This information on Baird T. Spalding is for the Reader’s interest:

“….Baird T. Spalding
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Baird T Spalding
Born October 3, 1872
Cohocton, New York, United States

Died March 18, 1953 (aged 80)
Tempe, Arizona, US

Occupation Writer, miner
Genre Religion
Baird Thomas Spalding (1872–1953) was an American writer, author of the spiritual book series: Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East.
Contents
[hide]
• 1 Biography
• 2 Works
• 3 Influence
• 4 References
• 5 External links
Biography[edit]
Although Spalding’s books claimed he was born in England in 1857, Spalding was born in North Cohocton, New York in 1872.[1] He spent much of his life as a mining engineer in the American West.
Anecdotal biographical detail was widely promulgated even during his lifetime. At his death in 1953 in Arizona, obituaries conflictingly cited his age as 95 or 107. His date of birth is given as “1872-1873” in the 1880 US census The same date is given in a 1911 California marriage certificate, but his place of birth is now given as England.[2]
Spalding does appear to have briefly visited India in 1935/6, as there is a US passport application dated 1935, and a Seattle immigration record on his return from India, dated 1936. A biography of Spalding, Baird T Spalding As I Knew Him was published by fellow mystic and DeVorss author David Burton in 1954. About Spalding’s claims regarding his birthplace, Burton wrote:
“On two different occasions I asked him where he was born. The first time he told me in ‘upstate New York;’ the second, ‘Spalding, England.’ During one of his last public lectures a member of the audience asked where he was born and he answered, ‘In India.’ He spoke with equal affection for the ‘old family home’ in upstate New York, in Spalding, England and in Coconada, Madras Province, India”
Works[edit]
In 1935, Spalding published the first volume of Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East. It describes the travels to India and Tibet of a research party of eleven scientists in 1894. During their trip they claim to have made contact with “the Great Masters of the Himalayas”, immortal beings with whom they lived and studied, gaining insight into their lives and spiritual message. This close contact enabled them to witness many of the spiritual principles evinced by these Great Masters translated into their everyday lives, which could be described as ‘miracles’. Such examples are walking on water, or manifesting bread to feed the hungry party. However, despite most of the action taking place in India, the Great Masters make it clear that the greatest embodiment of the Enlightened state is that of the Christ (as personified by Jesus): “The Masters accept that Buddha represents the Way to Enlightenment, but they clearly set forth that Christ IS Enlightenment, or a state of consciousness for which we are all seeking – the Christ light of every individual; therefore, the light of every child born into the world.” (From the foreword, Volume I, Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East, DeVorss & Co.)
Spalding published three add synoitional volumes before his death in 1953. Volumes 5 and 6 were published by DeVorss & Co posthumously from various articles that Spalding had written…………………….”

As has been the practice in previous blogs, I have revealed my understanding of God and my personal beliefs, by quoting from my reading material, that which I feel agrees with progression in my life.

So I will quote from page 62 The Life of the Masters of the Far East Volume V as follows:

“………….Where the scientists lack evidence, we have forged ahead to complete knowing that we are that great emanating frequency. Sit quietly for a few moments with the statement, “God I am, as we all are,” “God I am Divine Intelligence,” and know, then admit to yourself, with all doubt removed, “I am Divine Principle, I am Divine Love, and it flows through me to all the world.” Then see yourself as God and everyone you meet or see, as God, and you will see that which is being accomplished in the sub-microscopic zone of life, for you will see an almost invisible drop of protoplasm, that is transparent, jelly-like, capable of using the light from the sun to break up the carbon dioxide in the air, forcing the atoms apart, seizing the hydrogen from the water and producing carbohydrates, thus making its own food out of the world’s most stubborn compounds.

This single cell, this transparent droplet, holds itself the germ of all life. it not only has the germ but it has the power to distribute this life to all living things, great and small, and it also fits that creature to environment wherever life exists, even from the bottom of the ocean to the universe above. Time and environment have moulded the form of every living thing so that it meets the infinite variety of all conditions, and as these living things develop their individuality, they sacrifice some of their flexibility to change and become specialized and fixed, losing the power to go back, but gaining a better and greater adjustment to the conditions as they exist.

The power of this droplet of protoplasm and its contents is greater than the vegetation that clothes the earth in green; greater than all the animals that breathe the breath of life, for all life comes from it, and without it no living thing would have been or could be………….”

As I read the above statement, my “applied scientific mind” is able to comprehend my existence in harmony with all that there is. That I am what I am because I was meant to be.

The book goes on at page 64:

“………An amoeba is a microscopic highly developed living cell composed of untold millions of atoms in orderly arrangement. Size is nothing to the Infinite. The atom is perfect as the solar system. This cell divides and forms two. The two divide and form four, and so on, ad infinitum, as cells do in every living creature. Each cell contains within itself the power to produce a complete individual. The cells themselves are immortal. They form cells of all creatures, animal and vegetable of today, and are exact replicas of their progenitors. We, as all humanity, are well-ordered replicas of billions on billions of similar cells, each cell a citizen intelligently doing its full quota of devoted service. This one cell has the power to use sunlight to break up a chemical compound and make its own food and enough for its brother cell. You will find that this division is absolutely basic as one of the essentials of life. Can it be further defined that man is immortal here, when there is every proof of divinity and immortality?

