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	<title>Awake in This Life</title>
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	<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com</link>
	<description>a guide for those climbing the Mountain of Spirit</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:36:12 +0000</pubDate>
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			<item>
		<title>Cosmic Giggle: When Attachment Strikes</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/video-when-attachment-strikes/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/video-when-attachment-strikes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:35:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/?p=258</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

    

	]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Real Humility</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/real-humility/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/real-humility/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:41:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Chapter 2 - Grasping]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Chapter 3 - Fear]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Chapter 9 - Confluence]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Fundamentalism]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[dualism]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[humility]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[separation]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/real-humility/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Over at the Washington Post&#8217;s, On Faith section, John Mark Reynolds makes the point that humility supports our spiritual evolution. He also suggests that we have little control over God&#8217;s plan for us:
The events that impact a nation are ultimately in God&#8217;s hands. Because God loves human beings, He does not always give us what [...]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>It&#8217;s not about feeling good&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/its-not-about-feeling-good/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/its-not-about-feeling-good/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:48:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/?p=152</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Over at EnlightenNext Magazine, Maura R. O’Connor writes a great piece on the downside of self-esteem.

Self-esteem is generally defined as the confidence in one’s own merit as an individual. Since the 1970s, when baby boomers discovered and embraced the concept en masse, it has become a tenet of the psychological canon and is so ingrained [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/its-not-about-feeling-good/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Podcast: Infinite Choice</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/podcast-infinite-choice/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/podcast-infinite-choice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:27:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Podcast]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/podcast-infinite-choice/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Click HERE in order to listen to Michael’s talk.
Get the new iTunes software and subscribe to this podcast from the Buddhist and/or Philosophy sections of the Religion &#38; Spirituality list.
____
In tonight’s talk, I talk about finding comfort in chaos.
Enjoy.

    

	]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/podcast-infinite-choice/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<enclosure url="http://www.infinitesmile.org/blog/wp-content/ISmile100608.mp3" length="33129520" type="audio/mpeg" />
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Calling up Compassion</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/calling-up-compassion/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/calling-up-compassion/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:15:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Chapter 3 - Fear]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Fundamentalism]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/calling-up-compassion/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
In Karen Armstrong&#8217;s recent post, Calling All Religions to Compassion, she rightly brings up some key points of integration for traditions:
Compassion is indeed central to every one of the major world religions &#8212; but sometimes you would never know it. Increasingly religion is associated with violence and intolerance; it seems preoccupied with dogma, belief, getting [...]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is Compassion Really Shared?</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/is-compassion-really-shared/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/is-compassion-really-shared/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:06:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Chapter 2 - Grasping]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Interfaith]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/is-compassion-really-shared/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Interesting writing by Brian D. McLaren over at the Washington Post&#8217;s &#8220;On Faith&#8221; section:
A lot of people say that the deeper you go, the more all religions are the same. Based on my study and experience, that statement strikes me as potentially quite misleading.



    

	]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/is-compassion-really-shared/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mindful Parenting</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/mindful-parenting/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/mindful-parenting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:35:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/mindful-parenting/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Check out this great post by Bodhipaksa over at Wildmind.org.
Money quote:
So for the last few days I’ve been checking in with myself while parenting, not just seeing whether or not I’m happy, but seeing what I can do to bring about more happiness. My inner mindfulness bell will ring, I’ll remember to check in with [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/mindful-parenting/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Pics Along the Path</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/pics-along-the-path/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/pics-along-the-path/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:51:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[



Pics Along the Path

Originally uploaded by Michael G. McAlister


Morning sky in Lafayette, CA


    

	]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/pics-along-the-path/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Geopolitical Power</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/geopolitical-power/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/geopolitical-power/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:12:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Fundamentalism]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Writing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[America]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[force]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/?p=130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was impressed years ago when I read Paul Kennedy&#8217;s book, Preparing for the 21st Century. In it there is a chapter on the dilemma that the US faces: whether or not it has the capacity, or desire, to adjust to a changing world.
Among the many topics that fascinated me, none was more powerful than [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/geopolitical-power/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Buddha 2.0 in Nepal?</title>
		<link>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/buddha-20-in-nepal/</link>
		<comments>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/buddha-20-in-nepal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:20:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Michael</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Chapter 2 - Grasping]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Fundamentalism]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[attachment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[mythology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.awakeinthislife.com/?p=129</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This goes along with what I mentioned in yesterday&#8217;s post about Buddhism losing traction in the East. What&#8217;s the best way to get people back into the temple? Maybe a little messianic mythology and claims of reincarnated Buddhas could inspire clinging and attract droves of faithful.
Who knows? Most importantly, who is it that cares? Get [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.awakeinthislife.com/2008/11/buddha-20-in-nepal/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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