Native Wisdom

Each morning upon rising, and each evening before sleeping, give thanks 
for the life within you and for all life, for the good things the Creator 
has given you and for the opportunity to grow a little more each day. 

Consider your thoughts and actions of the past day and seek for the courage 
and strength to be a better person. Seek for the things that will benefit others (everyone).

Respect. Respect means "To feel or show honor or esteem for someone or something; to consider the well being of, or to treat someone or something with deference or courtesy". Showing respect is a basic law of life.

 Treat every person from the tiniest child to the oldest elder with respect at all times.

 Special respect should be given to Elders, Parents, Teachers, and Community Leaders.

 No person should be made to feel "put down" by you; avoid hurting other hearts as you would avoid a deadly poison.

Touch nothing that belongs to someone else (especially Sacred Objects) without permission, or an understanding between you. 

 Respect the privacy of every person; never intrude on a person's quiet moment or personal space.

 Never walk between people that are conversing. 

Never interrupt people who are conversing.

 Speak in a soft voice, especially when you are in the presence of Elders, strangers or others to whom special respect is due.
 Do not speak unless invited to do so at gatherings where Elders are present (except to ask what is expected of you, should you be in doubt). 

 Never speak about others in a negative way, whether they are present or not. 

 Treat the earth and all of her aspects as your mother. Show deep respect for the mineral world, the plant world, and the animal world. Do nothing to pollute our Mother, rise up with wisdom to defend her. 

 Show deep respect for the beliefs and religion of others.

Listen with courtesy to what others say, even if you feel that what they are saying is worthless. Listen with your heart.

 Respect the wisdom of the people in council. Once you give an idea to a council meeting it no longer belongs to you. It belongs to the people. Respect demands that you listen intently to the ideas of others in council and that you do not insist that your idea prevail. Indeed you should freely support the ideas of others if they are true and good, even if those ideas are quite different from the ones you have contributed. The clash of ideas brings forth the Spark of Truth.

Once a council has decided something in unity, respect demands that no one speak secretly against what has been decided. If the council has made an error, that error will become apparent to everyone in its own time.

 Be truthful at all times, and under all conditions.

Always treat your guests with honor and consideration. Give of your best food, your best blankets, the best part of your house, and your best service to your guests.

 The hurt of one is the hurt of all; the honor of one is the honor of all.

 Receive strangers and outsiders with a loving heart and as members of the human family.

All the races and tribes in the world are like the different colored flowers of one meadow. All are beautiful. As children of the Creator they must all be respected.

To serve others, to be of some use to family, community, nation, and the world is one of the main purposes for which human beings have been created. Do not fill yourself with your own affairs and forget your most important talks. True happiness comes only to those who dedicate their lives to the service of others.

Observe moderation and balance in all things.

 Know those things that lead to your well-being, and those things that lead to your destruction.

 Listen to and follow the guidance given to your heart. Expect guidance to come in many forms; in prayer, in dreams, in times of quiet solitude, and in the words and deeds of wise Elders and friends.

Great Spirit Prayer

Great Spirit, Almighty Healer and Creator of all things, it is with humbled hearts that we unite together to offer up many thanks. We thank you for the spirit that dwells within our hearts and the hearts of all living things. We thank you for our ancestors that are still with us in spirit and the wisdom they bring to us. We thank you for all two-leggeds, four-leggeds, swimmers, fliers and crawlers that are with us. We thank you for the music found in the gentle winds that flow through the trees and the flowing waters. We thank you for the trials we endure in order to strengthen us and prepare us for what lies ahead. We thank you for the many answered and unanswered prayers.

We ask for your healing hands to be placed upon those that are suffering from man-made and natural diseases and disorders. We ask for a greater awakening during this time so we may begin the long struggle of bringing back balance. We ask for an end to the turmoil that has kept your people divided for too long so we may bring back balance. We ask for an end to such hatred, greed, lust of power and materialism that is found in our governments and corporations that have filled the hearts of those that have become complacent and naive. We ask for freedom for those that have been abducted or taken from their homes without cause. We ask for protection for your forests, waters, plains and deserts that man has taken parts of your creation without replacing. We ask for strength, guidance and courage for those that stand against governments that do not protect the lands or the treaties they have signed. We ask for strength, protection and guidance for those of our Brothers and Sisters that are standing against those that continue to destroy your creation. We ask for an end to the monies that are used to control and enslave your people. We ask for freedom for those, like our Brother Leonard Peltier, that have been imprisoned without just cause. We ask for protection for all two-leggeds, four-leggeds, swimmers, fliers and crawlers that are facing grave danger. May we be of strong heart and defend all that are defenseless. We ask for guidance each day so we may travel our paths with courage, strong legs and straight eyes. We ask for more compassion to be placed upon the hearts of those that are aware of the homeless in their cities. We ask for more open doors for them so they may once again be able to live productive lives.

