In these uncertain and stressful times, people are looking for tools to deal with overwhelming emotions, anxiety and fear. To help people tide over these times, and help them find answers, The Art of Living is organizing a free 21 Day online Meditation Challenge, where participants will be introduced to a unique guided meditation by global spiritual master, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar every evening at 7.30 PM. The meditation sessions will be short, sublime, powerful and relieve stress instantly, making one feel calmer and more settled. Also Read - Rabindranath Tagore's 79th Death Anniversary: 8 Interesting Facts About Indias First Nobel Laureate

Across race, gender, financial status, the pandemic has affected peoples mental health. A recent survey showed that 65% Indians have suffered and experienced moderate to severe stress post lockdown. People reported experiencing feelings of anxiety, anger, frustration, irritability, and loneliness, particularly among students and working professionals. Also Read - Singer Asha Bhosle Debuts on YouTube with 'Main Hoon' Song on Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's 64th Birthday

Why take up the 21 day Meditation Challenge? Also Read - Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration: Pakistan Invites Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Talks About 'Violence-free World'

It is said that any good habit takes atleast 21 days to form. Similarly, the meditation challenge which begins on 1 September, will hone the nervous system to fully benefit from the depth and clarity brought about by meditation practice, while leaving one feeling totally relaxed, light and at ease after each session.

With more than 3,000 published scientific studies, the benefits of meditation today are common knowledge. Benefits of regular meditation practice include clear thinking, increased energy, stress-relief, better physical health, stronger immune system, improved relationships and greater peace of mind. In 2017 at the World Psychiatry Associations Annual Conference, a study on the effects of meditation, on cardiovascular health, nervous system and clinical depression received the award for best research.

_Level of expertise?_

Whether one is a beginner or a seasoned meditation practioner, this challenge is for everyone to benefit from. Between March and May this year, Gurudev led meditations twice a day since 22nd March with over 100 million views where participants reported feeling well-rested, clear in their head and emotionally balanced.

_Where can you log in?_

The challenge will be hosted on Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar official YouTube channel.

YouTube.com/srisri at 7:30 pm

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Looking to Learn Meditation in The Pandemic Times? Here's a 21 Day Meditation Challenge to Help You Find Your - India.com

Mirror-clear waters of Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana.

Although we could have done the hike to Avalanche Lake in a quick 3.5-hour round trip, that sort of defeated the purpose.

After all, this was Glacier National Park, one of the most remote and majestic places in the United States, in northern Montana along the Canadian border. It was my first visit and the first time hiking here for Clint, my friend and traveling companion for the day, and we were not likely to return anytime soon. Plus, after months of COVID-19 lockdown, being out in nature felt like a luxury to savor slowly, even on this gray June morning.

So we followed the Going-to-the-Sun Road and took our sweet time hiking, stopping to marvel at gushing ice-blue waterfalls; appreciate the dense forest of western hemlock,red cedar and mammoth, gnarled, overturned roots; and quietly commune from a distance with a family of mule deer.

Waterfall along Avalanche Creek, Glacier National Park, Montana.

After about 2.5 hours, we arrived at Avalanche Lake, and it was everything we had hoped for. During our hike, the clouds had lifted and a warming sky reflected in the lakes mirror-clear waters, encircled by steep peaks. On the farthest face: snowcaps of the Continental Divide, feeding three elegant ribbons of waterfalls that in turn fed the lake.

On the lakeshore, we came across painters from a local art club, simultaneously engrossed and at ease as they created their lakescapes. Nearby, families oohed, ahhed and splashed.

The writer's friend contemplates the beauty of Avalanche Lake, while an artist tries to capture it.

Even in this remote place, during the time of coronavirus we sought to distance ourselves from others. That, and the lakes magnetic beauty, propelled us to forge along a muddy side path.

Eventually we spotted a cluster of boulders just offshore, and we carefully crossed on stepping stones each to reach a boulder of our own.

Then, completely unplanned, and without knowing exactly why, I turned to Clint and said Id like a moment. Can we take about 15 minutes here? He said sure and settled in on his rock.

My rock was rose pink with a bump to sit on and space to rest my legs below. The angle felt not unlike cushions in a Kyoto Zen temple.

At first I faced the waterfalls, but they seemed almost too grand, too obvious for the moment. Scanning the lake, my eyes settled on a mountain on the other side, with striations but no other pattern I could name. Compared to the waterfalls it was unremarkable, yet somehow its humility spoke to me.

Instead of the majestic waterfall, the writer chose this craggy, striated mountain face for his ... [+] meditation, on Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park, Montana.

Although I had not meditated in years, that became my mission in this moment. I took in the mountains craggy, rocky face and wondered how its trees could possibly balance on little more than ledges on cliffs, let alone survive Montanas impossibly harsh winters. I pondered how the very water droplets surrounding me would end up 1,000 miles away in the Pacific. I observed that the lake was so pure that I could view fallen tree trunks in it as clearly as those wed just seen in the forest.

