tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193753302024-03-05T00:18:13.083-08:00Being Before DoingJournal of discoveries while walking on a path to fulfillmentJay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-15741719199836769322020-04-02T16:54:00.001-07:002020-04-02T16:54:15.564-07:00Moving Story I heard at Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp Museum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uK0AFIDP-xtOSdicSlXcZscPQeIs9jrBGlOh5RdyYR3Ze8nvVT2aX_wjNh61BL9uuQImPYFmdMmynfTOXjzdAr_dc_23D9UrckJkUgG1G4wdg9vSeduYCUm6BRe1YxSBpvRw/s1600/IMG_2538.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uK0AFIDP-xtOSdicSlXcZscPQeIs9jrBGlOh5RdyYR3Ze8nvVT2aX_wjNh61BL9uuQImPYFmdMmynfTOXjzdAr_dc_23D9UrckJkUgG1G4wdg9vSeduYCUm6BRe1YxSBpvRw/s200/IMG_2538.HEIC" width="150" /></a><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">World's biggest crematorium and venue of perhaps largest genocide in human history. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">1.5M people killed here in 5 years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Here's one of many heart wrenching stories. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">A mother, her 7 year old son and infant daughter were transported on one of those cattle cars into Birkenau under the pretext that they were going to settle in a new land and start a new life. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Upon arrival the males and females were separated. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">The little boy stepped out of his group and followed his mother and sister as there group was marching towards a 'sanitization' facility. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">The mother suspected something perilous and asked the boy to return to his group. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">The boy was stubborn and kept following his family. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">With no other choice the mom pushed him asking him to get away. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">The boy fell. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Deeply disturbed, he cursed his mother and said she hated him and wanted to get rid of him. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">He shouted that he wished she would die. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">That was the last he saw of her. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">The women were gassed within a few hours.</span></span></div>
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<span style="vertical-align: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">Beware of what you say to loved ones, in the heat of the moment. </span><span style="vertical-align: inherit;">It may the last words that you'll have to live with for the rest of your life.</span></span></div>
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-26244576611243751272020-01-02T05:25:00.001-08:002020-01-02T05:25:45.447-08:00Wake up to a Beautiful Day - Guided Meditation by Jay Chodagam - 10 minutes<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/toCzBPYXcJ8" width="480"></iframe>Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-42664154692674433762019-12-31T12:57:00.000-08:002020-01-01T11:35:26.022-08:00Vagabond Heart - Wisdom from Traveling in 23 Countries in 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quản Bạ, Ha Giang, Vietnam</td></tr>
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2019 has been a wild and wonderful ride! Someone pointed out, if you did the math, it's a new country every 2 weeks. A lot of people ask, why do I travel so much. I say, because I can, and have the freedom to do so. I can take my work with me. And I am constantly on the lookout for places and experiences that I would like to bring my tribe to. Travel has been my greatest university (<a href="https://paradiseinc.blogspot.com/2019/07/travel-is-ultimate-eduction-awakened.html" target="_blank">see post</a>). For the first time in history of mankind, ordinary individuals have the tools to learn, plan and share trips to almost every corner of the globe.<br />
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The other popular question I get from friends is ‘what was the best place of them all’. To that, I’d say it’s not the places that define my experience, it’s the people I met. I’d to like to share anecdotes for this and six other key insights from <a href="https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=coddiwomple" target="_blank">coddiwompling</a> through 23 countries in 2019.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<b>My travels were defined by the people I met</b></h4>
One afternoon in Sarajevo, I sat outside a traditional restaurant enjoying the sunny afternoon having lunch. I started a casual conversation with the lady next to me who was also eating alone which went on to become one of the closest friendships of the year. She saw my work with children in the summer on Facebook and suggested I meet with her husband, a music professor, who also works with children in the summer in Turkey. A few month later I had the opportunity to visit Turkey and her husband become a dear friend and a partner in creating transformational experiences for Turkish children. We toured spaces that could serve as perfect venues and met his friends who would be ideal collaborators to make this happen in the future.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kuang Si falls, Luang Prabang, Laos</td></tr>
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In another chance encounter, when I found myself pushing a scooter with a flat tire on the side of a highway outside Luang Prabhang Laos, I met with some Japanese fellows who also had a flat. Over the course of finding a shop and getting tires fixed, we became friends and are in touch to this day. I tell you this story as it sticks out in my memory more than many breathtaking views or knickknacks I bought on that trip.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Spiritual adventure rather than physical places</h4>
I was driving the campervan from Romania to Hungary, a 5 hour stretch. Out in the middle of nowhere I notice my fuel gauge just entered the red (E) zone. Optimistic about finding a station within that range I kept pushing on. With a gas station no where in sight, the gauge hit bottom. From experience, I knew it would pull on for another 10-15 miles. Another 10 miles and still no pump in sight. At that point I had to stop and find help. I pulled up to a spot with two farm houses on either side of the road, hoping they could give me information on the closest pump. Language is major barrier in the countryside. Without cell reception, Google Translate is useless. A man in the first farm indicated, from what I understood, a gas station was 10 miles away. I knew I couldn’t make it. So I took a chance at the other farm house. It was a beat up looking place with a fence around it, looked like it may not have been inhabited for some years. I called out and made some noise which got the dogs barking. Slowly behind the dogs came up a man who looked in his 60s. To my utter surprise, he responded in perfect English. What was a well educated man doing in the middle of nowhere in a run down house? Turned out he was the driver of the Ambassador of Japan to Romania. He had been detected with a malignant tumor and had come to his farm to rest while he awaited surgery, which happened to be scheduled for the next day. On hearing my plight he went over to a shed and brought a 5 gallon can full of diesel. I probably paid him three times for it but I still look back in amazement at how that all came together. After a few such incidents, I’ve become, dare I say, too confident that the Universe will never let me run dry, out in the middle of nowhere.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Countries visited in 2019</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<br />Define, question and own my values system</h4>
