Leveys' Fierce Compassion Bodhisattva Handouts

Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma

Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles and Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science and The Dhamma.

Mahidol University ~ Bangkok

Presented By

Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey

Founders, International Center for Contemplative Inquiry & Dialogue, International Center for Corporate Culture & Organizational Health at InnerWork Technologies Inc. WisdomAtWork.com

"The Bodhisattva is like the mightiest of warriors; But her enemies are not common foes of flesh and bone. His fight is with the inner delusions, The afflictions of self-cherishing and ego grasping, Those most terrible of demons That catch living beings in the snares of confusion And cause them forever to wander in pain, frustration and sorrow. Her mission is to harm ignorance and delusion, never living beings. These he looks upon with kindness, patience, and empathy, Cherishing them like a mother cherishes her only child. She is the real hero, calmly facing any hardship In order to bring peace, happiness and liberation to the world." --The Thirteenth Dalai Lama from his "Discourse on the Great Lam Rim"

A daily prayer of the Dalai Lama, from Shantideva’s classic book A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life

“MAY I BECOME AT ALL TIMES, BOTH NOW AND FOREVER, A PROTECTOR FOR THOSE WITHOUT PROTECTION A GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR WAY A SHIP FOR THOSE WITH OCEANS TO CROSS A BRIDGE FOR THOSE WITH RIVERS TO CROSS A SANCTUARY FOR THOSE IN DANGER A LAMP FOR THOSE WITHOUT LIGHT A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR THOSE WHO LACK SHELTER AND A SERVANT TO ALL IN NEED.”

"A human being is part of the whole called by us the Universe. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures, and the whole of nature in its beauty.” -- Albert Einstein

“Once you have adopted such an attitude of infinite interconnectedness, you naturally want to liberate not just yourself but all beings from suffering. The Buddha calls this ‘the conception of the spirit of enlightenment.’ It is the soul of the Bodhisattva, the person who dedicates him—or herself to helping all beings achieve total happiness. When you open to the inevitability of your infinite interconnectedness with other sensitive beings, you develop compassion. You learn to feel empathy for them, to love them, to want their happiness. You want to keep them from suffering, and you do so just as if they were a part of you. You don’t think your behavior makes you special. You don’t congratulate yourself for helping others, just as you won’t congratulate yourself for healing your own leg when you hurt it. It is natural for you to love your leg because it is one with you, and so it is natural for you to love others. You would certainly never harm another being. As the great Buddhist adapt Shantideva (8th century Indian sage) wrote, ‘How wonderful it would be when all beings experience each other as limbs on the one body of life!’” -- Robert Thurman, in Infinite Life

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that we have to erect the ramparts of peace.” -- From the UNESCO Charter

“Physics has provided the basis for the design of the fission and fusion bombs, biology -- germ warfare, chemistry -- nerve gas. And all of them have helped bring us to the brink of doom. But they still do not provide keys to ultimate power. If we do destroy ourselves, it will be the minds of human beings, the unhealthy emotions of individuals, the fear, the hate, the jealousy and the greed of individuals that will trigger these horrors. . . . You can use Inner Science to educate each individual to understand himself or herself, to control his or her negative emotions and distorted notions, and to cultivate his or her highest potentials of love and wisdom. And you can keep improving your Outer Sciences to better understand, control and beautify the environment for the greater benefit of all beings. There is an enormous amount of work to be done. Let us begin it here and now." The Dalai Lama at Harvard

"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. Our hope for creative living lies in our ability to reestablish the spiritual needs of our lives in personal character and social justice. Without this spiritual and moral reawakening we shall destroy ourselves in the misuse of our own instruments." --Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Without a global revolution in the sphere of human consciousness, nothing will change for the better in the sphere of our being as humans, and the catastrophe towards which this world is headed - be it ecological, social, demographic or a general breakdown of civilization - will be unavoidable. . . The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and in human responsibility.” Vaclav Havel, President of Czechoslovakia in his address to the U.S. Congress

The Great Aikido master Tohei, in his book, Aikido, the Arts of Self-Defense

"Remember that you live always under the protection of some mysterious force. This force is nature. Therefore, true self-defense does not stop with defending oneself against others, but strives to make oneself worthy of defense by nature herself. It respects the principles of nature. True practice must be in consonance with the will of nature . When man observes the principles of nature, he helps to make them the principles of humanity because they are directed toward the good of humanity. True self-defense must be according to the will of God... When your mind and your acts become one with nature , then nature will protect you. Fear no enemy; fear only to be separated from the mind of nature. If you are on the right path, nature will protect you . and you need not fear anything. When an enemy wants to attack you while you are asleep, nature will awaken you. when an airplane has an accident, you will fortunately not be on that plane. Trust nature and do not worry. Leave both you mind and body to nature. Do not recognize friend or foe in your mind. In your heart let there be generosity as large as the sea which accepts both clean and unclean water. Let your mind be as merciful as nature which loves the smallest tree or blade of grass. Let your mind be strong with sincerity that can pierce iron or stone. Repay the forces of nature, work for the good of all and make yourself a person whom nature is pleased to let live. This is the true purpose of training."

Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world. --Lao-tzu

“Suffering is not enough. Life is both dreadful and wonderful. To practice meditation is to be in touch with both aspects. Smiling means that we are ourselves, that we have sovereignty over ourselves, that we are not drowned in forgetfulness. How can I smile when I am filled with so much sorrow? It is natural--- you need to smile to your sorrow because you are more than your sorrow.” --Thich Nhat Hanh –

The Power of Peace From Chagdud Rinpoche ( one of our most beloved teachers)

"It is my wish that the spiritual power of peace will touch very person on this earth, radiating from a deep peace within our own minds, across political and religious barriers, across the barriers of ego and self-righteousness. Our first task as peacemakers is to clear away our internal conflicts caused by ignorance, anger, grasping, jealousy, and pride. With the guidance of a spiritual teacher, this purification of our own minds can teach us the very essence of peacemaking. We should seek an inner peace so pure, so stable, that we cannot be moved to anger by those who live and profit by war, or to self-grasping and fear by those who confront us with contempt and hatred. Extraordinary patience is necessary to work toward world peace, and the source of that patience is inner peace. Such peace enables us to see clearly that war and suffering are outer reflections of the mind's poisons. The essential difference between peacemakers and those who wage war is that peacemakers have discipline and control over egotistical anger, grasping, jealousy, and pride, whereas warmakers, out of ignorance, cause these poisons to manifest in the world. If you truly understand this, you will never allow yourself to be defeated from within or without. In Tibetan Buddhism, the peacock is a symbol for the bodhisattva, the awakened warrior who works for the enlightenment of all beings. A peacock is said to each poisonous plants, but to transform the poison into the gorgeous colors of its feathers. It does not poison itself. In the same way, we who advocate world peace must not poison ourselves with anger. Regard with equanimity the powerful, worldly men who control the war machines. Do your best to convince them of the necessity of peace, but be constantly aware of your state of mind. If you become angry, pull back. If you are able to act without anger, perhaps you will penetrate the terrible delusion that perpetrates war and its hellish suffering. From the clear space of your own inner peace, your compassion must expand to include all who are involved in war, both the soldiers—whose intention is to benefit but who instead cause suffering and death and thus are caught by the terrible karma of killing— and the civilians who are wounded, killed, or forced into exile as refugees. True compassion is aroused by suffering of every sort, by the suffering of every being; it is not tied to right or wrong, attachment or aversion. The work of peace is a spiritual path in itself, a means to develop the perfect qualities of mind and to test them against urgent necessity, extreme suffering, and death. Do not be afraid to give it your time, energy, and support." http://www.tibetantreasures.com/tthtml/ttmerch/teaching%20pages/powerofpeace.htm

