Welcome to Do a Good Deed a Day!

When HH Grandmaster Lin Yun was asked what we could do to help the USA’s economic crisis he told us to get everyone to do a good deed a day for 27 days in a row.

Because the crisis was created by compounded greed the solution is to do good deeds also known as random acts of kindness.

I will be posting my good deeds. Please join me so we can share and inspire our experiences.

I was thinking of creating a certificate of merit to anyone who completes journals the 27 days. What do you think?

So come on let’s be pro-active and turn this thing around.

Blessings & Light,

Marina Lighthouse

For my good deed today, I went into my local coffeehouse and wrote a note of praise for two of the employees to be given to their manager.  I commended them for the great job they do every day.

Today I donated to the Dialectic School of Menri Monastery in India as my good deed.

Our study group on “Sa-Che” at the Yuan Yuan Educational Center was an enlightening experience.

Ponlob Rinpoche is a kind and compassionate teacher it felt great to support his cause.

Today I sent food over to my friend’s house undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Today I bought a “miracle coffee card”.  I went to my local Peet’s Coffeehouse and asked if they would go along with the good deed and they cheerfully agreed.

The ninth person that came in, after I left, received a free drink of their choice. The barista just said  “You are the recipient of a random act of kindness”.

This deed was inspired by a Grateful Dead show I attended years ago. To my surprise, a person that didn’t have enough money to attend the concert would yell out to the people arriving “Miracle Ticket!” Instead of scalping the ticket if someone had an extra they would just give it away to the person asking and watch the person jump up and down in glee.

I thought this was a really great charitable act that the “Dead Heads” did for each other, and it left a lasting impression on me.

Today a friend called and told me she had woken up with a horrendous back pain.  So I was inspired to buy some food and I brought it up to her.

We had a picnic lunch at her home.

Today I donated six bags full of goodies to the Good Will.

Great for them and great for me!

Today, I went to see a client’s who was having difficulty installing her
Feng Shui remedies.  I assisted her and waived my standard fees.

For my good deed today, I went to visit my neighbor who has macular degeneration.  I read her mail to her and helped her pay bills.

Today I went to my local garden nurserey and purchased a small tub of ladybugs which I will release back into wild this evening. They will be set free…out of the tub and back into nature!

Today when I went over the Dumbarton Bridge (between Newark and Palo Alto, CA) I asked the toll taker if I could buy an extra toll and treat the ninth person after me, he said “YES” so I did.

This actually happened to me once years ago,  and I thought it was great!

Today so I went to my neighborhood grocery store and donated some money to the American Cancer Societies Relay for Life program. Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.

Dedicated to my Dad and Uncle Joe.

Today for my good deed as a member of the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program I went out and bought a plethora of seed for the different species of wild birds here in Los Altos, CA.

I have been a member of the program since 1990 and provide food, water, cover and a place where wild birds can raise there young. I enjoy planting native plants that many species of wildlife require to survive and thrive.

This is a great program, check it out if you don’t know about it.

When Professor discussed this 27 Good Deed a Day adjustment for economic recovery at his workshop in Berkeley, a participant asked about picking up litter as a good deed. He thought it was a great idea. I thought to myself “Oh no! I’m not doing  that, it’s not my style.”

Well, today I went out and picked up litter off the sides of streets here. I didn’t realize how many cigarette butts there are!

It reminded me of going out on a scavenger hunt: I found a broken windshield wiper, plastic coat hanger and a hawk feather (nice!).

This was a good one for me because it got me out of my comfort zone.

Today for my good deed I couldn’t resist and I went back to Peet’s coffee shop to add more money on the “miracle card”. (see day four’s posting on this blog) I spoke to Doug the manager and he told me that I had money remaining. “How could this be?” I asked. The person that received the random act of kindness only ordered a medium coffee, no frills. He told them they could have whatever they liked and they stuck to there original order and didn’t get greedy…see it’s working already!

Today I donated to the City of Hope’s program Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer. I dedicated it to Patti Miller a dear friend.

Today I brought the good deed closer to home. The new updated Feng Shui Shopper site had some transitional issue, especially with the digital pictures and we have had to re-do a huge number of them, (check it out –  I think they look heaps better) that along with some technical issues, well, all I can say is it’s been very challenging. We are almost done, still a few to go. So I gave a gift to Jennifer the office manager here wishing her long life and good health.

Today my word for the day is simplicity so as I was contemplating what to do today I found this list in my nightstand. It inspired me to rethink and analyze my thoughts. I  hope it does the same for you!

