Log
To tell you the truth, We One doesn't do nearly enough and our founder can be quite lazy. Our foundation, however, is getting stronger and some interesting, devoted people seem to be getting involved. Even through small, personal actions, we can all do something to help make this world a bit healthier, happier, more loving and beautiful. If more people tried "just a little bit harder," it would make a world of difference.
2nd half of 2011 - July through September worked about 100 hours a week doing minor seva things and fixing up the property and house, planting gardens, etc. Still trying to muster energy to serve my parents better when I am at their house. For various reasons, when I am there, I mostly just do my little tasks for them then sleep and watch TV. This is interesting because when I am not there, I barely sleep at all and run around looking for things to do for others. I really have to get out of this karmic/psychological thing when I am at their house and spend some free time on the many projects I should probably be trying to complete. Hopefully I can convince myself to paint more too.
1st half of 2011 - SERVING "OTHERS" (as much as I can.) I am still at my folks' house most of the time as dad has alzheimer's. The gentle aspect of his soul is shining through with the kisses he blows to me every day. I am honored to change his Depends, bathe him, watch him so my mom can go out and do what she needs to do and try to do what she needs to do for herself. For anyone who can understand, being an adult and living with your mom can be a very humbling practice (to put it as politely and gently as possible). The things we do for LOVE. I am sorry I cannot be so active in the outer world right now, but I keep the gernerosity to strangers awake, especially to the people who seem most needy as I walk in public, for I truly wish to people to feel that there are people in the world who CARE. Best Wishes to ALL and may your best wishes come TRUE without haste for the benefit of "others." :o)
November 2010 - Came to realistic and peaceful conclusion that I must remain here in Palm Beach, a place which is kind of the very opposite of me and where I nolonger even try to socialize to help take care of my elderly father and be of assistance in the process to my mother. Perhaps accepting this was more difficult than it should have been as I have completely no interest to live in Palm Beach, Florida; but, I feel that I must do this and it makes me happy to be of service to my father (or anybody). When I am eventually done with all this, I will fulfill my dream to help some people in a poorer nation. I am surprisingly content to have made this decision, but I can say that a part of me does miss the many friends I have in California and the ease with which I move in society there as opposed to here. If, however, we have countless lifetimes, then I have lived, loved, married, had children, countless friends, jobs, and plenty of fun (as well as all the hard stuff) and on and on and on. And, I must say that it just feels good to do your duty. It is rewarding.
September - October 2010 - Didn't keep track of the few and very minor things I did for society at large. Bought people food. Helped take care of my elderly father. Saving dough.
August 2010 - So far, bought a large, extremely delicious meal at an amazing and somewhat fancy restaurant (Anatolia Mediterranean in Boca Raton) for 3 people I don't really know but whom I know don't have much money. One person said we are "eating like kings." I don't think they have had too many meals like that lately. I sent a large mixed plate home for one of the person's mom too.
- Bought 4 excellent DVDs and Joni Mitchell "hits" for my 90 year old wise and loving friend who just had a serious illness. I will go to his house when he gets home from the geriatric center and set up his DVD player and do some other small favors.
=-Bought a hungry couple a late night dinner. The girl had just lost her job and the guy only had $2. We ordered enough so they would have a couple dishes for home too.
- Drove an elderly lady to the car-repair shop to pick up her car.
- Bought dinner at Anatolia Mediterranean in Boca Raton for the great Bassist for crazyfingers and another friend who helped pack up the gear. The friend said the meal was like "heavan." It was very delicious.
-Helping take care of parents.
July 20101 - WOW! what a month : )
June 2010 - Worked very hard for others and myself (and for We One income to pay the bills). I am tired just thinking about it and I don't feel like writing everything down. I didn't get drawn into any arguments that some people wanted to have with me (usually as I am working my butt off to fulfill their every need), and I count this as my greatest accomplishment of the month. Lately I have just been seeing things as phenomenon, people's patterns, and have a more relaxed understanding. The forgiveness and compassion just naturally rule when you realize the uselessness of most arguing and such. Sometimes it is important to give the simplest most wisdom-filled responses and remarks just so BS doesn't have its bullying victories. So, in this respect I did very well this month and it feels good.
*** Note in July, I gave in to some stupid "arguing" on text message with as the dynamic kept going on, but it wasn't too bad. Still, not close to ideal. argh. live and learn. Still I went from A+ to C/C- in dealing with bs. I even created some. I am disappointed in myself for that. Not toooooo bad though.