My ethics, especially around food as a vegan were tested to the limit in some countries. While cities are usually not a problem, the countryside can be very challenging. One such testing ground was Tsumago, a tiny Japanese village on the Samurai trail, known for its cobblestone streets across picturesque hills and rivers. The famous dish of the town is soba noodles, but every one of the restaurants used fish stock in the soup base. So I had to make do with rice dumplings wrapped in seaweed from the convenience store. But never did my eyes light up so much upon seeing a wild trees laden with persimmons as it did that day. Didn’t matter I had foliage in my hair and cocklebur all over my pants. The delicious fruit was like a coveted prize for my persistence.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA3XuEHUWLL8B6qWsq-uXmLML4V3qXWpHIg0fSJZwsEF-wNOfZ8yWYwXsAZmksl16XCFg7-w8AWAJK4KKIEp3hblpCjTarlwilEOOPocvimHhyphenhyphenLvJVVqtWnKRTpoDCYDvay4H/s1600/Tsumago+Samurai+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="926" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivA3XuEHUWLL8B6qWsq-uXmLML4V3qXWpHIg0fSJZwsEF-wNOfZ8yWYwXsAZmksl16XCFg7-w8AWAJK4KKIEp3hblpCjTarlwilEOOPocvimHhyphenhyphenLvJVVqtWnKRTpoDCYDvay4H/s400/Tsumago+Samurai+trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsumago, Japan</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Who am I and what's mine?</h4>
When I arrived at the Beijing airport after completing children's summer camp I found out that my checked in baggage would cost me extra.That’s not the first time I’ve paid for checked baggage, but when the agent calculated it to be $800 for one-way from Beijing to Istanbul, I decided to abandon my optimally packed 50lb duffel bag that hosted everything I had decided to keep from the 2.5 month camper van expedition in Central and Eastern Europe. I moved just the essentials into my stroller and backpack, including my portable recording studio which I used to make guided commentaries for the mobile apps. Thus started a one month tour across Turkey with carryon luggage. That trip taught me how little I need to get by. Going from a 21 foot RV to 3 bags to 2 backpacks showed the incredible elasticity of human capacity to be happy with so little.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danube from window, Bratislava</td></tr>
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Then there was one another incident where my laptop got stolen from my camper van while I was parked on banks of the Danube in Bratislava Slovakia. I felt part of my identity, including 7 years of my work, memories and collections were taken. Breathing into it and letting it go, 6 months later, I am still here, with all that I really need intact within.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Slowing down brought a whole new perspective on life</h4>
One of the secrets I’ve realized to make travels go from good to exceptional, is not rent a car or hotel rooms. Both these will bring you closer to people on the streets and in homes. You are obliged to meet people, ask for help, sit next to strangers, where you will gather information and/or connections that can change the course of your travels and perhaps your life in some ways. I’d like to share two such stories.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOM2A2ZL5tS2Uz1omgXRzNzIC7GfJSJqNUGcFqMhSw-2h8HpD6CdmnObWw1ocn7Aa9mrHDgNJ0e7IblE351kD1-ZhyphenhyphenmRC8PnnW82FAslgn0PuGrhSNxryuN7relZ2jAnKqhhe/s1600/lago+di+garda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="926" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOM2A2ZL5tS2Uz1omgXRzNzIC7GfJSJqNUGcFqMhSw-2h8HpD6CdmnObWw1ocn7Aa9mrHDgNJ0e7IblE351kD1-ZhyphenhyphenmRC8PnnW82FAslgn0PuGrhSNxryuN7relZ2jAnKqhhe/s400/lago+di+garda.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Garda, Italy</td></tr>
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Mother and I parked our motorhome in Brentonico, a picturesque village by Lake Garda, Italy. Our routine was to make day trips on public transport to explore the nearby scenic spots. On a local bus that day we met a lady who became very fond of us and insisted we go to her home for a cup of tea. That tea turned into a local guided tour and then another meal, until we became family by the end of the day. That couple’s kids had left home recently for college and work and they were lonely for the first time in their lives. Their love was so genuine and profound, that I went back to visit them two months later at the end of the European tour. It's a wonderful feeling to know you’ve got family in different parts of the globe. But you know that funny feeling that you’ve been there, done that and may never actually return to see some of them? That’s unlikely here, because I am being invited to Italy to lead meditation retreats and Lake Garda is one of the top spots in the world for kitesurfing, which I’m passionate about.<br />
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More recently, in the month long stay in Baja Mexico, I chose not to rent a car as everything in the village was within a kilometer and I was focused on kitesurfing and recording new meditation series. Only time I really needed a vehicle was to visit a friend over Thanksgiving in a town 2.5 hours away. So I went online to find a local rental. There wasn’t a company but an individual posted his Jeep was available. When I went to pick up the vehicle, the couple got very interested in my background, both as an Indian and a meditation teacher. Turns out the wife had spent time in India studying Ayurveda and now makes Ayurvedic products. Over the month, we became very close and I left with an invitation to go back to lead a retreat at their beach front resort and the lady will cook Ayurvedic meals for the gathering. You can’t make this stuff up!<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Offering my services where I could made me rich</h4>
You may remember my story where <a href="https://paradiseinc.blogspot.com/2019/11/theres-benefit-in-everything-if-we.html" target="_blank">I stood up at a restaurant in Kyoto</a> and ended up meeting a Mexican mother and son on the same day that I bought tickets to go to Baja Mexico. At dinner, they invited me to host a meditation gathering for their grieving sister in Cabo San Lucas. That one connection ended up being three different meditation workshops during my one month in Baja. Most valuable outcome is, now I have a ton of friends on the beautiful coast of the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabo San Lucas, Mexico</td></tr>
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One last insight, I never want to haggle with a poor vendor, instead I'll skip a fancy meal at a restaurant. Particularly relevant in developing nations, it doesn't make sense to save a dollar on a person trying to get by, when you don't hesitate spending $20 on dinner the same day. I’ve realized that some of these countries are held together because of tourism.<br />
