Intuition - Part I

Intuition - Part I


Intuition - Part I

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 01:00 PM PST

Article by Sam Vaknin

Shaolin Monk Shifu Wang Bo - Self Defense

Shaolin Monk Wang Bo (Shi YanWu) - Self Defense (Was a monk from the shaolin temple) Shifu Wang Bo (Shi YanWu) is a direct disciple of both the Shaolin Temple and Venerable Abbott Shi Yong Xin. At the age of 8 years old Sifu Wang Bo was accepted into the temple where he remained nearly his entire life cultivating his Buddhist practice as a Martial Monk. Soon after arriving, Wang Bo was chosen to represent the Shaolin Temple in the legendary Shaolin Performance Known as"The wheel of life""Shaolin warriors. During a period spanning three years, Sifu Wang Bo traveled the entire world performing throughout Europe, Australia, America, and Canada. As a cultural disciple of Zen Buddhism, Sifu Wang Bo has served as an ambassador for both China and the Shaolin Temple. He was selected by Abbott Shi Yong Xin to meet with various political parties and influential leaders to help communicate the importance of Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism for socity as a whole. Shifu Wang Bo's meeting was with the former Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he conveyed much appreciation for becoming the first state leader of Russia to visit the Shaolin Temple on March 22, 2006.

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Learning To Reduce Stress During Pregnancy - Pregnancy and Stress

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 12:00 PM PST

Article by Franchis Adam

Many mothers during pregnancy face extremely stressful circumstances. Pregnancy is a nine month journey for both you and your baby. Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks (about 9 months). Stress-related changes in a pregnant woman's heart rate and blood pressure, along with chronic anxiety, can affect the heart rate of her developing fetus, a new study concludes. Maternal stress during pregnancy is also found to cause of asymmetry in coordination of ears, fingers, feet, elbows, etc. Maternal stress is also linked with imperfections in the developing nervous system which can lead to problems of perception, thinking, and memory. These mothers experience constant stress, shame, loneliness and, sometimes, clinical depression during pregnancy or after giving birth. Their partners or families may not encourage them to seek help because the problem it is not seen as a medical one. There are many negative side effects of stress during pregnancy. Very high levels of stress may contribute to an increased risk of premature delivery or low birth weight babies. Still other studies suggest that overly high stress levels can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and produce chronic anxiety.

Maternal stress during pregnancy is also found to cause of asymmetry in coordination of ears, fingers, feet, elbows, etc. Stress doesn't have to be bad especially when you take care to manage the stress you experience during your pregnancy. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet. Eating well will provide you the energy you need to get through the day, especially when you feel tired or overworked. Exercise has huge stress reducing qualities. Walking is another activity you can do in order to keep fit and reduce stress. Shortness of breath is pretty common among pregnant women, so if you feel like you've pushed yourself too far, take a rest then move at a slower pace. Water is highly important for more reasons than keeping your body hydrated. A common reason for headaches is a lack of water in the system. Try not to drink bev! erages i n excessive amounts right before bed. Try some natural stress reduction techniques including biofeedback, yoga or meditation. Reduce your workload. If you find you are doing too much in a day find ways to delegate certain tasks to others.

Reduce Stress During Pregnancy Tips

1. Eat a healthy, well balanced diet.

2. Drinking lots of water.

3. Regular exercise makes you feel great and is a wonderful way to limit anxiety in your life.

4. Relaxing by meditating, listening to music or writing in a journal.

5. Resisting any urges to drink alcohol, smoke or take herbal products or drugs.

6. Staying away from stressful people and stressful situations, when possible.

7. Try some natural stress reduction techniques including biofeedback, yoga or meditation.

8. Reduce your workload.

About the Author

Read out Skin disorders. Also check out for blackheads treatment and pregnancy diary

