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Rosalynn Carter served as America's first lady from 1977-1981 while Jimmy Carter was President. Politically active, she served as her husband's closest advisor, something he acknowledged: "There's very seldom a decision that I make that I don't discuss with -- either to tell her after the fact what I've done, or, very frequently, to tell her my options and seek her advice."
Here are some words of wisdom from Ms. Carter who turned 92 August 18th:
Here are some words of wisdom from Ms. Carter who turned 92 August 18th:
- Do what you can to show you care about other people, and you will make our world a better place.
- Times of upheaval require not just more leadership but more leaders. People at all organizational levels, whether anointed or self-appointed, must be empowered to share leadership responsibilities.
- If you doubt you can accomplish something, then you can't accomplish it. You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.
- I had already learned from more than a decade of political life that I was going to be criticized no matter what I did, so I might as well be criticized for something I wanted to do.
- If we have not achieved our early dreams, we must either find new ones or see what we can salvage from the old. If we have accomplished what we set out to do in our youth, we need not weep like Alexander the Great that we have no more worlds to conquer.
- If you don't accept failure as a possibility, you don't set high goals, you don't branch out, you don't try - you don't take the risk.
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Unbelievably, anyone could climb Mt. Everest as long as they paid the $1,000 climbing fee. However, as a result of several climber deaths, the policy for climbing Mt. Everest has been changed. So, if this is on your 'bucket list', here's the change -
You can no longer pay your way to the top of the world’s tallest mountain. After 11 climbers were killed or went missing in May of this year, a high-level commission for the Nepalese government ruled that anyone seeking a permit to climb Mt. Everest must demonstrate high-altitude mountaineering experience and training, replacing the policy of granting a climbing permit to anyone who could pay an $11,000 fee. The Guardian reports that the Nepalese commission found that the Everest deaths were primarily caused by the inexperience of the climbers and crowding near the 29,035 ft (8,850 m) summit. Now, anyone who has the desire to summit the mountain must have previously climbed another Nepalese peak of more than 21,325 ft (6,500 m), must submit a certification of good health, and must be accompanied by a trained Nepalese guide—an effort to discourage overzealous climbers from tackling the treacherous peak on their own.
Sounds like common sense kicked in to members of the Nepalese government!
You can no longer pay your way to the top of the world’s tallest mountain. After 11 climbers were killed or went missing in May of this year, a high-level commission for the Nepalese government ruled that anyone seeking a permit to climb Mt. Everest must demonstrate high-altitude mountaineering experience and training, replacing the policy of granting a climbing permit to anyone who could pay an $11,000 fee. The Guardian reports that the Nepalese commission found that the Everest deaths were primarily caused by the inexperience of the climbers and crowding near the 29,035 ft (8,850 m) summit. Now, anyone who has the desire to summit the mountain must have previously climbed another Nepalese peak of more than 21,325 ft (6,500 m), must submit a certification of good health, and must be accompanied by a trained Nepalese guide—an effort to discourage overzealous climbers from tackling the treacherous peak on their own.
Sounds like common sense kicked in to members of the Nepalese government!
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We should not consider the faults of others, nor their doing or not doing skillful or unskillful deeds. We should consider only whether we have done or not done, skillful or unskillful deeds. - Buddha
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After spending a month traveling and teaching Europe, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, founder and publisher of Hinduism Today magazine returned to his ashram in Hawaii where it was discovered he had advanced intestinal cancer. Upon consulting with teams of eminent medical specialists and learning that even the most aggressive treatment would be ineffective, he declined treatment beyond palliative measures. He opted to follow the Vedic practice called, prayopavesa. That mean he took only water and abstained completely from all other nourishment. On the 32nd day of his fast, he left his body peacefully.
Sometimes described as fasting to death, prayopavesa is a traditional and acceptable Vedic way for a person to end his or her life. Praypoavesa is not considered a suicide, euthanasia or assisted suicide for the following reasons:
Sometimes described as fasting to death, prayopavesa is a traditional and acceptable Vedic way for a person to end his or her life. Praypoavesa is not considered a suicide, euthanasia or assisted suicide for the following reasons:
- it's non-violent and uses natural means;
- it's only used when it is evident that the time is right to be released from the body - there is terminal disease or a great disability;
- unlike the suddenness of suicide, prayopavesa is a gradual process, giving ample time for the person to prepare himself and those around him for his death;
- whereas suicide is often associated with feelings of frustration, depression, or anger, prayopavesa is associated with feelings of calm, serenity, peace and acceptance;
- it is utilized only by those who feel their life purpose has been fulfilled and that any remaining responsibilities can be taken on by others.