We thank you for our Elders that show us many life lessons and wisdom to carry within us during our journey. May we always endeavor to bring great honor to them. We thank you for our children that continue to teach us innocence and lessons long forgotten. May we provide them with an unbreakable foundation from which they will build on. We thank you for our relations that interact with us during the day that strengthen our spirits. We thank you for the gift of life and the paths you have given us. We thank you for the wisdom of the heart. May we learn to listen intently before we speak and understand that there is strength in silence. Emenv

BEWARE.. Children Are Dying

Below are a list of write ups about a site that is coming out of Latvia. It is designed for people to ask anything they choose and get answers. 

The site is not properly monitored nor is there it seems a way to report this abuse to the administrators.

The problem is, they also have a number of members who are using bullying to harass other young people. There are reports about children committing suicide over the bullying. Please, click onto the links and see what is really happening here. Too many children are dying because of bullying the world over.

If you want to learn more about this site type in ... ask.fm. You will find a long list of articles about it. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261588/Ask-fm-Pupils-parents-warned-social-networking-website-linked-teen-abuse.html#ixzz2MdG5j6bx

http://icybersafe.com/2013/05/29/what-is-ask-fm-parents-and-teachers-warned-website-linked-to-cyberbullying/

http://www.arcticstartup.com/2013/05/13/ask-fm-responds-to-cyberbullying-allegations

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2308395/Ask-fm-This-week-15-year-old-boy-killed-hounded-No-wonder-mothers-want-banned.html

http://www.webwise.ie/AskFMExplained.shtm

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57588247-93/ask.fm-the-troubling-secret-playground-of-tweens-and-teens/

Pupils and parents warned over social networking website linked to teen abuse

www.dailymail.co.uk

Schools across the country are sending out letters advising pupils not to use Ask.fm, which has more than 30 million users around the world and has been linked to suicides and serious bullying.

Urgent Prayer Request

Dove Arney

This is Justice Hill..She's the one I'm asking for prayers for she's 13.

I'm asking all of you to pray for my great niece she has been bullied the summer and last night she decided to try to take her life she's in St Louis Children's Hospital.

Admin note: Please, remember this young lady & her situation in your prayers. 

A Must READ

Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on the ground.

The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat 

was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many 

others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....

To his amazement, the woman continued standing.

She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it.."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled....... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a godly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus...... He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And.. And thank you for the coffee."

God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor.

God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close..

If you need God to open some doors for you...send this on.

Wisdom

Pastor Jeremiah Steepek (pictured above) transformed himself into a homeless
 person and went to the 10,000 member church that he was to be introduced as
 the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for
 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service....only 3 people 
out of the 7-10,000 people said "hello" to him.

 He asked people for change to buy food....NO ONE in the church gave him change. He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was asked by the ushers if he would please sit in the back. 

He greeted people to be greeted back with stares and dirty looks, with people looking down on him and judging him.

As he sat in the back of the church, he listened to the church announcements 
and such. When all that was done, the elders went up and were excited to 
introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation........"We would 
like to introduce to you Pastor Jeremiah Steepek".

The congregation looked around clapping with joy and anticipation.....The homeless man sitting in the back stood up and started walking down the aisle. The clapping 
stopped with ALL eyes on him.

He walked up to the altar and took the microphone from the elders (who were in on this) and paused for a moment. Then he recited,

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

After he recited this, he looked towards the congregation and told them all what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and many heads were bowed in shame. 

He then said...."Today, I see a gathering of people......not a church of Jesus Christ. The world has enough people, but not enough disciples. When will YOU decide to become disciples? He then dismissed service until next week. Being a Christian is more than something you claim. It's something you live by and share with others.

Life

I love life. It is the eternal gift given by the Creator.

It is everlasting. Open & pure.

A world within a world of beauty.

It is here for us to see, to observe, to know, if only our spiritual & physical eyes are open to see.

When we are at one with life, we are at one within ourselves. 

When we are at one within ourselves, we are at peace without strife, without fear, without loss.

Only fulfilment & beauty from within.

Truth is everlasting just as life is everlasting.