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So, those are my top seven lessons from 2019. I’d love to hear your insights and any thoughts on what I’ve shared.<br />
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I’m off to my <a href="http://paradiseinc.blogspot.com/2015/01/your-cathedral-in-time-practical.html?m=1" target="_blank">personal 10-day silence retreat</a> now. Be back in touch then :)</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-17155021501867882522019-11-05T12:24:00.001-08:002019-11-05T12:24:49.354-08:00There's Benefit in Everything, If We Remain Open to Seeing It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bewildering Universe!! One morning in my Kyoto hotel room, I booked a trip to Baja California (Mexico) to stay on a remote beach to practice kitesurfing and work on the next meditation series. Later that day I was scheduled to meet a friend for dinner. When I got to the restaurant I found out she's running so late coming into Kyoto that I would be eating by myself. Turned out there's a wait at the restaurant and a spontaneous conversation pops up with a mother and son. We hit it off and end up having dinner together. Here's the wowie. They are from Mexico with family in Baja. Before the nights done, I'm invited to lead group meditation(s) with their Baja relatives to help cope with a recent bereavement.<br />
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What are the chances of all this unfolding the same day, connecting dots 9,000kms across the Pacific? Grateful for the service🙏 Yet another seal of confirmation that there's benefit in everything, IF we remain open and unperturbed.</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-44497744463577692032019-11-05T12:17:00.000-08:002019-11-05T12:17:11.148-08:00Highlights of Children's Values Summer Camp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/TtxuoJDjJrDk1iFL6" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNISOFmPKe-lhZrdp3gtKr5TxdXFG_ZmRNnIrXURqhE2n_El4zKZz11Oy-9jdCLSk-lWSbCPm7GUpB9TfO9iFm6UQMZrOVmaq1MN9Jsx5KkKcySay_wDAy7zk9YunLPIqWRO7s/s320/IMG_3204.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/TtxuoJDjJrDk1iFL6" target="_blank">Click here for album</a></div>
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July 15 - 21, 2019<br />
Jing Zhu Hu Holiday Resort<br />
Beijing, China</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-60962691442501003072019-11-05T12:01:00.004-08:002019-11-05T12:06:11.694-08:00Highlights of Yellowstone Meditation Retreat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/mkQ5aYF9Mg6DBCGj8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Highlights of Yellowstone Meditation Retreat" border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_Z-PgPaEubxxBOToZirMRFKAI1SqwtoKZWXTz2lWvucfLhYYgwHL864Rc-t7M3H1jb1j8e0vMEu1vb2aQEkX1XBclczQrQ_l4Lj9tNinpD9XeDdOhd63eeOZcRGD_Dauj7IN/s320/DSC03716.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/mkQ5aYF9Mg6DBCGj8" target="_blank">Click to see album</a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">September 8 - 15, 2019</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Tom Miner Basin, Montana </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.findwith.in/montana">www.findwith.in/montana</a></div>
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Excerpts from Participants </h4>
"This retreat brought together a diverse group of strangers and created the space and opportunity to share, grow and become a family. The program’s variety was wonderful."<br />
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"Being in this amazing place made me feel the joy of introversion. The practice will help me to enhance my spiritual journey. Be with nature and enjoy every moment."<br />
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"First, this retreat helped me find and see yoga in a new light, which has inspired me to continue my own yoga practice and get more in depth and consistent with it. This retreat helped me see potential future possibilities for me in the way of work. The retreat has really made me realized I am not fulfilled with where I am geographically and in the workplace which makes me feel motivated to follow in similar footsteps as Jay and Suzie. Jay’s meditations really hit home with the idea of sending light over the world and I believe this is a powerful method both through meditation and through our own actions. I am excited to try more of this and want to explore this idea further."<br />
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"I'm a little bit more of a nature lover today<br />
Doing yoga in the morning is really nice<br />
Waking up early and sleeping early<br />
Being vulnerable about myself just a tad"</div>
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-21981175939919059322019-08-02T08:22:00.000-07:002019-08-02T08:49:42.247-07:00Our Power and Our Responsibility<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/348449456" width="512" height="288" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/348449456">S.O.U.L. Listens Ep. 4: Jay Chodagam</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/souldocumentary">S.O.U.L. Documentary</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
Interview with S.O.U.L. TV on visions for what is possible when we shift our value system to one that supports our thriving</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-79508433098831379372019-07-19T02:44:00.002-07:002019-07-19T02:44:58.659-07:00Bohemian Spirit in the Buffet Line<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ran into this guy in the buffet line in Prague and was fascinated by his background. His story makes any evolutionary theory of nature OR nurture look lame. Can you guess his ethnicity?<br />
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<a href="https://scontent-sin2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66350710_10219389491544418_3643739001388531712_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQkUoTf-oKmhQfVncLN0KlKZoPFaSiRVL2_HEWVkhQ0xGMASV01Dzpp7e6w7mhQcAiQ&_nc_ht=scontent-sin2-1.xx&oh=f1dc37b10b4c7e48201125fdf9da2d63&oe=5DEDCC1C" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, closeup and outdoor" border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-sin2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66350710_10219389491544418_3643739001388531712_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_oc=AQkUoTf-oKmhQfVncLN0KlKZoPFaSiRVL2_HEWVkhQ0xGMASV01Dzpp7e6w7mhQcAiQ&_nc_ht=scontent-sin2-1.xx&oh=f1dc37b10b4c7e48201125fdf9da2d63&oe=5DEDCC1C" width="357" /></a>Some interesting facts about this young fellow:<br />
1. His race was almost completely wiped out by the Nazis (no, not Jew)<br />
2. Literacy among his people is among the lowest on the continent.<br />
3. One of 6 kids in his family, he’s the first AND only one in his ENTIRE ancestry to get a college degree. Not one, but he’s working on his second degree while holding a job with the state department of welfare housing.<br />
4. He is as well versed in American and Asian politics as he’s with his country’s.<br />
5. He plans to publish a series of history books for children to educate them about minorities and their contribution to the culture.<br />
6. The “Bohemian spirit” can be traced back to his ethnic group.<br />
7. He turned vegetarian because it’s the right thing to do.<br />
