A Gift of Peace for Our Planet

A wonderful recording I just recently did with Beverly Hutchinson and  Steven Halpern . Enjoy, Much Love and Peace !!! 

How to Train Your Thoughts

To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one’s family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one’s own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.” -Buddha

“A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” -Mahatma Gandhi
“Change your thoughts, and you change your world.” -Norman Vincent Peale



To begin to live the life we’ve always dreamed of, we must first change our thinking. If there’s anything about your life that you’re not happy with, good news! All it takes is a shift in your thoughts to begin to change it. So many of us, however, believe that if we just keep doing what we’re doing, eventually something will change and life will just “get better” because we want it to.

“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” -Albert Einstein

Or, to paraphrase another quote, when we think what we’ve always thought, we’ll get what we’ve always got.
Our minds run rampant with thoughts, and until we begin the process of controlling our thinking, we’re left at their mercy. The first step in controlling our thoughts is to notice what we’re thinking. Until we can step aside and be the observer of our thoughts instead of actively caught up in thinking them, we can’t begin to control them.
Our minds like to operate in ‘stealth mode’ making us forget that there is a thinker behind the thoughts, a thinker who can choose which thoughts to think!

1. Pay attention to every thought and feeling that doesn’t feel good. For me, in the beginning, this was a lot of thoughts. I lived in a lot of mental pain, but I was determined to turn it around. Don’t stress about how long this will take or how many thoughts don’t feel good, just begin slowly and notice the ones that make you feel uncomfortable, less-than, defeated, angry, jealous, fearful, etc.
Note: Simply noticing the thoughts is a great leap on the road to Nirvana, since you’re separating yourself from them in a powerful way.
2. Don’t judge your thoughts. Our thoughts are not personal, they’re merely following the patterns of what we’ve allowed ourselves to think before. Having bad thoughts doesn’t make us bad people. We are not “more inclined” to have bad thoughts than anyone else. We merely have patterns of allowing the thoughts or rejecting them. The more we allow them, the more those negative thoughts will come to us. The more often we think positive thoughts, the more positive thoughts will come, and the less frequent negative ones will be able to “make purchase” and settle in. This is a process, and we must consciously choose to think better thoughts before better thoughts will come to us- but don’t judge. Just notice.

“If thoughts or ideas are not really ‘mine, then whence do they arise and who is their author? Actually, they don’t have a ‘who’ of origin at all but instead merely arise from a ‘what’. The content of calibratable field of consciousness is like a thought bank regimented by a specific energy field of a level of the collective consciousness of mankind. Similar thoughts, concepts, and ideas congregate at various levels and are orchestrated under the influence of the attention of the central ‘attractor field’ that, like gravity, attracts ideas of similar gravity or density.” -David Hawkins PhD

3. Practice self-compassion. Merely observing a negative thought is an incredible advancement in consciousness. If you then berate yourself for thinking it, or being stuck in a negative thought pattern, you’re taking yourself back into the spiral of negativity.
Honor yourself for doing this work. Honor yourself for being brave enough to watch your negative thoughts. Honor yourself for beginning to change what you’re thinking and cultivate positivity. Honor yourself for becoming the person you want to be, one thought at a time!
4. Ask yourself, “Is this thought necessary? What can I think that’s better?” I love asking these questions because they immediately stop my negative thoughts in their tracks. I go from “Yikes, this is so bad, I wonder what I’m going to do about this?” to “Wow, what can I love about this situation? What’s the best possible thing that can come from this?” which is way more fun.
Anytime I’m tempted to think a negative thought, I a) notice that it doesn’t feel good, b) honor myself for catching it, and c) ask myself, “What can I think about that I love? What can I think about that makes me feel good? Those negative thoughts no longer have a place- the “thinker behind the thoughts” is too occupied creating the life she loves and wants to pay attention to those negative thoughts that hold her back.

“All truly wise thoughts have been thoughts already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience.” -Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
“Let the wise guard their thoughts, which are difficult to perceive, extremely subtle, and wander at will. Thought which is well guarded is the bearer of happiness.” -Buddha

Reiki Healing

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."

A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life.

Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.

While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.

 

decided to add the Reiki Ideals to the practice of Reiki. The Ideals came in part from the five prinicples of the Meiji emperor of Japan whom Dr. Usui admired. The Ideals were developed to add spiritual balance to Usui Reiki. Their purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it. Therefore, the Usui system of Reiki is more than the use of the Reiki energy. It must also include an active commitment to improve oneself in order for it to be a complete system. The ideals are both guidelines for living a gracious life and virtues worthy of practice for their inherent value.

