update - third book - selling my books

This month is a busy month. Regarding book sales, you will find me at Word on the Street, Sunday, 24 September 17. Look for "Hey Guy Buy Me." I do not have my booth number yet but I have asked for the water front. I love looking at water. I will be selling that book, plus, "For Love of Country Military Policewoman. On Saturday 16 Sept 17, I will be at Fairbank's Memorial Park at the East side of Dufferin, between Rogers and Eglinton, just South of Eglinton. I am now submitting photos I have taken for my book which is very exciting. I am sending my publisher photos I have already taken plus will take the time to take some photos she wants me to submit. I do love what I do. I had hoped the book would have been available but I am afraid not. If you are my one and only fan, please stop by and say hello anyway. Have a wonderful long weekend.

Pastoral Counsellor, Specialist - What is it?

One of my designations is that I am a Specialist, Pastoral Counsellor. In Canada what was CAPPE is now CASC. In other words to make Pastoral Counselling more understandable to the changing culture and more inclusive for spirituality, the name has been changed to psycho-spiritual therapist. I will be resisting the new title. I have found that clients and others understand exactly what pastoral means but it appears that the meaning has been lost in hospitals, though that has never been my experience. In Ontario the only requirement is to be registered to one of the colleges. I am a Registered Psychotherapist and it is quite a rigid mandate. The college is there to help the public. In the past, anyone could have said that they were a therapist and nothing was really done to make sure that people were qualified. There is no doubt that this caused damage to people who thought they were being cared for by qualified people. It is about time that our government has taken steps to protect the public. With Pastoral or Spiritual care mostly in hospital it is not mandated that they be registered as therapists, however, crossing that line into therapy can lead to trouble for them or anyone. Since I have three designations to my name, I encorporate whatever is most applicable to the client. When I indicate that I am a Registered Therapist, a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist and a Specialist Pastoral Counsellor, the client may wave away the Pastoral part, or even feel disturbed by the designation. On the other hand some will say that the Pastoral portion is very important to them. It is important for me to understand the different religions people believe in or have been betrayed by due to an abuse. At times one needs to understand or come to grips with a particular religion. At other times, a person's faith is extrememly important to them and they wish to speak about it or their spirituality. I could never ignore one aspect of a person, the whole person and that includes their faith, their spirituality or lack of. It is the client who decides what area they want to work on. Sometimes a client who is very religious is married to someone who hates religion. How do they compromise? Sometimes someone is mocked for their faith. How do they deal with that? Some have been raped and inprisoned for being Christian and not denying their faith and changing religion. How do they come to terms with the horrors they faced. I am amazed at the devotion and suffering some have sustained in other countries. We open our doors in Canada to the world and what we take for granted is considered disdain in other countries. Though I may drop my designation if I am forced to take another name which I am not comfortable using, my Masters in Ministry and Spirituality from the University of Toronto will always remain intact. However, that is my own bias.