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Wisdom of a seer, sharp as a tack. Felt like I was conversing with an Obama in his college days. Won’t be surprised if he becomes president of this country (or a leading diplomat) one day.</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-3185273776848503272019-07-19T02:40:00.003-07:002019-07-19T02:40:53.582-07:00Brosperity in Brno<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What would you call when two guys meet for the first time, begin a conversation, time stops, 3 hours later there are tears of joy and it’s priceless? Brosperity.</div>
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Story started with spotting a cafe while walking around Brno, Czech Republic that had <span class="_5mfr" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0px 1px;"><span class="_6qdm" style="background-image: url("https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v9/t6c/1/16/2764.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: contain; color: transparent; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: text-bottom; width: 16px;">❤️</span></span> on their logo and no price list. Dobro kava serves up your fav beverage if you commit to a kind act listed on their menu (or something else you choose.) I’ve seen religious sects offering free meals, cafe in cities with pay-it-forward model and creative philanthropy sch<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">emes that benefit certain groups of people. But I didn’t see this no-ones-left-out with no-money-involved coming from a town in the middle of Czech Republic which I never heard of until 3 days ago. So I asked to meet the one behind this goodness.</span></div>
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Guy happens to be open and 15 mins later we’re entrenched in a conversation. Libor started his first internet business at 17. By 25, after 7 companies, he had more money that he ever needed. He tried at first to give it away to charity but noticed the charity was eating most of it before it got to the beneficiaries. He happened to pick up ‘The Dalai Lama’s Cat’ in Bali. A story about the cat in a coffee shop sparked the idea.</div>
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<a href="https://scontent-sin2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66244916_10219351857163582_5068507866835451904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQnWMXsh1aw4Qihv5kKXMBwgZMFMto_PMQPIocvbVJ7H66kjyQIxDXwVUhawsB2oEzE&_nc_ht=scontent-sin2-1.xx&oh=cd8dad9a6b7737e752d029311ebefe09&oe=5DB10C54" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, people standing" border="0" height="301" src="https://scontent-sin2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/66244916_10219351857163582_5068507866835451904_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_oc=AQnWMXsh1aw4Qihv5kKXMBwgZMFMto_PMQPIocvbVJ7H66kjyQIxDXwVUhawsB2oEzE&_nc_ht=scontent-sin2-1.xx&oh=cd8dad9a6b7737e752d029311ebefe09&oe=5DB10C54" width="400" /></a>After 3 years and 30,000 cups of coffee, the idea of Dobro Kava (good coffee) has spread to other cities in Czech. Most moving stories were of young kids coming back a year later to share how the random acts of kindness to strangers started a chain reaction in their community. This became a reference in their lives that even under pressure, choose love.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Bonus</b>: Libor’s formula for finding your mission -</span></div>
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Ask yourself:<br />1. What makes you most happy?<br />2. What do you look forward to in next day?<br />3. What do other people say you are very good at?<br />4. What gets you so engaged that you forget time and meals?</div>
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-41008520763195850052019-07-19T02:32:00.001-07:002019-12-31T16:02:10.152-08:00Travel is the Ultimate Eduction - Awakened Traveler Collective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwboXSo5tRedKDt3gKuzvy_eq-zFXFcv-Fd-w2dTWvRu_V-MFfPqOlMJF5zMADjKijDpVqVDh8SXTFTyBDPagDO-tU6h_eClQ9Hajg_RO3vTUnMeNVjGpHQSTLwG45wbL9OPl/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-12-29+at+8.07.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1027" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwboXSo5tRedKDt3gKuzvy_eq-zFXFcv-Fd-w2dTWvRu_V-MFfPqOlMJF5zMADjKijDpVqVDh8SXTFTyBDPagDO-tU6h_eClQ9Hajg_RO3vTUnMeNVjGpHQSTLwG45wbL9OPl/s640/Screen+Shot+2019-12-29+at+8.07.37+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Friends who see my travel posts ask how many countries I've been to. Didn't have an answer, so I sat and listed them out. Total of 41. They go 'wow'. When I plotted them out, I went 'wow', how little have I seen! Travel has been my greatest source of knowledge, more than any university education, book or TV show, to understand one another, to discover what makes us human and what truly matters.<br />
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Today, there are 195 countries in the world. That's a balance of 154. I'm giving myself 20 years to see, be, do what I can. That's 7 nations per year to cover the pale blue dot, our home, in the vast cosmic arena. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. As Carl Sagan beautifully put it, it holds the aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate.<br />
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Why 20? There are personal, political but the most important reason was given by 91 scientists from 40 countries who analyzed more than 6,000 scientific studies to draft the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/.../ipcc-climate-report-2040.html" target="_blank">Paris accord</a>. 2 deg rise in temp by 2040. At the current rate we are well on our way to wipe out several island nations and major cities in that time. Food, water, fresh air and coral reefs will be scarce.<br />
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As I plan these jaunts, I'd like to open it to friends who may want to join/help/cheer. It'll be sort of an awakened traveler collective. So, hit me up folks, with your aspirations, ideas and observations 😊</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-53365742576438004702019-01-02T10:25:00.003-08:002019-01-02T10:25:45.893-08:00Greetings & Gratitude 2019!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImZzW-gxjoTVogg9Dh08CHFLkPcnQhVYCCNM8kjJNIxwDhqUdekq2oNbIrNNSxjnB1meY6Xt_uhIPAEMWlH_NcjLO6q-euIcYfTmTJC8BazJwvYpIPWREEGfKvUGKP05H-ett/s1600/JC+2018+Pic+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImZzW-gxjoTVogg9Dh08CHFLkPcnQhVYCCNM8kjJNIxwDhqUdekq2oNbIrNNSxjnB1meY6Xt_uhIPAEMWlH_NcjLO6q-euIcYfTmTJC8BazJwvYpIPWREEGfKvUGKP05H-ett/s640/JC+2018+Pic+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Grateful for the incredible 2018 ✨</div>
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May we be closer to our wholeness in 2019 not just for ourselves but with all life on Earth 🙌🏼🌏💓</div>
