One World, One Chance and Life as we know it!

Published 28/02/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

Now, I know I am not His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Jesus Christ, Allah, The Buddha, Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Tich Nhat Hanh, Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Amma, Oprah, Deepak Chopra, Biame, or any other global leader, I am just a simple man, someone who cares, someone who wants to make a difference, someone who sheds tears at the state of our world and someone who believes that we can make a difference and who believes in the faith of coming together as one in the name of our children.

So let’s take a look at the following statement.

“An individual has not started living until he/she can rise above the narrow confines of his/her individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

Wow! Now that’s a statement!

But what does it mean to you and I, to us so called normal people on the streets of earth!

Well, I think this statement is a sort of wake up call to us all, we need it shouting from the rooftops, into our ears in every language known to mankind, in every country, every state, every city, every town and every village…. We really need this wake up call, a call to action, a call to make us wake up and smell the roses, a call to enlighten us all to the state of our world.

I could go on for ever and a day telling you about poverty, about disease, about starvation, about genocide, about wars, about natural disasters, about corporate and political greed and control; but will it make a difference to you? Maybe to some of you who read my blog and some of you who have a spiritual bias and a care for what’s right and wrong with our world, but to the majority of people in our world, to the majority of our brothers and sisters in every country, they will not even take a moment to read this blog because it is not on their radar, they have no interest in what is going on in other countries, they have no care if a child dies today from starvation or dysentery, they have no care that young teenage girls and boys are being trafficked from one country to another into prostitution and slave labor, they have no care that our planet is being devastated by fracking to satisfy insatiable corporate greed, they have no care that our forests; the lungs of our planet are being wiped out to feed the need of companies worldwide, they have no care that our oceans and rivers are being polluted beyond all recovery….

But would they pay attention if our voices were louder, if we were more actively promoting each other, passing on our words of wisdom, passing on our voices of concern and bringing them a connection, I mean a real connection of what is happening in our world directly to them, show them how one thing connects to another and how each of us is connected through our lifestyles, our purchasing habits, through our food and through our drinks!

We MUST speak out, we must awaken more people all around the world and raise them up from the narrow confines of their own individualistic concerns and make them aware of the realities and suffering that our brothers and sisters, our planet and all the creatures on it are going through in order to provide the food on their table, the clothes on their back, the furniture they sit on, the fuel that heats their home and all the commodities that go into the production of the everyday goods they use and take for granted! Let’s together awaken the people of our planet , help them to see beyond their own front door, to take real notice, to make changes to their lifestyles, changes for the better, that will bring lasting effects and start healing our world for our children and grandchildren’s sake !

Today, Friday 28th February could be the start of that process, If I send out this blog and one of you sends out to two and those two send to 4 and those 4 send to 8 and those 8 send to 16 and those 16 send to 32 and those 32 send to 64, etc we could soon awaken our world!
Please take action my friends ☺

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

The Phoenix

Published 25/02/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

The Phoenix.

A 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

We Are Formed By Our Thoughts

Published 19/02/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

Mr Dear Friends,

We are formed and moulded by our thoughts.
Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act.
Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.

Be careful with your thoughts because they will be formed into what you become and what you receive in your lifetime, act with kindness and compassion, give out live and happiness in everything you do.

And most of all enjoy your life with a smile 🙂

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

If I could and sit and chat for one hour with anyone; living or dead, who would I choose?

Published 18/02/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

I have thought long and hard about this question because there are so many people both living and dead that inspire me from Plato and Socrates to Jesus, The Buddha and Lord Shiva to Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, Winston Churchill, Confucius, Lao Tzu, Enzo Ferrari, Oprah, Amma, Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Paulo Coelho, Pema Chödrön….etc, the list could go on and on…then I came up with my choice

My Father

If I could bring him down from heaven and sit on that bench and chat with him again for one full hour, wow! That would be amazing 🙂 My list of questions would be endless, all the things I wish I had asked him but never did, how is the life now, what is he doing, what is he experiencing, advice for me on my journey etc

And You?

Who would you choose and why?

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

The Four Agreements for Your Life

Published 16/02/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

The Four Agreements.

