Harmony Center Sunday Celebrations
A joyful, uplifting celebration each Sunday morning
- Are you longing for something deeper and richer for your life?
- Are you looking for a place to celebrate the divine spirit that exists in all of us?
If so, join us at the Harmony Center for 60 minutes of music, joy and a sense of peace.
Every Sunday Oakland Veterans Hall
| 11:00 | - Weekly celebration |
| 12:00 | - Healthy snacks and socializing |
| Next topic: | The Magic of Intention and How it Saved My Life |
| Date: | February 26, 2012 |
Open to the public and free!
Celebration Format
- A thought-provoking message from Daniel (about 15 minutes).
- 9 or 10 songs from the Joyful Harmony Band (about 30 minutes).
- Time for discussion, as well as some quiet, contemplative time.
- Some suggested practices for the coming week.
- A chance to dance as the band rocks out.
Join Us This Sunday at the Harmony Center!
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Upcoming Celebration Topics
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The Magic of Intention and How it Saved My Life February 26, 2012 Led by Cassandra Cockrill Understanding and clearly communicating our intentions has a tremendous impact on our reality. This celebration, we welcome guest speaker, Cassandra Cockrill. Her story about a series of miraculous events and people (more...) |
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Mystery of Life March 4, 2012 Led by Daniel Neumayer Details to follow. |
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Mercy Now March 11, 2012 Led by Daniel Neumayer Please check back for details. |
Previous Celebration Topics
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“Don’t Be a Worrywart!” Led by Daniel Neumayer That was Mom's advice whenever I would say, "But what if.... (something bad) happens?" Would it shock you to learn that she didn't always follow her own advice? Did you know that the term "worrywart" was first used as a recurring theme in a comic strip f (more...) |
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“A little sincerity is a dangerous thing.” -– The Wisdom of Oscar Wilde Led by Daniel Neumayer Known for his keen observations and biting whit, Oscar Wilde was always poking holes in our sensibilities. It might be easy to mistake him for a cynic, but he had no patience with cynicism. "What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing." (more...) |
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Higher Love Led by Daniel Neumayer There's love, and then there's love. What if you could increase the quality of love in your life? Imagine what that would be like. We'll start (more...) |
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Birthday! Led by Daniel Neumayer This birthday party is for everyone who has ever attend any of our events (Movies, Health Circles, Sunday Celebrations), and everyone who has ever thought about coming, but hasn't yet done so. It will be like a family reunion for a very extended family. The Harmony Center for the Joyful Spirit held its first Sunday Celebration (more...) |
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The Harmony Center in 2012 Led by Daniel Neumayer So many things the Harmony Center is about. This Sunday we'll pick one or two to be our Themes for this year. Come and contribute your thoughts. |
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Growing Up Led by Daniel Neumayer People speak of growing old gracefully. Well, maybe. For me, it is more important to continue to grow, all the days of my life. Growing up is not something that we can complete, that we can say the job is done. We continue growing, or we stagnate. This Sunday morning, Ralph Waldo Emerson, C.S. Lewis, Elizabeth Taylor, (more...) |
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The Bear That Wasn’t Led by Daniel Neumayer The Bear That Wasn't: When I was a little boy, I loved the Frank Tashlin's story. I didn't have the book, I had a set of records in which actors performed the story. I would play it again, and again - I can still recite the entire story. What was it I found so enticing about the children's story? What lessons did I learn, and what lessons are there for all of us? Now, looking back (more...) |
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Choosing Your Theme for 2012 Led by Daniel Neumayer Forget New Year's resolutions! Choosing a theme is a more practical idea. A Theme is a powerful concept: Theme: an idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature. -- or a life. (more...) |
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Sunday, Unplugged Led by Members of The Harmony Center community A Respite in the Hectic Holidays. On Christmas day, our Sunday Celebration will be an hour of quiet, acoustic, music and relaxing thoughts. A quiet break from the hustle and bustle. Two of our members (more...) |
