Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Norms’

On Ownership

August 22nd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

hordingI woke up many days ago and started to wonder, what would life be like if simple concepts that we take as laws never existed. One of these concepts was “ownership”.

The current human system of living is based on the concept of “ownership”.

Let’s just take a moment to examine what ownership can lead to:

Ownership of things ->

The concept of property ->

Exchange, barter and money ->

Concentrated abundance and lack ->

Wealth & security vs. lack & insecurity, rich and poor ->

Working hard, innovation, competition to own property ->

Greed, hording, over abundance ->

Living for money, in seek for security and living for money, in seek of power ->

Security & power = “more ownership” ->

Unfairness, un-equality, abuse, war, crime, injustice, lies, greed, selfishness & the control and “ownership” of the ultimate property, “people”.

In summary, the invention of the concept of “ownership” lead to the creation of the idea of “rich” and “poor”, amongst many other generally negative ideas (war, taking over property of others, greed, control).

In order for a few to become wealthy, rich, secure, powerful and owners of the most property, the concentration of property must be with the wealthy, it follows that many others must “lack” in “monetary wealth”, security, power, and ownership.

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Many native people lived in communities that shared things. They did not understand, respect or seek “profit”.

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Jesus once said:

…I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:24)

The saying was a response to a young rich man who had asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to inherit eternal life.

Jesus replied that he should 1- keep the commandments, 2- sell all his possessions, 3- give the money to the poor, 4- and then follow Jesus. The young man was unwilling to do this. Jesus then spoke this response, leaving his disciples astonished.

Read more…

Seven Deadly Sins from the History Channel, A Must-See Documentary Series

August 17th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

This History Channel series premiered last December 29, 2008. Each of the documentaries discusses the history of one of the seven deadly sins starting with lust, envy, gluttony, sloth, greed, and ending with anger and pride.

The list of “Seven Deadly Sins” is important in the Christian theology, but interestingly, they are actually not found in the bible. It was first written by a monk in 375 AD with 8 dangerous thoughts (not sins). In around 590 AD, Pope Gregory the Great narrowed the list into 7 “Deadly Sins”.

I will write no comments on these videos, just do yourself a favor and watch them to learn more about these concepts and the evolution of ideas that so many accept as laws and take as norms. So, I highly suggest you watch this one.

You can purchase the series from the History Channel store. Alternatively, rent this from Netflix or any local video store, borrow it from a friend. Also, you can watch the Seven Deadly Sins online for free via veoh, youtube or google videos; click here for a pre-set Google video search.

To make things easy for you, I inserted 5-minute previews from veoh of the seven documentaries below. You can watch the full video episodes on veoh, visit veoh or download.com and install their Web Player Beta in your browser.

Just make sure you watch them. The documentary episodes are well done, and very easy to follow, I must say. If you watch all seven, one after the other, you will notice a lot of repetition, but remember this originally aired one episode a week so repetition provided a background for those who missed the previous episodes.


Seven Deadly Sins (Lust)


Watch 1-7 Seven Deadly Sins (Lust) in Educational |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Seven Deadly Sins (Envy)

Watch 2-7 Seven Deadly Sins (Envy) in Educational |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Seven Deadly Sins (Gluttony)

Watch 3-7 Seven Deadly Sins (Gluttony) in Educational |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Seven Deadly Sins (Sloth)

Watch 4-7 Seven Deadly Sins (Sloth) in Educational |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Read more…

Be Your Own Best Friend

August 3rd, 2010 angela englund, cmt 1 comment

girl5-stick-figure

We have to learn to be our own best friends because we fall too easily into the trap of being our own worst enemies.

~Roderick Thorp, Rainbow Drive

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Who’s Roderick Thorp? What’s Rainbow Drive? I dunno. (Maybe you do? Clue me in if you feel like doing so.) Call me ignorant. And INSPIRED! Cuz this quote is loaded- with the key to your life being much, much easier.

