Part Two

InIn ‘Reflections on Life’ ‘Reflections on Life’ Part One Part One

we saw much of beauty but also much we saw much of beauty but also much of pain.of pain.

In Part Two In Part Two

we begin to seek ways in we begin to seek ways in

which we can work towards which we can work towards a more a more

harmonious and peaceful harmonious and peaceful world.world.

The texts and images are The texts and images are designed designed

to create an atmosphere which to create an atmosphere which encourages the development encourages the development

of empathy and understanding of empathy and understanding ––

opening up the mind to new opening up the mind to new possibilities possibilities

and expanding the heart-and expanding the heart-qualities of qualities of

Love, Compassion and Oneness.Love, Compassion and Oneness.

200 slides ~ time 20 minutes. 200 slides ~ time 20 minutes.

Contact via website for suggested ‘Sound Track.’Contact via website for suggested ‘Sound Track.’

Texts and images have been chosen from many Texts and images have been chosen from many different cultures and religions but the aim is different cultures and religions but the aim is to express ideas in a way that flows smoothly to express ideas in a way that flows smoothly

rather than follow a particular formula. If your rather than follow a particular formula. If your community is not represented directly – or community is not represented directly – or

given more or less ‘space’ than others, please given more or less ‘space’ than others, please try to feel a sense of oneness with them all.try to feel a sense of oneness with them all.

We hope you enjoy watching We hope you enjoy watching

‘‘Reflections on Life’Reflections on Life’

Note – a few Note – a few non-English words non-English words

appear on some slides. appear on some slides. Translations can be found Translations can be found

at www.bluelotus.coat www.bluelotus.co

Part Two

……AumAum ~ ~ Shanti ~ Shanti ~ Shanti ~Shanti ~ Shanti ~ Shanti ~ Aum…Aum…

All truth is eternal. All truth is eternal. Truth is nobody’s Truth is nobody’s

property; property; no race, no race,

no individual no individual can lay any can lay any

exclusive exclusive claim to it. claim to it.

Truth is the nature Truth is the nature Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda of of

all souls.all souls.

  And the earth was without form, and And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face void; and darkness was upon the face

of the deep. of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the And the Spirit of God moved upon the

face of the waters.face of the waters.

Genesis 1 verse 2Genesis 1 verse 2

And God said, And God said,

Let there be light:Let there be light:

and there was light.and there was light.

Genesis 1 verse 3Genesis 1 verse 3

And God saw the light, And God saw the light, And He saw And He saw that it was good:that it was good:

Genesis 1 verse 4Genesis 1 verse 4

And God And God called the dry called the dry

land Earth; land Earth; and the and the

gathering gathering together of the together of the

waters called waters called he Seas: he Seas:

And God And God said, said, Let Let the waters the waters under the under the heaven be heaven be gathered gathered together together unto one unto one place, place,

andand let the dry let the dry

land appearland appear::

and it was and it was so.so.

Genesis 1 verse 9 - 10Genesis 1 verse 9 - 10

and God saw that it was goodand God saw that it was good

Come out into the universe of Light. Come out into the universe of Light. Everything in the universe Everything in the universe is yours. is yours. Stretch out your arms Stretch out your arms and embrace it and embrace it with love. with love. If you ever felt If you ever felt you wanted to do that, you wanted to do that, you have felt God.you have felt God.

Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda

““Music gives soul to the universe Music gives soul to the universe wings to the mind wings to the mind flight to the imagination flight to the imagination and life to everything" and life to everything" 

PlatoPlato

… … all problems of existenceall problems of existenceare essentially problems of are essentially problems of

harmony.harmony.

Sri AurobindoSri Aurobindo

Medicine to produce health Medicine to produce health must examine disease; must examine disease; and music, and music, to create harmony to create harmony must investigate discord.must investigate discord.  

PlutarchPlutarch

Better than Better than a thousand hollow wordsa thousand hollow words

is one word that brings peace. is one word that brings peace.

The Buddha The Buddha (560-483 B.C.E.)(560-483 B.C.E.)

If you want to make peace with your If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work enemy, you have to work with your enemy. with your enemy. Then he becomes Then he becomes your partner. your partner. 

Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela

If we are peaceful, if we are happy,If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, we can smile and blossom like a flower,

and everyone in our family, our entire and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace.society, will benefit from our peace.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Climb the mountains and get their good Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as

sunshine flows into trees. sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, into you, and the storms their energy,

while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

John Muir (1838-1914)John Muir (1838-1914)

Peace Peace Is in self-conquest.Is in self-conquest.

Sri ChinmoySri Chinmoy

To study the Way To study the Way is to study the self.is to study the self.To study the self To study the self

is to forget the self.is to forget the self.To forget the self To forget the self

is to be enlightened by all things.is to be enlightened by all things.To be enlightened by all things To be enlightened by all things

is to remove the barriers is to remove the barriers between oneself and others.between oneself and others.

