The HKL Time Vol 1 # 14

©2026 THE HKL TIME

Tony Childs on stage (far left) is an American-born Australian singer-songwriter. Volunteers stepped into the aisles carrying flowers, each accompanied by a small message inspired by the timeless virtues of Humility, Kindness, and Love.

• TONY CHILDS INVITES
• Inside This Issue
• Beyond I, Me & Mine:
• HKL FOR CONCERT FINALE Experiencing Oneness

The Neuroscience of IN VANCOUVER, B.C. ON JULY 25, 2026

An evening of music blossomed into something even more memorable at the Vancouver Playhouse as HKL volunteers were specially invited to attend Tony Childs’ concert. As concertgoers gathered in the theatre with excitement, volunteers enjoyed an evening of soulful music and heartfelt storytelling, with every melody creating a shared atmosphere of hope, reflection, and joy.

As the final notes faded, Tony paused to recognize the HKL volunteers, inviting them to rise from their seats. Volunteers stepped into the aisles while carrying flowers, each accom panied by a small message inspired by the timeless virtues of Humility, Kindness, and Love. One by one, flowers found their way into grateful hands, sparking smiles, deep conversations, and moments of genuine connection. The simple gesture filled the theatre with warmth and left a lasting impression on many in attendance.

The impact of the evening lin gered long after the curtain fell. Many concertgoers expressed their gratitude and eagerly asked about the HKL Movement and the inspiration behind the flow er offering. Following the concert, Tony shared her appreci ation, writing, “Please express my gratitude for all the loving energy that was shared by everyone who came last night! So beautiful! The audience loved the flowers!” She added, “And I loved the spirit in which they were given! Absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful memory I will keep in my heart!” Like petals carried on a gentle breeze, the kindness shared that evening continued to bloom long after the music had ended.

What Johns Hopkins Researcher, Dr. Andrew Newberg’s Scientific Findings Can Teach Us About the Daily Commitments

What if the Darkness was Guiding You to the Light?

Read this powerful conversation on peace, unity, and how HKL transforms lives

Mediterranean Roasted Carrot Recipe Inside!

Every once in a while HKL volunteers would share their favorite recipe for you to try out!

The Midnight Library Book Recommendation

The library is a transitional place between life and death, filled with infinite books representing the dif ferent lives Nora could have lived.

CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA

New Members Join the HKL Movement Across Sydney

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

HKL youth volunteers continue their weekly community outreach, visiting local shopping centres during Thurs day late-night shopping and throughout the weekend. These outreaches provide an opportunity to connect with members of the public, share the message of Humility, Kindness, and Love, and build meaningful connections within the community.

One of the beautiful things about the HKL movement is discovering that kindness already exists everywhere. We simply have to notice it, connect with it, and help it grow.

At Prince’s Island Park in Calgary, volunteers from across the world, including those from Edmonton, British Columbia, USA, England, and New Zealand, came together to share the message of Humility, Kindness & Love with the community.

As they walked through the park, sharing conversations and spreading awareness about HKL, they came across someone who was already living the message in his own beautiful way.

Sitting peacefully in the sunshine was a man with a simple sign that read, “I’m here to listen.” He was offering his time and therapeutic support completely free of charge to anyone who needed someone to talk to. When asked why he did it, his answer was simple: this was his way of giving back and showing kindness to the world. There was something incred ibly moving about that moment. Two different paths had led to the same place: a desire to serve, to listen, and to make the world a little gentler. After learning about HKL, he chose to join the movement, reminding us that the movement does not belong to any one person. It belongs to anyone willing to carry it forward.

The following week, the energy continued as HKL volunteers gathered at a community event in Calgary’s Inglewood area. Once again, conversations were shared, new connections were made, and more members of the community were introduced to the values of Humility, Kindness & Love.

From one park to another, one conversation to the next, the message continues to travel.

During this week’s outreach, volunteers visited Blacktown Westpoint, Rouse Hill Town Centre, and Castle Towers, wel coming 120 new HKL sign-ups. Throughout the outreach, vol unteers engaged in many genuine one-to-one conversations, listening to people’s experiences while sharing the purpose and vision of the HKL movement. As people came to understand the values of Humility, Kindness, and Love, many were inspired to sign up and expressed a desire to share the movement with their family and friends.

