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> From: NewParadigmFund@aol.com
> Date: October 31, 2011 9:59:46 AM EDT
> To: perowan@gmail.com, skovaleski@hunton.com, tjd@larashullmay.com, cjtfarrell@gmail.com, duplessisfamily@hotmail.com, peter.judge@cox.net, icelandfish@msn.com, nick_yacoub@yahoo.com, azizasis@yahoo.com, gregtafe@yahoo.com, dshapiro@umw.edu, chriskennemer@gmail.com, jeff@motternmasonry.com, implantfellow@yahoo.com, burnettejosh@ymail.com, tesfaiy@retrievalsystems.com, ronstevens@sunamericasupply.com
> Subject: Fwd: Today, Monday, October 31, 2011
>

> Subj: Today, Monday, October 31, 2011
>
> October 31: finding God, inner peace.
> This is October, the 10th month of the year;
> • The 10th Tradition reads: Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.
> • The 10th Step: Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
> • The 10th Promise: Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
> _________
> A.A. Thought for the Day
>
> I have more peace and contentment. Life has fallen into place. The pieces of the jigsaw puzzle have found their correct position. Life is whole, all of one piece. I am not cast hither and yon on every wind of circumstance or fancy. I am no longer a dry leaf cast up and away by the breeze. I have found my place of rest, my place where I belong. I am content. I do not vainly wish for things I cannot have. I have "the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." Have I found contentment in A.A.?
>
> Meditation for the Day
>
> In all of us there is an inner consciousness that tells of God, an inner voice that speaks to our hearts. It is a voice that speaks to us intimately, personally, in a time of quiet meditation. It is like a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We can reach out into the darkness and figuratively touch the hand of God. As the Big Book puts it: "Deep down in every man, woman, and child is the fundamental idea of God. We can find the Great Reality deep down within us. And when we find it, it changes our whole attitude toward life."
>
> Prayer for the Day
>
> I pray that I may follow the leading of the inner voice. I pray that I may not turn a deaf ear to the urging of my conscience.
>
>
>
>
> Source: Twenty-Four Hours a Day, Richmond Walker, Copyright © 1975, Hazeldon Foundation, printed in the USA. Editor’s note: This book was compiled by Richmond Walker (1892–1965) of the Group at Daytona Beach, Florida. I get the text from the following website: http://www.anonymityone.com/h24/0403EN.htm Note 4 numbers after “h24/”: the first two are the day of the month and the second two are the month. Example: To get daily reading for December 21st, you would change the URL to http://www.anonymityone.com/h24/2112EN.htm
> _________
> The Purpose of Buddhist Prayer
>
> Buddhist prayer is a practice to awaken our inherent inner capacities of strength, compassion and wisdom rather than to petition external forces based on fear, idolizing, and worldly and/or heavenly gain. Buddhist prayer is a form of meditation; it is a practice of inner reconditioning. Buddhist prayer replaces the negative with the virtuous and points us to the blessings of Life.
>
> Inspirational
>
> For Buddhists, prayer expresses an aspiration to pull something into one's life, like some new energy or purifying influence and share it with all beings. Likewise, prayer inspires our hearts towards wisdom and compassion for others and ourselves. It allows us to turn our hearts and minds to the beneficial, rousing our thoughts and actions towards Awakening.If we believe in something enough, it will take hold of us. In other words, believing in it, we will become what we believe. Our ability to be touched like this is evidence of the working of Great Compassion within us.
>
> What's more, it can a function as a form of self-talking or self-therapy in which one mentally talks through a problem, or talks through it aloud, in the hope that some new insight will come or a better decision can be made. Prayer therefore frequently has the function of being part of a decision-making process.
>
> Everywhere and Anytime
>
> The wonderful thing about prayer practice is that we can do it everywhere and anytime, transforming the ordinary and mundane into the Path of Awakening. Prayer enriches our lives with deep spiritual connection and makes every moment special, manifesting the Pure Land here and now.
>
> Shin Buddhists venerate the symbol and living reality of Amida Buddha because her Sacred Story and existence is the story of our inner lives.
>
> Amida means immeasurable life and light. She is not an "idol" or "God" to be supplicated or appeased to but is a means for reflection and the true catalyst for inner transformation and spiritual awakening. Many Shin prayers involve self-reflection, including a sometimes painful confrontation with our own deeply-rooted destructive tendencies. As a result of practicing prayer, we begin to discover who we really are. We recognize our inherent foolish nature (shadow side) at the same time awakening ourselves to the working of Great Compassion, symbolized as Amida Buddha. In essence, prayer practice is a process by which our intensely felt desires and sufferings are transformed into compassion and wisdom.
>
> --Written by G.R. Lewis, BFF Senior Facilitator
>
> Source: http://buddhistfaith.tripod.com/pureland_sangha/id41.html
> ________________
>
> I found the following prayers at: http://rockyhill.bffct.net/id17.html
>
> Metta Karuna Prayer
>
> Oneness of Life and Light,
> Entrusting in your Great Compassion,
> May you shed the foolishness in myself,
> Transforming me into a conduit of Love.
> May I be a medicine for the sick and weary,
> Nursing their afflictions until they are cured;
> May I become food and drink,
>
> During time of famine,
> May I protect the helpless and the poor,
> May I be a lamp,
>
> For those who need your Light,
> May I be a bed for those who need rest,
> and guide all seekers to the Other Shore.
> May all find happiness through my actions,
> and let no one suffer because of me.
> Whether they love or hate me,
> Whether they hurt or wrong me,
> May they all realize true entrusting,
> Through Other Power,
> and realize Supreme Nirvana.
> Namo Amida Buddha
>
> Below are other examples of Shin Buddhist prayers.
>
> Universal Love Aspiration
>
> Through the working of Great Compassion
>
> in their hearts,
>
> May all beings have happiness
>
> and the causes of happiness,
>
> May all be free from sorrow
>
> and the causes of sorrow;
>
> May all never be separated from the
>
> sacred happiness, which is sorrowless;
>
> And may all live in equanimity,
>
> Without too much attachment
> and too much aversion;
>
> and live believing in the equality of
>
> all that lives. Namo Amida Buddha
>
>
>
>
>
> Daily Affirmation Prayer
>
> Entrusting in the Primal Vow of Buddha,
>
> Calling out the Buddha-name,
>
> I shall pass through the journey of life with strength and joy.
>
>
>
> Revering the Light of Buddha,
>
> Reflecting upon my imperfect self,
>
> I shall proceed to live a life of gratitude.
>
>
>
> Following the Teachings of Buddha,
>
> Listening to the Right Path,
>
> I shall share the True Dharma with all.
>
>
>
> Rejoicing in the compassion of Buddha,
>
> Respecting and aiding all sentient beings,
>
> I shall work towards the welfare of society and the world.
>
> Namo Amida Buddha