Welcome to the Myra House Holistic Living Center -“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.” -Greek Proverb
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This field trip of the spring semester revolved around the Santa Monica area with 2 major stops. First stop was the Santa Monica farmers market which was a sensory stimulating experience. With the freshest and most colorful of fruits and vegetables accomponied by an abundance of free samples, it was a perfect start to the day. |
With the ocean providing the all-loving backdrop, the scene is one of these which synchronizes perfectly with the imagination of what one visualizes the california lifestyle to be. Beautiful people, organic food and lots of words combining to create an ever evolving sculpture, the Santa Monica farmers market.
The second stop was a nonprofit community garden called Ocean View farms. A beutiful plot of land located on a hill in Santa Monica, the community garden is thriving with over 300 indiviudal plots and about 450 people on the waiting list. Shown around by an amazing gentlemen named Ed, we were granted access to a relatively private enviroment which we were thankful for. The attention to detail and beauty of it all was truly inspiring as tending to a small plot of land is an activity that offers little reward in the typical sense of the word when relating to the current societal context. The main driver of work is solely monetary these days and it gave great hope as to the positive shift in mindset which is occuring between the earth and the human species, which has temporarily taken itself out of the laws of nature and believed to exist outside of that which is naturally so. With the impacts becoming more evident, a recoil movement to harmonizing with the natual laws is in full effect and orginazations like Ocean View farms and the Myra House are creating amazing enviroments for learning and self expression.
Community Gardening – Two Additions
Sun-Days – Who am I?
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“Realize that every mode of perception is subjective, that what is seen or heard, touched or smelt, felt or thought, expected or imagined, is in the mind and not in reality, and you will experience peace and freedom from fear.” -Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj’s |
This past Sunday marked the largest community dinner we have had the entire semester as the host, Jason, prepared cuisine from India, a culture that he holds dear in his heart. The dinner was more than a nice gathering to consume organic food as it felt more like a crash course into various aspects of the culture, teachings and practices. read more…
Sun-Days – love
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“We accept the love we think we deserve.” – Stephen Chobsky The spirit of Valentine ’s Day ushered in experiences and conversations of subjects not typically discussed in everyday rhetoric. It was also the Asian New Year and a very special day in the Myra House because some members are of Korean descent. |
These two unique energies merged and the dinner and communal sharing were very meaningful and transparent. The theme of the dinner was the color red in honor of Valentine ’s Day. From red quinoa to red cabbage to goji berries, basically all edible things that we carry at Ecoterra encoded with the red frequency were prepared. read more…
Community Gardening: Stinging Nettle
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Saturdays gardening reminded us that with all things beautiful comes the complimentary relationship that we have given a negative connotation with our dualistic tendencies. The early morning consisted of removing Stinging Nettle which is a fast spreading plant native to most continents and seems to enjoy the sunny California weather like most people. Gloves are a necessity as when the plant is connected to the life giving soil via its roots, any contact will become a dull sting. |
Seeing connections in practices and instances that seem to be not related is a meaningful practice and one that seems to be prevalent here amongst the community. In all that we do the idea that this community is a microcosm of the whole seems to pop back into the collective. read more…
Sun-Days – Search for Roots
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“A search for roots in a place where we see just trees…Allows for the unknown to pervade and the subjective to create meaning within the leaves” -mff |
Sunday services take on the pluralistic vibe with an intent focus on delving into religions and faiths of all kinds. The Myra House is a community that is trying to see past names and into truths. This is promoted as residents and interns of all backgrounds are accepted without predisposition. The past Sunday night service harped on the similarities between those persons on a quest for those emotions or feelings which are not readily seen and more specifically revolving around three questions that seem to underlie the spiritual journey. Who am I (Who are we)? How should I (we) to live? What can I (we) hope?. read more…
Monday Meditations – All are Welcome
Happiness Beyond Thought
“What do I need to give up? The car, the money, the house. What??? No, not so easy, give up the one doing the doing. Simpler, but much harder. The final great surrender, and the only one that matters. Only then, only then, That.” – Gary Weber
The community was in full attendance for the initial launch of a new weekly event at the Myra House. Jason Gorenstein, a Myra House community member, will be hosting communal meditations Monday night’s beginning at 7:30 p.m. read more…
Citrus Harvest
Saturday marked the Myra House sustainable gardens first harvest of the 2010 year. The community was in full attendance picking for a couple of hours and gathered buckets full of Pommellos, Kumquats, Tangerines, Oranges and Lemons. There is just something a little different in the eating experience when seeing where the fruit comes from and knowing that it doesn’t travel thousands of miles to get there. It was great as we got to experience nature first hand and bring a temporary close to the cycle of energy the trees put into making these fruits which are an integral part of sustaining the human race. Understanding the relationship which seems to be a crucial part of staying in balance, giving back to the being, organism or source when it gives to you, I was wondering how to thank these trees which just supplied us with amazing energy. read more…
Ecoterra Staff Appreciation Night
Two environments for the same cause
A trip to Santa Monica highlighted this past week’s events. It was Ecoterra Staff appreciation night and Sung & Myra treated all to an evening of fine Italian pasta for dinner and Raw, vegan milkshakes for desert to show their thanks. Sung connected the present situation with the staff at the Ecoterra and a parable (Matthew 20: 1~16 in the Gospel) in the bible which is summarized and discussed in the following italicized text: read more…
Spring semester has begun
The night of January 24th was one of meaningful progressions, achievements and acceptances. It was the official introduction and acceptance of Jason Gorenstein and Max Finkel, the new interns for the Spring 2010 semester. Andrew Miller, the veteran of the intern bunch, was acknowledged for his successful completion of the duties and assignments he undertook in the Fall of 2009. In addition, he was re-accepted as part of the internship program for the 2010 semester and will assume greater responsibilities with his experience. read more…
