Religious Wars! Is that really what's going on?

Religious Wars! Is that really what's going on?

It is extremely difficult to think that in the year 2015 we are still having to fight religious wars between the different faiths. 90% of the world's population believe in one form or another that there is a God or something greater than ourselves!  I do not believe that this is truly a war between the religions. I believe it is a war for power on many levels,  but a war nonetheless. One that we need to deal with quickly and effectively.

When I first heard of the psychopathic terrorist attacks in France on Friday, the warrior in me rose up immediately even at the age of 70. I'm happy to say that quickly my Spiritual Warrior overtook my human instinct for revenge.  As Mahatma Gandhi once said an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.   It seems to me we are on the brink of going blind.   Do I believe that all Muslims are terrorists? I do not!  I do not believe a majority of people of any religious faith are terrorists.  I do believe there are a few confused and dangerous people in all of the world's religions today, as it has always been.   What seems to be worse to me are the people that "hijack religious beliefs of any faith" for their own purposes to gain power.  This I consider "EVIL."

We have from the beginning of time dealt with threats and war, with more threats and more war in return.  That approach has always taken us deeper into the darkness of this world. Just look at our history to understand this.  All life is precious!   We all have the right to protect themselves in the times of trouble.  The question is what is the best way to protect ourselves?  It is my belief that we should all stand together as human beings and protect the rights of all of us to search and develop our understanding of the Creator God and how we wish to live our lives.  So it is the obligation and responsibility of all good people to protect these rights for all.  This means as all good people around our world, we must act together to stop those who would deny us the sacred right of understanding and living our own faith.  I am talking here to every believer and non believer.  Will we really let a few thousand psychopaths divide the majority of us from making the world a better place for all?

Divine Purpose

The purpose of life is to be free from suffering and to attain infinite bliss consciousness that is God. Mankind is engaged in an eternal quest for that “something else” he hopes will bring him happiness, complete and unending. Many people may doubt that finding God is the purpose of life; but everyone can accept the idea that the purpose of life is to find happiness. I say that God is Happiness. God is Bliss. God is Love. God is Joy that will never go away from your soul. No one else can give it to you. You must continuously cultivate it yourself.

If we are attuned to God, our perception is limitless, pervading everywhere in the oceanic flow of the Divine Presence. When the Spirit is known, and when we know ourselves as Spirit, there is no land or sea, no earth or sky--all is Spirit.  From the writings of Yogananda

THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE FIND AND MANIFEST IN OUR LIFE AND ACTIONS THIS DIVINE PURPOSE?

For me, being a human being, it has become quite simple. Divine Purpose is clarified and given with each breath I take. It is so simple, yet elusive, I breathe in Oneness, I breathe out Oneness! Knowing that all I am and all that I do comes from that Oneness, and for the good of all that Creator has created. Are my actions divine? Are yours? The answer is "Yes" always, our nature is to be Divine even when we may think we miss the mark. Take the Oneness of the Creator and the Creation with you as you Walk in Good in this the Circle of Life.

We all will find our path, each in our own way!

The understanding of this and the path it takes us down in this life is the perfection of Spirit in all of us. Those different paths of life and understanding is what completes the Circle for all of us. I trust your choices along the way.

We weave our personal vision together to form a common vision of good for ourselves and for our planet. Joining with all our relations, we can learn to walk peacefully upon Mother Earth, knowing that she provides for all living things. We are all part of the Earth and part of the Divine Purpose in this the CIRCLE OF LIFE.

Finding your Divine Purpose in the Circle of Life

The purpose of life is to be free from suffering and to attain infinite bliss consciousness that is God.

Mankind is engaged in an eternal quest for that “something else” he hopes will bring him happiness, complete and unending. Many people may doubt that finding God is the purpose of life; but everyone can accept the idea that the purpose of life is to find happiness. I say that God is Happiness. He is Bliss. He is Love. He is Joy that will never go away from your soul. So why shouldn’t you try to acquire that Happiness? No one else can give it to you. You must continuously cultivate it yourself.