All things that live start from a single cell, and this cell compels all of its descendants to perform the service and follow without deviation the design of the creature the original cell is to duplicate, whether it be human, a turtle, or a rabbit. It is found that these cells have distinct intelligence, instinct as well as reasoning power, as it is known that after division, portions of these cells are forced to change an entire nature to meet the requirements of that being that they are part. Why? Because the plan is set forth and is invincible to change, and that is the reason that man is divine, perfect, and invincible. It does not matter what thinking structure he evolves, this plan is absolutely irresistible and can never be changed; it is the first principle dominant and compelling, and is also the very reason that man is capable and abundantly able to reach the highest. in the event that he fails to reach the highest in his immediate understandings, all that is necessary is for him to change his thought structure, which has circumvented him, to the true thought structure that is steadfastly fixed in his own mind, of which he has an inherent instinct, and build a dominant thought structure which will allow him to reach to the highest conception to which his thoughts aspire. His easiest and most successful way of attainment to the highest goal is forever to let drop the thought structure that has bound him to the wheel of repetition and set into immediate action that which will build up an invincible thought structure which will never fail in carrying him to the highest…………..”

I think I have suggested that this series of books is a good read. I am satisfied that Lawrence Popoff loaned me these five volumes on “Teaching of Masters of the Far East”.

Try it and you might benefit as a result.

This appreciation was written by Elmer Verigin from information Derived from five volumes of Books that DeVross & Co compiled from notes and lectures delivered by Baird T. Spalding. These books were loaned to the writer, Elmer Verigin (EWV), by Lawrence Popoff over a period of time that started in 2014. The writer completed volume V on May 30, 2015,
1. May 30, 2015, EWV was inspired to make this first entry into this Post
My posting of this article was May 31, 2015

Dear Readers:

I always check my “stats” and see between 6 to 26 Readers who daily visit my home page and I also see those who “read” my posts. Thank you for indicating your preferences. I feel a strong association with you and I just want to thank you for your interest whatever that may be.

Those of you who leave a comment are much appreciated and those who politely take what they can from the story are also part of the process and intent of my blog.

Do take the time and tell me who you are, your location and even your opinion of life. In this way we can enjoy the benefits of the internet in this world that full of positive things even though the press seems to harbour on all the negative activity.

Have a wonderful Sunday and I hope to hear from you soon.

Elmer

A Muse About Peace

When I think about Peace, I recall this poem that my Grade 5 Teacher, Hattie Pritchard, instructed her class to memorize. Hattie was convinced that our learning paths included memory work and so she had us memorize every poem in our reader and recite by rote in front of the class.

She may have had something there, as I developed my brain to find ways to achieve that. Walking about, herding the cattle on green grass was my responsibility in the family. And so I would take my reader and memorize while the cows stared at me strangely as I recited those poems.

So it was with this poem about some “guy” who “…..Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace…” and that is the starting theme for this discourse.

“…….Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace And saw, within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom, An angel writing in a book of gold:— Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, And to the Presence in the room he said “What writest thou?”—The vision raised its head, And with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered “The names of those who love the Lord.” “And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,” Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerily still, and said “I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellow men.” The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night It came again with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of God had blessed, And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest. Anonymous Submission……”

As I read more books and became interested in history, I soon realized that much of history was about who was fighting who and then after a war, they would find that all was for naught and peace was always there in their home.

That Knight that went on one of the Crusades, tried to recover the Holy Grail. After many years abroad, he tiredly returned to his Castle. There on the entrance was the image of the Holy Grail.

I, too, dream of Peace in my family, my home, my community, my country, as the first step.Then followed by the entire World. I have realized that Peace can only be achieved if one starts to make peace with oneself. It will continue then, that peace can be more easily achieved with your soul-mate and your family, once that first mission is accomplished: Peace within Oneself!

It is my position on this subject of Peace, that I cannot promote Peace until I have found Peace within myself and my immediate family. In my meditation moments, I became convinced that most of the reasons for conflict starts with the basics:

• Food

• Shelter

• Clothing

• Health Once the basics are met then the human mind starts to desire more:

• Wealth • Position

• Possessions

• Property

Then along comes greed which requires more than your neighbors or at least something better.

So now let’s get back to “Abou Ben Adhem”. My brief research describes this man was born a king in the Muslim community. He later renounced his aristocracy and expanded his understandings with a spiritual leader, a Christian Monk Simeon. (Those that wish to follow up on this can find considerable background information on the Internet).

So my reference to Abou Ben Adhem is that it appears his spiritual enlightment, and search for Peace made him known for his honesty and simple life. In fact, he ground corn to make a living.

Today, some 1,700 years later, Abou Ben Adlem’s message is still being recounted. What he did not do:

• Fight a war for Peace • He did not “march” for Peace

• He did not petition for Peace

He simply lived in Peace with his neighbors! This is what I have been striving for. I help my community with my skills to create comfort wherever we can as a collective group. We do not ask for gratitude but our satisfaction is knowing more people can access services and that they can be more comfortable. Realizing this as our role, is more satisfying than having that financial wealth and political position.