This list in reverse order.

SECRETS FOR SUCCESS AND INNER PEACE

The Tenth Secret:
Wisdom is avoiding all thoughts that weaken you.

The Ninth Secret:
Treasure your Divinity.

The Eighth Secret:
Treat yourself as if you already are what you’d like to be.

The Seventh Secret:
There are no justified resentments.

The Six Secret:
You can’t solve a problem with the same mind that created it.

The Fifth Secret:
Give up your personal history.

The Forth Secret:
Embrace silence.

The Third Secret:
You can’t give away what you don’t have.

The Second Secret:
Don’t die with your music still in you.

The First Secret:
Have a mind that is open to everything and attached to nothing.

From the book: 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Today I was traveling in the car for a good part of the day (5hrs), for me that was a lot of travel! So, I was happy to be able to go into a local grocery store when I got back home and gave a donation to the Food For Families program.

This program is nationwide and 100 % of the donation goes to feed the hungry in your community.

I have found some days are easier then others.

I was given a BEAUTIFUL lug of cherries by a client and friend who owns a few orchards in Linden, CA.

I went over to my 87 year old mom’s house and helped her can 7 quarts of cherries. Back in the day, she would put up 50 jars a season! It was wonderful to spend the day with her. She was thrilled with the bounty.

I also gave a bag full to Meng Lei as a thank you for all the great favors she has done for Feng Shui Shopper.  Tonight I also will bring some to my dear friend for his birthday party.

It’s great to share the wealth!

Today as I was on my walk I noticed some beautiful cobalt blue pottery plates on the side of a curb with a sign that read “FREE” on them. What a find! I noticed a moving van in the driveway and movers were packing things up. I knew it didn’t matter to them who got the platters and bowl but I thought it would be a good gesture to thank them anyway. So I went up to the a young man and told him “thank you.” He told me that he was just the mover and the women who was giving them away was inside. If I wanted to thank her in person, to go inside. I hesitated but then thought I should make the effort to show her my gratitude and wish her a successful move. So I went inside and thanked her personally and wished her well.

She told me she had brought them back from New Zealand and was happy they were going to a good home.New Zealand? Wow!

I realized by making an effort in showing her my gratitude, it made her happy.

Now I know the potteries origins, something I might have never known. Fantastic!

Today I made food for my friend undergoing chemo. This will help his wife out too because she has so much to do.

Today I donated to Wildlife Rescue, Inc. (WRI) has provided wildlife intake and rehabilitation services to the communities of Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Mountain View, California since 1974. For over thirty years, WRI has been a resource for citizens and local agencies by accepting injured and orphaned wildlife for the purpose of wildlife rehabilitation under the auspices of the California Department of Fish and Game, Region 3 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.day.

I have brought several animals in to them over the years and it’s wonderful having them here in the community.

Today I was in the office on the computer for most of the day so when I went to the local grocery store I donated to the leukemia and lymphoma society and dedicated the merit to my father- in-law Max.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) relies on the support of individuals, corporations and foundations to fund LLS’s research initiatives, patient services and education programs. We are extremely grateful to our many generous donors and sponsors who made it possible for us to invest more than $600 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma since its first funding in 1954.

Today was my anniversary so we went to Santa Cruz, CA. It’s a lovely hip beach community, with a very relaxed atmosphere. There was a excellent band playing in Hoffman’s Bakery/Resturant on Pacific Garden Mall. The tip jar was out so I gave them a generous tip to show my gratitude. Support the local talent!

Today we went to a large outdoor event called the Harmony Festival. I decided my good deed would be to make an effort to complement 36 different people.

It was fun and brought smiles to the faces of total strangers.

One of my favorite programs is the Plant Trees in Celebration program from the Arbor Day Foundtion. You can plant trees in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, new births, or any special occasion. Easy to do,  you can give the gift of trees in honor of  friends and loved ones while caring about the environment and replanting our nation’s forests.

Here’s a new one, how about in honor of our good deed blog program!  So check it out, here is the certificate.

It’s in honor of all you good deed doer’s out there, past, present and future! My intention is to plant the seed for the US Economic Recovery.

I wanted my good deed to effect someone immediately.  I called my accountant and recommended a women to him that had worked for my family accountant as an office manager for 30 years. Always loyal, personable and attentive. Here is someone with experience that could really be an asset to his company.

There are a lot of people looking for jobs right now. She was smart too, by being pro-active. By sending a letter to let me know about her current situation I was able to call and give her a recommendation.

