Regarding Fear

"When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life. It means fear is no longer a dominant factor in what you do and no longer prevents you from taking action to initiate change. If uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness and creativity." p.274 "A New Earth"

Welcoming immigrants, enjoying life.

I found a lovely editorial in the Herald this morning on accepting immigrants into New Zealand:
Brian Rudman: Message to the race bigots - we're all New Zealanders
I think we all could take something positive from this article.

In other news:
It's still summer here. I've heard we're having the best weather in years! No complaints from me. The easy, peaceful life of New Zealand is starting to settle into my bones. I've heard the longer you are in Auckland, the more you like it. I suppose that's true of most places, but I am really enjoying life right now.

I'm still reading piles of books, working on my world understanding and figuring out the meaning of life. I'll let you all know when I discover it. I've been trying to remain calm even when things are not on the outside. It's not always easy.

Students are quite fun (and improving every day). I can't complain, except when I am trying to get them to finish an exam up before the clinic closes. With the front desk staff breathing down their necks, they seem to be on freeze-frame. I wonder if there is a slow-motion button that needs to be un-depressed.

"Joy does not come from what you do,

it flows into what you do,

and thus into this world from deep within you."

p.298 "A New Earth"

Two Quotes from "A New Earth"

I've been reading "A New Earth" by Ekhart Tolle, which is the second book of his I've read. A few years ago, my good friend Laura Prisbe recommended "The Power of Now," which seemed to be particularly applicable while we were travelling through India. It was a life-changing read and helped me to source an inner calm. I saw that he had a new book out and wasn't too keen to read it since I'd found so much value in "The Power of Now" that I figured either his new book would be a repeat of the same ideas or I'd be disappointed that it wasn't as good. I've found neither is true. I'd highly recommend this read if you're looking to question your perspective on life. Don't be scared off that it's too deep or new-agey- he addresses our perspective on life/emotions/spirituality in the context of all religions.

A couple of lines that really resonated with me:

"Only if you resist what happens are you at the mercy of what happens, and the world will determine your happiness and unhappiness." p.200

"The joy of being, which is the only true happiness, cannot come to you through any form, possession, achievement, person, or event - through anything that happens. That joy cannot come to you - ever. It emanates from the formless dimension within you, from consciousness itself and that is one with who you are." p.214

"Behind the sometimes seemingly random or even chaotic succession of events in our lives as well as in the world lies concealed the unfolding of a higher order and purpose." Explaining the Zen saying, "The snow falls, each flake in its appropriate place." p.194