Dogen ZenjiDogen Zenji

Love came and Love came and emptied me of self,emptied me of self,

every vein and every vein and every pore,every pore,

made into made into a container a container

to be filled by to be filled by the Beloved….the Beloved….

……. Of me, . Of me, only a only a name name is left,is left,the rest the rest is You is You my Friend, my Friend, my my Beloved.Beloved.

Abu-Said Abil-KheirAbu-Said Abil-Kheir

Faith is taking the first step Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see even when you don't see

the whole staircase.the whole staircase.

- Martin Luther King Jr. . - Martin Luther King Jr. .

Look to this Day!Look to this Day!For it is Life, the very Life of Life.For it is Life, the very Life of Life.

In its brief course lie all the In its brief course lie all the Verities and Realities of Existence.Verities and Realities of Existence.

The Bliss of Growth,The Bliss of Growth,The Glory of Action,The Glory of Action,

The Splendour of Beauty;…..The Splendour of Beauty;…..

…….For Yesterday is already a Dream,.For Yesterday is already a Dream,And Tomorrow is only a Vision;And Tomorrow is only a Vision;

But Today well lived makes But Today well lived makes Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.

Look well therefore Look well therefore to this Day!to this Day!

KALIDASA translated from the SanskritKALIDASA translated from the Sanskrit

If there is to be peace in the world,If there is to be peace in the world,

There must be peace in the nations.There must be peace in the nations.

  If there is to be peace in the nations,If there is to be peace in the nations,

There must be peace in the cities.There must be peace in the cities.

  If there is to be peace in the cities,If there is to be peace in the cities,

There must be peace There must be peace

between neighbours…..between neighbours…..

……..If there is to be peace ..If there is to be peace between neighbours,between neighbours,There must be peace There must be peace

in the home.in the home.

If there is to be If there is to be peace in the home,peace in the home,

There must be peace There must be peace in the heartin the heart..

  

-- Lao Tzu (570-490 B.C.)-- Lao Tzu (570-490 B.C.)

Just as treasures are Just as treasures are uncovered uncovered

from the earth, so virtuefrom the earth, so virtueappears from good appears from good

deeds, deeds, and wisdom appears and wisdom appears

from a pure and peaceful from a pure and peaceful mind.mind.

  

The BuddhaThe Buddha

However many holy However many holy words you read, words you read, however many however many you speak, you speak, what good what good will they will they do you do you if you do not if you do not act on upon them?act on upon them?  

The BuddhaThe Buddha

"He who offers to me with devotion only a leaf, "He who offers to me with devotion only a leaf, or a flower, or a fruit, or even a little water, or a flower, or a fruit, or even a little water,

this I accept from that yearning soul, this I accept from that yearning soul, because with a pure heart because with a pure heart

it was offered it was offered with love."with love."

Sri Krishna (Gita 9.26)Sri Krishna (Gita 9.26)

"In any way that men love me "In any way that men love me in that same way they find my love: in that same way they find my love:

for many are the paths of men, for many are the paths of men, but they all in the end but they all in the end

come to me."come to me."

Sri Krishna (Geeta)Sri Krishna (Geeta)

If ever MohammedIf ever Mohammed(peace and blessings upon him)(peace and blessings upon him) saw saw anyone harming an animal he stopped anyone harming an animal he stopped them. them. Once he was travelling with some friends. Once he was travelling with some friends. They were just starting to makeThey were just starting to makea cooking fire when Mohammeda cooking fire when Mohammed(pbuh)(pbuh) asked them to light it in another place asked them to light it in another place as it was too close to an ants nest. as it was too close to an ants nest. His concern and compassion were for all His concern and compassion were for all Allah’s creatures, even the little ants.Allah’s creatures, even the little ants.

……. Don't open the door to the study . Don't open the door to the study and begin reading. Take down and begin reading. Take down the dulcimer.the dulcimer.

Let the beautyLet the beautywe lovewe love

be what we do.be what we do.There are hundreds of There are hundreds of

ways ways to kneel and kiss the to kneel and kiss the

ground.ground.

Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi (1207 - Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi (1207 - 1273) 1273) 

My Supreme, My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!my Supreme!

My true My true spiritualityspiritualityIs the love Is the love

of Your Breathof Your BreathIn every heart.In every heart. My Supreme, My Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme, my Supreme!my Supreme!

Sri ChinmoySri Chinmoy

Blessed are the peacemakers for they Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called shall be called

the children of God.the children of God.

 

Jesus – from the Jesus – from the Gospel of St. MatthewGospel of St. Matthew

"You are that which you intend to hit, injure, "You are that which you intend to hit, injure, insult, torment, persecute, torture, enslave insult, torment, persecute, torture, enslave

or kill“or kill“

MahaviraMahavira

Find the One everywhere Find the One everywhere and in everything and in everything 

and there will be an end and there will be an end to pain and suffering.to pain and suffering.

Sri Anandaymoy MaSri Anandaymoy Ma

Walk cheerfully Walk cheerfully over the earth over the earth

answering answering that of God that of God

in all.in all.