Day Twenty-Seven, my final consecutive day of the Do a Good Deed a Day! Later, I ‘ll be posting more about my experience and process doing this adjustment.  I thought it only appropriate to honor and support the inspiration of this blog, HH Grandmaster Lin Yun Rinpoche and the Yun Lin Temple. I sent a donation packet of red envelopes today.

Photo courtesy of

Nancy Santo Pietro & Associates

When I met up with HH Grandmaster Lin Yun Rinpoche in Canada this past summer at the home of John and Dawn Hankins we discussed this 27 Good Deed blog.  In his wisdom he told me to do it again and this time to use more everyday examples.

He pointed out how even at that moment a man standing across the room from him had moved slightly to the left, so as to block the glare coming in through the window. A thoughtful kind thing to do.

Good deeds can be simple. Good deeds improve our luck and our overall well being.

It doesn’t matter if you get everyone on board with you or if people recognize you for performing them. Just do them. Why 27 days? In Feng Shui nine is a very powerful number. It is the number of change and 3 x 9 = 27. It symbolizes a permanent positive change.

As Grandmaster Lin Yun has said “One good deed can divert 1000 disasters.”

Please join me as I begin again

Blessings

Marina Lighthouse

Professor told me to begin the blog again, so here it goes! This time he suggested I record simple good deeds. His thinking was to show how even the smallest act of kindness can count as good deed.

You don’t have to spend money and it is so simple that everyone can get into it.

Today I made a little extra food when I was making my breakfast and brought it over to share with my 88 year old Mom.

My good deed today was giving a fellow from France a ride home from the party we were attending.

Today, while in a coffee shop I recognized someone I knew breifly10 years ago. Remembering she was a Taurus and seeing that she was carrying flowers, my intuition told me that it was her birthday. So I went up to her and sang Happy Birthday and wished her an excellent year. She was both surprised and delighted.

Today I helped my Mother sorting her mail and checking her bills.

Today I made a meal and brought it over for a friend who is ill.

I also sang songs and we told each other great stories.

Today, at a store I shop at regularly, I gave a shopping cart to a women who was arriving. She looked totally overwhelmed and was surprised by the gesture.

Today I made a birthday dessert for a dear friend and brought it over for a mini celebration.

Today I helped with a new CD project. Zhong Ba Rinpoche’s assistant requested help with price quotes and information on producing a CD of his chanting and singing in the states. I researched and gathered the information and sent it off to them.

Today I had a women working at my house, I offered her lunch and she accepted and enjoyed it very much.

It seems like a lot of my good deeds this round two revolve around food!

I spent a good part of today setting up a FTP site for the Zhong Ba Rinpoche project. I had sent the sound files for his review and use via You Sent It. You see song files are HUGE, so they need to be compressed. The Chinese government blocked them coming into the country. So we are now going to try using a FTP server for them to download in China.

I rearranged my schedule today to meet someone early so they would be able to enjoy their anniversary.

While having an afternoon tea at the local coffee house an elderly women came in and was looking for a place to sit. The only table available was a mess so I jumped up and cleared it for her.

Orange, orange, oranges! Today I brought a bag of and picked sweet oranges to my acupuncturist for a treat. She was delighted and surprised!

“Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today I opened a door for a lady going into a store quite unexpectedly – she thanked me so generously with a big smile.

Today I donated $100 to the YYEF Earthquake Relief Funding Drive.

Once more, we have been saddened by the 7.1 Richter Scale earthquake that hit Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, China.  This April 14th natural disaster, based on news reported on April 23, has affected so many innocent Tibetan people.  By latest count, death toll has reached 2,187 including 207 school children.  More than 12,000 people are reported injured, at least 80 are still missing; and 100,000 left homeless, by Reuter’s account on 4/25, 8,000 monks whose monasteries collapsed were among the new homeless population.  According to Hsing Hwa News, this earthquake has affected many more in the neighoring areas, including the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province which is not too far from our in-house Bon study instructor, Lama Youngtong Tenzin’s home town.

Relief efforts has faced great challenge due to the area’s severe weather condition and high elevation.  Snow and rain has continued to flood into the earthquake affected area.

I know it may seem impossible or a strange concept but some people still do not have internet or cannot type. Today I helped one such person get a message to a healer in Mexico who really needs his advice and services.

I received word back from the healer in Mexico. So I printed out his letter and mailed it to the woman without internet via snail mail.

Sometimes it’s just fun to surprise someone with a good deed. I opened a door for a banker going back to work…he was so surprised. Tee-hee this is fun!