I will have more to say on this in the future but I will throw this out to my Readers and see what they may have to say. A constructive dialogue may assist us all in understanding each other.

Elmer’s writings dated December 01, 2014

Elmer’s Diary Entry Dated July 30, 2012

Prince Rupert Campground, 1106 hours

I never expected to come back! There was no reason to as the expected two years stint from May 1963 to April 30, 1965 was a planned work commitment to Columbia Cellulose Co. Ltd (the pulp mill owner at that time), to achieve my Professional Engineering status after graduation in Civil Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan .

Still it was my first real job in my career and no question; it set a lasting imprint in my life.

As we drove up to the gates, Marilyn, Rick, Lori and I, to witness the slowly deteriorating equipment and buildings that represented the Kraft Mill that was situate on the hill beside the decaying Sulfite Mill that was my original jobsite. The Kraft Mill was my responsibility for the start of site preparation with blasting, etc.

What greeted us took my breath away. The inmates of the guard shack were two intimidating men who my opening joke of “reporting for work after a long absence” as sort of an affront, really.

The question of “why are the lights shining on all the buildings” was returned with “a security reason” and followed by “we don’t allow anyone to walk around up there”.

Then I asked “does anyone come around?” The response “sometimes guys like you!”

The entire parking lot was stacked with lumber pallets marked Fraser Mills Lumber, which obviously was on its way to overseas markets or perhaps the Lower Mainland, by barge.

The gate was still there and in the distance, the former Administration Building in sad shape. I noted the second floor Engineering Office where Chief Engineer George McLeod and Assistant Engineer __?__ Martenussen had adjacent offices.

I was able to get a glimpse of the former Sulfite Mill Machine Room that was likely used for other purposes after the Sulfite Mill shut down. I still recall the agitated telecom was having with Gene DeLucca at Head Office in Vancouver “you are crazy to build a Sulfate Mill beside an operating Sulfite Mill……..one will “eat” the other in a year’s time”. Those words rang like clarion screeches in my ears.

I am not sure whether I know all the reasons for the demise of both Pulp Mills but it appears that perhaps senior management may have influenced some significant injury to that process.

I noted that the former settling pond that once “bubbled” with caustic chemicals and drained on the outgoing tides was standing empty. I just wonder what the chemical analysis would show now.

No, the security guards were somewhat less than good Public Relations Officers and so Rick and I walked away but not before Rick took a photo of me embracing the sign posting “No Admittance” along with other discouraging statements.

1240 hours

I am now in “Breakers Pub” looking at the harbor where Sid Corbett used to park his yacht in the Yacht Club. Many happy times were spent in that boat with Ron Ross, Robert Miller, and Jim Holloway and of course, Sidney Corbett our “fearless captain”.

I just visited the Port of Prince Rupert and noted their interesting data:

• 2,700 permanent jobs in the harbor which involve shipping coking coal, all kinds of grains and other exports to the Asian Markets. I was not aware that Prince Rupert is closer to the Asian markets by 1,000 miles than Vancouver
• #150 million in wages

So losing 600 jobs in the Pulp Mill operations has not daunted the continuing growth and existence of Prince Rupert.

Elmer Verigin

Spring Summer Fall Winter notebook by Kim, Lora, Abby and Macy October 08, 2013

AN OMEN? AN ANGEL PERHAPS?

I had just returned from my father’s funeral in October of 1958. I was going to University in a large City of Saskatoon (population 100,000) as compared to my hometown of Pelly (population 301 on Saturdays) and I was having difficulty adjusting to the larger student body (6,000) as compared to 126 in the tweleve grades in Pelly.

I had earned some money that summer working with my brothers in Trail, B.C. and borrowed $500 from the Government of Saskatchewan (my first experience with loans). I had paid my tuition and books and prepaid my room and board till April. I had $10 per month sending money left over.

As I walked from class to the 2500 block of Ewart Avenue, my boarding house, I started thinking about my lot in life. All the negative thoughts concentrated on one area and that was that no one could be as challenged as I was to complete this seemingly unconquerable task that I had set for myself. Completing university from a school that had a dismal record of past university entry students.

So it was with heavy heart that I shuffled one foot in front of the other, begrudging the prospect of being alone again in a strange house. Yes, I started to cry those sobs of absolute hopelessness. It appeared that I was going to rack my body with this condition of feeling sorry for myself.

Through my tear-stained glasses, I noticed what at first appeared to be a pile of clothes lying in the middle of the sidewalk. As I approached, I realized it was a person and that there were crutches and a shopping bag beside. Well I ceased my self-pity when I realized that this unfortunate person was legless and resting on the side of the sidewalk having a smoke.

My first reaction was concern that he had fallen down or some other accident may have contributed to his situation and now he was unable to get up.

“Can I help you”, I asked?

“Oh no”, he responded. “I am just having a smoke. It is very difficult to walk on crutches and smoke at the same time”.

Notwithstanding carrying a shopping bag, I thought.

“As soon as I finish my cigarette, I will be on my way”, he added cheerfully.

“What are you doing with that briefcase?” he enquired.

