Introduction to Geela’s upcoming book, The Messenger of God:

Geela presents readers with unsettling danger signs indicating that America has come to a very dangerous crossroads and so has the global community. She explains the importance of understanding that the underlying root cause for the growing conflicts and destruction everywhere, both on the individual and global level, can be traced to a moral crisis. This is characterized by declining moral and ethical values and the loss of respect for the sanctity of life driven by a dangerous ideology and ignorance, which is the ultimate enemy.

Geela underscores the need for real change and exploring an alternative approach to effective and fulfilling daily living. As such, they create the conditions for achieving the goals of lasting peace and prosperity for all, since the conventional remedies and approach to tackling problems, as individuals and as a society, are too costly and ineffective. That is because they only treat the symptoms and not the underlying root cause, which is moral crisis.

The book offers a new and hopeful vision for a better world by offering a totally unique approach to effectively tackling societal problems and transforming communities and individual’s lives, by providing spiritual solutions to societal problems. “Only through a shift in consciousness, by changing the way we think, can we hope to change the way we feel and live,” says Geela, whose latest book is based on divine revelations resulting from a horrific car crash from which Geela miraculously walked away without a scratch.

SAMPLE CHAPTER

The Race to the Bottom

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." - Rev. Martin Luther King.

The term "race to the bottom" is typically used as a theoretical phenomenon of a progressive dismantling of government regulatory standards, however, such a graphic term seems to accurately describe a predicament of an uncontrollable downward spiral that can inflict any individual or any nation. Therefore, given the rapid decline of America, America’s race to the bottom becomes apparent and worrisome. This is evidenced in recent polls, as reported by the media, which have revealed that a vast majority of Americans feel that America’s best days have come and gone, and is headed in the wrong direction. Other polls have revealed that our government, at all levels, continues to suffer from lack of credibility (since it’s been hijacked by special interest groups). Such polls, combined with the growing public debate and media reports on the escalating societal problems, all indicate that America is racing to the bottom.

Consider the following unsettling danger signs:

• Our systems and institutions continue to fail at a devastating rate. According to Time Magazine, America has become "A Nation of Dropouts" and finds itself near the bottom on international educational test scores despite the fact that America spends more money, by far, on education than any other country in the world. In addition, health care, social security, the legal system, and the family unit are all endangered, as acknowledged by high governmental officials, well respected economists, and business and spiritual leaders alike.

• America is faced with a multitude of crises (from illegal immigration to global terrorism) which our institutions are incapable of dealing with.

• Social ills have reached epidemic proportions as reflected in frequent media reports on corruption, child abuse, sexual predators, senseless violence, drugs, promiscuity and teen pregnancy and suicide.

• America is rapidly losing its grip on world supremacy both economically (going from being a nation of producers to a nation of consumers) and politically (given the rise of an emerging superpower such as China). According to Newsweek Magazine, America has become ‘A Nation at Risk’ and is sitting on an economic time bomb.

• America is faced with skyrocketing rates of chronic disease and mental and behavioral disorders (including destructive addictive behaviors). Americans have become addicts to their drug of choice, including the pursuit of materialism and infectious greed. In fact, the deeper meaning of life seems to elude even the well-off.

• Americans and the national government are drowning in debt, which will take generations to pay for.

• The country is fast headed towards the creation of two Americas (one rich and one poor) as a result of the systematic destruction of the middle-class, the backbone of America.

• ‘We the people’ and ‘a government of the people, by the people and for the people’ has been replaced with a new reality. Our government is no longer working for the people. It’s the other way around. Instead, our government now has a new master – powerful special interest groups. Their main concern is to grow their own power and money base at all costs, even at the expense of America’s sovereignty.

• Government approval ratings are rapidly declining, as reflected in the growing loss of public and private trust which undermines any sense of patriotism, optimism and security.

• We’ve created a culture of corruption as reflected in a dangerous climate of political correctness which allows for personal, political and financial interests to override doing what’s in the best interest of our children, our communities and our nation.

• The level of frustration by Americans, who are fed up with the current corrupt political system, has never been higher. Sadly, in the absence of choice and the lack of confidence in the current political system, too many Americans have become apathetic and opted out of the political system. However, the vacuum created has been quickly filled by powerful special interest groups.

