Dear friend .......

This is dedicated to a very true friend who left us on 21 June 2008.

You have left behind many sparks of light. You have touched the lives of many especially those who are less fortunate than us.  As I walked you on the last leg of your journey on that fateful morning I pray that you continue your work from the Spheres Of Light

I have known many different kinds of people in my life. I have met people who are caring and some who are calculating. I have known those who are sincere and honest and of course those who are the direct opposites. I have seen smiles filled with lies and tears wet with truths. I have shared times with those who needed a friend and I have been by myself when I needed one. I have been associated with people who are dreamers but not doers and with people who are doers not for themselves but for others. I have been learning how to understand all these personalities and to be a friend to all to the best I can.

My soul yearns for those who still believe in life’s truths; of honesty, of sincerity, of compassion etc.  I long for a place where people live their lives in love and harmony, free from sorrows and sickness, where people can talk to one another about the things that matter, like being friends and caring about the dreams that we all believe in. I long for a time ….

E MA HO

This is dedicated to Yap Tek Ming. A brief prayer for rebirth in Dewachen, The Blissful Pure Land Of Amitabha

E MA HO, NGO TSAR SANG GYE NANG WA THA YE DANG
How extraordinary! Wonderful Buddha of Limitless Light

YE SU JO WO THUG JE CHEN PO DANG

To his right, the Lord of Great Compassion

YON DU SEM PA THUG CHEN THOB NAM LA

And to his left, the Bodhisattva of Great Power

SANG GYE JANG SEM PAK ME KHOR GYI KOR

Surrounded by infinte Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

DE KYI NGO TSAR PAK TU ME PAY YI

This land of limitless peace and bliss

DEWA CHEN SHE CHA WEI SHING KHAM DER

Is called the Pure Land of Dewachen

DAG NI DI NEH TSEH PO GYUR MA TAK
May the deceased be born there as soon as the deceased pass from this life

KYE WA SHEN GYI BAR MA CHO PA RU

Without taking birth anywhere else in the meantime

DE RU KYE NE NANG THAY SHEL THONG SHOG

Having been born there, may the deceased directly see the face of Buddha Amitabha

DE KE DAK KI MON LAM TAP PA DI

By the Power of this prayer

CHOK CHU'I SANG GYE JANG SEM THAM CHE KYI

May All Enlightened Ones through out space

GEK MAY DRUB PAR CHIN KYI LAP TU SOL

Grant this attainment without hindrance

TAYATHA PANTSA DRIYA AWA BODHA NAYA SVA HA

(Amitabha, Sanskrit word, literally means boundless light and boundless life. He is the Buddha in the Land of Ultimate Bliss (Pure Land), in which all beings enjoy unbounded happiness. Amitabha has forty-eight great vows to establish and adorn his Pure Land. People who recite or call upon his name at the time of dying will be born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss with the reception by Amitabha.)

On An Inner Journey

Inner Journey is away on A Inner Journey

Friendship's Flower by Helen Steiner Rice

Life is like a garden
And friendship like a flower,
That blooms and grows in beauty
With the sunshine and the shower.
And lovely are the blossoms
That are tended with great care,
By those who work unselfishly
To make the place more fair.
And, like the garden blossoms,
Friendship's flower grows more sweet
When watched and tended carefully
By those we know and meet.
And, if the seed of friendship
Is planted deep and true
And watched with understanding,
Friendship's flower will bloom for you.

The Third Eye

How many eyes do we have? Two? We have 3 eyes; our 2 physical eyes plus a "third eye". This third eye is long thought to have mystical power. Many consider it the Spiritual Third Eye, our Inner Vision.

This third eye in reality is our pineal gland which is situated in the center of our brain, above the pituitary gland. It is directly behind the eye. This gland weighs a little more than 0.1 gram and is about the size of a pea. It is larger in children but it begins to shrink at puberty.

The third eye can see beyond the physical. Development of psychic talents, astral travel, intuition and other ocult activities have been closely associated with this organ of higher vision.

World Invocation Day 18 June 2008

The intention to produce greater human unity is growing daily within the hearts and minds of people everywhere. To build this more just, interdependent global society, we need above all, love and spiritual will.

On 18 June 2008, people of goodwill from all parts of the world, and from different religious and spiritual backgrounds unite in invoking these higher energies by using a world prayer, The Great Invocation.

Will you join in this healing work by including The Great Invocation in your thoughts, prayers and meditation on World Invocation Day?

The Great Invocation
From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let light stream forth into the minds of men
Let Light descend on Earth

From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men
May The Coming One return to Earth

From the center where the Will of God is known
Let purpose guide the little wills of men -
The purpose which the Masters know and serve

From the center which we call the race of men
Let the Plan of Love and Light work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth

How To Make Colognes/Light Fragrances

Just Peachy - the fragrant peach is a family of the rose family. Peach juice is good for your skin as it contains Vitamin A & C. The warm, spicy aroma of cinnamon is a mental stimulant and its earthy scent evens out the high fruity fragrance of the peach juice. The sweet almond oil adds a slightly nuttly aroma and gives the cologne staying power

Ingredients :
1. 1/2 peach
2. 1/3 cupvodka
3. 2 drops cinnamon oil
4. 1/4 teaspoon sweet almond oil