“Oh, I am attending university and taking Engineering” I informed him.

“You are one of the very fortunate few that can do that. I wish you success in your studies.”

With that he began a very deliberate process of propping his crutches an opposite ends of his torso and rolling to one side. Along with his crutches, he had clutched the shopping bag as well.

“Is there any way that I can help you?” I asked very concerned as I could not determine how he was going to get up by himself.

“Oh, I have done this many times. At least it is not icy and slippery, otherwise it would be a bit of a challenge” as he continued his rise to a walking position. He rocked one side to the other as he adjusted his body weight from one crutch to other and then waddled away with a very cheery “good afternoon”.

I watched him for a block or so before I turned to continue on my way. “I thought I had troubles”, I mused to myself. “How selfish of me!”

That sure straightened me out in a hurry!

Was this intended for me or was this an accidental occurrence? I am not sure but it makes me still wonder?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++End++++++++++++++++++++++++

This incident took place in late October, 1958 about 2000 block on Ewart Avenue, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at about 1600 hours

Excerpts from “Living Deeply” by Marilyn Mandela Schlitz, PhD; Cassandra Vieten, PhD; Tina Amorok, PhD.; circa 2007

Living Deeply was loaned to me by Nora Jukes, wife and partner of Professor Harold (Harry) Jukes (deceased), as she trusted that I would enjoy the type of literature that was typical philosophy for Harry.

There is no question that in the short five (5) years that I worked and lived with the Jukes family at our beloved seniors complex, Grandview located in Castlegar, B.C., I found that Harry became my mentor and friend.

As I went through Living Deeply, I noted these quotations that I consider noteworthy to enter in my blog.

Enjoy!

Excerpt page 128:

“…..Transformative teacher Angeles Arrien……the practice of letting go can help prepare you to open to “mystery’s plan”:

There’s a lovely Inuit saying that there are really two plans to every day: there’s my plan and there’s the mystery’s plan. In the presence of transformation I may have a whole plan about how I will transform and do my inner work. This is an egoic plan.

But there’s a deeper plan that is much stronger than any egoic plan. This plan gets revealed in silence, with specific intention and attention. What often happens for people in silence and in nature, in prayer or affirmation, is that once they let go and really listen, something else emerges that wasn’t on the agenda. And it often reveals something greater than was on their egoic agenda. I encourage them to pay attention to that.

I really trust the mystery. I trust what comes in silence, what comes in nature when there’s no diversion. The lack of stimulation that takes us out of our addiction to intensity allows us to hear and experience a deeper river —– one that is constant and still and vibrant and real. (2002)….”

Excerpt page 129:

“…..Michael Murphy, cofounder of the Esalen Institute and author of Future of the Body (1992), explained it this way:

You can’t speak of a practice without [speaking of] the relationship of volition and grace. They all have it. In Buddhism there is the doctrine of nonattainment. In Christianity, the idea that graces are given. Practice is like planting vineyard. In meditation itself, for example, the primary act of being present, however you do it —- vipassana, zaen [ a Japanese form of silent meditation], prayer, or the prayer simple regard in the Christian contemplative tradition — involves re-collection. If you take this act of recollection as in a vineyard, you are planting a stake on which the vines start to grow, leaves appear, the grapes come, and then wine can be made….But you don’t make the grapes. They just happen. All you’re doing is planting the stake, and making sure it stands up against the elements. Sometimes it droops over, and you put it back up, until the vines are well established. The vines blossom through your process of practice and more practice. (2002) …..”

Excerpt page 135:

“….If you are really awake, conscious and aware, then your life is a practice. Then everything you do is a practice. Most of us aren’t that aware and awake all of the time.

—– WINK FRANKLIN (2003)…..”

Excerpt page 135:

Vispanna teacher and author Sharon Salzberg spoke to us about understanding transformation….She recalled the perspective of a teacher visiting from India:

When we were first starting to teach here we took one of our teachers from India around, to show him all the vispassana meditation groups that were springing up. We were very excited and proud. “Isn’t it great what is happening in America?” And he said, “It’s wonderful, but in some ways what’s happening here reminds me of people sitting in a rowboat: they’re rowing with great effort and sincerity, but they refuse to untie the boat from the dock. People want great transcendent experiences, but they don’t pay attention to how they speak to one another, or how the earn a living, or the things of day-to-day life.”

In the West, there isn’t a seamless understanding of what spiritual life is. It is more specialized, like, “I’m going to meditate on a cushion, and something great is going to happen.” The classical understanding is that spiritual life is how we live every day. It’s how we relate to our children, how we relate to our parents, how we earn a living, how we speak to one another, how truthful we are. That’s something that hasn’t translated completely into our culture. (2002)……”

Excerpt page 136

“…..As ecological and spiritual teacher and activist Satish Kumar told us:

I use meditation as a practice —– to focus, to learn how to be mindful, how to be present here and now. But for me the distinction between meditation and action must evaporate, must come to an end. Every action —- whether I am gardening or cooking or speaking or writing or talking to a friend or being with my children —– everything is to be done mindfully, fully present and attentive and aware. Meditation becomes part of everyday living. (2005)……”

Excerpt page 138:

“….Catholic priest Father Francis Tiso told us:

Remember, the great yogis went into retreat in the mountains from cultures that were traditional, religious, and favorable to at least some of the goals that the yogis were pursuing.