• The pursuit of the American Dream (which was a concept based on inspiration and perspiration and built on a wholesome values system characterized by integrity, work ethic, justice, family and community) has turned into the American Greed (based on a materialistic value system driven by self-gratification at the expense of others). As such, we’ve created a toxic culture of ‘more is better’ which has produced a ‘me first’ generation. This is reflected in recent polls indicating that the majority of today’s youth are motivated by instant self-gratification and winning at all costs.

• The American Dream is fast becoming the Impossible Dream, particularly for children from low-income families and minorities for whom public education provides the only real opportunity to achieving the American Dream.

• Our nation has become polarized and bitterly divided, undermining its very foundation, thus giving credence to the expression that ‘united we stand and divided we fall.’

• Americans are facing incremental loss of their freedoms and civil liberties, going from being a nation under one God, to a nation under surveillance.

• Patriotic slogans like, ‘Made in America’ are fast becoming a thing of the past, made worse by the growing phenomenon of outsourcing which is quickly replacing American pride and sense of security with disillusionment and insecurity.

• We’ve created a fear-based society (driven by the greed principle) which undermines quality of life, cultural harmony, tolerance, a sense of community and security while diminishing joy of life.

• America is fast losing its unique culture and identity. This has been caused in part by powerful special interest groups and multi-national corporations who are not concerned about national loyalty or national concerns but instead are driven by the greed principle in their pursuit of a vision of a one-world government free of boundaries to better serve their own best interests. To them, America has become a generic and a disposable concept defined mostly as a marketplace.

• America has gone from being the beacon of hope and inspiration to the world to becoming the target of terrorism and loathing.

Certainly, this is not the society that our founding fathers envisioned when they created a new concept called democracy, which was conceived as a spiritual concept based on the premise that humanity’s destiny lays in the pursuit of a moral life. As such, it was built on moral and ethical values and focused on worthy ideals such as family, community, work ethic, freedom and justice, all of which have created prosperity and pride for over 200 years.

Given this grim picture, naturally, millions of Americans are wondering what’s the cause? Has America known its finest hour? What can be done?

Although the magnitude of the meltdown of our systems and institutions may well be known, the underlying reasons behind the staggering societal problems are not. To find a cure for any ailment, it’s critical to distinguish the difference between symptoms and the underlying root cause. These societal problems are merely symptomatic of a moral crisis characterized by declining moral and ethical standards and evidenced in a lack of integrity, infectious greed and a loss of respect for the sanctity of life. This is why the moral crisis is the biggest plague of the 21st century.

So, why should you care?

In a nutshell, because we now live in a new reality of mutuality and interdependency (as evidenced by a global economy) in which what affects one directly, affects us all indirectly. Destruction knows no boundaries as it does not respect social status, wealth, religious background or ethnicity. While the challenges we face in restoring our moral and ethical foundation are daunting, the human and financial price we pay for ignoring them is incalculable. Therefore, ‘politics and business as usual’ and thinking locally are luxuries we simply can no longer afford. We’ve reached a point at which we either win together by becoming part of the solution or we lose together by being part of the problem. Sadly, the scope of the moral crisis seems distant and remote to many Americans who remain largely uninformed about the real threat of declining moral and ethical values. But denial can’t mask the devastating consequences on the quality of our lives, our economy, our national security, our leadership in the world and our future.

Evidently, the attainment of the American Dream has now become just that - a dream – for most of the new generation. It’s the millions of children (especially from low-income families and minorities) who stand to lose the most, as their future is being stolen from them unfairly because our national consciousness has been hijacked by political correctness (a by-product of declining moral and ethical values). It’s clear that the future of our children, our communities and our nation is at risk. Long gone are the days when the continued prominence of America was forever assured. In fact, the highly competitive global economy is a constant reminder that there is no job that is America’s God given right anymore. The new and growing phenomenon of outsourcing (driven by profit only), not only threatens a broad range of American jobs (regardless of education and skills), but also threatens America’s innovation infrastructure, the foundation of future job growth and our nation’s competitive advantage in the world’s marketplace. While we can take justifiable pride in what our nation has historically accomplished, today's situation is unprecedented. The new global economy has created a new sobering reality. Competitors throughout the world are now overtaking our once unchallenged preeminence in many fields. What was unimaginable a generation ago has begun to occur--others are matching and even surpassing our accomplishments. As a result, the American Dream is fast becoming the Impossible Dream for future generations while contributing to the systematic destruction of the middle class and the creation of two Americas (rich and poor). More worrisome is that, if the current climate of political correctness is allowed to fester, the resulting sense of injustice and alienation could fuel potential social unrest (including violence). Simply put, if the world's most powerful nation finds itself getting poorer rather than richer, some kind of domestic or even global political crisis could follow, which could very easily undermine our economy, our national security and even our ability to sustain democracy.

