We should re-examine the relationship between objects and humans, and we should refuse and discard unwanted or unnecessary items. Through repetitive practice, we can forego the attachments to our material belongings and liberate our spirit so that we can live a relaxed and comfortable life. Japanese author Ms. Hideko Yamashita explains and guides us through these areas in her book “DanShaRi.” Practicing DanShaRi is very simple: just give away your unused items. The real significance of discarding them is to ensure that we are the main focus, rather than our possessions. Ms. Hideko Yamashita believes that all our possessions were lent to us from the gods and the Earth. While we own our possessions, we can enjoy and cherish their precious ephemeral usage. Once our affinity ends, we should simply let them go and we can do this with all things. This is the main theme of DanShaRi.

Continuing our interview with Dr. Singer, he shares his thoughts on adopting the compassionate plant-based lifestyle. "Well, I think perhaps the best moral decision I ever took was to stop eating animals." We are currently facing a planetary crisis. In addition to the worsening effects of global warming, human activity is depleting many of Earth’s precious resources. However, Dr. Singer believes that we can still reverse these effects if we change our own lifestyles. To close, Dr. Peter Singer shares the important role that choosing a vegan diet plays in restoring our moral well-being and taking that step to restore Earth’s stability. "I think if the world would become entirely vegan or even vegetarian, it would be a major step forwards in our ethical standing in the extent to which we were guided by ethics in our lives."

In this series, we are very honored to have Dr. Peter Singer with us to share more about his book, "Ethics Into Action: Henry Spira and the Animal Rights Movement." “Henry Spira was always concerned to try to reduce the oppression of the strong against the weak. He was always on the side of the oppressed. Those most in need of help. And I think if we follow that example, ...then I think that’s a very good guide for how we should act in the world.” Dr. Singer emphasizes that all beings are entitled to have rights; we should not limit such sanctions to only those who understand what the concept of “rights” means. “And similarly, it should not mean that nonhuman animals don’t have rights. We should not think of rights as only for humans. These are rights that all sentient beings should have to the extent that they can benefit from them. So, these are not really human rights. These are rights that we think should go to all beings who can benefit by the protections that they offer. And that’s why they should not be limited to members of our species.”

Dr. Peter Singer is an Australian moral philosopher and professor who now teaches bioethics at Princeton University in the US. He first became internationally well-known after the publication of his book “Animal Liberation” in 1975. The theories presented in this book inspired numerous individuals to work towards ensuring the welfare of animals. First published in 1998, “Ethics into Action” tells the inspiring story of Henry Spira. Respected as one of the most effective animal rights’ activists of the 20th century, Henry Spira’s creativity and careful thought set the standard for the animal rights movement. “And I think the book is still a useful tool for activists in the animal movement, but for any activists who are fighting corporations that abuse the environment or workers.”

We present an amazing, eye-opening children’s books series “George.” Penned by Stephen William Hawking and Lucy Hawking. Renowned British physicist, cosmologist, and author Professor Stephen Hawking is widely regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Albert Einstein. The “George” series is a winning combination of enriching scientific information and entertaining adventure. With the book’ positive messages, we see how science can be used for the good of the environment and Earth’s inhabitants, as well as for providing answers to current concerns.

Today, Grameen Bank has over nine million borrowers, mostly women, 97% women. And they own the bank; they take the money and start a business and continue to take the money, improve their lives. Bangladesh has done wonderful in terms of reducing poverty in the country. At the end of 1971, 85% of the people were under poverty. Today, that poverty line came down to 22%, so that’s a long journey that we took. Viewing philanthropy as an interim solution to poverty, Professor Yunus often reiterates what he calls a holistic social business model. In this model, individuals and groups not only extend economic avenues to the disadvantaged, but also enable their empowerment as members of society.

A Professor of Economics, Muhammad Yunus established the bank as a way of giving economic self-determination to some of the most underprivileged people in the world. His efforts have also inspired the formation of several other similarly modelled institutions throughout the world. Offering microfinance to the less privileged, it gives security and hope to millions. Muhammad Yunus’s experiment micro-lending, which bypassed the traditional institutions, was successful. He decided to repeat the model again and again, laying the groundwork for the formation of the Grameen.

He said, “This will come according to your practice and experience.” Don’t hanker for all these so-called powers. Don’t do that. Human potentials are immense. If you study the life of great people, whenever they said, “It’s not we, it’s God (who) has done.” Why did they say that? It is done through them, why did they say that it is God (who) has done? Are they lying? Because if you did this and that it has been done by us, it will feed their ego. The greatest of all barriers in the path of enlightenment is ego.

Like a multifaceted diamond, Swami Rama had of many brilliant talents. He was an extraordinary spiritual Master, a medical doctor, renowned scientist, prolific author, gifted singer, Artist, and humanitarian. Even before his conception, his grand and auspicious destiny was known among the Himalayan sages. His autobiography, “Living with the Himalayan Masters,” was published in 1978 and his considered one of the greatest spiritual classics of all time. Swami Rama’s personal quest for truth and enlightenment is relayed in remarkable stories which are both entertaining and illuminating.