Burma’s Nightmare: Where Shall One Go With A Heart Full of Non-Violence? October 14th, 2007 by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés http://themoderatevoice.com/society/family/15593/burmas-nightmare-where- shall-one-go-with-a-heart-full-of-non-violence/

A Conversation with Dr. Jack Kornfield, American Buddhist Teacher trained in Thailand, Burma and India…on Burma, Buddhism, H.H. the Dalai Lama, and non- violence.

Kornfield is one of the foremost teachers of Theravada Buddhism in the West. He was trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma and India (He is on the far right in the photo). He graduated from Dartmouth in 1967, joined the Peace Corps in Public Health Service in northeast Thailand, home to some of the last forest monasteries of Buddhist monks and nuns.

There Buddhist master Ajahn Chah became his teacher for many years. Returning to the United States, Kornfield took a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and became a founding teacher of the Buddhist Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California.

I met Jack some years ago when we were both teaching at a symposium in D.C. His father suddenly took a turn for the worse, and Jack was called away. I joined in teaching Jack’s group in order to help, and we have had a friendship since then.

Now 62 years old, he is a soft spoken, devout man with a secular sense of humor lurking beneath the surface, a wonderful trait in a religious. He meets yearly with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, and has published twenty books.

Here is a part of our conversation from October 9, 2007, about the use of violence against violence; the potential use of violence to effect change in Burma… from one man’s deeply Buddhist point of view.

Clarissa Pinkola Estés: “Jack, Buddhists often seem simpatico with others I grew up amongst and admired; Amish, Mennonites, Quakers, Dunkards, priests, brothers and nuns of The Holy Cross … most all being people who often managed to act calmly in helping to aright injustices in the midst of mayhem all around. It’s one thing to be calm in a peaceful mountain monastery, and quite another to act calmly on a festering street corner in East L.A.

“But, right now, looking between the worlds at the murderous mayhems of our times, many hearts are breaking for the millionth time, Jack, and this time, it’s Burma again. On the newsblog I write for, Themoderatevoice.com, some thoughtful commenters have said, amongst other cogent ideas, that the Burmese monks and nuns perhaps ought arm themselves and overtake the junta.

“As an old believer, I know a literal warrior pledges to strive to act with courage in the face of scorn, ridicule and aggression… but not to act in violence. Yet, I know May All Beings Swiftly Awaken to Their True Nature & Highest Potentials and Help All Beings to do the Same! Notes Collected and Prepared by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey, WisdomAtWork.com 7 Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma there are warrior traditions in my faiths, amongst them, the Knights, and that there is a warrior-monk tradition in Buddhism from times of old too, as amongst some of the Samurai. Neither of these ancient traditions are portrayed well in modern works, seeming instead to have been severed from their mystical underpinnings…

“… But, thinking of the Burmese again, can holy monks and nuns arm themselves in aggression? Can this be integrated somehow in the non-violent heart of Buddhism?”

Jack Kornfield: ”I’d tell you a story about His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. A group of young Tibetans came to the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. They told him they were very distraught by the suffering of the Tibetans, and thought they should go back into Tibet armed. They said, We have lost temples, nuns, monks, our culture. We want Stinger missiles for we have nomads who know the mountains and the Chinese don’t know our mountains, and we can launch from there.

“The Dalai Lama put his head in his hands and wept. He reminded them of the Buddhist precept of no killing, no harming living beings, the precept the Dalai Lama has taught all his life as the incarnate head of Buddhism. His Holiness told the young Tibetans, I don’t know if I have done the right thing; but I’ll step down if I have done it wrong. If I believed I have taught untruth, I would resign. !

“I’ll tell you another story. We have in our history as Buddhists, many times of being treated unjustly… Yet, I knew Maha Ghosananda, the holy man of Cambodia. After Pol Pot, one-third of the population of Cambodia was massacred. Ninety-five percent of the monks and nuns were felled.

“We were in Thailand at the time, and traveled to where refugees were from Cambodia. And Maha Ghosananda came as the elder to the refugee camps, and he asked permission from UN to reopen a Buddhist temple right there in the camps.

“It was dangerous to do. The Khmer Rouge were underground in the refugee camps. The KR said to the refugees, You go to this man, this ceremony, and we will kill you later.

“But, there in the midst of thousands and thousands of tiny bamboo huts, Maha Ghosananda rang a sacred bell.

“25,000 refugees came; the ones who’d’ had their village temples burned, the ones who’d survived the murders by the Khmer Rouge of their elders, their children, their sisters, brothers, parents, so that now a family was one grandparent and two children left, or one uncle and one niece, left.

“Mahan Ghosananda chanted in Cambodian and Sanskrit, chanting from the Dhammapada, that Hatred never ceases by hatred, that hatred is conquered by love, that this is the ancient and eternal law…

“25,000 refugees came; the ones who’d’ had their village temples burned, the ones who’d survived the murders by the Khmer Rouge of their elders, their children,

“Mahan Ghosananda chanted in Cambodian and Sanskrit, chanting from the Dhammapada, that Hatred never ceases by hatred, that hatred is conquered by love, that this is the ancient and eternal law…

“25 thousand Cambodians who had not heard the holy scripture aloud in years, were chanting and weeping.

“Ghosananda told them that no matter how bigger the revenge and hatred, those will never take us to the end of who we are.

“For fifteen years Maha Ghosananda walked back to Cambodian villages where the people had originally come from. They couldn’t take the bus for the KR and their sympathizers were still trying to harm Cambodians. So, he walked people back home. They were shot at, waylaid, threatened; there were still mines buried on the roads. But they were going back home, and he was taking them back with spirit of compassion.

“So yes, there are Buddhist warriors within the various countries. Certainly in Tibet, in some monasteries, there are warrior monks.

“But this issue is not reconciled for the mainstream Buddhists.

“Violence is not seen as following the ground the Buddha respects.”