No Worry is good ....... Returning when readiness or kindness or gratefulness or need is appropriate. Last month, I had a difficult time trying to serve some people who aren't too capable of knowing or learning how to think of others. This has caused me to aspire and hope to have the ability to use more discernment in the future so my efforts can be be most efficient, useful and shared with those best suited. It sure is hard to be able to tell who to be generous to sometimes. I was happy to see that I didn't get angry, upset or unbalanced. Sometimes it happens like that you know. The me, me, me, me, I, me mine, runs deep (but luckily not as deeply as our pure minds do). Forgiveness is such a victorious medicine. Thank You Son House again for expressing your beautiful understanding in life:
May 2010 - Didn't do much to serve the general public this month, sorry. Spent the month working on the rental property which is the main financial resource for We One activities and expenditures, sharing valuable time with elderly father, vibrant mother and family, resting, saving up, and paying bills.
This month, We One's main gifts was two "miracle" tickets to two individuals for the Furthur Festival at Angels Camp, Mountainaire in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in beautiful Northern California. I hear it was one of the best shows and festivals in years. Interestingly, We One did not receive any thank you phone calls or notes from the two lucky recipients (sadly, humans never cease to amaze me in this manner). But, The Chief of Executives, who always seems to be an excellent example of honor, did thank We One for providing a ticket to our old friend.
April 2010 - Spending time with family and doing taxes.
Also this month, we are paying bills, resting, gathering resources, and scouting out a new location to continue activity. So far this month, fed 6 or 7 homeless people and gave away a bunch of presents and whale pins to kind people. Gave away another Water Filter to someone with health issues. Gave away something unimportant which I was quite attached to, a San Francisco City Recreation Director patch I had been saving for years to put on just the right windbreaker (very old, official and cool. I recently spent a day soaking it and cleaning it with my fingernails). A very entertaining friend seemed quite fond with, and impressed by, it. So it had to be given to him. Funny the things we get attached to, I am still thinking about it. he he. I believe it is good for various reasons to get rid of non-essential things that we may be attached to (essential being that which can help you serve for the benefit of all). Sometimes the hard part is having the discernment to give gifts to the correct place (of course I am speaking about much more valuable things than a little patch). It is all good practice, however.
I found this on youtube. THANK YOU again youtube.
March 2010
California 3/3 - 3/17
Colorado 3/18 - ?
- $60 to a well dressed older black homeless gentleman who was selling a "Street Sheet" ($1 homeless news paper) in San Francisco. He very happily told me this was enough for a hotel room which he went off to get right away (it was already late and getting cold).
- $40 to a homeless man pushing a shopping cart and wearing a jacket completely covered with old patches at 6AM on a Saturday morning. I asked him what he was going to do with it, and he said, "right now, I'm going to go get a big pancake breakfast."
I was lucky enough to sneak into the sold out Furthur show at the San Francisco civic, but the show got out late and my car was locked in the parking garage. I had to stay awake all night. But, since the show was free for me, I donated the extra money to the two homeless men.
- $50 to a homeless artist for two small drawings (he only wanted $15 or $20). He was with a group of "kids". The money helped somehow.
- $60 for pins to the kind man from January named "Smoke" who gave some of my purchase money last month to "kids" for a hotel room for 3 pins on the condition that $20 will be spend on others. He wanted $45 he got $60.
He will do this.
*Last night, he told me he gave $10 away to the first panhandler young guy he saw in the morning.
* GREAT NEWS: My friend from two month's ago doesn't have pancreatic cancer, just an ulcer. So that donation money can go to someone/something else.
- 17 hours of Service/Work for the mountain yogi on property and $50+ toward supplies, food, laundry, fuel ...
-Provided 2 meals to a hungry poor lady.
- Gave away many very gifts.
*** Presently, We One is considering a $1,000 pledge to "project walk", for an older man who fell 14 feet He must do a special program to help his body reacquire the ability to walk again. ***
September/October 2009:
In our first two months We One made contributions to two major non-profit organizations (neither is affiliated with We One): Heifer International (www.Heifer.org) and The Mata Amritanandamayi Math (Charitable Foundation). Through Heifer International (not affiliated with We One).
* We One donated a dairy producing goat and a colony of honeybees to two poor families; and We One has purchased a share of trees for the Tanzanian hillside. The dairy producing goat and honey bees can produce income as well as nutritional needs. The goat may produce up to 3 kids a year which Heifer International can further distribute. Cultivating and protecting bees is also essential to much of the life on this planet. We One is in no way affiliated with Heifer International, but We One recognizes them as an excellent organization and we hope that you too may be interested in supporting or learning about Heifer International (www.Heifer.org) . It is a most wonderful organization.