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
The founder , Usui Mikao

Lifestyle Feng Shui Prosperity Tip #2, You Get What You Give

To experience abundance, give abundantly. In this world of attraction, generosity flows to those who give of themselves to others. Feng Shui isn't just about moving 'stuff' it's about you and your energy. It's about learning how to identify what thoughts

Attend Our International Conference on A Course in Miracles

 Our International Conference on A Course in Miracles will take place August 10th and 11th in Southern California. We invite you to attend in person, but if you can't make to Irvine, join us from your home via our live streaming experience. Watch our video invitation to learn more!
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/A-Video-Invitation--Partners-on-the-Path--and-more.html?soid=1101390493629&aid=nbcm-32ECy4

Partners on the Path

35 Years in Retrospect . . . The life of Miracle Distribution Center

by Beverly Hutchinson McNeff
In celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Center, throughout the next several issues we will be sharing its journey with you. Even though the Center was founded by Beverly and Richard Hutchinson, it has developed a life of its own. These articles will share the Center’s birth, growth, life and purpose as it continues to evolve and support students of A Course in Miracles.
Part III:

Nothing you undertake with certain purpose and high resolve and happy confidence, holding your brother’s hand and keeping step to Heaven’s song, is difficult to do. (T550/T-26.V.2:5)

Through our thirty-five years of service, we have had the opportunity to take the hands of many brothers, and each one has brought a blessing to Miracle Distribution Center (MDC) and its growth. I have written in previous articles about how my brother, Richard, was the moving force in starting the Center, but I also want to mention the impact that our parents have had on MDC’s growth, for it truly has been a “family affair.” As students of A Course in Miracles, they spent many long hours in support of this work. Both my mom and dad have made their transitions into eternal life, but during the years that they graced us on this earth, it was common to see our dad, Clarence, repairing a leaky faucet, changing a light bulb or helping out in any number of ways. Tona, our mom, was a familiar voice to many since she was often the voice you’d hear when you phoned the Center. She was an invaluable helper to us, and we fondly called her our best secret “weapon,” for she was our ambassador of love to all who called or visited MDC.
Since her death in 1997, we have been blessed by a series of wonderful receptionists: Monica Castillo, Gina Wolf, Jennifer Fitzgerald, Roxanna Spencer and presently Tess Patton and Maria Zakich, who continue to provide the same love and nurturing spirit that my mom started back in 1978. I know this makes my mom smile.
My family has been involved with MDC from the beginning, but another part of our “family” joined us in 1982. At that time, we were growing and needed to become more knowledgeable in the ways of the Center’s burgeoning business growth. Darin Zakich, who has a degree in Economics, came on the scene and was an answer, quite literally, to prayer. He found out about A Course in Miracles through his mother, Rhea Zakich (creator of The Ungame and an international lecturer on inner healing). Darin became a student of the Course and began attending our study group. As time went on, it became apparent that he was the missing piece in our puzzle. He became a part of the Center and he now serves as our administrator.
In the “old days,” when the Course only came in three hard covered volumes, we were sent large cases of individual Texts, Workbooks, and Manuals for Teachers. These books were then repacked into small boxes which held one of each of the hardcover books. It was a tremendous job to repack hundreds of sets of the Course each week to be mailed out to anxious students — we needed help! Darin invited two friends to come and help us at MDC — Susan and Robert Perry. From this beginning in 1985, Susan remained on as the receptionist of the Center for four years before moving to Arizona. Robert, whom Darin had known since high school, was also involved with the Center and assisted in editing part of our recorded series with Steven Halpern and collaborated with us on the writing of a booklet entitled An Introduction to A Course in Miracles. His involvement with the Course started at Miracle Distribution Center and from there he has gone on to form his own organization, The Circle of Atonement.
Also in 1985, after his work as director of the New Hope Counseling Center at the Crystal Cathedral had come to an end, we invited Conrad Hanson to join the Center as director of education and counseling. With over two thousand study groups worldwide, he had a mighty task keeping track of things and keeping the listings updated on a daily basis. Conrad retired at the end of 2010 after twenty-five years of service to our Center.
In the mid 1980s, Howard and Donna Sell had found the Course through Gerald Jampolsky’s book, Love is Letting Go of Fear. The Sells became invaluable in their help to MDC. If you recall, in the mid 1980s, personal computers were just coming into fashion, and the Sells were the first to get us set up on computer so our study group information could be digitized. They also helped us produce the first issues of The Holy Encounter magazine. For years, Donna came into the Center to volunteer her time and to help us duplicate our study group meetings on cassette tapes. After Donna retired from this volunteer position, Mary Mount stepped in to take over. Mary’s dedication was invaluable. After she retired, Maria Zakich filled the void without missing a step. As the popularity of MDC’s recorded study group meetings continues to grow, Maria continues to meet the need. Cassettes have gone the way of 8-track tapes. We still duplicate on to CDs, but mp3 downloads are now becoming the popular choice, so things are changing!
And no mention of “partners on the path” would be complete without the names of Bud Mendoza and Steve Doolittle. These two dedicated friends completely rebuilt and improved the Center’s computer system and brought us into the information age. We owe a great thanks to Steve for designing our website in 1996 and now, for his incredible help with live streaming many of our events. Bud (who made his transition into eternal life in June of 2007) will always have a place in our hearts not only for his expertise in fixing computer malfunctions, but for his loving spirit that touched every aspect of the Center. We truly miss him, but we are grateful that these two “miracle workers” continue to touch our lives.
As our office family began to grow, our partners on the path began to find their own partners. Those partners have become part of our family as well. When I got married in 1988, my husband Paul became a vital part of MDC as has Darin’s wife, Maria, and Tess’s husband, Tim. The children that have come from these unions have also touched the life of MDC. Darin and Maria’s two girls, Lauren and Emily, Tess and Tim’s girls, Casey and Tara and the apple of my and Paul’s eyes, Jeffrey, provide us with the best lessons for joy and learning than any of us could imagine.
There are so many other dear friends who have touched the life of MDC. We have been truly grateful for each and every one of them. Whenever there was a need, a loving brother was directed our way. A good example of this is Ed Foote who lives in Pennsylvania and serves as our ambassador-at-large, scouting new locations for our Holy Encounter Weekends across the U.S. and helping to spread the word about the Center’s services. Perhaps that is why, even though we work long hours, the task of the Center has never seemed difficult, for “Nothing you undertake with certain purpose and high resolve and happy confidence, holding your brother’s hand and keeping step to Heaven’s song, is difficult to do.”

