Newsletter1w2005

NEWSLETTER No. 1, 2005~
A global goodwill, interfaith newsletter spotlighting newsworthy articles, events, people, and information in world affairs.

"Wisdom is the light of truth, the knowing, the real, which enables us to help.
The Will to Good is the light of Wisdom in the action of loving understanding, compassion,
and, pure-practical reasoning." - CJ Wheat
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"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

A. Articles - Interfaithnews.net, Worldgoodwill.org, SaveTibet.org, MercyCorps.org, TheHungerSite.com, G
The Three Spiritual Festivals.

"PEACE POLE Planting in Lahore, Pakistan"
"Amidst tensions surrounding the days-old murder of a Shiite religious leader in this multi-religious, but Sunni-dominated nation, a peace pole was planted in Pakistan's second largest city, Lahore, on January 15th. Planted near the Pakistan Day Memorial, it was a small but hopefully significant further step in efforts to bring the religions of Pakistan into greater harmony and goodwill. May peace prevail in Pakistan, may peace prevail on Earth."
Read the article at http://www.interfaithnews.net/index.php?module

"WHERE IS GOD? Tsunami Relief Efforts"
"Editorial response to the common questions of "where was God?" and "how could God allows this?" in reference to the devastation of December 26th's earthquake and tsunamis."
Read the article at http://www.interfaithnews.net/index.php?module

"SCOTLAND TO HOST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL on Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace"..
"From Monday 14 February - Sunday 6 March 2005 the 2nd Annual Edinburgh Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace will bring together artists, scholars, grassroots spiritual activists, and speakers from the Sufi, Druze, Baha'i, Ismaili, Zoroastrian and other lesser known spiritual traditions, in addition to representatives of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam."
Read the article at http://www.interfaithnews.net/index.php?module

"UNLEARNING INTOLERANCE: Secretary-General Opens Seminar On Confronting Islamophobia"
"News of a December seminar at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Confronting Islamophobia: Education for Tolerance and Understanding, with the aim of "to examine different manifestations of intolerance and explore ways to promote respect and understanding among peoples."
Read the article at http://www.interfaithnews.net/index.php?module

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"THE DIVINE ENTREPRENEUR" G

"Some who are striving for a better world may think of business, if not as an outright enemy, at least as something not spiritual. But business is the primary means of manipulating the material substance of the planet. Modern business choreographs the complex processes of location, extraction and transformation of matter that create the human world. If in the past this has not always been done wisely, this does not preclude wise action in future. What is needed is for all people to revolutionise their attitudes towards matter, to achieve a new, spiritualised materialism. For those in the business world, this may mean a decreased desire to control matter exclusively, and an increased reverence for what it can do for all; for those outside business, an increased respect for the creative energy which business people focus on shaping matter may lead to easier and more fruitful co-operation with them. What all need to recognise is the profound truth that "matter is spirit at its lowest point of manifestation and spirit is matter at its highest." So business is no less spiritual because it works in and with matter, provided the intention is to raise matter up once more towards its spiritual destiny. And this requires........."
Read the article at http://lucistrust.org/goodwill/nl/2004/4/index.shtml

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"INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR TIBET" G

"Three months ago, I called on you to stand up for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a monk beloved and respected by Tibetans, who was sentenced to death two years ago with a two year reprieve. And your voices were heard.

Thanks to your efforts, resolutions were passed in the European Parliament and in the US Senate in support of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.

We have learned that the two-year reprieve of his execution will end on January 26th, the second anniversary of the final judgment against him. We are entering the most critical month of this campaign and we need your help.

Although we have not reached the goal of a new, fair and open trial for Tenzin Delek, the work of thousands of ICT members and Tibet supporters has been vital to spotlighting the injustices suffered by Tenzin Delek. One Chinese official said that he is likely to receive a long prison term rather than execution. U.S. government commission to urge the U.S to intervene on behalf of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. ICT staff worked hard to pressure Senate offices to pass a resolution in support of Tenzin Delek before the congressional session ended.

And at this year's end, I want to give you my personal thanks for your hard work on this campaign and on all of our 2004 campaigns and to ask for your support for our work in the coming year.

In 2004, ICT members in the US sent more than 8,350 statements supporting the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and other Tibetan prisoners to their representatives. Former Tibetan political prisoner, Ngawang Sangdrol, addressed a U.S. government commission to urge the U.S to intervene on behalf of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. ICT staff worked hard to pressure Senate offices to pass a resolution in support of Tenzin Delek before the congressional session ended.