Baba Sawan Singh Ji became known as the “The Great Master,” His teachings were compiled in “Tales of the Mystic East: An Anthology of Mystic & Moral Tales Taken from the Teachings of the Saints.” This insightful book contains 90 stories that help teach us and connect us with God and the Saints. This tale shows that God’s will is beneficial to all beings, even though we may not see it immediately. Engaging and fun to read, each anecdote portrays precious wisdom that helps bring us closer to God.

Marian Hailey-Moss speaks about her publishing house, “Color the World With Kindness.” Let’s check out two more of Marian’s wonderful books: “Cha Cha Chicken” and “Peacefood.” They are like the physical angel for human kind. This is the secret: farm animals and pet animals and human beings are… all the same.” “We’ve got to spread Mother Nature’s secret around.” May we all turn to the life-affirming vegan lifestyle for a vibrant planet where all humans and animals alike may thrive in joy and amity.

By sharing Emma and her pig friend story, Marian hopes to raise awareness of the cruelty in the animal agriculture industry. Marian has also written three books about elephants: “Nala the Little Elephant,” “An Elephant Called Butterfly,” and “An Elephant Called Mira.” What is Butterfly, a baby African elephant, doing in New York City? And why is she in the garden of Emma’s apartment house? Oh, it’s a dream. And I liked the message here, that the miracle of life is the most precious treasure on Earth. “We are all the same.”

"We sat under a tree to rest. Whether we had a dream or saw a vision, we're not sure. But somehow Mother Nature told us an ancient secret of our planet. This secret has almost been forgotten. It's a secret that must be shared." "We are all the same!" "Our hearts are the same. We all need love, and we all want to live our lives. So when you meet another being, and you remember the secret, you will always treat the other well and do the right thing."

“Okay! This is the secret: farm animals and pet animals and human beings are all the same. Does everybody here love their mothers? Does everybody here have friends? Have feelings of being sad, happy, loving? Do you bleed when you are cut? Do you need shelter and food? Does everybody here like to look at the stars and the sunrise and flowers? Do you like to play? And most of all, do you want to keep living your life?” The answer was a resounding “yes” to all the question. “There’s your proof! You are all the same.”

In 1993, Marian’s spiritual search culminated when she received initiation into the Quan Yin Method from Supreme Master Ching Hai. Together with the Parisian artist Marc Chalvin, Marian Hailey-Moss has also published 11 children’s books and three coloring books about the animals. Most recently, they released “Mother Nature's Secret,”which Marian co-wrote with Chris Stover. We are privileged to have her with us today as she tells us about the story that inspired her very first book,“A Dog named Randall.”It all began when Marian brought a pigeon to someone in the East side of Manhattan. Inspired by A True Story.

How animals’ role in nature cannot be understood without first acknowledging the relationship and responsibility of humans toward animals. In recent years, many important contributions made by modern naturalists have opened the doors to an improved human attitude toward animals. Let’s take a moment to reflect on Allah and the magnitude of Hiers marvelous creations. And scientific proof showing that animals communicate not only amongst themselves, but with humans as well, both to express themselves socially or to share biological needs. Animals, just like humans, have the right to peacefully access the resources of nature provided by Allah.

Since I’ve been meditating, I’ve become vegan; of course, and much more aware of what happens to animals in the world. It’s like you have to do something with this knowledge; you want to tell people about it. So, I can’t dance it, can’t act it. So, I write it, and you learn as you go along. How I found the illustrator, I googled, children’s illustrators, and I saw Marc Chalvin and immediately I knew that was the one. He’s French, and English is not his first language, And I never met him, but we do all our things. So, all our communication is through the script.

"Xe Gong's Affection for Dragons" Once there was a man named Xe Gong, who had an affection for dragons. In his house, everything, including furniture, ornaments and clothing, were all decorated with patterns of dragons. One day, the Dragon King in Heaven was so touched that he decided to descend to Earth to let Xe Gong see him. Hi! How are you? Wah! Xe Gong fainted in fear. So, what he loved was not the "real" dragon, but only "false" dragons in the images.We all believe in Shakyamuni Buddha of 2,500 years ago, yet we cannot believe that a Buddha could manifest into different appearances and come to Earth to save sentient beings life after life. Is this not similar to Xe Gong's affection for dragons?

Once you realize the brain is not the producer of consciousness at all, you find that meditation can be an incredibly rich source of healing, of insight, of guidance, of connecting with souls, the departed loved ones. I use sacred acoustic tones to great effect of returning to my NDE and developing my relationship with beings, entities, and especially with that infinitely healing force of unconditional love, that God force at the Core of all that is. The most direct ascent towards oneness with that Divine power and accomplishing our soul journey in this incarnation is to manifest unconditional love for all fellow beings.

Essentially, we are one with the universe. Realize the connectedness of all life, that we’re really here to take care of each other and really build that in from the ground up so that our youngest children realize that the greatest value is helping others. There’s plenty of wealth in this would to go all around, but we need to know how to distribute that in a better fashion that is more serving to the original intent of every soul who incarnates. Surely this dream may soon be realized!