Thursday, 29 October 2020

Happy in the now

The web is filled with messages from the Gurus. "Become great", "manifest your future", "practice the law of attraction" are slogans, we find so often, and a famous person will share how they themselves achieved superb material wealth and spiritual heights and how their life runs smoothly, the universe providing for all their needs. While many of these messages may be well-meant, they come with a price tag. The free videos that want to help you become great end with a message, directing you to a course with a huge price tag, but now you can purchase at a great discount.

In the past few years I have read and looked at quite some of the successful people sharing their own formula on how they reached success. I am sure that many people following them, create huge dreams for themselves, but no matter how meticulous they follow formulas of success gurus, for a majority it may not work.

While it is a reasonable thing to aim high in our life and to aim in the long term for greatness, let us not get lost in the standards social media try to push down our throats. I think positive thinking and a positive attitude towards life can make a significant difference in quality of life. But we have to use the wisdom of the ages, not to be happy in a far away future when we think we will be rich and famous, but we need to apply some simple wisdom to our current life and try to happy in the here and now. 

The most valuable experience of the successful and the 'great' is before they were famous and to read about their road to success is very interesting. Not everyone doing exactly the same at different times will get successful. We read about the start-ups in a garage. They were indeed brilliant people doing the right thing at the right time in the right environment. The right time and right environment are essential ingredients of their success. As long as we see these stories as a source of inspiration to be creative ourselves in our own situation, they can be helpful. If these stories create a huge desire to become enormously rich in a short time, making us unhappy as long we did not achieve that, they work against us.

I have followed some people like Wayne Dyer. He was a very successful psychologist who published a fantastic first book, that sold millions of copies and helped people throughout the world. Then he was famous. I loved to read some of his subsequent books as well. They contained true gems of wisdom. After his first book however he had given up his professor post at a university and his private practice as a psychologist. He was famous and over the years he gathered the experiences of a famous author. While I admire the strong principles he adhered to, somehow it is easy to get a bit derailed if he no longer can tap the main source of wisdom, which was for him his professional experiences as a psychologist and university teacher. When one leads a life of fame, it is easy to assume that your own experience is what others experience too and his later books about real magic and his experiences with John of God were a bit off. In the later part of his life, he claimed that all of us are "God" and that we can manifest in our life whatever we want, and he turned a bit his back to classical medicine.

What is the message I want to share here for simple people like myself who did not (yet) achieve that status of the famous? Surely reading the books of the famous, looking at their videos, is a good idea. The main thing is to keep our own wisdom-filter active and select only what is really valuable to ourselves. We try things our own way, keep our guard a bit against the overly magic things and keep our desire to become great our dreams, our ideals alive.

While keeping all these lofty aspirations alive in a small corner of our being, we remain focused on our desire to be good. We do not have to be good all the time, and it is best to be aware that being good is not an "all or nothing". We can be a bit good and enjoy a bit the peace it brings, we can practice and enjoy the moderate levels and at other times we manage to be really very good and enjoy the big peace of mind. The more we become aware that goodness is associated with peace and happiness, the better we may become at it. And even if we do not become famous and super rich, we will contribute in our own ways to a better world.

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You may enjoy also:
beautiful skies: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/mysite-1/skies-seen-by-hans
beautiful flowers: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/flowersbyhans
other beautiful poems: https://aufiezophypoems.blogspot.com/
essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/


Sunday, 18 October 2020

EM-IM----->IN-IN

EMpathy is primary using your
IMagination to think and feel
INside your own mind and heart what someone else feels
INside their own mind and heart.

The above explains the title EM IM ----> IN IN

If we practice empathy regularly, we are accessing one of the biggest gifts of our Universe to humans. It is such a great tool to understand our world, our fellow human beings better, to become more patient and more kind, more loving, more forgiving. It is such a great tool to obtain more peace of mind not only for ourselves but also to help attain this to others. It is such a great tool to live a happier and more fulfilling life. 