As a result, the US Senate unanimously passed Resolution SR-483 calling for the release of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and other Tibetan political prisoners.

Because of the tireless work of ICT staff and members in Europe, the European Parliament passed Resolution RC-B6-0169/2004 calling for a new and fair trial immediately for Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. In Germany, ICT staff and members collected more than 7,200 signed postcards in three weeks and sent them to Germany's foreign minister calling for the release of Rinpoche. And more than 3,600 messages have been sent to China's Minister of Foreign Affairs to stop his execution.

In 2005, we will continue to work vigorously for the freedom of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
and for all Tibetan political prisoners. The voiceless Tibetans inside Tibet are counting
on us to speak up."
Please make a tax-deductible, donation to support ICT's work in the coming year.

Sincerely,
John Ackerly, President

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"MERCY CORPS is a non-profit organization that exists to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, just communities."

Mercy Corps Tsunami Relief - Latest updates -

"Mercy Corps has deployed staff and resources in rapid response to the Indian Ocean tsunami, a horrific disaster which many say will require the largest relief effort ever mobilized. Throughout the devastated region, the organization's distribution of lifesaving aid is reaching more than 150,000 people.

We need your help to ensure critical aid and assistance to children and families."
"Mercy Corps' programs in Sudan, India, and throughout the world, are helping provide poor families hope for the future--one child at a time." http://www.mercycorps.org/items/2288?source=E053

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"THE HUNGER SITE" G

Your click on the "Give Free Food" button at The Hunger Site funds food for the hungry, paid for by site sponsors whose ads appear after you click, and provided to people in need around the world through the efforts of Mercy Corps and America's Second Harvest.

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"THE THREE MAJOR FESTIVALS" G

There are three major Spiritual Festivals which form the high point in the annual cycle of earth. These are the Festival of Easter (always at the Aries full moon), the Festival of Wesak (always at the Taurus full moon), and the Festival of Goodwill (always at the Gemini full moon). Through the steady, persistent meditation work of many individuals and groups in all parts of the world, these Festivals are now achieving a subjective anchorage in the consciousness of mankind. They represent a basic divine purpose, which will begin to establish its objectives as the various religious institutions simultaneously acknowledge and observe, each in its own way, the unique annual approach of man to God and of God to man. "Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you" - James IV:8

In the future many men of spiritual inclination and intention, in all the major world religions, will keep the same Holy Days. This will bring about a pooling of spiritual resources, and a united spiritual effort, plus a simultaneous invocation. The potency of this will be apparent. (Remembering - energy follows thought, and thoughts are things) The three major Festivals each year are concentrated in the three consecutive months and lead to a prolonged annual spiritual effort which affects the remainder of the year.
These are:

The Forces of Restoration are particularly active at the time of the Easter Festival. These Forces emanate from the Mind of God; they are connected with the intelligence principle in the divine nature, stimulating the human intellect. This type of energy is peculiarly creative in nature and carries the "life which produces the birth of forms". It is a mass energy, related to the stimulation of the mass intelligence. It makes men think, plan and take action. It produces neither good nor bad results but simply brings about the awakening of men's minds so that they take intelligent action. The action itself is necessarily dependent upon the type of mind of those who respond to the Forces of Restoration and will be conditioned by the point in evolution, the racial and national background, tradition, religious and civilized reactions. These forces are now active in every land, frequently producing increased initial difficulties, but leading eventually to a definite reorganization of the national life. The effects are primarily physical. Their objective is the production of the new Earth and all the outer evidences of an inflowing new life.

The Forces of Enlightenment are active at the time of the Wesak Festival. These Forces emanate from the Heart of God; they are related to divine understanding and can reach and strengthen those who love and serve their fellowmen. This energy transmits the second principle of divinity, Love-Wisdom, of which the Buddha and the Christ are the two outstanding expressions. The Forces of Enlightenment initiate the new world education. The first to be affected by them are the great educational movements, the forums of the people in all lands and the values which can unfold through mass communications media. The press, publishers of world literature, speakers, writers, radio commentators, newspaper men and social workers are all affected by these forces which stream into the minds of men. Their effects are now beginning to be seen in some degrees throughout our universal society. These movements and people are the recipients today of the energies of enlightenment; as they recognize the new emerging ideas they can channel and direct energy to influence the masses of men everywhere.

