An Open Letter from Jack Kornfield, Ram Dass, and Sharon Salzberg

March 14, 2008

Topic: General — jesse_zenvc @ 7:41 pm

To our supporters,

We are posting this to support two of our mentors, Stephen and Ondrea Levine, as they are needing assistance financially, due to unexpected health issues. We invite your generous donations to their cause, as you have so generously supported us.

Blessings,

Jesse and Catherine

—

Dear Friends,

We are writing to ask your support for two beloved friends of ours, Stephen and Ondrea Levine. They are currently facing significant difficulty. After a life-time of giving, they are now at a time to receive from those of us whose lives have been touched by their presence and teaching.

Their greatest needs are financial. Ondrea has Leukemia and the costs of her insurance and treatment have used up their savings. Stephen’s health is not good either, and he is too frail to travel or teach. When we heard about this, we felt moved to contribute to a fund set up for them, and to encourage others to do the same.

Stephen and Ondrea have been among our generation’s most important teachers, demonstrating and encouraging others to embrace the power of love and generosity. For three years, they ran a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week free phone line for those dying or in need of support. When the phone bills got too high, they sold their house to keep the project going. For decades they regularly corresponded with thousands people who were seeking spiritual guidance, giving freely to those in need, many of whom were sick or in the final years of their life.

The circle has now come around, allowing us the opportunity to give to these two life-long givers. We hope to raise several hundred thousand dollars in small and large donations to help them through this time.

Caring for friends and teachers is an essential part of any spiritual life. As we age, spiritual friends are more important than ever. Stephen and Ondrea have been dear spiritual friends to us and to thousands of others through their books, workshops, and correspondence.

If you are one of these people and are moved to give, below are three ways to donate to the Levine Fund at Bread for the Journey. Bread for the Journey informs us that donations are tax deductible.

With gratitude and love,

Jack Kornfield, Ram Dass, and Sharon Salzberg

Mail: Send to: Bread for the Journey, 267 Miller Ave., Mill Valley, California 94941. In the letter, please enclose a note indicating that your gift is for the Stephen and Ondrea Levine Fund and in the note section of your check write “Levine Fund.” In honor of the immeasurable gifts Stephen and Ondrea have given to the family of the earth, Bread for the Journey has generously offered to manage the fund with 100% of your donation going to the Levine Fund.

Online: click here and designate the donation to the Levine Fund: http://www.justgive.org/giving/donate.jsp?charityId=3583&isRecurring=&;

Phone: call 415-383-4600 with a credit card number.

For questions and other means of giving, contact SorenGordhamer@gmail.com.

* Please feel free to post this letter on blogs or forward it to individuals or groups you know who may wish to hear news of Stephen and Ondrea.

A letter from Naghmeh (the translator for our trip)

February 12, 2008

Topic: Afghanistan — jesse_zenvc @ 4:45 pm

Dear Catherine, Jesse, and Jiva,

Here is a letter I’ve been meaning to write for a long time. Some of these thoughts and phrases have been with me since Afghanistan. Others are offspring of hindsight; slowly forming in the womb of my soul as I took my time to fathom the true extends to which my experience with you has impacted on me. In essence, this letter is an attempt at acknowledging what each of you, in your uniqueness as a person, have meant to my experience. (more…)

Scary Honesty

November 10, 2007

Topic: Afghanistan — tembacatherine @ 10:51 pm

I would not want to paint Afghanistan to be any different than another place where the domination culture has suppressed women. So hear my words and understand this is speaking to one of the toughest conflicts we face…gender.

Standing at the outside gate being told our plane had left 2 hours before what we had been told was the scheduled time stimulated more than just an annoyance of miscommunication. As I stood surrounded by at least 50 men (including the two I am traveling with), completely aware I am the only woman in sight I felt my legs take root. I could not move when Jesse and Jiva and Said began to return to the car. And I was the only one to notice. (more…)

What does Peace-Building look like?

Topic: Afghanistan — jesse_zenvc @ 1:38 am

“If everyone here implements their projects, we will have peace in Afghanistan”
- participant in our 5-Day training (after our session on creating ‘needs-based’ projects)

“Anywhere there are people, I’d like them to use these methods”
- participant (on what he’d like other people to know about this training)

“My dream is to be of service to this society that has suffered from war for 3 decades”
- participant

“I managed to solve a problem my sister had with her husband by using the things I learned in the workshop”
- participant (when asked to share ‘one moment’ this week that was particularly exciting for her)

“What the trainers taught us was really useful; there’s a lot of need for this in Afghanistan… I’d like to start by using this in my own house and my own office”
- participant

“I think we can use this in everyday life and everyday situations and each one of those can become a project in itself”
- participant (when asked about what projects she was excited about)

“Before this training I had difficulty forgiving some things that had happened in my past. I feel that I am now able to forgive some people that I haven’t been able to forgive before because now I can understand their needs.”
- participant who was the head of the Department of Women’s Affairs, Afghanistan

Last Day of Training

November 9, 2007

Topic: Afghanistan — jesse_zenvc @ 2:18 am

Today we completed our training and the fullness I feel in my heart is hard to explain. I am already dreaming of returning to Afghanistan and what it possibly would be like to help implement a certification process in this region for NVC Trainers.

The funeral for the 6 parliament members who died during the bombing two days ago happened today here in Kabul. It blocked roads and a couple participants did not make it our Celebration Completion. One man traveled anyway to simply come to offer his good-by and gratitude to us. It has been these types of gestures of genuine connection that have deeply touched my being while here in this vast mountain range called Afghanistan. (more…)

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