I have always enjoyed the PBS special bios or historical series. Not since the award winning,  Elizabeth R with Glenda Jackson back in the 70’s, have I been as mesmerized as I am with Wolf Hall, the story of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII and that whole era. Unfortunately, as of last Sunday, Season 1 has just wrapped up. I am sure you can catch up on the Internet or watch repeats when Season 2 opens.

Another wonderful series is the fictionalized biography of the first department store developer in England, Mr. Selfridge.  We are in season 3 as I type. This is well worth the time. It begins in pre-war England when Harry arrives from Chicago with big ideas. Soon, his family follows and his colorful, sometimes risky, and always innovative life unfolds. Jeremy Piven stars.

The Paradise is a fictional Emile Zola based series that also deals with the drama of running and building a retail empire. This is clearly a rip-off of Mr. Selfridge but you won’t care because it is so beautiful and scenic. The themes sometimes seem a bit off for the period and almost as if they are not true to the historical era, but I still find myself taping it and watching it while the other series are in hiatus.

The lapse in the script/topic/setting correctness beats the salacious sex, extreme violence and gore shown on other cable channels that just depress me and I am sure add to the decline of any decency left. The feeling of “comfortably numb” seems to be part of the equation. I suppose if we are all jacked up on prescribed meds there is no need for outrage.

Am I dating myself or did I already do that when I mentioned Glenda Jackson? Both, you say. Hmmmm. There is something to be said for the lack of actual skin and pornography. We still know that there are wanton love affairs going on but we don’t have to be invited into the bedroom. Thank God. I am bone weary of the deliberate and explicit carnage too. I know corruption, cruelty, war, loss of life, pain and betrayal are part of the plots on PBS but I don’t have to vomit when I watch it.

Many of the same actors from Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge are on Wolf Hall. It is entertaining to see them in different roles. But it is the quality and class of these programs that draws us in, time after time.

And I don’t have to close my eyes, look away or turn the volume off.

I haven’t written about the books I am reading lately because I was researching and entrenched in course development. Besides reading twelve books, listening to hours of mantras, chants and singing bells, bowls and gongs, and an indefinite number of internet information on Sound Healing and Music Therapy, I still made time to delve into some other literature.

Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende – This novel is set in Berkeley and Chile. It is contemporary which is different for Allende. Usually she researches an era for six months and then squirrels away in her home and writes from January to July. Her historical novels are mesmerizing. As per usual, she writes in the first person. We become Maya as she lives through grief, addiction, danger, mystery and basic mayhem. Her account is the novel, hence it is her journal. Although I personally prefer to waltz through pioneer or conquistador days with Allende, I found her book still intriguing, well written and still deeper than most current novels. I would recommend it and it is worth your time.

The Power of Kindness by Piero Ferrucci – The title further describes the book by adding, The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life. As you may have hoped, the very short preface is written by none other than the embodiment of compassion, the Dalai Lama. This is not a book to read through and put away. This book should be savored, talked about, lived and eaten every day. According to Ferrucci, “scientific research confirms that kind people are healthier and live longer, are more popular and productive, have greater success in business and are happier than others.” That confirms what I know about the people I most like and admire. It also re-affirms my positive state of mind when I am benevolent towards others. Ferruci’s style is lyrical and translated from the Italian with ease and depth. There are eighteen chapters ranging from honesty to a sense of belonging to empathy to respect and mindfulness. Each topic is taken seriously as it relates to having a compassionate perspective of the world and is filled with anecdotes that illustrate the theme in a way we can all reflect on. I would make this book a requirement for everyone. As a parent, as a career person, as a leader, as a student, as a politician or businessperson, you name it, who doesn’t need a reminder or an eye opening about how we need to treat one another? As I passed by a church the other day I saw their marquee. It read, “How we treat each other is more important than what, how or where we worship.”

A Life Worth Breathing by Max Strom – In this tome, yoga master Strom tells us his story of conquering physical debilities, overcoming pain and frustration, and his ride on the spiritual path. There are great heart felt lines in this book, much wisdom and truth spread throughout, and even exercises and meditations. This handbook gives advice on how to be a warrior, how and why to be disciplined and delves into bringing healing, grace and strength to the individual level so as to share it with the world at large. He dedicates the book to light workers, healers and leaders. His explanation of how unresolved grief creates trauma as “trapped” inside our bodies and thoughts is particularly clear and stressed. With this premise, he opens the door for us to follow through on a wellness path in all areas of our life. I would recommend this book to everyone too although I believe, psychology majors, yoga teachers, open minded people. Environmentalists and energy healers might like it best as it speaks to the choir. Politicians, world leaders and negative or ailing persons would benefit by reading it – but I personally doubt most of them would have an interest to deviate from their current state of affairs, finding solution perhaps in a different way of doing things (because it’s working so well for them to not look outside the box or inside themselves). That might be a little snarky but most truths will sting before we realize it will also set us free.

Looks like we were able to raise over $900 for Doctors Without Borders and the World Food Program to service and help the Nepalese. We meditated on the heart and did Tonglen, a practice wherein you breathe in all the sorrow and breathe out peace and love for the victims and their grieving families.

From an e-mail sent out today by the founder of the TAO Tribe and organizer for this event: “The Dalai Lama has said, compassion is the ‘new radicalism,’ a way of living every moment from a space of open-hearted love and empathy toward all beings. His Holiness has said that if the human race is to survive, this kind of compassion will be a necessity and not a luxury. All of us who attended last night felt the truth of the Dalai Lama’s words, and the power of joining with others to practice this kind of compassionate meditation.”

I feel honored to have been such a small part of this event. I am grateful I was able to bring my singing bowls and help create a space of tranquility.