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President’s Messageby Rev. Koyo S. KuboseEditor of this issueShauna KuboseEditor-In-ChiefRev. Koyo S. KuboseManaging EditorAdrienne KuboseOneness Newsletter Winter 1999Please send:Spring issue deadline: January 318334 Harding AvenueSkokie, Illinois 60076 Phone: (847) 677-8211Fax: (847) 677-8053Email: kubose@worldnet.att.netWebsite: www.brightdawn.orgDial-the-Dharma: (847) 677-8053The year 2000 is rapidly approach-ing. The idea of “Year 2000” and simi-lar phrases are being used for manypurposes. Going with the flow ofpopular culture, I decided to use“Year 2000” to motivate myself intomaking a special resolution for thecoming year. I vow to write a book inthe year 2000. I have been haphaz-ardly doing some writing during thepast few years. Well, that phase isover. Now is the time to get down toYes, I will buckle down and producesomething— even though I may ex-pose my ineptness and shallownessdo it” and let the words fall wherethey may.I am serious enough to make myresolution public in this newsletter.This Statement of Intention is only thefirst step. Next, I need to outline formyself an Action Plan. Weeklyprogress reports will be made to atingencies (rewards) may have to bemyself up. I admit it; I need help. Talkgrind is something else. Can I do it?We’ll see.you’ve been working on that youneed a little push with? Why not use“Year 2000” as a “kick in the rear” toget serious? Why not join me withyour own personal resolution of es-tablishing an everyday spiritual prac-tice? Reading and listening to theteachings are fine but they must bebacked by some kind of practice iflife. Traditional religious practicesare fine;do them. I also encourageyou to go beyond them. Devise yourown daily rituals that keep you awareor mindful of the teachings. For ex-ample, you may wish to start withsome of the monthly Gassho’s thatare listed in each issue of this news-letter. Be creative! Only you knowyour particular preferences. Experi-ment to find what works for you,what is personally meaningful at thistime in your life.Whatever you come up with, avoidvagueness and subjectivity. Your Ac-tion Plan must be realistic and objec-tive. State clearly what you are goingto do or not do. To use a health ex-to specify the kinds of foods involved,and monitor progress until new eatinghabits are firmly established.Speaking of health practices, youmay wish to somehow combine yourspiritual resolution with a resolutionlike losing weight or exercising regu-larly. After all, physical health affectsyour spiritual health. Poor health canbe a major distraction that dissipatesthe energy needed to focus on othergoals. There’s no reason you can’tintegrate physical and spiritual healthpractices. At the risk of appearingcorny, one little way I do this is whendoing stretch and strength exer-cises, I do them to the count of 3 (forthe Three Treasures), 4 (for the FourNoble Truths), 6 (for the SixParamitas), 8 (for the Eight-FoldPath), etc.To be really serious about a reso-lution, you need to establish an ac-countability or reporting procedure.with a friend or family member. If youlike, you could send me your State-ment of Intention, Action Plan, andsubsequent Progress Reports. If de-sired, be anonymous— don’t use areturn address; use a code name,etc. I will just put everything in a filelabeled “Year 2000 Resolutions.”Unless requested otherwise, my rolewill not be to offer advice but simplybe the repository of a reporting pro-cedure to help actualize your reso-lution. So join me in personally chal-lenging yourself for the Year 2000.Can you do it? We’ll see.]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Universal Teachings For Everyday Living Page 2

Dharma Glimpses - Poems - Reader Replies

business, the nitty gritty, brass tacks.

for all the world to see. Yet, I will “just

designated person. Accountability con-

devised. You can tell I am trying to gear

is cheap. Anybody can have grand in-

tentions. The quiet discipline of the daily

By the way, do you have any goals

they are to really become part of one’s

ample, it rarely will work if you only say,

“I want to eat a healthy diet.” You need

You could set up a mutual agreement