Coming up: The Four Books I Can't Do Without * The Best Program on Radio * The Best Program on Television
Something that merits the word AWESOME. It's well worth your time. (Click on link below).....jane
Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida has put up a very interesting page on their site. It begins as a view of the Milky Way Galaxy viewed from a distance of 10 million light years and then zooms in towards Earth in powers of ten: 10 million to one million to 100,000 light years, and it finally reaches a large oak tree. Once you click on the site, the software does all the work. You can play it forward and backward to be amazed over and over. At the end it says AUTO....click on that and review the process in reverse!
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/ index.html
JANE'S DAILY EXERCISE PROGRAM (See the "Stories" link "Rock 'n Roll in the Morning.")
warm-up: walk 5-10 minutes
stretch: either the aerobic or weight-lifting stretches from the book Stretching by Bob Anderson (about 10 minutes)
aerobic exercise or weights (25 minutes): If I'm near a YMCA, I do an aerobics class or the weight-bearing machines like Nautilus. If I'm on the road, I do aerobics to my rock 'n roll tape OR sit-ups plus conditioning exercises with 5 lb. hand weights, exercise bands, and/or tubes with handles, which I carry with me in my truck.
cool down: (walk 5-10 minutes)
stretch: Bob Anderson has a shortened version of the ones done at the beginning.
Total Time: less than an hour.
SHARMAJI (5/1/02)
I have discovered a WONDERFUL teacher in Key West who has sessions at his home every Monday evening: a sharing of his great wisdom and then meditation. He's the main reason I'm staying here a bit longer. Below is an excerpt from the bio that was sent to me. Key West is a very spiritual place...jane (4/23/02)
Author, teacher, meditator, catalyst, charismatic Sharmaji has settled in Key West. His name is Dayavrat Sharma and prefers to be addressed as Sharmaji, as his guru always addressed him with great affection as Sharmaji. This frail-looking man from India gives thought-provoking talks on spiritual and intellectual subjects and leads people into ancient Indian meditation. He brings with him the energy of a yogic lineage thousands of years old. Though 80 years old, he is surprisingly fresh and disturbingly innovative in his approach to life and God. For every situation, every problem, every person, he has a new recipe, a new approach. His words act as catalysts. He forces one to review his or her life with the laser beam of wisdom he imparts. His talks are not academic or stereotyped although he was professor of English literature at the University of Agra in India for 16 years. Since birth he showed unique abilities and wisdom. Sharmaji published a best-selling book at the age of 15 and demonstrated mastery of Hindi and Sanskrit languages.
His stories are many and cover a wide range of topics, and he shares them freely. While living in New Delhi he was chief editor of a weekly magazine and successfully pursued alchemy, astrology, and hypnotism. Sharmaji has authored many successful Hindi books in fiction and poetry. He is renown for his penetrating wisdom in his writings on spiritual topics that have been published in a variety of magazines.
For thirty years he spent quality time learning at the feet of spiritual Masters like Swami Muktananda and later on Swami Chidvilasananda or Gurumayi. His spirit of inquiry was sharpened by the time he spent with these and other great beings of India. Sharmaji exhorts religious people to be less rigid in interpreting the purpose of life. He says they would be better off by being less serious and more earnest and open in their approach. His talks clearly reflect the wisdom of the ages. Some random cullings from his talks:
* Do not trace your roots, but get grounded.
* Do not be routine bound, but get disciplined.
* Do not carry your history with you, but have the awareness of the past.
* Don't ever feel insecure. You are born of sunlight. A rainy day should be refreshing for you.
* You are not born of sin. You are a hologram of God. Perfect in a miniature. Infinity can never be divided.
Sharmaji came to the U.S.A. in 1974 and lived in San Francisco for 14 years. He gave hundreds of talks and workshops and guided more than 6,000 people. He says it is important to clean our slate and wipe off the impressions which have programmed us. Past impressions are the memory leeches that cling to the mind and need to be plucked off.
This diminutive man of 80 from India is a bundle of dynamite exploding with joy, laughter, light and wisdom. He shares freely with everyone he encounters. His telephone number is 305-292-6958.
SEE MANATEES LIVE! (4/3/02)
OH MY GOD! I just checked out the live manatee website: http://www.nccentral.com/citrus/pages/manateecam/manateecam.htm. If you want to brighten your day, just check out this website. They have a live cam on the manatees. Of course, you have to be aware of the three-hour time difference; it's three hours later in Florida. Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park (which is where the manatees are) was fabulous! It rehabilitates injured animals that are native to Florida. The website tells all about it.
START A KINDNESS JOURNAL (3/30/02)
Write down every act of kindness you perform and every act of kindness you receive.
From the Oprah website (www.oprah.com): "Thousands of you are forging a chain of kindness that stretches across the country... and the globe. By performing an act of kindness for someone close to you—and encouraging them to pass it on—lives are being touched and changed for the better. One simple but powerful way to use your life is starting a Kindness Chain. Here's how: Just perform a meaningful act of kindness for someone else and encourage them to pass it on so the chain isn't broken. Jonathan Robinson is the author of Shortcuts to Bliss. He says performing acts of kindness is one of the best and quickest ways to improve your life. 'Kindness is like chocolate,' he told Oprah. 'It's addictive. Best of all, it contains no fat or calories.' Soup for the Soul: Al Yeganeh, owner of New York City's Soup Kitchen International, believes that when you give, you get back ten-fold. 'Logically, you should have less,' he said, 'but you have more.' You can have more, too."
If you want more information, go to www.Oprah.com and type in the word "kindness" in the search box at the top of the home page.