Be easier on yourself.

We are programmed and bombarded daily with negative images, “news”, and feedback about ourselves. So it’s no wonder we run loops of negative self-talk over and over, throughout the day, most of which, is unconscious. Until it’s not.

CATCH YOURSELF- notice when you are saying something negative about either yourSELF or about your LIFE and say “stop”. If you want to add some extra breaking-power, use an EFT/Tapping technique, where you take your index and middle finger, and tap just below your eye, on the top edge of your cheekbone, and say “I release this thought about myself. I completely accept myself, just as I am. All is well.” Then take a few deep breaths and just relax.

You are gonna have to live with yourself for the REST of your life, so you might as well become the best of friends with your own worthy self. If you think you are boring, mean, or not a good friend to others, then start by being open to feeling more excited, kind, and a good friend to yourself. Remind yourself throughout the day that YOU CAN DEPEND on you.

We are here on Earth to be in relationship to other people- to receive help, guidance, love, and companionship from others. This is a huge playing field in which we learn to expand ourselves into grander versions of ourselves. But you can also expand yourself ALL ON YOUR OWN! And you do that by FEELING GOOD.

So start feeling better- about yourself and your capacity to handle WHATEVER life brings your way. Feel better about your ability to be loving, and helpful- seek opportunities to do so, so you can be amazed by your experiences. Feel better about your life, no matter WHAT is going on (or NOT going on), but tapping that point below your eye and affirming that life can get better, and you are learning to be your “bestest” friend in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

Then others will do the same. And you don’t even have to “try”- you don’t have to convince them of anything, or say or do anything to help them change. It will be AUTOMATIC. People may start to watch you, look at you, and wonder “what is WITH you?” and you may reply by saying “myself. I am with me. I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” And you’re here to ROCK the world! To shake it back awake- Our brothers and sisters are in need of love and this gentle reminder. Let yourself remember just how amazing you are.

I love you!

Green Routes! Local Eco-Friendly Tourism

July 31st, 2010 Ethan Z 2 comments

I found about this cool website today. It is worth sharing with you..

The Green Routes website is an easy-to-use tool to help you find one-of-a-kind places to eat, play, shop, sleep, and learn. Use the map to find a destination, or add filters by clicking the categories above. You can also search or highlight selected routes for traveling. Enjoy!

green-routes
(click to visit Green Routes)

You can explore “Journeys with first nations” and find out how you can visit a ton of “first nation” locations to learn about their food, culture, sustainable projects and history, make new friends plus much more. Here are some of the places you can tour:

Anishinaabe Culture Center and Gallery, Becker County Historical Society, Becker’s Resort, Cass Lake Chamber of Commerce and Hwy 2 Welcome Center, Cass Lake Museum and Lyle’s Logging Camp, Chippewa National Forest – Blackduck Ranger District, Dennis Banks Native Products, Eagle View Organics Farm, First Week Boutique, Forestedge Winery, Great River Pizzeria, Historic Holmes Theater, Historic Winnibigoshish General Store and Resort, Ice Cracking Lodge & Resort, Lake Country Scenic Byway, Lakes Area Farmers Market, Lakes Processing, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Fitness Center, Leech Lake Tribal College, Maplelag, Minwanjige Café, Mississippi Headwaters Hostel, Muskrat Coffee Company, Native Harvest/White Earth Land Recoverey Project, New Horizons Resort & Lodge, Northern Adventures Guide Service, Northern Lights Casino Gift Shop, Palace Casino Gift Shop, Sahkahtay Indigenous Preservation Society, Spirit of the Forest Enrichment Center, Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, White Earth Public Transit, White Earth Tribal and Community College Extension, York’s Log Cabin

Visit now: journeys.greenroutes.org

You want to explore more?   Nation-wide? .. Visit places such as:

Buffalo Lake Farm & Flea Market, Fairfax Farmers Market, Fieldstone Vineyards, Great Plains Designs, Hector Farmers’ Market, Jeffers Petroglyphs, Moonstone Farm, Morgan Creek Vineyards, Olivia Farmers Market, Putting Green, Renville County Historical Society, Renville Farmers Market, Tatanka Bluffs B&B and thousands of other eco local-tourism options!