Empathy requires imagination and the more we practice our own imagination, the stronger it becomes. I encourage everyone to practice every day imagining something very nice happening in this world, that would change it forever. It will boost your own sense of gratitude and peace and who knows, if enough people imagine daily something very nice to happen to the world, it may become a reality sooner rather than later :) 😃😊
 
I wrote a small poem on how my mom taught me empathy. You can enjoy it by clicking here
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Saturday, 17 October 2020

Kindness tree

I was reading some old blog posts and more than 5 years ago,
this poem*about a kindness tree was written:

Let us together imagine that such a tree is growing,
taking roots in your heart and in my heart,
and then forming one stem and a magnificent crown;
taking roots in another 10 people's heart,
and still forming one big virtual stem and a superbly big crown;
taking roots in a million people's heart,
and still forming one virtual huge stem with a huge crown.

Imagine,
all of us contributing nutrients to that wonderful virtual tree
that keeps us all connected 
and makes this world the most beautiful place in the universe.

Let us strengthen the roots of that tree in our own heart today
and nourish the kindness tree of the world everyday a bit more

Imagine,
the fruits of chronic happiness and peace of mind...


*click on the word poem to see the poem in its original version.

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You may enjoy also:
beautiful skies: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/mysite-1/skies-seen-by-hans
beautiful flowers: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/flowersbyhans
other beautiful poems: https://aufiezophypoems.blogspot.com/
essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/


Saturday, 3 October 2020

A voice call

 I have an auntie who is 86 years old. 
She used to be very active, go for walks,
ride her bicycle and enjoy her car.

After a few incidents of minor strokes,
she had to give up her car and her bicycle.
She can only go to walk if a person accompanies her

Yesterday, in the evening, I thought about my day
and I had not done extra things to make others smile.

I gave a voice call to her phone (she is not used to video calls)
And I could hear her voice, in the beginning quite down,
but after a while I could HEAR her smile. 

A simple kindness idea: give a call to someone who will smile hearing you.
😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

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You may enjoy also:
beautiful skies: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/mysite-1/skies-seen-by-hans
beautiful flowers: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/flowersbyhans
beautiful poems: https://aufiezophypoems.blogspot.com/
essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/

Thursday, 1 October 2020

When we pray for love

When we pray for love,...


Let us become aware that God's love is always with us
in a steady, constant very high level.
Let us tune in.

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You may enjoy also:
beautiful skies: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/mysite-1/skies-seen-by-hans
beautiful flowers: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/flowersbyhans
beautiful poems: https://aufiezophypoems.blogspot.com/
essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/

Thursday, 24 September 2020

Good morning

Good morning

I wish this to you with my whole heart. 

If upon waking up, we are in a quiet place, where there is silence or we can hear the song of the birds or the whispers of a breeze through a tree, let us become fully aware what a great bliss this is; enjoy it in the core of our heart and become truly grateful for it. If we manage to focus on the silence outside of us, we will experience a wonderful silence within at the same time, what a wonderful gift to receive in the morning. 

Good morning to you!

If then we open our eyes and can take a look at the sky, a piece of amazing blueness or a strangely shaped cloud, a sunrise or even a big grey expanse, if we have the chance to take a look at a tree, a flower, let us become fully aware of what a great bliss this is, enjoy it in the core of our heart and become truly grateful for these moments of beauty. What a wonderful gift to receive in the morning.

Good morning to you!!

If then we think about the people in our life. If we have a spouse or a child, a parent or a caretaker, a neighbor or a friend, let us appreciate for a moment the love we intend to give to them today, the chance we will have to pray for them and send them some sweet thoughts and become grateful in our heart. Let us become fully aware of the love in our heart that we will let flow and what a great bliss this is. 

A wonderfully good morning to you!!!

When you finish this small reflection, time for a cup of steaming hot coffee or tea with a lovely breakfast. 


Have a good morning, have an amazing day!!!!


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You may enjoy also:
beautiful skies: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/mysite-1/skies-seen-by-hans
beautiful flowers: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/flowersbyhans
beautiful poems: https://aufiezophypoems.blogspot.com/
essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Just 6 moments

1. Looking up at the sky,...                      a bit of happiness, a smile
2. Seeing a wonderful tree,...                   a bit of happiness, an idea
3. Hearing the song of a bird,...               a bit of happiness, a melody
4. Feeling the crisp morning breeze,...    a bit of happiness, a good feeling
5. Sipping a cup of hot coffee,...             a bit of happiness, a great taste
6. A moment of reflection,...                   a bit of happiness, a grateful heart
 
Just 6 moments and all these bits of happiness,...     
adding up to quite a lot!
:) 😃


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You may enjoy also:
beautiful skies: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/mysite-1/skies-seen-by-hans
beautiful flowers: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/flowersbyhans
beautiful poems: https://aufiezophypoems.blogspot.com/
essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/


Saturday, 5 September 2020

Learning or fuming

Whenever we go through a tough time, we tend to fume, to curse and we really do not like it. I do not like tough times. Let us avoid tough times if we can. But somehow they do come.

