Illustration by Miki Howenstein
​                                                           (From page 14 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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​……. Why wait until people are adults in order to self-reflect, to generate the awareness necessary to be who they really want to be? And how best to provide education for children, which instills within them these spiritual values that can be implemented to develop a more enlightened and fun-filled society—one that fills the real world with great hope? …….

Author’s Comment:  Another year is upon us, often accompanied by New Year’s resolutions, most of which will be broken in the days ahead. How about making a promise to yourself to become more aware of what you REALLY want to be? And, if you have children, “play” with them to find those answers. Make it fun so that you (all) look forward to it. By becoming conscious of the kind of person you want to be, what you want to do and want to have more easily fall into place. 

                                                                             Illustration by Miki Howenstein
​　                                                         (From page 378 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

…….. You finally have the power to break free of the personal and cultural stories which have kept you chained down, while building on those that harmonize with your own deepest beliefs.……
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Author’s Comment: One of the keys of living anew in the way which is truly right for you is to break the chains of baggage which are holding you back. The danger herein is that if you have nothing to hold onto after unlinking the chains, you go into free fall. Build a web of values, connections, and ways of life which reinforce each other and catches the nutrients which you need for wholistic growth.

                                                                             Illustration by Miki Howenstein
​                                                               (From page 346 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

…….. The kind of action you take depends on your character, environment, and, most important of all, what you have discovered about yourself through the many reflections (so far in this book) concerning the kinds of things which are fit for you.……
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Author’s Comment: The best way to learn (and remember) is through experience or, in other words, by taking action. Preparing fertile ground for implementing action (through study, spiritual discipline, etc. as this book has largely encouraged in the previous 10 months) proves to become extremely beneficial; however, with the step of putting it into practice, it is fruitless, just like a seed in unproductive soil. Do the things most appropriate for you, unafraid of making mistakes, learning from them, and enlivening your (and others) existence.

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

…….. Awareness then becomes a seed for hope, not only for you to question these myths that you have been living by, but also to dare yourself to develop new paradigms and envision a sustainable future.……
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Author’s Comment: THE GRAND CHALLENGE—to envision an inspirational story for yourself and others and cultivate a strong faith in it so it powers you to live it out. In doing so, you produce a multitude of seeds which can take root near and far and move the world into the much-needed new paradigm of your making.

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

…….. Our direct experience with nature stimulates our imaginations which, in turn, provide the seeds for our creativity to blossom. Nature’s beauty provides unfathomable inspiration for the arts, which uplift our lives. When we destroy nature, we are destroying our own creative and artistic capabilities……

Author’s Comment: Nature provides us with a host of benefits—clean air and water, stabilized soils, physical nutrition, relief from the heat to mention a few. Lesser recognized is its capacity to feed our creativity and uplift our lives. The countless forms of nature provide nourishment to mind and spirit which has cultivated the arts in cultures around the world. Preserving and building better natural environments helps us to build more inspirational works of art. 

                                                                         Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                                          (From page 246 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)
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…….. There is no one and only correct way connecting with life, but everyone benefits when any one person finds her own right way. And when you truly find the way that is right for you, the connections breathe life into your spirit as your integrity inspires those around you.

Author’s Comment: There are two key points here. First, there are many correct paths, meaning that no one path (political, religious, …) is the best for all.  While there are universal guidelines and values to light the way, how they are applied (and in what balance) will vary. Secondly, any person who finds the right way for herself blesses others with the inspiration she has found. Demeaning another’s path (which leads to her integrity) is detrimental to both the aspirant as well as society as a whole.

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

…….. When society comes to perceive each person and all of life as being inherently valuable, extremism has no place to wrap its tentacles around and eventually withers away. When we treat people with dignity, they naturally comes to treat others in the same way.…….

Author’s Comment: Treating people with dignity is key to creating a more peaceful society. When we act as if some lives deserve to receive  respect while others deserve to be trashed, we provide nourishment for violence and extremism to flourish. Treating others with dignity doesn’t mean agreeing with them, but allowing them to be heard and understood (without coercion or the threat of violence from either side).

                                                                  Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                                  (From page 180 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

……. We fail to seriously consider or understand the reasons why we wish for our desires. Then, on attaining them, we wonder why the initial exuberance doesn’t last, not realizing that it was only a step to something else, which still hasn’t been acquired..…

​Author’s Comment: Ever remember a time that you wanted that cake (doughnut, juicy steak, whatever) so much, and then after pigging out on it, you felt so bad? The desire in your mind didn’t harmonize with what the body really needed (or the amount which it needed). So it is with so many of our perceived desires—they don’t fit what our spirit or our lives really need. Understanding this, and developing the persistence to find what you so seek deep down, can unlock an invaluable treasure of contentment.

                                                                  Illustration by Miki Howenstein
                                                  (From page 146 of the book “Jumbo Jumble”)

……. There are some basic universal values on which the majority of the world’s people can agree. The disagreement arises on the optimal application and achieving the proper balance between these values..…

​Author’s Comment: What are the principle values which the vast majority of the world’s good people hold dear? In the May pages of “Jumbo Jumble,” there are several examples and lists of these highly-held standards. With these as our goal line, new policies and plans can be made which move us closer to living out our lives based more upon these ideals. The main issue in adopting new laws would be how best to balance these values so that all good people can benefit.

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

……. a non-violent spirit and society encourages creativity and cooperation, appealing to the unity of our existence. Non-violence doesn’t imply not hating evil actions, but it does mean engendering a spirit that does not hate the person. It doesn’t mean denying your anger (which always leads to its coming out in other violent ways), but rather transforming it into a force for good.……
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Author’s Comment:   While suppressing our hate and anger creates the danger of their seeping out of us in subtle, destructive ways, granting them uninhibited expression potentially can lead to the devastation of relationships and lives—neither of which is beneficial to the beholder. Rather, facing these feelings, and finding ways to use them to constructively right wrongs and create a society grounded in peace has the potential to uplift and (en)lighten some of the heaviness in the world.