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That quote is from contemporary Vedic philosopher Swami Subramuniyaswami. It's a reminder that joy, like light, can brighten the darkest places of the human experience. After the El Paso mass shooting on August 03, 2019 which killed 22 people and injured 24 others, Antonio Basco was concerned that no one would attend the funeral of his wife who was one of the victims. He and his wife, Margie had no relatives nor many friends in El Paso.
Yet, on the day of her funeral, Basco walked into the La Paz Faith Memorial and Spiritual Center to a storm of applause and a procession of people wanting to hug him. The building was at capacity with 400 mourners. Outside, another 700 waited in nearly 100-degree heat to pay respects, according to funeral organizers. He spent two hours shaking hands and embracing people who had come to pay their respects and offer support. People came from different faiths and no faiths, from large cities and small towns. Flower arrangements were sent from as far away as Japan and New Zealand.
On the occasions when Basco looks back at that time in his life he will, of course, be saddened by the death of his wife but he will also be gladdened because 700 strangers showed up. Joy can be awakened when there is absolutely no reason.
Yet, on the day of her funeral, Basco walked into the La Paz Faith Memorial and Spiritual Center to a storm of applause and a procession of people wanting to hug him. The building was at capacity with 400 mourners. Outside, another 700 waited in nearly 100-degree heat to pay respects, according to funeral organizers. He spent two hours shaking hands and embracing people who had come to pay their respects and offer support. People came from different faiths and no faiths, from large cities and small towns. Flower arrangements were sent from as far away as Japan and New Zealand.
On the occasions when Basco looks back at that time in his life he will, of course, be saddened by the death of his wife but he will also be gladdened because 700 strangers showed up. Joy can be awakened when there is absolutely no reason.
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Though they share the same root, how different humiliation is from humility. For if humility is a state that blossoms from within, a state of true affection for and kinship with the lowly, humiliation is a state that is imposed from without. To be humiliated is to be brought low, to feel ashamed of being one-downed, of being made to “eat dirt.” - Noelle Oxenhandler
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Have you ever considered that you may be the only Holy Book, sacred text, Bible that somebody reads today? Has it ever dawned you that you may be the only sermon someone hears this week. What are you showing them? - Iyanla Vanzant
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Though extreme nationalism pervades the world and this includes America, the reality is that humans have always moved, migrated, immigrated. Resistance to this reality is a sign of human dysfunction because people move due to various difficulties such as war, poverty, famine, persecution, government instability, etc.
With that in mind, I was fascinated to read that just this week, the Czech Republic honored a Vietnamese Buddhist community which had re-settled in their country decades ago. The web site www.buddhistdoor.net reported that the first Buddhist cultural center for the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic city of Most has been upgraded to provincial status. At a ceremony featuring the director of Ustecky’s integration office, Jan Kubicek, the Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Center was recognized for its value to the people of the region. Most is the capital of Most District in the Ustecky region, in the northwest of the Czech Republic bordering the German state of Saxony.
Speaking at the ceremony, the head of the pagoda, Venerable Thich Thong Dat, stressed the significance of the recognition, saying it was an honor for Buddhists in the Czech Republic. He further stated that the move demonstrated the interest of the regional authorities in the religious activities of Vietnamese people in the country.
Kubicek observed that the Vietnamese community had been active in preserving Vietnam’s cultural identity and introducing non-Vietnamese to their community. Kubicek said he hoped the center and community would continue to strengthen ties with other religious and civic organizations in the area and help Vietnamese youths understand their traditional culture and language.
The center was inaugurated this year in a ceremony on 5 January. At the time, the chairman of the region’s council for ethnic minorities, Pavel Vodsedalek, presented a certificate recognizing the cultural center, stating that among local ethnic minority groups, the Vietnamese community had carried out many activities to preserve and introduce its diverse culture. During the January ceremony, the Vietnamese ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ho Minh Tuan, thanked the Ustecky authorities for helping the Vietnamese community uphold their traditional culture and integrate into Cezch society.
