The Law of Attraction

“The life force is all-pervasive and its strength boundless. The Art of Peace allows us to perceive and tap into that tremendous reserve of universal energy.” - Ueshiba, The Art of Peace

Today we find much discussion regarding the evolution of consciousness and the realization that we take part in the creation of our reality; books like The Tao of Physics and films such as What The Bleep Do We Know!? and The Secret track our coming of age on these topics. Modern day physicists, spiritualists and free thinkers are beginning to realize that truth lies somewhere between outdated concepts of ‘science’ and ‘religion.’ If we think, speak and visualize in positive ways, the law of attraction plays a role in amassing positive outcomes for our lives.

“Our world is made up of interlocking wavelengths of light. Matter is a matter of opinion. When you speak into this quantum void, you are creating your own reality whether you know it or not, constructing and deconstructing the ‘frozen music’ that makes up our reality.” – Surfing the Tao: A Revolution of Free Will

These ideas are not in fact ‘new’, but can be found within many of our world’s spiritual traditions. Each culture and era phrases it differently, but the importance of this spiritual law hasn’t changed.

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” – Proverbs 23:7

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” – Buddha

Oftentimes people wonder about the difficulty of controlling one’s thoughts; or what one should be visualizing for themselves. The good news is, if we can find a grateful, loving and positive frame of mind, we can put these questions out to the Universe, and it will take care of the details for you. Some say “let go, let God” and this is a good way to put it.

“Peace originates with the flow of things – its heart is like the movement of the wind and waves. The Way is like the veins that circulate blood through our bodies, following the natural flow of the life force. If you are separated in the slightest from that divine essence, you are far off the path.” –The Art of Peace

Surfing the Tao refers to simply choosing love for the direction of your actions; allow the Tao (God, Brahman, the Force, the Great Spirit…whatever you call it) to flow through you, and hop on for the ride of your life. Truth is simple - Walk the Walk; Live the Way. Use various methods – you can use a long board or a short board, right-footed or left, but you’re still allowing the wave to carry you. I suggest this revolution of thought, of our free will, is radical and yet of utmost importance in today’s world. Learn to create a new reality in harmony with the Tao. Choose love and watch your life, and the world, transform.

“…There is evil and disorder in the world because people have forgotten that all things emanate from one source. Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts, petty desires, and anger.” –The Art of Peace

Live and Learn, or You Won't Live Long

I’ll be honest, folks, there are days I just throw up my hands and think, there’s no use bothering anymore. It’s just impossible to open minds that are already set in their ways. I would put my life on the line for free speech and the right of the individual to their own opinions, but where’s the love? Can we disagree and still be civil to each other? Can we respect differing points of view and still be neighborly? Are we willing to learn from each other, to listen, or are we all just talking too loud to hear anyone else?

There are wars going on in every facet of our lives. Military wars with guns and killing are just part of it. There are wars of words here at home, and everywhere, so much so I sometimes wonder, am I the only person who read Machiavelli? Isn’t anyone else out there aware of the fact that while we set our jaws and spew hatred at each other, we are just falling into a trap? Liberals vs. conservatives, people of faith vs. atheists, pro-life vs. pro-choice, rich vs. poor, black vs. white, blue vs. yellow, McDonalds vs. Burger King…hello, people, we’re missing the point here. We’re over-complicating our lives, our society, and our world. We’re too busy arguing amongst ourselves to take a walk outside the box. I don’t care if you’re liberal, conservative, religious, spiritual, atheist, purple with blue lumps or have three arms…choosing to be loving, or at the very least, neighborly, would go a long way towards improving our society. Instead of so freely making assumptions, throwing labels and accusations around, and blaming each other for whatever, we’d be better off setting aside one day a week to really read and listen to others, and maybe keep our mouths shut for a moment while we do. That goes for everyone – politicians, talk show hosts, bloggers, teenagers, senior citizens, celebrities, pet owners, CEOs, homemakers – I don’t care who you are or what you believe, none of us knows everything, none of us is 100 per cent right – and none of us knows the whole truth. We could all benefit from a little continuing education.

Let’s find the love. Let’s find common ground. Let’s listen, learn and open our minds. Or is it already too late?

A real Jurassic park?

From Free Press International

Surfing the Tao

“Surfing the Tao” is a phrase created in an attempt to nutshell what could be the most important aspect of spiritual truth, or the Way of Life. A reader once sent me a great quote, “It is a lot like surfing... you catch a wave by being prepared, timing your move and having your board in position. Like surfing, you have some control, but the Flow has all the power.” Since I live in Hawaii the analogy seemed appropriate; and indeed there is a certain zen to the sport.