Excerpt from Pema Chodron's inspiring little book: Practicing Peace in Times of War From Chapter 1: Practicing Peace in Times of War

War and peace start in the hearts of individuals. Strangely enough, even though all beings would like to live in peace, our method for obtaining peace over the generations seems not to be very effective: we seek peace and happiness by going to war. This can occur at the level of our domestic situation, in our relationships with those close to us. Maybe we come home from work and we’re tired and we just want some peace; but at home all hell is breaking loose for one reason or another, and so we start yelling at people. What is our motivation? We want some happiness and ease and peace, but what we do is get even more worked up and we get everyone else worked up too. This is a familiar scenario in our homes, in our workplaces, in our communities, even when we’re just driving our cars. We’re just driving along and someone cuts in front of us and then what? Well, we don’t like it, so we roll down the window and scream at them.

War begins when we harden our hearts, and we harden them easily—in minor ways and then in quite serious, major ways, such as hatred and prejudice—whenever we feel uncomfortable. It’s so sad, really, because our motivation in hardening our hearts is to find some kind of ease, some kind of freedom from the distress that we’re feeling.

Someone once gave me a poem with a line in it that offers a good definition of peace: “Softening what is rigid in our hearts.” We can talk about ending war and we can march for ending war, we can do everything in our power, but war is never going to end as long as our hearts are hardened against each other.

What happens is a chain reaction, and I’d be surprised if you didn’t know what I’m talking about. Something occurs—it can be as small as a mosquito buzzing—and you tighten. If it’s more than a mosquito—or maybe a mosquito is enough for you— something starts to shut down in you, and the next thing you know, imperceptibly the chain reaction of misery begins: we begin to fan the grievance with our thoughts. These thoughts become the fuel that ignites war. War could be that you smash that little teensy-weensy mosquito. But I’m also talking about war within the family, war at the office, war on the streets, and also war between nations, war in the world.

We often complain about other people’s fundamentalism. But whenever we harden our hearts, what is going on with us? There’s an uneasiness and then a tightening, a shutting down, and then the next thing we know, the chain reaction begins and we become very righteous about our right to kill the mosquito or yell at the person in the car or whatever it might be. We ourselves become fundamentalists, which is to say we become very self-righteous about our personal point of view. http://www.pemachodron.org/

Sogyal Rinpoche Difficulties and obstacles, if properly understood and used, can turn out to be an unexpected source of strength. Gesar was the great warrior king of Tibet, whose escapades form the greatest epic of Tibetan literature. Gesar "indomitable," someone who can never be put down. From the moment Gesar was born, his evil uncle Trotung tried all kinds of means to kill him. But with each attempt Gesar only grew stronger and stronger. For the Tibetans, Gesar is not only a martial warrior but also a spiritual one. To be a spiritual warrior means to develop a special kind of courage, one that is innately intelligent, gentle, and fearless. Spiritual warriors can still be frightened, but even so they are courageous enough to taste suffering, to relate clearly to their fundamental fear, and to draw out without evasion the lessons from difficulties. ‘

Utilizing the Ordinary To Awaken ExtraOrdinary Wisdom and Compassion Guidelines Offered by Longchenpa

When entering a doorway, practice Bodhicitta by wishing that all sentient beings attain enlightenment. At night before going to sleep, wish that all sentient beings attain Buddhahood. When dreaming, wish that all sentient beings realize the nature of reality. When seated, wish that all sentient beings attain the indestructible seat of Buddhahood. When lighting a fire, wish that this fire might burn through the mental afflictions of all sentient beings. When the fire is burning, wish that the wisdom of all sentient beings might burn like the roaring flames. When eating, wish that your food might become the “food” of meditative concentration that can be eaten by all sentient beings. When going outside, wish that all sentient beings be freed from samsara. When opening a door, imagine that you are opening the door to realization for all sentient beings. When closing a door, imagine that you are closing he door to the lower realms. When walking down a road, wish that all sentient beings enter the noble path of the Bodhisattvas. When climbing a mountain, imagine that all sentient beings are climbing to the pure lands. When meeting someone, imagine that this meeting is like the meeting between ordinary beings and a Buddha. When walking, imagine that each step you take is the steady work of benefiting others. When encountering someone adorned with necklaces and jewels, wish that all beings attain the major and minor marks of a Buddha. When encountering someone living in poverty, wish that all sentient beings become like yogis who care nothing for worldly life and devote themselves solely to the Dharma. When seeing a cup or a bowl that is full to the brim, imagine that it is the completion of all good qualities. When seeing an empty cup or bowl, imagine that all faults have been abandoned. When seeing a being who is rejoicing, imagine that it is the happiness of all beings who have received the precious Teachings. May All Beings Swiftly Awaken to Their True Nature & Highest Potentials and Help All Beings to do the Same! Notes Collected and Prepared by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey, WisdomAtWork.com 12 Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma

When seeing a being who is grieving, wish that all beings realize the nature of impermanence and renounce their world lives. When seeing a being suffering from an illness, wish that all beings be freed from sickness. When hearing someone speaking praises, imagine they are praising the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. When seeing even the simplest representations of the body of a Buddha, wish that all sentient beings may gaze without in obstruction upon the face of the Enlightened One. Finally, when seeing a merchant doing business, imagine that all beings will attain the seven riches that adorn the nature of ultimate reality.

- Longchen Rabjung “Longchenpa” - in The Union of Dzog Chen and Bodhichitta by Anyen Rinpoche

“The Five Mindfulness Trainings” *

Our lives teach us that everything is interconnected--"everything we do matters." The inner- contemplative, and the outer-active, cannot be separated. By saving ourselves, we save the world; by saving the world we save ourselves. By going deeper into the intimacy of the relationship of inner and outer, sacred and profane we learn that kindness and wisdom are not different from each other, and that lovingkindness & joy are our first and natural state of being. We also learn that we are not alone, that all our relations & our ancestors as well as the spirits of those who are yet to be born, are with us. And as the awareness of this presence deepens it gives body to our own life and practice.

In the face of escalating violence, finding collective integrity and creativity is of the greatest urgency, as is finding new ways of expressing old truths. The Buddha's simple description of practice as sila, samadhi, panya—ethical attunement & moral discipline mindfulness, mental coherence & stability, & wisdom--is applicable now as ever. The question as always, is: "what sort of precepts, principles, and practices can guide us to live with wisdom, compassion, & peace in times like these?"

1 Aware of the violence in the world and of the power of non-violent resistance I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations and vow to cultivate the compassion that seeks to protect each living being.

2 Aware of the poverty and greed in the world and of the intrinsic abundance of the earth, I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations and vow to cultivate the simplicity, gratitude, and generosity that have no limits.

3 Aware of the abuse and lovelessness in the world, of the suffering caused by through the abuse of sexual energy and of the healing that is made possible when we open to giving and receiving love I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations and vow to cultivate respect for the beauty and power of our sexual energies.