If we are attuned to God, our perception is limitless, pervading everywhere in the oceanic flow of the Divine Presence. When the Spirit is known, and when we know ourselves as Spirit, there is no land or sea, no earth or sky — all is He. The melting of everything in Spirit is a state no one can describe. A great bliss is felt — eternal fullness of joy and knowledge and love.

The love of God, the love of the Spirit, is an all-consuming love. Once you have experienced it, it shall lead you on and on in the eternal realms. That love will never be taken away from your heart. It shall burn there, and in its fire you shall find the great magnetism of Spirit that draws others unto you, and attracts whatsoever you truly need or desire.

Man has come on earth solely to learn to know God; he is here for no other reason. This is the true message of the Lord. To all those who seek and love Him, He tells of that great Life where there is no pain, no old age, no war, no death — only eternal assurance. In that Life nothing is destroyed. There is only ineffable happiness that will never grow stale — a happiness always new. From the writings of Yogananda

For me, being a human being, it has become quite simple. Divine Purpose is clarified and given with each breath I take. It is so simple, yet elusive, I breathe in Oneness, I breathe out Oneness! Knowing that all I am and all that I do comes from that Oneness, and for the good of all that Creator has created. Are my actions divine, are yours? The answer is "Yes" always, our nature is to be Divine even when we may miss the mark. Take the Oneness of the Creator and the Creation with you as you walk in Good in this the Circle of Life. Gene Stone

The love of the Creator and the Creation is meant to unite us not divided us.

Some religions and people believe there is only one true religion, and that religion knows everything, is and has everything, and can do everything. I'm not one of the people that believes that. I believe that all the religions combined, all the people on earth combined, and all things in the universe combined, and more makeup the one true Creator or God. And even that statement is putting limitations on the Creator, which I believe in reality we cannot do. 


There is one thing that I am sure of and that is our concepts of religion and God should not separate human beings at all. It should in fact united us in the belief that God is alive and bigger than all of us, and we share that in common. Only by working together can our understanding of this Great Mystery become greater and more complete.


The love of the Creator and the Creation is meant to unite us not divided us. This I know!

What are you doing for your Mother on EARTH DAY 2015?

“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Socrates

“Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. Earth Day was founded by Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. While this first Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations.It is celebrated in more than 175 countries.” Wikipedia reference

Just as we humans need to protect, nurture, and feed ourselves, we can offer to the planet, our Mother Earth, respect, protection, and nurturance.  “Given the present rate of planetary pollution and destruction, we need to negotiate a detente with nature and ourselves.” Paul Hawken. There are many positive actions taking place all over the world. For instance, there are over six thousand different women’s groups in Africa planting trees and four thousand organizations in North America have adopted a river, creek, or stream. Organic agriculture is the fastest growing sector of farming in North America, Japan, Mexico and Europe.  There are three thousand organizations that educate farmers, customers and legislators about sustainable and biological agriculture. The world is now understanding the need to move away from the dirty carbon based energies of the past 150 years into the clean and renewable energy future.  Solar, wind and wave energy technologies are just a few of the bright stars this future will be based on.

Our indigenous first peoples of the Americas have given the long held wisdom that we should always be thinking of the next seven generations to come in our interactions with Mother Earth. It is said that we do not own the earth, we borrow it from our children.  Many of us are just now coming to understand that the earth is taking care of us and not the other way around. Our actions have far reaching effects and consequences on our planet, climate, oceans and air. Droughts, flooding, super storms, melting of the glaciers and the ice caps in the north and south poles are just some indications of severe climate change.

“Great Spirit, whose dry lands thirst, help us to find the way to refresh your lands.

We pray for the power to refresh your lands.

Great Spirit, whose waters are choked with debris and pollution, help us to find the way to cleanse your waters.

We pray for your knowledge to find a way to cleanse the waters.

Great Spirit, whose beautiful earth grows ugly with misuse, help us to find the way to restore beauty to your handiwork.

