthrea...212&page=2' Wrote:"I’ve found that it is best to approach an interaction with what I describe as “your guard down.” This opens you to allow the flow of more positive energy from yourself. Whether others realize it or not they are affected. They no longer tend to view the situation as an attempt to get something from them, but as an honest exchange of information. They are able to get let there guard down because they don’t feel the need to defend their own position. This really seems to help me break down barriers in communication. No one has to defend themselves or their ideas, so everyone can be more open to other ideas. Keeping “your guard down” has proven to be an incredibly useful skill when dealing with everything from my supervisors at work, to talking to people about religion and spirituality. The whole dynamic of an interaction can change from separate individuals each espousing and defending there own position, to a group interaction looking for common ground."
2. Financial donation to charities. My wife and I donate a small sum of money to different charity each month. I feel a general sense of joy in helping others this way, and I think it's a fantastic way to say "I love you" to the world population as a whole, since I have no idea who specifically benefits.
3. Reduction of meat intake. I do not wish to promote any sense of moral duty attached to this because I know that not everyone shares my view and also some people need to eat meat in order to keep their body complex healthy. I do not feel it is 'wrong' to eat meat. But since I am in good health I (personally) see the elimination of certain meats from my diet as a service to the Earth. Specifically red meats since that is such a large contributor to environmental harm. I still eat poultry and fish at this time. However I have considered possibly changing that down the road also.
Those are the three 'big' things that I participate in as regards physical service. Later on down the road, when my infant children are older, I'm hoping to donate personal time in the way of activism (feeding the hungry, doing AIDS walks, "adopt a highway", etc.)
Great thread might I say. Curious to hear about others' thoughts.