Simple!

Find these and more here: www.greenroutes.org

Don’t buy into polluting, blind, commercialized, hyped-up, profit-centered tourism!

Find a local location worthy of your time and money, make new friends, vacation consciously, align your travel plans with your morals and values.

Read more…

On Built-in Meanings & Change

July 30th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Hi again!

Here are a few thoughts for you to consider today:

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The more the old systems reveal their inadequacies the more people will believe change is needed. Every thing that happens is an opportunity. Everything is neural, if you define it as positive you get a positive effect.

NOTHING has a built-in meaning.

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love,
Ethan

Why do People Think They and Others Were Born Evil Sinners?

July 23rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Why do people think that they (and all other humans) are born as babies with sin, with this burden of sin, disobeying a god, with an imperfection, with evil?

This notion is accepted in mainstream culture, just examine for a second where it came from, then ask yourself if you believe it.

I got news for you, you are born pure, clean, free of sin, perfect and beautiful. Humans are intrinsically good.

Think about it.

Why Do People Think It Is Ok To Waste Food?

July 18th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Food for thought,

Why Do People Think It Is Ok To Waste Food?

Leave your answer in a comment

The Real Jesus

July 16th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Why do people think Jesus had a European looks (long soft blond hair and green/blue eyes)?

jesus

The above photo is the face of Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus in the movie “The Passion of the Christ,” is similar to many modern-day images of Jesus.

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Do you remember your childhood memories of Jesus?

Do you remember seeing images of him in bibles, posters, Sunday school literature or seeing conceptualization of Jesus in statues?

If you are White or Hispanic, Catholic or Protestant (even Orthodox or Evangelical,Born Again, Baptist etc) you just may remember a blond Jesus with long hair.

One famous image of Jesus was a painting by Warner Sallman, called “The Head of Christ” (1940). It showedd Jesus with flowing blond hair and blue eyes. He’s clean-looking, safe, passive, and even feminine to a degree.

This is Sallman’s Jesus:

Jesus_Sallman_sm

Let us take a look at more conceptualizations of Jesus from around the world,

real-jesus

jesus7

b-jesus-triumphal-entry1

The image above is from a popular Children’s Bible (popular in the 70′s), Jesus had blond, blue-eyed Jesus throughout

jesus_christ-766742

jesus1

faces_black_jesus3

The image above is of Jesus is from Ethiopia, from the 17th or 18th centuries.

Read more…

Which Effects The Other, Media OR Culture?

July 15th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Food for thought,

Which has more effect on the other, media outlets (movies, TV shows and ads) or real life (main stream media)?

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My view is that media has a bigger effect on culture than culture has on media. Simply put, people see it on TV, in fashion shows, in music videos, in ads, done by celebrities, owned by modern-day mystical figures, adopted by friends … and people mimic.  Media has the upper hand on culture, not vice-versa.

What do you think?

Leave your answer in a comment.

Why Do People Worship Idols?

July 12th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Sponsored Ads:

Thanks for your patronage. Article starts below:

why do people worship sports figures?
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worship2
why do people worship money?
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why do people worship material items?
why do people worship vane concepts?
why do people worship figures?

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why do people worship idols?

why do people even care

about

these

?

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.

leave a comment with your response

Why Do People Think Eating Breakfast Means Eating Cereal?

July 12th, 2010 Ethan Z 2 comments

Why do people think that eating breakfast means eating cereal?

leave a comment with your answer.

Have Another Drink. Why?

