Research Links Inspirations

A Treasury of Research Links, Resources, & Inspirations to Explore

“There is almost a sensual longing for communion with others who have a large vision.
The immense fulfillment of the friendship between those engaged
in furthering the evolution of consciousness
has a quality impossible to describe.”
~ Teilhard de Chardin

Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Heartfelt greetings.
This page offers a wealth of inspirations and a treasury of research and links to support your ongoing explorations of the themes we have introduce you to related to the principles and practices of Wisdom at Work.

Given that many of us find ourselves at home these days, adjusting to a new rhythm and way of life, with the rare treasure of potentially more open time available for deeper reflection, we are are delighted to share the following links and inspirations for you to explore and nurture your spirit and well-being.

May your practice ever deepen as an inspiration for all you meet along The Way))
Joel and Michelle Levey

~~~~~~~~~~

“There’s a thread you follow.  It goes among things that change.
But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread. But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost. Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.”
– By William Stafford, from The Way It Is

Upcoming Workshops & Retreats with Michelle & Joel Levey

Links for “Essential Practices” and Guidelines for Daily Practice:
contemplations, meditations, readings, and recording from Joel and Michelle Levey
to inspire your continued practice:
https://www.wisdomatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/Leveys-Essential-Practices-for-Daily-Life.pdf
http://wisdomandcompassion.us/daily-path-of-practice/
http://wisdomandcompassion.us/daily-practice/
http://WisdomAndCompassion.us 

The Leveys’ Wisdom at Work YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/wisdomatwork

Favorite videos to gain an insight into our lives and work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3XiXtuCKrU 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHhJ_EXHC5w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkqJMV-S6aE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzulmlWozFQ

Embracing and Transforming Uncertainty & Suffering: Compassion on Every Breath Meditation  

(A potent practice to antidote to the distress of these challenging times.)

Written Version: https://www.wisdomatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/Leveys-Essential-Practices-for-Daily-Life.pdf
NEW! Guided Audio Meditation from Michelle & Joel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfjSmvDUewY&feature=youtu.be 

Also see brilliant explanation of Tonglen by our friend Lama Willa Miller – at http://www.academia.edu/9119205/Compassion_and_Resilience_Slide_Show_for_Presentation_at_International_Symposium_for_Contemplative_Studies_Boston_2014
Also – see: http://WisdomAtWork.com/EssentialPractices/  for some guided audio and other links and readings

Notes and Media Illuminating the Science of Compassion – https://www.wisdomatwork.com/greatcompassion/ 

The Vital Role of Mindfulness for Blue Light Services, Military, Health Care and Emergency Services Professionals Who Work with Danger and Trauma (These are transcripts from our recent teachings at a special session exploring this topic at British Parliament.)

The Mindfulness All Party Parliamentary Group hearing: Armed Forces, Policing and Emergency Services Parliament Transcript-Military Bluelight Hearing Military Leveys

The Mindfulness All Party Parliamentary Group hearing: Armed Forces, Policing and Emergency Services

M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Meditation:  

A unique sequence of meditations that we have created to begin each day – beginning with the first moment that you are “awake that you are awake” – and ideally prior to getting involved with any of your devices.  Doing this practice first is a declaration of giving priority to your primary operating systems – the deep nature of your own mind-body-spirit.

M indful of Body/Breath– Embodiment!
A wake that you are awake!