My peripheral vision narrowed, and I began to focus on a single point on the mountainside. I couldnt identify the point to you now, or even seconds after the fact, but as I sat and stared, I could feel my mind slowly, ineffably, go blank, and the rock, the air, the trees, the water, the sun, the mountains, the clouds, time and my brain and body and soul and the universe felt like they all became one.

I dont know how long that sensation lasted - it might have been a mere split second. But as I left the rose-pink rock and Clint and I made our way back to the trail, I couldnt help feeling that even if this was all I accomplished on my month-long trip around America, that split second, when time stopped and I slipped the bounds of everyday reality, was worth it.

The author's rose-pink meditation rock leads the way home from Avalanche Lake.

This is the first in an occasional series of meditations on places Ive visited across the United States. I hope youll come back.

Read more:

Meditations On America: Stopping Time In Glacier National Park, Montana - Forbes

Donation to support full enrollment for 20 participants in the program that offers online mindfulness and meditative entertainment and skills training for children from the comfort of their homes, to help during the school closures caused by COVID-19

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 1, 2020 / Worthy Beyond Purpose, a nonprofit that brings mindfulness & meditation practices to children around the world, today announced that Andrew W. Haag will provide twenty full scholarships for students to attend Worthy Beyond Purpose's Superheroes in Training on Mindfulness and Meditation, an after school program taking place on Zoom from September 8th - October 2nd, intended to provide mindfulness and meditative skills and entertainment for children in the comfort of their own home. Andrew Haag is a member of the Board of Directors of Worthy Beyond Purpose.

In a June 2020 study by the CDC, approximately 4.5 million children aged 3-17 years have a diagnosed behavior problem, approximately 4.4 million children aged 3-17 years have diagnosed anxiety, and approximately 1.9 million children aged 3-17 years have diagnosed depression (1). These numbers are increasing as young people are limited in their social and developmental outlets due to COVID-19. This is where Worthy Beyond Purpose steps in to make a difference.

Worthy Beyond Purpose has provided in-person mindfulness skills training to children in Los Angeles, Jamaica, Tanzania. Earlier this year, Worthy Beyond Purpose developed daily online classes and operated on a per donation basis due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic to help children and their caretakers develop better coping skills. Prior to the onset of the global pandemic, Worthy Beyond Purpose's twelve-month curriculum was being implemented in local schools while also teaching classes to social workers, firefighters, parents, and teachers. On the heels of fall school closures, Worthy Beyond Purpose is launching the Superheroes in Training Mindfulness and Meditation after school program to further help children during these challenging times.

"It is paramount that we teach our kids self-soothing and self-regulatory skills. The benefits of creating mindfulness and meditative practices are tremendously positive and our young people are in need of as many tools as possible to navigate today's complicated world," commented Connie Clotworthy, Worthy Beyond Purpose President & Founder. "Superheroes in Training will provide two developmentally appropriate classes daily which will be focused on mindfulness, the arts, expression, and positive identity expansion. Our goal is to enable the children of the world to receive a global educational experience. We are committed to shifting the educational paradigm for our young people by filling in the emotional gaps that mainstream education overlooks.

"I am pleased to support Worthy Beyond Purpose in their mission by providing 20 scholarships for children across the globe to partake in the after school program," commented Andrew Haag, Managing Partner of IRTH Communications. "We are committed to enabling children to receive a well-rounded education with an emphasis on emotional intelligence. It is my hope that Superheroes in Training will bring the world's children closer together with mindfulness and meditation."

To enroll in Superheroes in Training, please visit https://www.worthybeyondpurpose.com/ or contact us for more information.

(1) https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html

About Worthy Beyond Purpose

Worthy Beyond Purpose brings mindfulness and meditation practices to children around the globe with a mission to transform the world by providing globally accessible meditation and mindfulness tools and practices.

In our current cultural and technological climate, our society is suffering from depression and anxiety disorders at increasingly younger ages. Through the practice of mindfulness and meditation, children and youth can develop self-regulatory skills to improve academically and socially. This facilitates the development of healthy relationships with self, friends, families, teachers, and peers. The more these skills are integrated across communities in adults as well as children, the greater the potential for real change.

We guide kids, teens, and adults in how to unplug and learn to listen to their bodies and their creative minds. We offer a variety of mindfulness programs based on positive mental health and soft skill acquisition. Our goal is to guide people to be able to recognize their worth independent of life's circumstances leading to a more positive and purpose-driven life.

Contact Information

Connie Clotworthy, President & Founder Worthy Beyond Purpose info@worthbeyondpurpose.com https://www.worthybeyondpurpose.com/contact

SOURCE:Worthy Beyond Purpose

View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/604158/Worthy-Beyond-Purpose-Receives-Donation-from-Andrew-Haag-to-Provide-Scholarships-for-Mindfulness-and-Meditation-After-School-Program

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Worthy Beyond Purpose Receives Donation from Andrew Haag to Provide Scholarships for Mindfulness and Meditation After School Program - Press Release -...