4 Aware of the falsehood and deception in the world and of the power of living and speaking the truth I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations and vow to cultivate the ability to listen; and clarity and integrity in all I communicate—by my words and actions.

5 Aware of the contamination of the world and of my responsibility for life as it manifests through me I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations and vow to cultivate; discernment and care in what I take into my body and mind.

* Manzanita Village Version of the traditional lay Buddhist Precepts by Caitriona Reed edited and expanded by Joel & Michelle Levey (WisdomAtWork.com) See For a Future to be Possible an anthology of readings by on the discipline, struggles, and joys of living by these mindfulness trainings.

The Five Mindfulness Trainings Disciplines for Living in Right Relationship From the Buddhist Tradition Excerpted "For a Future to Be Possible: Commentaries on the Five Wonderful Precepts" (1993) by Thich Nhat Hanh,

The First Mindfulness Training: Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.

The Second Mindfulness Training: Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression, I vow to cultivate loving kindness and learn ways to work for the well being of people, animals, plants and minerals. I vow to practice generosity by sharing my time, energy and material resources with those who are in real need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. I will respect the property of others, but I will prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on Earth.

The Third Mindfulness Training: Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility and learn ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families and society. I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without love and a long-term commitment. To preserve the happiness of myself and others, I am determined to respect my commitments and the commitments of others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct.

The Fourth Mindfulness Training: Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of their suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy and hope. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord, or that can cause the family or community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

The Fifth Mindfulness Training: Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs, magazines, books, films and conversations. I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my parents, my society and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of society.

Excerpt from

The Wisdom of Forgiveness

The Dalai Lama, Victor Chan ISBN 0733619134

‘Yes, yes, there is no doubt,’ he (the Dalai Lama) replied. ‘It’s crucial. It’s one of the most important things. It can change one’s life. To reduce hatred and other destructive emotions, you must develop their opposites—compassion and kindness. If you have strong compassion, strong respect for others, then forgiveness is much easier. Mainly for this reason: I do not want to harm another. Forgiveness allows you to be in touch with these positive emotions. This will help with spiritual development.’

“Is there a special meditation technique that you use?” I asked.

“I use a meditation technique called giving and taking,” the Lama explained, “I do a visualization: I send my positive emotion, happiness and affection to others. Then another visualization. I visualize their sufferings, their negative emotions. I do this every day and pay special attention to the Chinese—especially those doing terrible things to Tibetans. So as I meditation, I breath in all their poisons, hatred, fear, cruelty. Then I breathe out. And I let all the good things come out, things like compassion, forgiveness. I take inside my body these bad things. Then I replace poisons with fresh air. Giving and taking, I take care not to blame—I don’t blame the Chinese and I don’t blame myself. This meditation is very effective, useful to reduce hatred, useful to cultivate forgiveness.

Blessing for Food from Thich Nhat Hahn

This food is the gift of love from the whole universe, From the earth, the sky, and much noble work. May we eat it in a way that nourishes us, So that we may nourish the web of life From which we come. We give thanks for this and our many blessings. May All Beings Swiftly Awaken to Their True Nature & Highest Potentials and Help All Beings to do the Same! Notes Collected and Prepared by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey, WisdomAtWork.com 16 Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma

Metta – Lovingkindness Meditation

May I be free from enmity & danger, May I be free from mental suffering, May I be free from physical suffering, May I take care of myself happily.

May my parents, teachers, relatives & friends, fellow dharma-farers, May they be free from enmity & danger, May they be free from mental suffering, May they be free from physical suffering, May they take care of themselves happily.

May all yogis in this compound, Be free from enmity & danger, Be free from mental suffering, Be free from physical suffering, May they take care of themselves happily.

May all monks in this compound, novice monks, laymen & laywomen disciples, May they be free from enmity & danger, May they be free from mental suffering, May they be free from physical suffering, May they take care of themselves happily.

May all donors of the four supports - clothing, food, medicine, and lodging, Be free from enmity & danger, Be free from mental suffering, Be free from physical suffering, May they take care of themselves happily.

May all guardian devas in this monastery, in this dwelling, in this compound, May the guardian devas be free from enmity & danger, Be free from mental suffering, be free from physical suffering, May they take care of themselves happily.

May all beings, all breathing things, all creatures, all individuals, all personalities, May all females, all males, all Noble ones, all worldlings, all deities, all humans, All those in the four woeful planes,

May they be free from enmity & danger,

May they be free from mental suffering, May they be free from physical suffering, May they take care of themselves happily.

May all beings be free from suffering, May whatever they have gained not be lost, All beings are owners of their karma. In the eastern direction, in the western direction, In the northern direction, in the southern direction, In the southeast direction, in the northwest direction, In the northeast direction, in the southwest direction, In the direction below, in the direction above.

May all beings, all breathing things, all creatures, all individuals, all personalities, All females, all males, all Noble ones, all worldlings, all deities, all humans, All those in the four woeful planes.

May they be free from enmity & danger, May they be free from mental suffering, May they be free from physical suffering, May they take care of themselves happily.

May all beings be free from suffering. May whatever they have gained not be lost.

All beings are owners of their karma. As far as the highest plane of existence to as far down as the lowest plane, In the entire universe, Whatever beings that move on earth, May they be free from mental suffering & enmity, May they be free from physical suffering & danger.

As far as the highest plane of existence to as far down as the lowest plane In the entire universe, Whatever beings that move on water, May they be free from mental suffering & enmity, May they be free from physical suffering & danger.

As far as the highest plane of existence to as far down as the lowest plane, In the entire universe, Whatever beings that move in air, May they be free from mental suffering & enmity, May they be free from physical suffering & danger. May All Beings Swiftly Awaken to Their True Nature & Highest Potentials and Help All Beings to do the Same! Notes Collected and Prepared by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey, WisdomAtWork.com 18 Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma

May I be free from enmity & danger, May I be free from mental suffering, May I be free from physical suffering, May I take care of myself happily… Variation: May I/you/all beings be free from enmity, May I/you/all beings be free from danger, May I/you/all beings be free from disease, May I/you/all beings be happy, May I/you/all beings be free from suffering …

The Jedi Code

Becoming a Jedi requires commitment, as Jedi instruction is structured and codified to enforce discipline and hinder transgression. The Jedi Code is portrayed as being the central philosophy and dogma. Several versions exist…..However, throughout all of these changes there was a central, core part of the code that remained the fundamental vision and ideal of a Jedi.

There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no chaos; there is harmony There is no death; there is the Force.[5]

The code was the focus of meditations on the Force by the Jedi Master Odan-Urr.

During the restructuring of the Jedi Order by the now Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker, a new code was established for easier interpretation for the newer generation of Jedi. The code retained the same core beliefs as the millennia old code, rewritten for better understanding:

Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy. Jedi use their powers to defend and protect, never to attack others. Jedi respect all life, in any form. Jedi serve others rather than ruling over them, for the good of the galaxy. Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training.