We are created by Life & Love, through Life & Love, for Life & Love.

Purity of the heart, mind & spirit keep us in tune with ourselves, with Life & Love, with those who created us in the beginning before the beginning of time.

We are extensions. Reflected images of the Ones who created us before time began.

We are the mirrored images of Life & Love portrayed through our spiritual & physical lives.

If we fail to portray that which we are, it is our own fault, our own loss because we have neglected to show love one to another. 

Makwa

Given to me by a loving Spirit.

American Eagle & Native American Indian

"When the Eagle returns, we will again be a great nation."  — Jonas Shawandase, Spanish American War Veteran & Tribal Elder of the 1950s  "Our culture is derivative of the natural resources. If our culture dies, the only remnants are  its physical attributes, which will soon be dispersed to the natural environment. If that  happens, there will be no trace of our living culture." — Stuart Harris, a Cayuse Indian &  senior staff scientist, Department of Natural Resources, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla  Indian Reservation Most all Native American Indian Peoples attach special significance to the Eagle and its  feathers. Images of eagles and their feathers are used on many tribal logos as symbols of  the Native American Indian. To be given an Eagle feather is the highest honor that can be  awarded within indigenous cultures. Both Bald and Golden Eagles (and their feathers) are highly revered and considered sacred  within American Indian traditions, culture and religion. They are honored with great care  and shown the deepest respect. They represent honesty, truth, majesty, strength, courage, wisdom, power and freedom. As  they roam the sky, they are believed to have a special connection to God. According to traditional American Indian beliefs, the Creator made all the birds of the sky  when the World was new. Of all the birds, the Creator chose the Eagle to be the leader...  the Master of the Sky. The Eagle flies higher and sees better than any other bird. Therefore, its perspective is  different from other creations that are held close to the Earth, and it is closer to the Creator.  The Creator also has a different perspective of what occurs below in this world of physical  things in which humankind resides.  The Eagle spends more time in the higher element of Father Sky than other birds, and Father  Sky is an element of the Spirit. The Eagle is considered to be a messenger to God. It was given the honor of carrying the  prayers of man between the World of Earth and the World of Spirit, where the Creator and grandfathers reside. To wear or hold an Eagle feather causes the Creator to take immediate  notice. With the Eagle feather, the Creator is honored in the highest way. The wings of an Eagle represent the balance needed between male and female, each one  dependent upon the strengths and abilities of the other. When one receives an Eagle feather, that person is being acknowledged with gratitude, love  and ultimate respect. The holder of the feather must ensure that anything that changes one’s  state of mind (alcohol and drugs) must never come in contact with a sacred Eagle feather. The keeper of an Eagle feather makes a little home where the feather will be kept safely and protected.  It should be hung up within one’s home, not placed in drawers or cupboards. Eagle feathers are never to be abused, shown disrespect, dropped or contaminated. Only real  true human Men and Women carry the Eagle feather. Many dancers use Eagle feathers as part of their dance regalia. The Creek and Cherokee have  an Eagle Dance. If for any reason an eagle feather is dropped, it needs to be cleansed. The  arena director’s job is to guard the Eagle feather and not leave the spot it is in until the  proper cleansing ceremony is performed. Eagle feathers were awarded to Indian Braves, warriors and Chieftains for extreme acts of  valour and bravery. These feathers were difficult to come by, and were earned one at a time. Regardless of where or how an Indian Brave accumulated Eagle feathers, he was not allowed, according to Tribal Law, to wear them until he won them by a brave deed. He had to appear  before the Tribal Council and tell or reenact his exploit. Witnesses were examined and, if in  the eyes of the council, the deed was thought worthy, the Indian Brave was then allowed to  wear the feathers in his hair or Indian Headdress or Indian War Bonnet. An Indian would rather part with his horse or tepee, than to lose his Eagle feathers. To do so would be dishonour in the eyes of his Tribe. Many of the old American Indian Chiefs had  won enough honours to wear a double-trailed bonnet that dragged the ground. Only the  great and important men of the Tribes had the right to wear the double-trailed Indian War  Bonnets. During the “Four Sacred Rituals”, American Indians wear or hold Eagle feathers. The “Flag  Song” has its earliest origins during the period when some Indian Nations would honor the  Eagle feather staffs of leaders from different other bands of Indian Nations. Under both U.S. and Canadian law, a permit is required from official governmental  conservation authorities of anyone to possess an Eagle feather legally. Native American  Indians acquiring Bald and Golden Eagle feathers must use them for traditional ceremonies  or teaching purposes. Under normal circumstances, it is illegal to use, sell or possess Eagle feathers. Anyone  possessing an Eagle feather without a federal permit can face stiff fines and imprisonment. The American Indian holds the Eagle in the highest regard, and has a true "heart and soul  desire" to keep  it flying healthy and free for many generations to come. “Prophesy says that it is time to share some of the sacred traditions of our culture. The four colours of man will be coming together to unite and heal. Creator has given different gifts and  responsibilities to each of the four colours. Ours is to help preserve Earth for all the children. Time is running out. It’s time to act.”  — Indigenous Spiritual Leaders of the Americas