World Religions - Buddhism and Reincarnation

BUDDHISM AND REINCARNATION By: Silva Redigonda Buddhism and Reincarnation Reincarnation is a concept beyond the understanding of many Christians who believe that there is only one life to live. Buddhism is becoming popular in North American. This paper will define reincarnation as it pertains to Buddhism and it will also be compared to reincarnation as viewed by Hinduism. Reincarnation should be examined by the most skeptic since there are numerous recorded cases where knowledge of a previous life cannot be easily dismissed. This too shall be depicted. Buddha said there is no soul. Buddha used an image of a flame being passed from candle to candle to understand his concept of reincarnation. “There is a chain of causation threading each life to those that have led up to it and those that will follow... It is possible to stop this rebirth of living different existences if one “wishes wholeheartedly to do so” (Smith, p 151). If the person now has a comfortable life, this is a reward of goodness performed in the past and present life. Those experiencing misery is a result of evil they have committed in previous existences or are committing in their present life. The individual is totally responsible for the life he is experiencing. At any given time, a minority demonstrate the ability to escape the “wheel of life” by entering a state of nirvana (a positive meaning includes bliss, release from desire etc..A negative meaning includes a state of extinction and nothingness). The karma (The good and evil effect of one’s action which is carried along to the next rebirth) of most beings necessitate their rebirth in any of the numerous heavens or hells (Masumian, pp 51 and 54). Reincarnation did not begin with Buddhism, Hinduism which is considered one of oldest religious systems in the world believes in reincarnation (Ma’sumian, p 1). However similar the two religions are, there are also differences involving the concepts of reincarnation. Buddhism is only concerned with personal eschatology as is Hinduism. There is no collective destiny for humanity as there is for Christianity. The Hindu shares the belief of countless rebirths of humans in a spectrum of evil to goodness but unlike the Buddhist believes in the human soul (atman). Individual souls (jivas) enter the world mysteriously and make their way through the universe until they break free into the limitless atmosphere of illumination (liberation). They begin as the souls of the simplest forms of life and do not vanish with the death of their original bodies (Smith, p 63). Hindus understanding of reincarnation also differs from that of Buddhism. Hindu doctrine of rebirth is attributed to Karma which is the consequences of actions in previous lives. However, the Buddhist maintains that rebirth is due to Tanha, “as long as the wish to be a separate self persisted, that wish would be granted (Smith, p 151). Reincarnation does not belong to Buddhism or Hinduism alone. In a 1981 US gallup poll it was determined that in the general population 23 % believed in reincarnation. In a 2005 US gallup poll, 20 % of the population believed in reincarnation. Though there appears to be a decrease of belief, a margin of error is to be considered. Regardless, there is no doubt that almost a quarter of the population believes in some form of reincarnation. Children Who Remember Previous Lives is a text based on a study, drawing on the information of more than 2, 500 cases children who appear to remember some type of past life. This ranges from phobias occurring in relation to a previous life ( Stevenson, p182) to the announcing of dreams in the selection of the next incarnation (Stevenson, p243) What is most baffling is the ability to speak a language not know to the youth (Stevenson, p 127). Reincarnation cannot be readily dismissed or confined to a particular religion. Reincarnation may be a mystery for some but it does require attention. I have had two professors at different times who I respected very much who were both Buddhists. Though I have never had a client who experienced any type of reincarnation, as a student pastoral counselor and/or therapist I need to be open and prepared for the possibility. Though I myself do not believe in reincarnation, I need to keep my mind open to the possibility. There is much humanity does not understand. Hinduism and Buddhism are both old and respected religions. Their beliefs should not be taken lightly. Religions seem to have some basis of mythological similarity. How much do we know is a fact and not a myth? Reincarnation is not confined to religion. When children speak with knowledge that they cannot possibly know than one must take notice. Life is a mystery and so is death and any afterlife.

Texas

I have not been to Texas but seeing each State eventually is inspiring. I had planned a tour to New Orleans when it was cancelled due to the flood. I have been watching carefully and at times wonder how I can help more. The Mayor said he wanted prayers and I did that. It is always sad to hear about loss of life. It is always terrible to hear about a police person die in the line of duty. Not enough credit, it seems, is given to those who help in the service of others until disaster hits. It brings the best and worse of people and the best over powers each time.

Family Therapy

I have found the dynamics of the family to be quite revealing in the therapy room. A client who may be just be coming out of their shell and improving in self esteem can become another person when the family is together. The person may withdraw into their self place. A woman who is quiet and submissive can become quite the matriarch in the family setting. Soft and passive in public can become quite controlling and demanding in the family therapy room. Family therapy can be quite beneficial for those who are having difficulties and need improvement in communication skills with their families and understanding of each other. People come from different experiences and raise their children as they think is best which is usually either the same as they were treated or completely the opposite or various degrees of their own learning experiences. Any form of abuse is not acceptable and can do much damage. Sometimes one seeks family therapy because one wants to reveal something to their family in a controlled environment. Sometimes, parents have difficulty understanding their offsprings because their child is so unlike them. Sometimes one child may be sensitive and creative while the other members are not and there is nothing wrong with this child whatsoever. However, because the one is different from the other siblings, than they think it is him or her. How often had I had a teen who was brilliant and more intelligent than the parents and therefore, there is difficulty understanding the young person. Sometimes there is a child with special needs and there is frustration in dealing with this. Sometimes one child or more can be more like the parents and therefore the one who is independent may be considered a rebel or worse when there is just a difference and nothing more. A book I love to recommend is Family Ties That Binds - A self-help guide to change through Family of Origin therapy, by Dr. Ronald W. Richardson. It is a easy read. If there is discord in your family, perhaps it is time to see a family therapist.

Heart felt sympathy to Spain

It is always very sad to hear about senseless deaths. Though I have never been to Barcelona, I have been to Malaga and along the Costa Del Sol. Very beautiful country. Of course at that time, I never heard of such a hateful group attacking without regard for human life. Prayers and thoughts are with you.