If a tough time comes you way or you are right now in the middle of one, please read on.

The founder of IKEA had dyslexia and had a terribly tough time in school. When interviewed he thought his business success was thanks to the tough times he had, where he picked up resilience and grit and wisdom. 

Most of the time, when we are more at ease, we can see the lesson we have learned in the toughest of times. I have experiences like that too. I think all of us have. Just if we are in the middle of it, we can choose to fume and curse or try to learn a valuable lesson from it. It is all how we perceive it.
If we curse and fume we may inadvertently prolong the trouble, if we can take a step back and look at it from a bit of a distance, and be aware that no dark lasts forever, we can make the ordeal lighter and perhaps enhance a quick dawn with fine lights of an amazing sunrise.


Friday, 4 September 2020

Grateful

The air that I breathe

feeds my nails to grow

feeds my heart to pump

My heart pumps it to my brain

where I use it to just enjoy,

enjoy the air that I breathe...

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After writing the short lines above, I felt grateful, not only for the fresh air but also for my nails, for my heart, for my brain and for the ability to just enjoy a deep fresh breath.

 

 

Thursday, 3 September 2020

Life

Life

Life can be tough
Life can be rough

But with a little being kind
a little positive thought
it can become oh, so sweet

Friday, 28 August 2020

The most beautiful place in the world

 When I was a student, I had a spot, I called the most beautiful place in the world.
I went jogging there and invariably stopped at that particular spot to take a breath
and to reflect for a while.

Almost invariably, while I was just sitting there, admiring the big statuesque red beech trees (the name of the street was "Rode Beuken Dreef", or red beech lane), my mind wandered and beautiful thoughts, sometimes insights, sometimes just lovely feelings appeared. These moments I  spent in the Rode Beuken Dreef, the most beautiful spot on earth, were always refreshing beyond expectation and when I got back, I felt completely renewed.

Now I live in Malaysia. There are no beech trees in the place where I live. But I have another most beautiful place in the world, near the beach of the South China Sea. I love the place and I have very similar experiences as I got at the time I was a student in the Rode Beuken Dreef. Whenever I feel stressed or need a boost, I go to that one spot, just sit there and let the magic of nature enter my being.

I think there are many wonderful spots in the world, and I sincerely think that all of us should find a spot that we just label as the most beautiful spot in the world. The place should be not too far from where you live, but it should have the potential to refresh your being and render us quiet in the beauty of nature.
 
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You may enjoy also:
beautiful skies: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/mysite-1/skies-seen-by-hans
beautiful flowers: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/flowersbyhans
beautiful poems: https://aufiezophypoems.blogspot.com/
essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, 25 August 2020

Words

Words are so powerful
They can affect others in ways we can often not imagine
Once spoken they are out there in the wind

I wrote a small poem about it:


A word of anger,
Burning like fire
Making a hole in my fragile heart
Bleeding.

A word of love
Sweet and fragrant
Healing whatever ache there was
Smiling.

😃Let us make at least 5 people smile today😃

Thursday, 13 August 2020

It is not difficult

I think more than 90% of the people have experienced the extreme joy that lies in performing simple random kind acts and I think that almost all of these 90% of the people in the world have thoroughly enjoyed that joy.
The most logical thing to do, would be to get more and more of that joy, through more and more kindness and love
But we are so inundated, flooded, overwhelmed by the media with strong messages that happiness lies in being rich and famous and in purchasing all things shown in the endless ads. We are shown the comfort of private jets, of super expensive cars  of a life in luxury. And surely these things bring comfort.
But the biggest joy, the truest happiness still lies in kindness, service, helpfulness.
 