Native Commandments

Sacred Instructions Given By The Creator To Native People At The Time Of 
Creation

Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect.
Remain close to the Great Spirit.
Show great respect for your fellow beings.
Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.
Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
Do what you know to be right.
Look after the well being of mind and body.
Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
Be truthful and honest at all times.
Take full responsibility for your actions.

Eliminating Anger

	By Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Emptiness is a remedy for the foundation of all delusions - ignorance.  The minute one meditates on emptiness, anger  for example, will stop. Anger arises when you believe in the false I,  false object - all this that does not exist. So when one meditates  on emptiness of the self and other objects, there is  no foundation for anger. This is the most powerful antidote.  But if it arises again, it is because there is no continuation of  the meditation; the meditation, the mindfulness, has stopped.  The problem is to remember the technique. Once you  remember the technique, it always works. When you don't remember  the technique, it is delayed and the delusion, anger and so forth, has  already arisen and taken you over. One thing I tell people is always to think about karma. His Holiness  always  says Buddhists don't believe in God. This  basic Buddhist philosophy helps you remember there is no separate  mind outside of yours that creates your life, creates your karma. Whatever happens in one's own life comes from one's own mind. These aggregates,  all the views of the senses, all of the feelings happiness, sadness and so  forth - your whole world comes from your consciousness. The imprints o f past good karma and negative karma left on the consciousness manifest, become actualised. The imprints to have a human  body, senses, views, aggregates, all the feelings, everything  is realised at this time, and all of it comes from consciousness, from karma. If your meditation on emptiness is not effective, this teaching of karma is  very powerful for us ordinary beings. The minute one meditates on karma, there is no room in the mind for anger because there is nothing to blame. Thinking of karma is practicing the basic Buddhist philosophy that there  is no creator other than your mind. It is not only a philosophy but also  a very powerful technique. Anger is based on believing in a creator:  somebody created this problem; this happened because of this person.  In daily life, when a problem arises, instead of practicing the philosophy  of no creator, we act as if there is  a creator, that the problem was created by somebody else. Even if we  don't use the word God, we still believe someone else created the  problem.  The minute you think of karma and realise there is no creator, there is  no basis for the anger. We need to think: in the past I gave such a harm to sentient beings,  therefore  I deserve to receive this harm from another sentient being. When you  get angry what you are actually saying is you can harm others, but you  feel that you should not receive harm from others. This is very illogical.  So in this practice you say, 'I deserve this harm'. Another practice is to  use this situation to develop compassion: 'I received this harm because  of my karma'. Who started all this? It's not because of the other person;  it's because of your own actions. You treated other sentient beings this  way in  the past, that is why you receive  harm now; your karma persuaded the person to harm you now. Now this person has a human birth and they harm you because  of something you inspired in the past. By harming you now they  are creating more negative karma to lose their human rebirth and to be  reborn in lower realms. Didn't I make that person get lost in the lower  realms? In this way you are using that problem to generate bodhicitta. This means  one is able to develop the whole Mahayana path to enlightenment,  including the Six Paramitas, whether sutra path  or tantra path. One can cease all mistakes of the mind and  achieve full enlightenment. Due to the kindness of that person you are  able to generate compassion, free sentient beings from all the sufferings,  to bring enlightenment, to cause perfect happiness for all sentient beings. One can also think in this way: by practicing compassion on that person,  one is able to generate compassion towards all sentient beings. This person, who  is so kind, so precious, is helping you stop harming all sentient beings, and on top of that, to receive help from you. By not receiving harm from you, peace and happiness come; also, by receiving help from you, numberless sentient beings get peace and happiness. All this peace and happiness that you are able to offer all sentient beings comes from this person. Similarly, one can practice patience in this way and is able to cease anger. In the Kadampas' advice, there are six techniques for practicing patience; I don't need to go over all that now. They are good to memorise, to write down in a notebook, in order to use. Another thing that is very good is what Pabongka Rinpoche explains in 'Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand': generally speaking one doesn't get  angry at the stick that the person used to beat you. The stick itself is used  by the person, so therefore there is no point in getting angry at the stick. Similarly, the person's body, speech and mind are completely used by the anger, by the delusion. The person's body, speech and mind become like a slave, completely used as a tool of the anger. The person themself has no freedom at all - no freedom at all. So therefore, since the person has no freedom at all, they should become an object of our compassion. Not only  that, one must take responsibility to pacify that person's anger. By whatever means you can find, help the person's mind, pacify the anger; even if  there is nothing you can do, pray to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha to  pacify the person's mind. What His Holiness teaches is to meditate on how that person is kind, how that person is precious like Dharma, precious like Buddha, precious like Guru;  kind like Buddha, like Guru. The conclusion is that if no one has anger  towards us, we can never develop patience. If everybody loves us then  we can never generate the precious quality of patience, the path of patience.  So therefore there is an incredible need in our life for someone to have anger towards us. It is so precious, so important that someone has anger towards us. It's not precious for that person, but for us it's very precious. For that person it's torturous, it's like living in the lower realms. But for us, that person having anger towards us is so precious. We have a great need for this,  a great need. It's important that someone loves you, but it is even more important that someone has anger towards you. You see, if someone loves you it does not help you benefit numberless sentient beings or actualise the entire path to enlightenment.  So why is this person the most precious thing to me? Because they are  angry with you. To you, this person's anger is like a wish-granting jewel. Also, your anger destroys merit, destroys your happiness, not only in  day-to-day life but also in long term happiness. As Bodhicaryavatara  mentions, one moment of anger delays realisations for one thousand  eons. Anger is a great obstacle, especially for bodhicitta realisations.  Therefore, because this person is angry towards me, I am able to  develop patience and overcome my own anger and complete the entire  path to enlightenment. One can complete the two types of merit, cease  all the obscurations, achieve enlightenment, and free all sentient  beings and lead them to enlightenment.
From a teaching at Vajrapani Institute, Boulder Creek, California, May 1997.

