WEST HOLLYWOOD BOOK FAIR

Last Sunday I was part of IWOSC (Independent Writers of Southern California) asked to read from my novel, A Gift In The Sunlight: An Armenian Story, a story about my mother's survival from the Armenian Genocide. I spent a little time at the IWOSC booth before the read and talked briefly to a gentleman who was well into his seventies, a once upon a time Hollywood screenwriter. When he realized I was Armenian, he said with a bit of sarcasm, "I hope you are not one of those...and I cut him off because I knew to what he was inferring...are you one of those who won't let go of the past and make so much noise about the Armenian genocide...and I responded, "I am my mother's voice."  He immediately retracted and talked about a Jewish holocaust survivor he knew. But for me this was a great lesson.  It was the very first time I used the words, "I am my mother's voice." And it has affected the way I now read my mother's story.

In previous reads I read from a responsibility to history.  The Turks say what happened to the 2 million Turkish Armenians in 1915 was not genocide and are trying to erase this tragic historic event from history.  The depth of my research reveals this extermination of the Turkish Armenians is without doubt genocide...and I now realize my mother's voice won't let me go until the Turkish government recognizes that what happened in 1915 was genocide and will have a conversation about reparations. 

If you want to learn more go to my website for a quick study!  http://www.kaymouradian.com/

The highest yoga is the control of the mind, yet most of us have no comprehension how or why our minds work the way do.  One of the reasons is that we have not been taught about thought, what it is, where it comes, and how it affects our lives.  Those who are concerned about the health of their physical body are careful about the kind of junk food they eat but I'd venture to say they never think about the junk thoughts they carry in their minds....or how those junk thoughts affect the effectiveness of their being. Enough said at the moment.  Something to think about...how can you find out what kind of thoughts crowd your mind?  And how much of it is junk?

Once upon a time a wise friend told me that the Buddha said that man is born, he suffers, and dies. Then my friend said that most people die never knowing what they wanted. That statement shocked me, because I was not aware I did not know what I wanted, until that very moment. He asked me several questions that I pondered over and when I understood the depth and meaning of those questions it did not take me long to answer them. And my world lightened. I realized what was important and all the insignificant stuff that plagued my consciousness dissipated and freed me to know, to really know. What a wonderful feeling. I review those questions on occasions and even after thirty years I find it interesting the answers are still the same. I’ve given these questions to some of my more capable students and I’m happy to share them with you, hoping your answers will free you from those pesky encumbers that weigh you down.

What do you want? Why? (The most important answer is why!)

What do you hope to achieve in this lifetime?

What do you love? Why?

With my newly redesigned website http://kaymouradian.com/ I will be updating my blog with more ideas and insights. In the meantime you may want to view some of the older postings...they are meant to stimulate your thinking!