Volunteers also met many individuals who were already making a positive difference through charities, community organisations, and other acts of selfless service. These conver sations highlighted how the values of Humility, Kindness, and Love are already being lived out in everyday life. Many were encouraged to learn more about HKL and asked how they could become involved.

Building on the momentum of these weekly community outreaches, HKL volunteers were also invited to Glenwood Gurudwara Sahib (Temple) on 18–19 July 2026 to raise awareness of the HKL movement and share its message of Humility, Kindness, and Love with the

wider community.

Over the two-day event, volunteers hosted an HKL awareness stall where members of the congregation had the opportunity to learn more about the movement through one-on-one conversations, informational flyers, and HKL resources. The welcoming display created an inviting space for people to ask questions, share their own experiences, and discover how the principles of Humility, Kindness, and Love can be practised in everyday life.

The response from the com munity was truly inspiring. The event welcomed an incredible 800 new HKL sign-ups within two days, reflecting the over whelming support and enthusiasm shown by the community. Every conversation, no matter how small, has the potential to make a lasting impact. As HKL continues to connect with communities across Sydney and beyond, these outreach efforts serve as a reminder that simple acts of Humility, Kindness, and Love can inspire positive change, one person, one family, and one community at a time.

WHAT IF THE DARKNESS WAS GUIDING YOU TO THE LIGHT?

lights another lamp. Then an other and another.

As she looked before her and behind her on the path, there it was; the darkness that she had tried so hard to outrun. Now she stood before me, asking me to face her. The darkness con sumed the path. There was no light in sight to guide her heart where to go. Which way should she take? Which direction led to the True path? Which way led her out of the darkness which was consuming her very Being.

Then, gently a warm Light nudg es her heart to walk.

This Light’s warmth ignites the candle within her heart. Holding this small flame, she recognizes the Light’s quiet love. Looking down, she notices the lamps that had once illuminated the path had been left deserted and abandoned, their flames extin guished by the restless winds of her mind.

Kneeling down to the earth, she begins lighting them once again.

One lamp.

Then the one in front of it.

Moving along the path, she

She gazes up to see the beauty of how each lamp that was lit had created a pathway that became more visible. The Light grew brighter with every step, and what once appeared as endless darkness slowly transformed into a radiant pathway of Light for her to walk through. Before she realized it, Someone—Something greater than herself—had illuminated the way, embracing her to walk the path of Ishq, of Divine Love.

Leaving behind the cloak of darkness, the Divine Light reached every part of her Being, surrounding her completely and infusing her with its warmth.

Step by step, the newly lit lamps gracefully guide her heart home to her True Path, to her True Calling.

As I reflect upon the life I have lived thus far, I bow in gratitude for every challenge and hardship that has been placed upon my path. What once felt like obstacles have become sacred invitations, each one gently guiding me deeper into Love.

There was a time when I would ask God why He had given me so many trials. I could not understand why the road seemed so difficult. Yet with time, I came to see that every challenge had arrived not to break me, but to bless me, to shape my Being into one that is stronger, honest, compassionate, and deeply rooted in Truth and Love.

come veiled beneath fear, grief, doubt, or the restless mind, but its flame remains beneath it all. When we turn toward it with courage and trust, it begins to illuminate the next step and then the next.

Today, I see life’s challenges differently. The darkness that once fright ened me has become one of the greatest blessings I have ever received. Every difficulty has carried a precious gift, a lesson of love, in disguise.

Every season of uncertainty has invited me to surrender more deeply to the Beloved.

Personal Reflection

“Every hurdle, every problem, every difficulty in life carries within it equal blessings.”

It is often through life’s The path of Love has always been beneath my feet. All I have greatest difficulties that ever been asked to do...

we are invited to discov is keep walking.

er our fullest potential. The darkness becomes the very place where the Light reveals itself.

One of the greatest secrets the Beloved continues to reveal to me is that the Light can never truly be extinguished. It may be-

By Gaganpreet Kaur Khela Fresno, California, USA

What Johns Hopkins Researcher Dr. Andrew Newberg’s Scientific Findings Can Teach Us About the Daily Commitments of the Humility, Kindness, & Love Movement

For thousands of years, spiritual traditions have invited us to turn inward: to become still, quiet the noise of the mind, remember the Divine, and discover a deeper reality within ourselves.

cerebral blood flow during med itative prayer. Research on longterm meditators has also found differences in brain activity in regions associated with attention, emotion, and autonomic function.