Kaveh Zahedi Van Nguyen

Children cross a canal passage holding food donations handed out during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic in a low-income neighbourhood in Bangkok on 4 May, 2020. (AFP Photo)

After decades of impressive growth, for the first time, Southeast Asia is experiencing a drop in measured human development. The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic will likely take months to reveal itself and years to put right. Yet, a legacy of mobilising under constraints is leading Southeast Asias pandemic response.

During the first two months of COVID-19 lockdown, the once bustling streets of Bangkok were unusually quiet. In the alley nested between two high-end shopping malls in downtown Bangkok, an elderly couple were not at their usual rice cart. Their regulars, motorbike taxi drivers and shop assistants, were absent. The couple have not returned now that things have eased. A Thai blind massage team shared, in our recent dialogue, that for them, no tourism equals no clients and no income.

Similar tales of woe can be heard in many other poor communities across Southeast Asia. Garbage pickers in the slums outside Manila; temporary workers living outside industrial zones in Ho Chi Minh city; undocumented migrants and refugees living along the borders of Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. They are among the 177 million people (below the US$5.5 poverty line) that the World Bank now estimates will slip into poverty.

No Strangers To Calamities

Southeast Asian communities are no strangers to calamities. In those times, they could probably turn to a relative, a friend or a neighbour for help. Or work extra to make up for the lost income. But the usual informal safety net only works if some are spared from the disaster. The COVID-19 pandemic does the exact opposite, striking everyone down at the same time.

Closed restaurants need no kitchen hands; street hawkers and motorbike taxis are idle when all stay at home; empty hotels need no cleaning. The new brief by the United Nations (UN) Secretary General shows that Southeast Asias gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to contract on average by 0.1 percent in 2020 with 218 million informal workers having their livelihoods at risk.

The informality of work means that they are not protected by any formal social safety nets. Even before the crisis, our analysis shows that 60 percent of the population in Asia and the Pacific had no protection when they become sick, disabled or unemployed. Many are so invisible that they would not even figure in the statistics.

The prolonged drought in much of Southeast Asia and the looming monsoons in the coming months may risk sweeping away the few assets they have left. Their hopes for the future, investment in their childrens education, look grim. Poor children without internet access, computers and smart phones cannot readily jump into remote learning during school closures. Without safety nets, either formal or informal, to fall back on, many will inevitably slide into poverty with no clear respite in sight.

Yet good news has come from Southeast Asia. The region was among the first to be hit by the pandemic and contains some of the countries with the greatest success in curbing it, including Vietnam and Thailand. Governments have been quick to roll out fiscal packages to help affected businesses and households.

Local Initiatives

Our review of COVID-19 responses reveals a diverse mix of relief packages including support for health responders, subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), wage subsidies and direct cash transfers for vulnerable populations.

The myriad of local initiatives is another source of great hope. In Thailand, local voluntary groups have quickly come together to locate and provide essential packages to the most in-need communities, including those unregistered. New ways of providing health support have emerged such as teleconsultation for rehabilitation in Singapore and targeted telehealth services for children with disabilities in Malaysia.

These good practices were shared in our recent dialogue for protecting and empowering persons with disabilities. Permeating these practices is a strong sense of coming together from both the public and private sector.

The crisis has also shown that limited fiscal space and resources have not stopped countries from supporting their people. Measures that once were thought to be expensive such as establishing universal health care and broadening social protection coverage are now rightly seen as essential investments in people.

Measures that were seen as luxuries such as securing internet for all are now recognised as a lifeline especially for poor and vulnerable communities including refugees and migrants. Measures that would help us respond faster to crises such as providing people with basic legal identity are now a must.

Southeast Asias long road to recovery has started. Time will tell if the emergency measures can be locked in to help address the regions deep inequalities and put it on a green recovery path as advocated by the UN Secretary General in his recent brief on COVID-19 in Southeast Asia. Only then will the people of Southeast Asia be more resilient in any future crisis.

Related Articles:

COVID-19: Pushing Millions Into Poverty?

Preventing A Global Education Disaster

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The New Post-Pandemic Poor - The ASEAN Post

Pickleball, a paddleball sport which is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, had 80 people show up the first night it began in August 2019, according to Dias. She also started a Hanford Pickleball group page, which currently has 513 members.

Dias has attended city council meetings and recreational meetings in hopes of getting Pickleball courts in Hanford.

I feel good about it because fitness is needed and I feel like Hanford has slacked off a little bit in that area and were bringing it back now, Dias said.