July 11th, 2010 Ethan Z 2 comments

3d human with a red question markI constantly find myself seeing things differently than people I am with. Cultural norms that people accept as divine laws to live by amaze me every single day. I remember asking “but why” as far back as my memory goes. I probably asked “why” as a baby before I could even talk.

I’d see people do a certain thing, say certain things,  or react in certain ways, then I’d ask myself “why”? I asked why because the actions did not seem positive, or seemed lacking in judgment, logic, or respect. Asking “why” meant that something did not make sense to me.

If I verbalized my questions I usually heard unsatisfying answer, most of the time  the answers went like this: “because that is the culture”, or “because it’s in the bible”, or (this may be my favorite one) “because this is what people do”. Some may call you “weird” for questioning “what people do”. Years went by, my questions never got an answer.

Today, I have much more insight into human reasoning and behavior, coupled with love and understanding. Thanks to hypnosis, varied life experiences and guidance, I understand why people do things better.

Understanding something doesn’t mean I agree with it though. It also doesn’t mean I stopped asking “why”. I continue to ask “why” now purely from sheer amazement.

One simple, yet very common example that I came across recently was being at a party, with alcoholic beverages, and seeing a gal tell her friend “have another drink.”  When the friend indicated a “no”, the gal insisted and asked again trying to be more persuasive.

This made me shake my head in disagreement, I probably gave the persons a shocked look as well. I hide my opinions less than I used to do as a kid, some people don’t like that. I don’t care.

Replace the alcoholic beverage seen here with food, fashion, cars, work, computer games, opinions, actions, pretty much anything that a person (a groups, an institution, organization etc) may ask you to do (or think) because they think “it is cool”, or because “it is the way people do things.”

Now, if you take a moment to think about this, you may start notice how common this example is.

If your friend was a true friend, she/he would RESPECT your wishes and opinions. When you say “no” to any idea, a “real friend” would immediately respect your “no”, they will smile and move on to another issue out of sheer respect for you. It’s true that your friend my have the idea that drinking more means “you are having more fun”, she/he may want to see you have more fun based on their understanding of “having fun”, but if you said “no”, for whatever reason then a “no” is a “no”.

You do not need persuasion, you do not need someone to tell you how to have fun. YOU are the one having fun, you decide what fun is to you.

When your gut feeling, desires, or simple leanings go in one direction, if you are happy doing a certain thing, and are then faced with a friend (or anyone for that matter) telling you that this is “not how people have fun”, be bold and say “No.”,

“This is how I have fun.” “This is how I enjoy life”.

Read more…

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday

June 21st, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Was is worth it?

By Mahatma Gandhi

Is it Worth it?

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Hint: the answer is “No”

I’m Going to Fast

June 3rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

This article was written on June 1st.

I am currently studying QiGong, which is the chinese are of manipulating life energy and using it for healing. Many so called miraculous stories surround the use of life force, prana, Qi, Chee from healing the body and mind to fasting for many days.

I don’t have much experience with complete fasting (i.e. not drinking or eating anything) for many hours or days. I have tried partial fasts (i.e. eating one item and drinking water only) on a few occasions but these partial fasts never lasted more than 8 hours.

Over the last couple months, on multiple occasions, I’ve come across the mention of multi-day fasting practiced by yogis, QiGong masters and Native Americans during Sun-dancing.

On my most recent QiGong class, a couple days ago, the teacher talked about fasting and how one could breath through the skin or feed on light. He did not go into details since this teaching is for a more advanced class than the one I am attending. I was quite surprised that he mentioned this, since the idea of fasting has been on my mind. I’ve had a gut feeling/urge or feeling that I should fast for quite some time now.

This was the last mention of fasting I needed to hear, I am now intrigued enough that I am planning on fasting. I will start slow and easy and see where this will take me.

A couple weeks ago I came across a few videos on Youtube of an Indian man who claimed to have not eaten or drank anything for decades. His name is Prahlad Jani Mataji.

I will gather more info on this man and write another article soon. I will also update you on my fasting experiments.