I think 90% of the people who know the joy of service and kindness, still are deceived by the media. While the comfort we find in material wealth is pleasant and worthy of obtaining, it tends to become problematic if that is our priority. Because upon achieving one level of wealth we do enjoy the comfort but do not experience true joy, true happiness and then are led to believe that our wealth is not enough.
Let us all shift our perception a bit, our paradigm. Let the media go on with their deception, but we do not want to allow ourselves to be the victims of such deception. Let us all get clear what comfort means and how it is different from true joy and true happiness. Let us experience every day at least a few moments of the true joy and happiness that lie in kindness and service. Let us put our priorities right.
Some simple ideas that could add a bit of meaning to our day:
Give a call to you mom
Help you neighbor with something or just smile at him
Give way to that driver who is in a big hurry
Read an inspirational quote
Take a picture of the sky
Find a nice tree
....
Please add some more in the comments.
I look forward to many simple ideas adding meaning to our day
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If you like to read short stories with some sparks of inspiration,
you will not want to miss "A Fish with a Wish"
A link to this fantastic short story:
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You may enjoy also:
Beautiful inspirational quotes: https://quotesfromhans.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, 12 August 2020

Peace

 


A huge field of lavender. We replace one flower by a bubble filled with peace. And then one more flower replaced with peace. And then another and we go on replacing flower per flower with peace. We end up in a field of peace. 

We wake up from that beautiful dream and find ourselves in an amazing field of peace. We don't have to search for peace, we do not have to pray for it, we are right in the middle of it. We become grateful and the colors of that field of peace change to soft pastel of extreme beauty.

A train of thoughts flashes by. The negativity within the thoughts is like tornado, breaking all the colourful bubbles of peace. We end up in a barren field of broken lavender flowers of poked peace bubbles and go on and live a hectic day. 

But each of us can stop the crazy tornadoes of negativity. We do not have to listen to all negativity in the news. We do not have to allow us to be swept away by negative emotions. We are in control. We can block the tornadoes, we can choose simple positive thoughts, live a life filled with love and enjoy the huge field of peace throughout the day.


Saturday, 8 August 2020

In our heart

Taking 10 minutes to have a short reflection while in a very quiet place


Let us do this together:

Imagine in our heart there is a river:

instead of with water, it is filled with love

the love flowing out of our hearts.

As water from a river, it never stops flowing.

It just keeps flowing with a strong, strong current

engulfing every person we meet. 

Kindness, love, allowing it just to flow out.

Enjoying the peace of mind it brings...

 


Monday, 3 August 2020

Good and allmighty?

I keep reading that there are so many bad things happening in the world that a good and almighty God cannot exist. If there would be a good AND almighty God, all these bad things would not happen.

Do you agree with that? I don't. It is not my purpose here to convince anyone of my opinion, but this post is more of an invitation to think a bit deeper about it.

What is "good"?
A healthy life, a long life, a harmonious marriage, safety, and so on and on.

We all have our own definitions of what is good and what is bad and there are many common things that almost all people consider as good and others that almost all people consider as bad.

Death is one of the famous bad ones.
Can you imagine what it would be to live forever?
Would the world run out of place?
Would there be still children?
If we go beyond the superficial, is it really a bad thing that we do NOT live forever?

Let us take a look at the famous good ones:
Endless health and vigour for everyone. Endless wealth and vacations
Are the kings and sultans in this world really the happiest people?
Do we really want to live in a perfect world?
I want yo to read one of my first reflections, I posted in this blog, about perfection.
You can reach it by going through the archives (April 2014) or by clicking
on: https://reflectionsbyhans.blogspot.com/2014/04/reflection-3.html

I do think there is an intelligent creative force in the universe,
Try tomorrow when you wake up, to take a few moments to experience the peace, given to you by that creative force, the universe, maybe while taking a look at the colours of the sunrise.
Try tomorrow before going to work, to go outside and thoroughly observe the beauty of one tree, a big tree, and then the miraculous potential lying in a small tree.
Try tomorrow to feel the love that sits forever in your heart and give it away to the first few strangers you meet. The more you give, the more your heart gets refilled with love.
Try tomorrow to make it silent within for a while and let the creativity flow: write a few melodious words, draw a small figure, or sing a song.

If we do think a bit deeper, if we do try to get in tune with that Intelligent Creative Power, if we do accept that it is impossible to understand everything that happens (a simple explanation for this can be found in some melodious verses by clicking here); embracing the idea of an all-powerful and good God, becomes one of the very logical things to do.

