Beloved Students:

I greet you in joy and peace at this time, and I wish for you, and all Earth's children, calm abiding and deep serenity. The work of transformation is ever before you, and you. These are the times and you are the ones who have brought dedication and commitment to the healing and wholing of Earth. May you never waiver in your firm resolve to go forward in love, truth and deep compassion for the suffering of all sentient beings.

I am happy that so many of you who attended our Peace Convocation have found deeper levels of peace in your own personal situations. As you surely recognize, peace is needed at all levels and in all interactions at this time. Know that by refraining from unkind thoughts, words and actions, by resisting any ego drives toward complaining, whining or manipulating others, and by generating kindness in all your interactions, you actually contribute to world peace. Never forget that your thoughts have impact no matter how insignificant they seem in a given moment. Your words are very powerful - they can create wholesome beauty or they can destroy and tear apart the very heart of another. Earth needs your goodness and your wisdom now. Remember that these are the primary creative flows which have brought forth human consciousness. Live well the life that you came to live.

As you view the events that are transpiring in the world at this time, you can clearly see the great need for your constant participation in the establishment of world peace. In sadness you see suffering by so many beings in so many places. It is tempting to look at national leaders embroiled in warmongering and point fingers of blame at them for creating such chaos for Earth. You can easily observe the destructive effects of the hatred between Arafat and Sharon - such is obvious to even the least sophisticated of political observers. But the more pertinent question must be aimed inward: Have you given up anger and hatred toward your enemies (or those who cause you pain)? Have you forgiven those who have wronged you, hurt you, or who have contributed to chaos and suffering in your life? If you cannot accomplish forgiveness, if you cannot put away blame, if you cannot step beyond the power of your egoic drives, how can you expect (or even hope for) such of others? It is easy, of course, to look at the Middle East and see the destruction and hideous suffering resulting from the years of hatred and enmity. It is not so easy, however, to give it up yourself.

When you look about the world, you can also see the toll exacted by desperation. One of the really sad things about desperation is that it takes away one's ability to experience the preciousness of any given moment. It (the desperation) wins out over nearly all other positive thoughts and emotions. It is an insidious slayer of both peace and potentiality. It feeds upon itself, as well as upon everything else. It prevents actualization of the possible, and destroys the one who harbors it from the inside out.

It is important to recognize that greed is a significant player in every incident of discord. Again, it is easy to see how greed extorts a heavy price when you look at international strife. Often, however, when one studies his or her own life, the ramifications of greed may appear less obvious, or not obvious at all. We on the spiritual plane who seek to aid you in the healing and transformation of Earth have long recognized that it is greed that blocks transformation. It is Our hope that in working closely with students and disciples, we can together create a powerful enough cleansing force to dissolve the toxic levels of greed that paralyze the collective spiritual realization of Earth. Because you are living in a time when the effects of greed are both clearly visible and distinctly palpable, you have the opportunity to affect the future of the planet. I do not say this lightly, nor do I promise the task before you will be an easy one. I only encourage you to look deeply into your own life, seeking out the subtlest manifestations of greed, then root them out. Do this not just for yourself, but for all those who cannot, or will not, master this.

To be a part of the solution to the global discord that so violently afflicts the planet at this time, you must learn to transcend these mental states. Again, if you cannot, or will not, cut through these afflictive states in your own relationships and experiences, can you realistically expect it of world leaders? When the stakes become so very high, dare you not exhaust every conceivable means to facilitate transcendence for yourself and others? Don't just hang your head, become glum at what others are doing, and/or fret as to what kind of world will be left to the next generation! Use every means possible to awaken to destructive mind states and cut through them!

Do not leave the cutting through to those living in war-torn areas. Indeed, they have their hands full just getting through the day. Rather, cut through on their behalf, with gentle appreciation for the fact that you may have more days available to you than do individuals living in the midst of war and destruction. Find ways to be at peace in all your interactions. Spread kindness "like there is no tomorrow!" Celebrate the preciousness of every breath you are fortunate enough to draw. Love others as if there were no possible way they could hurt you.