	True Love By Lama Thubten Yeshe
Some of you might think 'Oh, I want to have nothing to do with Jesus, nothing to do with the Bible'. This is a very angry, emotional attitude to have towards Christianity. If you really understood, you would recognise that what Jesus taught was 'Love!'. It is as simple, and as profound, as that. If you had true love within you, I am sure you would feel much more peaceful than you do now. How do you normally think of love? Be honest. It is always involved with discriminations isn't it? Just look around this room and see if anyone here is an object of your love. Why do you discriminate so sharply between friend and enemy? Why do you see such a big difference between yourself and others. In the Buddhist teachings, this falsely discriminating attitude is called dualism. Jesus said that such an attitude is the opposite of true love.  Therefore, is there any one of us who has the pure love Jesus was talking about? If we do not, we should not criticise his teachings or feel they are irrelevant to us. We are the ones who have misunderstood, perhaps knowing the words of his teaching but never acting on them. There are so many beautiful sentences in the Bible, but I do not ever recall Jesus ever said that without your doing anything whatsoever - without preparing yourself in some way - the Holy Spirit would descend upon you, whoosh! If you do not act the way he said you should act, there is no Holy Spirit existent anywhere for you. What I have read in the Bible has the same connotation as the Buddhist teachings on equilibrium, compassion and changing one's ego attachment into love for others. It may not be immediately obvious how to train your mind to develop these attitudes, but it is certainly possible to do so. Only our selfishness and closed-mindedness prevent us. With true realisations, the mind is no longer egotistically concerned with only its own salvation. With true love, one no longer behaves dualistically: feeling very attached to some people, distant from others, and totally indifferent to the rest. It is so simple. In the ordinary personality the mind is always divided against itself, always fighting and disturbing its own peace. Cheek up inside now and discover how you look at your neighbours.  Visualise first a friend and then an enemy and see how your mind reacts. Instinctively we feel attachment for the one called 'friend' and aversion for the one called 'enemy', but such reactions are the opposite of peace. They are negative and do nothing but produce suffering. The teachings on love are very practical. Do not put religion somewhere up in the sky and feel you are stuck down here on Earth. If the actions of body, speech and mind are in accordance with loving kindness, you automatically become a truly religious person. To be religious does not mean you attend certain teachings. If you listen to teachings and misinterpret them, you are in fact the opposite of religious. And it is only because you do not understand a certain teaching that you abuse religion. Lack of deep understanding leads to partisanship. The ego feels 'I am Buddhist; therefore Christianity must all be wrong'. This is very harmful to true religious feeling. You do not destroy a religion with bombs but with hatred. More importantly, you destroy the peacefulness of your own mind. It does not matter whether you express your hatred with words or not. Words do not mean anything. The mere thought of hatred automatically destroys your peace. Similarly, true love does not depend on physical expression. You should realise this. True love is a feeling deep in within you. It is not just a matter of wearing a smile on your face and looking happy. Rather, it arises from a heart-felt understanding of every other being's suffering, and radiates out to them indiscriminately. It does not favour a chosen few to exclusion of everyone else. This is true love. Furthermore, if someone hits you and you react with anger or great alarm crying, 'What has happened to me?' this also has nothing to do with a mind knowing the meaning of true love. It is just the ignorant preoccupation of the ego with its own welfare. How much wiser it is to realise, 'Being hit does not really harm me. My delusion of hatred is an enemy that harms me much more than this'. Reflecting like this allows true love to grow.
This teaching is an excerpt from Silent Mind, Holy Mind by Lama Yeshe