Growing up in the agriculture industry, Dias has also taught 4-H and for the last 10 years, shes given school tours on dairy farms to promote the industry to school children. After serving the community for all these years, Dias called it normal because its always been a part of who she is.

My passion comes from being able to work with different people, Dias said. My passion is just being with people and meeting with people and [volunteering is] a good way to meet people.

Shes also made lifelong friends with her volunteer work and grown up with many of them. Dias said that some women she started teaching aerobics to at 19 are now 62 and playing Pickleball with her.

Being a part of a small community, weve all stuck together and grown together in fitness, so I feel like when I started Pickleball, I was with a lot of people that I was with at the age of 19 when I started, Dias said.

Shes also had her children grow up with her friends children and then they coached them in sports together or were involved with 4-H. Living in a small community has afforded them the privilege of staying together as a group.

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Volunteer of the Year: Theresa Dias leads the way in fitness - Hanford Sentinel

Department of Public Works Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald reported that the Department of Public Works is in its final stages of restoration from the recent storm repairing curbs and sidewalks that were damaged. DPW will be line striping crosswalks and stop lines in anticipation of school re-openings. Storm drain projects in various locations throughout the Village are underway. The drainage project at Emerson/Lowell Avenues is almost complete except for the street repave, Depan/West Hitchcock Avenues is almost done and then they will move on to Crocus/Elm Avenues.

Finally, Deputy Mayor Fitzgerald offered a public service announcement to advise residents that the N-24 bus route on Jericho Turnpike has removed some stops in Floral Park as part of its streamlining of bus routes to hasten trips. N-24 bus service is still available to Floral Park, however, please visit http://www.nicebus.com to review passenger information for the new bus schedule and bus stops that have recently gone into effect.

Recreation and Pool Departments Trustee Pombonyo Floral Park has begun its transition from summer to fall, especially at the pool and rec center. This summers sunny season at the pool was enjoyed by all. The enthusiasm, spirit and cooperation have been awesome, thanks all around, and the final day of swimming for members and residents will be Labor Day.

If youve taken a trip to the park, especially during the evening hours, you will be amazed by the large number of residents and families who come to swim, play tennis and other sports, watch our Little League games, or simply stroll to take it all in. For a pleasant summer evening experience, try our own Village park. Were open until 10pm every night in September.

And, speaking of Little League, its tournament time! Our baseball and softball teams have had exciting seasons, and our 10U and 12U baseball teams (athletes 8-10 and 10-12 years old) are successfully making their way through the playoffs, competing to win championships. (Breaking news! Our 10U team just defeated Carle Place to win the District 29 championship. Very exciting, congratulations to all!) Other championship games and our Floral Park intra-league games are scheduled this week and next, with the season ending on September 14th.

Love baseball and softball? Come to cheer on our hometown teams. Tournament schedules will be posted on our Little League website at floralparklittleleague.com . Good luck to all our champions!

Now, were focusing on fall and Recreation Session I programs. For youth, theres Kids Zumba, Tiny Tots Gymnastics, Creative Yoga, Gardening and, new this year, Youth Tennis. For adults and seniors, theres Aerobics, Cardio Kickboxing & Toning, Interval Fitness Training, Yoga, Zumba, Knitting, Agility & Strengthening, Exercise, Gentle Movement and Tennis lessons. Registration will take place on September 16th and 17th at the rec center.

Watch for our Fall Recreation flyer and all the details on the Village website and email, and postings on our Village and Pool Facebook pages.

Conservation Society Trustee Pombonyo The Centennial Gardens brick path and surrounding area are also bustling with activity every evening. Bicyclists and joggers enjoy rides and runs around the perimeter of the Gardens. Walkers on the path and others benefit from their outdoor fitness activities in the outer area as well. You can get a spectacular view of sunset from all spots, especially on the Floral Parkway side. Make your evening extra special with a trip to the outside of our beautiful Gardens.

Covert Avenue Chamber of Commerce and Our Businesses Trustee Pombonyo Its back-to-school time, perfect for SHOPPING, DINING & TAKING OUT LOCAL! Visit our local businesses. Its convenient, enjoyable and productive.

Back-To-School Trustee Pombonyo We wish our students of all ages a happy back-to-school season. Although 2020-21 will be a new experience, we wish everyone success and enjoyable times with friends. And, for all our motorists, please drive carefully. School is open. Keep our children safe.

Fire Department Trustee Cheng The annual Knights of Columbus and Keith Fairben Blood Drive was held on Friday, August 28, 2020 at Our Lady of Victory. 182 appointments to donate blood were made and all scheduled openings were filled. There were some walk-ins and those individuals were not turned sway. 182 pints of blood were collected. I have been informed that 182 pints of blood can be used to save approximately 550 lives. Thanks to all of the residents who donated to the Fire Department for organizing and assisting in this worthwhile and lifesaving endeavor.