We pray for your strength to restore the beauty of your handiwork.

Great Spirit, whose great creatures are being destroyed, help us to find a way to replenish them.

We pray for your power to replenish the earth.

Great Spirit, whose gifts to us are being lost in selfishness and corruption, help us to find the way to restore our humanity.

We pray for the wisdom to find the way to restore our humanity.”  UN Environmental Sabbath Program

It was our honor yesterday to help the Cub Scouts of troop 714 of San Clemente Las Palmas school to plant eight California Laurel Bay trees for their Earth Day celebration in their new camping area at Oso Lake. This was the first experience planting trees for this troop. They worked hard digging the holes, preparing the soil and placing the trees in the ground.  As we worked together, we had the opportunity to share the value of planting trees and how this action helps the future of the planet.  The scouts were amazed to learn that trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. As the work continued, their understanding of the cycle of life deepened. As we finished placing the last tree in the ground, a red tail hawk flew directly over our heads making her voice known to all of us.  It was clear that this sign was a good one and the spirit of the hawk was saying thank you.

How can we help to make Earth Day everyday? Here are some ideas:

    Plant trees

    Conserve water

    Walk or ride your bike to school or work

    Use public transportation

    Recycle

    Compost

    Make your home energy efficient

To learn more visit the websites below:

http://www.wattlesswednesday.org/

http://www.earthday.org/2015?gclid=Cj0KEQjwpM2pBRChsZCzm_CU0t4BEiQAxDVFmlR83yiKujlmwwxzuClFLM_WXxTekrzZFZDkx5nj7ScaAnXj8P8HAQ

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/save-earth-top-ten.htm

http://www.plant-for-the-planet-billiontreecampaign.org/

Remember, on Earth Day and everyday, we are all part of the earth.

Love, 

Joyce and Gene

Tree of Life

Tree of Life   

“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness”.   John Muir

While hiking through the woods in Sequoia National Park one summer, we came upon a grove of redwood trees.  Entering the group of Standing Ones, we felt ourselves become quiet as the awe within us grew.  The trees formed an almost perfect circle.   Allowing the silence of the place to sink in, we breathed deeply of the forest scent and relaxed into the peace surrounding us.  In this sacred grove of trees, we felt the connection with the Infinite.

In our home, we have on our walls beautiful woven pieces depicting “The Tree of Life”

symbol.   Each was created by a weaver from a different culture: Indian, Guatemalan, Native American.  The Tree of Life is a common image in art from around the world.  This ancient symbol is understood by people everywhere.  The symbol speaks of roots buried in the earth with branches stretching upward to the sky.  The tree serves as a living connection between this and other worlds.  Many myths describe gods and their messengers traveling from one world to another by climbing up or down the tree.
     

Long ago, in many cultures, trees were intensely worshipped. The Native American peoples called them the “Standing Ones.”  They respectfully used trees for medicine, food, fiber, dye, musical instruments, lodges for habitation and ceremony, and many other things.  Something precious was lost once modern peoples no longer viewed trees as living beings.  It became easy to clear cut acres and acres of trees to use as lumber without a thought of how great a loss this created.  For the sake of our Mother Earth, it is time to recall Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s words, “Reverence for all life.”                                          

We cannot live without trees.  Trees are called “the lungs of the world.”  They clean the air we breathe, taking in the carbon dioxide we exhale and we breathe the oxygen they exhale. Trees are needed to produce rain and without the rain, topsoil is blown away, leading to the creation of deserts and hunger from famine.

“Oxford University scientists, after years of research, have determined the best technology to suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and try to reverse global warming is to plant trees.” (Bloomberg News)

Over the past seven years, we have planted over two hundred trees in Orange County, CA. Man has taken so many trees that it is now time for us to reforest the earth that provides us with the basis for all life.  Your help is desperately needed to replenish trees, locally and around the world. “God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand tempests and floods. But he cannot save them from fools.”  John Muir We must always remember that we are all part of the earth.