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-40089797272863168792019-01-02T10:22:00.001-08:002019-01-02T10:22:33.424-08:00Four Tips to Improve Your Sleep Hygiene - 1440 Multiversity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-26992294357270733392019-01-02T10:17:00.001-08:002019-01-02T10:17:18.037-08:00Mayor's Recognition at Peace in the Park 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQGjAGbDojlmvPpKQnSZTYPYmTEoQGyUJfOx5FX-ufOUoj6rahboaTEv513bOa_4BTA_dcvcEOs_OI2zAJpUItKAySystfISoZcqSb4Y-fgh00y3bnlsspTl6g3QJfEkeBsmH/s1600/Certificate+of+Honor+Jay+C+by+London+Breed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1238" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQGjAGbDojlmvPpKQnSZTYPYmTEoQGyUJfOx5FX-ufOUoj6rahboaTEv513bOa_4BTA_dcvcEOs_OI2zAJpUItKAySystfISoZcqSb4Y-fgh00y3bnlsspTl6g3QJfEkeBsmH/s640/Certificate+of+Honor+Jay+C+by+London+Breed.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-85218120629324377832018-09-06T13:14:00.000-07:002018-09-06T13:14:08.510-07:00Khalil Gibran On Children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqihrRPrKvjn-fZdkaz5dnXYZBGDckbO9wH5vjoJboSEMgRNQxIckkzSg4N09OFvQWukgAJP5d7ik8-yuDE-ZxWVhJZT8UHyjyBJFgZXRz0JRZgwqxhZJVTam8OKP8JDlupN2l/s1600/Your+Children+are+Not+Your+Children+-+Dimple+kids.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqihrRPrKvjn-fZdkaz5dnXYZBGDckbO9wH5vjoJboSEMgRNQxIckkzSg4N09OFvQWukgAJP5d7ik8-yuDE-ZxWVhJZT8UHyjyBJFgZXRz0JRZgwqxhZJVTam8OKP8JDlupN2l/s200/Your+Children+are+Not+Your+Children+-+Dimple+kids.png" title="Your Children Are Not Your Children" width="200" /></a>Your children are not your children.<br />
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.<br />
They come through you but not from you,<br />
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.<br />
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You may give them your love but not your thoughts,<br />
For they have their own thoughts.<br />
You may house their bodies but not their souls,<br />
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,<br />
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.<br />
You may strive to be like them,<br />
but seek not to make them like you.<br />
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.<br />
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You are the bows from which your children<br />
as living arrows are sent forth.<br />
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,<br />
and He bends you with His might<br />
that His arrows may go swift and far.<br />
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;<br />
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,<br />
so He loves also the bow that is stable.</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-69996081479727562182018-09-06T10:47:00.004-07:002018-09-06T10:48:48.308-07:00Of Birds, Boats and Being<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghrPjGQ_kYK3ACBJtYxRLQ86M7V6cL9Xu02eJH7qJr7gt0fgl19Q7zza2wOLxN6LkInhSStFpmnoTdHEAtNCoiWJKLyidpgrL4dGJ_uC_OPobNa2YO7stnIgJrhANaNyJHEGw/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghrPjGQ_kYK3ACBJtYxRLQ86M7V6cL9Xu02eJH7qJr7gt0fgl19Q7zza2wOLxN6LkInhSStFpmnoTdHEAtNCoiWJKLyidpgrL4dGJ_uC_OPobNa2YO7stnIgJrhANaNyJHEGw/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-38904510793398391332018-09-06T10:45:00.003-07:002018-09-06T10:45:32.026-07:00Simple Formula for a Happy Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Simple Formula for a Happy Life</b><br />
<br />
Live beneath your means.<br />
Return everything you borrow.<br />
Stop blaming other people.<br />
Admit it when you make a mistake.<br />
Give clothes not worn to charity.<br />
Do something nice and try not to get caught.<br />
Listen more; talk less.<br />
Take a 30 minute walk everyday.<br />
Strive for excellence, not perfection.<br />
Be on time. Don’t make excuses.<br />
Don’t argue.<br />
Get Organized.<br />
Be kind to unkind people.<br />
Let Someone cut ahead of you in line.<br />
Take time to be alone.<br />
Cultivate good manners.<br />
Be humble.<br />
Realize and accept that life isn’t fair.<br />
Know when to keep your mouth shut.<br />
Go on an entire day without criticizing anyone.<br />
Learn from the past. Plan for the future.<br />
Live in the present.<br />
Don’t sweat the small stuff.<br />
It’s all small stuff.<br />
<br />
~ Author unknown</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-11230757625201465192017-02-27T22:32:00.000-08:002017-02-27T22:32:05.363-08:00Staying Ahead While Being Present - Interview by a Director from Salesforce<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #002244; font-family: SalesforceSansRegular, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 10.5px;">
<a href="https://c2.sfdcstatic.com/content/dam/blogs/us/redesign/sfdc-blog-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://c2.sfdcstatic.com/content/dam/blogs/us/redesign/sfdc-blog-logo.png" /></a>Om.</div>
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I am.</div>
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Say it to yourself. “I am” — the meaning of Om, a common meditation mantra. It’s not “I was,” or “I will.” It’s the present. The here. The now.</div>
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In meditation, and mindfulness in general, you hear it all the time — “stay present.”</div>
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Recently, I attended a three-night silent meditation retreat led by Jay Chodagam, meditation practitioner, teacher, and spiritual enthusiast. There were about 20 of us. Before we went into silence, Jay asked us to share a little about why we were there, and what we hoped to get out of the experience. For me, it was about the sense of peace, serenity, and presence that I get when I meditate, and how to maintain that state not only while I’m meditating, but throughout my day. And my life.</div>
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<a href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2017/02/staying-ahead-while-being-present.html" target="_blank">Read further...</a></div>
</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-30828515370402240612017-02-24T13:05:00.003-08:002017-02-27T22:33:14.237-08:00Spiders are Not Your Biggest Fear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZJqXlUMIOFWcOy7sVVtKwnZQdgYpLfUQpRzA9yyIczTLED1YGqy9QWDInRK3dzsD-hy3Xuga3o8UUPql3ogHS2RLx0YTlEm-gdU6YUqKScevyjOz99trBeZX9091fQku8Blz/s1600/fear-of-death.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZJqXlUMIOFWcOy7sVVtKwnZQdgYpLfUQpRzA9yyIczTLED1YGqy9QWDInRK3dzsD-hy3Xuga3o8UUPql3ogHS2RLx0YTlEm-gdU6YUqKScevyjOz99trBeZX9091fQku8Blz/s320/fear-of-death.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Exactly two years ago, my sister gave birth to twins in the middle of the night. They arrived a couple of weeks early. When I got to the ICU ward in the hospital, my sister’s vital signs were high and she asked me to lead a meditation to help her calm down. I stood in corner of the tiny space, partitioned by a curtain, and gave my brother-in-law the only chair while my sister lay in bed. Five minutes into the meditation, I suggested rising above the hospital and imagining looking down to give all the souls in the hospital who are suffering the light of peace. That’s the last thing I remember standing. The next scene was a lot of doctors surrounding me, checking to see if my neck was broken. I was put on a stretcher and the cut eyelid was stitched up in the emergency room. I had a broken sternum, which the doctor could not much about expect recommending rest till it healed. Apparently I fainted and fell upright, like a tree chopped from the bottom, with the chest landing on the floor and my head on the bottom of the IV stand. My brother-in-law, bless his heart, was now running between the newborns in the nursery, the ICU and the emergency room.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
<br />You might be feeling pain reading this. But I had a strange epiphany. I felt nothing, no pain of landing unbraced, the broken chest, the cut eyelid or the agony of my brother-in-law tending to four people in the hospital.<br />