Again, I wish to thank our volunteers from the Fire Department for the job they did to ensure the safety of our residents during and after Tropical Storm Isaias. As you will see from the Fire Department call numbers for the month of August, the entire department was extremely busy. Calls for the month of August: Rescue 82; Rest of Department 33.

LIRR Third Track Trustee Cheng The following are updates: Work is continuing at the MTA substation on Plainfield Avenue. Retaining and sound wall work will commence on the north side Right of Way on or about September 21st. We have finished reviewing the landscaping plan for the intersection of Terrace and Plainfield Avenues and work there will commence shortly. Also, New Hyde Park Road has reopened for vehicular traffic.

CREW Trustee Chiara The CREW committee is continuing its Jam sessions through the Fall Season. All young adults who play an instrument and have an interest in music are welcome to share this fun opportunity to hone their skills. Marco Conelli and friends will be jamming, sharing their expertise and experiences of playing in a band and songwriting. The sessions are every other Wednesday evening by the shelter house in the rec. center. Wednesday, September 16th at 7pm will be the next session.

Building Department Trustee Chiara The Building Department had its first in person Architectural Review Board meeting last Wednesday evening since the pandemic hit. All went extremely well due to the efforts of our building staff, Renee and Lucille. They put a lot of energy into organizing and preparing for this meeting. Renee was able to electronically display the submitted plans of the applicants along with zooming the meeting to members that were not on site. It was a very well run, safe meeting with all the applicants leaving satisfied. Thanks.

Library Trustee Chiara The Library will be resuming its normal business hours next week, after Labor Day. Monday, Tuesday & Thursdays 10am to 9 pm, Wednesdays & Fridays 10am to 6pm, Saturdays 9am to 5pm and Sundays 1pm to 5 pm. Masks must still be worn and please no congregating.

Many library programs are still being offered virtually. On Friday, a Tinkerbelle type fairy will read a book to our little ones for a virtual story time on the librarys You Tube channel and Facebook page. Please check http://www.floralparklibrary.org for details on this event and for future events. The summer reading program has come to an end and all participants were entered into the Teen Summer Club raffle. Congratulations to Gabby Keeley, the winner of a goodies basket from the Tulip Sweet Shop.

Mayors Report Mayor Longobardi Mayor Longobardi welcomed life scout Matt Santos, Floral Park Scout Troop 55, who is working on his citizenship badge. Trustee Pombonyo also recognized Matt for the award that he received from the Floral Park Lions Club for his essay on being a good citizen. Mayor Longobardi invited Matt to lead all in The Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Longobardi invited Village Justice Douglas Hayden to swear in Joan McAllister as Clerk to Village Justice, her newly appointed position. The Mayor and Board of Trustees congratulated Joan and welcomed the McAllister family to the meeting followed by photos.

Mayor Longobardi commented that it is now September and that the Fall season is upon us. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many fall events are cancelled. The Village invites the residents to the annual September 11th Remembrance ceremony scheduled on Friday, September 11th at 8:30 am at Village Hall.

Thank you to Police Commissioner Stephen McAllister, the Floral Park Police Department and the Public Works Department for making the August 28th Back the Blue rally at Memorial Park safe and peaceful for all of those who participated.

Floral Park schools are opening and the buses will be running. Please drive safely and obey all STOP signs and speed limits. The Floral Park Police will be enforcing all traffic laws to protect the safety of all, especially the children. Please drive carefully.

The Village Election is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2020 from noon to 9PM. All polling locations have all COVID safety protocols in place to ensure a safe voting experience. There are two Trustee candidates on the ballot.

Mayor Longobardi thanked Andrew Weiss, Village Noise Abatement Officer who represents the Village along with Trustee Archie Cheng at the Town of Hempsteads Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC). Mayor Longobardi welcomed Elliot Weld from Blank Slate Media (New Hyde Park Herald Courier). He also thanked Felix Procaccia from Just the Facts Media for videotaping the Village meeting(s). Mayor Longobardi wished all of the residents well and reminded all to stay safe during the pandemic and continue to wear masks and socially distance responsibly. Please enjoy the rest of the summer. Thank you.

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Floral Park Board of Trustees Reports Sept. 2 - Blog - The Island Now

Zach Berger | The Daily Eastern News

Diamond Thomas, a senior majoring in Health Administration, worked out on an elliptical at the Student Recreation Center. Thomas said it was her first time back at the SRC this semester.

Heather Vosburgh, Staff Reporter September 3, 2020

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The Student Recreation Center is one of the many resources on campus that has adjusted their guidelines for student health and safety.

Paul Noble, the Operations and Programs Coordinator, said one of the main new procedures, wearing a mask is always required for students in the SRC.

We want masking at all times, so anytime youre in the facility you must have the appropriate face mask on, covering your mouth and nose. We encourage people to also wear masks whilst doing cardio machines, so treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, power mills, stairsteps and rowers. If it is too much for them, thats the only exception we will make, Noble said. They can take it off at that point, but we do encourage people to keep them on whilst doing that.