We live without retreat, in a society that is inimical to [the transformative process]. We are attempting to be part time yogis….If you’re going to get any kind of results out of this, it’s probably going to take awhile —- and they also might be a little on the this side; very fragile, easily torn. You may get a glimpse or an insight and the day afterwards, you’ll seem not to have had it. It’s evanescent. Don’t be discouraged by that. (2002)….”

Excerpt page 143:

“….James Fadiman agrees that an unsupportive community can undo a lot of good transformative work……

If everybody says you are crazy, at some point you are off the cultural norm and by definition you are crazy. And if you find yourself lonely and seem to be crazy, it’s hard to maintain your shift in perception. There’s a little Sufi story called “When the Water Was Changed.” It is about a town in which, if you drank the water, you would behave in a bizarre manner. Everyone but this one guy drank the water. He hoarded the old water —- he could see that everyone was behaving in a bizarre way…..But finally this guy said, “I give up, I’m going to drink the water.” And everyone said, “Oh, he’s cured, he’s healthy again, he’s sane. He was so bizarre, but now he’s one of us again.” Unless, there’s some kind of support system — it can even be a book —- some kind of external verification and validation, it can be very hard to maintain these changes. (2003)……”

Excerpt page 150:

“……Yoruba priestess Luisah Teish echoed this sentiment:

One of the things that I see as fundamental is coming out of feeling like “I’m a victim of my life” into “I am working with nature, community, and spirit to design and shape our lives.” You know, you go from a “me” to an “us”. You go from a victim to an actor or an initiator. You go from feeling devalued to valuing what’s already around you……”

Excerpt page 160:

“….Whatever put us here —- me, the ocean, the sand —– we are all one. We say “I” or “you” so we can communicate, but —- there is no I, there is no difference between I and you, I am you, you are me, there is only that.

—-SHAYKH YASSIR CHADLY (2006)….”

Excerpt page 170:

“….Starhawk, a leader in the Pagan tradition, spoke eloquently to us of the challenge of being both supportive and empowering at the same time:

You know, we have real values —– taking care of people who are depressed, healing, relieving suffering —– but these can sometimes lead to ….. bias toward the victim. All someone has to do is to define themselves as a victim and people will flood them with attention. But that isn’t always the most effective thing to do for healing —– or the most effective thing to do for building a community of real empowerment. Learning how to empower people to create and do and take leadership, to take risks and face obstacles, is a real challenge. [it’s important to] empower strength, not just empower people to complain. (2006)……”

Excerpt page 175:

“….As Albert Einstein described:

A human being is part of a whole, called by us “universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest…..a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires, and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole nature in its beauty…….”

Excerpt page 187-188:

“…..Native American elder and healer Charlie Red Hawk Thom and medicine woman Tela Star Hawk Lake expressed concern about the endangerment of their people and the earth—-and the need for people to engage in ancient healing practices to restore the “sacred hoop” of creation. Tela said:

From the beginning of time all cultures had ceremonies. Our ceremonies still exist just as they always have, we never changed them. That’s why Charlie, as medicine man for the Karuk, Kiowa, and Hoopa tribes, has so many people coming to him looking for balance. They’re looking because they have that same philosophy of being one with the earth, and it brings them back to that circle we all began. Our people still hold this circle, we form the sacred hoop, as we call it. (2006)….”

Excerpt page 196:

“….Avatar teacher Sue Miller aptly pointed out that attending to the suffering in the world allows you to stay open and move forward on your transformative path:

There’s a place in Avatar that involves the shift to realizing that you’re the one who can deliberately create your life. But then you look around and you can see the suffering of the world at large. If you don’t have a way to help alleviate that suffering, it can be so painful that you can potentially just shut back down. When people have a way to alleviate that suffering, the keep opening up and are willing to become more aware…… One of the main things that happens is that at some point people think, “Enough about me and my life and all my stories and my dramas and my whatevers.” It’s old news. You may wonder what else is there? To me the “what else is there” is being of service, and the joy people get from that interaction. (2002)…..”

Excerpt page 197:

“….Swami Nityananda shared with us some wisdom he’d learned from his own guru, noting that inner experience determines our view of the world and everyone in it:

Whenever people asked Swami Muktananda what the heart of his teaching was he would say “Meditate on yourself, honor yourself, worship yourself, God dwells with you as you.” That is really the crux of the path —- teaching us what we should meditate upon. Unless I knew it myself, unless I worship myself and see God within me, there is no point in going anywhere, because what I have here within me is what I am going to see in everyone else. If am able to honor, respect, and worship myself, I will see the divine here and everywhere, because wherever I go, I go. So if I carry that experience of contentment with me, in my mind, in my being, then that’s what I am going to see, that’s what I am going to experience, and that is what I’m going to give to everybody. (2006) ….”