Today, neuroscience is begin ning to explore what happens in the brain when we do exactly that. One of the leading researchers in this field isDr. An drew Newberg, a neuroscientist and physician who has spent decades studying the relationship between brain function and spiritual practice. His research has included brain imaging of people engaged in prayer, meditation, and other deeply immersive spiritual practices.

But the most intriguing part of his work concerns our sense of separation. During deeply immersive spiritual experiences, activity in brain regionsinvolved in our ordinary sense of spatial orientation and self-boundaries can change. Newberg and his colleagues have described how these changes may accompany experiences in which the usual distinction between self and everything else becomes less pronounced. Newberg has referred to this profound experience as His work offers a fascinating scientific perspective on some thing that HKL has long invited us to experience for ourselves:

“unitary being”—a state in which a person experiences a deep sense of connection or oneness. The boundary between oneself and other people, nature, the universe, and the Di-

What happens when we vine seems to dissolve. turn inward and begin to experience ourselves as part of something greater?

When the mind becomes still

Newberg’s research suggests that practices involving focused attention, prayer, meditation, and spiritual contemplation can change patterns of brain activity.

In studies using SPECT brain imaging, Newberg and his colleagues observed changes in Oneness is not something that can simply be proven intellectually.

It is something to be experienced. For Newberg, the scientific study of spirituality raises a profound possibility: our brains are capable not only of self-maintenance, but also of self-transcendence, moving beyond our ordinary, separate sense of self.

This scientific discussion beau tifully echoes the Truth that

spiritual seekers have expressed for centuries: beneath the surface of our individual identities, there is an experience of connection that words alone cannot adequately capture.

Bringing the mind back to the present. Practicing gratitude. Connecting with Mother Earth. Sitting peacefully and observing the state of our consciousness.

Not merely to understand Love.

And not even merely to understand Oneness.

It is to experience it.

It is one thing to say, “We are One.”

But perhaps their power lies A Weekly Invitation precisely in their simplicity.

This week, each day, practice

It is another thing to become A commitment gives us the HKL Commitment.

still enough to feel it.

an opportunity to re

What happens when you look at To experience the softening ofI, peatedly return our at another person and remember me, and mine.

tention inward.

that they, too, are simply trying

To look at another person and no longer see them as completely separate from ourselves.

And what we repeatedly attend to, we begin to become conscious of.

To sit beneath a tree and feel connected to life.

To pray and feel held by some thing greater.

This is why HKL does not ask us simply to believe that we are Humility, Kindness & Love.

It invites us to experience it.

to find their way through life?

What happens when you meet the earth, nature, and another human being with reverence? We begin to discover that Humility, Kindness & Love are not qualities we have to manufacture.

To serve another person and Practice makes the discover that giving and receiving are not as separate as they invisible visible appear.

The truth becomes lived rather than merely understood.

The purpose of an HKL Com mitment is not to add another task to our lives.

From neuroscience to HKL practice

It is an invitation to pause long enough to notice what is already here.

This is where the work of HKL becomes especially meaningful.

The HKL Global Movement in vites us to awaken to Humility, Kindness & Love not merely as ideas or words, but as noble qualities already present within us. HKL emphasizes that transformation requires a sincere commitment to daily practice.

Every week, the HKL community is given a simple practice: to pause, become aware, turn inward, and bring Humility, Kindness, or Love into an ordinary moment of life.

When we practice these commitments, we begin to experience something deeper than our usual stream of thoughts.

This is where science and spiri tuality can meet, not by trying to prove one another, but by asking the same beautiful question from different directions: What happens when we turn within?

Newberg’s research gives us one lens through which to explore that question. HKL gives us another: practice it in your own life and see.

These practices may appear small.

Lowering our heads. Remembering the Divine. Watching our behavior. Remaining awake while eating.

Because the ultimate invitation is not merely to understand Humility.

Not merely to understand Kindness.

They are what remains when we become quiet enough to re member who we truly are.

This is why the HKL journey begins within.

We are Humility. We are Kindness. We are Love.

