Illustration by Miki Howenstein

 (From page 346 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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Creating opportunities and spaces for concerned people to take action requires direction and leadership. In this sense of the word, true leadership means listening closely to others to find the strengths they can use to build their self-esteem and forge important connections to enhance their sense of self-worth.

Author’s Comment: In many facets of our lives, the private has come to take priority over the public, with opportunities to do something for the public good diminishing. In today’s world of technological marvels and privatization, taking action to better the world falls to the wayside. Yet, such actions inevitably improves the physical and mental condition of the participants, thereby creating a desperate need for those who provide such opportunities.

                                                                  Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                                    (From page 312 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

Come to see the cynics’ arguments for what they are—empty. For example, skeptics often use fear as a way of halting progressive ideas, like the idea that moving towards an environmentally harmonious lifestyle means depriving ourselves of the good things in life. But such arguments no longer bear any weight for you, for you clearly see that moving in that direction is far more spiritually and deeply fulfilling, while you also build on life’s most precious gifts—light-heartedness, a sense of enchantment, security and freedom from fear (exactly those treasures which our current unsustainable lifestyles are stealing away from us). Envisioning a future that restores these gifts is the first step towards bringing them into reality.
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Author’s Comment: Our materialistic societies provide a host of conveniences and goodies which bless our lives in so many ways. At the same time, as currently developed, we suffer from environmental ills, a increasingly unstable climate, and more and more loneliness and disconnection with other people and living things. Envisioning and moving towards a society where our multitude of techno-conveniences accompany greater connection and environmental betterment becomes our greatest task for a sustainable and rewarding future for all. 

                                                         Illustration by Miki Howenstein
　                                       (From page 280 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

Closer contact with nature blesses us with spiritual experiences which “naturally and spiritually” engender within us a desire for less material goods (since the pleasure of contacting “holy life” gives us much more contentment than any superfluous goods ever could).
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Author’s Comment: Getting in contact with nature means getting in contact with life’s mystery and the wonders which make our existence possible. Appreciating nature’s gifts to us (a sense of awe, fresh air, clean water, healthy soils, everything necessary for us to live) and reflecting adoringly of her incredible immensity instills within us a sense of contentment unmatched by human ingenuity.

                                                              Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                                (From page 246 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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……Within the individual, the quest for integrity means striving for a harmonious fitting together of the different aspects of the self—mind, spirit and body. In your integration with the life community, you find ways of promoting your own growth at the same time as positively cultivating your natural and human communities…….

Author’s Comment: Finding the right connections leads one to living a more integrated life. When I believe in being kind to others and befriend another who frequently commits violence and leads me to do so, this connection destroys my integrity. Ut us if the utmost importance that you deepen connections with those who promote the inner (and outer) harmony of your life and your values.
         

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

…… The meaning of “all-inclusive” herein entails the idea of all life as being fundamentally valuable and encourages individuals to act on that, while encouraging others to do the same. At the same time, when we blindly accept individual behaviours damaging to our universal ideals, like someone who insists on his right to downgrade others, we destroy our own sense of community and inclusiveness, for such a person drives a wedge between people……
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Author’s Comment: How do we include those who wish to do harm to us? Or accept beings (like those nasty mosquitoes) which inflict pain on us? While we maintain the idea that all life is valuable, it is also important that we insist upon living in dignity and the right of others to do so. When others invade our sense of dignity, we have a right (I would also say, an obligation) to do whatever is necessary to uphold our (and others’) dignity however we can, which may mean resisting being harmed by another or excluding them in order to maintain a dignified inclusion with others. 
              

                                                             Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                              (From page 180 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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……. It requires a lot of persistence and discipline to first find your purpose (through constant soul-searching and reflection) and then still more to embody and live it out……. Yet, it is through making tireless efforts at “creating and implementing” your true purpose that a long lasting and steady contentment permeates your entire being....……

Author’s Comment:  Some are fortunate enough to inherently know their life’s purpose (i.e to have children and raise a family). For most, the answer isn’t so easy and life takes on a journey of various jobs and/or multiple relationships.Yet, in these “failures” you can often find the key to your purpose through sorting out what was fulfilling and unfulfilling in each episode of your life, which can lead to the discovery of your life’s purpose.

                                                         Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                         (From page 146 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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The majority will claim that spiritual precepts are beautiful although they cannot practically be lived out in our dog-eat-dog world. On the contrary, the most fallacious “fantasy” is that we can continue to live on a relatively benevolent planet without their full implementation. ...……

Author’s Comment:  It is only in having more and more people attempting to live out generally accepted universal ideals (compassion, fairness, tolerance, respect for life…) that we can effectively move towards a society where increasing numbers of humans and other beings of nature can flourish. Perhaps we cannot achieve heaven on earth, but we can surely move in that direction.

                                                 Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                   (From page 114 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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……. Non-violence is closely connected to the concept of sustainability. A life which is sustained by violent acts, including the destruction of other people and/or lifeforms (deliberately or not), is unsustainable as it destroys the foundation of its very existence...……

Author’s Comment:  There are many aspects of my own life which are unattainable, in that they contribute to the destruction of other people and lifeforms. Living in the city, the ways which I try to counteract these “violent acts” is by becoming aware of them and altering my life to support life-engendering acts (refuse goods made from slave labor, buy more fair trade, support those working to increase biodiversity and financial support of organizations “regenerating” the earth). These things anyone can do.

                                                               Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                                 (From page 80 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

……. The purpose underpinning these ponderings, and towards cultivating a loving spirit, is not to express an abstinence from unpleasant feelings towards others or existing personal barriers preventing us from fully loving others. Rather, the idea is to search for and understand these obstacles to love and find ways of diminishing or overcoming them..……
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Author’s Comment:  “You should love everybody.” How easy to say, and difficult to do. There are always going to be those who rub you the wrong way, or you despise their behavior. Cultivating a loving spirit (which indeed comes to love everyone despite the “bad feelings” some may engender) takes much training and effort, and those who have been able to do so remain humanity’s inspiration throughout the ages.

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

……. Too often, spirituality is seen as a solemn endeavor. Such an idea is the primary reason why many have no interest in it. When spirituality is made to be instilled with fun, with things that uplift you while also making others‘ lives more joyful, how can people not be attracted to it, and to all of the good that it can bring to the world?……
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Author’s Comment: How would you like to find joy in the simple things of life, releasing yourself of the burden to work hard in order to make a lot of money to buy goods and experiences that bring happiness? You find that these “external pleasures” are only temporary, while finding happiness and contentment within is more permanent. What could be more delightful than that? It’s far from being a “solemn endeavor.”