White Supremacy

I should be editing my book but this is too important this morning. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Charlottesville and to the families of all involved. Killing at any protest is unacceptable but killing because there is hatred is alarming. In the news this morning there is a group to show solidarity and an American spoke to the reporters saying that Charlottesville was the first city by proclamation as a peace city. He added to not allow what is happening in the States to come here. The news also indicated that a high school teacher who I presume was one of the subject’s teacher indicated that he idolized nazism. I look at the picture of this 20 year old man and listen to his mother speak on the news thinking her son was going to a Trump rally and remember the American recruiters sitting outside university classrooms waiting for students to complete their exams and hoping to entice them to the States. I remember being in Connecticut and visiting an historical Native museum and listening to a grade school teacher instructing his students that you could tell by the face of the man in a painting that he was……….. I was surprised that he would teach in that manner. Really, you can tell by looking at a face? Look into the face of angelic looking serial killers and think again. Education is important. I remember in an undergrad class listening to some neo Nazis youths speak about the killing of Jews. Their stupidity was unbelievable. I do not think that what is happening in the States can happen here. I hope not. I remember years ago seeing a front page news photo of the KKK in a town West of Toronto and then I heard nothing of it again. I remember a white supremacy group coming to Toronto in my teens or twenties and their building let’s say was no longer functional. I never heard of them again. I do think we have problems now that I didn’t see as I was growing up. I remember watching a documentary of Toronto the good, and an American Producer, I believe his name is Moore was trying to determine what the difference was. I remember watching American movies and seeing high school kids bringing guns to school and wondered how long it would reach us. I thought it normally takes about ten years for what happens in the States to reach us, but that is not an educated guess, nor based on any facts. That is how I thought at the time. It is no secret that we have gangs in Toronto, and drugs and you would think it was legal here to have guns, the way there are shootings nowadays. Is there a way to curb this? Of course there is. I was fortunate to be raised by parents, to learn that prejudice was wrong. I was fortunate to have an education where I learned that prejudice was wrong. In elementary school we were learning about the concentration camps and reading books such as Black Like Me. We would have debates at home about what if I married a Black man and my parents would debate how that would effect me and my children. We had debates in school (in elementary school) regarding a black person being President. I was so happy when Obama became President but feared for him as well because of all that white supremacy. Since Trump has been elected I have seen a country divided. Even here a Judge got into trouble for wearing one of those “Make American Great Again” baseball caps, during a session. He now has quite a few complaints against him and I think that retirement may be in the forecast. Don’t quote me. That is just a presumption. I try to stay away from politics. I really do, but it is difficult not to. As for myself when I go to an area which is all white and I see a black person, I feel a kinship with the black person. I live in a multicultural city where there is every kind of skin colour, shade, religion, spirituality, etc….The food is amazing and as a young person, I would go out to all the different restaurants and experience the different type of foods. Today I am a vegetarian and so I do not eat meat and Toronto again offers a variety. When I leave Toronto I find that vegetarians and vegans are still not catered to as we should be. Eliminating meat from a plate does not make the cut. When I travelled in the States during holidays driving to New York or Disney world, I always go off the main highway to visit attractions. I am usually asked if I am from New York. When I say I am from Canada, I hear the complaints about how some people from urban cities treat them as if they are less. I have always liked the States. I grew up with American television before we could make a decent movie. I grew up when kids in Toronto would be asked who the Prime Minister was and they would say the President’s name. We have caught up big time. The American in the news this morning was grieving for his Virginia. I have driven through Virginia and found it beautiful and the people there gracious and inviting. One day I hope to drive right through all the States or at least many of them. I know there are many intelligent people living and working in the States. There is an obligation for all of us to make this world a better place, no matter how small our contribution. It begins with helping others. It can be merely a smile which can have a domino response. I am sorry about what happened in Charlottesville. I am sorry for the Mayor who is grieving as well. We perhaps all need to revamp the education system and teach not from bias, but with kindness. We need to educate all people based on facts and not “fake ness” which is projected by those who are. If we do not change, we are headed toward self destruction. We have such capabilities today but if we do not have the emotional intelligence and sensitivity to match, we can be in great trouble. It is time that we heal our planet and those within it. It is time to teach and learn and offer youth the opportunity to do so regardless of their finances. We can all be the best we can be and in the process drive out that poisonous hate which only destroys. What do you think?