* We One has $1008 to The Mata Amritanandamayi Math (no affiliation with We One) toward building housing for the homeless. This is roughly half the amount it takes to build a home for a Tsunami victim. Often the Math also gives a sewing machine or a computer to the resident(s), along with lessons, which allows them to make an income for life and/or research useful information for the village (like treating a sick cow, etc....) Also recently, We One purchased over $500 worth of gifts from The Amma Store for use by our members and to give away to the general public. This store also supports the activity of the M.A. Math. If you would like to help this fine organization, please look them up on google. Hopefully, in the coming year, We One will be able to donate at least 1 or 2 full houses to the needy. We One has no affiliation with any other organization. We are seeking excellent charitable service organizations to support. Please feel free to suggest one.
NOVEMBER, 2009
We One has also continued to donate educational books to appropriate people, free diet counseling services, beach and intra-coastal bike trail clean-up, and $50 to one homeless person or "needy" person every month. Although some people may disagree with this $50 donation to an appropriate random person, it fulfills at least two purposes. First, it is enough to help that person in any number of ways for at least a day or two or for an emergency need. Secondly, and of at least equal importance, it may allow the person to feel that the world is not as cold a place as it often may seem, that inside many people is a place that cares, and thus perhaps aiding that person in not losing faith in humanity and our inherent goodness. Sometimes just the thought that caring people are so few and far between contributes to the deepest sense of loneliness. We One gives aid in various methods to some of the numerous people "we" meet in our travels. We One just finished a recommended project fixing the sink of an elderly lady, filled up the gas tank and bought 5 bhajan cassettes for a small family that lives in their van and drove me down the road, and bought lunch for a poor and very devout Tibetan Buddhist practitioner.
DECEMBER 2009
* We One sponsored two appropriate individuals to the 2 week Permaculture seminar and retreat at Shambala in Gainesville, FLA. Permaculture is a practice of sustainable agriculture which can also be applied in locations which do not easily support various types of agriculture (see diagram lower left). Ultimately, We One would like to bring Permaculture to the Lakota people who are not able to grow food on their land and to other Native American tribes who are having difficulty feeding their populations. Both of the scholarships are going to people who work within the community (one does work for the county and one for Florida Organic Growers) who cannot afford the $1200 fee for the seminar. The Permaculture teachers and Shambala have been generous enough to allow We One to sponsor two students just for the cost of the food and most basic costs. All in all, We One will be able to sponsor these two individuals for about $440.
Let it Grow
* $60 to a Tibetan Buddhist yogi who lives on a mountain and requested firewood to be used in her stove to keep her warm this winter. We One will donate another $60 if she can find someone with a chainsaw to cut up the fallen wood which is already on the property so as to use for next year.
* One Crockpot for an elderly lady who is starting to have memory problems and is having difficulty cooking and leaving the oven and stove on. Also, the crockpot saves a lot of money and provides a pleasant, accomplishable task and warm food all day. Have you cooked with one one these lately? Flavor! Delicious!
* Convinced and assisted a lady who is taking care of her elderly mother to supplement her income (and perhaps find a second career) to take care of other elderly people. We also also created advertising for her.
* $50 to a hardworking person with two jobs that don't pay very much and needed some extra moneyto get through the holiday season more happily.
* $20 to a person who is turning his life around and had to be reminded that people care and generosity is beautiful.
* 4 meals for people with little or no money.
* One attractive, hand-embroidered wool Nepali coat for a cold person on the street.
* And more small things just about every day... as there
sure are alot of people in this world.
JANUARY 2010
January started off with undeniably great and joy-inducing beauty. "We" were a bit busy with enjoyment going to 12 Grateful Dead (FURTHUR) shows and very, very fortunate to get tickets for 10 shows/rehearsals in a row with only 250 people in the audience. I am very, very grateful, and I had to enjoy these as I have waited 13 years or so for the band to recruit JK. Yeah!!! It seems that with the new, youthful members, we are going to have a musical lineage (just as I always repeatedly stated should occur, he he he).....Grateful Dead Forever.