Be Impeccable with your Words
Don’t Make assumptions
Don’t take anything personally
Always do your best

Speaking with integrity, not speaking ill of yourself or gossiping about others, having the courage to speak up and ask questions, communicate clearly in order to be understood and not cause misunderstandings, drama or a crisis. Don’t take everything others say to heart, their words if against you are not really about you they are a reflection of how they feel about themselves and they do it to protect their own reality not yours, when you become immune to what others say and think of you, you will no longer feel like a victim. Always do your best for you, not just because of others. Stay healthy, do your best to live a good healthy life, you have a choice what you feed yourself and if you exercise or not…it’s your choice so do your best to make the right choices for your life and live it to the full 🙂

Namaste with Love
Always
Mark

Happy Chinese New Year, The Year of The Horse

Published 29/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

My Dear Friends,
Tomorrow is Chinese New Years eve so I will be going off line and travelling with my wife to the mountains of central north China where we will spend the Chinese New Year holiday with her family on their farm. This time is spent honouring family members, passed ancestors and the younger generation where we come together as one and enjoy the festivities, so I would like to take this opportunity in wishing you all

A Very Happy Chinese New Year
Gong Xi Fa Chai 恭喜发财
Xin Nian Kuai Le 新年快乐
2014 The Year of the Horse

So if you were born in :- 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, and 2002 then you were born in the Year of the Horse.

Horse people are active and energetic. They got plenty of sex-appeal and know how to dress. Horses love to be in the crowd, maybe that is why they can usually be seen in such occasions like concerts, theaters, meetings, sporting occasions, and of course, parties.
The horse is very quick-witted and is right in there with you before you have had the chance to finish what you are saying: he’s on to the thought in your mind even before you’ve expressed it.
In general, the Horse is gifted. But in truth they are really more cunning than intelligent – and they know that. That is probably why, most of the horse people lack confidence.
Chinese believe that because horses are born to race or travel, all Horse people invariably leave home young. The Horse despises being pressured to act for the good of the group or made to feel guilty. No matter how integrated they seem to be, a Horse’s inner self remains powerfully rebellious. Although they have boundless energy and ambition, Horses have a hard time belonging. The Horse is hot-blooded, hot-headed and impatient. Horse people are a bit of an egoist, well, selfish sometimes, that it is rare for them to interest themselves in any problems except their own. And though this egoist works only for themselves and for their own success, their work nevertheless benefits everybody.
The Horse is a worker, adepts at handling money and a good financier. But unfortunately, they are also famous for suddenly losing interest on something. In their relationship with the opposite sex, the Horse is weak. They will give up everything for love.
Being born a Horse, there are many contradictions in their character. Horses are proud yet sweet-natured, arrogant yet oddly modest in their approach to love, envious but tolerant, conceited yet humble. They want to belong, yet they are burdened by their need for independence. They need love and crave intimacy yet often feel cornered, pressured. But the truth is, the Horse is an individual, who depends only on their own wits and labour to get what they want

Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the first day of the year of the Chinese calendar. In China, it is also known as the Spring Festival, the literal translation of the modern Chinese name. Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally run from Chinese New Year’s Eve, the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar, to the Lantern Festiva; on the 15th day of the first month, making the festival the longest in the Chinese calendar. Because the Chinese calandar is lunisolar, the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the “Lunar New Year”.
The source of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honor deities as well as ancestors. Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mauritious, Philippines, Macau, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and also in Chinatowns elsewhere. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors.
Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. Often, the evening preceding Chinese New Year’s Day is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of ‘Good Fortune’ or ‘Happiness’ ‘wealth’, and ‘longevity.’ Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes (Hong Bao) .
Although the Chinese calendar traditionally does not use continuously numbered years, outside China its years are often numbered from the reign of the 3rd millennium BC Yellow Emperor. But at least three different years numbered 1 are now used by various scholars, making the year beginning in 2013 AD the “Chinese Year” 4711, 4710, or 4650.

Namaste with Love
Always

Mark

What word would you use?

Published 26/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

Are you Passive of Aggressive?

