Happy Spring!
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Luminata...
Explore Luminata's spectrum of fine books and unique gifts in an uplifting, galleria atmosphere. Lift your spirits. Feast your mind and senses! . . . at Luminata!
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Your Body, Mind, and Spirit Center on the Monterey Bay Peninsula
Treasures of the Spirit to illuminate your life.
Luminata's dazzling array of products and delightful ambiance offer something for everyone in historic old Monterey . . . featuring books, music, exceptional cards, jewelry, candles, crystals, incense, personal care products, world sacred art, recovery tools, Zen alarm clocks, wind chimes, stained glass, Austrian crystals, children's toys and books . . . and much more.
Featured Book
Mountain Shadow
by Gregory David Roberts
Shantaram introduced millions of readers to a cast of unforgettable characters through Lin, an Australian fugitive, working as a passport forger for the Bombay mafia. In The Mountain Shadow, the long-awaited sequel, Roberts weaves his magic in another spell-binding tale. Roberts is one of the finest story tellers of our generation and his books have life-changing power. ($20.00 paperback)
by Gregory David Roberts
Shantaram introduced millions of readers to a cast of unforgettable characters through Lin, an Australian fugitive, working as a passport forger for the Bombay mafia. In The Mountain Shadow, the long-awaited sequel, Roberts weaves his magic in another spell-binding tale. Roberts is one of the finest story tellers of our generation and his books have life-changing power. ($20.00 paperback)
Thought for the Day
The Enduring Background of Wisdom
Think in terms of the smooth operation of divine spiritual law. A power is sweetly ordering all things. Learn to feel this power and acknowledge that it is streaming through your life circumstances. It is the enduring background of peace and wisdom that props up the scenery on the stage of your life. It is evolving your awareness and the consciousness of all living things. Seek to perceive how this loving, gentle, wise energy is working through all events, seeking to bring harmony and better conditions. The inscrutable intelligence of life is designed so that all things conspire together for good for all involved. Whatever confronts you as a test or challenge, remain calm and you will find yourself safely guided to an ultimately beneficial conclusion. Sow seeds of light and kindness in the garden of your consciousness and you will reap a harvest of happiness. -- Emory Michael
Think in terms of the smooth operation of divine spiritual law. A power is sweetly ordering all things. Learn to feel this power and acknowledge that it is streaming through your life circumstances. It is the enduring background of peace and wisdom that props up the scenery on the stage of your life. It is evolving your awareness and the consciousness of all living things. Seek to perceive how this loving, gentle, wise energy is working through all events, seeking to bring harmony and better conditions. The inscrutable intelligence of life is designed so that all things conspire together for good for all involved. Whatever confronts you as a test or challenge, remain calm and you will find yourself safely guided to an ultimately beneficial conclusion. Sow seeds of light and kindness in the garden of your consciousness and you will reap a harvest of happiness. -- Emory Michael
A giraffe's eye glimpse inside
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Smiling at the counter in Luminata
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Books and gifts on dislpay
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We love to place special orders and can often get books in just 24-48 hours, with a million titles in stock at our west coast warehouse.
Living in Peace
In Christ’s words from the “Sermon on the Mount” comes the famous beatitude that “the meek shall inherit the earth.” What does it mean to be meek? Usually meekness is translated to be humble or even timid, as in the expression “meek and mild.” Or “meek as a church mouse.” Meekness includes humility, one of the greatest of all virtues. All truly great humans beings are humble. Arrogance is a blemish on the soul. Yet meekness is more than humility. Meekness has another, deeper, and more satisfying meaning.
To be meek means to live in harmony with nature and life. It means to be in rapport with the universal life force. It means to be one with all life so as not to be able to harm any of the creatures of the universe. “The meek” are those who embody the presence of their true nature and manifest it in actions that heal, bless and liberate. Because they commit no harm and release constructive forces into the currents of life, they draw only good to themselves. And because they fulfill the law of balanced reciprocity, the forces they release into the ocean of life come back to bless their own life and circumstances. The meek refuse to be drawn into the darkness and violence of earthly conflict and thus they draw no violence to themselves. This is also the meaning of Christ’s words to turn the other cheek. Because violence begets violence, and because to react violently toward those who would cause harm continues the cycle of violence, the meek learn to give back constructive forces in the face of harshness and discord. “The meek” work for peace and harmony. This does not mean they give in to wrongdoing, or compromise on principles they know to be right. But they do not seek military or material conquest. As a consequence, they are the ones left standing at the end of the day. They will “inherit the earth.” Goodness alone can triumph over evil. Turning the other cheek is not weakness; it is the way to victory.
In the future, as individuals and nations come to learn and live by the higher subtle laws, wars of aggression will cease. We are at a stage historically when dominant nations still seek to enforce their will over those less strong. The violence and destruction comes with a heavy price for the offending nations. No one, not even the most powerful nation, can avoid the consequences of its violent and warlike ways.
The standard today is for nations to use brute force to control and dominate and exploit. Aggressor states are like gangsters who hire a small army of personal defenders and bodyguards to protect them. Yet no number of militant bodyguards can prevent justice coming to those who commit crimes. The same holds true for nations. Today aggressive nations stockpile huge reserves of weapons as a threat and a deterrent while they use brute force to invade and conquer. These nations must also experience the consequences of their own actions and the forces they themselves release into the world.