The moral and ethical values connection:

It’s not a coincidence that historically moral values and ethics have always been considered a valuable public commodity. That’s because they are the secret pillars of a thriving society. We are as strong as our spiritual roots, which are built on a solid moral foundation. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that the survival of humanity itself is dependent on moral values and ethics.

The reality is that when ethical and moral values break down, society itself becomes polarized, inevitably leading to collapse. Will Durant, Pulitzer Prize winning philosopher, writer and historian, argued that, ‘Tall buildings and electronic gadgetry do not make a civilization. Therefore, civilization requires a minimum standard of conduct by its members; a unifying moral code.’ Albert Einstein reasoned that, ‘Without civic morality communities perish; without personal morality their survival has no value.’ In fact, studies show a link between the rise in suicide, violence and mental illness and the absence of values to live by. In short, as society loses its values base, it also loses a sense of meaning and purpose.

Looking closer, practically every problem in society can be traced to declining moral and ethical standards (including global terrorism). For example, we see frequent media reports on scandals involving corruption and perversion – from the White House and the church to large corporations (such as Enron), police, school officials and the military. It’s as if some unearthly and invisible forces have conspired to taint everything that used to be sacred. Sadly, nothing is sacred or safe anymore. In fact, studies show that the growing crime rate and senseless violence on campus and on our streets is one of the consequences of erosion in moral and ethical values in society.

In the 1950s, psychologist Sharon Samenow and psychiatrist Samuel Yochelson, sharing the conventional wisdom that crime is caused by environment, set out to prove their point. To their astonishment, they discovered that the cause of crime cannot be traced to environment, poverty, or oppression. Instead, crime is the result of individuals making, as they put it, ‘wrong moral choices.’ Furthermore, in their 1977 work, The Criminal Personality, they concluded that the answer to crime is a "conversion of the wrong-doer to a more responsible lifestyle." Then, in 1987, Harvard professors James Wilson and Richard Herrnstein came to similar conclusion in their book Crime and Human Nature. They determined that the cause of crime is a lack of proper moral training among young people during the morally formative years, particularly ages one to six.

Incredibly, the decline of moral and ethical values in society, and the need to do something about it, is becoming increasingly recognized. This is reflected in a report commissioned by UNESCO on Education for the 21st Century. It contains, surprisingly, the following statement:

“Often without realizing it, the world has a longing, often unexpressed, for an ideal and for values that we shall term 'moral'. It is thus education's noble task to encourage each and every one, acting in accordance with their traditions and convictions, and paying full respect to pluralism, to lift their minds and spirits to the plane of the universal and, in some measure to transcend themselves. It is no exaggeration to say that the survival of humanity depends thereon.”

But trying to tell that to anyone, much less to young people today, who have embraced the culture of ‘more is better’ and ‘anything goes,’ abetted by moral permissiveness, is like trying to convince a drunken person that he/she is indeed drunk.

Clearly, America is now facing its biggest challenge ever; bigger than the Civil War, Great Depression or even World War II. Why? Many traits that have helped us meet previous challenges which were all rooted in high moral and ethical standards are sadly no longer with us, such as work ethic, integrity, family, community and justice. Furthermore, the principles of America's founding fathers that once governed our consciousness and helped create prosperity and pride, are no longer valued by many of our current representatives and leaders who seem to be driven by the love of power instead of the power of love.

It’s obvious that we have simply lost the connection with the moral and spiritual core of our traditional values, which are now regarded as leftovers from a primitive worldview. Author Robert Fitch explained that, “We live today in an age when ethics have become obsolete. It is superseded by science, deleted by psychology, dismissed as emotive by philosophy. It is drowned in compassion, evaporated into aesthetics and retreats before relativism. It appears that we are rapidly approaching a Godless, valueless society in which "power ethics" or the "political rationalism" of humanism is replacing the Judeo-Christian ethical base of traditional morality and the whole idea of right and wrong seems to be up for grabs.”

