VOL. 4 ISSUE 10 :: OCTOBER 2011

Hello and welcome ###FIRSTNAME###

Last month the Message Board explored Letting Go - the Art of Forgiveness. Eamonne Leonard from Perth sent the following email, expressing so eloquently his own reflections on forgiveness... which again reminds me that sharing our experiences is so important. Next month I'll publish another email and it could be yours. Just drop me a line (on this or any other topic that has personally touched you).

In the meantime, read on...

Hi David.

I have been reflecting on the role of forgiveness in my life, and in the lives of others... now you might wonder what that has to do with living a sustainable life... I will try to explain.
Every day around the world workshops are held extolling the virtues of forgiveness with varying degrees of success and failure. The success or failure will depend on the state of mind of the participants of the workshops, and the the state of mind of those conducting the workshops...
I do believe that forgiveness cannot be explored in depth from a place of unconsciousness... in other words the unconscious mind cannot grasp the value of forgiveness at a deeper level other than that of an idea that might or might not have merit, depending on the circumstances around which the forgiveness is to be applied.
I believe that forgiveness while it may manifest outwardly as one person forgiving another it is in fact an internal healing taking place in that person allowing them access to resilience, and in fact has nothing to do with the person being forgiven.
Forgiveness can only be understood at this deeper level from a place of increased consciousness, i.e. a good quality state of mind, and then it does not demand to be understood anyway.
There are three foundation stones to living a sustainable life for oneself and others: LOVE. COMPASSION. FORGIVENESS. Understand one, you understand all - as they are all emotional experiences born of a mind as expansive as infinity.
Now you will notice I use the term 'living a sustainable life for oneself', and others. I believe we cannot be in life in a sustainable way without affecting others in the same way as people affect each other when in life in an unsustainable way.
Please note the person with a high quality state of mind is less likely to be affected in any sustained manner by a person with a low quality state of mind than another person with a low quality state of mind.
It is also worth noting that two people with high quality states of mind are more likely to cause each other to be more reflective thus even increasing the quality of their minds more.
So understanding state of mind is imperative if we are to live sustainable lives steeped in the value of understanding love compassion forgiveness. We need to gain this understanding for the sake of our minds and lives.

Regards. Eamonn Leonard.
Ps. Love Compassion Forgiveness: the trinity that are for the sake of the mind.

DATES TO REMEMBER

LIVING FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Saturday 26 November 2011

Human beings intuitively know self-awareness is all about an inner journey: an integration of our psychological and spiritual self. For example, in the growth of psychology we know that advancements have been made in understanding 'how our thinking works' and 'what we think' with respect to the impact on our daily lives. Yet, we have little understanding of what integrates that self-knowledge (or self-awareness) with the human spirit. The integration of psychology and spirituality is an opportunity to "live consciously", "live from our souls", or "live from our hearts and minds". Living From the Inside Out invites you to explore those concepts and live your life from within.

I'd love to see you... Register Here

As always, I hope you enjoy...

Podcasts: a wonderful medium that allows us to communicate ideas to millions of people at one time. With podcasts, we learn again to really listen and absorb the spoken word (and in my experience at least, really listening is a dying art). Each month there will be a new podcast, each representing an eclectic array of views on this year's theme: our human experience. Some will be science-based while others will be philosophic in tone. Some will provide perspectives that challenge the Three Principles stance - some will amplify the listener's understanding of the Principles.

Guest Writers: a section where readers are prompted to reflect on any aspect of the Three Principles, or how they have grown "from the inside out". If you would like to share your insights and experience for publication you are most welcome. Before you do, please read The Contributor Guidelines.

ViP Memberships: $AU25

Enjoy 2 FREE One Hour Skype Coaching Sessions valued at $440. Your one year subscription entitles you to an eclectic range of podcasts, articles; and special offers throughout the year. To arrange your ViP membership just Email me Here

The Message Board Feature Article

THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE Part 9:
Who Am I Really?

Andrew walked into the cafe and noticed Frank and Rose and a third person whose back was facing him sitting at a table some distance from the front door. They all seemed to be enjoying an engaged conversation. Andrew walked over to join them at Frank's gesture of invitation. Standing up, Frank shook his hand as he introduced the third person... "Geoff, this is Andrew". Geoff remained seated, smiled and extended his arm to greet Andrew who, to his surprise, found the expected hand missing, replaced by a stump. Not sure how to respond, Andrew simply took hold of the stump and shook it as normal.

Andrew squeezed past Geoff and sat down nearest the window. Geoff turned to him, saying "Well Andrew, you can settle the matter. Is climate change real or just a political football?"

"Hey, sorry guys," replied Andrew, "I'm not entering into this debate". Their lively conversation continued while Andrew, showing little interest, sat quietly. There was plenty of laughter and jostling of whose position was believable - yet Andrew was pensively disengaged. He was in a world of his own, distracted as if alone and it wasn't until Geoff got up that he was brought back to the group.

"Well Andrew, nice to have met you. I hope we meet again" said Geoff, as he once more extended his arm. Awkwardly and with some unease he shook it again, with a half smile and a nod of his head in response.