I can tell you that my 20 year-old backache from rugby and other injurious activities was apparently relieved as a result of these shows (dancing, stretching and intricately working on my neck and upper back in harmony with the music). The nearly ever-present pains are all gone. So, it really was a great unexpected gift for me. I also certainly figured out how to move out and dissipate real knots and blockages in the back that seemed permanent and have had many various treatments throughout the years; this ability will be great to share for the rest of my life. Imagine, I have spent thousands of dollars and had years of pain, and all I needed was 10 straight GD shows where I could do some self-healing. Go figure.
So glad to hear this one again...and again.
* To further celebrate on New Years Early Morning after the show, We One gave $20 to a very, very interesting and tidy man who may have been "homeless" and was standing alone in the plaza with several folded blankets that he was apparently waiting to distribute to any needy, cold person. Interestingly, he tried to give me $10 back change for the $20 bill I handed him, but We One did not accept. The experience was mostly silent, when my friends and I were 50 yards away, a grateful voice saying "thank you, happy New Year" made its way across the misty San Francisco space.
* We One provided about 25 hours free deep house and property cleaning (about 60 hours were done for payment and most of the payment went to cover various We One expenses) for an old friend who has just finally gotten a serious girlfriend and needed the house to be acceptable for her presence. The place has been inhabited by many people over the last 18 years, and seemed to have never had a thorough cleaning. It was also very disorganized inside and out. The whole project took about 11 days and as stated, about 60 of the 85 hours it actually took were done for a fee. As I wanted to completely finish the job and work in gratitude, about 25 hours works was done without charge.
* 2 days videotaping the kung fu/buddhist self-defense and Thai massage retreat. I will complete the editing soon so that these excellent teachings are available to the general public. My services are gratis, and this will further allow the Tibetan center to make income with sales of the video.
* As a result of wandering Northern California, We One came into contact with many people who needed food or various assistance. We One provided some meals and contributed to motel room donations (and a few long rides) for a few stranded and poor music lovers. We One also provided 5 very needy people with $20 dollar donations and some very nice restaurant meals for old friends who are struggling financially.
* We One put $40 in the vase at benefit for someone with Pancreatic Cancer. We should have given more. We'll get on this, he's an old friend!!!
* One crushed rose petal beaded necklace to an old friend who used to call my voice-mail every year on my birthday to wish me happy birthday. I ran into her at a store and spontaneously felt she should have the necklace. She later left a voice-mail that she had been eying that particular necklace for months but could not afford it. Perfect. It smelled like roses and in-between the rose petal beads was her favorite color (lavender) thread. I had noticed that she was wearing lavender and her credit card was lavender, so that threw me over on getting it for her.
* We One also gave more formative assistance to a project, a friend's elder care service inspired (or instigated) by We One, and in February, she has acquired her first clients. We are very happy about this!
Honestly, I know I am forgetting some things that I will try to update later and of course I don't list plenty of small things.
*Enjoyed giving small gifts (including beautiful humpback whale lapel pins which you may want too) to happy acquaintances and friends I met at shows and on the road.
'Whales' ==> We Have Always Loved Everything S_____
(add your own 'S' word :)
February 2010
February has been a slow month for We One's public activity, as I have been in Florida with the folks and friends.
* In Orlando, We One donated a "miracle" ticket to great music for the FURTHUR show at Bojangles in Charlotte the following week.
* $50 to Shambala for food donation for a friend who we all wish to stay at Shamabala this winter and not go on tour. He needs to get grounded, do some work .......
* I have spent the month with my aging parents and enjoying it. No arguments...wooo hoooo. Honestly, I haven't been as helpful as possible, but at least I drove them all around Florida to visit people, did errands, washed the car, etc....and other minor help. It's a blessing to be with them.
* Taking care of We One taxes, trade-marks, website, bills, and saving up for upcoming work.
* Some more consulting and advice which was used for the elder care service presentation in San Francisco. It was successful, my friend is picking up clients, and a second career is beginning.
Mostly, We One hopes you just do your best to be as Honest, Kind and Generous as possible, and keep improving on these capacities. Gratitude to those who do us kindness and generosity, the keeping of one's word and chivalry may seem hard to find among the world's pervasive self-serving programming, but to find this beauty, all most people usually have to do is take an honest and deep look inside as well as to one's motivations. If you want to get involved in projects or make efforts you wish to list, email: friend@weone.us. You may also wish to suggest a song and/or a work of art which reflects your feelings or activities.