Sunday, 2 August 2020

A straight road.

True happiness is hidden in a thick curtain of smoke.
The media and all the adds we see want to make us believe
that happiness lies in things; in getting drunk; in smoking;
that happiness lies in controlling others; in getting power,
and as such, they create a lot of smoke on the highway to happiness,
causing many of us getting stuck on the sideways, on the premature exits.

The highway to happiness is kindness.
Simple kind acts, simple loving deeds alight the happiness from within.
Living a life of love and beauty of kindness and creativity lights up flames inside.
It lightens our mood; gives us peace of mind, peace of heart, peace of soul

The highway to happiness: Let us stay on the highway,
no matter how much smoke unscrupulous industries blow over the road
with deceiving advertisements

The highway to happiness:
A straight road filled with kindness
 
 

Saturday, 1 August 2020

Overtaking a rival

I want to be the best father in the world
I want to be the best husband in the world
I want to be the best doctor in the world
I want to be the happiest human in the world.

These are or were some of my real desires.
Have you ever had any similar feelings?

In one way, they are good motivators for us to move to higher levels,
to keep growing in personality, in character, in heart and mind.
Just making time for reflection and asking ourselves:
would the best father in the world do similar things as I do now?
would the best husband behave in a way I behave now?
would the best professional perform in a way I perform now?
can be really stimulating, motivational and inspirational.

In another way, if we take these desires to the letter and set it as our goal
to become number one in the world, in the nation or even in our smaller region,
we tend to end up in a race. If you are a sportsman or a car racer, that is all right.
It may be less right if we want to be elected best father, for example. We may start to focus on all criteria put forward by the institution or body that is busy with the awarding of such an honour but we put ourselves at risk of ignoring our baseline duties that the individuality of our own children demand.

The more complex our activity tends to be, the riskier it gets for a person, team or institution to get solely or predominantly focused on a race to become number one in the field. The more complex the activity, the more difficult it is for bodies, ranking individuals or institutions, to be assessing really the quality and to be fair to all players.

Secondary schools tend to be ranked on how many full-A-students they produce. Universities are ranked on a variety of international ranking scales that serve mainly the designers of the ranking system. Ranking hospitals on hard outcomes, like mortality may contribute to severe restriction and limitations of the care that the sickest, at highest risk of mortality can receive.

While overtaking a rival may give us a good feeling, it is not always the best aim to put forward. With one eye on the competition or on the race, we are left only with one eye on the daily tasks at hand. It may be much more suitable for individuals, teams or institutions to focus on their special strengths and get to a certain level of motivation and inspiration based on job satisfaction and personal growth, rather than based on the prospect of overtaking a rival in rankings that may not match the values, principles and strengths of the person, team or the institution.

Monday, 20 July 2020

Soft words

Soft words,
imagined in our mind,
then carefully spoken,
caressing ears,
entering hearts,

easing worries,
lessening pain.

Soft words:
so much strength.

 So soft
So strong.

Sunday, 28 June 2020

The Drop and the Ocean

"Give up the drop 
become the ocean"
Rumi

The quotes of Rumi seem difficult to grasp sometimes upon first reading,
but if we search for what he might have meant, it may become interesting.

The drop may be the pleasure and happiness we tend to pursue on a daily basis:
The extra money, the new phone, the new car, the promotion, the high salaried job,...
These are all sources of pleasure and happiness, but we tend to chase them.
As we chase, they tend to run faster and when finally caught,
we take a close look at them, bask in what we achieved, but when later
we take a closer look at them, our desire has moved to a higher aim.

What would be then the ocean?
If we open our mind and heart for the peace, offered to us by the universe every day, the beauty, and if we tune into the love that sits in our heart and let it flow, these things tend to be endless as the ocean. We can allow ourselves to be immersed in them and they can slowly become part of our personality, our character, we become part of the ocean.

No matter how big our wealth and position may appear to us and our friends, they are mere drops, when compared to the peace of mind, happiness and bliss, lying in the peace, beauty, love and creativity. Let us become aware of the peace and consciously enjoy it, of the beauty and consciously enjoy it. Let us become aware of the love in our heart and let it flow to consciously enjoy it.

Give up the drop
Become the ocean.

