:: Aham Prema ::

Quick write up for a class I took that I thought I would share... I definitely believe that a large personality transformation is possible and very real. Especially when someone loves another, they can use that love as a fuel to help them grow. This has been my personal experience and I have seen it happen to others. My love for another prompted me to grow in ways I couldn’t have previously imagined, or wouldn’t have cared to grow, without the enticement of the love of another. My love for another propelled me to strive for great heights within myself. Many people may have “killed” this part of them that would allow them to love to this extent, perhaps due to extreme pains they have experienced (which is very understandable in this world). To those people, a transformation such as this may be impossible. It definitely depends on the person, their desire, and drive. However, there are others, who are brave enough to try again, and this love can guide them to completely transform t...

This is a long one, yet essential to have in the collection... I learned about this in my Philosophy class and it is one of the most interesting things I will take from this semester. It is a perspective I hadn’t seen yet. I don't totally agree with it, but reading it was eye opening and a great experience in many ways. Great info for anyone interested in any kind of wealth (everyone?) :). Andrew Carnegie was the Bill Gates of his day. He built a huge fortune, from the ground up. Near the end of his life, he wrote a very interesting article titled, “Wealth”. In it, he discusses the only thing anyone should do with their weath. He is talking about huge amounts of accumulated wealth, however I find that there is wisdom that applies to all types of wealth (and all sizes) found within it. He says the other two options are detrimental to all involved, and why. He also discusses that giving a quarter to a “street beggar” is one of the worst actions he’s ever seen in his life. I ...

∑ You can’t understand, change, or improve something if you don’t even see it. Start with looking. Open! Open! Open! Then tilt your head and look again. Deeper… Look from every angle. Don’t let one view satisfy your curiosity. There is a beautiful wisdom found in seeing from a universal point of view. ~Danielle Marie Crume

Meditation Can Wish You Well, Study Says Got this in my email this morning... basic, but interesting to see when science agrees. Published: 03/27/08(HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that qualities the world desperately needs more of -- love, kindness and compassion -- are indeed teachable. Imaging technology shows that people who practice meditation that focuses on kindness and compassion actually undergo changes in areas of the brain that make them more in tune to what others are feeling. "Potentially one can train oneself to behave in a way which is more benevolent and altruistic," said study co-author Antoine Lutz, an associate scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. How far this idea can be extrapolated remains in question, though. "I think there's no question that people can benefit from these practices," said Dr. Louis Teichholz, medical director of complementary medicine and chief of cardiology at Hackensack University Medical Center in ...

The Holographic Paradigm The way the universe really works? Written by Joe Kissell. I found this on Interesting Thing of the Day. I’ve always fancied myself an amateur theoretical physicist, so I’m a sucker for any book that claims to explain the mysteries of the universe in laymen’s terms. Such was the case with a book I read in the early 1990s called The Holographic Universe, which promised “a remarkable new theory of reality.” The book was not written by a scientist and therefore turned out to be a bit light on scientific detail. But it was to be the first of several books I’d read about an intriguing theory known as the “holographic paradigm.” The New Physics To set the stage, let’s turn back the calendar to the mid-1970s. In science, quantum physics was the hot area of research. Eastern religions, meanwhile, were moving into the mainstream in North America, and the New Age movement was in full swing. It was only a matter of time before science and mysticism converged. Books such ...

The Ancient Method For Creating A Life of Abundance Written by Alex Shalman. I found this on Dumb Little Man, Tips for Life. My good friend Rabbi Johnny Shippel shared a very interesting and thought provoking concept with me this weekend. He asked me which paradigm I thought was better to have, the cup half empty or the cup half full. Without giving it any thought I played right into his trap! "Half full" is what I said. With a grin he replied, "neither". This confused me a little bit since I know myself to be a very optimistic person and couldn't imagine anything other than a cup half full as the Ace in this deck of cards. You're supposed to work with what you have, right? The next words that came out of his mouth have intrigued me for the past couple of days. Instead of thinking half empty or half full, if you were to pour the contents of the cup into a smaller cup, you would now in possession of one full cup. Lowering Your Standards For The Win? The first...

∑ Start by grabbing what is within reach. Look at it, learn it, find what could be better developed…and creatively focus your energy and explore the possibilities. Reconcile them with you and find your personal truth. INjoy the journey that unfolds. ~Danielle Marie Crume

∑ Many of the greatest start with the basics when introducing teachings, allowing their student a natural reconciliation of these new ideas to resolve into a foundation of understanding. As their student experiences and progresses, these teachers reveal treasures and higher-level understandings. ~Danielle Marie Crume

As spring approaches next week, we transition from a period of reflection into the ideal time for planting seeds for the new yearly cycle . In this last week before the equinox, pause and look at the realizations you've had over the winter. It is ideal to be clear on the lessons you've learned before planting your new seeds in spring. It's a great time to start fertilizing your soil in preparation for the next cycle and the new seeds you want to nurture. Having a healthy structure helps your garden to flourish optimally.   Start preparing yourself for a prosperous spring. Blessings and Love! Danielle Marie Crume