“Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself.”

– Og Mandino

“Life is, indeed, eternal and death is an illusion. God does not care which religion is best. What is truly important is love, not religion. One must first learn to love oneself non-judgmentally and unconditionally. Then one will actually love all people and all things the same way.”

View the video script here:

• www.nde-bg.net/near-death-experiences-video-script-english

For more information about Near Death Experiences:

• www.near-death.com
• www.nderf.org
• www.iands.org

Buddha: “Just as a mother would protect her only child at the risk of her own life, even so, cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings. Let your thoughts of boundless love pervade the whole world.”

Jesus: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

View more Parallel Sayings of Buddha and Christ, from the Heartland Sangha website.

To practice loving-kindness meditation, sit in a comfortable and relaxed manner. Take two or three deep breaths with slow, long and complete exhalations. Let go of any concerns or preoccupations. For a few minutes, feel or imagine the breath moving through the center of your chest – in the area of your heart.

Metta is first practiced toward oneself, since we often have difficulty loving others without first loving ourselves. Sitting quietly, mentally repeat, slowly and steadily, the following or similar phrases:

“May I be happy.
May I be well.
May I be safe.
May I be peaceful and at ease.”

While you say these phrases, allow yourself to sink into the intentions they express. Loving-kindness meditation consists primarily of connecting to the intention of wishing ourselves or others happiness. However, if feelings of warmth, friendliness, or love arise in the body or mind, connect to them, allowing them to grow as you repeat the phrases. As an aid to the meditation, you might hold an image of yourself in your mind’s eye. This helps reinforce the intentions expressed in the phrases.

After a period of directing loving-kindness toward yourself, bring to mind a friend or someone in your life who has deeply cared for you. Then slowly repeat phrases of loving-kindness toward them:

“May you be happy.
May you be well.
May you be safe.
May you be peaceful and at ease.”

As you say these phrases, again sink into their intention or heartfelt meaning. And, if any feelings of loving-kindness arise, connect the feelings with the phrases so that the feelings may become stronger as you repeat the words…

View full post: zencast.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/loving-kindness-meditation

“People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
LOVE THEM ANYWAY

If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives,
DO GOOD ANYWAY

If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies,
SUCCEED ANYWAY

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow,
DO GOOD ANYWAY

Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable,
BE HONEST AND TRANSPARENT ANYWAY

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight,
BUILD ANYWAY

People who really want help may attack you if you help them,
HELP THEM ANYWAY

Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt
GIVE THE WORLD YOUR BEST ANYWAY”

– Mother Teresa (From a sign on the wall of Shishu Bhavan, the children’s home in Calcutta.

Photo from AP Photo by Sucheta Das

About The Campaign for Love & Forgiveness:“We combine public television programming, community activies and events to encourage contemplation and conversation about how love and forgiveness can effect meaninful change in individuals and society.”

Learn more about the campaign: www.loveandforgive.org/campaign.php

Flowers do not force their way with great strife.
Flowers open to perfection slowly in the sun. . . .
Don’t be in a hurry about spiritual matters.
Go step by step, and be very sure.

-White Eagle

Flickr photo credit: Zanastardust