Billions Of Earth-Like Planets In Our Galaxy

June 3rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Extrasolar-PlanetsIt is worth remembering that our galaxy alone has billions of Earth-like planets, and these earths are “[not only] probably habitable but they probably are also going to be inhabited”

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Galaxy has ‘billions of Earths’

There could be one hundred billion Earth-like planets in our galaxy, a US conference has heard.

Dr Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution of Science said many of these worlds could be inhabited by simple lifeforms.

He was speaking at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago.

So far, telescopes have been able to detect just over 300 planets outside our Solar System.

But, based on the limited numbers of planets found so far, Dr Boss has estimated that each Sun-like star has on average one “Earth-like” planet.

This simple calculation means there would be huge numbers capable of supporting life.

Not only are they probably habitable but they probably are also going to be inhabited,” Dr Boss told BBC News. “But I think that most likely the nearby ‘Earths’ are going to be inhabited with things which are perhaps more common to what Earth was like three or four billion years ago.” That means bacterial lifeforms.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7891132.stm

The caption below was written in November 2004.

Other Earths

So, after having compiled a bestiary of exotic planets, many the size of Jupiter and locked in a deadly embrace with their star, what are the chances of the planet-hunters identifying rather smaller, sedate rocks upon which life might actually get the chance to evolve? It’s not as if these planets are likely to exist in minute numbers: current estimates [Using the Drake Equation] border on there being 30 billion terrestrial planets in our Galaxy alone [this is an article from 2002]. The odds of finding such planets lengthen a lot when one considers that these planets would have longer years and cause much smaller wobbles in their star’s position.

The odds shorten again the longer we look for these planets. Hot Jupiters tend to get found simply because the radial velocity method is most sensitive to their kind. It’s only now that smaller planets are being found, although none of them are likely to harbour life. Adopt a different method of detection, and we might start to see terrestrial planets, instead of inferring their presence.

This is precisely what the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) telescope is designed to do. This instrument comprises four space-based telescopes flying in formation. Their light is combined in such a way as to vastly increase resolution. One of the indicators that TPF will be looking for is the presence of elemental oxygen in a planet’s atmosphere. All oxygen in our atmosphere is there because of photosynthetic organisms: plants and cyanobacteria. Oxygen is therefore a key signature of life6.

TPF is not due to fly until 2015 at the earliest. In the meantime, Earth-based telescopes will get bigger and better, and astronomers will be able to observe for longer wobbles than they currently can. Even if we can’t see the little green men yet, we’ll have a much better idea of where they might live.

Source: H2G2 extrasolar planet hunting

Read more…

Documentary: The Boy With The Incredible Brain

May 23rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

This documentary is very much worth watching. It shows the potential power of the human mind that we ALL posses. As you watch this, I ask you to consider this question: “what is normal?”

Enjoy!

Intro: This is the breathtaking story of Daniel Tammet. A twenty-something with extraordinary mental abilities, Daniel is one of the world’s few savants. He can do calculations to 100 decimal places in his head, and learn a language in a week. This documentary follows Daniel as he travels to America to meet the scientists who are convinced he may hold the key to unlocking similar abilities in everyone. He also meets the world’s most famous savant, the man who inspired Dustin Hoffman’s character in the Oscar winning film ‘Rain Man’. (2005)

PS. Mr. Tammet is not a boy as the title of this video implies, he is a genius and a very bright man.

Problem! Really?

May 18th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

It would be helpful to define the problem before implementing the solution.

-Dr. Garbonzo Chizenheim

This is true in any situation, be it a relationship, a dis-ease, car problem, computer issue, an obstacle to progress, inventions, technology, energy generation, space travel, oil spills … literally anything!

Even once a problem has been defined, it is a good idea to go back and redefining it periodically in order to continually find progress. Nothing is constant but change itself, problems always change so do circumstances.