	Meditation on Compassion Kathleen McDonald
Whereas love is the desire for others to be happy, compassion is the desire actually to bring about their happiness by freeing them from their suffering. Compassion is not the sad, anxious feeling we often experience when we see or hear about people's pain. Neither is it a sentimental involvement in their problems nor, on the other hand, a self conscious holding-back. All these responses are inappropriate and show that we do not understand the causes of the problems, or the solution. With true compassion we are more wise: we understand how and why suffering occurs and can deal realistically with the situation. It gives us the energy to do what we can to help and the wisdom to accept our limitations and not worry about what we cannot do. An attitude of compassion is what really counts; we cannot expect to actually eliminate someone else's unhappiness while our own mind is still troubled by misconceptions and confused emotions. We should, therefore, work simultaneously on developing the wisdom to see clearly how things are and the compassionate wish to alleviate others' suffering - then our actions will be truly skilful. We all possess the potential to be limitlessly compassionate. A powerful way of awakening and developing this potential is by visualising Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan: Chenrezig), the embodiment of compassion, and contemplating his mantra. A mantra is a series of syllables that corresponds to certain subtle vibrations within us. A mantra has built up its energy for good by being used by millions of people for thousands of years. Its effectiveness does not lie in our understanding of its sound as we recite it aloud or silently. Avalokiteshvara's mantra, om mani padme hum, expresses the pure energy of the compassion that exists in every being. Reciting it, either in meditation or while going about our daily activities, not only awakens our own compassion but, by joining with the millions of other people saying it too, adds to the growth of peaceful, loving energy in the world. The Practice Relax your body and mind and bring your awareness to the present by mindfully watching your breath. Check your thoughts and feelings and generate a positive motivation. Imagine that all of space is filled with beings. Contemplate their suffering. First, think of the suffering of your parents and other people you are close to. Open your heart to the physical and psychological problems they are experiencing and think that, just like you, they want to be free of all suffering. Feel how wonderful it would be if they were free. Then do the same for people who you do not like or have hurt you. Imagine their suffering... Open your heart to these people for whom normally you feel irritation or anger. Feel strongly the aspiration to alleviate this pain. Now visualise just above your head and facing the same way as you Avalokiteshvara, the manifestation of pure unobstructed compassion, love and wisdom. His body is of white light, transparent and radiant. Try to feel his presence. His face is peaceful and smiling and he radiates his love to you and all beings surrounding you. Hold this visualisation until it is stable. Now make a prayer from your heart to overcome your misconceptions and negative energy and to develop pure love and compassion for all beings. Feel that you are connecting with your own true nature, your highest potential. In response, Avalokiteshvara lovingly sends streams of white light, filling every cell and atom of your body. It purifies all your negativities and problems, all your past harmful actions and your potential to give harm in the future, and completely fills you with his limitless love and compassion.  Your body feels light and blissful, your mind peaceful and clear. The light from Avalokiteshvara radiates out to every living being, purifying their negative energy and filling them with bliss. Now, while concentrating on this visualisation, recite the mantra, om mani padme hum, aloud and then silently, as many times as you like. When you have finished the recitation, visualise Avalokiteshvara dissolving into white light, which flows down through the crown of your head to your heart centre.
This teaching is an excerpt from How to Meditate by Kathleen McDonald,