We are ALL Lifebridges joined in Oneness

In an earlier post, I elaborated upon what I thought were lifebridges........
http://lifebridges.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-is-life-bridge.html

We encounter them every moment both within our view and beyond sight.
Throughout the years, I have often looked around me and realized that they were everywhere--within the strangers I met, among my college classmates, Professors, colleagues, family, global family, friends, within the people in geographically distant places, across time and culture, I learned about, read about and reached out to through whatever means I could. This is all that we can do.

Sometimes, the wellspring and awakening of compassion and offerings of love and prayer are the gifts of such encounters. Sometimes, it is the wisdom imparted or the profound humility. At other times, it is the gift of friendship, companionship, steps shared along the journey. At other times, it is mutual respect through differences and the call for more love and self-cultivation. Sometimes, it is a call to act, to share, to give more, love more and encourage more.
No matter what the encounter yields, it is a gift, a connection, a reminder of the Oneness that joins us all--the wellspring of the human experience.
Namaste, 湘君

One Big Rice Bowl

A not so novel thought entered my mind today midst meditation....

One Big Rice Bowl

Imagine...

The whole world gathered around one big rice bowl
Partaking in a meal as one big family
sharing in the riches of the earth,
celebrating and appreciating each other
and every step, every part of the effort that made it possible.

When I reflect upon this, an unimaginable, infinite peace overcomes my being.

We are, after all, ONE- One Family living in ONE world joined together

Heart to heart
Soul to soul

rising before the same sun and resting under the same moon,
live within the same world,
all shades of each other, completing each other, and complementing each other.
Together we are ONE!

As I let the rice bowl and the communal meal more fully enter my thoughts
there is no burden; separateness disappears and balance is restored.

The world is our rice bowl!

It invites us everyday, every moment.
All world citizens are honoured family members. How can we turn anyone away?
How can we not share, empower, encourage, or show compassion, love, and understanding
for our sisters or our brothers?

The world is our rice bowl...

the earth we till, the plants and animals, the water,
the resources we have....
No one really owns them.
Rather we are caretakers of the earth, of each other,
bound by sacred contract and reciprocity.

Imagine the rice bowl today.......

Let it fill your heart and mind
with love and peace.
Let its power move through you
flow back into the universe.

The rice bowl is here, my friends.
Will you come to the table of the world
share for the sake of others, appreciate the moment,
the rice that nourishes, the land, sun water and people that made it possible,
love, laugh, and listen and join the family?

One big rice bowl...........

As you ponder these thoughts and step toward the world table,
live and love a little more and
find comfort in the reality that love and peace always abide.

In the spirit of giving,
play the rice game at
http://www.freerice.com
to feed the hungry
while exercising your mind
and increasing your capacity to give
across the miles, building life bridges
extending warmth and light and even better yet
more places at the rice bowl.
Namaste


May I be a boat, a bridge, a passage for those desiring the further shore.

Bridges in the Middle of the World

May I be a boat, a bridge, a passage for those desiring the further shore.

Within the middle of the world, within midsouth China, I was so priviledged to encounter and live with persons from more than 60 different countries. Despite the obvious linguistic, cultural and belief differences, we celebrated each others' holidays, life events, comforted each other and encouraged each other. We became each others' family, teachers, students, etc.

Even now, as I sit on the other side of the world missing them all, I still feel the connection to each one of them and smile.


From that time and space, I more fully realize how deeply affected we are by world events and by our heartstrings. It more fully inaugurated each one of us as global citizens and reminded us that we are ONE FAMILY.

I only hope that anyone who encounters these words and memories ponders the implications of such and opens his/her heart to the world family in which we all play a part.

Namaste, 湘君