I often find people (including doctors, politicians, teachers, etc..) working to fix (or fight) a problem that was “incorrectly defined” or one that is a “ghost” because it existed at some point but no longer does.

Remember: Many times the problem you are tackling may be someone else’s definition, thus it is not “your” problem.

Got a problem?

Then, define it as clearly as possible.

Once done,

if the problem still exists,

and if you’ve defined it correctly,

your problem now is

a

progress opportunity

The Meaning Of Everything!

May 13th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

I recently said this to a friend and thought it was worth sharing right here:

The meaning you give to anything determines the experience you get from it

Indeed

who am I

NASA Using Color Therapy

April 23rd, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

colortherapyThis article about a NASA technology utilizing LED lights to help plants grow in space and humans to heal on Earth. Results are remarkable in healing wounds, this device is small, light weight and doesn’t consume much battery power due to the use of energy efficient LED.  The light seems to be “increasing energy inside cells“. It was found that “skin and muscle cells grown in cultures and exposed to the LED infrared light grow 150 to 200 percent faster than ground control cultures not stimulated by the light”

This is an AMAZING article, about a technology, tested and proven to heal people. Definitely a main-stream project, including laboratory and human trials, approved by the U.S. FDA and funded by a NASA Small Business Innovation Research contract.

This article is from the year 2000,  yet I don’t see main stream doctors and hospitals using this color therapy technology to heal wounds people today, how come this device or similar ones are not being sold in stores?

The article mentions that Dr. Whelan’s findings will be summarized in upcoming issues of Space Technology and Applications International Forum 2001 and in The Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery.

I have more questions:

Was this study mentioned in these journals? Would the FDA approve a device like this to be sold to the public? What would the AMA think of this device?

If you have read about this study somewhere else or have further info please leave a comment. Thanks!

Title: NASA Space Technology Shines Light on Healing

Doctors at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have discovered the healing power of light with the help of technology developed for NASA’s Space Shuttle. Using powerful light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, originally designed for commercial plant growth research in space, scientists have found a way to help patients here on Earth.

Doctors are examining how this special lighting technology helps hard-to-heal wounds, such as diabetic skin ulcers, serious burns, and severe oral sores caused by chemotherapy and radiation. The project includes laboratory and human trials, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and funded by a NASA Small Business Innovation Research contract through the Technology Transfer Department at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

“So far, what we’ve seen in patients and what we’ve seen in laboratory cell cultures, all point to one conclusion,” said Dr. Harry Whelan, professor of pediatric neurology and director of hyperbaric medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. “The near-infrared light emitted by these LEDs seems to be perfect for increasing energy inside cells. This means whether you’re on Earth in a hospital, working in a submarine under the sea or on your way to Mars inside a spaceship, the LEDs boost energy to the cells and accelerate healing.”

Dr. Whelan’s findings will be summarized in upcoming issues of Space Technology and Applications International Forum 2001 and in The Journal of Clinical Laser Medicine and Surgery. Other related peer-reviewed journals have published articles on Whelan’s medical research with light-emitting diodes.

Dr. Whelan’s NASA-funded research has already seen remarkable results using the light-emitting diodes to promote healing of painful mouth ulcers caused by cancer therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy. The treatment is quick and painless.

Read more…

What is Love?

April 20th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

cat-dog-friends

To love is to recognize yourself in another. The others “otherness” then stands revealed as an illusion pertaining to the purely human realm, the realm of form. The longing for love that is in every child is the longing to be recognized, not on the level of form, but on the level of Being.

When another recognizes you, that recognition draws the dimension of Being more fully into this world through both of you. That is Love that redeems the world.

Love is the recognition of oneness in the world of duality.

By: Unknown

People are Often Unreasonable

January 30th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you … See More spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you’ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, It is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

On Peace

January 26th, 2010 Ethan Z No comments

Peace …comes within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the Universe and all its powers, and when they realize that…the center of the Universe… is really everywhere, it is within each of us.