Here are some links for free trees and groups planting trees that need your help:

https://www.arborday.org/takeaction/volunteer/

http://www.nwf.org/trees-for-wildlife/about/tree-bank-information.aspx

http://www.plant-for-the-planet-billiontreecampaign.org/

http://www.savetheredwoods.org/

https://www.treepeople.org/ LA area

http://therainforestsite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/trs/home

http://www.treehuggersofamerica.org/

Love, Gene and Joyce

WATER IS LIFE

Water is Life

WORLD WATER DAY MARCH 22, 2015 ACTION DAY

“Water is life.” George Mackenzie Tlicho, NW Territories, Canada.

Water is Sacred to Indigenous peoples around the world because they know nothing on Earth lives without water, and that includes the living Planet Earth. International Decade for action “Water for Life”.  “On 28 July 2010 Resolution 64/292, the United Nations General Assembly explicitly recognized the human right to water and sanitation and acknowledged that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realisation of all human rights. In 2006, the Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted decision 2/104 “human rights and access to water”.  It’s that face of America that Catarina de Albuquerque witnessed at the end of her U.S. visit.. De Albuquerque, the UN independent expert on water and sanitation, visited the U.S. to examine human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation. What she found was not befitting of the world’s richest nation.” from UN documents.

‘The human right to water and sanitation entitles everyone to water and sanitation that is available, accessible, affordable, acceptable and safe without discrimination. But de Albuquerque found that people of color and Native Americans disproportionately suffer insufficient access to clean water and sanitation services. While less than one percent of non-native American households have no access to safe water and/or wastewater disposal, 13 percent of Native Americans lack access.” from UN documents.

Here are some important facts about water from Water. Org:

1. 1 in 9 people in the world lack access to safe water.
2. Women and children spend 140 million hours a day collecting water.
3. 840,000 people die each year from a water related disease.

From our personal experience:

We saw the reality of these statistics when we traveled with a group of volunteers to a small village in the mountains of Guatemala to build a medical clinic and provide basic healthcare to the people living there.

Many of the children were malnourished from the scarcity of food, but the main contributor to low weight and poor health was the lack of access to clean water.   Drinking from the streams and ponds caused the children to ingest parasites which created great suffering.  Medication and education about boiling water decreased the problem over time for that village, but the challenge to create a sustainable clean water source is ongoing.

After that experience, we never thought of water in quite the same way.  We saw for ourselves how a beautiful, vibrant child’s potential could be destroyed by the lack of what some Native American people call “the sacred life blood.”  Conserving water and contributing to clean water projects around the world became part of our lives.

On World Water Day, we renew our commitment to support the right of all living things to clean, abundant water.   We know many of you already have the same commitment.  Here are a few more conservation ideas to consider.

LIST & LINKS TO WATER CONSERVATION IDEAS:

1. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.
2. Verify that your home is leak-free, because many homes have hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
3. Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain your septic system.
4. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)
5. Take shorter showers. Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version. Some units are available that allow you to cut off the flow without adjusting the water temperature knobs.
6. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.

There are many ways for us to conserve water.  To learn more use the links below for some great tips:

http://www.americanwater.com/49ways.php

http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm

http://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/

First, we must acknowledge the sacredness of and the necessity for clean water for all life on our planet. Then we must learn to use this gift wisely and share it equally, respecting the rights of access to the source of all life.  “Water is Life” and we must take action now because “We are all part of the Earth.”

Love, Gene & Joyce

Image by Hamomilaki

How will you find your place in the Universe?

Until we realize we are not separate from everything in the universe, we will continue to believe that we are alienated from nature. Edgar Mitchell, one of the few human beings to have walked on the moon's surface, describes his experience of viewing the earth from space in these words, " Gradually I was flooded with the ecstatic awareness that I was part of what I was observing. Every molecule in my body was birthed in a star hanging in space. I became aware that everything that exists is part of one intricately interconnected whole. "

Photo by NASA                                                                         

Indigenous people all over the world have long sought and found their place in the universe. The search for this understanding of how we are connected to the Source of Life is far under -estimated in modern times.