I saw a volunteer from the Santa Clara County Homeless Women and Children shelter today in front of my local store, and I  gave them a donation.

I am headed for NYC so today. I offering my place in line to another person. I also stopped my friend from leaving at an inauspicious time so she would have good luck on her trip.

My good deed for today was I attended HH Grandmaster Lin Yun Rinpoche and Crystal Chu Rinpoche’s blessing at the Chapel of the Church Center of the United Nations. I spent the time chanting mantas for everyone, but most especially for HH Grandmaster Lin Yun Rinpoche.

Today I was leaving a store and the women next to me spilled her purse out onto the sidewalk on Second Ave in NYC. So I ran around picking up items and coins and brought them back to her. She was very grateful.

Today my good deeds involved tea. On my way to the workshop I picked up a extra tea for Deborah Gee to enjoy during the morning session at the Yun Lin Temple Feng Shui workshop.Then we had the special pleasure of having lunch with the Abbot H. H. Lungtok Tenpai Nyima. He had come to visit HH Grandmaster Lin Yun. I noticed they had no tea on their table so I told the owner to offer them some. Within minutes I saw everyone at the table drinking tea! It made my heart happy to see everyone enjoying the tea especially Professor.

Here we go – Do a Good Deed a Day Project – Round Three!  This time I am going to open myself to the small gestures that promote kindness.

You’ll remember HH Grandmaster Lin Yun suggested I record simple good deeds. His thinking was to show how even the smallest act of kindness can count as good deed.

You don’t have to spend money and it is so simple that everyone can get into it.

Today while at a store and watched as a senior was struggling trying to get a  bottle of oil from a high shelf. She was delighted and gave me a big smile when I volunteered to get it down and place it in her basket.

Today I was getting back to work. So late in the day, I went to a grocery store and brought back some ‘renegade” carts after shopping at my local Trader Joe’s.

It was a great day. Last week I sent a birthday card to a dear older friend in England. When I checked my messages early this morning I heard her voice thanking us for the well wishes.

I sent a special thank-you and gift this evening to a friend who was really kind in NYC. I am wishing her great prosperity and sent along something that I think will help sell her house sooner than later!

I was in a check out line at a store today and a women came racing up, in a big hurry with a heavy bag of ice. I nodded to please go ahead she flashed me a huge smile.

Today I welcomed an old friend from out of town into my home. She mentioned a family member had an addiction to psychotherapy.

I gave her a copy of Becoming Your Own Therapist by Lama Yeshe.  A book that I have found most useful. If you wish, you can find your own copy at www.lamayeshe.com

My friends son has been ill and went to the hospital yesterday. He is back at home taking medication and resting. So I thought it would be nice to pick some oranges and bring them to the family. I am sure it can use the extra vitamin C.

A dear friend, artist and former merry prankster called to tell me he was ill and has just gotten out of the hospital.  He has always been a great spiritual adventurer and studied with shamans in Mexico, the Maharishi (the Beatles were his classmates!), Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh) in India, John of God in Brazil, my inspiration was to send him the Heart Sutra CD and Feng Shui Tune Up.

It was a great honor to have done these CD’s with HH Grandmaster Professor Lin Yun. Professor chanted many powerful mantras and secret blessing in these CD’s. Many people over the years have told me that they listen to them and it has brought great healing into their lives. The CDs are on the way to my friend now!

It’s never to late to be grateful!
Today I sent an e-mail to feng shui consultants Eileen Conti Weklar of a Virginia, Suzy Driver of Portland Oregon, Shelley Sparks of Los Angeles, California, and Catherine Dawson of Boulder, Colorado and Kuan Yin devotee Guy Arribart from Osaka, Japan. These people all sent me a card for the New Year and each day I look at their lovely postcards on my home refrigerator.

I was busy during the Chinese new years season and I was unable to personally thank them, so today I sent an e-mail to each one of them thanking them for sending me a lovely Rabbit New Year’s Postcard. Hopefully my email brightened up their day.

A mechanic on vacation from Texas was recommended by a friend to help fix yard equipment here that has been in a state of real neglect. I compensated him but he was very surprised and happy when I fixed him a royal feast and we shared our table. Afterward, (unbeknownst to me he is a fabulous Spanish guitar player) we went over and serenaded my 90 year old mom. She loved it and it brought up many fond memories of when my family had an orchard here in California.

Today I cut  some lilacs for a gardener. I knew he loved them and it would make his wife very happy too.

