David Howenstein Blog
This blog focuses on putting spirituality into action, and is based on the book JUMBO JUMBLE (by this blog's author).
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This blog focuses on putting spirituality into action, and is based on the book JUMBO JUMBLE (by this blog's author).
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Illustration by Miki Howenstein Capturing and feeling the whole is pure delight. 1) ”Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition." (Alexander Smith)
2) “I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends.” (Nelson Mandela) JR: It is impossible to transform bad relationships into good ones when we feed our hatreds and jealousies. Only through the cultivation of a spirit of love can we make more and more people our lovers (in the spiritual sense) and feel comfortable and delighted in their company. In the process, our relationships grow to become increasingly inclusive. PP: Focus on some common interest or characteristic you share with someone who you don’t care for, and witness the seed of caring for her being planted in your soul. PA: Some people just rub you the wrong way, often for no rational reason. I’ve come to understand that the feeling of “YUCK” may never wear off. At the same time, even with that feeling, I can come to appreciate and respect their good points. There is one person I know who loves gossip and especially loves to spread (usually negative) gossip about others. While I never condone this, I’ve come to learn how hurt he has been by others and how he has shown incredible kindness to a relative who has spited him. Reflecting on this and our mutual concern to help another in need has made him not only bearable, but deserving of my respect as well.
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Illustration by Miki Howenstein Even rocks are found intriguing by the enlightened one. JR: Living simply is often mistakenly seen as painfully sacrificial. But a life of voluntary simplicity is quite the opposite. We increasingly discover more and more joy and augmented pleasure in the miracle of our existence and the creation around us. It is the life of nourishing soulful delights, in contrast to the materialistic-based lifestyle which focuses on the accumulation of “dead things” and a dependence on outside influences to find temporary pleasures—a life where we unwittingly give up our capacity to create our own pleasures.
PP: Celebrate your being. Take five minutes simply to appreciate the countless miracles responsible for your existence (breath, blood flow, the whole shebang). PA: In one way, I am one of the lucky ones who doesn’t get bothered that others have more than I materialistically. BUT I do fall into the trap of enviously seeing others’ “better” lives - “She’ll be financially secure the rest of her life.” “His wife doesn’t give him trouble at all.” In some ways, this type of comparing is worse than those of the materialistic kind. And, strange thing is, they are most often untrue. In most cases, it is ME (and only me) that feels financially insecure or that my wife makes me upset at times. This realization alone encourages me to take care of my own feelings and transform myself to “celebrate my being!” Illustration by Miki Howenstein A sense of community—so comforting JR: It is often said that people have become too isolated from one another, which warrants a need of more sense of community. How true, and how futile, this harping is without ensuring a desirable way to bring people together. Understanding that you are also part of the problem and trying to understand the other side are key. No wonder so many people wish to be alone—relationships can be troublesome when not approached respectfully. When our communication and relationships become compassionate, a conducive community spirit will surely follow.
PP: Think of one of your primary relationships. What is the problem with it, and how are you part of the problem? Admit it to yourself (or, better yet, to the other) and see what you can do to move towards resolving it. PA: For me, having been brought up in a big family, being around others and heckling with them is simply a part of life, so I love getting big groups together for hiking, etc. Yet, I also have difficulties spending too much time with people, needing long periods of time to myself for reading, reflecting, writing, etc. On the other hand, my wife much prefers one-on-one, as being with large groups can be tiring for her. She's much better at talking with people individually and getting deeper with them. When I don't keep in mind our mutual gifts, troubles ensue; however, when I do treasure the good we both bring, our relationship blossoms. Illustration by Miki Howenstein Contribute to this miracle of life JR: So much of what we do, and what we are taught to do, is grounded in fear, and this results in our feeling weighted down and constricted. On the other hand, when we do things out of love and to contribute to life, our spirits soar and we feel unpolluted and unrestricted delight in the activities that we take on. Play becomes a part of everything we do, and experiencing the fun of a child returns.
PP: What is something that you do because it enriches your and others’ lives? How can you add an element of fun and play into it, so that it adds delight to the experience? PA: It’s difficult to find anything which enriches my life more than being a hiking leader. Each hike enriches all of the participants’ lives in that they get in touch with nature and have a chance to meet people from around the world. I’m especially blessed with the opportunity to make everyone feel welcome. And “the holy rings” (frisbees) never fail to accompany the group and provide an element of fun (if not overdone) to the effect of “UFOs flying from who knows where.” |
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What Jambo Members Are SayingDavid Howenstein founded Jambo Japan in 1996. A man with many ideas on bettering the natural/human environment but also unsure how to implement them in a way to make a sustainable organization, he tried various courses of action throughout the years. Like many of you, he encountered frequent frustrations finding that the vast majority of his efforts ended in failure. However, through trial and error, he came upon a recipe for success in his adopted home. |
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