George FoxGeorge Fox (Founder of the Quaker branch of Christianity)(Founder of the Quaker branch of Christianity)

 

Yes We Can.Yes We Can.

Barak ObamaBarak Obama

All works of love All works of love are works of are works of

peace.peace.

Mother TheresaMother Theresa

            ““I tell you one thing – if you want I tell you one thing – if you want

peace of mind, do not find fault with peace of mind, do not find fault with others.others.

Rather learn to see your own faults. Rather learn to see your own faults.

Learn to make the whole world your Learn to make the whole world your own. own.

No one is a stranger, my child; No one is a stranger, my child;

this whole world is your own.”this whole world is your own.”

Sri Sarada DeviSri Sarada Devi

Do not try to change the world.Do not try to change the world.You will fail.You will fail.

Try to love the world.Try to love the world.Lo, the world is changed.Lo, the world is changed.

ChangedChanged forever.forever.

Sri ChinmoySri Chinmoy

All things are connected. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth.befalls the sons of the earth.

Man did not weave the web of life. Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand in it. He is merely a strand in it.

Whatever he does to the web, Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.he does to himself.

Chief SeattleChief Seattle

……you are bound to gain you are bound to gain mastery if you are mastery if you are

true to faith.true to faith.

Qur’an - Sura 3 ;139Qur’an - Sura 3 ;139

Life is God’s Blessing to His CreationLife is God’s Blessing to His CreationLife is Will… The descending cry Life is Will… The descending cry

of Concern and Compassionof Concern and Compassion

The Ascending cry The Ascending cry of love and helplessness.of love and helplessness.

Life is man’s experience of wisdom and faith.Life is man’s experience of wisdom and faith.Life is man’s conscious attempt Life is man’s conscious attempt

to see God face to Face.to see God face to Face.

from an essay on life by Sri Chinmoyfrom an essay on life by Sri Chinmoy

"Ye are all leaves "Ye are all leaves of one tree of one tree and the fruits of and the fruits of one branch.“one branch.“    Bahá'u'lláhBahá'u'lláh

"I find one vast garden "I find one vast garden

spread out all over the universe.spread out all over the universe.

All plants, all human beings, all higher All plants, all human beings, all higher mind bodiesmind bodies

are about in this garden in various ways are about in this garden in various ways ,,

each has his own uniqueness and each has his own uniqueness and beauty.beauty.

Their presence and variety give me Their presence and variety give me great delight.great delight.

Every one of you adds with your special Every one of you adds with your special feature feature

to the glory of the garden.“to the glory of the garden.“

Sri Anandamayi MaSri Anandamayi Ma

""Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."

Mother Teresa

""May there only be May there only be peaceful and peaceful and

cheerful Earth Days to cheerful Earth Days to come for our come for our

beautiful Spaceship beautiful Spaceship Earth as itEarth as it

continues to spin and circle continues to spin and circle in frigidin frigid

space with its warm and space with its warm and fragile cargofragile cargo

of animate life.of animate life.““

U ThantU Thant

……And He saw that it was Good…And He saw that it was Good…Genesis ch 1Genesis ch 1

……AumAum ~ ~ Shanti ~ Shanti ~ Shanti ~Shanti ~ Shanti ~ Shanti ~ Aum…Aum…

Infinity is thisInfinity is thisInfinity is that.Infinity is that.When infinityWhen infinityfrom infinityfrom infinityIs taken awayIs taken awayInfinity remains…Infinity remains…

The UpanishadsThe Upanishads

We thank you for watching We thank you for watching ‘Reflections on Life’‘Reflections on Life’

and invite you to spend a few and invite you to spend a few minutes making a note of your minutes making a note of your

responses – do send us your responses – do send us your feedback.feedback.

Many of the images in Many of the images in Reflections on LifeReflections on Life come from our own photographs. Others come from our own photographs. Others have been gathered from many sources. A have been gathered from many sources. A

full list of credits is being prepared.full list of credits is being prepared.We hope that all whose photographs have We hope that all whose photographs have been used will be happy and proud to be been used will be happy and proud to be

included in this free download - but should included in this free download - but should any copyright questions arise we will be any copyright questions arise we will be

happy to make any adjustments necessary.happy to make any adjustments necessary.

By making By making Reflections on LifeReflections on Life available as a available as a free download we hope that many people free download we hope that many people across the planet will share in our vision - across the planet will share in our vision -

sharing the inspiration offered by its sharing the inspiration offered by its message in ever increasing circles, circles of message in ever increasing circles, circles of harmony that will spread out like ripples, harmony that will spread out like ripples,

expanding and expanding until they expanding and expanding until they embrace each and every soul - and every embrace each and every soul - and every

corner of this amazing and beautiful corner of this amazing and beautiful

planet which we all call our home.planet which we all call our home.

Contact us to arrange for a customised workshop designed to make a

difference - to be effective -

promoting peace and reducing suffering for members of your

community by improving harmony and understanding.

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