It was a lovely Sunday and I had the pleasure of attending a wedding. It was a lot of fun with a casual Hawaiian theme and when it was all over I volunteered to stay and help with the clean up crew. The DJ blasted classic Beatles music which got everyone going!

What would we do without parks?
Today, upon admittance to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park I paid the normal fee and felt compelled to the donated extra. It was so beautiful, if you have never been try to go sometime.

Today I received some wonderful words about Japan during their time of crisis via email. I want to share them with you.

10 THINGS TO LEARN FROM JAPAN BY LEX LANG
1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.
4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.

I donated money today to the red cross for the Japanese recovery efforts.

After my talk tonight I stayed late so everyone that attended could receive the Loving Kindness Blessing. Happy Birthday Kuan Yin!

Today I bought a case of supplies  to help a women out for her cleaning business. She couldn’t afford them and was very grateful.

In Buddhism and particularly in China, the release of animals, particularly birds or fish, into their natural environment became an important way of demonstrating Buddhist piety. I bought nine feeder fish and released them in a pond today.

We made a special trip to St Simon’s church today to pick up the special blessed palm fronds to give to my Mother. This is one  of her favorite days of the year  and it made her day brighter since she was unable to attend herself.

It seems to be happening more and more; you call an agency and before they connect you they ask if you will take a survey to review the call.  Even though I was very busy (Monday) I took the time to rate the performance of the woman that helped me. She did a good job and I thought it would be helpful for her career.

I look up almost everything on the internet these days, but it is so nice to go into the local library look and feel the books, videos and have a place to go study that doesn’t involve buying a cup of tea or coffee.  So, today I donated to my little neighborhood library. I walked there and back to make a little adventure of it, just about a mile.

Tonight I performed at a Morocco’s restaurant in San Jose, Ca. There was a little girl that was out for a dinner with her Dad. I dedicated the song “I Can See Clearly Now” to Anna. Her Dad sang along with me and sang directly to her from across the table.  She was delighted, it really made the night special for her.

Today while I was shopping at the grocery store I swiped my credit card and was asked on the read out screen if I wanted to give to the disabled charities in my area ,so I donated right then and there. Sometimes doing a good deed is made so easy.

A friend referred to me by a mechanic who was visiting his children in San Jose. I have had many mechanical things around here in need of loving attention since my Uncle’s passing. One by one he fixed then all.  He also plays Spanish style guitar when he is not working as a welder in Texas. So I thought what would be the best gift to give him to show my gratitude; this is above and beyond his fee? The answer came in a meditation that I would produce a recording session for him. Today we recorded two pieces of music one of them a beautiful song his father taught him in Mexico.  I could tell it meant a lot to him. 

A women who is on disability moved into a new home with her son and called to get a Feng Shui Tune-Up.  I waved my fees to help them.

A brother and sister who looked to be around six or seven years old were riding their razors down the sidewalk on a busy street.  Even though there is a  cross walk, it’s right off an expressway ramp exit and people barrel down the street: there is no light or stop sign. So I said  let’s all cross together. We did and I took on the role of a crossing guard.

There is a lot of construction work going on in downtown Los Altos. They are totally revamping the crossing on all four corners. There are huge trucks  - it’s very noisy. Today when I went downtown I noticed that one of the high-end boutique stores had clothes on display stands outside and one had been blown over onto the ground. So I went over pick it up off the street and alerted the salesgirl who was very grateful.

I was invoiced today by a service provider that did a lot of work for my family and I felt the amount was very generously discounted and did not represent the amount of work that was actually done. I was very grateful, so I paid them what I felt was the fair amount. I know their family is facing some financial difficulties and this will really help.

I sent a “surprise” house warming gift to some dear friends. This is their first house and it felt wonderful to show gratitude to them for all the help they have given me over the years.

I love to support musicians. On the street today a young man was busking and I contributed to his hat. It’s so nice  hearing live music. I think Neil Young would have loved it too!

The final day of round three. I found out this afternoon a dear artist friend broke her arm. If that wasn’t bad enough this weekend is open studio a bi-annual event where she sells a lot of art. She is unable to prepare the goodies for the potential customers and guests who will come and visit her SF studio. So I went to the store and prepped and cooked sweet and savory treats she will be able to present  tomorrow. I’ll drive them up in the morning and will help her. Time for bed! Blessings to you! Marina

Do not indulge in charitable acts for your own benefit. Love them for the happiness they bring others. ~ Jatakamala

Om Ma Tri Mu Ye Sa Le Du

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