Are you a Lover or a Fighter?

Are you Empathetic or Apathetic?

Choose your word wisely!

Choose Love and help make our world a better place to live 🙂

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Take control of YOUR LIFE NOW, don’t let it waste away into never coming tomorrows!

Published 20/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

Wise words from Sonia Choquette.

How many of you make lists of things you want to do?

But how many of those items on your To Do List have you completed?

I personally like the post it note in the middle ‘Enjoy Life’, that should be a given right? Something we all should have is an enjoyable life but many of us never realise it!

So, come on my friends, stop procrastinating, don’t bother making lists if you are not going to take action!

Let’s start today and change our lives for the better and remember ‘Life’s Journey is a Gift, not a Given’ so make the most of it, go do that one thing you always wanted to do and LIVE 🙂

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Hey You, Yes You…If your could escape, where would you escape to?

Published 18/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

Hi Everyone and Good Morning from not so sunny Shanghai where the pollution level today at 11:13am is stated to be 225 Very Unhealthy with health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be effected. Actually I think the true reading at this time will be more like 400+ but who am I to say!

Anyway back to my post for today 🙂

I would love your feedback, your comments and your thoughts on this one please because I’m feeling lonely here in my apartment looking out at this grey polluted sky 😦

So Escape! If you could escape, escape to anywhere, real or fantasy, where would it be to and why?

In my case, I would escape to the mountains, to the forest to the trees where I could breathe the fresh mountain air, fill my lungs with invigorating fresh life giving air to feel the cool breeze and the gentle warmth of the sun on my face, to smell the grass, the sweet intoxicating scents of nature, the flowers, the herbs, the soil. To watch the birds dance in the air, chasing each other from tree to tree from branch to branch, to observe the butterflies and the bees as they go about their daily task of collecting natures goodness and helping spread the love from one flower to another. And, to sit in silence, to hear the quiet, the gentle rustle of leaves as they sway in the wind, the sound of water flowing in the steams and the distant splash of a fish jumping after dragonflies as they skim over the lake, far, far away from the madness of city life, from the life of constant drive, noise, selfishness and anger away from the fast lane of life to where we were all destined to be, with Mother Nature, with Gaia…Home 🙂

bee-on-flower

Please let me know where you would escape to and why 🙂

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

You may look great on the outside but is your life good on the Inside?

Published 17/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

It is so interesting how we treat ourselves and how we feel we need to portray ourselves to others, this is particularly important in China and the Far East in the form and name of ‘Face’, how we look to the eyes of others. “FACE” – A CULTURAL THING

For those of you not well-versed in Chinese culture, there is something you should know about the concept of face or having face. Stemming from this, there are also the related concepts of losing face, of saving face, and even of lending face.

Face is a concept not hard to understand because, even as Westerners, everyone has face. When equated to Western values, face is very similar to the notion of reputation. Face is a dynamic which applies to both personal and business relationships in China.

Corollary to face is the inseparable concept of guanxi or “relations”. Face and guanxi work hand-in-hand. One without the other renders useless the dynamic these two concepts collectively work together.

So, looking good to others from the outside is important but I think equally or even more importantly is looking good on the inside too, feeling good and proud of yourself, loving yourself, living your life compassionately and caring for others from the inside out…from the heart.

If you can start feeling good on the inside, smiling at yourself and what you stand for from the inside then you will portray a bright side for all to see 🙂

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

I saw this today and thought of you,… yes YOU!

Published 16/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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 on…you know it makes sense!

Come on….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!

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Catching, isn’t it?

Now go give one to someone else

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Live your Life on Purpose

Published 15/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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 what’s 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

I’m here ‘now’, in this moment of life, this moment is me, and in this moment I awake.

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Guan Yin 观音菩萨

Published 14/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

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 silence .

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.

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.

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.

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

How Great Thou Art a Tribute to My Dad

Published 13/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the passing into heaven of my Dad John. This Hymn How Great Thou Art was one of his and my dear mum’s favourites and it’s a fitting tribute to how Great he was too.

Dad, you will ‘Always’ remain in my heart and my memories of you are Joyous and Happy.

