Oh yes, it is important to make someone happy and it’s more important to start with YOU!
Come on, what are you waiting for?
Come onβ¦you know it makes sense!
Come onβ¦.you are worth it!
Is that a start of a smile I see on your face?
Just a little one?
It is!
It’s a smile!
Its getting bigger
And bigger
Now your smiling!
π π π π π π
Catching, isn’t it?
Now go give one to someone else
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
Emerging from my sleep like a butterfly awakening from the warmth and comfort of its cocoon
I awake.
I stretch my limbs like a flower reaching up towards the warmth of the sun; my arms reach out like petals unfolding to the heavens
I awake.
I step out of bed; my feet touch the wooden floor and the cold reality of dawn hits the soles of my feet like that first lick of an ice cream freezing your brain
I awake.
I draw back the curtains and the sunrise greets my face the glow softens my skin and makes me feel alive, my eyes focus like a new born lamb taking their first view of the world
I awake
I look to the sky and give thanks for yet another day of life, grateful for my awakening, ever grateful for my now and the opportunity life gives me
I awake
I walk to the bathroom and run the tap, the fresh clear flow of water greets me, I gather a handful and splash my face, oh the joy, a cleansing for my body and my soul
I awake
I can hear the calling from within my body as my stomach calls out to me triumphantly requesting fuel for the fire, sustenance for the day ahead
I awake
The fragrant smell of gently toasting bread and the heady aroma of freshly brewed coffee fill my senses, the joy stimulates my memory of whatβs still to come
I awake
The gentle rustling sound of a knife spreading butter on crisp brown toast and the sweet nectar of honey greet my senses, my taste buds explode with joy as I take that first bite
I awake
At my alter I stand, I light a candle and place it carefully before my Lord Buddha, I bow my head and take a moment to reflect, my life, my day, my journey
I awake
Iβm here βnowβ, in this moment of life, this moment is me, and in this moment I awake.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
GUAN YIN
Guan Yin, Mother of Compassion in ancient Chinese culture, blows gently into your life, and should be welcomed as an eternal source of comfort and peace. Guan Yin’s values are about co-operation, sharing, balance, harmony and partnership; she is highly sensitive and aware. Guan Yin’s esoteric attributes are those of compassion, healing, and centering.
She lives in the heart chakra, standing in full acceptance, suspended in tranquillity, relishing joy in the silenceΒ .
Guan Yin is light and weightless – the qualities that result from highly tuned vales of tolerance and acceptance.She is here to tell you to release factors that inhibit you, that prevent you from connecting with others. Melt those walls of ice around your heart; forgive the person who you feel has committed a grievance against you; open your heart and radiate love so that love can come back to you.
Β Close your eyes in a tranquil space. Visualise Guan Yin resting with the world on one shoulder, her cheek resting against it. She sees you, and you are drawn to the love radiating from her heart. She shows you how to take the world from your shoulders, hold it in your hands, and dance in joyful, carefree circles. You see the earth’s water rippling, the leaves in the trees blowing, the birds soaring without effort. Know this is happening purely thanks to your joy.
Β When you walk through each day, remember Guan Yin’s presence whenever you see the soaring birds, the rustling leaves, the rippling waters. Use these triggers as a reminder to take the world off your shoulders, and to dance with abandon, with your face to the skies and
your arms in the air.Β
AFFIRMATIONS:
I forgive
I radiate love
I am tolerant of everyone around me
I have great joy, and therefore great energy
My peace is shared peace
I am weightless and free of burden
Namaste with Love my Friends
Always
Mark
As the old saying goes ‘It’s All In The Mind’!
What you think, you become!
Think positive and positive things will happen to you. Abundance in your life is there for you as long as you ask for it, wish it, live it,… be patient and good things will come, positivity is the key!
Take control of your life, become the master of your own destiny, steer a course for happiness, joy and love, set sail and enjoy the journey that is your life π
Namaste with Love my friends
Happy Weekend
Mark
“In every direction above, below, around, and within, you see things you know and recogniseβ¦. Put them down. Do not let consciousness dwell on the products of existence and things that come and go, for there is no rest of relief there. When you understand that by taking the objects of the world for granted as total reality, you are tied to the world, then this understanding will release you from your dependence on objects and will stop your craving and your desire for constant becoming. Then you can let go your hold and engage with things as they are, instead.”
