Story
<p>Thanks very much for visiting my fundraising page</p>
<p>On 11 and 12 December I will be participating in a 24 hour meditation <span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">marathon together with hundreds of people around the world. Unlike last year, when I </span></span></span></span></span>participated for 12 hours, this year I will be meditating for the full 24 hours! I am doing this to help raise money for EnlightenNext, a charity very close to my heart. I would be very happy and grateful if you could sponsor me so that with your donations I can support EnlightenNext. </p>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></span></span></span></span>EnlightenNext is a global non-profit spiritual and educational organization founded by Andrew Cohen over twenty years ago. The philosophy that the organisation is based on, which was developed over many years by its founder, is called Evolutionary Enlightenment. It brings together age-old sprititual truths with the reality that we are an inherent part of an evolving universe.</div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></span></span></span></span>Meditation plays a very important part in my life. I have never meditated for a 24 hour stretch though (well, there will be toilet breaks of course and breaks for food) and I'm quite sure it will be challenging. Many people nowadays think about meditation as a way to learn how to relax and relieve stress, but its deeper purpose has always been about discovering the timeless dimension of oneself beyond the mind. And in Evolutionary Enlightenment it is also the foundation for living an actively engaged evolutionary life. I have copied a quote from Andrew Cohen about meditation below. </div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Thank you very much for your donation. Donating through this website is simple, fast and secure</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Warmest wishes and thanks again</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Dineke</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div> <span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span><span style="color: #474343;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span><strong>Meditation Is Training for Life</strong></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<p><span> </span><span>Meditation is training for life. If we want to be free, it is important to learn how to directly experience the unbroken chaos and impersonal confusion of our own minds without being disturbed by any of it. <em><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif';">Only if we can bear it will we be able to take responsibility for it. </span></em>If we cannot calmly endure our own minds, others will inevitably suffer the consequences. If we cannot handle our own thoughts and emotions while we are simply being still and paying attention, then how are we ever going to be able to make the appropriate choices when we are walking, talking, and engaging with others? <em><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS','sans-serif';">Meditation is training for life.</span></em></span></p>
<p><em><span> Andrew Cohen</span></em></p>
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