Be Free from your chains and remember I am in you and you are in me, we are all connected by the Divine Matrix of life.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Harmony
All posts in the Harmony category
Trees…Who needs them! What have they ever done for us?
Published 01/04/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
I was recalling a famous Monty Python sketch from ‘The Life of Brian’ When they were debating ‘What did the Romans ever do for us’! And then via tongue in cheek answers one of the actors (John Cleese I think) mentioned, ‘Well, they did bring us roads’!, and another said, ‘Well apart from roads, what did the Romans ever do for us’? and the reply was , ‘Well they did bring us sanitation’! and the reply was, ‘Well apart from roads and sanitation..what did the Romans ever do for us’? and the reply went on with ‘Well, they did bring us law and order’!…and on and on the sketch went, very funny in my opinion 🙂
…Of course the Romans did bring a lot to humanity, not all good I haste to add! but this brings me back to my point about trees.
Trees are the lungs of our earth and we are cutting them down at ever alarming rates, wiping out whole eco systems and many species of flora and fauna in the process. In fact, I wonder how many species have been wiped from the face of our earth that we did not even know existed!
The picture above says it all really, we place so much thought, investment and care for material things like computers and the internet but no real care or investment at all on making sure we have air to breathe!
Next time you exhausted maybe after a run or when you come up to the surface after swimming under water and you take a breath of life giving air….remember, our trees helped give you that breath, that fresh air that fills your lungs and allows your body to continue on its pathway.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Unconditional Love
Published 31/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
Unconditional Love.
Wow, this is an amazing picture and clearly shows the unconditional love between the baby elephant and its carer. If you look carefully you will see images like this everywhere in this world, between men and women,loving partners, children, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, humans and animals and animals to animals. It’s a lovely thing to see and the feeling I get from looking at a image like this just fills my heart with joy, my smile is as wide as can be and it makes me glad to be alive and thankful for what I have in my life, the love for my wife, the love for my children, for my friends, for my environment and for our world, it also makes me want to bring more of it to our world, to try and make others open their eyes and live the joy that I see 🙂
We are truly lucky to be alive, we are truly lucky to have the opportunity to make our world an even better place to live, we have a chance of making our world a peaceful place, where our children can grow up without fear and animals can roam free without persecution or fear for their lives.
Unconditional love my friends.
Today I smile, today I choose happiness, today I choose life, today I choose forgiveness , today is a new day for us all to enjoy 🙂
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
I Wish
Published 27/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
I think I have lost count of the number of times I have said this to my friends, colleagues, students and clients here in China over the past 12 or more years. It’s strange but we are all driven to want more, have more and do more throughout our lives and no more so that emerging countries like China, India, and so on. I guess it’s understandable to want a better life, to have a good job that pays well, to own a house, have a car and enjoy all the trappings that these things bring into your life, but one day you realise that these are just ‘Things’, and they cannot do anything for us in our times of need! They cannot make you well again if you fall terminally ill, they cannot take away the pain of loosing someone close to you or stop the hurting inside if you are in a deep depression. Money does however give you options, I.e to do something or not but it has been my experience that chasing the dream of endless supplies of money and possessions does not bring you happiness, infact it quite often brings deep sadness and loneliness 😦 Jim Carey is not the only one to have experienced this, many millions of people have forged on through their lives searching and working for more, more money, more possessions..things… only to crash and burn when a serious problem falls on them.
I was one of these people who had everything,the very successful company, all the money I could want / need, a beautiful home, big flashy cars worth 100’s of thousands of dollars, the beautiful family, incredible holidays, every possession I could ever need but when that call came from my father telling me my mum had cancer and asking me to do something…Wow! That floored me like a punch from a heavyweight boxer, I was out for the count and there was nothing that all my money and possessions could do, I was lost, in a downward spiral and all I could do was give my mum the love and support she needed, be there for my dad, make sure he was looked after with my family all around him and provide the support for my children in their time of need after her passing. This like many other devastating tragedies that happen to us make you aware of what is in fact important in our lives. Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t say you should not be successful, have dreams or work hard for a living, what I mean is we need to realise what is important to us and to make use of the time we have on this earth, protect ourselves, our families and friends and live our lives with love and happiness in our hearts.