“In ancient times, people lived holistic lives. They didn't overemphasize the intellect, but integrated mind, body, and spirit in all things. This allowed them to become masters of knowledge rather than victims of concepts. If a new invention appeared, they looked for the troubles it might cause as well as the shortcuts it offered. They valued old ways that had been proven effective, and they valued new ways if they could be proven effective. If you want to stop being confused, then emulate these ancient folk: join your body, mind, and spirit in all you do. Choose food, clothing, and shelter that accords with nature. Rely on your own body for transportation. Allow your work and your recreation to be one and the same. Do exercise that develops your whole being and nor just your body. Listen to music that bridges the three spheres of your being. Choose leaders for their virtue rather than their wealth or power. Serve others and cultivate yourself simultaneously. Understand that true growth comes from meeting and solving the problems of life in a way that is harmonizing to yourself and to others. If you can follow these simple old ways, you will be continually renewed.” Lau Tzu, Inner Chapters, Hua Hu Ching, #43

“In ancient times, various holistic sciences were developed by highly evolved beings to enable their own evolution and that of others. These subtle arts were created through the linking of individual minds with the universal mind. They are still taught by traditional teachers to those who display virtue and desire to assist others. The student who seeks our and studies these teachings furthers the evolution of mankind as well as her own spiritual unfolding. The student who ignores them hinders the development of all beings. Lau Tzu, Inner Chapters, Hua Hu Ching, #54

“In earlier times, people lived simply and serenely. Sensitive to the fluctuations that constantly occur, they were able to adjust comfortably to the energy of the day. Today, people lead hysterical, impulsive lives. Ignoring the subtle alterations of yin and yang which influence all things, they become confused, exhausted, and frustrated. However, even today one can restore wholeness and clarity to one's mind. The way to do this is through study of the I Ching. Like the cycle of day and night, everything is a tai chi incorporating movements between yin and yang. If you do not see the patterns in these movements, you are lost. But if you consult the I Ching with an open mind, you will begin to see the patterns underlying all things. Knowing that daybreak will come, you can rest peacefully at night. When you accurately perceive the fluidity of things, you also begin to perceive the constancy behind them: the creative, transformative, boundless, immutable Tao. To see this is the ultimate education, and the ultimate solace. Lau Tzu, Inner Chapters, Hua Hu Ching, #6

Jedi Warrior Training

For the U.S. Army Green Berets ~ the Special Forces The “Ultimate Warrior Program” Designed and Delivered by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey and colleagues http://WisdomAtWork.com/B USINESS/inner/index.html

In 1982 we were approached by the US. Army to design and direct the "Ultimate Warrior Training Program", AKA "Jedi Warrior", for the Green Berets. This six month-long, full-time program came about through the efforts of a number of concerned and high ranking officers who lived with the grief of knowing how much unnecessary suffering took place during and following the war in South East Asia. They understood that because their people were unprepared to stop the war inside themselves, under pressure the seeds of violence within them manifested as the outer violence that destroyed many innocent people, including their families and themselves. They told us that more than twice as many people committed suicide after returning home than died in combat, and that they lived with the grief of that knowledge on a daily basis. These men approached us, not knowing what to do, but with a hope and confidence that we would be able to help.

The stakes were very high. We were asked to work with two highly strategic elite teams, whose mission had the potential to either trigger or avert World War III, under the old Cold War scenario. Our mission was to design and deliver a full time intensive and holistic program to equip these two A Teams of Special Forces Troops with the personal, team, and mission capabilities necessary to recognize and reduce the conflict/war within themselves so they could perform at peak levels in the midst of extreme danger and distress, such as working behind enemy lines for prolonged periods of time. Prior to submitting our proposal, we went through considerable soul searching. We consulted many of our mentors and advisors, and contemplated the potential implications, both positive, and negative of participating in this program. During this same period, Trident submarine was coming into Puget Sound for the first time. As we pondered this RFP from the Army we realized that if we had six months to train the crew of a nuclear submarine that we would feel that the world was a safer place. It became clear that the benefits to the men and to the globe were potentially extreme. We assembled our team, created and submitted our proposal for a six month full time training program. We received an

In preparation for the program (which red tape delayed for nearly two years), we engaged many of our mentors and colleagues in an inquiry. We asked them: "If you had the opportunity to work intensively for six months with men who were in a position to start or stop World War III, what would you do?" Our advisors andcollaborators ranged from Vietnam veterans and respected military leaders, to leading martial artists, respected researchers like Elmer Green from the Menninger Foundation, to Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. By the time the program began, we had woven the best of our own experience with the insights of many others to deliver what Michael Murphy founder of the Esalen Institute and Esquire editor George Leonard once called, "the most intensive human development program to be offered in modern times."

For this pioneering project we designed a lab with about $150,000 of biocybernautic equipment that we used for extensive personal mastery training. Here the men developed the skill and confidence necessary to sense and control many previously unconscious physiological functions: they learned to recognize and control muscle tension, to control circulation in order to keep their hands warm in cold environments, manage the intensity and physiology of their responses to stress. For many visiting dignitaries to the base, the Jedi Lab became a first stop on the tour of the base, where they learned that it was actually possible to recognize and control the level of their blood pressure. The lab included the world's first multiple-synchrony brainwave feedback system which we helped to design, in order to teach up to sixteen people at a time to "synchronize" their brain waves in order to move toward a state of "team flow" and deep attunement to each other. Our goal with all this technology was to build the soldiers' skills and confidence that they could indeed recognize, understand, and influence/control their internal mental, emotional and physiological experience, and that they could strengthen the mindful clarity they'd need to choose a wiser path of action even under conditions of extreme stress.

For men who were outwardly fearless and willing to give their lives for their country, the most terrifying part of our training was a month long "encampment" a time of intensive contemplative and martial arts training where they learned skills for looking deeply into their own minds and bodies in order to recognize, befriend May All Beings Swiftly Awaken to Their True Nature & Highest Potentials and Help All Beings to do the Same! Notes Collected and Prepared by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey, WisdomAtWork.com 23 Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma and make peace with their "inner enemies" and to resolve inner conflicts and tap inner strengths that could influence their outer effectiveness. They deepened their insight of how these internal enemies that could ultimately cost them their lives if they were sent out on their mission. They discovered and learned to tap reservoirs of inner strength they never dreamed existed. Following this month of intensive training the men were parachuted into an intense four day ordeal called "the gut check", and were the first teams in history to muster both the individual and team strengths necessary to successfully complete this extremely arduous mission simulation.