Method :
1. Combine peach slices and vodka in small jar with air tight lid
2. Allow to sit for twenty four hours in dark area
3. Strain mixture to remove peach slices
4. Mix in cinnamon oil and sweet almond oil
5. Transfer to small dark-coloured spray bottle
6. Shake well before using. Rub small amounts at "pulse" points : behind ears, on soft part of wrists and elbows and on neck

Tips :
1. Store excess in dark-coloured glass bottle or jar with a cork or air tight lid (both light exposure and plastic can affect the scent)
2. Can last for six months if it is stored properly

Inner Journey on hols

Inner Journey has gone for an outer journey. Will be back next week

The CARDBOARD Black Cat

We owned 3 lovely cats. Piper passed on in March this year leaving Prue and Phoebe. In addition to these 2 lovely babies (Prue is about 6 years old and Phoebe is 5) we also have visitors of the 4 legged kind. My neighbour's cats will hop over (literally hop over from the retaining wall) or just stroll pass or go under our gate for their meals, to do their pooh-pooh job or to just simply relax and 'sun tan' (the cats love it when the engine is warm) on the "beach" (we own a blue car). To give the cats the experience of 2 seasons (winter and summer) we acquired a snowy white car last month. You bet! They loved the 'snow' too. To deter them from jumping onto the car and in the process leaving all their scratch marks on a brand new white car, an idea was formulated. See pictures below

Initally it really worked. The real cats hissed at the Cardboard cat and even 'gostan' (reversed) with their backs hunched as though ready to pounce. It was really a funny sight. I could not reach for the camera in time so that moment is lost. It's more than a month passed and sigh sigh sigh - they are best of pals now. They realised Mr Cardboard is such a tame and friendly mate who does nothing even when his territory is invaded. They even sleep side by side. The only thing they dont do together is eat and pooh pooh.

Baby Ryan Loves Om Mani Padme Hung

Little Ryan (9 months old) gets tickled pink when he hears the chant "OM MANI PADME HUNG" and everyone naturally gets just as tickled when they hear him laugh so heartily. He started taking to this chant when he was as young as 4-5 months old but his laughter was not as hearty as now. He would grin from ear to ear then.

What is there in the chant that makes him tick? Is it the way it was chanted to him with a very strong "OM"? Is it the melodious tune? Or could it simply be the loving, compassionate vibrations of the chant? I don't know but who cares!!!! As long as he loves it!

Singing Bowls - Healing With Sounds & Vibrations

How many times have we stopped and listened to sounds and music that touched our hearts and stirred our imaginings? Have you noticed how certain sounds resonate in ways that heal and create feelings of well being and harmony? Sound healing is a form of vibrational healing which works on the energy system of the body in ways similar to homeopathy, crystal healing, reiki, pranic healing to name a few.

The Tibetan metal singing bowls date back to centuries ago. Manufactured and traded in the Himalayas by a travelling caste of smith, these bowls were used as cooking utensils, offering bowls and as well as beat instrument to create music. The alloy of the bowls is a controversial point. Some claims the bowls are made of 7 metals connected to the seven astrological planets : Gold (Sun), Iron (Mars), Copper (Venus), Mercury (Mercury), Lead (Saturn), Tin (Jupiter) and Silver (Moon). Some sources claim nine metals. A singing bowl man at Durbar Square, Kathmandu claims that a real singing bowl should consist of only five metals: Bronze (Earth), Red Copper (Moon & Stars), Iron (Fire), Silver (Air) and Yellow Copper (Sun). With modern science we see the emergence of the quartz crystal singing bowls. These are either clear or frosted bowls which produce different tones and emit amazing vibrations.

Every bowl has its own timbre and frequency and has its predominant sounds and vibrations. Hit the bowl gently with a wand or mallet. Right handed people hit it at 3 o'clock direction and left handed people hit at 9 o'clock direction. Avoid playing the inside of the bowl.

The high energy of the singing bowls can be used to charge and cleanse crystals and precious stones. Put them into the bowl, hit it once and rotate the mallet on the rim of the bowl anti-clockwise for cleansing effect. For charging effect rotate it clockwise. For beginners you may have a little problem making the Tibetan bowls sing initially but with practice you should be a good 'singer' in no time. To balance chakras, hit the bowl and place your hand with the bowl just inches away from the body. Go through all the 7 chakras and you will be ready for the day ahead. Many people are also using the sound and vibrations of the bowl for space clearing for their homes. For cleansing effect, rotate mallet anti-clockwise and for charging clockwise. Always cleanse before charging because surely you do not want to charge all the dis-ease and dis-harmony energies in your home.

Happy singing.

Note of caution: when you are shopping for your singing bowls in Thamel, Patan or anywhere in Kathmandu, do not be fooled by the old, antique looking singing bowls. Many an honest Nepalese trader will tell you they are made to look old.

How To Make Honey Banana Mask

Ingredients:
1. 1/2 banana
2. 2 tablespoons honey

Method:
1. Mash banana in mixing bowl
2. Add honey
3. Continue mashing until honey and banana are well blended
4. Apply over entire face
5. Allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes
6. Rinse face well with warm water and pat dry

Tips:
* Mashed banana does not keep well. Use entire mixture in one application.
* Bananas are universal skin soother.
* Rich in potassium and vitamin C, bananas are wonderful moisturisers and humectants (moisture trappers)
* Honey acts as a cleanser, conditioner and moisturiser. Together these ingredients leave your skin feeling rich, supple and smooth