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(Jiie Ç o rtlattò ©baeruer
June 21, 2000
Meditation from page 9
They stated that all the universe, the
earth as well as our bodies pulsate
w ith p a rtic u la r so u n d s w hich
resonate at particular frequencies.
Those w ho receive m editation
initiation from a master, will be
given a personal m antra which
resonates at frequencies suitable for
that m e d ita to r’s body. During
meditation imagine (in your m ind’s
eye) the sound o f the mantra. Don’t
say it out loud or imagine the
mantra’s spelling or pronunciation.
Just hear its sound internally and
flow inward riding the mantra. As
your mind rides the mantra, it will
experience moments o f complete
thoughtlessness or stillness. Each
time you repeat the mantra in your
mind, you will feel yourself diving
deeper into the Self. You will
e v e n tu a lly reach m o m en ts o f
complete thoughtlessness where
you are fully awake but detached
from mind, body, and senses. This
is the blissful state oftranscendence.
H ere, you are in to u c h w ith
boundless intuition and bliss. Then
after a few seconds, thoughts will
arise again. W hen you notice
thoughts, gently and lovingly put
yourmind back on the mantra. Don’t
get angry or force the mind to be
quiet— the mind is like a stubborn
child and will only retaliate if you
pick on it. Just practice the simple
procedure o f noticing when you are
off the mantra, then very gently and
lovingly put the mind back on the
m a n tra a g a in . P ra c tic e y o u r
meditation with the universal mantra
Om (pronounced Aumm).
Because the mantra has no meaning
to your intellect, it is best to
concentrate on your inner-Selfwhile
hearing the mantra Om in your
mind. This inner-Selfis that Witness
who is watching the parade o f
thoughts, and emotions without
becoming absorbed in their meaning
. This may sound complicated but
it’s not. When you are sitting in
m e d ita tio n , you are sim p ly
observing thoughts and emotions
withoutactingonthem. Whileriding
the m antra Om, focus on that
observer or witness who is quietly
observing the passing thoughts and
emotions. If one o f you is doing the
thinking, then who is the witness or
observer? The witness is none other
than your soul or inner-self. While
riding your mantra, merge with the
Witness, your true essence.
For certain students it may be easier
to ride the breath rather than a
mantra. Try this simple breath-
m e d ita tio n : sit in th e sam e
comfortable meditative position
with your head, neck, and spine in
alignment. You can do this on the
floor or sitting on a chair. After
settling down, imagine the sound
Sa on the in-breath, and the sound
Ham on the out-breath. Breathe
smoothly so that the in and out-
breaths m elt into each other,
producing the silent chant Sa Ham,
Sa Ham, Sa Ham. Let the breath
take you where it wants to. As you
become absorbed in the primordial
sound o f Sa Ham, your breathing
will become so thread-like that it
won’t even fog a mirror placed
directly under your nostrils. The
slow, deep, steady, and feeble breath
is a natural result o f the deep
meditative state. W hether you the
mantra or the breath, meditate with
a sincerity, faith, and a strong desire
to merge with your inner-God. May
your meditations be filled with love,
bliss, and grace.
Congratulations to our local scholars !
Ricky Booker, Jr. o f Ockley Green Middle School
recently became a National Award W inner through the
United States Achievement Academy. He was chosen
as one o f A merica’s best students for excelling in
Mathematics. Very few are selected nationwide to
receive this high honor. He is exceptional for his age
and grade level, especially since the Academ y
recognizes mostly high school students doing well in
one or more o f 18 academic disciplines ranging from
A griculture to Science. Ricky received national
recognition after his nomination from his teacher,
Mr.Chad W olyn for his mastery in Mathematics and
serving as a math tutor at Ockley Green. Other
noteworthy achievements include competing in a
statewide chess tournament sponsored by OMSI in
1998. A hobby o f his is using his computer to design
web pages for friends. Besides his high academic
achievem ent, Ricky was chosen on many other
considerations: interest and aptitude, leadership
qualities, responsibility, enthusiasm, motivation to learn
and improve, citizenship, attitude and cooperative
spirit, and dependability.
As an added bonus provided by USAA, Ricky’s
biography will be featured in the A cademy’s “All-
American Scholar Directory” among other scholastic
achievers. And, he will be qualified to compete for
grants awarded by the Academy. Every year, the
organization makes available $500,000 in scholarships
to students on the high school and collegiate level.
Another academic scholar within the Booker family is
Ricky’s sister, Ebony Booker. Ebony is an 18 year old
Benson graduate who will be attending Linnfield
College as a Nursing major this fall. Through her
involvem ent w ith HOSA (H ealth O ccupations
Students o f America) at school, she has competed at
several HOSA Leadership Conferences and a nationals
competition since 1998- winning medals every year.
Her interests include musical instruments, science,
medicine, children, exercising, doing hair, and art.
Both o f these students credit their parents, Ricky and
Margie Booker for their support and spiritual guidance
for doing well in school. The children were reared
through the discipline o f their faith as Jehovah’s
Witnesses since early childhood to gain skills in
reading and public speaking. It has enabled them to
become effective tutors and mentors to their peers.
The Jefferson High School
Class of 1970
will be celebrating their 30 year reunion on August 25, 26 and 27, 2000.
Memorabilia night will be on Friday, August 25 with a dinner and dance
at the Red Lion Thunderbird on Saturday, August 26. On Sunday, August
27 , there will be a picnic at Oaks Park. If you are a classmate interested
in attending, please call Ralph at 249-1720 X290 before July 1,2000. We
are planning a fun event. We hope to hear from you soon!!
The H isto ric C olum bia
River Highway Celebration
CO N TR IB U TED STORY
This July, a significant and spectacular part o f American history comes*
alive again when two long-closed sections o f one o f the w orld’s most
renowned and scenic roadways are reopened to the public - the Historic
Columbia River Highway State Trail.
»
Begun in 1913 and completed nine years later, the highway was an
architectural feat built with brawn to connect Portland to The Dalles.
Gently weaving amid waterfalls, towering trees, abundant wildlife and
stunning views, the highway spanned more than 75 miles and was
promptly dubbed “The King o f Roads.” The highway quickly became a
major route for early 20lh century travelers and visitors to explore the
amazing natural beauty o f the Columbia River Gorge, later designated in
1986 as the first and only National Scenic Area in the United States.
Significant portions o f this historic highway have unfortunately been
closed to the public for decades as Interstate 84 replaced the historic
highway with a faster and more direct route. For the past ten years
however, intensive and innovative restoration efforts have been underway
to restore abandoned segments o f roadway. This summer, those efforts
pay off. On July 23, official dedication ceremonies will reopen them to the
public.
In July 2000, a major section o f this highway from Hood River to Mosier
through to the restored “Mosier Twin Tunnels” will reopen for the first
time in almost 50 years. Te new section will join sections now open from
Cascade Locks to Tanner Creek. Abandoned for the convenience and
safety o f the newer, faster Interstate 84, these segments o f road were all but
forgotten by the public, or so it seemed. In addition to the restoration,
modem improvements have been made to insure the safety o f all those who
travel the historic highway. Part o f the renovations includes a state-of-the-
art “catchment” structure designed to catch falling rock (a major problem
o f the gorge) just west o f the Mosier section o f the trail, open for hiking
and biking and occasionally to antique automobiles.
Studio 14
Hair
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(Color / H aircut / Style)
We also do braiding, weaving, and natural hair twists. *
Call for an appointm ent
2872557
Hours 12-6pmTues-Fri
and Sat, 10 6pm
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