Makes so much sense :)


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You may enjoy also:
beautiful skies: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/mysite-1/skies-seen-by-hans
beautiful flowers: https://hansvro.wixsite.com/flowersbyhans
beautiful poems: https://aufiezophypoems.blogspot.com/
essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/

Friday, 26 June 2020

The Wisdom Tortoise

Here a small poem that complements my latest post.
It may sound like a poem for children. 😌

I suspect that the average adult, including definitely me,
likes poems for children the same or even more than other poems. 😀

I hope you like it.

The wisdom tortoise


While taking a walk, I heard a squeak
I looked and there right at my feet
Was a tortoise who seemed very slow
Why it squeaked, I didn't know

I looked it into the eyes for awhile
And tried to please it with a smile
The tortoise looked up and said with a wail
'Just now, my friend, you stepped on my tail'

"Oh, did I? " My voice was filled with regret
I should better look where my feet, I set
I expressed how I felt sorry,
And ask it to please forgive me

'Of course, I will forgive you
Even if not asked for, I always do
Forgiveness is an integral part of me, you see
I am the wisdom tortoise, that's what they call me'

"Wow", said I, "so you must love philosophy"
'Oh no', she cried, 'that is not for me'
"But love of wisdom is what means philosophy"
'If that's so, it has disintegrated terribly'

'The wisdom that I love and adhere to
May be far too simple for you
It is all about loving and being kind
Since that is what brings us peace of mind'

'I do not bother about the reasons for being
Neither about the ghosts some of us are seeing
It is all so simple for me
Unconditional kindness is the way to be'

"Oh wisdom tortoise, what a pleasure to meet you here
Wisdom and kindness is also to me extremely dear
I believe that the next step in the evolution
Is a wisdom and kindness revolution"

The tortoise nodded and agreed with this
Kindness simply means happiness and bliss.
I thanked the tortoise and there our ways did part
To meet her again is still a wish sitting in my heart. 
 
 
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Safe links to other blogs/sites that may be worth a bit of your time:
 
Some beautiful inspirational quotes:  https://quotesfromhans.blogspot.com/ 

Simply some essays about good things: https://abcofvirtues.blogspot.com/
Small prayers for a big world: https://smallprayersforabigworld.blogspot.com/
 
I personally think the first two and the last two suggestions are really best
 

Thursday, 11 June 2020

What's next?

The time is ripe
for a revolution

After an agricultural revolution
After an industrial revolution
After the IT revolution
the time is ripe for a new revolution

And no, it will not be based on genomics
Not on neurosciences and brain waves
Not on space travel

The next revolution will be a wisdom revolution
Wisdom exposes our follies of searching happiness in places where it is not
Wisdom exposes that kindness is the highway to true happiness and peace of mind
Wisdom will expose that harmony among all of us and generosity are the way to go.

This revolution has started quite some time ago,
but soon we are reaching the inflexion point
where doubling of the wisdom will mean an enormous increase
and the doubling will go fast, one after another, bigger and bigger.

This is no longer a dream, no longer an illusion.
It is a reality.


Monday, 8 June 2020

Power in seeds

the seed that breaks through the cement
the grass growing on the parking lot
the power in a single seed.

Let the words above enter your mind
read them again
Let the words enter your heart
read them again
Let them enter your soul
read them again

While the seed of a plant is extremely powerful
think about the power in a seed of love
a seed of kindness, a seed of caringness, 'sharingness'.

Let us plant a seed of love in our mind, heart and soul
Let it grow roots today and spout
Then water it and let it grow
No cement, no concrete will be able to contain it
It will break through all barriers, it will grow no matter what

Into a wonderful tree carrying blossoms, and flowers
and fruits and millions of new seeds
to be planted in us, in everyone we meet
Let us plant these seeds today
Everywhere.

The world in which George Floyd was murdered
will transform
Keep planting seeds and the world
will change

Are you sceptic about a new world filled with love?
Once the time of an idea has come,
nothing can stop it
Emancipation of women
Smoking bans
Life moves on fast
The world is getting better.
Nothing can stop love and kindness anymore.
Be part of it, believe in it, plant the seed of love
Plant it everywhere and let it spout, water it.
A jungle of love will grow over the desert of greed.
Soon. Very soon.

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Stop working

Stop working, start serving.