Don’t go through your life pushing ever harder each and everyday and miss what’s around you already, don’t miss out on your children growing up, don’t miss out on the love you can give to your family and friends,…Just Live 🙂
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
My Heart is Filled With joy Today, My Future is Clear and My Pathway Open, Thank You!
Published 26/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
My Heart is filled with joy today, my future is clear and my spiritual pathway is once again open, and that its due to you my friends, to our Sangha, our support network, it is due to you that I am feeling how I do today, sunshine is in my heart, sunshine is in my smile and as soon as I go out i’m sure sunshine will be in my step as I walk the streets of Shanghai:)
Yesterday was a dark day, I was down and I reached out to you and you came, you extended your kindness, your love, your blessings and you words of comfort, each word brought a tear to my eyes and as I read them the tears flowed freely, each tear took away my pain, it flushed the darkness from my heart and brought the sunshine back to my smile…So thank you my friends, together we can heal our world, we can make a difference to the lives of others, we are gaining strength as a Sangha.
I’m off to a CSR event today, to speak with like minded souls, to connect to people and organisations in need of help and to find ways to do good once more, to give back for the love, the happiness and the success I have achieved during my lifetime.
My Blessings, my love and my thoughts are with you all today, enjoy them with a smile 🙂
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Don’t You Quit, There is Always a Bright Side to Life
Published 21/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
Don’t Quit!
From the lyrics of the Monty Python song ‘Bright Side of Life’
Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistling]
Always look on the light side of life.
[whistling]
If life seems jolly rotten,
There’s something you’ve forgotten,
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you’re feeling in the dumps,
Don’t be silly chumps.
Just purse your lips and whistle. That’s the thing.
And…
Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistling]
Always look on the right side of life,
We often forget that there is ‘Always’ a bright side to life its just we loose sight of it sometimes.
If your feeling down and low, put on some happy music or go sit in the garden, feel the sun and the gentle breeze on your skin , close your eyes and just breathe, feel the air entering your nose and feel it passing out through your mouth on the exhale, calm your mind and focus on your breath, in and out, in and out, in and out, look inward and listen to your heart, here you will find answers, answers to help you on your life’s journey.
Namaste with Love
Always my friends
Mark
Enjoy this Moment, This Moment is Your Life!
Published 16/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
Enjoy this moment, this moment is your life!
Stop and enjoy!
Most of us go about our daily lives in the search of something, it could be searching for success, money, love, friends, or maybe even just searching for things, material things that we think will make us happy, out shopping, time at the mall buying for the sake of buying, keeping the shop owners happy but not ourselves! The purchase gives us the relief; the happiness for a split second in time but once the purchase has been made the thing in the fancy bag is just another thing, another possession to join the many others in our house, closed away in a closet or drawer, maybe not even to see the light of day again; but why?
Why don’t we just stop for a second and take a look around us, look now…Go on,…take a second out of your day and connect with your life…. First of all close your eyes and just breathe, can you feel the air enter your nose, how does it feel? Can you feel the air enter your throat, enter your lungs? How does it feel, is the air warm or cold? Feel the air expand your lungs, can you feel your chest rising, hold the breath at the end of the inhale for a second or two, how and what do you feel? Slowly exhale through your mouth, can you feel the air rushing from your lungs up through your throat and out of your mouth, past your lips, does the air feel warm or cold, is it wet or dry?
What can you smell? Allow your senses to work, keep your eyes closed and smell, can you smell your home, the fragrant air, maybe the smell of a child or pet, how about the smell of cooking or flowers in a vase, take your time and enjoy the sweet smells of your day.
What can you hear? keep your eyes closed and turn your focus inward to your ears, what can you hear, is it raining?, Can you hear raindrops on the windows, dripping from a gutter or maybe a drip from a leaky tap (Faucet), are you using aircon, can you hear the motor, the blades spinning, can you hear birds singing in your garden, children playing, is the radio or TV on what do you hear?
Can you feel and sense your body? Turn your focus inward to your body, can you feel your skin, what does it feel like, is it warm or cool, can you feel the blood circulating into your fingers and toes, do you feel the tingle in the tips of your fingers? Can you feel your heart pumping your life blood around your body,…. focus, focus, focus, feel it?