Excerpt page 207:

“…It’s as Lawrence Ammar and Paulo Santos, two teachers of the healing art of Johrei told us:

If I were to sum up in this language of Johrei, together each of us is transforming ourselves, transforming our families, our homes, our neighborhoods, our communities, our cities, and our states —– and then out into the general society. It is like ever-expanding circles —– like when you drop a stone in a pond…….So as each of us transforms and we begin to connect with the others close that we love, we can really begin to make a real paradise on earth. A real world of health and peace and prosperity………..”

Excerpt page 208:

“…A quote often attributed to Albert Einstein states,”No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” George Leonard, whose writing on consciousness transformation from the sixties to today has paved the way for human potential movement and positive psychology, spoke to us of the importance of developing a grounded metaphysic that recognizes both the opportunities and the challenges before us. When we embrace our divine essence, we are incapable, Leonard notes, of engaging in violence, hatred, or injustice:

I believe that our failure to develop our potential is one of the most dangerous tendencies on the planet, Crime and war can be attributed to our failure to develop the potential of the vast majority of people. The main aim, shall we say, of all this work is to make it possible to develop your divine, God-given, universal potential. You’ve got no time to study war, if you are developing your potential. You’ll be too busy to get into that kind of trouble.

If you have a path of practice, you won’t be insecure. For some, this insecurity says: blow up the world. That’s a problem. If you are on a path of practice, you will see yourself as part of all life. You will understand the spiritual in all its parts. And you won’t need to dominate others.

Ultimately I feel that everything is spiritual. What we call matter is just one manifestation of spirit. I think that the heart of an atom just blazes with spirit. The heart of every atom and every subatomic particle is spiritual. I don’t see a mind/body split. So much evil has occurred because we fail to see that. (2002)…….”

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Entered November 18, 2012 by Elmer Verigin

HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES CLOSE!

HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES CLOSE TODAY,

WHISPER IN THEIR EAR,

TELL THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM

AND YOU’LL ALWAYS HOLD THEM DEAR.

FOR TOMORROW IS PROMISED TO NO ONE,

YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE,

AND TODAY MAY BE YOUR LAST CHANCE

TO HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES TIGHT.

Author unknown

(transcribed from a quotation that sister Mary had at her house in Benito, Manitoba as taken October 02, 2010 at 1025 hours)

HOLD YOUR LOVED ONES CLOSE!

DEAR GOD,

PLEASE HELP ME BE A GOOD SPORT IN THE GAME OF LIFE. I DON’T ASK FOR ANY EASY PLACE IN THE LINE-UP, PUT ME ANYWHERE YOU NEED ME! I ONLY ASK THAT I CAN GIVE YOU 100% OF ALL I HAVE. IF ALL THE HARD LINE DRIVES SEEM TO COME MY WAY I THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT. HELP ME TO REMEMBER THAT YOU NEVER SEND A PLAYER MORE TROUBLE THAN HE OR SHE CAN HANDLE.

HELP ME, O LORD, TO ACCEPT THE BAD BREAKS AS PART OF THE GAME AND MAY I ALWAYS PLAY BY THE RULES, NO MATTER WHAT THE OTHERS DO. HELP ME STUDY THE BOOK SO I’LL KNOW THE RULES.

FINALLY, GOD, IF THE NATURAL TURN OF EVENTS GOES AGINST ME, AND I’M BENCHED FOR SICKNESS OR OLD AGE, PLEASE HELP ME TO ACCEPT THAT AS PART OF THE GAME, TOO. KEEP ME FROM WHIMPERING OR SQUEALING THAT I WAS FRAMED OR GOT A RAW DEAL. AND WHEN I FINISH THE FINAL  INNING I ASK FOR NO REWARDS, ALL I WANT IS TO BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT I PLAYED AS WELL AS I COULD AND THAT I DIDN’T LET YOU DOWN.

(transcribed from a quotation that sister Mary had at her house in Benito, Manitoba as taken October 02, 2010 at 1015 hours)

NOTATION LOG DATED: June 18, 2009

LOCATION:  Mary Khadekin house, Benito, Manitoba

“…….My trip from the “dreaming spot” of yesterday, near our former farmstead, took me along a nostalgic journey as well as to a virtually new area where I have not travelled before.

So I carried on from that corner 2 miles east and 2 miles north of Pelly, and travelled east, 3 miles to a bridge over the Swan River. On my left, I passed sites of the former Doukhobor settlements in 1899. Some telltale original barns still stand defiantly on the north slope of Swan River.

I passed the Jim Vanin homestead where my friend Harry lived with brother Phillip, Leo and sister Vera. I used to walk over there on Sundays and visit and sometimes we would walk over to the bridge where local people gathered for swimming and picnicking in the 1948 – 50 era. The old house and out-buildings stand leaning downhill and to the northeast. Obviously, the original builders didn’t compact the base well enough on the downhill side where settlement likely took place. The buildings were always sheathed with shiplap and it was rare to use diagonal bracing in those days. The buildings had served the original Owners well and now have no purpose since their occupants have passed on.