G ratitude– mindful of whomever or whatever you are grateful for, taking them to heart,with gratitude overflowing as blessings )))
 I ntention– clarify your personal intention for the day – and add to this a Universal harmonic of that intention….”for the benefit of all”
C onnection–Take refuge in the matrix or constellation of all the inspiring forces and sources of inspirations thatsupport you…receiving and radiating waves of inspiration and gratitude with each breath)))
A wareness– resting in clear, boundless, sky-like awake-awareness
L ove))) Sensing deeper into boundless awareness to discover that itis inseparable from boundless love extending to and embracing all beings)))

Links for Leveys’ various books and audio programmes:
https://www.wisdomatwork.com/media-and-resources/

Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for Thriving in a Complex World  (ebook – and print)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Balance-Levey/dp/1611250293/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1429911151&sr=8-5&keywords=joel+levey
http://WisdomAtWork.com/balance

Mindfulness, Meditation, and Mind-Fitness – new book in print, ebook, and -audio book (Audible) format
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-Meditation-Mind-Fitness-Levey/dp/1573246492/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1429911127&sr=8-2&keywords=joel+levey

Focus! The Power of Mindfulness and Mastery of Attention (Audible program)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Focus-Mastering-Power-Mindfulness-Attention/dp/B00QYARFEE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1429911190&sr=8-4&keywords=joel+levey

Info on our Learning Center and gathering place on the Big Island of Hawaii:
http://WisdomatWork.com/aloha
http://KohalaSanctuary.com <http://kohalasanctuary.com/>

The following video is posted in honor of our beloved friend and mentor, Hawaiian elder Kumu Raylene Ha’alelea Kawaiae’a, who died in a car crash on March 9, 2012. Kumu collaborated with us on many wisdom and wellness programs that we worked on for the local community and for colleagues and friends who visited from around the world.  In this moving video, Kumu sings a chant of appreciation for the many sustaining forces of our lives – to the earth, to the living beings, to the oceans, mountains, and Spirit…. This excerpt was filmed on location at our home, Kohala Sanctuary on the Big Island of Hawaii by Nova Ami and Velcrow Ripper, and parts of this interview will be featured in their upcoming documentary Occupy Love.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKjOYGZUj9M]

INSPIRING MEDI & RESEARCH TO EXPLORE:

Infinite Potential movie on the life of quantum Physisist and modern mystic David Bohm:

https://www.infinitepotential.com

International Symposium of Contemplative Science – Library of Videos on Research
https://www.mindandlife.org/international-symposium-contemplative-studies/
2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5B4aRTI-zQ&feature=youtu.be&list=PLOafJ4rP1PHyAel4TaBVEvDW3U7d1C2zT
2016:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMtJQ1U1fHs&list=PLOafJ4rP1PHx3puZGREfM8quSnVaDLrdG

2018: https://www.mindandlife.org/international-symposium-for-contemplative-research/

Rhonda McGee – Contemplative Inquiry, Research and Practice in the Work of Transformative Justice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xcNaWUt_uk&t=498s

Perspectives on Mindfulness:
Mindful Nation UK (We were advisors for this initiative) – http://www.themindfulnessinitiative.org.uk/images/reports/Mindfulness-APPG-Report_Mindful-Nation-UK_Oct2015.pdf
U. of Mass. Medical School Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society – http://umassmed.edu/cfm/
American Mindfulness Research Association (AMRA) – https://goamra.org <https://goamra.org/>
Roots and Shoots of Mindfulness (by the Leveys) 

The Transformations of Mindfulness –  https://www.academia.edu/34606920/The_Transformations_of_Mindfulness?email_work_card=view-paper        

Meditation en Masse – http://www.ahandfulofleaves.org/documents/Meditation%20En%20Masse_Erik%20Braun.pdf
Mindfulness Revisited –  http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1056492614532315

Links regarding research showing the profound relationship and differences of mindfulness, empathy, and compassion:
Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences
Tania Singer, et al,
* Compassion: Bridging Practice and Science (a remarkable and comprehensive iTunes Multimedia book.)
http://www.compassion-training.org/?page=download
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/compassion.-bridging-practice/id826628616?mt=11

* Insights, research, and meditations on Compassion  https://www.wisdomatwork.com/greatcompassion/
* 2012/2013 Research Report: Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences  ( http://static.cbs.mpg.de/publications/ResearchReport_2012-2013web.pdf )   An inspiring review of recent research.