After a short lull Rose said, "Gee, you were quiet today Andrew!"
"What happened to him?" responded Andrew.

"Geoff was in a house fire when he was quite young. It was a miracle he survived. Eighty percent of his body was burned and he spent over twelve months in hospital" said Frank.

"He talks and acts as if he's normal, as if he looks like everyone else. His face..." Andrew paused for a moment "I just found it difficult to look at him but at the same time I couldn't stop stealing glances at his melted skin."

Nourishing our Inner Space

Have you ever been in a similar situation? One which jolts you to rethink what you see as 'normal'? To reflect on self-worth and even 'who am I'?

Over the years I've met people who have had significant disability or injury and at the same time a wonderful natural sense of self. People like Geoff seem to be looked upon by us 'normal people' as extraordinary human beings, whereas in their own self-assessment they don't see themselves as extraordinary, mentally shrugging their shoulders as if to say 'I just get on with living my life'.

It seems that the more extraordinary the human being is in my eyes, the more it highlights and exposes the false self-illusions that exist within me. Rose, Frank and Geoff related as good friends and mates - that is all they could see.

Watching the recent film Avatar I was really touched by the phrase 'I see you', the meaning of which went beyond the fact of seeing the physical self and ushered in the powerful gaze in really seeing another's essence. Rose, Frank and Geoff have that gaze. It is the same between parent and child - no matter what they look like; or the uncontaminated look between lovers, friends and even those of the animal kingdom. Even enemies can be transformed by such a look.

Who am I? It is meaningless when I 'see you'.

And when that same SEEING is directed inwardly the 'who am I?' vanishes and with it all the self-doubt, analysing and need to be fixed or to change disappears.

As I look back over my 60 years I can see the many selves that evolved and fell away, only to be replaced with another 'self'. To SEE the shape-shifting capacity of self-making is a powerful SEEING. THE SEEING seems so fragile and easily replaced by yet another illusionary self.

We have a wonderful capacity for self-delusion and equally, a powerful capacity for SELF-AWARENESS. Choose wisely.

© David Bodman 2011. Permission to copy is granted.

Send me your comments

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

Podcasts

Self Belief
(Windows Media)

A feature which tests the concept of self-belief to the utmost with a frank and moving study of a range of people who have suffered that most grievous of human indignities - loss of face, literally. In 2007, Brent Clough presented a powerful program on 'Who am I' by way of three interviews: Simon Weston suffered 49% burns to his face and body as a young soldier in the Falklands war; Michele Simms had her face destroyed by a firework when she was a child of 8, and Diana Whybrew had half her face removed with a malignant tumour in her 60s. Frequent operations - Michele has had 60 and Simon over 80 - create new outer selves that have to be adapted to again and again. Their belief in themselves has been challenged to its limits - down to a sense of who they are.

Liked this podcast? Email me


Guest Writers



Why is it important to answer the question "Who am I?" Because the way we answer that question determines whether or not we take the stories we tell ourselves too seriously, believe that our emotional suffering has something to do with the world outside our own head, make the same non-life-serving decisions over and over and cause our lives to be way more stressful and limiting than they need to be...

Read more...

Other links to Allan Flood:
Perfect Misfortune
(Kindle/Revised)

www.allanflood.com

"Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us."

Marianne Williamson (1952 - ). Activist, author, lecturer and founder of Peace Alliance and Project Angel Food.

WE ARE WHAT WE DO

If you have had anything to do with children's beliefs and how strongly they hold onto them, the same dynamics exists when dealing with any human belief. Take a three year old boy who believes that a bogeyman is in his bedroom. From the child's experience he knows IT exists and IT has a malicious intent. Parents find it difficult to console the child and even with the light left on there is an uneasy and uncertain anxiety for him. Every sound is attributed to IT and every shadow sharpens the child's attention. Sometimes the only consoling action is for the child to sleep with mum and dad.

WHO AM I? Especially today, conjures up a legitimate quest for us human beings and there have been many books, films and legends about this journey. However, is it like the bogeyman arising when we are unsettled and confused? In our unsettled state we crave certainty, even the consoling arms of ego and its ability to evoke illusory selves of power, control and even helplessness.

It is interesting that when I am calm and steady of mind, the question of WHO I AM doesn't arise. I experience myself as WHOLE and COMPLETE. Many sages talk about our experience of I AM... an experience of BEING.

The bogeyman arises out of the innocent ignorance of an unsettled mind. The power of living calmness more each day allows us to SEE the truth that is within us. Living in a calm state of mind asks of us to come out of our innocent ignorance and SEE ourselves and our experience as it really is.

...David

David Bodman. Principles in Business
PO Box 2243 Midland Perth WA 6936 • P. 61 089 274 8877 • F. 61 089 274 7354 • E. director@principlesinbusiness.com

PRIVACY: PiB will never rent, trade or sell our email list to anyone for any reason whatsoever.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: To Unsubscribe or to Update Your Contact Details, Click Here
EMAIL PREFERENCES: to receive further emails in Plain Text, Click Here