Not simply as words to repeat, but as a Truth to experience.

Dr. Andrew Newberg

Dr. Andrew Newberg is an American neuroscientist who is a professor in the Department of Intergrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences and the director of research at the Marcus Institute of Intergrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, previously an adjunct professor of religious studies and a lecturer in psychology in the Biological Basis of Behavior Program at the University of Pennsylvania.

MALAYSIA

On the evening of 29 July, HKL volunteers from Malaysia were invited to partake in the Guru Purnima celebration at the Ramakrishna Mission in Malaysia for an evening of Humility, Kindness, and Love. The Guru Purnima celebration is held annually by the Ramakrishna Mission to honour the Gurus and their teachings. When the HKL volunteers were invited to the event, the event managers requested that Kirtan (spiritual hymns) be sung, Langar be served, and Seva be performed so that the devotees could experience the culture of selfless service.

The evening began with Puja (worship) led by Swamiji Su priyananda, followed by Kirtan by both the devotees of the Ramakrishna Mission and the HKL volunteers. A presentation on HKL was given, and devotees had a chance to learn about the movement and how they could incorporate HKL into their daily lives. The evening concluded with everyone partaking in Langar (a free communal meal).

HKL isn’t about any religion or race, but about coming together and sharing love without regard to the other person’s background. It was beautiful to see the warmth shown by the devotees in welcoming the HKL volunteers, celebrating Guru Purnima together, and becoming part of the HKL movement.

R o a s t e dR o a s t e d C a r r o tC a r r o t

WITH HERBED YOGURTWITH HERBED YOGURT & TOASTED SEEDS& TOASTED SEEDS

There is quiet beauty in giving simple ingredients the attention

Chef’s Note

Give the carrots space on the they deserve. This seasonal rec tray. Patience creates deeper ipe celebrates the humble carcaramelization and richer fla rot, roasted until caramelized vour.

and served over creamy herbed yogurt with toasted seeds and From Our Table to Yours fresh herbs.

Ingredients:

2 lbs carrots, olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, honey, lemon zest, Greek yogurt, garlic, parsley, dill or mint, lemon juice, toasted pumpkin seeds, fresh herbs.

May this recipe bring warmth to your kitchen, beauty to your table, and moments of togetherness shared with others.

Method:

Roast seasoned carrots at 425°F (220°C) for 25-35 minutes, or until caramelized. Mix yogurt with garlic, herbs and lemon juice. Spread yogurt on a platter, top with carrots, garnish with seeds, herbs, and olive oil.

By Matt Haig

Book Recommended by Gurpreet Kaur Grewal SURREY, BC, CANADA

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a book that makes you stop and think about life, the choices we make, and the regrets we carry with us. The main message of the book is simple but powerful: life is pre cious, and how we choose to live it is up to us. It reminds us that we may not always see the value in our own lives, espe cially when we become focused on the things we wish we had done differently.

What stood out to me most was how much the protagonist changed by the end of the story. At the beginning, Nora struggled to see the meaning in her life. She was overwhelmed by her regrets and believed that if she had made different choices, her life might have turned out better. By the end of the story, however, she began to see her life in a completely different way. She realized that her life had always had meaning, even during the moments when she could not see it.

I found the idea of The Mid night Library itself really interesting. The library is a tran sitional place between life and death, filled with infinite books representing the different lives Nora could have lived. Each book gives her the opportunity to experience a different version of her own life based on choices she made differently. She doesn’t just read about what could have happened; she actually experiences these different lives and sees how one choice can change the direction of a life.

As she explores these different versions of her life, she comes across her rather large book of regrets. The book contains all the things she wished she had done differently and the choices she believes may have led her life in another direction. At first, it seems like these regrets are proof that she made the wrong choices. However, as Nora experiences the lives connected to those choices, she begins to understand that changing one decision does not remove all of life’s problems. Every life comes with its own challenges, uncertainties, and unexpected circumstances.

This part of the book made me reflect on how easy it is for us to look back at our own lives and wonder, “What if I had done this differently?” We can spend so much time thinking about our regrets that we forget to appreciate the life we are actually living. The book made me think that regrets do not necessarily have to be something that holds us back. Instead, we can learn from them and use those experiences to move forward. We cannot go back and change every decision we have made, but we can choose what we do with our lives from this point forward.