Amma's North American Tour Dates

North American Tour Dates

Amma was born in a remote coastal village in Kerala, South India in 1953.

Even as a small girl, she drew attention with the many hours she spent in deep meditation on the seashore. She also composed devotional songs and could often be seen singing to the divine with heartfelt emotion. Despite her tender age, her compositions revealed remarkable depth and wisdom.

When Amma was nine years old, her mother became ill, and Amma was withdrawn from school in order to help with household tasks and the care of her seven siblings. As she went door-to-door gathering food scraps from neighbors for her family’s cows, she was confronted with the intense poverty and suffering that existed in her community, and in the world beyond it.

Where Amma encountered people in need, she brought them food and clothing from her own home. She was undeterred by the scolding and punishment she received from her family for doing so. Amma also began to spontaneously embrace people to comfort them in their sorrow. Responding to her affectionate care, they began to call her Amma (Mother).

Amma was deeply affected by the profound suffering she witnessed. According to Hinduism, the suffering of the individual is due to his or her own karma — the results of actions performed in the past. Amma accepted this concept, but she refused to accept it as a justification for inaction. Amma contemplated the principle of karma until she revealed an even more profound truth, asking a question she continues to ask each of us today. “If it is one man’s karma to suffer, isn’t it our dharma (duty) to help ease his suffering and pain?”

With this simple yet profound conviction — that each of us has a responsibility to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate — Amma moved forward with confidence in her life of service and compassionate care for all beings, uniquely expressed by the motherly embrace she offers to all who seek solace in her arms.

In Amma’s community, however, it was not permissible for a 14-year-old girl to touch others, especially men. Amma explains, "In India, women are expected to remain in the background. It is said that 'Even the walls should not hear them.' My family could not understand my way of reaching out to people; they had no idea of the spiritual principles."

But despite adverse reactions, Amma followed her heart, later explaining, “A continuous stream of love flows from me to all of creation. This is my inborn nature. The duty of a doctor is to treat patients. In the same way, my duty is to console those who are suffering.”

Amma says that love expressed is compassion, and compassion means accepting the needs and sorrows of others as one's own.