Past the bridge, the developed and maintained road passes straight north for 4 miles to an intersection of a grid road going east and west. I chose east in the direction of Arran. I couldn’t help noticing the farm houses on this one time important intersection. Both were two storey buildings built by some proud Farmer, but now are leaning to the Northeast. It is quite likely that water drained off the roof on the north side that would not dry out as the sun would heat the southeast corner and the southwest side. Rotting would begin since the foundations were likely stones covered with natural ground since concrete would be expensive and little known at that time.

My eyes lit up about 3 miles east along this grid road when I passed a historic site with a sign “Podolia School” on the right side. The locals must have improved the grounds as I recall the school being moved to Pelly back in 1954. I had never been here but I had heard so many people talk about it since it was a popular and enthusiastic Ukrainian community at one time with many dances on weekends, sports days, ball tournaments, etc.

What was disappointing and sad is that no one occupied any of these buildings nor seemed to reside on the farms anymore. The roads are all maintained gravel surfaced and raised high to permit snow drifting over and beyond so that little, if any snow plowing would be necessary. Just when mankind developed methods to keep all season access to the farms open and passable, everyone chooses to live in urban communities now. There is no need to stay on the farm as there is no sign of cattle, pigs, chickens, geese, ducks, horses and all other animals that a Farmer used to raise and needed to care regularly. No one wants to do this anymore.

I understand that now a “small farm” is about 3,000 acres as an economic unit. It ranges upward to 40,000 acres or more for a corporate Farmer. Let’s understand that a 3,000 acre farm (using 80% tilled land), represents 10 sections at 360 acres each. This means that a “small farm” about 10 square miles. In my day (1958), the average small Farmer owned about ¾ section or ¾ square miles. So now 1 family farms what over 13 families used to make a living on in the past.

What a travesty! This explains why there is no more rural population left and all the smaller communities are disappearing.

Just think about it, the 40,000 acre farm is really 133 1/3 sections or square miles approximately. There used to be 177 families in that space or based on 3 persons to a family, or 531 people. This represents a small village with schools, stores, etc., that does not exist anymore

War was never that devastating!

It boggles my mind to understand the impetus behind destroying the “small farm” unit. These were the people who tilled the land in the first instance and produced a “mixed” farming yield. Someone needs to explain what is so efficient and that Canada produces more now that we have pushed the people off the land, where they  were environmentally clean, to urban settlements with all its problems of sewage treatment, water purification issues and don’t forget about the increased  crime. The children have nothing to do in the city and so entertainment is doing something they should not rather than the hundred or so pursuits that are available in the rural scene.

With all this thinking, I arrive in the small hamlet of Arran. The 4 former elevators are gone, the school is shut down and what are left are a few weather beaten buildings along a deserted street.

Ah yes, the hotel appears to be still open where I snuck in for a beer when I was 15 back in 1954. Nothing here has changed except that there was no one in the bar. “No, we don’t have any beer on tap”, the chunky lady advised me after she walked out of somewhere. The waitress in the adjacent Coffee Shop (3 small tables and 3 guys having coffee) had called her out.

“Okay, I will have a Kookanee (I noticed that advertisement on the wall about having this proud product from Creston, B.C), then”, I replied. There was progress as this bar knew what good beer was all about.

Yes, the old Catholic Church still stands along with adjacent Hall where many Ukrainian weddings have been enjoyed by the Parishioners over the years. Yes, I remembered them along with the bountiful tables laden with peorogies, duck, goose, pork, holipschi, hams and all kinds of Ukrainian delicacies. Yes, then the “Harelka” in disguised teapots, as ”Harbatee” (tea).

I leave the dilapidated houses that used to be residences of some very pretty girls as I recall with a smile and I enter Highway 49 and turn left to Benito, Manitoba.

There are still some Farmers living on their farms on this stretch of highway along with the remains of others that indicate a happier and more productive time. I pass over what I used to believe to be a ‘large” creek, Bear Creek and then see the sign to Vesna Road. Oh yes, that brings back more memories of dances in my time.

Vesna Hall dances used to be entertained by a fiddle, guitar, accordion and if the Sponsor could afford it, some drums. The repertoire was very Western with some “Rock” creeping in. The girls were usually sitting with their backs to the band, looking to the door to see what “hunks” may walk in from the preoccupation with a few “bracing shots”, so that enough courage can be advanced to actually ask one of these girls to dance (that is assuming that one knew how to dance). When the boys did drift in, they usually formed a stag line with each pushing the other forward to the embarrassment of the hapless guy. Soon, it would all unfold and dancing did take place and sometimes, partnerships for the evening would evolve.

One must remember that once you cross that floor to ask a girl to dance, you need to be sure that she would. So “eye contact” was the communication necessary to ensure “success”. A rejection could precipitate a “domino effect” with other girls not wanting to be a “second fiddle”. The pressure that befell a guy at this social event was unreal. I recall it well! This should have been recorded on a video as the audience, today, would think it all hilarious.

Sometimes the stag line would erupt in a fight. Usually a guy is “unsteady” after being outside too long and the lights within the Hall can be blinding. An unintentional (sometimes intentional) brush into another guy, who may also be having problems standing erect, could easily erupt to “who in the hell do you think you are?” With a response of “what’s it to you?” The rest of the guys, sensing entertainment, would push them outside to settle it.