* “Raising Compassion” Movie ( https://vimeo.com/73685698 )

Joan Halifax – New book – Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet

CCARE: Center for Compassion & Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University
http://ccare.stanford.edu <http://ccare.stanford.edu/>
Videos – https://www.youtube.com/user/CcareStanford/videos

A Force For Good – from Dan and Tara Goleman and the Dalai Lama:
http://www.joinaforce4good.org/learn

Atlas of Emotions:
http://www.paulekman.com/atlas-of-emotions/

The British Parliament’s “Mindful Nation UK Report”  
https://www.wisdomatwork.com/mindfulnation/
http://www.themindfulnessinitiative.org.uk/images/reports/Mindfulness-APPG-Report_Mindful-Nation-UK_Oct2015.pdf
http://www.themindfulnessinitiative.org.uk

Greater Good Science Center – http://greatergood.berkeley.edu <http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/>

Mind and Life Institute – http://MindandLife.org <http://mindandlife.org/>
https://www.mindandlife.org/international-symposium-contemplative-studies/
Overview of recent research in contemplative sciences: http://www.mindandlife.org/email/ISCS2014_Program_Schedule.pdf

Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin
http://www.investigatinghealthyminds.org/cihmDrDavidson.html

Institute of Noetic Sciences
http://Noetic.org <http://noetic.org/>

Profound and Inspiring Books & Related Videos By The Authors:
*Dan Siegel, M.D. brilliant books: Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence–The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice  and Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human –
* A Force for Good (Dan Goleman with the Dalai Lama)
* Alan Hamilton, M.D. – The Scalpel and the Soul –
* Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World (Matthieu Ricard) –
* A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to Be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives (Thupten Jinpa Ph.D.)  also video from his talk at UW –  
• Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart (James Doty, M.D. From Stanford’s CCARE Program)
• Living in Balance: A Mindful Guide for Thriving in a Complex World (Joel & Michelle Levey, Foreword by the Dalai Lama) –
•Altered Traits SCIENCE REVEALS HOW MEDITATION CHANGES YOUR MIND, BRAIN, AND BODY, DANIEL GOLEMAN and RICHARD J. DAVIDSON (book)  ,

• Quantum Revelation, Paul Levy, 

• The profound and super relevant work of Joanna Macy – https://workthatreconnects.org  and   https://www.joannamacy.net/main

• A Pocket Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology (Daniel Siegel) – also – 

Two Inspiring Movies on Mindfulness/Vipassana Practice:
Doing Time Doing Vipassana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkxSyv5R1sg
Dhamma Brothers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKUr-hhy0Es

Other Inspiring Media:

Rupert Sheldrake:  Can Science and Religion Partner in a New Phase of Human Exploration? https://www.sheldrake.org/videos/can-science-and-religion-partner-in-a-new-phase-of-human-exploration

Videos on Human Potential and Social Justice
http://upliftconnect.com/the-neuroscience-of-compassion
http://upliftconnect.com/multidimensional-universe-inside-our-brains/

Mindfulness Research:
U. of Mass. Medical School Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society – http://umassmed.edu/cfm/
American Mindfulness Research Association (AMRA) – https://goamra.org <https://goamra.org/>

Exploring Mindfulness and Medicine
Podcast from University of Auckland Medical School with Dr. Joel Levey
Joel Levey a mindfulness pioneer explores practices and techniques of mindfulness with Prof Bruce Arroll on his recent trip to New Zealand.  http://www.goodfellowunit.org/podcast/mindfulness-joel-levey

Subtle Energies and Non-Local Effects of Mental Intention at a Distance:
Journals and research for ISSSEEM – The International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine – http://journals.sfu.ca/seemj/index.php/seemj/issue/archive

Margins of Reality – book by Robert Jahn

Science and Human Transformation: Subtle Energies, Intentionality and Consciousness – William A. Tiller

Research and Writings of Dean Radin, Larry Dossey, and Rupert Sheldrake (from Stanford) – Explore videos from these scientists on YouTube.