What’s more worrisome is the epidemic in lack of moral development in young people today. The reality is that many of our kids today are either unable or unwilling to act in an ethical manner. In fact, many students today are so confused that they not only don't know what ethical system is valid, but they don't even know how to evaluate them. According to a professor of philosophy at Clark University, "Students come to college today as moral stutterers. They haven't been taught much respect for what I call ‘plain moral facts,’ the need for honesty, integrity, responsibility. It doesn't take a blue-ribbon commission to see this. Students don't reason morally. They don't know what that means. Far too many young people have abandoned traditional ethical values in favor of self- absorbed, win-at-any-cost attitudes that threaten to unravel the moral fabric of American society. This ‘self-absorbed’ attitude is based on a whole new set of assumptions about how we should adopt our values and the right of individuals to construct their own values. This is why many of our young people today are so confused and far removed from telling the difference between right and wrong that they are unable to even evaluate and decide what criterion should be used to make the decision, let alone make the decision itself."

Sadly, political correctness and materialistic values have hijacked our moral compass and national consciousness. As such, we’ve become a culture where corruption and moral blindness are all too prevalent. The reality is that no one is taking any meaningful actions to effectively address the fact that greed and selfishness are spiraling out of control and hurting our communities, and that children are increasingly becoming vulnerable to a culture of violence and materialism devoid of a call for a greater purpose. Such a breakdown in moral values, which permeates every facet of our lives, from government and the work place to personal relationships, is sadly viewed now as an acceptable practice and the lines between ‘right and wrong’ and ‘good and evil’ are often blurred. As such, the moral fabric of our culture gets ripped apart by the ‘self-absorbed’ and ‘winning at all cost’ attitude.

Furthermore, as the pursuit of happiness, turned into the pursuit of money and power - driven by a widespread misconception about the power of external riches (money and power) to give us internal riches (meaning, purpose, real joy, fulfillment and self-worth) - we’ve embraced a toxic culture of ‘more is better’ and ‘anything goes’ abetted by moral permissiveness which has produced a ‘me first generation’ and has turned the American Dream into the American Greed. We’ve also created a ‘lost generation’ who is engaged in self-destructive behavior – from drugs and alcohol to gang activity and promiscuity – resulting in apathy, teen pregnancy, teen depression and teen suicide. But these are merely used as the weapons of social pathology and a response to a negative home and school environment, and in part as a way of coping with a reality over which they feel they have no control.

These values and behaviors have been reinforced through movies, television programming, rap music, video games and the internet, all of which have uprooted us from our spiritual roots and driven our society into rewriting its own rules, so that instant self-gratification and winning at all cost have replaced personal and social responsibility. This is reflected in a recent report presented by the Los Angeles Police Department, which reveals that, ‘the generally lowered moral standards in our society and the increasing failure of individuals to accept responsibility for the consequences of their own acts have produced a "what's wrong with that?" mentality across a broad spectrum of the population. Today, it is not an exaggeration to say that morality has become a relative concept rather than a time-honored, commonly accepted code of conduct. Conduct that a few years ago would have been considered intolerable has become routine -- even, to some, admirable. Dishonesty is now not only common but almost expected, not just in politics but also in other areas. Drug use is expected. Cheating is expected. Sexual misconduct is expected. Violence is expected. Many citizens are no longer outraged, or even surprised, by such things. As a culture, the United States is becoming numb to the widespread use of drugs, corruption of politicians, and violence in our streets. When these things become so commonplace in the eyes of the community, participation in them takes on a semblance of acceptability and as such, carries far less social stigma as immoral. Some in this environment even come to feel bad about being honest.

Such culture neither values virtue and education nor sacrifices the present for the future as much as it used to. As a result, America has been sinking into swamps of debt, falling behind other countries in our education, and progressively losing our competitive edge, while the deeper meaning of life seems to elude even the well off. Perhaps more worrisome is the continued shift from a nation with a common destiny to one based on the individualistic fulfillment of needs.

And so what took centuries to build - the moral foundation of this nation - is now being destroyed and dismantled at an alarming rate. Traditional values centering around the family and the community are being replaced with a trash culture that undermines moral and ethical values. Instead, we are now subjected to virtue terrorism while embracing a culture of exploitation and degradation – from abuse of children and animals to destruction of the environment. As such, the mighty is empowered at the expense of the weak, while the rich is enriched at the expense of the poor, all of which is making America the very kind of power in the world that America has traditionally opposed. It’s clear that the seeds of destruction have been sown. We are now a world in crisis.

