what follows is the archive of beU, the University of be

(be)lieve

"I believe in human beings." - Jane Birkin

Good Fortune

Buddha's are everywhere.  I haven't tried it, but I bet I could walk into a WalMart and find a Buddha for sale.  But I really like The Buddha Project from lens culture.  They say "Images of Buddha can remind us to take a breath, to look around, to feel calm and compassionate, to be here now."  They've got an archive of hundreds of photographs of Buddha submitted from around the world.  You can participate too.  They guarantee it will make you feel good. 

"When you love someone, 

the best you can offer is your presence.  

How can you love if you are not there?" 

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Would you spend more energy on being present if you knew that having real true love in your life depended on it?  Because I'm starting to realize that it is.  

photo: Grey likes Weddings

it felt good...

to send a lot of surplus merchandise from "the be line" to Haiti via the kids' school.  "be freedom" pants, "be hope" and "be joy" shirts to help clothe them and maybe even remind them that their circumstances do not define who they are.

 

via Mary Ruffle via Yes, Please

Happy Valentine's Day

 

"Any Woodthrush shows it,

he sings not to fill the world,

but because he is filled."

-Jane Hirshfield

inspired by Jeff Carreira.  I wish I lived close enough to take his class. 

(even more) be who you are

I feel comfortably safe in the mainstream.  When I am pushing my shopping cart through the grocery store in my yoga pants and Uggs holding my Starbucks cup, I am very aware that I fit squarely within my demographic.  And the truth is, it's what I've always wanted.  But, I am always grateful for the lift, the delight, and the inspiration I get when I cross paths with a "character" - someone who is blatantly being who they are, seemingly without a care in the world for what the rest of us think. These people are demonstrating their freedom to be, the greatest freedom of all and it's ours for the taking. 

I love the "Character Project" from USA Network, celebrating America's characters with 11 photographers capturing people in a "stunning example of our country's diversity." It is worthwhile encouragement for each of us to question how we might be more uniquely ourselves. 

Top photo: Mary Ellen Mark

(more) be who you are

How do you remain peaceful when the world is demonstrating everything but peace? Loving, when the world is demonstrating everything but love? Forgiving, when the world is demonstrating everything but forgiveness?

You insist on being who you are no matter what the rest of the world is being.

-The New Revelations, Neale Donald Walsch

be who you are