If you’re just hearing about “Surfing the Tao” here are a few bullet points. It’s not about any particular religion; it’s about how we choose to live each moment, although it does contain spiritual concepts from all corners of the world. We can argue endlessly about who is ‘right’ – but we could be just missing the point. Each person has their own path to walk, and we all find truth in our own ways. However, as our greatest sages have remarked, eventually our paths will all converge on the Great Path.

Our great spiritual teachers have all encouraged love in the search for enlightenment. Many have defined “God” (or Tao, Father, Force, Beloved, Brahman, Great Spirit; whatever) as that flowing consciousness of love, the goal being to become “one” with this Force. So the basic idea of “Surfing the Tao” is choosing love for direction of your actions. The truth is simple – not easy, but simple. Still your mind and instead listen to your spiritual nature, that which is connected to the Tao, the Force. Allow the Tao to flow through you, and hop on for the ride of your life. Use various methods – you can use a long board or a short board, right-footed or left, but you’re still allowing the wave to carry you.

Surfing is an individual sport, and Surfing the Tao is a silent, inner revolution of spirit. The outer world will not provide the whole answer. Truth is within you; amplify the Voice by tuning in to love. Then, one person at a time, we can change our reality to one of peace and harmony.

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Vaccines, Mercury and Autism

There are a number of recent articles and studies regarding the connection between immunizations given to children and autism, which is a developmental disability characterized by anti-social behavior and repetitive movements. The main culprits are thought to be thimerosal and other mercury-based preservatives contained in some vaccines, but also include formaldehyde, aluminum phosphate, antibiotics, phenols, aluminum salts, methanol, isopropyl, 2-pheozyethanol, live viruses and “a host of known components considered off-limits as trade secrets,” according to an article in the World Net Daily.

An article in The Hill on June 3, 2006 by Jeffrey Young reports that parents of autistic children are claiming a cover-up by the CDC on this link. The CDC responds on its website, “The weight of currently available scientific evidence does not support the hypothesis that vaccines cause autism. We recognize there is considerable public interest in this issue, and therefore support additional research regarding this hypothesis. CDC is committed to maintaining the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history.”

The National Institutes of Heath has quadrupled its financing for research into this question since 1997. But last year the top three public health agencies held a press conference in which they stated that there was no proven link between vaccines and autism. They maintain it’s more dangerous for children not to receive immunizations from diseases such as mumps, rubella and influenza. But many parents, as well as other researchers, are not convinced. There has been a reported 6000% to 13,000% increase in childhood autism since the 1990s, depending on the location. Before 1990, autism was rare, about one in every 10,000 children; now nearly one in every 150 children is being diagnosed, and this has prompted outrage and lawsuits in many communities. There is an outcry for more independent research, as many claim the government agencies are conspiring to “poison” our children with toxic levels of mercury and other chemicals.

Thimerosal was first introduced as a preservative in the 1930s by Eli Lilly. According to a study published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons by Dr. Mark Geier, and David Geier, “U.S. infants are exposed to mercury levels [which] far exceed the EPA and FDA–established maximum permissible levels.” They note a strong epidemiological link between neurodevelopmental disorders and mercury exposure. But despite the outrage, it hasn’t been removed from many of the vaccines. Dr. Geier suggests that the rates of autism would decline so abruptly, the connection would become obvious and a deluge of lawsuits would follow. Several companies have even admitted the mercury levels contained within the vaccines are other than is what is stated on their labels – if this is truly the case who knows what else they’re putting in there without our knowledge.

The United States is not alone in the controversy. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has written a book and many articles on the subject, stated, “six years ago, autism was unknown in China. We started giving them our vaccines in 1999. Today there’s 1.8 million cases of autism in China.” Australia has experienced a 276% jump in autism disorders. Russia banned thimerosal from children’s vaccines and their autism rates have remained unchanged. In the UK, where the mercury-based vaccine was introduced in 1989, the autism rate spiked from one in 2200 children in 1988 to one in 166 in 2001.

One anomaly exists within the Amish population, which doesn’t take vaccines. Their autism rates are almost non-existent, certainly nowhere near the epidemic 1 in 166 proportions indicated elsewhere.

At least this possible mercury-autism link is being discussed openly today in our major media. However, it remains that parents are often coerced into allowing their children to be vaccinated and not told of these possible complications. In Maryland, parents on welfare lose $25 per month per child without immunizations – even though they are not legally required. Many school systems do not allow unvaccinated children to attend, and physicians often refuse to treat a child without them.

One must consider that the pharmaceutical industry is a business. Is it possible such a business would make even more money should people get sick from their vaccines? Do we really trust them to be working for our best interests, rather than their own? Did you know that Bayer, the company which makes Cipro, the treatment for Anthrax, started out in Germany working for Hitler? These companies are capitalists, not philanthropists. One shudders to think of the day vaccinations are required by law. Until then Surf the Tao, live every moment in love - even if others aren’t.