"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." --Baha'u'llah

If we wish to make the world a better place to live in by "rebuilding" our communities into sustainable communities; then we should approach this endeavor with an open mind. To me this means being non-judgmental and detached from the outcome.

Because of the environmental, economic, and social crisis that we face today; it is very important that we look at our present circumstances in a holistic way. We must change the way in which we view the world. And we must change the way in which we conduct our affairs.

We must take a look at and consider the alternatives. There is every indication that we will destroy the planet, if we continue to carry on business as usual. The alternatives do work. We must get past the social conditioning that we have been exposed to. The alternatives should be culturally based and appropriately placed: Re. energy from the wind where it is windy. Most industries that go "green" make more profit in the long run because the machinery runs more efficiently and more waste is eliminated.

We should be working to be more self-sufficient, thereby making our communities more self-sufficient. This can be accomplished by using the renewable resources which are in and near the community. This will help to insure employment for everyone in the community. Please have a look at the LATEST NEWS from the RSS feeds on this page (scroll down), or you can take a look at my Spiritual Transformation Store by clicking on the Amazon tab at the top of the page on the right (then scroll down).

I invite you to look at my SOCIETY GUIDE. Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day! --Larry

The Power of Unity

"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." --Baha'u'llah

To effectively build a sustainable community we must change the way in which we view our world. To change the way we view the world, all people must recognize themselves as spiritual beings, and realize the oneness of mankind. All of us have been given the gift of the mind. The human mind has access to all knowledge. Human beings can only gain wisdom and understanding from putting this knowledge into action. The only way that our minds can gain access to true knowledge is through prayer and meditation.

Both prayer and meditation have helped me to keep an open mind, which has changed my view of the world. I am now more open to new possibilities - "There is more than one way to skin a cat." I have been coming to the realization that everyone on the planet can have a good quality of life. This vision is not a dream, it is a reality that will happen if everyone on the planet works in unity towards this goal. The unification of mankind starts with the individual, then expands to the family or clan, then to the community, then to the world.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead

Please visit my Spiritual Transformation Store: For books, music and DVD's (for meditation music - click on DVD's once you are in the store, scroll further down the page for a list of books on self help) - to reach the STORE click on the Amazon tab on the top right hand side of the web page and scroll down.

SOCIETY GUIDE

Thank you for your time and have a good day! --Larry

Physical Well Being - Exercise

"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. --Baha'u'llah

The spiritual transformation process is closely linked to our physical well being. The spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental aspects of our being are always working together in a synergistic way to make us who we really are. There are four main areas in our physical being which we should pay close attention to and they are: Nutrition, exercise, cleanliness, and water intake. In my last two posts I briefly discussed the water and nutrition aspects of our physical being.

Exercise relieves stress and increases the oxygen supply to our brain. During exercise the body releases endorphins and natural cortisone which will help to enhance any healing processes that are taking place in our body. Regular exercise will normalize our sleeping patterns and enhance our self confidence. And most importantly exercise keeps our heart healthy. For good health it is recommended that a person spends at least twenty minutes a day exercising.

There are several physical meditation exercises such as Yoga and Tai Chi - which will take you to deeper levels of awareness. These two practices are very effective ways to enhance our mental and physical well being.

I used to feel tired and out of sorts all the time. Then I stopped drinking coffee, increased my water intake (drink only water with ozone), started exercising and taking a long walk every day. I also pray and meditate every day for an hour (half hour in the morning and a half hour in the evening). I do not smoke, do drugs, or use alcohol - I used to do all three. Now I look forward to getting up in the morning and I feel good and I feel happy. I now enjoy my life. Please have a look a the latest HEALTH NEWS from the RSS feeds on the this page (scroll down), or you can take a look at my Spiritual Transformation Store by clicking on the Amazon tab at the top of the page on the right.

I invite you to look at my SOCIETY GUIDE. Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day!! Larry

Physical Well Being - Water

"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." --Baha'u'llah

To be a whole person and to be in a total state of well being, means we must pay attention to the four parts of our being as described by the medicine wheel. If we wish to build a sustainable community, then we must be physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fit.

One issue which we need to address is the amount of and the type of water that we drink on a daily basis. We are not drinking enough water. Studies have found that a large percentage of people in North America are suffering from various degrees of dehydration. Tap water is full of chlorine, fluorine, and heavy metals - all of these are very poisonous and build up in our bodies over a period of time.

We should be drinking spring water or distiled water that has been ozonated for optimum health benefits. We should be drinking about two liters of water per day. The following article explains why. Latest HEALTH NEWS from rss feeds. Please visit my NUTRITION GUIDE.