Ours was also the first program in their history to openly address issues around death, dying and grieving. We worked with improving the quality of their communications, their diet, we introduced high sophisticated methods of physical and team training that were a step beyond the somewhat barbaric practices that were the norm in their training. They learned skills to deeply relax, to find an inner state of calm intensity in which they could focus their minds for self healing or to remain calm and alert for long periods of time. They trained intensively with Aikido, a martial art form that emphasizes cultivating a greater sensitivity to energy flow and force while creatively transforming the energy of inner and outer conflict. We applied these learnings to enhancing the mission skills and technical capabilities essential to their success, such as working with code, emergency medical work, and other vital skills necessary for their work. We also worked closely with the soldiers' families and significant others to help integrate these insights and learnings into their home life and relationships. In addition to the outcomes summarized below, some of the most notable impacts of our work were evident in an enhanced quality of communication and relationship with their families. Many wives and children of the men thanked us because Daddy came home and talked to them and openly shared his feelings and fears. Some commented that their husband or father seemed more in control of his emotions and was able to talk through difficulties without getting physically abusive. One team was selected as the most outstanding team in the NATO Games that year. Many of these men went on to train others in these inner arts while others were recruited by Delta Force and other special units in the Service. Others taught at the West Point's War College or were decorated for their special roles in operations in Somolia, the Gulf War, and Eastern Europe. Over the years we have heard from many of the men that what they learned has saved their lives, their missions, their teams, and their families from many difficult situations. Reports over time indicate that the program had a profound

Corporate Warrior Training

When our corporate clients hear about the Army project they often respond by saying,

"We need an ultimate warrior program to survive in our business! We live on a corporate battlefield. Bombs are dropped on us every day. You never know when something's going to explode and people will be hurt. Its difficult to know who we can trust in our present environment. Many of us have just shut down because we don't know how to stay open or feel safe in such a hostile and unsafe environment. We need a highly specialized and adaptable set of skills and training to be effective in this challenging and changeable environment. Can you help us find a way to end the war or at least to work in a war zone in a healthier, more productive and less harmful way?"

In response to these requests we have designed and delivered a variety of programs for over 200 corporate clients. These programs address such issues as:

! The warrior's wisdom at work ! Stopping the war at work ! Commitment and the power share mission, vision and values at work ! Operating effectively in hostile territory ! The warrior spirit at work ! Personal mastery at work ! Control follows awareness ! The power of mindfulness at work ! Courage and the heart of leadership ! Creativity and conflict resolution ! Strategies for expanding our field of influence and operations ! Improving efficiency under pressure ! Aikido and martial arts principles at work ! Leadership and the principles of the modern day corporate warrior ! Developing high performance team work

Results of InnerWork's "Jedi Warrior Training Program" for the US Army Green Berets The "Jedi Warrior Program" was designed and delivered to the U.S. Army Green Berets in 1985 and 1986 after four years of intensive research and design. It was described by West Point logisticians as, "the most exquisite orchestration of human technology we have ever seen!" , and by George Leonard and Michael Murphy, leaders in the field of human development as, "the most extensive human development program to be offered in modern times!" Listed below are the enhancements achieved over the course of training on the Army's targeted outcomes for physical, mental, team and mission performance of the participating individuals and teams. Please note: The greatest gains are in the areas that they had the least prior training. Baseline (i.e. skill level before training) is equal to zero. The enhancements listed below are percentage increases from that initial level.

Mental Enhancements

Mental development (summary) 88% Ability to manage stress 92 Ability to work with visualization/mental rehearsal 84 Clarity with regards to personal values 83 Familiarity and use of holistic methods 98 Access to extraordinary states of awareness 82 Access to extraordinary perceptual abilities 201 Confidence in ability to control mindbody 25 Ability to learn and integrate new ideas 109

Physical Enhancements

Physical enhancements (summary) 109 Ability to manage energy 86 Understanding of the effects of diet/nutrition on performance 174 Ability to control pain 47 Ability to fine-tune physical performance 127

Team Enhancements

(These were very strong to begin with so improvements we less.) Team Cohesion 40 Sense of confidence/bonding with team 30 Ability to blend effectively with team 43

Mission Enhancements

Mission Effectiveness 49 Ability to remain alert and motionless 70 Ability to extend sensory awareness 72 Ability to quickly relax and rest 120 Control of circulation and temperature 87 Personal Energy Management 120 Ability to optimize physical abilities 92 Confidence in using holistic methods 50 Acceptance of other cultures 45 Reduction of effects of shock/trauma 30 Confidence in own leadership abilities 50

To us the most significant "data" was the comments of the wives and children of the soldiers as they spoke with us about how the quality of life and relationship with the men was changed through their participation in this program.

Excerpted from: http://wisdomatwork.com/BUSINESS/inner/index.html

Shambhala Warriors: Compassion, Insight, and Power by Joanna Macy

Manzanita Village has been living inside me, an important part of my interior landscape. It holds down southern California in my geography. The desert. The sky. The plant beings. The stars. The fragrances. Have you noticed how wonderful this feels at night? Sitting here by lamp light, the light on the warm colors of the floor, the low ceiling, the brown earthen walls. This room reminds me of the Buddhist cave temples and western ghats of India. They are among the earliest places of Dharma practice. They're carved out of the living rock. Along the front are great figures and pillars. Inside could be a space like this. Sitting here I feel how ancient the heritage is that we are part of. The heritage of the Buddha Dharma, of our ancestors who practiced the spiritual discipline to awaken to the sacredness of life. To serve the sacredness of life. To be awake. To see connection.

We come out of different places and walkways of our world in the closing years of the twentieth century. Out of the tumult and hectic pace of cities and towns. You don't even need to be in a city to feel driven in this culture of ours. We come from lives of responsibility. Now we take distance from our daily life. In order, perhaps, to see it more clearly, to embrace it more lovingly, to find inspiration for its deeper, larger meaning. And so that we can feel held by our world, our real world, our living planet.

In this time, when the life of our planet and all beings are endangered, I feel honored to be here with you, with Christopher and Michele and the kangaroo rats. And also with the feelings of the ancestors, those who walked this part of Turtle Island, those who tended the living earth of our planet. In this shadowy room, I can imagine other beings among us. They would include beings of the future. One of my teachers, Rosealie Bertells, says all the beings that are ever going to be born on planet Earth are present on planet Earth now. They are present in our DNA. In the stuff of our living organism that we pass on. Just as we have been present, in that sense, from the beginning.

So I imagine and I call on the presence of the future ones to be with us. I do that a lot in my life - for courage, for endurance, for joy. This is so critical a moment, this time of turning, at the end of the twentieth century, at the end of this

I am going to tell a story. A story that accompanies me into most workshops because it has been for me so deep an inspiration for the kind of work that we do - to prepare to be part of the self-healing of our world. It comes from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It's twelve centuries old. It is not a story as much as a prophecy.

In 1980, I was in northwest India. I heard people referring to the Kingdom of Shambhala. They said it's prophesied in the Kalachakra-Tantra. It caught my interest because it was talking about a time of great hardships and difficulties. I had been working on issues around nuclear power and nuclear energy, and feeling very much the critical nature of the dangers we faced militarily, ecologically, politically. So I was very curious about this prophecy.