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Enlightenment: The Light Within Led by Daniel Neumayer We'll conclude our series on Enlightenment with the most important source of wisdom - your own inner wisdom. I'll have some reflections on how to uncover your personal wisdom, then (more...) |
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Enlightenment: New Sources Led by Daniel Neumayer Our theme for December is "Enlightenment". This Sunday, we'll reflect on contemporary wisdom. And that's where you come in. I'd love to have you contribute some of your thoughts on contemporary wisdom. You can send me some of the wisdom t (more...) |
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Enlightenment: Ancient Wisdom Led by Daniel Neumayer December is the time when, finally, the nights begin to get shorter, and the days longer. Our theme for the month is “Enlightenment”. Over the first three Sundays in December we'll reflect on how to be open to new light, new ideas, and where we might find them. December 4th is “Ancient Wisdom”. We’ll consider some wisdom from Mohammed, Jesus, the Buddha, Judaism, plus (more...) |
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Simple Gratitude + chant Led by Simon Rubenstein This is the season when we notice, and give thanks for, the good things in life. Our own Simon Rubenstein believes in being grateful, not only for the big things in life, but also for the seemingly small, everyday, blessings. This Sunday Simon will share with us his thoughts on how we can be have a better life by practicing simple gratitude. (more...) |
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Survival Guide: A Healthy Attitude Led by Daniel Neumayer There are certain key things that get us through life, that make us feel successful and happy. These are the ideas that form my "Survival Guide". This Sunday I'll have some thoughts on how to choose attitudes that will lead to health and happiness. And yes, you choose your attitudes, no one else is responsible. Musically, we'll have a visit from Desert Pete, and the Beatles will offer a chance to "Drive My Car". (more...) |
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Survival Guide: Forgiveness Led by Daniel Neumater There are certain key things that get us through life, that make us feel successful and happy. One of these is forgiveness. I don't mean others forgiving us, I mean our forgiving others (and ourselves). Yes, we have to be careful not be let others (more...) |
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Paul Simon’s “So Beautiful or So What?” Led by Daniel Neumayer Recently a friend took me to hear Paul Simon at the Greek Theater. What a show! He preformed for over two hours. All the songs I loved for the sixties and seventies. But Simon, at age 70, is still creating new songs, and these were a revaluation. The title song from his new album caught my ear. As always, Simon's lyrics challenge us to really consider life, and our attitudes toward it. (more...) |
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The Community Speaks! Led by Members of the Harmony Center Community "Our thoughts, attitudes and expectations create our experience of life."This Sunday morning, Two members of our community will each speak (more...) |
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The Path of Contentment Led by Daniel Neumayer “The Path of Contentment”, not “The Path to Contentment” Over the past few Sundays, we have considered the paradox of contentment. We’ll conclude our reflections on contentment with some suggestions as to how we can live our lives in contentment, rather than trying to get to contentment. (more...) |
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Content with Yourself Led by Daniel Neumayer
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Cannery Row and Contentment Led by Daniel Neumayer Contentment is our theme for October, and the idea seems to be everywhere. I was fortunate enough to spend a few days in Monterey last week. I visited Cannery Row, the scene of one of John Steinbeck’s novels, which he based on actual characters he met while living there. Some of the history still remains. I started reading Cannery Row, and was surprised to discover that Chapter 2 begins by introducing Mac and his friends, (bums, as they are described), and their sense of contentment. Contentment?! (more...) |
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The Way of Contentment Led by Daniel Neumayer We all want to be content. Or, do we? There is a great appeal in accomplishment, in getting stuff, in having our way. All this can get in the way of feeling peace and contentment. This Sunday we'll (more...) |
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Wisdom of the Mystics Led by Matthew Fox I first became aware of Matthew Fox in 1983 when he, a Catholic Priest, published "Original Blessing". His thesis was that, contrary to the view of most Christians, we are not born into "original sin", but rather, we are all born into an "Original Blessing". That simple idea changed my view of spirituality forever.