According to government statistics, the Czech Republic is a largely nonreligious society, with 34.5 per cent stating in a recent survey that they hold no religious beliefs. The nation’s statistics do not break down the largest category, which consists of more than 45 per cent who check the box for religious belief not stated, which would include the country’s Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and so on. The World Buddhist Directory lists 76 Buddhist places in the Czech Republic. Most Buddhists in the country are Vietnamese, with a minority of Buddhists being Czechs who have converted.
With that in mind, I was fascinated to read that just this week, the Czech Republic honored a Vietnamese Buddhist community which had re-settled in their country decades ago. The web site www.buddhistdoor.net reported that the first Buddhist cultural center for the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic city of Most has been upgraded to provincial status. At a ceremony featuring the director of Ustecky’s integration office, Jan Kubicek, the Vietnamese Buddhist Cultural Center was recognized for its value to the people of the region. Most is the capital of Most District in the Ustecky region, in the northwest of the Czech Republic bordering the German state of Saxony.
Speaking at the ceremony, the head of the pagoda, Venerable Thich Thong Dat, stressed the significance of the recognition, saying it was an honor for Buddhists in the Czech Republic. He further stated that the move demonstrated the interest of the regional authorities in the religious activities of Vietnamese people in the country.
Kubicek observed that the Vietnamese community had been active in preserving Vietnam’s cultural identity and introducing non-Vietnamese to their community. Kubicek said he hoped the center and community would continue to strengthen ties with other religious and civic organizations in the area and help Vietnamese youths understand their traditional culture and language.
The center was inaugurated this year in a ceremony on 5 January. At the time, the chairman of the region’s council for ethnic minorities, Pavel Vodsedalek, presented a certificate recognizing the cultural center, stating that among local ethnic minority groups, the Vietnamese community had carried out many activities to preserve and introduce its diverse culture. During the January ceremony, the Vietnamese ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ho Minh Tuan, thanked the Ustecky authorities for helping the Vietnamese community uphold their traditional culture and integrate into Cezch society.
According to government statistics, the Czech Republic is a largely nonreligious society, with 34.5 per cent stating in a recent survey that they hold no religious beliefs. The nation’s statistics do not break down the largest category, which consists of more than 45 per cent who check the box for religious belief not stated, which would include the country’s Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and so on. The World Buddhist Directory lists 76 Buddhist places in the Czech Republic. Most Buddhists in the country are Vietnamese, with a minority of Buddhists being Czechs who have converted.
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Rabbi Halberstam of Sanz (1797 - 1896), one of the most prominent and respected Hassidic rabbis of his generation, conducted a survey involving three men asking the same question: "What would you do if you found a wallet with a great deal of money in it?"
The first man responded: "I'd return it to the owner immediately", to which the Rabbi asked: "How can you be so certain?"
The second man bluntly stated: "I'd keep it. When else would I ever have an opportunity to get money so easily." The rabbi found his response unfortunate.
It was the third man who provides a strong Jewish lesson in Buddhist awareness. When asked what he would do if he found a walltet with a great deal of money, he said: "How can I be certain what I'd do? I know that I must return it, but how can I be sure that would" I hope I would have the strength to overcome my evil inclinations and return it."
Only the third man's response pleased the rabbi because the man was aware of his potential for dishonesty as well as his desire to do good.
The first man responded: "I'd return it to the owner immediately", to which the Rabbi asked: "How can you be so certain?"
The second man bluntly stated: "I'd keep it. When else would I ever have an opportunity to get money so easily." The rabbi found his response unfortunate.
It was the third man who provides a strong Jewish lesson in Buddhist awareness. When asked what he would do if he found a walltet with a great deal of money, he said: "How can I be certain what I'd do? I know that I must return it, but how can I be sure that would" I hope I would have the strength to overcome my evil inclinations and return it."
Only the third man's response pleased the rabbi because the man was aware of his potential for dishonesty as well as his desire to do good.
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Real conversion should be vertical, that is, from a lower level of spiritual experience to a higher on, and not horizontal, that is, from one religion to another. - Swami Narayan Aksharpith