WHO ARE WE REALLY?

To be or not to be?” that was the question posed by William Shakespeare sometime early 17^th century. “To have or to be?” seems a more appropriate question for the 21^st century. In our lives, (in the western world at least) driven by consumerism and acquisitions, have we gained the world and lost ourselves? How many people can really claim to know who they are? Many may know ‘what’ they are; the roles they play in relation to the external world, but is this who they really are? The increase in books, talks, workshops and the like would suggest the realisation that there is something missing.

The problem is that we cannot find something unless we know where to look. For decades the focus has been on a search dedicated to somewhere outside of us. Chances are the search is futile because the answers are within.

How we define and measure ourselves has been predominately about what we have rather than who we truly are. In our relentless pursuit to ‘have’, we have lost the real intimate connection with to what we as individuals want think and feel. We have in many ways been hypnotised by mass marketing into who we think we should be, AKA ‘what we have’ in order to be happy.

Is it any wonder that so many relationships are at best strained and at the worst destructive, when many choices are based on personal values dictated to by mass media? In choosing friends and partners we are swayed by looks, wealth or charisma, looking to acquire love externally. With our connection to the love within being lost how can we possibly expect to connect to another in the spirit of love?

Of the many things we can own, love remains very much in demand and elusive all at once. We have tried the ‘having’ principle and have discovered that on the whole, this is not working, so maybe it is time we tried ‘being’; being true to ourselves by first finding out who we are.

How do we this? There is no definitive answer because there is no ONE-WAY. I believe it is a process; a journey that begins with accepting that a change is needed. Then make a decision to replace the insatiable material quest for a spiritual (by this I mean, the search to connect to ones own spirit) one.

OUR FEATURED WEBSITE

EARTH HOUR

It started with a question: How can we inspire people to take action on climate change?

The answer: Ask the people of Sydney to turn off their lights for one hour.

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year.

With Sydney icons like the Harbour Bridge and Opera House turning their lights off, and unique events such as weddings by candlelight, the world took notice. Inspired by the collective effort of millions of Sydneysiders, many major global cities are joining Earth Hour in 2008, turning a symbolic event into a global movement.

GLASS MANDALA EVENTS

Our next social gathering will be held on Thursday 3rd April 2008 at

Richoux Restaurant. Address: 3 Circus Road, London, NW8 9JL Closest tube St John’s Wood.

Time 6.30 p.m. To 7.30 p.m.

All are welcome. If you are coming for the first time, please let us know so we can look out for you and make sure we give you a special welcome.

Call Hema on 07956 825503 or Helen on 07940 313219. We look forward to meeting you.

More about Meeting Place

PRIMORDIAL SOUND MEDITATION IN TURKEY

Come and learn how to meditate using, your own unique mantra and make the impossible possible in the charming retreat:Surya Yoga, a self-contained home, set in the beautiful and fairly secluded village of Datca on the South Eastern part of Turkey right on the edge of the sea.

1 week retreat in Turkey, 12th-18^th May 2008. www.yogaturkey.com

 For more information on this retreat click here 

and on Primordial Sound Meditation, click here