Fox, now an ex-Catholic priest, will be speaking (more...) |
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The Pitfalls of Religion, part 2 Led by Daniel Neumayer "There's a sense that in order for me to be right, everyone who disagrees with me is wrong. It makes religious interfaith cooperation more difficult. If I believe that, I have to believe that other people's religions are worthless, invalid." - Rabi Harold Kushner This is one of the pitfalls of religion that we will examine this Sunday morning. We'll hear from Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Carl Jung, and Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im and (more...) |
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The Pitfalls of Religion, part 1 Led by Daniel Neumayer Religions are powerful. Many times a force for good in the world (Martin Luther King, Jr.); sometimes the source of terrible evil (September 11, 2001). How is it that such a force for good can be so badly perverted? This Sunday, (exactly ten years after the 9/11 attacks) and next Sunday, we’ll hear from Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer, Carl Jung, Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im and others (more...) |
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Work and the Spirit Led by Daniel Neumayer Author Edward Abbey is reported to have said when asked about his career, "I don't have a career, I have a life." Work and life. Work and the Spirit. How do they fit together? This Sunday, the day before Labor Day, we'll explore our attitudes toward work. We'll look at (more...) |
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True Wealth: What does it mean to be rich? Led by Geoff Geiger Is money the only (or even the best) way of measuring the wealth of a person or a nation? In this talk (more...) |
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Evil, Episode 3: Toward the Light Led by Daniel Neumayer This Sunday, we’ll conclude our discussion of evil by reviewing the causes of evil in the world, and exploring how we can respond when evil acts occur. We’ll also look at the constructive purpose that evil can serve. So, come, join the adventure. (more...) |
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Evil, Episode 2: What Is Evil? Who Is Evil? Led by Daniel Neumayer How do you define evil? It seems we each have a definition, a litmus test, a way of separating the worst that people can do and calling it “evil”. But I have noticed that we each seem to have a different definition (more...) |
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Evil, Episode 1: Breaking Bad Led by Daniel Neumayer Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher, takes a sharp turn toward the darkness after learning that he has terminal lung cancer. In order to provide for his family, he recruits Jesse, a small-time drug manufacturer (and former student of his) to help him put his scientific knowledge to use cooking crystal meth. (more...) |
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The Community Speaks! Led by Members of the Harmony Center community "We are each the embodiment of Spirit, filled with divine light." This Sunday morning, two members of our community will each speak for a few minutes to share their interpretation (more...) |
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The Buddha, Gandhi, and King Led by Daniel Neumayer Part III: From the Buddha to MLK King drew from the writings of Gandhi in the development of their own theories about non-violence to forge his own movement of freedom for all Americans. We'll have some ideas on how to successfully apply King ideas to our personal lives and our political lives. |
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The Buddha, Gandhi, and King Led by Daniel Neumayer Part II: Gandhi and the Buddha Mahatma Gandhi is, of course, best known for freeing India from British rule without resorting to violence. A closer look reveals him to have sometimes been wildly inconsistent in applying his principles, i.e. bending the definition of non-violence to the point of advocating that men enlist in the British Colonial Army in order to become proficient in the use of arms. I find it fascinating that (more...) |
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The Buddha, Gandhi, and King Led by Daniel Neumayer Part I: The Buddha "The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly." - The Buddha But how do we live wisely and earnestly in a world that has so many troubles, so much injustice? (more...) |
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Survival of the Kindest Led by Penny Hennagir, CMT Survival of the Fittest – yes, that is old school Darwin – but who is the ‘the fittest’? The answer will surprise you. (more...) |
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The Happy Wanderer Led by Daniel Neumayer Do you ever feel that you are spending your life wandering, not quite sure where you are headed? Are you comfortable with that? This Sunday we'll hear from St. Augustine, Anais Nin, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo Emerson, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Steven King (more...) |
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“Pay Attention!” Led by Daniel Neumayer Remember being told to Pay Attention? Perhaps in elementary school? (more...) |
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Three Views of Community Led by Members of the Harmony Center Community
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Door #2 Led by Daniel Neumayer We spend our time on this planet learning how to live, discovering what works and what doesn't. The problem is that once we believe we have learned how to accomplish something, we stop looking for alternatives. We do the same things in the same way, assuming that this is the best way. What if we kept on looking, kept on learning? (more...) |
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Empowering Beliefs Led by Daniel Neumayer What are your beliefs? Not just about spirituality, but about life. Beliefs, by definition, concern things that cannot be proven. What are you expecting from life? From the people around you? From yourself? (more...) |