Inspiring Imagery – from Alex and Allyson Grey – http://www.alexgrey.com/art/paintings/ and  http://CoSM.org 

Insight Regarding Global Affairs & Climate Emergency

Deep Adaptation – http://www.deepadaptation.info

• Deep Adaptation Professionals Network – https://deepadaptation.ning.com

• Jem Bendell’s Blog – https://jembendell.com

• Hope in a Time of Climate Crisis – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naj1oD3DkT0&t=1136s

• Leveys’ Deep Adaptation and Climate Change page (Being developed) – https://www.wisdomatwork.com/deepadaptation/

• The Age of Consequences (Documentary) A must-see for anyone setting policy in government or business – and for anyone interested in the interdependencies in complex adaptive systems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UIzqi2CEPU   Also available on iTunes

• Insightful and well researched BBC Series’ by Adam Curtis: The Century of the Self – and – The Power of Nightmares:The Rise of the Politics of Fear – and – Hypernormalization  and – Non-LInear Warfare 

• Insightful global news:   Democracy Now – http://DemocracyNow.org  — The Intercept – Yes Magazine — The Real News Network

Meditation with children (some of you asked about this)
Mindful eating video of 6 year old Amelia that we showed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhR4OSnGEyc
Kids Explain Mindfulness – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awo8jUxIm0c
IONS – Worldview Explorations for youth http://www.noetic.org/education/worldview/overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhR4OSnGEyc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awo8jUxIm0c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AWfqw23jzM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhcsPVLAeXU&feature=youtu.be
See also Daniel Siegel’s brilliant book:- Whole Brain Child

Biofeedback and Neurofeedback:

The very useful biofeedback device from Thought Technologies, Inc. that we demonstrated at the retreat:
http://evutps.com/en/       http://thoughttechnology.com <http://thoughttechnology.com/>

Muse neurofeedback device:
http://mbsy.co/muse/22700901  (for a 15% discount)

More Links for the Leveys Teachings and Work

Mindfulness for Health – Joel and Michelle Levey – Pioneers in mindfulness for health
Podcast from University of Auckland Medical School
Joel and Michelle Levey offer a unique and rich blend of insights and experience distilled from 50 years of intensive contemplative study/practice and work bringing this wisdom into higher education, medicine, and business.
http://www.goodfellowunit.org/events/mindfulness-health-joel-and-michelle-levey-pioneers-mindfulness-health

Info on our work with leaders, teams, and organizations is posted at:
https://www.wisdomatwork.com <http://wisdomatwork.com/>
https://www.wisdomatwork.com/wp-content/uploads/Leveys-WisdomAtWork-DATA-2013.pdf

Leveys’ Huffington Post Blog
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joel-michelle-levey/
Blog regarding finding a credible teacher:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joel-michelle-levey/finding-a-spiritual-teach_1_b_949566.html?

Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook:
Twitter – https://twitter.com/wisdomatwork
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joel-and-Michelle-Levey/184438048260908
Also – https://www.facebook.com/groups/126645112920/
Living in Balance book page – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-In-Balance/424953690980915

“Without a global revolution in the sphere of human consciousness, nothing will change for the better in the sphere of our being as humans, and the catastrophe towards which this world is headed – be it ecological, social, demographic or a general breakdown of civilization – will be unavoidable. . .The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness, and in human responsibility.”
– Vaclav Havel, former president of Czech Republic in his historic address to the U.S. Congress

“What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is to be aware of everything you do every day. Mindfulness is a kind of light that shines upon all your thoughts, all your feelings, all your actions, and all your words. Mindfulness is the Buddha. Mindfulness is the equivalent of the Holy Spirit, the energy of God. Doing everything in our daily lives in the presence of God is mindfulness.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh

“Suffering is not enough. Life is both dreadful and wonderful.
To practice meditation is to be in touch with both aspects.
Smiling (tenderly to our selves as we behold whatever is arising in this moment of mindful self-reflection) means that we are ourselves, that we have sovereignty over ourselves, that we are not drowned in forgetfulness.
How can I smile when I am filled with so much sorrow?
It is natural—you need to smile to your sorrow because you are more than your sorrow.”
–Thich Nhat Hanh

Four Keys to Self-Compassion – From Kristin Neff:
• This is a moment of suffering.
The first phrase helps to mindfully open to the sting of emotional pain. (You can also just say “this is really hard right now” or “this hurts”.)

• Suffering is a part of life.
The second phrase normalizes our experience and reminds us that suffering unites all living beings and reduces the tendency to feel ashamed and isolated when things go wrong in our lives.

• May I be kind to myself.
The third phrase begins the process of responding with self-kindness rather than self criticism.

• May I give myself the compassion I need.
The final phrase reinforces the idea that you both need and deserve compassion in difficult moments.