<br />I had never passed out before. And, it was the closest I had come to experience what passing might feel like. A couple of years later, when sharing this experience with a group of men, we came to an agreement that this may one of the best ways to leave the body. Once consciousness passes the rest does not matter.<br />
<br />The <b>biggest fear</b> we humans have, whether one acknowledges it or not, is the fear of dying. It is an unconscious fear for most of us as we go through life. Because dying is letting go of every form of identity and security we know.<br />
<br />During my annual retreat in Mt Abu a </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">couple of months ago</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, I had a profound conversation with a wise elder on a bus. He asked me to meditate on a few questions:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Would I be OK if this is my last moment?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Someone may cause hurt and you blame them for how you feel right now. But do you realize to carry the hurt forward to the next day is your choice?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Soul carries a body of light which determines its features and future in the afterlife. What does your body of light consist of right now?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In your daily meditation, are you letting go of all the baggage including the body without regrets?</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />I have been pondering on these ideas since that bus ride. I came to realize that meditation is like a death, practiced everyday in a comfort of your space, at-will.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One who has mastered death:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Has no desire for accumulating</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can be still in front of a bear (recall, the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663202/">Revenant</a> is left for dead by the bear)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Will be calm and allow your body to float when the boat capsizes</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Can make peace with an attacker (Listen to an amazing <a href="http://www.npr.org/2008/03/28/89164759/a-victim-treats-his-mugger-right">true story in New York subway</a>)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Will allow self to the doctor before a surgery</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Is calm and patient in chaos</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Experiences extreme liberation (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/oct/31/steve-jobs-last-words">final words of Steve Jobs</a> - Oh wow, wow, wow)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
Try this in your next meditation and let me know how it goes. </span><br />
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-28201400271320403182016-11-17T15:23:00.003-08:002016-11-17T15:26:27.489-08:00The Power Of Appreciation Guided Meditation Commentary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/292460428&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "interstate" , "lucida grande" , "lucida sans unicode" , "lucida sans" , "garuda" , "verdana" , "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This 6-minute meditation on the power of appreciation is an essential habit to cultivating happiness in your life. It is not just for the Thanksgiving holiday but highly recommended to make it a daily practice.</span></span></div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-52752926969802080592016-11-09T09:25:00.000-08:002017-02-27T22:33:30.119-08:00Lessons from a Construction Crew on a Morbid Morning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOwTwr8FG60ZYhbh1R4YYPPjbsM4h85rjxjNMS7F0TM8osNEB25Lpjy93U3lwRX8dxvlt0bcGSwzOwVhog1sYLXtZVPVyyznzI7KmVpGRc7YgcfOSZzPO1ktM1bL00vp9-QJP/s1600/construction+truck+crack+of+dawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOwTwr8FG60ZYhbh1R4YYPPjbsM4h85rjxjNMS7F0TM8osNEB25Lpjy93U3lwRX8dxvlt0bcGSwzOwVhog1sYLXtZVPVyyznzI7KmVpGRc7YgcfOSZzPO1ktM1bL00vp9-QJP/s200/construction+truck+crack+of+dawn.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
It was 6am this morning. The sky was filled with the first light at the crack of dawn. I was standing outside on the upstairs balcony sipping my hot beverage. There was not a soul to be seen. Understandably, my community was reeling from the shock that was handed to us in the wee hours this morning. I assume most people were up, like me, until 1am to witness Reality TV turn to real life.<br />
<br />
A construction truck fully loaded with street repair equipment drove up. It pulled up by another truck parked in front of my neighbors and the two drivers, seemingly Latino, started talking in Spanish. Why were these men up so early on a day like this? They had to have been on the road since 5am to get into San Francisco at this hour. A dozen reasons for why they were justified to show up late for work crossed my mind. I bet the boss is not going to show up for a few hours. They had a few more things to be concerned about the latest news than me.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Watching them, it dawned on me we have work to do. There is no time to stop and sulk. Regardless of how far we thought we came, we need to wake up to the fact that there is a lot more healing to do. The gashes are deep. There are no 'them' and 'us'. And, there is no where to escape to. Look around the world; UK, Philippines and Turkey are also showing similar trends. The last I've heard Mars is not ready for colonization yet. There is only us and here.<br />
<br />
We have to dig deep to see where we have unresolved conflict within us. The healing needs to start within. There is a stronger need to create community and belonging than ever before. No one can be left out, even at the level of thoughts. Ultimately, the pursuit is of happiness. Screaming for change, America is trying every which way to find it. Even the winners were stunned by numbers last night. This is a spiritual issue. The answers are not going to come from policies and new trade agreements.<br />
<br />
Let the healing begin with me.</div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-6145455974747322612016-11-03T17:30:00.001-07:002016-11-05T09:37:50.607-07:00The Three Things You Should Know About Karma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e8_OQbesy9x74EYO5Wb9l1uFvS_ALeX9HnGDafCWMtoF0g2vsBOQmj3WBBJOcM-ivySVHpVBx_ZiQngCDd7K5e_RztKe7WeTKkpjAoslQ3RUYU-wTCqmjmb53JHc9HV8E7_f/s1600/cause-effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-e8_OQbesy9x74EYO5Wb9l1uFvS_ALeX9HnGDafCWMtoF0g2vsBOQmj3WBBJOcM-ivySVHpVBx_ZiQngCDd7K5e_RztKe7WeTKkpjAoslQ3RUYU-wTCqmjmb53JHc9HV8E7_f/s320/cause-effect.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Several years ago, I bought
a motorcycle to get around San Francisco. It was the best decision I made as I
could zip through choked streets. One afternoon, I cut through the middle of
two lanes of vehicles stopped at a traffic signal. When I was almost at the
very front, my handle bar touched a car stopped on the left. I thought it was a
mild touch and continued forward to the white line. Shortly thereafter that car
started honking. As it was a mild contact, I thought the driver was looking to
pick a fight for nothing. As soon as the light turned green, I sped away. A
mile down the street, I noticed the driver was still following me and honking.