—Black Elk, Oglala Lakota, 1947

Christmas, It’s The Time To Be Stress Free!

December 21st, 2009 Ethan Z. 2 comments

xmas2It is sad how people experience stress during the holidays, but things don’t have to be this way!

The shopping, driving, mailing out greeting cards, going to the post office, budgeting, traveling and seeing relatives. Sounds familiar?

I want to tell you now, that you can change this. You do not have to be stressed. In fact, you can be happy and make a bunch of other people happy.

You do not have to navigate crowded malls, get stuck in traffic, drive long distances, deal with airports and air travel, worry what gifts to buy, wrap gifts, mail gifts, send cards… nothing! Yes, you can simply say “no”.

Many alternatives to the commercialized, stressful, costly and polluting norms exist. Consider finding a bunch of friends that are close to your heart and locale (in your same state or region) and spend time with them.

Give people good words, give good wishes, give hugs, give love, give smiles, do good deeds, be extra relaxed, open doors for people, plant trees, etc.. The sky is the limit. You do not have to venture into these pesky malls.

You have the power to save money, save the environment, save yourself from headaches and have a greater more positive impact this season by being a better friend to yourself, to others and to nature.

Yes, YOU have to power to keep things simple. To say no. To start new traditions. To be unique.
Consider giving a donation to non profit organizations, give the Gift of Microfinance , be selfless, serve others, or make some good food and invite people to eat.

Consider spending time alone in meditation, in counting your blessings, in reflection, in prayer, in adoring Nature or a candle’s flame. Take a walk on a trail, go alone or take a loved one, if it’s cold bundle up and go out, adore the snow, adore the sky, adore the trees, spend time with your God or Nature.

Make the new years, Christmas, solstice or Yule a time to be good, truly good to yourself, to nature and to other people.

If you celebrate Christmas, this year remember that Jesus said “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” and “sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Rid yourself of materialism and stress, keep things simple, honest, spiritual; you will be happier and make others happier while saving a bunch of trees, reducing your carbon and waste footprint and feeling better than ever for having done what you KNOW is right, not what you are told is right.

Remember, you are not alone.

Blessings, Love & Wisdom

This Holiday Season, Give The Gift Of Microfinance

December 19th, 2009 Ethan Z 1 comment

Rather than buying gifts, packaged in boxes, wrapping them & mailing them out (think of the carbon and waste produced as a result), how about giving the gift of hope and opportunity to people via micro-finance or micro-credit?

This season, you can help others find hope and start businesses in the US or around the world with a small financial gift!

Learn more here:

Find more on how you can support charitable efforts

The USA Way – Spend More, Get Less Healthcare

December 13th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

A series of news stories were published based upon a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, (OECD), that showed that the United States spent the most on healthcare, yet was not doing well when compared to other wealthy nations in several key areas of health measurements.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development issued a report on December 8, 2009 called the “OECD Health Data 2009: Statistics and Indicators for 30 Countries” which included a detailed study on the US healthcare system. The portion of the report specific to the US called, “OECD Health Data 2009, How Does the United States Compare”, has with it some telling statistics about the US healthcare system and the results we get for the money spent.

Some of the interesting facts uncovered by the report are the following:

The United States ranks far ahead of other OECD countries in terms of total health spending per capita, with spending of $7,290 . That represents almost two-and-a-half times greater than the other nations average of $2,964 in 2007. The next closest nation is Norway which follows, with spending of $4,763 per capita, followed by Switzerland with spending of $4,417 per capita.

The US spends 16% of its Gross Domestic Product on healthcare, compared with France, Switzerland and Germany, which allocated 11.0%, 10.8% and 10.4% of their GDP to health respectively.

The US pays a smaller portion of the health care bill from public funding than other nations. Only 45% of healthcare expenses are paid by public funds which is a much smaller amount compared to an average of 73% for other OECD nations.