The Forces of Reconstruction are active at the Festival of Goodwill, which is the Festival of the Christ and of Humanity. These Forces are related to the Will aspect of divinity, and are mainly effective in relation to nations. The use made of these impersonal energies depends upon the quality and the nature of the recipient nation, on its measure of true enlightenment and on its point in evolution. Nations are the expression today of the massed self-centredness of a people and of their instinct to self-preservation. These energies can, therefore, increase this aspect of the national life or they can increase the potency of the objectives of world unity, peace and progress which the United Nations hold before the eyes of men as a true vision of the Plan. These constructive, synthesizing energies should have the effect of transforming the theory of unity into practical experience so that the world "united" may come to hold a true significance and meaning for all nations. Today a will-to-synthesis is generating within the General Assembly of the United Nations under the inspiration of the Forces of Reconstruction and the Avatar of Synthesis, aided by the Christ.

The definition of religion, which will in the future prove of greater accuracy than any yet formulated by the theologians, might be expressed as follows: Religion is the name given to the invocative appeal of humanity and the evocative response of the greater Life to that cry.- D.K.

"THE POWER OF INTENTION:". Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way - by Wayne W. Dyer - "After years of spiritual study and reflection, inspirational speaker and best selling author Wayne Dyer has emerged a highly esteemed teacher. His current message about tapping into the power of intention may sound like good old positive thinking: just stay focused on what you want, rather than focusing on the lack of having what you want. But the teaching here goes deeper than just controlling thoughts (although he does acknowledge that thought control is a surprisingly challenging and significant endeavor). This book might help readers land a be ..."

"A WISH CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE :" How to Use The Ancient Wisdom of Kabbalah - by Gahl Sasson and Steve Weinstein, Designed by Jaime Putorti - "Engaging, innovative, and fresh, Gahl Sasson's approach to Kabbalah -- the ancient teachings of Jewish mysticism -- integrates mythology, scholarship, and practical exercises for seekers of both material and spiritual gratification. Based on his popular Tree of Life workshops, which incorporate meditation, dreams, and real-life synchronicities with myths, rituals, and philosophies from around the world, A Wish Can Change Your Life provides a universal path to finding and embracing all of life's riches."

"TOMORROW'S GOD:" Our Greatest Spiritual Challenge - by Neale Donald Walsch - "Humanity is about to create a new form of spirituality. This New Spirituality will allow humans to express their natural impulse toward the Divine without making one another wrong for the way in which they are doing it, and without killing one another in the name of it. When the New Spirituality is embraced by humanity, it will, of course, change everything. And that is exactly what is needed now."

"YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIFE:" - by Louise L. Hay - "What we think about ourselves becomes the truth for us. I believe that everyone, myself included, is responsible for everything in our lives, the best and the worst. Every thought we think is creating our future. Each one of us creates our experiences by our thoughts and our feelings. The thoughts we think and the words we speak create our experiences."

'There is no reality in the absence of observation.'
~ The Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics

"The direct meaning of this quote is that sub-atomic particles do not come into expression until they are observed. Observation is required to pin point the exact location of any particle. Einstein always scoffed at this idea while saying, "If I turn my back to the moon, will it cease to exist?" Science has not yet made the leap to understand this quote fully in the creation of the macro-molecular world.

What it does allude to is that any person's observation will define that person's reality. In this New Year, 2005, we challenge all of you to observe the world with fresh eyes. See the world as if it is for the first time. Relish each and every tree, building, person, and animal you meet. Notice the wonder behind a child's beating heart, the rhythm of the ocean tides, the pattern of flight of the mosquito, the digestion of your food. Live and love this year as if it is for the first time...reminding yourself that it could also be the last." - by Robert Bazemore (author, lecturer, and teacher) For more information click http://www.theosophiabooks.com to view his new book, "Jesus Was A Physics Major", and online course.

D. Events   2005                                                                                                                                 G

January 24 - April 1;            "Conference on Disarmament (2005 Session) - Geneva, Switzerland
May 30 - July 15;                 For information click    http://disarmament.un.org:8080/cd/
August 8 - Sept. 23.

February 14 - March 6        "The 2nd Annual Edinburgh Festival of Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace......"
                                                For information click HERE

March 08                                "International Women's Day" - For more information 'GTW International Congress'
                                                http://www.gatherthewomen.org/gtw/upcoming_events/women_international_day.htm

March 21                                "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination"

March 22                                "World Day for Water"

April 29                                   "Arbor Day"

View Past Newsletters
2004#1 ,
2005#1, 2005#2 , 2005#3
2006#1 , 2006#2 , 2006#3

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