</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now, scared that he was serious about the fight, I made some sharp turns into
narrow lanes and ‘escaped’. The next day, I got a call from my insurance
company saying that car had filed for damages. I told my side of the story to
the insurance agent. If I was riding a motorcycle and my handlebar hit a car at
any noticeable speed, wouldn’t I go flying? She agreed. It was my word against
his and the agent said she will sort it out without any ‘fault'. About a month
later, I got a mail from the insurance company with more details. The man,
apparently a tourist, claimed I broke his right door mirror and included a picture.
Now, I realized the gravity of that ‘minor brush’. But a lot of water had flown
under the bridge and my agent had assured me she would take care of it. So, I
let it go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">A year later, I bought a
car. It was the most expensive car I had owned. One day, I was sorting things
in the garage and while moving the motorcycle I dropped it on the new car. The
comic peculiarity of the resulting damage overcame the sadness. The left mirror
on the motorcycle broke, the same side that had the minor brush with the tourist.
In addition, I had a dent on the brand new car. There were no question in my mind;
I knew it was paying off a debt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Karmic Settlement</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Karma could play out in
mysterious ways (see my post on the <a href="http://paradiseinc.blogspot.com/2016/05/phenomenal-story-of-what-goes-around.html"><span style="color: #0000e9;">phenomenal Paderewski-Hoover story</span></a>). Being on
a contemplative path for over a decade, I have realized that karma is the
rebalancing of energy that I have put out there. This rebalancing can be more
obscure than the two stories cited above as it may entail accounts from beyond
this lifetime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I have realized that
balancing of the energy happens in one of three ways: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Suffering - I deal with
consequences by facing the repercussion in my life. This is the default mechanism,
harsh and does not need any wisdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Aware and awake - When I am
aware of my identity as a being of energy (soul), I understand everything is
accurate and this reduces the burden of the suffering that could have come from
victim consciousness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Healing the wound with the
light of Source - I the soul am energy. Negative karma is like scar tissue that
blocks the free flow of energy. When I tune into the love and light of the
Supreme Spirit and expose my scars, I let it heal, until there is nothing left
but light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Karma of thought</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">While the boomerang effect
of ones actions is based on the intention with which it is done, there is a lesser-known,
subtler aspect of karma that is underestimated. This is the karma of thoughts.
Like actions, thoughts create their own ripples. Pure and positive thoughts
create a buoyant environment, which make me happier. Critical, impure or
negative thinking makes me heavy, scattered, turbulent and sad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Thoughts affect my feelings,
feelings frame my attitude, attitude will determine my actions, actions create
habits, habits form my personality and personality drives my destiny. So, I
have control over my destiny and it begins with my thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Carrying the "old
baggage" in the mind feels, well just like that, heavy, uncomfortable and
seems to get in the way all the time. What does it feel like to be “debt
free”? There is a sense of lightness; an ease based on a feeling that all is
well. In the words of Dadi Janki, the 100-year young spiritual teacher,
"think before you think". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My Response to Witnessing Karma</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Discussions on karma can get
very animated especially on what is an appropriate response. Here are three things I
keep in mind when I see someone going through a hard time: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Don’t judge their suffering.
What you may call as their lowest point would probably be their greatest gift
for a turnaround, for some amazing contribution they are going to make. Think
about such turning points in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Instead of feeling sorry,
ask yourself what is the best way I can assist the person(s)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Your experience (suffering)
makes you more capable of having empathy and compassion for others suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Your destiny is your creation and it starts with the next thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-17574315923338404042016-09-09T20:58:00.001-07:002016-09-09T21:03:26.706-07:00Lucid Planet Radio Podcast: Bringing Peace to the Park and Finding Calm in a Chaotic World with Jay Chodagam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-91973088210080374272016-08-11T00:49:00.000-07:002016-08-11T00:51:31.110-07:00Anchor for Highlights of 2nd Annual International Yoga Day in San Francisco, June 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-56324375274880749892016-05-19T23:33:00.003-07:002016-05-19T23:37:02.981-07:00Phenomenal Story of What Goes Around Comes Around<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">A friend sent me an amazing story of karma coming full circle. It sounded too good, so I did some due diligence. Turns out this amazing story is </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.ushistory.org/more/hoover.htm&source=gmail&ust=1463812074704000&usg=AFQjCNEu6QT98JZxZnzB7WjbCu49P-9hkQ" href="http://www.ushistory.org/more/hoover.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #6dc6dd; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">true</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">In 1892 at Stanford University, an 18-year-old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a bright idea. He and a friend decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise money for their education.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck and the boys began to work to make the concert a success.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">The big day arrived. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1600, plus a cheque for the balance $400. They promised to honor the check at the soonest possible.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">“No,” said Paderewski. “This is not acceptable.” He tore up the cheque, returned the $1600 and told the two boys: “Here’s the $1600. Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left”. The boys were surprised, and thanked him profusely.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being. Why should he help two people he did not even know? We all come across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think “If I help them, what would happen to me?” The truly great people think, “If I don’t help them, what will happen to them?” They don’t do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it’s the right thing to do.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately when the World War began, Poland was ravaged. There were more than 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no money to feed them. Paderewski did not know where to turn for help. He reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help. He heard there was a man called Herbert Hoover — who later went on to become the US President. Hoover agreed to help and quickly shipped tons of food grains to feed the starving Polish people. A calamity was averted. Paderewski was relieved.</span><br />