The SRC has also encouraged social distancing by removing equipment from the weight room, spacing the remaining equipment out, and taping the floor around the equipment to show students where they should be while using the equipment.

New cleaning procedures have been implemented in the SRC as well.

Weve increased cleaning stations around the building, so theres more binning (trash) stations. Were closing an hour and a half early every night, doing increased sanitation procedures, Noble said. We have increased staff on the floor, so that between each use, the machines can be adequately sanitized and cleaned.

SRC Director Sarah Daugherty said, there is no checking out of any equipment besides a mat from the SRC office and there are no reserving spaces.

We are not reserving space at all, Daugherty said. So, dance studio, aerobics room, basketball courts, anything. We do not do any reservations at all.

There are still many resources available to students in the SRC, such as group fitness classes, E-Sports (PC only), special event intermural sports and the pool, but in order to use those spaces, a spot must be reserved.

You have to reserve space in a group fitness class, which we have never done before, but that way it allows us to know whos here. Same thing for E-Sports. They have to reserve space in the arena in order to play and we had to space that out, obviously, quite a bit. And then in the pool, we are starting lane reservations. Because of the number of people that we have had, they have to make a reservation to use a lane, Daugherty said. It also allows us to track whos here, so, worst case scenario, we can do contact tracing as well.

If a student is interested in reserving a spot for a class or the arena for E-Sports, they can find the link on the campus recreation website.

Pool reservations are done through the SRC office and they can be reached at 581-2820.

SRC Assistant Director Kevin Linker explained how people can sign up.

Once theyre on IMleagues, they use their PAWS credentials. Just like theyre logging into PAWS, they log into IMleagues that way with those credentials. You get there and theres a spot for the intermural sports, theres a spot for groupex, and then the E-Sports arena. And once you click on groupex, it shows you the weeks worth of classes and which classes are available. If you click on those, it shows you how many spots are left, and you can sign up for a class that way, Linker said. Students can sign up a week in advance, but they might not be available before a week in advance, even though the whole semester is already on there.

The occupancy limitation in the SRC is 350 people at one time, and only 20 of those people are allowed in the weight room at once.

The staff is keeping track of how many people come into the SRC, but, as of recently, their daily use does not typically exceed 350.

We havent had to turn anyone away, Daugherty said.

Basic gym rules still apply in the SRC, so students must follow the current apparel policy.

All the things you would expect to happen in a gym, we still have all of those things in place as well to make sure that were still maintaining everyones safety, not just from COVID, but from everything thats potentially harmful, Daugherty said.

These policies are in place keep everyone in the SRC as safe as possible and protect the student body.

We understand that they can be frustrating, and we understand that theyre weird and alienating, but its there to protect you and its there so that we can stay open. We want to stay open and thats the reason weve put all of these things in place, Noble said. Were doing it for no other reason, but for your benefit.

Heather Vosburgh can be reached at 581-2812 or at [emailprotected]

Original post:

SRC adapts to COVID-19 guidelines this semester The Daily Eastern News - The Daily Eastern News

Columns share an authors personal perspective.

***** Desire plays an important role in life. If it were not for desire, the human race would not propagate. God made humans in such a way that they need, and are capable of experiencing, desire.

Desire is also important in the religious life, though its role is seen in vastly different ways, depending on the religion espoused. In Buddhism, if I understand it correctly, desire (or longing) is regarded as the principal cause of suffering. Desire is the fetter that binds people and keeps them from reaching enlightenment.

The Christian view on desire is nuanced. The King James word for it is lust, which frequently refers to inappropriate and destructive desires (like the desire to have another persons spouse), but occasionally refers to appropriate and healthy desires. Jesus, for example, eagerly desired - the word regularly translated as lusted - to eat the Passover meal with his disciples.

Buddhism approaches desire or longing as something to renounce and eventually eliminate by following the eight-fold path. There are many points of contact for Christians and Buddhists along the eight-fold path, though their underlying assumptions will be at odds and will inevitably lead them in different directions.

Christians are never asked to make a universal renunciation of desire. Such a renunciation would be counterproductive. Instead, they are told to put to death evil desires while cultivating healthy ones. While they know that desire can fetter a person to a life of lovelessness and suffering, they also believe that desire can be a springboard into a life full of love and contentment. They dont want to get rid of their desires, they want to transform them.

If it were possible to take an X-ray of all our desires - to see them the way a radiologist sees fractures and growths - we could pretty accurately diagnose our spiritual health and prognosticate our spiritual futures, apart from intervention. Fortunately, intervention by the one Christians call the Great Physician is always possible.

This intervention occurs at a level we cannot reach, rather as gene therapy operates on a level we cannot reach. Christians believe that God is able and willing to work at the origination point of desire, actually giving and shaping the desires of their hearts. The Christian then cooperates with these deep-level operations in practices that cultivate and bring to fruition these new desires.