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IMPACT! Led by Cassandre Cockrill When we live our lives according to our values and beliefs, we change. Our lives change and so do the lives of people around us and people around them. We can be a powerful-force-for-good by (more...) |
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Love: An Act of the Will Led by Daniel Neumayer
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The Wisdom of Jesus Led by Daniel Neumayer Whether you see Jesus as the Son of God, or simply a man who lived long ago in a very foreign land, he had some wisdom that has survived the test of time. He frequently spoke in parables, short stories which left the listener to determine what the moral of the tale was. (The "morals" in the Bible were added long after.) (more...) |
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Lessons Learned at the Bar Led by Daniel Neumayer The "bar" refers to the court system. What did you think I meant? :-) This week I really have reason to celebrate. Last year, Gwendolyn and I were sued for $600,000.00. (more...) |
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The Law of Attraction Led by Daniel Neumayer Some years ago, at the height of the winter storms, I attended a spiritual group. The discussion that evening was about the storms, the floods, the landslides. The leader of the group said that the storms and the damage they caused existed because so many people were thinking about storms and landslides. (more...) |
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Beautiful Sunday Led by Daniel Neumayer Our friend Luba sent me the most wonderful, catchy, joyous, can't-stop-humming song, "Beautiful Sunday". This Sunday we'll use the spirit of the song to inspire some ideas on how you can create a beautiful Sunday – or any day – for yourself. So, come enjoy our band's rendition of the song, and have a beautiful Sunday with us at the Harmony Center. |
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Wishful Thinking Led by Daniel Neumayer Last week's topic, Empowering Beliefs, looked at the way our thoughts and beliefs control our experience of life. We discussed how we are at choice as to what we believe. This Sunday morning, we'll consider the dangers of Wishful Thinking, (more...) |
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Caribbean Lessons: Life Is Short, Life Is Good Led by Daniel Neumayer This dream vacation will soon be over. Fifteen days in the Caribbean. It has been amazing. Lots of dancing, fun, sun, water and adventure. And then there was last Sunday. (more...) |
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Whatever You’d Like NEXT. . . Led by Cassandra Cockrill No matter how good life is right now, there is always the opportunity to have even more of what you love through awareness and transformation. During this celebration our guest speaker, Cassandra Cockrill, will reveal (more...) |
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I Have a Dream Led by Gianna Ranuzzi Come share a profound experience as guest speaker, Gianna Ranuzzi, reenacts the words of Martin Luther King's speech, "I have a Dream", puts it in historical perspective, and also adds her own perspective. |
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Flourishing Led by Daniel Neumayer What does it mean to flourish? The dictionary defines flourishing as "to grow or develop in a healthy and vigorous way." So, how do we do that, in this day and age? (more...) |
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Community Led by Daniel Neumayer The Harmony Center is a Community in which we learn about, practice and share Harmony and the Joy that it brings. As we prepare to celebrate the fifth anniversary  of the Harmony Center - next week! - (more...) |
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Friend, Stranger, Enemy Led by Daniel Neumayer This Sunday we'll expose what is, perhaps, the most egregious misquote in history. It is a misrepresentation of what the Buddha said, and it has done untold damage because most people accept it as truth. (more...) |
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Take a Break for Yourself… Led by Daniel Neumayer
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Growing Up (at age 67) Led by Daniel Neumayer Last week, I celebrated my 67th birthday. Next week, we'll celebrate the winter solstice, the changing of the seasons. I've been thinking about the seasons of our lives, what this season is for me. Sunday morning I'll have some reflections (more...) |
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Transforming Relationships Led by Cassandra Cockrill At this time of year, many of us find ourselves visiting with family and friends. While we connect with people we'd love to see more often, sometimes we see people whose company we don't enjoy. What if we could transform those relationships? (more...) |
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Finding Joy Amidst the Chaos Led by Daniel Neumayer Check back for details. |
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Staying Grateful Led by Daniel Neumayer I hope you had a great Thanksgiving day, and I trust you had a chance to reflect on the things you are grateful for. It is great to have a day to focus on what is good in our lives. The question is, however, how do we stay focused? How do we remain grateful? (more...) |
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Feeding the Wolf Led by Daniel Neumayer Here is some Cherokee wisdom making the rounds these days: Two Wolves One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Darkness. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, and superiority. (more...) |
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The Five Freedoms Led by Daniel Neumayer The 2048 Movement is a new concept to promote peace and harmony. The core concept of the movement is The Five Freedoms. When everyone has these freedoms (more...) |
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The Huge Disconnect Led by Doris Gray We are all aware of the the hemispheres of our brain, and how the right and left hemispheres supervise different aspects of our lives. But sometimes things get out of balance, disconnected. (more...) |
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The Intelligent Optimist Led by Daniel Neumayer Check back for details. |