If what we do for a living, feels like work, we undergo a kind of slavery;
no matter how high our position or rank or how big our powers.
If what we do for a living, feels like service, we have perfect freedom.
We will not count how much we earn, we will just perform for the good;
the good of our clients, our patients, our peers, our friends, our family;
we will just give the best of ourselves, no matter how much is the remuneration.

We will be happy, we will feel satisfied
and no matter what, the universe will invest more in us...

(inspired by M. Beckwith)


Monday, 25 May 2020

Light is shining

When we think a positive thought
a little light is shining.
When we give a small compliment
a little light is shining.
When we share a bit of love
a little light is shining.

As we become more positive,
more friendly, more loving,
the light will get brighter,
and soon the night,
that long night of greed
the world is bathing in
will make place
for a wonderful dawn.

Saturday, 23 May 2020

Yes! Good morning.

A big blue whale came to meet me
while I was swimming in the sea.
Hi mister whale, how are you today?
What's up, what brought you this way?

Whale: " my friend, you may believe it or not,
but I have a short message from our all-loving God:
A tonne of love sits inside your heart, you know,
please, Hans, let it flow, let it flow."

If we let it flow from within, all that love
we will receive so many blessings from above
not only to us but truly to all people we know
imagine a world filled with love, yes just let it flow.

And then the whale returned to the deeper part of the sea
with a big splash that seemed to have awakened me.
What a wonderful dream, so close to the break of the day.
I love the message and plan certainly to follow that way. :)

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(This small poem was written for children, but for all to enjoy) 
You may enjoy this simple sonnet too (click on 'simple sonnet')

Saturday, 2 May 2020

Letting anger out?

There was this little girl sitting on a chair
She was sitting with Thich Nhat Hanh,
a Vietnamese monk, exiled during the Vietnam war to France.

She asked him: "how do I let my anger out?"

Thich Nhat thought for a while and then asked her:
"do you think the anger came from outside?"
Anger is something ugly, like the mud in a pond.

It is sitting inside the pond
Anger is not coming from outside, it sits inside of us.
But if the mud in a pond is used in the right way
it can be the source from which lotus flowers grow.
Mud is useful
So is anger! We do not have to throw it out. It is ours.
If we use it in the right way, something nice can grow off it.
We can use our anger to grow peace, forgiveness and joy
to make the world better but in a peaceful way.

The anger inside of us flares up, mostly because we lack understanding
If we look deep enough and try to understand the behaviour of the one that makes us angry,
we will understand, and understanding brings compassion, love and a will transform our anger into the lotus flower of peace and forgiveness.

People who say mean things tend to suffer.
Then we punch back and make them suffer more.
It is like taking the mud in our hands and throwing it all around.
The other person made a mess and we create a much bigger mess.
IF on the other hand we take our mud in our hands
and try to actively understand why this mud was stirred up so much,
why that other person felt the need to be mean.
Most of the time we will find that they are suffering.
With this understanding we can transform our anger in the lotus flower of compassion
love will grow and anger will settle at the bottom of the pond, just feeding the love since we have mixed it with understanding, a most important nutrient for love.

So next time we are angry, let us not start slinging the mud around.
Let us activate our ratio and try to understand instead.
Let us transform our anger and let it nourish
the beautiful lotus flowers of peace, love and forgiveness.




Tuesday, 28 April 2020

Dare to be aware

Dare to be aware
Aware of peace

Dare to be aware
Aware of love

Dare to be aware
Aware of beauty

Dare to be aware
Aware of creativity


In the morning  when we wake
We become aware of all duties lying ahead
We need breakfast; to go to the toilet;
We need to get ready to go to work;
Become aware of the quarrels we had;
Of all the problems we face;
Aware of our fears and worries.

And our awareness of the peace
That surrounds us is blurred

And the awareness of the love
in our heart is blurred

And the awareness of the beauty
of the skies and trees is blurred

And the awareness of creativity
roaming in our imagination is blurred.


Oh my, let me tomorrow morning
Dare to put aside
the small things that anger me
The small things that worry me
The small things that cause fear
The small duties that await me
And let me dare to be aware
Of the sea of peace
Of the ocean of love
Of the expansion of beauty
Of the endless creativity
That is here right now for me.
And will likely be here tomorrow morning too…