Relaxing Music Therapy - Relaxing Nature Scenes - Relaxing Music - Nature Scenes

Relaxing Music Therapy For Stress Relief Relaxing music therapy is a very potent phenomenon. Sounds can soothe you, fire your imagination, bring you to the heights of ecstasy or bring you down to the depths of your soul. Music is known to relax and to help in stress relief. In the right manner, music can bring lightness into a serious situation. Relaxing music therapy can heal, soothe and bring calm tot an agitated mind. Defining "relaxing music" seems a matter of personal choice. Some people find the serene sounds of the waterfall and chirping birds relaxing while others relax with their favorite hard rock. How Does It Work? The therapeutic effect of relaxing sounds seems to have a scientific definition of its own. When the human brain is relaxed it produces more alpha brain waves. When a person is stressed out, his brain produces more beta and theta waves. Beta and theta waves are faster changing brain waves than alpha waves. Within the fight-or-flee logic of a sudden stressful situation, the human brain processes seem to speed up to act faster. This can be helpful in short, specific moments, but it is counter productive when it becomes a chronically state of being. A relaxing tune can help with its sounds typically rich in frequencies that are similar to our alpha type brain waves. The mind is always open to suggestions and thus when a person is agitated or tensed, relaxing sounds, rich in alpha like frequencies, can actually bring brain frequencies down from theta to ...

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All about Japanese lacquer and exquisite sprinkled pictures

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 11:01 AM PST

Article by John Cohen

Before I describe these unique and beautiful works of art, exclusively Japanese, I feel that you need to know more about Lacquer, the extraordinary medium that was used. Only then will you fully appreciate these brilliant creations.

For readers who are unfamiliar with old Japanese Lacquer, I suspect you will be thinking of the typical modern Lacquer trays and bowls that are mass-produced. These items are very decorative, but completely fail to compare with the magnificent earlier hand made works.

From China to JapanLacquer is really the sap from a tree known as `Rhus Vernicifera'. The Chinese were the first to discover and use it, at least a century before Christ, when it was used as a paint, and more often as a preservative. It was a very effective preservative, as many pieces still exist from as far back as the Han period 206BC, when Lacquer was very popular and in extensive use.

The earliest known Japanese Lacquer dates back to about the 7th Century, but it was not until the 14th and 15th century that the Japanese Lacquer works became so much more decorative. By then they had refined and created exceptional techniques, far finer and more beautiful than the Chinese lacquer that they had simply originally copied.

The Chinese had used shades of black, brown, yellow, green, and mostly red or cinnabar Lacquer. They mainly favoured deep carving of the Lacquer, to form the decoration, and produced some outstanding work.

They often applied the colours in layers, so that once carved, these colours would be revealed. One particular technique is known as `Guri' Lacquer: the colours mostly red and black were built up in layers, and then a geometric or symmetrical pattern would be carved with a deep `V' shaped cut, so that all these alternating layers would be revealed within the cuts. The Chinese also painted, incised and inlaid Lacquer with iridescent pieces of shell, but these works were treasured by the Japanese often more so, than by the Chinese.

To begin with all! these m ethods were copied, but by about the 15th century the Japanese had become, justifiably, the unrivalled masters of the art!

Lacquer was, quite rightly, highly valued for its lasting qualities and strength. A very high gloss could be achieved, proving impervious to alcohol, acids and hot liquids. It would also have appealed to the Zen Buddhism ideals of `Yin and Yang', as Lacquer appears to be so delicately beautiful and light in weight. Yet, it is hard, impermeable and enduring.

The preparationIt is a very difficult medium to work with, uncompromising, sticky, and time consuming. It had to be strained to remove any impurities, and gently heated to thicken, and evaporate any moisture content. All the time it had to be kept in a dust free environment, and added to these difficulties, in its liquid form it gives off a poisonous gas! Strangely, it requires a damp humid atmosphere for it to harden.

It had to be applied in very thin layers, otherwise it runs, and if too thick, will not harden at all but will just form a skin. After each layer had hardened, all the time in a dust free area, it was carefully rubbed down before another layer would be added.

An average piece consisted of a minimum of 30 layers, in order that there would not be a trace of the wood base, or on larger pieces the hemp cloth applied in the early layers, to help strengthen the wood. The Lacquer Artist would have taken over, only at this stage, to create the decoration by the addition of yet even more layers.

The number of colours possible, due to chemical reactions with pigments and the composition of Lacquer were limited. So Lacquer artists were still restricted and blue was a very rare colour.

It was the Japanese that developed the idea and the techniques of adding gold and silver to liven up the decoration. Real gold and silver metals were used in the form of foil, flakes, metal particles of various grades, as well as powders. All of these precious metals were brilliantly used to great advantage, ! particul arly in the late 18th and early 19th century.