They said that it prophecies a hard time, and although it was made twelve centuries ago, it has to do with this twenty to forty year period, now, in this generation, in which we are living. I got three different versions. In the first, the coming of the Kingdom of Shambhala was internal and had to do with our own awakening, our own inner spiritual journey. That didn't interest me all that much.

The second version was almost the opposite; it was governed by what was happening externally. It didn't matter what our role was. A Lama wanted to know why I wasn't ready to go into a three-year retreat in a cave. I said I couldn't because I had to stop nuclear war. I knew I couldn't do it alone, but I felt I needed to participate in the effort. And he said, "Joanna, don't you know that the Kingdom of Shambhala is coming?" As if it could come independently of anything we do, and we could therefore just lie back.

Then I talked with my dear Dharma-brother, friend, and teacher, Chujow- Rinpoche. He recounted to me the third version that has had such an impact on my life. These are pretty much his words:

"There comes a time when all life on Earth is in danger. At this time great powers have arisen, barbarian powers. Although these powers have wasted their wealth in

"You can't recognize a Shambhala Warrior by looking at him or her," he said, "because they don't wear uniforms - no insignias. They wave no banners, they don't even have barricades on which to climb to threaten the enemy or hide behind to rest or to regroup. They don't have any home turf. Ever and always they move on the terrain of the barbarian powers."

"Great courage is required of the Shambhala Warrior. Moral courage and physical courage. Because the Warriors are going right into the heart of the barbarian powers to dismantle the weapons. They're going into the citadels and the pits and pockets where the weapons are stored. Weapons, in every sense of the word. They're going into the corridors of power where decisions are made, in order to dismantle the weapons that threaten all life on Earth."

"The Shambhala Warriors are able to do this because they know these weapons are mind-made. The dangers that confront us in this time are not visited upon us by some extraterrestrial force, or some satanic deity, or even by a preordained fate. They arise out of our choices, our relationships, our life styles. Made by the human mind they can be unmade by the human mind. In this time the Shambhala Warriors go into training."

Well, as you can imagine, I asked Chujow how they train. And he said, "they train in the use of two weapons." That is the term he used, 'weapons.'

"What are they?" I asked. He said, "One is compassion, and the other is insight into the interdependence of all phenomena."

"You need both," he said. "Compassion, because it provides the fuel that is the motive power. That is what moves you to engage, to take part in the healing of the world. That openness to the pain of our world is essential. Not to be afraid of it. But by itself it is not enough. By itself it can just burn you up, burn you out. You need the other, you need that insight into the interdependence of all beings and all

This prophecy is an insight into our true nature, into our interconnectedness, into our deep ecology. It is good to share it while sitting below the figures of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. They represent the two powers, the two resources, the two weapons of the Shambhala Warrior.

Brothers and Sisters, lovers of our world, you have come from so many different journeys and such different lives… Our coming together is in service to the sacred life of this planet. We have come for our own spiritual growth but also in service to the larger whole, to our people. In our practice we can discover how to fit together our personal pain and the planet's pain, our personal healing and the planet's healing - a deeper integration which brings a release of intentions, energy and insight. Be willing to hear the Earth speaking through you and to each other. Be willing to be surprised, especially to be surprised by what you hear from within yourself. ~ ~ ~ “We awaken in Christ’s body as Christ awakens our bodies, and my poor hand is Christ, He enters my foot, and is infinitely me. I move my hand, and wonderfully My hand becomes Christ, becomes all of Him (for God is indivisibly whole, seamless in His Godhood. I move my foot, and at once He appears like a flash of lightning. Do my words seem blasphemous?— Then open your heart to Him And let yourself receive the one who is opening to you so deeply. For if we genuinely love Him, We wake up in Christ’s body Where all our body, all over, Every most hidden part of it, Is realized in joy as Him, And He makes us, utterly real, And everything that is hurt, everything that seemed to us dark, harsh, shameful, maimed, ugly, irreparably damaged, is in Him transformed And recognized as whole, as lovely, And radiant in His light We awaken as the Beloved In every last part of our body.” Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022) May All Beings Swiftly Awaken to Their True Nature & Highest Potentials and Help All Beings to do the Same! Notes Collected and Prepared by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey, WisdomAtWork.com 31 Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma The Holy Wa r Within by M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen http://www.bmf.org/iswp/holywar-within.html My brothers, the holy wars that the children of Adam are waging today are not true holy wars. Taking other lives is not true jihad We will have to answer for that kind of war when we are questioned in the grave. That jihad is fought for the sake of men, for the sake of earth and wealth, for the sake of one's children, one's wife, and one's possessions. Selfish intentions are intermingled within it. True jihad is to praise God and cut away the inner satanic enemies. When wisdom and clarity come to us, we will understand that the enemies of truth are within our own hearts. There are four hundred trillion, ten thousand spiritual opponents within the body: satan and his qualities of backbiting, deceit, jealousy, envy, treachery, the separations of I and you, mine and yours, intoxicants, theft, lust, murder, falsehood, arrogance, karma, illusion, mantras and magics, and the desire for earth, sensual pleasures, and gold. These are the enemies which separate us from Allah, from truth, from worship, from good actions and good thoughts, and from faith, certitude, and determination. These are the enemies which create divisions among the children of Adam and prevent us from attaining a state of peace. Among the seventy-three groups of man, there are only a few who understand and fight the war against the enemy within themselves, the enemy who stands between them and Allah, the enemy who does not accept Allah and will not bow down and prostrate before Him. To cut our connection to this enemy who is leading us to hell is the true holy war. Brothers, once we realize who is the foremost enemy of this treasure of truth which we have accepted, then we can begin our battle against that enemy. That is the holy war of faith, of the kalimah, and of Islam. That is the one holy war which Allah accepts. We must not kill each other. Instead, we must wage war against the evil qualities within ourselves. When a child has bad qualities, what does the mother do? She tries to teach him and help him to develop good qualities. Does she call him an evil child? No. If he steals the belongings of another because he wants to play with them, that is a bad quality no doubt, but the child is not evil. Does the mother strike down the child just because he has some bad qualities? No, the mother explains things to him and tries to expel the bad qualities and teach him good qualities. That is her duty, is it not? Likewise, Allah, who created us, does not strike down His creations for the evil they have committed. It would not make sense if He did that. They are all His children, the children of the Lord of all creation. As their Father and Mother, He helps them to dispel their evil ways and tries to bring them to the straight path. He seeks to make His children happy and good. That is the way God is. And just as God does not kill His children because they have evil qualities, we must not murder others or cut them down. Instead, we must try to improve them by showing wisdom, love, compassion, and God's qualities, just as a mother teaches her mischievous child to change. That is our duty. No good can come from cutting a person down. If a mother constantly shows unity and love to her child, that will get rid of the child's bad tendencies. In the same way, we must help others to remove the evil qualities, teach them good qualities, and lead them to the state where they can become the princes of God. My brothers, if we act with love and unity, we can dispel all our evil qualities and live as one family, as one race, as children bowing to one Lord.11 Once we understand this truth, we will

