Items of Interest

with contributions from Marilyn Millstone, Anne Jacobson, John Osborne, Dalai Lama

Values Inc.

"... THE SHAREHOLDERS OF a company benefit over the long term by addressing social needs in creative ways," says Norman Lear in an article that talks about bringing spiritual values to bear on business—whether it is in Hollywood or elsewhere.

"Unlike corporate philanthropy, say, these innovations in business practice are more likely to persist," he goes on. "They lie at the heart of a company's competitive strategy, and so are not jettisoned in the first economic downturn. They appeal to the best in people's spirits—their desire to excel, to help others, to make a difference—and so unleash an upward spiral of similar behavior. People want to work for these companies, and are willing to give more of themselves on the job."

"Rewriting the Bottom Line: Hollywood, Profits, and the Life of the Spirit"
images;A Journal of the Arts & Religion
Issue #27—Summer 2000

Why they do what they do

"Christians pray and Christians work for peace and justice," declared the Most Reverend Edmond Browning in a sermon at Washington National Cathedral earlier this year. "It is because we are sisters and brothers in the family of this one mighty God that the ways in which we order society are spiritual matters."

Quoted by Marilyn Millstone
"Spirituality in the Public Arena"
Cathedral Age
Fall 2000

Medicine's ultimate purpose

"I believe there is a relative purpose of medicine and an ultimate purpose of medicine," says Jeremy Geffen, M.D. "The relative purpose is to take care of the body, fix the broken bone, ... or get rid of the cancer.... This is obvious, but it is not true healing.... It is only a matter of time before there is a new problem to content with.... The ultimate purpose of medicine is to help people to awaken to the truth of their own nature, spiritually, here and now ...,to help them find out that the source of the love and healing and freedom that they are seeking from their St. John's Wort—or from their ... diets, exercise program, or whatever it is they are doing—really lies within them, within their own mind, their own heart, and ultimately, their own spirit."

Dr. Geffen is the author of The Journey Through Cancer (New York: Crown Publishers, 2000).

From an interview with Anne Jacobson
"A Patient's Doctor"
OneBody.com
September 4, 2000

This is real living

"From a spiritual perspective we must reverently embrace the intricate connection we share with all of life," declares Christine Wood, who teaches psychology at Butte College in Oroville, California. "Once we awaken to this reality we cannot help but change our ways of living. Our social, emotional, and environmental survival is dependent upon doing so."

John Osborne
"College, knowledge & spirituality"
Magical Blend #73

WHAT TRUTH GUARANTEES

"Injustice undermines truth, and without truth there can be no lasting peace.... Truth is the best guarantor and the real foundation of freedom and democracy."

the Dalai Lama
"Infinite compassion" Forbes ASAP October 2, 2000

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