Namaste with Love
Mark
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 someoneβsβ 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 βWell doneβ?
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 βwell doneβ, βthank youβ, 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
My Dear Friends,
I felt the need to share this heart felt video with you from Young At Heart http://youngatheartchorus.comΒ , I watched the documentary about this singing group from Northampton the other evening and I was brought to tears and smiles many times throughout the program. The ages of the group range from 73 to 92 and this song was sung in the memory of two of their choir members who had passed away that week.
Enjoy and if you have the chance, please watch the documentary and think of all the joy they bring to the world π
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
My Dear Friends,
If I could reach up into the darkness of the night’s sky and collect a star
for each time your comments and messages of friendship make me smile
I would have the entire night sky in the palm of my hand.
I would like to take this moment to wish you all aΒ Very Merry Christmas and May you , your families and friends be blessedΒ with a Happy New Year filled with Love, good health, compassion and Joy.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
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
Godβs gift
A sweet sensation
Life, and beauty for all to see
My Dear Friends,
Another attempt at poetry π
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
My Dear Friends,
Please take 3 minutes rest, put your headphones on and enjoy the haunting song of Tibet. And if you have time another 7 minutes for the second song π
I hope you enjoy them as much as I do?
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
My Dear Friends,
I was sitting here thinking,β¦ no thatβs not quite true,β¦. Procrastinating is a better and more true statement of fact,β¦ because Iβm a little lost for words today!
Each day I feel the need to write something, to bring you something profound, to bring you joy, happiness, enlightenment, to speak to you with compassion, to help you overcome your own personal challenges and difficulties, to help you see with greater clarity, to feel with more empathy and to act more compassionately towards others for the betterment of us all.
I have been blessed, I have been chosen to do this, like so many other spiritually aware brothers and sisters all around the world, we have connected to source, to the angels, to a higher self, what ever form this connection comes in or from; is basically the same, irrespective of our religious beliefs, race or language, we all share the same common goals and the same desires to say what needs to be said, to help bring about awareness and to help make change. To open hearts and minds, and to help bring about awareness towards Peace, towards Love and towards Compassion.
Our world is what it is, we have created the current state of play, we have all played a part in driving the economic growth we see, the economic demise we see, the poverty we see, the unhappiness we see, the wars we see, the pollution we see, the hunger we see, the disease we see, we have all taken part in bringing this about! We may not realize this and we would certainly not willingly be a part of this if only we understood how and why these states come unto play.
Most of the time we are just blindfolded to the realities of this world, we go about our daily routines, go to school, to work, tend to our children, go shopping, make dinner, watch TV, read the local news and go to bed. We donβt do anything bad! The majority of us care about our families, our friends and our neighbors and we would certainly not do anything to harm them but we help drive the greed that rules our world, the greed and control of governments and corporations, we accept things as we are told, laws get past, new plans go into effect, wars are startedβ¦ and some; a few, get richer and richer and gain greater control in the process. But times are changing, more people are becoming aware, more people are speaking with compassion from their hearts and they are slowly bringing awareness and change to every corner of our globe. You guys know Iβm no activist, Iβm just a man, a husband, a father, a colleague, but I am certainly someone who cares passionately about humanity and our world. I no longer want to see wars being raged due to greed in the name of whatever excuse is being made by the powers that be, I no longer want to see our environment being damaged beyond all repair due to the greed of corporations who are raping our lands, I no longer want to see children dying of starvation, or dysentery, or disease while there is a cure, while there is money being wasted each and every day, I no longer want to see our oceans being polluted, I no longer want to see controls being put in place so we no longer have a voice, I no longer want to see GMOβs being allowed due to the strength of the corporations putting pressure on governments to just say yes, I no longer want to see or hear excuses tied up in fancy words that hide reality, I want to see Peace in my lifetime, I want to see joy on the faces of children all around the world, I want to see a healthy world one that can breathe freely!