Title: Dehydration and Weight Loss

Author: Erwin Chua (MCP, MCDST)

Article:
About 70% of the Earth is composed of water. When you think
about it, it's no surprise that the human body is composed of
just as much water.

In order for the body to function optimally, the body must be
kept properly hydrated. The presence of water in the body
contributes to the overall health and vitality of the body.

Water is present in all bodily functions including: Regulating
body temperature, Nutrition, Digestion, Elimination of waste,
Circulation, Respiration, Absorption, Reproduction, Etc.

Having enough water then is essential to survival. A human body
can survive on water alone for up to 10 days, but the opposite
is critical, as the body can survive with no water for only 3
days, getting weaker and weaker until the body functions cease.

Which comes to the subject of dehydration. Dehydration is a
condition that is present in all humans and is a serious concern
for athletes. Dehydration is the condition by which there is an
insufficient volume of water present in the body.

The effects of dehydration are subtle but cumulative.

Decrease in strength, endurance, and overall performance.

The body needs water to "lubricate" the body ability to
deal with stress during use. Athletes with a lack of water get
tired easily, and affect the athlete's ability to make judgments
and concentration.

Proteins consumed are a diuretic. Protein require an
above average amount of water to aid in digestion and breaking
down into amino acids. The process also yields waste which must
be flushed from the system.

Water aids in burning fat. The function of the kidney is
to eliminate toxins from the body. One of the liver's functions
is to burn fat. If there is insufficient water, the kidneys will
tend to hold on to all the water it can. When this happens,
waste will not eliminated. And the liver will try to help out
the kidney, impairing the fat burning process.

How much is enough?

Conventional wisdom suggests that about 8-10 glasses of water
(about 2 liters) is sufficient for the average consumer. For
athletes and people with an active lifestyle they have to drink
more than that.

Consume water before, during and after workouts. This
will keep the body hydrated throughout a workout or routine and
maintain optimal performance in the body.

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol puts fat burning activities of
the body to a screeching halt. Drink electrolytes like Gatorade
if you are drinking to offset the effects of alcohol hangover.

Liquid supplements must not replace real food.
Supplements are present as an aid, not the main course since the
body need solids to create the thermic effect in converting
food.

For more info on health, nutrition and weight loss visit our
website on the url below.

About the author:
Erwin Chua MCP, MCDST has been involved with martial arts since
1991, participating in matches in kendo and escrima during his
college days. Currently, he is based in Penang, Malaysia
spending his time working out, practicing the Way, building web
sites, and writing articles on health, nutrition, and travel.
For more info on health, nutrition and weight loss on his
website at: http://www.lowfatbodysecrets.co

Thank you for your time, and have a wonderful day! --Larry

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Physical Well Being - Nutrition

"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." --Baha'u'llah

As discussed in my previous post (part 3) - based on the medicine wheel, a human being is made up of four parts: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The whole is always greater than the sum of the parts. Each of the parts are fully integrated to make up the whole human being. If one part is not "working" properly, then the other parts will be adversely affected. To fully realize the benefits of prayer and meditation one must pay attention to the physical part of their being.

One thing that is of utmost importance to our physical well being is nutrition. The B vitamins are crucial to our mental well being. So we should make sure that we are not deficient in our B vitamin intake. It is always better to ingest nutrients from natural sources such as foods, however in this day and age it is not always possible to get all that our body needs from foods. Therefore we need to take supplements. Also, the B vitamins must be balanced according to the natural way (to much of one B vitamin can cause a deficiency in another B vitamin). If one is going to use supplements - look for the words "from natural sources" printed on the label. This will ensure that you are getting the proper balance. You can use soy lecithin and brewer's yeast to meet all your B vitamin needs on a daily basis. Latest HEALTH NEWS.

I invite you to take a look at my NUTRITION GUIDE. Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day!! --Larry

Part Eight - Community - Spiritual Transformation

"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." --Baha'u'llah

PART EIGHT: How to meditate.

Here are some ways in which you can achieve a meditative state, thereby arriving at the center of the medicine wheel. You can start by saying prayers. The best prayers to use are the revealed prayers, those prayers given to us by the Manifestations or Prophets of God. After saying the prayers one should remain in a state of silence for a few moments. You may also chant the prayers (much more powerful), or chant single words like OM, or chant single versus taken from the holy books (scriptures). I find it most beneficial if I chant for ten minutes or more. You should chant until you feel relaxed and your internal dialog is silenced. Or you can put on a CD, sit in a comfortable chair, close your eyes, and concentrate only on the music. I recommend new age or classical music, something soothing or music that elevates your soul. I highly recommend Enya. More on how to meditate in my next post. Please visit my Spiritual Transformation STORE for more information on prayer, meditation, and self-improvement. (select the Amazon tab at the top of the page, then scroll down)

Sixteen Principles for Recreating the World: (another set of three)

-Morals and ethics. Sustainable human and community development requires a moral foundation. When morals decline and basic ethical principles are violated, development stops.