In conclusion:

The moral crisis (rooted in spiritual malnutrition) is the most defining issue of our times, as it’s been negatively impacting every facet of our lives both as individuals and as a society. Clearly our nation has come to a very dangerous crossroads. In the final analysis, it’s our response to the growing moral crisis that will determine whether we experience revitalization and prosperity or further destruction and, perhaps, even total collapse of our society. And while consequential times present a challenge, they also present each one of us with a unique opportunity to become part of the solution and contribute to a greater purpose and go beyond the narrow confines of the individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Each one of us has a hand in how the future unfolds. We can either become part of the solution or we can collectively suffer the consequences.

Finally, it’s possible for hope to triumph over adversity and even over history. However, time is running out.

Highlights about peace from Geela’s book, The American Dream

“And in the end, we will preserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.” – Baba Divum

As a parent, I feel a genuine concern for the future of our children and the kind of world we are leaving them with, especially in the light of the current threatening global, social and environmental climate. I am deeply troubled by the increase in violence today among kids growing up in an era lacking in genuine spiritual masters, mentors and role models. In place of adequate caring adult supervision and guidance, the media and peer groups end up shaping kids’ lives and minds.

I have always held the belief that true and lasting peace cannot be achieved through force alone, but through the power of education and by raising levels of awareness and consciousness. The words of John F. Kennedy capture my sentiments best: “No matter how mighty and powerful we are militarily, we can’t afford to forget that the real constructive force in the world comes not from bombs but from imagination, ideas, warm sympathies and generous spirit.” When we fail to honor all living things, including the environment, we invariably fail to honor life itself. It makes about as much sense as cutting off the branch upon which we are sitting.

So the time has now come for us humans to take an evolutionary leap in consciousness – to transcend the mysteries of life. That is the message contained in my album “The Veil of Life.” For me, the veil of life stands for the mystery that enshrouds and hides the true reality of life from us. By raising the veil of life, my hope is that the truth shall indeed set us free. Free of the fear of death and free of the fear of lack of personal power and control over our earthly destiny. When we believe in the beauty of our dreams, destiny then becomes not a chance but a choice, as well as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It is, therefore, my sincere wish that by sharing my insights with others, I will not only increase awareness but also bring hope to those who suffer in silence, struggling with the pain and the challenges of living. We all need to realize that where there is life there is also hope. If we consciously choose life, we automatically set in motion a positive flow of energy. This, in essence, is the seed of all true miracles and what makes dreams come true.

After many long and hard years of self-deprivation and great sacrifice, I came to understand that the real odyssey was not so much about getting a piece of the American Dream, but rather about what I had become because of the journey. Likewise no matter how much drama my life was filled with, this was not about the messenger but rather about the message. This was about helping others on their own journey.

It’s been said that some people see things as they are and ask why, while others dream things that never were and ask why not. That’s why it takes dreamers to make a meaningful difference in the world. It takes dreamers like Martin Luther King (“I have a dream”) and John Lennon (“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you will join me, and the world will live as one”). I, too, have a dream and hopes and aspirations for the benefit of humanity. Today I’m painfully aware of the fact that as an advocate of global peace and unity I’m in many ways like a lonely wolf in the wilderness. So I take my cue from great minds like Victor Hugo who once said that, “there is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come,” and Albert Einstein who said that “peace cannot be kept by force; it can only achieved by understanding.” Innovation, much like greatness, comes with responsibility and it’s a sobering fact that new ideas have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds. Still, when I consider the ideal I chose to serve, I feel that it’s an honor and a true privilege to serve the greatest of all causes. For in the end, if a cause is worth pursuing, then life is worth living too.

Only when we recognize the unity in all living things can we hope to come together to overcome centuries of superficial boundaries and belief systems, heal our spirits and restore joy of life and faith in the promise of life for all. Cooperation, not confrontation (one cannot fight evil with evil). Construction, not destruction (it's been said that the triumph of violence ends in a festival of pain and misery). Choose and honor the miracle of life, not the false glory of death. Live and let live.

Through my non-profit organization One Spirit, One World, I have now embarked on a journey in the quest for global unity and peace. It is a calling of which I am extremely passionate about, no matter what the odds. I choose to live by the spirit of Rumi who once said, “Start a huge, foolish project like Noah. It makes absolutely no difference what people think of you.”