With Love ‘Always’

Mark

Pull over to the side and take a Break

Published 13/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

A problem with a solution needs a decision. But how do we make the important decision in our life?

Usually we try to get someone else to make the difficult decision for us. That way, if it goes wrong, we’ve got some one to blame. Some of my friends try to trick me into making decisions for them, but I won’t. All I will do is show them how they can make wise decisions by themselves.

When we come to the crossroads and we are unsure what direction to take, we should pull over to the side, have a break and wait for a bus.

Soon, usually when we are not expecting it, a bus arrives. On the front of a public bus is a sign in a big bold letters indicating where the bus is going. If that destination suits you, then take that bus, if not, wait. There’s always another bus behind.

In other words, when we have to make a decision and are unsure what that decision should be, we need to pull over to the side, have a break and wait. Soon, usually when we are not expecting it, a solution will come. Every solution has its own destination, if that destination suits us, then we take that solution. If not, we wait. There’s always another solution coming behind.

That’s how I make my decisions. I gather all the information and wait for the solution. A good one will always come, as long as I am patient. It usually arrives unexpectedly, when I am not thinking about it.

Namaste with Love

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

Don’t hold on to things, let go and feel free!

Published 09/01/2014 by inspiringyourspirit

“In every direction above, below, around, and within, you see things you know and recognise…. 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

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

What Do I Have To Be Thankful For today? Thanksgiving should be everyday.

Published 10/12/2013 by inspiringyourspirit

What Do I Have To Be Thankful For today? Thanksgiving should be everyday.

My Dear Friends,

Well, …….Absolutely everything is my answer 🙂

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 ‘Everyone may begin to experience health effects, members of sensitive groups may experience serious health effects’ 🙂 This brought massive problems to the Old, the Infirmed, the Young and of course the Empath’s, 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 earlier… 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, it’s still a little hazy but the PM25 index is now down to 167 with a rating of ‘Unhealthy’. So, we cannot dispose of our masks just yet but today is another day, I’m alive, I’m healthy…. so I have so much to be Thankful and Grateful for 🙂

I’m Thankful for My Life

I’m Thankful for My Health

I’m Thankful for My Lovely Wife

I’m Thankful for My 4 Beautiful Children

I’m Thankful for My Friends

I’m Thankful for My Work

I’m Thankful for My Colleagues

I’m Thankful for My Clients

I’m Thankful for My Spiritual Awareness and Abilities

I’m Thankful for My Beliefs

I’m Thankful for My Food

I’m Thankful for My Compassion

I’m Thankful for My Love of Humanity

I’m Thankful for My Environmental Awareness

I’m Thankful for My Days and My Night’s

Here are some pictures of what I see everyday, things I’m so thankful for 🙂

My list could go on and on….

If You could Pick Just 1 Thing to be Thankful for Today, What Would It Be ?

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Today is a Perfect Day

Published 05/12/2013 by inspiringyourspirit

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. 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 . Thoughts and actions of loving kindness will create corresponding effects – the perfect outcome.

Have a Perfect day!

Namaste with Love

Always

Mark

Endless Light and Love

My Spiritual Journey

Tao

All posts tagged Tao

One World, One Chance and Life as we know it!

The Phoenix

We Are Formed By Our Thoughts

If I could and sit and chat for one hour with anyone; living or dead, who would I choose?

The Four Agreements for Your Life

Happy Chinese New Year, The Year of The Horse

What word would you use?

Take control of YOUR LIFE NOW, don’t let it waste away into never coming tomorrows!

Hey You, Yes You…If your could escape, where would you escape to?

You may look great on the outside but is your life good on the Inside?

I saw this today and thought of you,… yes YOU!

Live your Life on Purpose

Guan Yin 观音菩萨

How Great Thou Art a Tribute to My Dad

Pull over to the side and take a Break

What does your reflection say about you?

Don’t hold on to things, let go and feel free!

Showing your appreciation can even save a life!

What Do I Have To Be Thankful For today? Thanksgiving should be everyday.

Today is a Perfect Day

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