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Lessons Learned Led by Daniel Neumayer Life is full of lessons. Why is it that so many of them are difficult? I find that many times I seem to insist on learning the hard way. This Sunday morning, I'll share some thoughts (more...) |
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My So-Called Heat Attack(s) Led by Daniel Neumayer
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What’s Your Coffee… Led by Daniel Neumayer ... and what is the cup? Last Sunday,guest speaker Simon Rubenstein compared life to coffee, and cautioned us not be be so concerned about the cup it is served in. This Sunday, we'll consider what each of us considers the "coffee", and how (more...) |
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Life Is Like Coffee Led by Simon Rubenstein Guest speaker Simon Rubenstein compares life to coffee, and cautions us not be be so concerned about the cup it is served in. |
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Door #2 Led by Daniel Neumayer Quiz shows are, perhaps, the original "Reality TV", setting up tests for people to pass or fail, and then offering choices. Much like life. Sometimes on these shows the contestant is offered a choice of the prizes behind two doors. (more...) |
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At Peace with Yourself Led by Daniel Neumayer How can we be at peace with ourselves, given the times we live in? Add you own thoughts (more...) |
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Being Your Best, Doing Your Best Led by Daniel Neumayer Reflections on Being Your Best We are always being given advice such as: "Never settle for anything less than your best." But what is your best? How can we tell? I Like this definition (more...) |
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Generosity in the Mojave Led by Daniel Neumayer Greetings from Joshua Tree! No time to prepare my usual, formal announcement. The mediation over the lawsuit lasted until 7 PM Monday, and at 7 AM Tuesday I was on my way to the mojave desert (more...) |
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Mediation and Compassion Led by Daniel Neumayer (more...) |
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Questions, not Answers Led by Daniel Neumayer Considering the questions is what is important in life, not finding the answers. |
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Love and Duty Led by Daniel Neumayer Are we acting out of Love, or out of a sense of duty? Which is better? |
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The Wisdom of Anais Nin Led by Daniel Neumayer While preparing my thoughts last week on Fog and Sun, I came across a wonderful quote: A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked. - Anais Nin I loved the poetry of the words combined with the joy over the ordinary things in life. I went looking for (more...) |
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Through the Fog and into the Sun Led by Daniel Neumayer For days on end I didn't see the sun. I was staying in Lucia on the Big Sur Coast, 25 miles from even a small town. One of the locals said they had been fogged in for over two weeks and that if I wanted to see the sun, I would have to drive up into the mountains, through the fog. As I drove up the mountain road (more...) |
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Personal Thoughts on Solitude Led by Daniel Neumayer I am fortunate to be spending this week in solitude (more or less) in a cabin above the ocean an hour drive south of Big Sur. It is truly a spiritual experience. As Martin Buber wrote: (more...) |
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Daniel’s View of the World Led by Daniel Neumayer This week I'll have some reflections on everything from the law of attraction to lawsuits to white hair to the afterlife. Not immutable "Truth", simply my observations. The Joyful Harmony Band will play and sing some of my favorite songs: John Lennon, Lee Ann Womac, Stevie Wonder, The KiKi Dee Band, and more. |
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What Is Your Theme? Led by Daniel Neumayer This week we looked at the concept of a Theme for your life, as opposed to having goals. Here is a rough copy of my notes. (more...) |
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The Four Blessings: Equanimity Led by Daniel Neumayer Equanimity, that sense of calm and peace that we all desire. How can we achieve it? The Buddha gave us a path, a practice, an attitude that will create equanimity. He said, "Do not distinguish friend, enemy, stranger.” This short sentence contains a powerful lesson. Here are some of the ideas I am considering for this Sunday as I reflect on the concept of Equanimity. (more...) |
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Loving Again: Forgiving Led by Daniel Neumayer Last Sunday we looked at Love, one of the Four Blessings in the Buddhist tradition. The Buddhists speak of Love as "wanting others to be happy." Thus love is universal and unconditional. But as we discussed it further, people brought out how difficult it can be to love certain people. (more...) |
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World Peace: Making It Personal Led by Doris Gray These days we are always being told, "Stop taking it personally." But some things need to be taken personally, really taken to heart. (more...) |
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Buddha’s Four Blessings Led by Daniel Neumayer Compassion - Love - Joy - Equanimity Wouldn't we all want more of these in our lives! The Buddhists teach that these are attainable here, and now. But you have to know what you are aiming for. The Buddhists define these four words in a fundamentally different way than we usually do. And yet, when we move toward their definition, we achieve happiness, joy and fulfillment in untold measure. (more...) |
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Choosing Your Theme for 2012 Led by Daniel Neumayer A Theme is a powerful concept: Theme: an idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature. -- or a life. Have you considered what you want your theme to be, what you want people to notice about you? (more...) |
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