Coming from a region of the world that has never known peace has served as the driving force in my pursuit for global unity and cultural harmony. Senseless violence has always been a near and dear subject to my heart. Albert Einstein’s words captured the issue best when he said “The problem that exists in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them.” Since our very survival is dependent on our ability to co-exist, global unity and cultural harmony become extremely important. However, it’s been shown time and time again that the conventional way of attaining this goal – by having a piece of paper signed by some self-serving politicians – is completely ineffective. It is peace consciousness and the scent of kindness that unite people. It is only when people unite that genuine peace and harmony are created. When we finally recognize the sanctity of life and learn to be at peace with ourselves, it becomes virtually impossible to destroy ourselves and others, or the environment. In the words of Jimi Hendrix “Only when the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”

In the quest for global peace, I have decided to use a completely different approach to solving the problem. My approach is based on the use of innovative solutions that will unite people and will ultimately help make peace a reality. It’s been said that, “the problems of the world cannot be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by their perception of reality.” This is true. Real solutions require daring and innovative individuals who can dream of things that never were. This reminds me of an advertisement by Apple Computer that best captured the spirit of innovation, “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round heads in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” While it’s always difficult to follow in the path of other greats who took the road less traveled, it’s far more difficult to deny who we are than to accept it.

Like life, peace is a process rather than a destination. Peace is not something which occurs overnight, nor even in a lifetime. Rather peace is a worthy goal that will provide a safe haven for like-minded people who are trying to find some measure of joy and happiness while trying to survive on the battlefields of life. Still, despite everything that has happened (the many miracles in my life), I’m told I can’t change the world. But why not? All it will take is just one more miracle.

My story is relevant and timely, now more than ever. Many people feel that the gods of technology have failed them, leaving them feeling lost in a cold and impersonal world with increasingly shallow and external values devoid of meaning and purpose. By keeping constantly in motion with the fast pace of modern life, we create the illusion of meaning. But as long as awareness is lacking, we will always feel a deep sense of loss and emptiness that no material achievement can fill.

In a society driven by materialistic values, we lose our natural freedom by becoming slaves to our desires and addictions. However, in order to fully experience the human experience, it is essential to be free. When we view and define ourselves as things and functions alone, we lose our freedom. Human excellence then gives way to human weakness, which sacrifices creativity and love of life to fear and false beliefs.

About Geela’s Music

An excerpt from ‘The American Dream’

"Music is your own experience, your thoughts and your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out your horns."   - Charlie Parker

My music is based upon my newfound insights into the human consciousness. The common thread in all of my songs is as follows:

Pain - The recognition and acceptance of pain as a necessary part of life (for the purpose of growth).

Loneliness - A profound and intense experience that is characterized by a longing for something beyond the earthly realm. It is the type of longing that can either become a driving force in your life that propels you to move forward with renewed spirits and greater passion for life, or simply drain your energy, crush your spirit, and make you miss out on the here and now.

Joy of life - Joy comes from the awareness of seeing the big picture and having the experiential understanding of the unity of life. It is the ability to see how everything is connected, the ability to see the wonder and magnificence in life itself. Joy of life, which is not dependent on external things, is found in simplicity and having a sense of sincere gratitude for everything we have no matter how little we think we have.

Hope and faith - The power of hope and faith can create miracles and make your dreams come true. In times of adversity, when you are at the end of your rope, hope and faith become your only reliable allies and lifelines. Therefore we must hold on to them, for if they die, life is like a broken-winged bird and cannot fly.

Healing - Only when we are able to let go and forgive can healing begin to help us break the chains of pain and suffering, and allow us to be free to spread our wings in joy.

Divinity - When we are able to see the divine in our earthly experiences, we can gain better perspective and appreciation for what we do have rather than what we wish we had. High awareness of divinity adds another dimension to our lives while giving it meaning and greater appreciation for the sanctity of life.

Celebration of diversity - Diversity is the mosaic of divine beauty and has a place in the scheme of all creation. When we recognize its relevance, we can conduct ourselves in ways that promote a culture of peace and harmony.

My songs were intentionally written in such a way so as to have a double meaning - much like in the scriptures. On the surface, the songs are about love and longing between a man and a woman. But beneath the surface there is another meaning- one having to do with our relationship with God.

For example, a song I wrote entitled "Sahara" was inspired by a chance meeting between a nomad and myself in the middle of a desert (in the Middle East). The image of that nomad invoked in me an intense feeling of loneliness, yet connectedness to something larger than life itself. In a moment of instant enlightenment, I realized how joy and pain are both essential parts of the human experience.