“First Monday Masala”  adds spice to our inner practice and deep love of life. We’ll see a film or enjoy a musical performance or talk highlighting the field where our deepest spiritual work motivates creative action for peace, justice, beauty, and balance in the world.

The Little Church, 5138 NE 23rd Ave., one block north of Alberta.   Doors open at 6:45 pm,  program starts at 7:00 pm. Suggested donation of $5-$10 is requested to help pay for the  hall.

Monday Masala, September 6 ~ “Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action,” an award-winning documentary by videographer Velcrow Ripper.

Ripper’s story spans the globe, interviewing a rich range of activists from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Thich Nhat Hanh to Congressman John Lewis and Julia Butterfly Hill to a remarkable array of indigenous activists in the global south and in inner city USA.

Moving, inspiring, and beautiful, the film reminds us how important our work is when infused with a passionate heart and deep wisdom. For more info, google “Fierce Light.”

At The Little Church ~ 6:45-9:00 pm

5138 NE 23rd, one block north of Alberta.

Summer brought hot steamy days as well as cool gray to Portland, brilliant sunshine balanced by cool evenings. But in Russia, scorching temperatures and wildfires have sent radiation levels soaring in the zone near Chernobyl. Escalating radiation levels hit children the hardest. Our friends at Viola need our help.

Living Earth’s friends at the NGO Viola in the Novozybkov region confirm that high winds have churned up contaminated dust and are spreading highly radioactive smoke, soot, ash, and smog far beyond usual boundaries.

Safe food and uncontaminated drinking water are urgently needed, along with health safety information and materials. Rather than respond, economic and political leaders deny or downplay this problem. Please help Viola now by using the “donate” button on our homepage.

Russian teens volunteer with Viola to monitor radiation in streams and educate communities.

Viola is struggling to provide needed water and food supplies. They are engaging locals teens and schools in health outreach, education, and radiation monitoring. Viola has a direct, person-to-person impact on community health, empowerment, and well-being in this highly contaminated region. They are in dire need of donations. Water, food, monitors, and materials cost money, so they have asked us to help in any way we can.

Please give today. Make a tax-deductible donation for Novozybkov using the “Donate” button on our homepage. Follow up with an email that your donation is for Viola. Credit card donations can also be completed by calling 503-771-1940. Or send a check to:

Living Earth (For Viola), PO Box 86960, Portland, OR 97286.

Children in Novozybkov help Viola with radiation outreach.

All donations will be directed to Viola in Bryansk for their efforts in the radiation zone. Any amount will make a difference. $25 provides drinking water for a family for ten days. $50 provides a radiation monitor for a school. Every donation, large or small, is greatly appreciated and put directly to use.

Viola’s programs will continue until winter weather is prohibitive.

Our weekly Monday Dharma Circle will continue at The Little Church into the fall, at our regularly scheduled time, 6:45-8:30 pm.

Most Monday Dharma Circles are time for sitting practice, but the first Monday of each month will be a “Monday Masala,” a spicy way to add flavor to our practice. First Monday Masala might include a DVD that relates to bringing our full hearts into actions for the world, or a musical performance, or a presentation connected to the rich possibilities within engaged spirituality.

Be sure to check the “News/Blog” link on our website regularly for details of what’s coming up. Or subscribe to our e-Newsletter!

After a marathon afternoon of optimizing and tweaking, I’m happy to announce that our spanking new website is now live!

Over the next few days or so, I’ll continue to shuffle things around a bit, adding new features, removing others and generally spiffy things up.

I hope everyone finds this site easy to get around and useful for keeping up-to-date with Living Earth’s activities, programs and events. Be sure to sign up to receive additional news and reminders in our Newsletter.

I’d be happy to hear your comments, suggestions and ideas in the comment box below!

Register Now!

Ram Dass* and friends. With Benjy & Heather Wertheimer (Shantala), Betsy Toll, Michael Stirling, and Meaghan Gannett

Breitenbush Hot Springs
Thursday-Sunday
December 2-5, 2010

*Ram Dass will join us via interactive “tele-satsang” from Maui. Proceeds benefit the Love Serve Remember Foundation, which supports Ram Dass’s work today.

Come celebrate the book that ignited a spiritual awakening for an entire generation. Forty years ago, Ram Dass electrified the American counter-culture with Be Here Now, bringing the richness of Indian spirituality into a tumultuous American landscape.

Inspired by his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass challenged us to break open the doors of perception and see the world in new ways. In his lectures, workshops, books, and retreats, he invited us to explore the paths of yoga, meditation, chanting and kirtan, devotion, and compassionate service.

Ram Dass “gathered the tribe” for summer retreats at Breitenbush in the ‘80s and ‘90s. He will join us on Thursday evening and Saturday for interactive “tele-satsang” from his home on Maui. As he said in our DVD, The Heart of Change, “There’s no better place to open your heart than Breitenbush!”

As Ram Dass approaches his 80th birthday, join us for guru stories and dharma talks, yoga and kirtan, meditation and Be Here Now celebration at this benefit retreat. All presenters are donating their hearts, talents, and time to participate.

Retreat fees benefit Ram Dass in his current work. See the registration details and register here.

Cancellation policy: Cancellations made prior to October 31: Payment will be refunded, minus $50 administrative fee. For cancellations made after November 1, Breitenbush extends lodging credit for one year but does not issue refunds; retreat fees will only be refunded in case of emergency, and will otherwise be donated to Love Serve Remember Foundation to support Ram Dass’s work.