These practices are sometimes referred to as spiritual disciplines. They fall into two principal categories: those that put to death evil desires and those that cultivate God-given desires. It is common to talk about these as the disciplines of abstinence and engagement. Both are important.

Among the disciplines of abstinence, which help people put to death evil desires, are solitude, silence, secrecy (that is, not broadcasting our good or religious deeds in order to win admiration) and fasting. These practices enable a person to discern unhealthy desires. On a more fundamental level, they enable people to understand that they are more than their desires, something that is urgently needed in contemporary culture.

The disciplines of engagement, which aid in the cultivation of God-given desires, include worship, Bible reading, prayer, acts of humble service and fellowship (or soul friendship, as it has been called). The value of these disciplines resides, in part, in the way they increase the intensity and staying power of God-given desires.

But none of these spiritual practices, however performed, can create a desire. That is outside their scope and beyond our ability. For that to happen, people are dependent on outside intervention. They are dependent upon God.

When we understand the importance of desire and the role Gods intervention plays in it, we are ready to appreciate the insight of the psalmist who wrote, Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. The psalmist is not thinking of God giving us the new car weve been dreaming about. He is thinking of God giving us new desires, the kind that can be fulfilled without doing harm, the kind that can lead a person to deeper love and richer contentment. The role desires play in the spiritual life, and our part in curtailing or cultivating them, is absolutely critical.

Shayne Looper is the pastor of Lockwood Community Church in Coldwater, Michigan. His blog, The Way Home, is at shaynelooper.com.

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Looper column: The role of desire in the religious life - Sentinel-Standard

By Daya Gamage Asian Tribune US National Correspondent

Washington, D.C. 04 September (Asiantribune.com):

An academic and a devout Buddhist closely associated with the head of the United States Buddhist Sangha Council and Chief Abbot of the Los Angeles premiere Buddhist Temple Dharma Vijaya, in a letter to the Chairman of Democratic National Committee Tom Perez, reminded that the just-concluded Democratic Party convention failed to recognize the large percentage of Buddhists residing in the U.S. not observing Buddhist rituals along with rituals of other religious beliefs.

He reminded in the letter that During the Convention, speakers acknowledged various religious groups as valuable contributing members of our American society: Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims. In emphasizing inclusivity, the Buddhist community, which represents a surprisingly large portion of the countrys population, and is extremely supportive of Democratic policies, ideals, and candidates, was overlooked.

Prof. Long reminded that In the early 1970s there were very few Buddhists and Buddhist places of worship in the U.S. With the arrival of immigrants from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, South Korea, China, and other Asian countries, the Buddhist population has grown dramatically. In 1996, ABC News reported there were six million Buddhists. With the spread of Buddhist philosophy, current estimates exceed fourteen million. As an example of the growth of Buddhism, when Ven. Walpola Piyananda, Abbot of Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles and current President of the Sri Lankan Sangha Council of the United States and Canada, arrived in 1976, there were only two Sri Lankan Buddhist temples in North America; there are now over 100.

He reminded American Buddhists for Biden/Harris a newly-formed informal group of Buddhists, meditation groups, practitioners, leaders, and organizations. We represent a range of races and nationalities, and as liberal thinkers support peace, inclusion, tolerance, and compassion for all peoples both here and around the world. Being very distressed with the direction the US has taken since 2016, we wish to add our voices and our networks to yours to help turn the ship around. We feel that American Buddhists can be a very effective campaign component in providing volunteers, linkages to Buddhist temples and organizations, and messaging for this niche group of voters.

He reminded the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee that the largely Buddhist population in the U.S. is in favor of the Democratic Party.

Prof. Stephen Long attached a sheet of information about the status of the Buddhist Order in the United States.

According to the statistics given by him, 69% out of the total Buddhists have aligned with the Democratic Party, and 80% belong to the political persuasion of Liberal/Moderate. He says that Buddhists are not monolithic: they are comprised of two separate and distinct groups, each requiring a unique approach in targeting, messaging, and securing support.

The Immigration Act of 1965 brought immigrant waves from China, Vietnam, and the predominantly Theravada Buddhist countries of South and Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka). Between 1965 and 2015 Asians increased from 1.5% to 6% of the US population.

More recent waves of these immigrants differ from previous waves of immigrants. Since 2011 Asia has been the largest source for recently arrived immigrants, many from China and Korea. Asian immigration will continue to increase, and, based on Pew Research assumptions about immigration, fertility, and mortality rates, by 2055 Asians will surpass Hispanics as the largest group among the foreign-born population group.14% of Asian American immigrants are Buddhist the highest percentage of any affiliated Non-Christian religious group. American Buddhists

Made up of new converts within the country, American Buddhists are largely white and represent about 75% of total Buddhists in the US. This should be a major Democratic Party target population.