Now slowly open your eyes and look, really look, what do you see? Take note of the fine detail, the colour of your child’s eyes, the mixture of colours, the colour of their hair, the subtle differences of the shadows on their skin, your pet, what are they doing? Do you have flowers in your room, what are their colours, are they blooming or still in bud, do they need water? Take a look outside, what colour is the sky?, is it daytime or night time, can you see the sun or the moon or are there stars in the sky?
Our world, our life…take a second everyday to appreciate what’s around us, what we already have in our lives and be grateful because there are so many brothers and sisters out there in our world that have far less than we have!
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Validate Your Life and Smile
Published 13/03/2014 by inspiringyourspiritMany of you may have seen this short video before; I had not, so I felt it worthy of posting here on my humble blog. How many of us feel like the people in this video? Walking around each and everyday feeling down, depressed and not worthy! Well, for all of us who need a lift with our spirits, then please watch and enjoy, and remember…You are Worthy, You are Awesome and You are Loved.
Namaste with Love my dear friends
Always
Mark
Mindful Meditation…Living. Breathing, Sensing
Published 12/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
My mind is empty and my heart is full
Such is the joy of mindful meditation.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
The Power of Touch
Published 10/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
My Dear Friends,
Indeed, this is so true, we do often underestimate the power of touch. Sometimes, all it takes is a pat on the back, a handshake, a hug or even a slight touch to the forearm or hands for someone to realise we care and we are there for them.
Touch is a signal, like gratitude that is often forgotten by many.
As in the picture, we all know how good a pet dog or cat feels when we take time to pet them, to stroke and tickle them, it makes them and us feel good.
A smile, a kind word, a gesture takes the touch to another level and affirms our state of empathy and caring.
Hold out your hand today, pat a colleague on the back for a job well done, shake someones hands and say thanks and hold your loved ones close and remind them that you ‘LOVE THEM’ 🙂
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Indigo Children, They are So Switched On to Life
Published 09/03/2014 by inspiringyourspiritThis little boy is so switched on to life, his empathy towards all loving creatures is amazing as is his realisation that he has touched his mothers heart.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Just Breathe and Love Your Life
Published 08/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
Just Breathe
Enjoy Your Life
Be Thankful For What You Have In Your Life
Allow the Air to Purify Your Soul
Cleanse Your Mind Of Negative Thoughts
Just Breathe
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
To Live is To Love, Everything Else Is Just Details
Published 07/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
To Live is to Love, Everything else is just details.
Wow, Paul Coelho, ain’t that the truth 🙂
Love is a wonderful thing, most of us unfortunately think of love as your love for your partner, husband or wife, love for your child, a family member or friend, but love is far more than that, Love Is!
Love is everything, the way we open our eyes and see the beauty of the world around us, that’s love
The compassion we hold in our hearts for others, that’s love
The smile on our face when your puppy comes running to you wagging it’s tail, that’s love
The feeling we get inside when we see, really see the beauty of a landscape, that’s love
The slight choking feeling we get when someone makes us proud, that’s love
The hairs standing up on the back of your neck and the beating of your heart when you reach out to someone and give them a helping hand, that’s love.
Love is all around.
Namaste with Love my Friends
Have a Great Weekend
Mark
When Words are Both True and Kind, They Can Change The World
Published 04/03/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
Wise words from The Buddha
I intend for My Words to be both True and Kind, I always look to be compassionate and true in all my daily interactions, I know sometimes we can get frustrated and kindness can briefly flitter away from our mind and our intentions especially when someone is cruel or unkind to us, but if you practice kindness and give love and kindness in return to all then you will start to see the benefits and you will attract more loving kindness into your life.
How About You?
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
The Phoenix
Published 25/02/2014 by inspiringyourspiritA truly wonderful introduction to the legend and meanings behind the Phoenix written by one of my blogging friends Jeannine over at http://angelvoicehealing.wordpress.com .
I also note from the post that Jeannine is to marry her sweetheart soon after 29 years 🙂
May they be blessed with pure light energy and a happy, loving and compassionate life together.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Inspire someone today
Published 11/02/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
To inspire someone else is a truly wonderful thing, just take a moment to think how you feel when you are truly inspired by someone else, or some thing you see someone else doing….It’s a wonderful feeling, you feel it in your heart, you feel warm inside, the hairs often stand proud on your arms and the back of your neck, you feel tearful and happy at the same time, the smile on your face says it all 🙂
Now, take another moment to think how you can inspire someone else today!