-Learning. Human beings are learning beings. We begin learning while we are still in our mothers' wombs, and unless something happens to close off our minds and paralyze our capacities, we keep on learning throughout our entire lives.

-Sustainability. To sustain something means to enable it to continue for a long time. Authentic development does not use up or undermine what it needs to keep on going

("Sixteen Principles" taken from "Recreating the World a practical guide to building sustainable communities" by Michael and Judie Bopp - e-mail: fourworlds@telusplanet.net)

I invite you to explore my SOCIETY GUIDE.

To be continued next post, thank you for your time and have a wonderful day!! --Larry

Part Seven - Community - Spiritual Transformation

"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."
--Baha'u'llah

PART SEVEN: My experience with prayer and meditation.

I find that when I sing or chant a prayer it allows me easy access into the gap between my thoughts. When you are in the gap, then you are in a meditative state. This will allow you greater concentration. And because you are transcending, you will have a clear vision.

Singing or chanting prayers at the beginning of a meeting will help to relax and unify the participants. People will be less likely to argue, because they will have a more open and receptive mind. It would be ideal to spend ten minutes or more on prayer and meditation, as it takes time for people to slip into the gap - especially for people who have had a very stressful day. I have found that when people pray and meditate together, at the beginning of a meeting, the meeting will run more efficiently and effectively. When people become unified during a meeting - it will inspire them to take action. Please visit my Spiritual Transformation STORE for more information on prayer, meditation, and self-improvement. (select the Amazon tab at the top of the page, then scroll down)

"There is a precise mechanism through which all desires can be manifested. These four steps are as follows:

Step one: You slip into the gap between thoughts. The gap is the window, the corridor, the transformational vortex through which the personal psyche communicates with the cosmic psyche.

Step two: You have a clear intention of a clear goal in the gap.

Step three: You relinquish your attachment to the outcome, because chasing the outcome or getting attached to it entails coming out of the gap.

Step four: You let the universe handle the details.

It is important to have a clear goal in your awareness, but it is also important to relinquish your attachment to the goal. And the goal is in the gap, and the gap is the potentiality to orchestrate the details required to affect any outcome.

One of the easiest and most effortless ways of slipping into the gap is through the process of meditation."

The above quote is taken from "Creating Affluence" by Deepak Chopra. I highly recommend this book - it will change your life!

To be continued next post, thank you for your time and have a wonderful day!! -Larry

Please have a look at my SOCIETY GUIDE.

Part Three - Community - Spiritual Transformation

"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." --Baha'u'llah

PART THREE: The Medicine Wheel

We will demonstrate: that the "ideal" community can be established any where in the world. We can start with the healing and spiritual transformation processes for the individual, family and community - using traditional aboriginal healing practices, ceremonies, games, and other cultural activities. Also, there are many other innovative ways to stimulate, motivate, and encourage the people to take part in the rebuilding of their community.

The physical development of the community will take place by using the alternatives or appropriate technologies, which are available to us. Some learning and research will have to take place in this area. The physical development of the community must fit-in with the culture of the people and not be harmful to the environment.

Spiritual Transformation: The Medicine Wheel:

The Person:

1) North-Mental
2) West-Physical
3) South-Emotional
4) East-Spiritual

This expands (or extends) to the next ring in the circle: The Family or Clan:

1) Dominant Thinking Patterns
2) Physical Environment and the Economy
3) Human Relations
4) Cultural and Spiritual Life

This in turn expands to the next ring in the circle: The Community:

1) Political and Administrative
2) Economic and Environmental
3) Social
4) Cultural and Spiritual

Then the Wider World:

1) Political and Ideological Environment
2) Economic and Ecological Environment
3) Social Environment
4) Cultural Environment

Spiritual Transformation --- Healing --- Learning

A) Prayer, Meditation, Visualization, Consultation

B) Drum Dance, Purification Lodge, Vision Quest, Hand Games

C) Workshops, Institutes, Talking Circles, Activities

D) Working Together, Serving Each Other, Having FUN Together, Cultural Activities

Building: Unity, Friendships, Trust, Community

Part four next post. Meanwhile, I invite you to explore my SOCIETY GUIDE.
Thank you for your time and have a good day!! -Larry

Books, music, DVDs - on the above topics: CLICK HERE

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