A new world is seeking to come to birth through us. The world cries out for an awakening, a quickening, a change of heart and mind. In order to enter an era of universal harmony—of fellowship and spiritual illumination—the old ways of exploitation and divisiveness must be transformed. The choices we make will determine our future. All people want happiness and security. In the old model still in force today, various groups seek to dominate and exploit others to achieve their desired well-being and security. This invariably leads to fear, resentment and rebellion. Violence begets violence. In order to enter the age of universal harmony and right relationships, humanity must cease its age-old practices of exploitation—the long history of man’s inhumanity to man.
We must learn that divine law governs life. In order to achieve permanent well-being, happiness and security, one must express love. Nations also must learn this truth. Individuals and nations that exploit, oppress and deceive will one day receive the return swing of the pendulum of reciprocity. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. As long as dominant groups use violence, deceit and unjust laws to exploit and subjugate, this world will experience wars and revolutions, for these are the bitter fruits of injustice. For peace to prevail there must be justice. Love extinguishes fear. When we act from a space of love, we transcend fear and make genuine peace possible. Those who gain insight into the unified field in which we are all interconnected—the fabric of life that links us together in the chain of life, could not possibly engage in cruelty or destruction of life. For they know that the life they harm is their very own. We are in a time of tremendous importance to the human race and the life of this planet. The choices we make determine our ends. If enough of us choose the path of peace, truth and justice, the gates will swing open to the new era of universal wisdom, harmony and enlightenment.
At Luminata we are dedicated to fostering the renewal of healthy life-ways based on the world's wisdom traditions. We believe it is imperative to stay positive and hopeful in these days of awakening. Our goal is to assist our customers in finding tools and products that aid them in reaching their full potential. In the garden of our lives we can only reap the fruits of the seeds we have sown. Our view is that the seeds of the new era are being planted and will germinate with a radiant light. We will continue to provide you with "seeds" for cultivating a life of promise and renewal. – Emory Michael
To be meek means to live in harmony with nature and life. It means to be in rapport with the universal life force. It means to be one with all life so as not to be able to harm any of the creatures of the universe. “The meek” are those who embody the presence of their true nature and manifest it in actions that heal, bless and liberate. Because they commit no harm and release constructive forces into the currents of life, they draw only good to themselves. And because they fulfill the law of balanced reciprocity, the forces they release into the ocean of life come back to bless their own life and circumstances. The meek refuse to be drawn into the darkness and violence of earthly conflict and thus they draw no violence to themselves. This is also the meaning of Christ’s words to turn the other cheek. Because violence begets violence, and because to react violently toward those who would cause harm continues the cycle of violence, the meek learn to give back constructive forces in the face of harshness and discord. “The meek” work for peace and harmony. This does not mean they give in to wrongdoing, or compromise on principles they know to be right. But they do not seek military or material conquest. As a consequence, they are the ones left standing at the end of the day. They will “inherit the earth.” Goodness alone can triumph over evil. Turning the other cheek is not weakness; it is the way to victory.
In the future, as individuals and nations come to learn and live by the higher subtle laws, wars of aggression will cease. We are at a stage historically when dominant nations still seek to enforce their will over those less strong. The violence and destruction comes with a heavy price for the offending nations. No one, not even the most powerful nation, can avoid the consequences of its violent and warlike ways.
The standard today is for nations to use brute force to control and dominate and exploit. Aggressor states are like gangsters who hire a small army of personal defenders and bodyguards to protect them. Yet no number of militant bodyguards can prevent justice coming to those who commit crimes. The same holds true for nations. Today aggressive nations stockpile huge reserves of weapons as a threat and a deterrent while they use brute force to invade and conquer. These nations must also experience the consequences of their own actions and the forces they themselves release into the world.
A new world is seeking to come to birth through us. The world cries out for an awakening, a quickening, a change of heart and mind. In order to enter an era of universal harmony—of fellowship and spiritual illumination—the old ways of exploitation and divisiveness must be transformed. The choices we make will determine our future. All people want happiness and security. In the old model still in force today, various groups seek to dominate and exploit others to achieve their desired well-being and security. This invariably leads to fear, resentment and rebellion. Violence begets violence. In order to enter the age of universal harmony and right relationships, humanity must cease its age-old practices of exploitation—the long history of man’s inhumanity to man.
We must learn that divine law governs life. In order to achieve permanent well-being, happiness and security, one must express love. Nations also must learn this truth. Individuals and nations that exploit, oppress and deceive will one day receive the return swing of the pendulum of reciprocity. Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. As long as dominant groups use violence, deceit and unjust laws to exploit and subjugate, this world will experience wars and revolutions, for these are the bitter fruits of injustice. For peace to prevail there must be justice. Love extinguishes fear. When we act from a space of love, we transcend fear and make genuine peace possible. Those who gain insight into the unified field in which we are all interconnected—the fabric of life that links us together in the chain of life, could not possibly engage in cruelty or destruction of life. For they know that the life they harm is their very own. We are in a time of tremendous importance to the human race and the life of this planet. The choices we make determine our ends. If enough of us choose the path of peace, truth and justice, the gates will swing open to the new era of universal wisdom, harmony and enlightenment.
At Luminata we are dedicated to fostering the renewal of healthy life-ways based on the world's wisdom traditions. We believe it is imperative to stay positive and hopeful in these days of awakening. Our goal is to assist our customers in finding tools and products that aid them in reaching their full potential. In the garden of our lives we can only reap the fruits of the seeds we have sown. Our view is that the seeds of the new era are being planted and will germinate with a radiant light. We will continue to provide you with "seeds" for cultivating a life of promise and renewal. – Emory Michael
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