Simple? No, Doable? Yes.
My Dear Friends, we can bring about change, we can see smiles on the faces of children, we can live in peace but we need to act together, as One World, as One Humanity!
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
What Do I Have To Be Thankful For today? Thanksgiving should be everyday.
My Dear Friends,
Well, β¦β¦.Absolutely everything is my answer π
Last Friday the Pollution levels were so high here in Shanghai, you could hardly see 200ft in front of your face and in some places even far less than that. The PM25 index was hitting a high of 509 Hazardous to health with the notation βEveryone may begin to experience health effects, members of sensitive groups may experience serious health effectsβ π This brought massive problems to the Old, the Infirmed, the Young and of course the Empathβs, people like me who can feel changes in the weather, who can feel and even taste the pollution levels before they actually arrive, who start coughing the day before anyone else, who start choking a day before anyone else, we feel the pain earlierβ¦ I guess like an early warning signal that something bad is coming; so we can alert our friends and family.
Well, this morning the sun is shining, the sky is quite blue, itβs still a little hazy but the PM25 index is now down to 167 with a rating of βUnhealthyβ. So, we cannot dispose of our masks just yet but today is another day, Iβm alive, Iβm healthyβ¦. so I have so much to be Thankful and Grateful for π
Iβm Thankful for My Life
Iβm Thankful for My Health
Iβm Thankful for My Lovely Wife
Iβm Thankful for My 4 Beautiful Children
Iβm Thankful for My Friends
Iβm Thankful for My Work
Iβm Thankful for My Colleagues
Iβm Thankful for My Clients
Iβm Thankful for My Spiritual Awareness and Abilities
Iβm Thankful for My Beliefs
Iβm Thankful for My Food
Iβm Thankful for My Compassion
Iβm Thankful for My Love of Humanity
Iβm Thankful for My Environmental Awareness
Iβm Thankful for My Days and My Nightβs
Here are some pictures of what I see everyday, things Iβm so thankful for π
![img-f1465f2d736a7e25a7ded0eedd221509[1]](https://endlesslightandlove.fr/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/img-f1465f2d736a7e25a7ded0eedd2215091.jpg)
My list could go on and onβ¦.
If You could Pick Just 1 Thing to be Thankful for Today, What Would It Be ?
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
My Dear Friends,
You know how we talk about gratitude and giving thanks for what we have because there are always people so much worse off than us? Well, let me share with you the following four picture.
Pictures 1 and 2 are of the same view, this is Pudong in Shanghai, China, the place where I live and work but picture 2 was taken today when the PM25 pollution index was well over 500, thats 450 points worse that the recommended level, a level of Β 1-50 is good, 51-100 moderate, 151-200 Unhealthy, 201-300 very unhealthy, 301-500 Hazardous with the note for today stating : Health alert, everyone may experience more serious health effects!
The other two pictures are taken from my balcony at home at around 8am this morning, then from an office building looking down at Shanghai at around 9am this morning.
Please take time out today to give thanks for what you have, remember, there is Always someone worse off than you.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
I would like to sage a re-post with you from a dear blogging friend David Hare over at http://thankingthespoon.com , its a great piece of advice π
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
22 years ago when I first went to a senior Buddhist to ask for advice, I said to him: βI have a very big problem,β and he, the late John Delnevo of SGI UK (pictured), replied with a broad smile and a twinkle in his eye:Β βCongratulations.βΒ I thought he must have misheard me so I repeated that I really was struggling withΒ somethingΒ (canβt remember what but it wouldβve felt massive at the time β money / job / girlfriend / studiesβ¦ or possibly all fourβ¦)
Again he smiled broadly and said, βthatβs great news, well done!β Seeing my perplexed face, he made seven points over the next hourβs conversation that have stayed with me ever since:
βJohn Dβ, as we called him, was an incrediblyΒ wise, strict and compassionate manΒ and it is hard in a list of 7 points to convey the warm encouragement that always shone from his life, earning the trust of people all around him. In fact it has taken me 21 years to really understand with my whole life what he said to me on that day in 1991. And some days I still forget.