Also:: from our Living in Balance book:    Mindful Transformation:
One very helpful way to approach the practice of mindfulness is to understand the four transformational powers of R.A.I.N. inspired by Jack Kornfield. Here is how we teach it:

R – Recognition allows us to clearly apprehend the nature of experience arising and passing in any given moment. Moment to moment we recognize what we are experiencing, “a joy…. a sorrow…. a hunger… a fullness… a fleeting pleasure… a pain… an experience of seeing… of hearing… of physical sensation….a memory of the past… a fantasy of the future” …  Each experience is recognized simply for what it is.

A – Acceptance is the power of fully embracing each experience as it is without resistance of any kind.  Especially when we appreciate that every experience is impermanent, flowing, and changing moment to moment, we can simply welcome whatever arises with an attitude of, “This sound is with me… this emotion is present… this pattern of thought is passing through my mind…, Ahhh….”  Each experience is clearly seen, deeply felt, and accepted just as it is like a cloud dancing through the clear sky of our mind.

I – Investigation is the capacity to apply mindfulness to look deeply into the nature of our experience in order to awaken insight. In this mode, mindfulness actively inquires, “what is this?” Mindfulness is not simply an open clear awareness here, but also allows for a lucid quality of investigation, discernment, and discovery. This analytical quality of investigation illuminates how everything is constantly changing, and how every experience is interdependent with a myriad of other experiences and influences.

N- Non-Identification is the power of simply regarding experiences as they are in themselves without needing to personalize them as defining “me” or “mine.” Through the process of Identification we define ourselves by our experiences, while the power of non-indentification opens a spacious freedom to simply regard experiences as mere experiences. With mindfulness we realize that we can simply rest in present moment awareness and witness the changing flow of life experiences like clouds arising and passing– dynamic appearances in the clear sky of being.  As emotions arise we notice them and note: “Ah …. Anger is with me… sadness is with me… joy is with me…. Frustration is present in this clear open space of mindful awareness.”–  rather than identifying with the emotions as in  “I am angry/sad/joyful/frustrated” etc.

Understanding these transformative powers of R.A.I.N. offers a useful way to calibrate and fine-tune our mindfulness to realize the true fruit of mindfulness practice.  While the benefits of mindfulness certainly include a sense of calm, focus, presence, clarity, and peace of mind, the highest realization of mindfulness practice is transformational insight that cuts through confusions, liberating us from misconceptions and misidentifications, and inspires us to awaken ever more deeply and completely to the true nature of ourselves, our experience, and all things.

“Basically, when we are talking about mindfulness, we are talking about awareness – pure awareness. It is an innate human capacity that is different from thinking but wholly complementary to it. It is also “bigger” than thinking, because any thought, no matter how momentous or profound, illuminating or destructive, can be held in awareness, and thus looked at, known, and understood in a multiplicity of ways which may provide new degrees of insight and fresh perspectives for dealing with old problems and emergent challenges, whether individual, societal, or global. Awareness in its purest form, or mindfulness, thus has the potential to add value and new degrees of freedom to living life fully and wisely and, thus, to making wiser and healthier, more compassionate and altruistic choices – in the only moment that any of us ever has for tapping our deep interior resources for imagination and creativity, for learning, growing, and healing, and in the end, for transformation, going beyond the limitations of our presently understood models of who we are as human beings and individual citizens, as communities and societies, as nations, and as a species.”
~ Jon Kabat-Zinn  (Excerpt from Mindful Nation UK) 

“Despite immense progress in the fields of democracy, women’s rights, human rights in general, justice, solidarity, and the eradication of poverty and epidemics, much remains to be done. It would be regrettable to neglect the role of personal transformation in facilitating further changes. One of the tragedies of our time seems to be considerably underestimating the ability for transformation of the human mind, given that our character traits are perceived as relatively stable. It is not so common for angry people to become patient, tormented people to find inner peace, or pretentious people to become humble. It is undeniable, however, that some individuals do change, and the change that takes place in them shows that it is not at all an impossible thing. Our character traits last as long as we do nothing to improve them and we leave our attitudes and automatisms alone, or else let them be reinforced with time. But it is a mistake to believe they are fixed in place permanently.”  Matthieu Ricard in his brilliant book, Altruism 

The Guesthouse
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
~Rumi

“When we seek for connection, we restore the world to wholeness.
Our seemingly separate lives become meaningful
as we discover how truly necessary we are to each other.”