We One would also like to add that it is probably best for all of us if we can practice not judging others as "lesser" just because they are on a different path or perhaps not so concerned with outer appearances, status, wealth, or apparent outward activity. Usually this stems from some form of narcissism or attachment to one's own experiences, conditions, attachments, views, etc. It certainly is interesting how all the myriad of varying humans are so certain that their own preferences are better than everyone else's. There are as many paths as there are people, and certainly living a truthful life as compassionately as one is capable is not only arduous and may subject one to great social difficulties, but who amongst us can really see and value the choices another person must make to be true (or perhaps even survive). It appears that too much emphasis is placed on what most people desire and can talk about. Remember, people usually don't gossip about your inner reality (especially if you don't impose it upon others). It is useful to ask oneself, "what is beautiful, what is the most beautiful, what is sublime, lasts, and nourishes the heart, others and the flourishing of life and harmless joy? Is it Compassion and Truth, or is it the status symbol of your choice (a mercedes, a pretty lover, a lovely guitar, a silver tongue, the finest art and music, popularity itself....) which society may spend lifetimes chasing. Or, is humility, honesty and care for others the most beautiful? Sadly, so many are forgetting the latter while mesmerized by various societal desires and pressures. We One advises people to ask themselves this and reflect upon this often as our lives and mind are perpetually flooded with various desires and opportunities which, without taking a step back and reflecting, may seem just wonderful. It takes courage not only to sacrifice our selfishness and wishes which are not for the benefit of all on the altar of compassion and truth, but to endure the constant judgment and ridicule of so many in society who seem to need others to resemble themselves. One person may need to be active to fulfill his/her path, another may need to be more introspective and removed. It may be best for one person to be good at making money, and best for another to live a financially humble life. Ultimately, it is probably best to humbly see the beauty in others and glean whatever teachings we may from others, rather than support our own karmic egos by judging them as "other" and lesser because they don't apparently support our desires, ideals or goals. Certainly it is somewhat heart-wrenching to see this ingratiating judgment so commonly among kind people and spiritual seekers (and even commonly among people propped up to be "teachers"). Other than through compassion and honesty, our deep inner selves have very little to do with others, and so why should our self-images? There are teachings and text everywhere we look and experience if we can humble ourselves enough to look with beginner's eyes. Who can claim to have a perfectly pure, humble, perfectly wise heart? If you find a one like that, please, please, please let me know. Until we have reached that state, it's probably and logically best to remain open and humble toward others. I mean, who are we to judge? Do we see all the situations, trials, circumstances, relations and experiences others must go through to live a life and work out their karma. So, please, have compassion not just in thought, esoteric beliefs and wishes, but where its true strength is displayed, in our relation with the outer world any time the opportunity presents itself. It can be anytime your senses even come upon another being. And please don't forget to be forgiving and compassionate toward your own self, mind, habits and nature. Best wishes. We One.
Perhaps you're someone who longs for another chance? Can you be true? I mean really true ... and kind. There's always forgiveness. Of course, if you've been habitually untrue, unkind, ungrateful and selfish, you may have to wait a while, reflect, or prove yourself. It must be this way.
The favorite sites We One recommends for friend to make financial donations to are: www.Heifer.org, www.amma.org, www.neemkarolibaba.com. As a homepage, We One recomends www.thehungersite.com. If you know of any organizations We One should investigate to put on our list to donate to, please feel free to contact us at: friend@weone.us. :-)
We One would like to make you aware of a most excellent website called www.thehungersite.com. Again, We One is not affiliated with www.thehungersite.com. Through this site (because of the support of advertising on it), just the clicks of your mouse can feed a person for a day, help with breast cancer screenings, protect the rain-forest, protect and save an animal, and promote literacy projects. It is very beautiful and makes for an excellent homepage. Truly remarkable. There are absolutely no emails, spam, or random solicitations associated with this site and you needn't make any monetary donation to help these projects (the advertisement and sales of items does it all). All you need to do is click the appropriate location and we hope you check it out: (www.thehungersite.com).
Presently, the mentioned monthly activities and donations are as much as We One can do, but there is always plenty of room for growth, and we all look forward to growing. We One has just begun. If you know of any organizations we may be interested in assisting, please email: friend@weone.us. If you wish to help We One personally with an activity project, please contact us. Perhaps you have a good idea that needs some help.
Feel Free to print make prints of any paintings or drawings done by thomas kent (all non-thomas art is stated under picture). If you wish to ask for a painting, or have one of our artists make one for you, please email: friend@weone.us Thank you for visiting. May all beings have happiness and the cause of happiness. We One. Where to next?
Now For Jerry's Spike Driver Blues
painting by Joanna Barnum