May All Beings Swiftly Awaken to Their True Nature & Highest Potentials and Help All Beings to do the Same! Notes Collected and Prepared by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey, WisdomAtWork.com 32 Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma become good children. But as long as we do not understand and do not cast off the evil, then we are bad children. Of course, when you cut these qualities, it might hurt. It might cause difficulty and suffering. When a child is cut, the pain makes him cry. He may scream and fight or maybe even bite you. He may shout, "I will kill you!" But you must embrace him with love and patiently explain things to him, always remembering that the qualities within the child are the enemy, not the child himself. My brothers, man has two forms, each with its own set of qualities. The war is between these two forms. One is composed of the five elements and is ruled by the mind; it lives in the kingdom of illusion, creation, and hell . The other is a pure form made of Allah's light, of His resplendence and purity. That form lives in the kingdom of heaven, in the world of pure souls. When man dwells within this good form, he speaks and acts in good ways. When he moves into the form of the elements, he speaks and acts in evil ways. One body exists within him in a formless state; the other exists outside as his form and shadow. These two bodies have opposite qualities and duties. The heart also has two sections: one is the innermost heart 12 and the other is the mind. The mind is connected to the fifteen worlds, which are ruled by the energies of earth, fire, water, air, and ether. Just as these five elements are mixed together in the earth and in the sky, they are also mingled within the body. The fifteen worlds are connected to all of creation, to all forms. Seven of the worlds are above, seven are below, and the fifteenth world, which is-the center, is the mind. It is there, in the world ruled by the mind, that the holy war must be waged. The mind and the energies of the elements roam up and down throughout the fifteen worlds, manifesting as the four hundred trillion, ten thousand miracles that create differences and divisions among men. We have to fight against all these energies in all fifteen worlds. This is the major battle. Once we complete this war, then we are ready to begin our work within the innermost heart. The innermost heart is the kingdom of Allah. That is where His essence 13 can be found. The secret 14 of the eighteen thousand universes and the secret of this world are contained within that heart. Allah's messengers, His representatives Es, the angels, prophets, saints, the resplendently pure souls, and His light within the soul are all to be found in a tiny point within the heart. Within that atom is contained His entire kingdom, the kingdom of truth and justice and purity, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of enlightened wisdom .15 The eighteen thousand universes are within 16 that kingdom of light and divine knowledge, and Allah is the ruler of all those universes. His infinite power, His three thousand gracious qualities, His ninety-nine attributes, 17 His compassion, peace, unity, and equality are all found within those universes. That is the innermost heart, His kingdom of true faith and justice, where one can find peace. Until we reach that kingdom, we have to wage a holy war within ourselves. To show us how to cut away this enemy within and to teach us how to establish the connection with Him, Allah sent down 124,000 prophets, twenty-five of whom are described thoroughly in the Qur'an. These prophets came to teach us how to wage holy war against the inner enemy. This battle within should be fought with faith, certitude, and determination, with the kalimah, and with the Qur'an. No blood is shed in this war. Holding the sword of wisdom, faith, certitude, and justice, we must cut away the evil forces that keep charging at us in different forms. This is the inner jihad. My brothers in Iman-Islam, we must cut away the qualities which oppose Allah. There are no other enemies. Allah has no enemies. If anyone were to oppose Allah, the All-Powerful, Unique One, that person could never be victorious. You cannot raise or lower Allah. He does not accept praise or blame. Praising Allah and then destroying others is not jihad. Some groups wage war against the children of Adam and call it holy war. But for man to raise his sword against man, for man to kill man, is not holy war. There is no point in that. There can be no benefit from killing a man in the name of God. Allah has no thought of killing or going to war. Why would Allah have sent His

You Were Made For This by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people.

You are right in your assessments. The lustre and hubris some have aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous against children, elders, everyday people, the poor, the unguarded, the helpless, is breathtaking. Yet, I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is that we were made for these times. Yes. For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plain of engagement.

I grew up on the Great Lakes and recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see one. Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able vessels in the waters than there are right now across the world. And they are fully provisioned and able to signal one another as never before in the history of humankind. Look out over the prow; there are millions of boats of righteous souls on the waters with you. Even though your veneers may shiver from every wave in this stormy roil, I assure you that the long timbers composing your prow and rudder come from a greater forest. That long-grained lumber is known to withstand storms, to hold together, to hold its own, and to advance, regardless.

In any dark time, there is a tendency to veer toward fainting over how much is wrong or unmended in the world. Do not focus on that. There is a tendency, too, to fall into being weakened by dwelling on what is outside your reach, by what cannot yet be. Do not focus there. That is spending the wind without raising the sails. We are needed, that is all we can know. And though we meet resistance, we more so will meet great souls who will hail us, love us and guide us, and we will know them when they appear. Didn't you say you were a believer? Didn't you say you pledged to listen to a voice greater? Didn't you ask for grace? Don't you remember that to be in grace means to submit to the voice greater?

Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one May All Beings Swiftly Awaken to Their True Nature & Highest Potentials and Help All Beings to do the Same! Notes Collected and Prepared by Dr. Joel & Michelle Levey, WisdomAtWork.com 35 Fierce Compassion & The Bodhisattva Warrior Spirit: Exploring the Principles & Practices of the Jedi Warrior in the Light of Contemplative Science & The Dhamma soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take everyone on Earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.

One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these—to be fierce and to show mercy toward others; both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.

There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it. I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate. The reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here. The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours. They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here. In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D Author of the best seller Women Who Run with the Wolves http://www.wanttoknow.info/youweremadeforthis

Burma’s Nightmare: Where Shall One Go With A Heart Full of Non-Violence? October 14th, 2007 by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés http://themoderatevoice.com/society/family/15593/burmas-nightmare- where-shall-one-go-with-a-heart-full-of-non-violence/

A Conversation with Dr. Jack Kornfield, American Buddhist Teacher trained in Thailand, Burma and India…on Burma, Buddhism, H.H. the Dalai Lama, and non-violence.

“As an old believer, I know a literal warrior pledges to strive to act with courage in the face of scorn, ridicule and aggression… but not to act in violence. Yet, I know there are warrior traditions in my faiths, amongst them, the Knights, and that there is a warrior-monk tradition in Buddhism from times of old too, as amongst some of the Samurai. Neither of these ancient traditions are portrayed well in modern works, seeming instead to have been severed from their mystical underpinnings…

“… But, thinking of the Burmese again, can holy monks and nuns arm themselves in aggression? Can this be integrated somehow in the non- violent heart of Buddhism?”