Go, on, make someone happy 🙂
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten we belong to each other.
Published 27/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
Oh Mother Theresa, you were certainly a saint and very attuned to the problems of our world. Yes, I agree, we have forgotten that we belong to each other, we are all of one world, one humanity and one real race all going back to one couple right at the start of humanity. We forget this simple thing because we see each other as different, different colours, different countries, different religions, different cultural beliefs, different languages spoken, different political control, different ways of life…just different!…But, we are ONE and the SAME!
I notice political spin happening all the time, one country blaming the next for whatever, one political power challenging another using whatever excuse to gain more control, control natural resources such as oil, gas and god forbid water, gain more power, one country using its strength to control another country or countries, using that might to frighten and manipulate the powers that be to do as they say; total control over what we do, what we buy, what we think, how we live..total control! You know; George Orwell was not far wrong in his book 1984!
I wish, just wish that we could ‘Wake Up’!
Wake up to the fact that we are all one and the same, we are all connected, we are one humanity and we are being controlled by the powers that be, within our countries, by our politicians and by the corporate elites, these groups and individuals have the control, they manage our lives with total control…We like to think we are free, most of us think we live in the land of the free….but do we? How much freedom do we actually have?
We need to really wake up and smell the roses, take a long hard look at our world, take ownership as indivduals to do something, something to change our world, to bring about peace in our lifetime, we can do it! We can bring about change and we can gain back the control.
In the words of the song ‘A change is gonna Come’ by Sam Cooke;
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It’s been too hard living but I’m afraid to die
’
Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me, “Don’t hang around”
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
 And I say, “Brother, help me please”
But he winds up knockin’ me
Back down on my knees
Oh there been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I believe that together we can Make Change Come.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
What does your reflection say about you?
Published 10/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
Me or We?
Self or Selfless?
I or Us?
Do you consider others or just yourself?
Money for me or money for us!
For the benefit of me or for the benefit of us!
I’m ok..So who cares about them!
My country is safe…they are not my problem!
I have food on my table so…….
My house is warm and dry so……
My water is clean and safe to drink so……
My children are safe so……
My children are at school and being educated so…..
I can sleep at night safely so…..
Many people all around OUR world are not safe tonight, they won’t have shelter to protect them from the storm and keep them warm and dry, they wont have food on their table and clean safe water to drink, tomorrow their children wont have a school to go to, no education available and they will be in FEAR for their lives…Can they get through another long cold night and if so, can they make it safely through another day of torture and torment!
Be mindful of what you have in your life, give thanks for all you have and remember ‘life is good for some, but not for all’!
Namaste with Love
Mark
Showing your appreciation can even save a life!
Published 08/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit
As the picture above says, expressing our appreciation with words, a smile or a hug costs so little and means so much, they can make someone’s’ day or even change a life.
When was the last time you showed your appreciation to others around you? When did you last give someone a pat on the back and praise for a job ‘Well done’?
In my job I often see people of every age group and in all levels of authority and ability who are longing for someone to show them appreciation, they are looking for a simple comment like ‘well done’, ‘thank you’, a smile showing you are pleased and happy with them, a pat on the back, a hug or even the warmth of a handshake showing you recognize them for who they are, all they do and all they have done.
Maybe we need to set aside a global day for Appreciation like Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Teachers Day, Valentines Day etc., a day set aside for us to show our appreciations to the people around us, young and old, rich or poor, colleagues, family and friends… after all Compassion has no limit and Kindness has no enemy.
Namaste with Love
Mark
From Above the Clouds Beauty and Life is Created
Published 18/12/2013 by inspiringyourspirit
Above the clouds
The sky is blue
The sun is bright
And all is calm.
The rays of light shine down
Towards the earth
Pushing their way
Toward your skin
To keep you warm.
The suns rays warm the earth
Promoting growth
Encouraging birth.
Seedlings sprout
Their heads held high
Upwards they push
Toward the sky.
Buds form on tops of stems
Holding a mystery deep inside
Petals untwine and burst open with Joy.
To the world
A new creation
God’s gift
A sweet sensation
Life, and beauty for all to see
My Dear Friends,
Another attempt at poetry 🙂
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Endless Light and Love 