Thou Shalt not Bear False Wittness Against Thy Neighbor

In Toward a True Kinship of Faiths by the Dalai Lama is a quote from Ashoka, India’s first emperor which states:

“The Beloved of the Gods (the king) does not consider gifts or honor to be as important as the advancement of the essential doctrine of all sects. This progress of the essential doctrine takes many forms, but its basis is the control of one’s speech so as not to extol one’s own sect or disparage another’s on unsuitable occasions, or at least to do so mildly on certain occasions.
One each occasion one should honor another man’s sect, for by doing so one increases the influence of one’s own sect and benefits that of the other man; while by doing otherwise one diminishes the influence of one’s own sect and harms the other man’s. Again whosoever honors his own sect or disparages
that of another man, wholly out of devotion to his own, with a view to showing it in a favorable light, harms his own set even more seriously. Therefore, concord is to be commended, so that men may hear one another’s principles. . . "
(Ashoka and the decline of the Mauryas, appendix V) (34).

This coincides with the Ninth Commandment which states: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exodus 20:16).

How do I practice this commandment? Do I read and repeat propaganda that is not true or found on sound doctrine of Love which for me promotes life and transformation? Do I study and seek information on my own or do I only count on others for my answers? Do I condemn prior to investigation?

This is a tough commandment, it challenges me to seek truth, to love, honor and accept all people everywhere in my thoughts, words and deeds.

To keep it simple, just remember, if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything. Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? Does it promote life, love and peace? If the answer is YES to all of the questions, shout what you have to say from the mountain tops.

Love to you all, Becky

©Becky Benes, Oneness of life, 3-2011

The Holding Pattern

Sitting with my dad during his final days I observed:

Nursing homes seem like holding places for bodies and souls awaiting their transitions to their next adventure.

A holding pattern for planes (bodies) on a tarmac just waiting their turn to fly. Some are stationary, just sitting and waiting. Others move up and down the halls, seemingly in constant motion yet going nowhere. They continue to circle until it is their time to take off.

Flight attendants (aides and nurses) hustle about tending to the bodies basic needs-just enough to keep them comfortable. Every once in a while they pause; they call you by your name; they see you, really see you; and they hear you, really hear you. They connect with a smile, a warm embrace, maybe a conversation or even understanding.

You feel alive once again, just for a moment. Then they are gone. You sit just waiting for another encounter, for someone, anyone to notice you, to connect with you before you take flight.

Souls seemingly trapped in bodies that no longer serve them or do they?

Why does the soul hang on-for what purpose does it serve?

Why am I experiencing this with dad?

Am I to learn more deeply about compassion, love, forgiveness?

I connect with dad one last time, our eyes meet, and there is a gentle smile and a hand hug, a kiss on the head.

It is okay dad. It’s your turn; whenever you are ready, take flight.

He takes off leaving his body: old, tired and rigid, and he flies or ‘high tales’ it to California to see Auntie Marg.

He is free, vibrant, strong and unlimited.

He is One with all that Is.

©Becky Benes 3-2011

The Power of our Thoughts

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought; it is founded on our thoughts, it is made of our thoughts. Buddha, Dhammapada

Our thoughts create our lives. So what are your thoughts? If you are unsure look at your life.

If it is filled with happiness, joy and blessings, then I guarantee your thoughts are happy, joyful and positive.

If your life is one of drudgery, darkness, fear, and loneliness, then I guarantee your thoughts are negative and full of angst.

Thoughts are habitual and influenced by others. Which means they can be changed. If you are constantly putting negative news, gossiping about the latest tragedy or illness, then that is what you are creating in your life.

I challenge you to review your thoughts and make an effort to increase the input of positive, uplifting and inspiring stories, ideas, and literature into your mind. This will change your world.

Our mind is like a computer, what comes in is what comes out. You are the operator and have complete control of all input. If you don't like what is manifesting outwardly in your life, change your input.

You will be amazed. It works. My mantra is "God has a plan and the plan is good and only good happens in the life of me and my family." Guess what? This is the truth in my life.

Angels Among Us

At 10:30 this evening my family welcomed to our home a team of angels. They will be with us for a week to enhance and bless our lives.

Yes, I know that angels are ever present and are always looking out for us; but this week we will be much more aware of their presence.

I already feel a sense of peace and excitement. If anything, my family will have an active way to express and experience our spirituality.
I'll keep you posted on the happenings in our life.

Smile

Today at my dad's assisted living facility this was posted on the bill board, "Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."
This is a powerful message at every level.

The past few months, I have attended too many funerals for my comfort zone. The message at these funerals has been to remember and celebrate the life and not focus so much on the death. I like this. It affirms my beliefs that our life continues into a different realm after we leave this earthly plane. I find this message comforting and freeing.

This message would also help people who have lost relationships with loved ones through divorce, break-ups or moves. Instead of pining away at the loss of the experience, why not smile because of the Love and joy experienced.

Our lives could be different if we celebrated the love and joy found or experienced in the friendship, the experience, the event, and/or the marriage instead of focusing on it's ending.

In life all things are in constant flux. Change equals life. Let's smile because life happens.

Tis the Season to be Jolly, Bah Hum Bug

During this time of year, so many people begin to feel down and depressed including myself.

Why is this?

In observing myself and countless others, I find that most people are talking about their lack of time, energy, money and ideas. They are spending money they do not have buying things they don't want for people they do not know. People with families stress over having families and those without families stress due to the lack of one. The list is endless.

All of this thinking and talking of lack produces a mentality which creates angst, stress, frustration and fear. This is quite sad because the reason for celebrating Christmas is to welcome the Prince of Peace, the Lord of Lords. It is a time for us to open our hearts to the indwelling Spirit of Christ. The Prince of Peace came to shower us with hope, joy, peace and love.

What the world has created is a holiday which stimulates just the opposite.

When I allow life to get me down, I consciously begin focusing on all of my blessings and my life gets better. I do this daily by writing down at least 10 things for which I am grateful. I encourage my children to do this when they go to bed or when they are stressed because of school and other activities. This one exercise can change your life and the lives of many.

A life of gratitude is a joyful life.

There is a Plan: Good and Bad

God has a plan and the plan is Good. This has been my personal mantra for over 15 years.

Life is but an illusion of interpretations, everyone seeing life through their own life experiences. Some events to one person may seem devastating while to another seems a blessing.

Early in my life, I seemed to see most things as bad. I followed Murphy's Law, if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong. As I began to awaken to the Truth that God created all things including me and called them Good, I questioned my belief.

If God created all as Good, why would God institute a law which ensured bad things to happen to creation? This question allowed me to open myself to change. I began using my mantra, God has a plan and the plan is Good. To my amazement, my life began to take a turn for the better. People who know me will tell you that only good things happen to me and my family.

Murphy's Law no longer has dominion in my life.

What changed? What I said to myself and what I expected out of life. We have the power within ourselves to create our own reality.

What reality are you creating?