The advice he gave was born of his own heartfelt personal struggles or βhuman revolutionβ as we say in Buddhism, he lived what he taught, it was never about theory with John D. Β And looking back I realiseΒ he treated me with the deepest appreciation, seeing past my whingeing self-centredness and talking to the person I might one day become. Β I believe this is the mark of a great mentor.
So, as this wise man repeated at the end of our little chat:Β βYou have a problem? Congratulationsβ¦β
Davidx
PS. Β When I began writing this post, I didnβt intend it to become a tribute to John Delnevo, it was just going to be a list of 7 hopefully helpful points. Now I realise that it is the profound human connection that counted even more than what he actually said. Β βJohn Dβ, you rocked. Still in my daimoku. Thank you.
My Dear Friends,
Today is the Perfect Day. This is true!
Of course there will be many out there who do not think so. This is not wishful or positive thinking. It is scientific. Today is the result of the perfect outworking of the law of Cause and Effect. The law is perfectly constant, It has been said that the only certainty is change.Β The other certainty is the law of Cause and Effect. We may not have much control over change but we can control what we we think and how we act – the two Great Causes. The Effects will follow sooner or later. That is called Perfect Wisdom.
If you want a perfect day all you need to do is change the way you think and act, that is called Perfect Thought and Perfect Action .Β Thoughts and actions of loving kindness will create corresponding effects – the perfect outcome.
Have a Perfect day!
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
There it sits in all its glory
Perfect pink petals open to the world for all to see
Itβs center core burning bright and golden like the sun,
Its stamen fluttering like ballerinaβs dancing in the gentle breeze, attracting Bees
Pollination is its goal and its final destination in life
Born from the murky depths of the lake entrapped in mud
Until one day, life awakens its core and the journey to the surface begins
A gentle bud pushing away the mud, rising up to reach the sky
Onward and upward it grows, rising up to break the surface and out into the air, to take its first breath
The coolness of the morning dew settles on the newly formed leaves as they open and spread their way under the jewel, the flower to be
Dragonflies dance from leaf to leaf, butterflies come and go and golden fish play their games of hide and seek below
The time has come; the grand opening is here, the splash of colour, the gentleness, the joy,
The happiness and smiles on the faces of those who see its birth
Its beauty, its simplicity, its colour, its texture
The Lotus,
A flower worthy of the Buddha
The seat of enlightenment
Natureβs perfection, a gift from high.
Namaste with Love
Always
Mark
My Dear Friends,
Please take a few minutes out of your busy day, smile, laugh and bring some joy to your day, please also share with your friends and family.
Namaste with Love
Mark
My Dear Friends,
Iβm far from being a poet or a writer but the following words just sprang from nowhere, they are from my heart you might say, or maybe from my higher self, who knows! But I guess its sort of my first attempt at poetry βΊ Your comments, thoughts and suggestions are always welcome my friends, and, as I have said before; if you need my help, would like me to write or comment on any particular subject or gain a response to anything, please let me know.
With Love
Mark
My River, My Journey, My Life
My life is like a river constantly flowing to a fro,
From rock to rock,
From pool to pool,
My journey is far and long,
From mountain top, to valley below,
Across the plains and to the sea.
Along the way I see many sights and experience many things, meet people from every culture, religion and status;
Some good some bad,
but each encounter allows me a chance to learn,
To feel,
To embrace,
To laugh,
To cry,
To love or to simply walk away,
Itβs my choice what I decide to take on board with me on my journey and what to cast away from my boat.
I collect experiences and feelings as my journey continues,
at some points my boat is slowed by the lack of wind,
my progress is halted at times,
but things pick up as the wind of life changes my course,
my direction once again becomes clear and on I go,
pushing forward to new horizons.
Some days the clouds cover my pathway,
the storms effect my steering and my journey becomes unpleasant and often dangerous.
I take rest, I meditate, I re calculate my path,
the clouds part, the sun shines and the soft wind once again catches my sails and off I go again,
along the river of my life.
My River, My Journey and My life, goes with the flow
Does Yours?
Namaste with Love
βAlwaysβ
Mark
Endless Light and Love 