The book also changed the way I think about the choices we make. Nora learns that every decision can lead to new experiences, but no choice can guarantee happiness or remove every difficulty. This helped me understand that we should not judge our lives only by the opportunities we missed. We should also pay attention to the people, experiences, and possibilities that are still part of our lives.

I believe other people can gain a new perspective by reading this book. It reminds us that life is a gift and should be treated as such. Sometimes we may not realize the meaning our life already has because we are too focused on what we wish we had done differently. The book encourages us to look beyond our regrets and recognize the possibilities that still exist in the life we are living now.

I would recommend The Mid night Library to my friends because it is not only an easy read, but it is also the type of book that is hard to put down once you start reading it. More than anything, it leaves you thinking about your own life, your choices, your regrets, and the value of the life you are living right now. I think that is what makes the book stand out: it does not simply tell us that life is valuable; it encourages us to stop and consider why our own life is valuable.

“WE ARE HUMILITY, WE ARE KINDNESS, WE ARE LOVE”

True transformation doesn’t come from words, it comes from practice of turning inward and connecting with yourself. Commit to this practice for 7 days and feel the shift.

Through simple, powerful steps, you’ll reconnect with virtues of Humility, Kindness, and Love (HKL), bringing greater clarity, peace, joy, and true fulfillment into your life. Whether you’re new or returning, this is where we begin every day. Learn more at www.hkl.org

Scan & Join

HKL.ORG/JOIN

MY DAILY COMMITMENT FOR THE WEEK

Each week, we come together in a shared commitment to a simple yet powerful inner practice. These weekly practices help us stay awake and help us work on ourselves to become more beautiful www.hkl.org/weekly-practice

A Global Movement That’s Transforming Lives

94 Countries & Territories | 7 Conferences | 34 Million 30-day social media impressions Million + Livestream Views Over 7 Conferences | 23 K In-person attendees

• Crossword Puzzle
• Complete the crossword puzzle below
• ACROSS:

5. Buddhist monk and peace activist who taught mindfulness and compassion

7. Catholic priest who created homes and villages for aban doned children in Italy

8. Doctor and philosopher who founded a hospital in Gabon and won the Nobel Peace Prize

10. Teacher who dedicated her life to educating deaf and blind children

11. Former U.S. president famous for humanitarian work with Habitat for Humanity

DOWN:

1. Emperor who embraced peace and compassion after witnessing the horrors of war

2. Actor and comedian whose “Little Tramp” symbolized compassion for ordinary people cross

5. Buddhist monk and peace activist who taught mindfulness and compassion 7. Catholic priest who created homes and villages for abandoned children in Italy 8. Doctor and philosopher who founded a hospital in Gabon and won the Nobel Peace Prize 10. Teacher who dedicated her life to educating deaf and blind children 11. ormer U.S. president famous for humanitarian work with Habitat for Humanity

Down

3. Baseball legend remembered for generosity and quiet char-

1. Emperor who embraced peace and compassion after witnessing the horrors of waracter as much as athletic skill

2. Actor and comedian whose “Little Tramp” symbolized compassion for ordinary people

3. Baseball legend remembered for generosity4. Beloved children’s author who promoted empathy through and quiet character as much as athletic skill stories like Charlotte’s Web

4. Beloved children’s author who promoted empathy through stories like Charlotte’s Web 6. Cartoonist and creator of Peanuts, known for 6. Cartoonist and creator of Peanuts, known for gentle wis gentle wisdom and humility dom and humility

9. Civil rights leader known for nonviolent resistance and humility in public service

9. Civil rights leader known for nonviolent resistance and humility in public service

Artwork of the Month

Handpainted Artwork by the HKL Youth Volunteers at The 7th HKL International Conference in Mississauga, Canada. Attendees were given a pen to write down their thoughts about HKL directly on the floral paper, giving the sense of being part of the HKL garden.

ANSWER KEY: 1. Ashoka 2. CharlieChaplin 3. RobertoClemente 4. EBWhite 5. ThichNhatHanh 6. CharlesSchulz 7. DonBosco 8. AlbertSchweitzer 9. JohnLewis 10. MariaMontessori 11. JimmyCarter