This group grew from 3.6 million in 2010 to over 4.2 million in 2020 and is projected to continue increasing.

American Buddhists skew young, are highly educated, and are more prosperous than other populations.

They are viewed favorably by all Americans, especially by the 18-29 age group.

In recent years American society has become more accepting of Buddhist beliefs, incorporating them into mainstream thinking and everyday life. Think widespread acceptance of the concepts of mindfulness and compassion, and the spread of meditation and yoga for stress minimization and health.

Prof. Stephen Long in the paper submitted to the hierarchy of the Democratic Party writes:

While Buddhists seem to be an ideal yet untapped source of support for the Democratic slate, their unique characteristics and beliefs require a well-calibrated approach based on how Buddhists as a group view themselves and their place in influencing the world they live in.

In general, Buddhists have separated their spiritual and religious life from issues like politics and policy, even though their beliefs align closely with many liberal social agendas. Historically Buddhists have not been comfortable in the political arena, feeling theres a fine line between practicing Buddhist mindfulness and what they view as politicizing or proselytizing their beliefs. According to Buddhist leaders, although U.S. Buddhists have high rates of political attentiveness and voting, until recent years there hasnt been a concerted and unified effort to define how Buddhism translates into political clout at the voting booth, and in helping to define the message and gain support for newly developing policies under the future Biden administration.

We think this election - mired in the discord, distrust, and total lack of mindfulness and compassion by the Trump administration -- is an ideal time to reach out to Buddhist and Buddhist-oriented populations to optimize voting efforts and to strengthen future involvement and input in the newly elected administration. Understanding how Buddhists view themselves and the communities they live in and working closely with them at this time is key to formulating and implementing a successful strategy for not only increasing the awareness of the need to vote but more importantly to provide a pathway for greater involvement with the Buddhist community in the new Biden administration.

Politics in our country is generally based on identifying leaders or spokesmen for distinct groups. That will not happen with the Buddhist community. Buddhist practitioners believe in turning inward for guidance and their innate goodness, and most Buddhist leaders (both clerical and secular) are reluctant to identify themselves as spokes-persons to advocate for a specific political party/candidate/policy.

Recognized individuals at the forefront of the Buddhist communities adhere to a common philosophy, and while we cannot expect endorsements per se, we can reach out to them to help us sound the alarm and define the message to resonate with the Buddhist community: their way of life is existentially in danger and requires political action (e.g. voting).

We can do this by emphasizing the message not the messenger and by exhorting each individual to be messengers to their families, friends, co-workers, and religious communities.

As individuals deeply involved in the Buddhist community, we can provide assistance in identifying the core of Buddhist students, activists, and leaders to assist in developing a unified approach to:

Reaching out for Buddhist volunteers for the election process through communications, social media, and poll watching.

Identifying political officeholders and candidates who would be the most receptive to incorporating Buddhist ideals and messages into their discourse.

Identifying prominent individuals in the Buddhist community who can work with the Biden administration as liaisons to the various Buddhist communities they represent.

- Asian Tribune -

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Prof. Stephen Long stresses recognition of Buddhist in the US - Asian Tribune

IN a society where a popular saying urges women to regard her son as her master and her husband as her god, Buddhist nun Ketumala is already an outlier.

The 40-year-old walked away from traditional expectations of marriage and children as a teenager, and has instead spent more than two decades as a fierce advocate for the importance of women in religion.

The deep-red robes and shorn heads of Myanmars monks are internationally recognised, but the plight of the nations vast number of nuns, estimated to be in excess of 60,000, is little documented.

An entrenched patriarchy the belief women are inferior is common and discrimination is routine means that nuns, who also shave their hair but wear pink, can face abuse.

When a man enters into monkhood, people always applaud saying it is good for the religion and will make it better, but when a woman enters into nunhood, people always think it is because of a problem, Ketumala explains.

They think its a place for women who are poor, old, sick, divorced, or need help for their life, she adds.

Outspoken and rebellious, Ketumala is arguably the best known nun in Myanmar, having founded the Dhamma School Foundation, which runs more than 4,800 Buddhist education centres for children throughout the country.

But she warns that many nuns are still treated with contempt the nunneries are run on donations but they do not command the reverence of monasteries and so struggle with funding.

In the worst cases, nuns are abused even for asking for alms that help them survive.

Ketumalas battle for recognition and respect for nuns in Buddhism runs parallel to the broader challenge for womens rights in modern Myanmar.

Aung San Suu Kyi might be the face of the nation, but her role at the apex of the civilian government belies the lack of female representation in positions of power in the country.

Only 10.5% of MPs are women, although there are signs the ratio might improve after the November election.

Laws are often made by men, for men, and rights activists have warned that in wider society violence against women is so pervasive it is regarded as normal. AFP

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Buddhist nun challenges hatred of women - The Star Online