I spent many years searching for my own understanding of my place in the Universe.  One beautiful spring day in Kansas, I found myself sitting upon the earth watching the Thunder Beings forming over the ridge. As I continued to observe the gathering Cloud People, I had the sense that I was looking down upon myself from above.

In that moment of time, all things stopped.  It became clear to me that I was not separate from the creation, but I was connected with all of the creation. To truly understand myself, I knew I needed to understand my place in the Universe.

Feeling our connection, knowing who we are, helps us to find our purpose and live in harmony with all of our Relations.

We weave our personal vision together to form a common vision of good for ourselves and for the planet. Joining with all our relations, we can learn to walk peacefully upon Mother Earth, knowing that she provides for all living things. We are all part of the Earth.

Love, Gene and Joyce

Gardening in the Web

“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” Chief Seattle

As we begin to prepare the soil for our garden this week we are mindful that we are part of the earth. Bringing together the elements of mulch,water and seeds, we reflect on our parts in the process of life. We care for the soil as the soil cares for us. As we place each seed into the warm, rich, life filled earth we become more aware of our connection to the ever expanding web of life.

We live in a time of climate change challenges, lack of access to clean water for many, millions of tons of high level radioactive nuclear waste, and the existence of over 88,000 toxic chemicals introduced into our air, soil and water by humankind. We are not here only to be stewards of the earth, but to realize our oneness with the earth.The simple act of planting flowers and vegetables and trees becomes an expression of the sacredness of life. We realize that we are planting in the garden of life and we wonder about how deep and how far this journey will take us.

Love, Gene and Joyce

Where will you stand in 2015

A small group of people gathered in the cool morning air as the Sun arose on Jan 1, 2015 to set their intentions for the new year with prayer and community.  Standing around the Fire of Life that was heating the Stone People that would help us all to speak our intentions into words that will come to be with our actions as this year moves through it’s life cycle and this day turns into the next. The words and prayers of that chilly morning were strong and meaningful to each of us in our own way, as it should be.

The first two weeks of this year is bearing witness to the message that came with the entering of the Stone People into the hoop of life that day.  I can only speak for myself of course.  It was evident that I would have to make clear where I stand as a man and human being without fear or hesitation. Knowing that I can fail or succeed at any moment in time, with words or deeds. It is my choice to make. Do I choose darkness or do I walk in my own good?

I choose to stand in prayer with love, unity and equality for all, women, children, men and all religious beliefs with honor and respect and also love and healing for the Earth Mother. It has been said that the Creator gave ceremonies and prayers to the spirits to take to all the peoples of the world, to help them understand how to live, sing and dance in the sacred way. All of them being equal and none of them better or more important than the others in anyway. The different races of the people of the earth all received these prayers and ceremonies each in their own way of understanding. These gifts from Spirit were not given to us to divide and separate us, but were meant to unite us in our knowledge of the Creator and the Creation.  

It is clear in 2015 that humankind has forgotten and have confused these gifts from the Creator with greed, power and the will to dominate others, especially women and the Earth itself which is our Mother. How did this happen?  It started long ago when one person in each of our communities chose to use these gifts against the others.  It started when we forgot we are all part of the Creator and the Creation, we are all one in Spirit. It happened when we begin thinking that tradition could not be wrong or change or advance as our understanding grows closer with the flow and energies that makes up the living Spirit in all things.

This year things will get better or worse as each of us choose for our own life, and this life is connected to all life.  WE ARE ALL ONE IN SPIRIT. My prayer is that we all choose wisely and put an end to the madness of hate, greed, separation and the will to dominate others which could destroy us all, that we once again find love and kindness and respect for one another.  AS IT WILL BE SPOKEN, IT WILL BE SO. -Three Trees Cloud

"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 darktimes. 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." Clarissa Pinkola Estes