~ Margaret Wheatley

“Here is the very heart and soul of leadership: If you look to lead, invest at least 40% of your time managing yourself – your ethics, character, principle, purpose, motivation, and conduct. Invest at least 30% managing those with authority over you, and 15% managing your peers. Use the remainder to induce those you “work for” to understand and practice the theory… if you don’t understand that you should be working for your mislabeled “subordinates” you haven’t understood anything. Lead yourself, lead your superiors, lead your peers, and free your people to do the same. All else is trivial!” ~ Dee Hock, Founder of VISA Card

“Security is mostly a superstition, it does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all!”  ~ Helen Keller

“Silence introduced in a society that worships noise is like the Moon exposing the night. Behind darkness is our fear. Within silence our voice dwells. What is required from both is that we be still. We focus. We listen. We see and we hear. The unexpected emerges. For far too long we have been seduced into walking a path that did not lead us to ourselves. For far too long we have said yes when we wanted to say no. And for far too long we have said no when we desperately wanted to say yes. When I look in the mirror, I see a woman with secrets. When we don’t listen to our intuition, we abandon our souls. And we abandon our souls because we are afraid if we don’t, others will abandon us. We’ve been raised to question what we know, to discount and discredit the authority of our gut. I want to know why. I regret whenever I abandon myself. But harboring regrets is making love to the past, and there is no movement here. It’s not the lips of a prince that will save us, but our own lips speaking. I am growing beyond my own conditioning, breaking set with what was breaking me.” ~Excerpts from When Women Were Birds, a profound book by Terry Tempest Williams.

“All this systems thinking stuff has no meaning without understanding that we’re part of something larger than ourselves…We’ve depleted the earth and we’re fragmenting our spirit. We live under a massive illusion of separation from one another, from nature, from the universe, from everything. It’s the great liability we have inherited from the Industrial Revolution back through Reformation…The human species is profoundly out of balance. If our work has an impact, it will bring us back into the natural order of things.”   ~Peter Senge, in Fortune Magazine

“There is an important link between deep change at the personal level and deep change at the organizational level. To make deep personal change is to develop a paradigm, a new self, one that is more effectively aligned with today’s realities. This can occur only if we are willing to journey into unknown territory and confront the wicked problems we encounter.” ~Robert Quinn

“The price of anything is the amount of life you pay for it.” ~Henry David Thoreau

“A human being is part of the whole called by us the Universe. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. this delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures, and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is, in itself, a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.” ~ Albert Einstein

“The same stream of life that runs through the world runs through my veins night and day and dances in rhythmic measure. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth into the numberless blades of grass and breaks into tumultuous waves of flowers.” ~ Rabindanath Tagor

“Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage.How are we to be patient in dealing with our neighbor’s faults if we are impatient in dealing with our own? He who is fretted by his own failings will not correct them.All profitable correction comes from a calm, peaceful mind.” ~St. Francis de Sales

“Fame or integrity: which is more important?

Money or happiness: which is more valuable?

Success or failure: which is most destructive?

If you look to others for fulfillment,

you will never truly be fulfilled.

If your happiness depends on money,

you will never be happy with yourself.

Be content with what you have;

rejoice in the way things are.

When you realize there is nothing lacking,

the whole world belongs to you!”

~ Lao Tzu

“The key to our inner resources is self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is gained by personal development–that is, by collecting experiences out of which new insights and wisdom are born… This comes close to being the meaning of life. Consequently the raison d’être for a company is to supply an environment in which personal development of human beings involved in the company can best take place… What a precious gift to humanity and our planet it would be if the remarkable knowledge we have achieved should be united with wisdom. Then our planet would be the paradise it is meant to be. Business life has the opportunity to bring that gift forward.” ~ Rolf Osterber, Founding Member of World Business Academy

“We are luminous beings. We are perceivers. We are an awareness. We are not objects.We have no solidity. We are boundless. The world of objects and solidity is a way of making our passage on earth convenient. It is only a description that was created to help us. We or rather our reasons, forget that the description is only a description and thus we entrap the totality of ourselves in a vicious circle from which we rarely emerge in a lifetime. We are perceivers. The world that we perceive though is an illusion. It was created by a description that was told to us since the moment we were born.”~ Don Juan