Illustration by Miki Howenstein

 (From page 312 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

… With faith firmly inculcated into your being, you become different and see others differently, for you are then securely grounded in a world of hope. Accompanying this hope comes the realization that most of us (probably yourself included) are trapped by our culture’s false stories, those very stories which destroy our environment and accelerate the injustices in our world….. 

Author’s Comment: Much of cultivating a genuine sense of hope for a better world entails weeding out the cultural stories which degrade the human spirit  (like “we’re all greedy”) or damage the environment (efficiency is most important, even if it causes suffering). Any hopeful demeanor based on faith in humankind will prioritize those cultural stories (new and old) which build the good character in people and restore the health of our natural environment.

Illustration by Miki Howenstein

One of the main points of this whole paradigm is that spirituality is uplifting and fun! 

(From page 280 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
​
Author’s Comment: Spirituality entails a lot of endurance, discipline, reflection and hard (soul) work. Then how can this be uplifting and fun? It’s similar to a “runner’s high” in that exercise is tough and can be painful at times, but the feel-happy endorphins it engenders makes it well worth it. Lived out spirituality is the same, but much more rewarding since it infiltrates every aspect of your life.

Illustration by Miki Howenstein
​
One of the main points of this whole paradigm is that spirituality is uplifting and fun! 
(From page 280 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

Author’s Comment: Spirituality entails a lot of endurance, discipline, reflection and hard (soul) work. Then how can this be uplifting and fun? It’s similar to a “runner’s high” in that exercise is tough and can be painful at times, but the feel-happy endorphins it engenders makes it well worth it. Lived out spirituality is the same, but much more rewarding since it infiltrates every aspect of your life.

Illustration by Miki Howenstein
​(From page 212 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

…….　Looking at dignity and inclusion from this perspective, we must be wary of our well-intended charitable actions that may actually be detrimental. By making others more dependent on handouts for simple survival, we are destroying their dignity and secluding them from the “functional” society.
​
Author’s Comment: I have found that having the benefactors of charity be the ones to decide how the funds are to be used is best. Related to this, the people running the charities should, as much as possible, be those who have endured the conditions which the charity is trying to deal with (for example, poor people (or those who have experienced poverty) being on the board of a charity which helps the poor). In the end, creating systemic change so there is little need for such organizations  (since the society is fair and just) should be the ultimate goal. 

 Illustration by Miki Howenstein

 (From page 180 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

……And when that (a long-lasting and steady contentment due to “creating and implementing" your true purpose) happens, you will look back and wonder how you could have wasted so much time chasing those ephemeral desires, like money and beauty—to comings and goings over which you have limited control……
​
Author’s Comment: We have limited control over many of the events which take place in our lives. However, with effort, we can cultivate a more steady contentment which can weather the ups and downs of life. Taking this a step further, helping to develop a society (through education, practicing fairness and equity for all, etc) would engender more and more people’s capacity to elevate such a formidable foundation upon which to live out their lives.

 Illustration by Miki Howenstein

 (From page 146 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
​
…… …… On achieving an understanding of the essence of these universal values and their benefit to all of humankind, our society can become more unified to find ways of implementing and integrating them into our everyday lives. Surely, great differences of opinion will exist on the best incorporating mechanisms of these values into our communities.……​

Author’s Comment: One criticism against encouraging all nations to implement generally accepted universal values is that it “forces” all to abide by them, even if they don’t accept them. Accepting and trying to live out universal values is a strong binding force in that they affirm our fundamental human worth and dignity. Those who do not believe in such basic values cannot help but to be outliers, for by “accepting” their corrupted vision of the world is to accept the maltreatment of others without reason—in other words,  to give up our attempt to create a more peaceful, strongly unified world.

 Illustration by Miki Howenstein
 (From page 114 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

For those of us leading a materialistic lifestyle, living more simply can be a way to decrease damage to the physical world at the same time as help us to focus more on what is truly important (relationships, self-actualization, love), making us encounter life more directly ……
​
Author’s Comment: While I like the saying “Live simply so that others can simply live,” I also feel that it lacks appeal for the average person, sounding a bit like a sacrifice. For me, acquiring less material goods and living in a small space has made me life tremendously freer, being able to spend more time with others who brighten up my life and wholesome interests which nourish mind, soul and body. I’ve never felt lighter and more energized in my life, and I realize it is largely of having few burdensome things. 

 Illustration by Miki Howenstein
 (From page 80 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
​
……In the absence of self-compassion, it is impossible to be compassionate towards others. Learning to come to love even your weak points while concurrently working on bettering your strong points can help you to become a person more accepting of others’ weaknesses……

Author’s Comment: Whenever we are harshly critical of ourselves, we become harshly critical of others, leading to a downwards spiral of increasing cynicism and misery. And the opposite is true as well.  Give yourself credit for being alive, experiencing the ups and downs of existence, and respect others for doing the same. Doing so opens up your heart, allowing light to fill you while shining the gift of being you on those around you.

   Illustration by Miki Howenstein
(From page 48 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

There are times when you feel grateful for all you are and the good things surrounding you. Hopefully, a fuller awareness of your true self will help to cultivate such a feeling. Yet, there will still be times when it is difficult to appreciate anything. For example, everything may be going wrong or you may be simply getting into one of those ornery moods. Like any worthwhile spiritual gift, a spirit of gratitude requires a discipline of consciously incorporating it into your life……..
​
Author’s Comment: Developing a regular practice of expressing appreciation (both simply within yourself as well as to others) uplifts your life and benefits your relationships. And at those times when so much seems to be going wrong, remember those good things which you do have to help bring some reprieve to  mind and spirit.

 Illustration by Miki Howenstein
 (From page 14 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
​
……How do you live your life? What do you believe deep down in your heart? Is your moral philosophy reflected in the way you live? If not, perhaps you truly don’t believe it…….

Author’s Comment: For many indigenous peoples around the world, there is no concept of religion (being separate from everyday life). In other words, their religion is the way that they live. How true that is! Rather than talking about what you believe, look closely at how you live and how that reflects what you believe. It may (or may not) be very different from what your words proclaim.