Infant mortality in the US is at 6.7 deaths per 1,000 live births which is well above the average of 3.9 per 1,000 live births.

Life expectancy at birth in the U.S. was 78.1 years in 2007 which is a year less than the OECD average of 79.1, and puts the U.S. just ahead of the Czech Republic, Poland and Mexico. Norway and Switzerland have a 2 to 4 year longer life expectancy over the US.

The study also noted that drug spending has increased everywhere with the US leading the way. According to the report, per capita spending on pharmaceuticals rose by almost 50 percent over the last 10 years in OECD countries, reaching a total of $650 billion in 2007. The U.S. was the world’s biggest spender on pharmaceuticals, spending $878 per person, with Canada next at $691 per person and the OECD average at $461.

Be Aware Be Alive

December 1st, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

During your day, periodically bring your attention back to yourself. Bring your awareness from wherever it is, from the ether, from the computer, from other people; wrap it up and bring it all back in, as if you are calling the troops home. Call your energy and your attention from everywhere it’s at back into you. Regroup your thoughts, breath deeply, calm and be present inside yourself.

If you do this you will be aware, present & most importantly alive.

What Do I Need?

November 17th, 2009 Ethan Z. 2 comments

Ask yourself what do you need right now:

Do you need to breath deeply?
Do you need close your eyes?
Do you need to drink water?
Do you need to eat?
Do you need stretch?
Do you need to use the bathroom?
Do you need to relax and take a break?
Do you need to plan something?
Do you need to stop?
Do you need look away into the distance from whatever you are doing?
Do you need to stop eating that snack?
Do you need to go on a walk?
Do you need fresh air?
Do you need a nap (to sleep)?
etc …

Now that you’ve asked, will you give yourself what it needs?

The lesson here is to check in with yourself from time to time, listen to the most important person (YOU).

This sounds simple, doesn’t it?

It is, but sometimes when we are at work, studying or working a project and too busy with life, paying attention to others, we forget to pay attention to ourselves.

So,

from time to time,

Ask yourself

questions

“What do I need now?”

&

you will be more present in the now and more alive

Ethan Z

Giving Up TV

October 4th, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

My TV broke 3 weeks ago. Since, I’ve had much more time for quietness and for reading. I am getting more stuff done and am flipping books like a lean mean reading machine. I do watch movies or certain TV episodes online on websites that offer streaming, flash and divx movies. But I can easily now read more, which is good since I am currently studying for the GMAT test, reading the book “Relearning to See”, taking a hypnosis class. Not to mention my day job. Life is busy, I am glad the TV doesn’t work!

What is Courage?

August 23rd, 2009 Ethan Z. No comments

Consider these famous quotes on courage:

Courage, an optimistic attitude, common sense, and a feeling of being at home upon the crust of the earth, will enable (us) to face advantages and disadvantages with equal firmness.

–Alfred Adler

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.
~Ambrose Redmoon

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.
~Mary Anne Radmacher

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
~Winston Churchill

Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.
~Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

Fear and courage are brothers.
~Proverb

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.
~Raymond Lindquist

Courage is knowing what not to fear.
~Plato

Courage is a kind of salvation.
~Plato

Have the courage to live. Anyone can die.
~Robert Cody

Almost Done Reading Molecules Of Emotion by Candace Pert

June 15th, 2009 Ethan Z. 1 comment

I’ve been reading the book: Molecules Of Emotion by Candace Pert. I have a chapter left to go, and I am very eager to read it.

I have to say, the more you read the better this book gets. The first half is more of a biography, and is a very good foundation for the later parts of the book, it also gives you an insight into the life of a scientists in the lab. The last few chapters have a different taste and are loaded with information, names and useful references.

If you are interested in researching holistic and complementary health topics or the body-mind connection, the later half of this book is a very good starting point.

Find it on Amazon and read users reviews (rated by 118 readers – got 4starts/5 avg rating as of the date of this article)