{"id":5364,"date":"2011-12-22T00:00:06","date_gmt":"2011-12-21T18:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mb.rivulet.org\/journal\/?p=5364"},"modified":"2015-11-17T11:40:56","modified_gmt":"2015-11-17T10:40:56","slug":"merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mb.rivulet.org\/journal\/2011\/12\/22\/merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas is around the corner. And this is the second time I am sending out Christmas greetings to my beloved ones from the road. Who would have thought that?<\/p>\n

I would like to use this special date to thank all of you! I am always amazed, that I have such good friends (both back home and the ones I have met “on the road”). Deeply grateful that you are all putting in sooo much effort to stay in touch with me. Thanks for all your love!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I wish all of you a blessed and holy Christmas!<\/p>\n

Loving God, help us remember the birth of Jesus,
\nthat we may share in the song of the angels,
\nthe gladness of the shepherds,
\nand the worship of the wise men.<\/p>\n

Close the door of hate
\nand open the door of love
\nall over the world.
\nLet kindness come with every gift
\nand good desires with every greeting.
\nDeliver us from evil
\nby the the blessings which Christ brings,
\nand teach us to be merry with clear hearts.<\/p>\n

May the Christmas morning
\nmake us happy to be thy children,
\nand the Christmas evening
\nbring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
\nforgiving and forgiven,
\nfor Jesus’ sake. Amen.<\/p>\n

[Robert Louis Stevenson]\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"May<\/a>
May there be...<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"...<\/a>
... light in the world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My wishes for the new year for you and the world have been wonderfully expressed by a great Buddhist master a long time ago:<\/p>\n

May all beings everywhere
\nplagued by sufferings of body and mind
\nobtain an ocean of happiness and joy
\nby virtue of my merits.<\/p>\n

May no living creature suffer,
\ncommit evil, or ever fall ill.
\nMay no one be afraid or belittled,
\nwith a mind weighed down by depression.<\/p>\n

May the blind see forms
\nand the deaf hear sounds.
\nMay those whose bodies are worn with toil
\nbe restored on finding repose.<\/p>\n

May the naked find clothing,
\nthe hungry find food.
\nMay the thirsty find water
\nand delicious drinks.<\/p>\n

May the poor find wealth,
\nthose weak with sorrow find joy.
\nMay the forlorn find hope,
\nconstant happiness, and prosperity.<\/p>\n

May there be timely rains
\nand bountiful harvests.
\nMay all medicines be effective
\nand wholesome prayers bear fruit.<\/p>\n

May all who are sick and ill
\nquickly be freed from their ailments.
\nWhatever diseases there are in the world,
\nmay they never occur again.<\/p>\n

May the frightened cease to be afraid
\nans those bound be freed.
\nMay the powerless find power,
\nand may people think of benefiting each other.<\/p>\n

For as long as space remains,
\nfor as long as sentient beings remain,
\nuntil then may I too remain
\nto dispel the miseries of the world.<\/p>\n

[Shantideva]\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Goodbye<\/a>
Goodbye Kopan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

God bless you & May you be happy.
\nMichael<\/p>\n