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.ushistory.org/more/hoover.htm&source=gmail&ust=1463812074704000&usg=AFQjCNEu6QT98JZxZnzB7WjbCu49P-9hkQ" href="http://www.ushistory.org/more/hoover.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #6dc6dd; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><img align="left" class="CToWUd" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhYwQBezePIboxC9Yz1Dc2gXz-iJU6JVkVZBDpLRYaz-qL3xwe95JU23-MN1Ip3xThFmzvSQ00LWGGZxh-yK2syLlpnaxGCR4wCG74014zK2FBi1mwZzEVKkIwOcCMkIdt3C0C4EHMces5Q9BRgeY0CjC60J7-F9oQAG7iqiO32d3weimoPFjA4npxIwyKnXd92NhXtPsg0r3vtfosfolJYFaw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; min-height: 102px; outline: none; text-decoration: none; width: 125px;" width="125" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">He decided to go across to meet Hoover and personally thank him. When Paderewski began to thank Hoover for his noble gesture, Hoover quickly interjected and said, “You shouldn’t be thanking me Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college. I was one of them.”</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #606060; font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.5px;">Nothing in nature lives for itself. Rivers don't drink their own water. Trees don't eat their own fruit. Sun doesn't give heat for itself. Flowers don't spread fragrance for themselves. Living for others is the rule of nature. And therein lies the secret of living.</span></div>
Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19375330.post-66920537245522096942016-04-22T22:53:00.001-07:002016-04-25T22:56:33.805-07:00END GAME - Stanford Scientist Estimates 35 years. What are YOU doing about it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You know life on earth is precarious, but I bet you have no idea how serious it is. </div>
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Earlier this week, I heard a talk by <a href="https://profiles.stanford.edu/elizabeth-hadly" target="_blank">Dr Elizabeth Hadly</a>, Stanford professor, White House Advisor, a regular speaker at COP summits and advisor to Governor Jerry Brown. Based on her research on history of human behavior, she predicts that human life on earth as we know it, could end by 2050. If anyone makes it past that, they will have the unsought privilege of witnessing 85% of all mammal life on earth disappear by 2100. This is not new information, she says, her research has spanned over 30 years. But it is only in recent years that governments, organizations and individuals are noticing her team "shout from the rooftop" of the dangerous signs. In the Oscar-winning <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497116/" target="_blank">An Inconvenient Truth</a> 10 years ago, Al Gore gave us a wake up call to the gravity of the situation. This talk was an update on the State-of-the-World. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;">We have hit several milestones, she claims in her book, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tipping-Point-Planet-Earth-Close/dp/1250051150" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;">Tipping Point for Planet Earth: How close are we to the edge?</a> <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;">While <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/400ppmquotes/" target="_blank">scientists</a> and the <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/06/earth-is-crossing-multiple-points-of-no-return/" target="_blank">press</a> have been telling lately that climate has crossed the point of no return, Dr Hadly's research touches on several other perilous man made conditions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://skepteco.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/total-world-population-chart-inline-400.jpg" target="_blank">Explosive Growth of Human Population</a> over the past 100 years has put a tremendous load on the Earth for resources. We have changed landscapes and polluted natural habitat. An eminent danger, over half of the population is threatened with water shortage. Already <a href="http://water.org/water-crisis/water-sanitation-facts/" target="_blank">over half billion people do not access to safe drinking water</a> today. More people requires more farm land, which means more deforestation of the already dwindled forests.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;">Animal bio waste linked to humans has grown exponentially. </span><a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/international/community_images/84/2284/116124_193462.jpg" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14px;" target="_blank">69% of all biomass</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;"> generated today on earth is from livestock, which was mass produced by the meat industry. That’s 200 times more than biomass generated from wild animals. This waste poisons our land, air and water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;">Man's insatiable desire to colonize the earth has gone too far. Today 83% of all of land on earth has been influenced by humans of which 51% has been totally transformed, </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;">causing destruction of natural habitat, green zones and the <a href="http://www.stnf.org/en/clean_air.html" target="_blank">"lungs" of this planet</a>. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Every minute an extraordinarily large piece of virgin rainforest, roughly the footprint of thirty-six football fields, is destroyed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;">Energy wasted on transporting goods over vast distances. Read this as stuff in your homes that has come from China and food in your refrigerator that was grown in South America. If you haven't watched The Story of Stuff, you must (below) to understand how our </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;">everyday</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px;"> choices affect our planet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">Humans are responsible for half of large mammals on earth going extinct. We have an extinction debt. You might argue that man has been hunting for food for a very long time. Today, the greed for financial gain coupled with mechanization has allowed him to </span><span style="font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/mar/07/extinction-species-evolve" target="_blank">drive extinction faster than species can evolve</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://d28wbuch0jlv7v.cloudfront.net/images/infografik/normal/chartoftheday_3632_syria_is_the_worst_refugee_crisis_of_our_generation_n.jpg" target="_blank">The top refugee source in 2015 was Syria</a>. Some countries have been flooded by millions of transplants within a year creating a massive strain on those societies. With the current trend of global conditions, we can expect to see many such mass migrations in the near future. Borders and fences are not going to stop the desperate people.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.breakblackmagic.com/public/articles/16-02-06/org/breakblackmagic-com1454755876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.breakblackmagic.com/public/articles/16-02-06/org/breakblackmagic-com1454755876.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue"; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">So, what is my response to these crisis? My top take-away was, we need to simplify our living and elevate our thinking. We need to break out of the deeply engrained habit of seeking pleasure from acquisition and consumption. Not an easy task to accomplish when every message around you has been crafted to make you feel incomplete. One needs to learn to fill that void that creates the urge to take, take and take with something sustainable. Meditation is the only way that I know of to cultivate contentment, compassion and cooperation, which addresses most of the issues discussed. And, in the case it is too late, as some scientists are claiming, the practice of letting go will be the only useful skill at the end.</span></div>
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Some suggestions from Dr Hadly:</div>
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<li>Population control with 0.5 children per family, or one child for every two couples.</li>
<li>Go vegetarian and buy from local farmers. </li>
<li>Get out of suburbs and live in urban communities (shared spaces) that sprawl vertically rather than horizontally.</li>
<li>Buy all goods from local manufacturers</li>
<li>Comprehensive waste management (compost, recycle and trash) like it is done in the city of San Francisco.</li>
<li>Increase cooperation locally and globally. Acknowledge the problem, embrace solutions that save all of us, work to implement them NOW.</li>
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(Apparently, these suggestions and more are in the film <a href="http://www.demain-lefilm.com/" target="_blank">Demain</a> (Tomorrow in French) which will be in local theaters soon.)</div>
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Now, you know. Don't wait for a Hollywood superhero to appear and magically fix the world. The response to these circumstances is your choice. And, it has to start right now to have any significance.</div>
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Jay Chodagamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17689280301064439576noreply@blogger.com3