Sometime later, they both come back in after resolving the dispute with a few bruises and a conciliatory drink or two and the scene could repeat itself.

Now I have arrived in Benito. The elevators are gone too. A large sign near the curling rink announces “Home of the Wrench”, the world class Curler from Benito that took a world title in curling.

Benito seems to hold its own as there are new houses along with the well-maintained older houses. The main street has only one small grocery, a building supply store and a restaurant that is open sometimes. Some of the other establishments try to eke out a business while most of the populace travel the 40 km to Swan River which has all the services, high school, restaurants, motels, etc., of a bustling community of about 4,000.

Then I arrive at sister Mary’s place. John and her built it in about 1960 and Mary will likely be there until she passes on as her love for John and her memories linger within that house even though 25 years have passed.

Mary will always be Mary, a loving sister and always ready to receive family and friends.

The usual hospitality, a good night’s sleep and now I am awaiting Mary to wake up and wash and do her special breakfast. I have already finished my 3^rd cup of coffee.

I am due to return to the White Sand Retreat right after breakfast….………….”

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NOTATION LOG DATED: August 05, 2012, 1210 hours

LOCATION:  The Hangar, Front Street, Juneau, Alaska.

“……I left Granny to do her thing; shopping, of course. We decided to meet at the Lost Saloon at 1400 hours to touch base. Rick and Lori took the Tourist Boat to see the big glacier, a real tourist must see!

We all walked to the Mendenhall Glacier, yesterday. It was very impressive! I am thinking that the Cruise Ships don’t give much except dump everyone into the “Tourist Trap” along the wharf. I still wonder why anyone would actually buy a diamond at these places. They must be at least four times the regular prices anywhere else but there are Jewelers every second shop. So they must get enough business to remain open.

I have been thinking about the temptations to feel sorry for oneself. How easy it is to believe that your personal situation is worse than that of anyone else. But that is the challenge…….to rise above self pity. I am thinking more about the idea of our spirits being “recycled” back to Earth. Okay, transgression, to use the terminology associated with that subject.

So we are sent here to learn more about our spiritual well being. I favor the understanding that we are sent here to improve upon what was in place when we arrived. So our objective is to challenge all odds and create and develop a greater Earth to be enjoyed by those who follow us. One may refer to it as a pioneering mission.

To complain and find excuses why we cannot achieve is not in the plan. So when I allow myself to be trapped by my hearing challenges and succumb to self-pity, this is definitely not the situation that I should allow myself to enter. The objective is to take control of oneself, and launch ourselves through these mists and smile. Not only smile, but make others feel great. So I need to “kick my ass” more often than I do so that I rarely enter those moods.

It starts with one negative thought and it seems to attract and amass like a snowball rolling down a hill. Until I suffocate by it all and I become a disturbing person to be around and live with.

It is probably no different than the process I used to overcome Agoraphobia attacks that I used to have. To find that key moment when you are drifting into that mindset and jump out of it in time. Start positive thoughts and rekindle creative energy again. Well, alright, that is definitely what needs to be the process that I should use whenever those conditions come into play.

This trip with the Woodhouses has been tough on me as I am not used to lying around and sleeping in like everyone else. So when everyone has extra energy, I am already wavering and wilting away, ready to go to sleep.

Also the enthusiasm of Lori to go and see everything is actually stressful and a shock to my system as I am surprised, firstly, that someone else wants to lead. It seems that what I used to do but now I am unable to handle it. This is also strange to me and I need to deal with it better than I am as I have another two full weeks to go before it is all over.

I am writing this all down as it is possible that the future readers of all these “musings” will find strength and conviction to stimulate themselves effectively in a positive manner, rather than wandering aimlessly in the “hinterland” like I have been doing from time to time.

I need to research this magnetism theory, that the Sun’s activity with the related surges of energy, are simultaneously transmitted to Earth’s magnetic actions. That has to affect the way all living and inanimate things act and function.

The entire research into crop circles and the perfect patterns that are created, almost instantaneously, are rumored to be a direct result of magnetism, triggered by forces still not understood by mankind.

Look at the perfection of a bird’s coloring and feather patterns. Obviously this is all part of Nature’s “memory card”

And so, I believe that this magnetism has everything to do with our bodily functions. Changes that occur in magnetism, influence the way we act, think and love.

We cannot change the Earth’s revolution going counter clockwise nor its revolving anticlockwise around the Sun and our tendency to race in a counterclockwise direction. It is all part of Nature’s systematic patterns.

Our entire body is basically Oxygen, Carbon and Hydrogen that have associated  themselves as elements in complex molecules. All cells are complete with “memory cards” that guide them to recreate again and again.

So this active sequence is absolutely impossible to comprehend by a human mind which in itself is an even more complex process of cells and molecules.

I guess, perhaps, I am a victim of natural processes that my body has inherited but it is even more important that I allow my spirit to influence me in a more continual basis so that I may control my body better.

Well okay, I will pay my bill for Fish chowder (they did not have Clam chowder) and Salmon ½ sandwich and carry on to the “trysting place” with Marilyn.

Besides, I need to write a few more verses to the “Northern Journey” about the Juneau experiences..………….”

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