Please join me in listening to Consuming Greed, a talk I did in Denver this past April 7th. In this talk, I have attempted to help you understand the very subtle levels at which greed takes hold. We look at current issues in the world, and ask that you challenge yourself to go beyond your previous understanding of greed, and ferret out its subversive activity in your own life. The first step, of course, it to become aware of its presence and learn to deal decisively with it, no matter how much of a struggle the ego presents to you. Again, do this for the freedom of all sentient beings.

Please continue sitting (or start, for those of you who are still putting it off) for 30 minutes per day. For those of you who do not know the practice of tonglin, I would like to make it known to you this month. Begin by sitting quietly with your eyes open, gazing at the floor some two to three feet in front of you. Follow your breath for 12 full breath cycles. Pay particular attention to the out breath. When you have completed this cycle of breaths, close your eyes, and recognize yourself to be in the presence of your Spiritual Teacher. Ask His/Her aid in this meditation.

First, see yourself sitting before your Teacher. Notice there is a dark, thick substance present in your own aura. It may appear like tar or oil, and it my fill your aura or it may be present only in certain places. This dark substance represents your suffering. Use your breath to cleanse your aura in the following manner. Breathe in the tarry or oily substance through your nose. As it comes in, drop it down into the heart chakra, where the fire of the heart burns it as a type of fuel. As the heart fire burns the tarry goo, see it transformed into white or clear light. On your out breath, breathe this white or clear light into your full auric field, until it is permeated with the healing, cleansing light. Allow three to five minutes for this part.

Next, invite the Teacher to bring before you the face or name of someone who is suffering. While you may know the particular way in which this individual is suffering, this knowledge is not particularly necessary. Therefore, if the Teacher brings before you someone whose suffering you do not know, simply accept that this is an individual with whom you need to work at this moment. When the individual's name or face arises, see the tarry goo in his/her aura. It may appear in specific places, or it may be dense and thick, obscuring the natural auric colors. Recognize this thick darkness as his/her suffering. It may be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. You do not need to know any specifics, you just need to accept that everyone suffers, and this one has been brought to you for aid in cutting through his/her suffering. Breathe in the tarry goo, drop it down into the fire of the heart, and after transforming it into white or clear light, return it via your out breath to his/her aura, creating the same cleansing and healing effect as you did with your own. Spend three to five minutes for this focus.

For your third segment, invite the Teacher to bring before you an image of your family. If some of the members have died, they can still be present for this meditation. See the tarry goo interwoven in the collective auric field of your family, and begin the same process of breathing it in, dropping it down into the heart center, where the fire of the heart transforms it into white or clear light. As the transformation occurs, breathe that healing light back into the collective auric field of your family. Again, take three to five minutes for this segment.

For your fourth segment, invite your Teacher to bring before you an image of your community. See the tarry goo interwoven in this larger collective auric field. Breathe in the dark, thick tarry/oily substance that represents both collective and individual suffering, and when the heart fire has transformed it, return it as white or clear light, creating a healing, cleansing influence in this collective aura. Take three to five minutes for this segment.

In your fifth segment, do the same visualization with your country/continent, and in your sixth segment, do the same visualization with the world. Allow approximately the same length of time for each segment.

When you have completed all six segments, open your eyes again, and for the remaining time of your meditation, gaze upon an image of your Teacher or some spiritual entity with particular meaning to you. Let your eyes take in the Teacher's image, recognize that the image stands for the qualities of the Teacher that you want to imitate. With each breath, draw those qualities into yourself, receiving them as a gift from your Teacher or spiritual helper. Feel gratitude for your Teacher's example and for the opportunity to serve the Earth by doing this transformational meditation. When your time is complete, let yourself arise with royal dignity, becoming the dedicated aspirant who carries the love, peace, kindness and compassion of your Teacher into the world.

May you know the richness and preciousness of your life. May you see the Divine in every aspect of Creation you touch. Walk in love.

Djwhal Khul