The sprinkling of gold or silver metal particles had been used before and over a very long period, to brighten up the interiors. Even very early Lacquer works have `Nashiji' inside. This is where fine particles of gold have simply been sprinkled in to the Lacquer. Some were scattered unevenly, producing cloud effects, whilst others varied in the density. However no pictures were formed.

Sprinkled, not painted!In the 18th century they invented and refined the idea of sprinkled pictures, and these were used to great effect in what are known as `Togadashi' pieces. They are easily identified, as the surface of the Lacquer is always perfectly smooth in Togadashi work.

These designs and amazing pictures were created purely, by very skilfully pouring various grades of fine metal and pigment powders on to the wet Lacquer, so that they would sink in. There was no way of correcting any errors! Extra layers of the background colour, normally black, would be added over the picture. Then by carefully polishing down until the picture reappears, the top edges of the metal particles would be made to glisten from the polish, providing brilliance impossible to achieve any other way. The last very thin coats would be of the purest clear Lacquer, providing the mirror like high gloss finish.

Various shades of black were created, by charcoal mixed with different quantities of silver powder, so that they could even simulate painted brush strokes. These powders were mainly used for black pictures on a gold background, that one would never imagine were created by sprinkling techniques. What is also quite remarkable, is the very fine degree of control in shading that they were able to achieve. This meant that far more sophisticated pictures could be created, than had ever been seen before.

There are three types of sprinkled picture techniques in all and Togadashi, already described, is my favourite! Another is `Hiramakie', which is where quite a thickly ! sprinkle d gold powder is used, and the lacquer is raised just a little above the background. As usual the surface is polished and burnished, before the final clear layers, and has a very rich appearance. Lastly, there is `Takamakie', which is again similar to Hiramakie, only it is in much higher relief. This thickness was achieved by building up and modelling the areas required in relief, with a combination of Lacquer and charcoal, before applying the gold powder layers.

Highlights of pure goldMany Lacquer artists made use of a combination of these techniques in a piece of work. Just to further enrich these pictures, finely shaped tiny pieces of pure gold, so small that it is hard to imagine how they were handled, are individually applied near the final surface to create highlights. Frequently these are exactly matched shapes, tiny squares or diamond pieces that are all so amazingly very accurately placed.

Togadashi BoxesOne of our favourite examples of this type of work in this collection is a fine Box that appears as two overlapping boxes. One shows the figure of the swordsmith forging the sword `Little Fox', assisted by the Fox Spirit in the guise of a woman; the other has an overall design of a mass of gold and coloured flowers.

Looking closely at the gold centres of the flowers one can see how these consist of a number of very tiny shaped flakes of gold; each flake has been carefully placed by hand.

It also has a marvellous fitted tray just in gold Togadashi of three foxes running in a landscape with a really dream like quality. The border of the tray is decorated in `Gyobu', which is where each individual flake of gold has also been positioned by hand, rather than sprinkled.

Another wonderful Box that is purely, fine Togadashi, depicts a busy street market scene, and what more can I say, other than it is an outstanding piece of work!

Neither of these boxes is signed, but they are nevertheless, of the finest quality. To see the photographs please use the link at the en! d of thi s article. These wonderful lacquer works feature on Japanese inro too (the subject of another article).

Modern worksA word of warning when buying lacquer, it is important that the condition is both good and original. As there are now some cleverly repaired pieces on the market, expert advice should always be obtained.

Fine Lacquer is made even today, and there are certain living traditional Lacquer artists who are held in very high esteem in Japan. So much so, that some have been designated as `Living National Treasures', and their contemporary hand made Lacquer work is in high demand and extremely expensive.

I have seen an example, at a Lacquer study weekend held at the V & A museum. A remarkable modern box that combined thick clear Perspex with black Lacquer in a geometric design that really was very dramatic. Personally I still prefer the earlier works and for the cost of this modern box a very good collection could be formed!

See the photographs for this article by using the following link: -http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm

http://www.jncohen.net/Japanese_lacquer/index.htm

About the Author

The author has been a very keen collector for many years creating 'The Cohen collection'.

Amongst White Clouds Part 2 of 6

American director Edward A. Burger takes us on his unforgettable journey into the hidden lives of China's forgotten Zen Buddhist hermit tradition. "Amongst White Clouds is a look at the lives of zealot students, gaunt ascetics and wise masters living in isolated hermitages dotting the peaks and valleys of China's Zhongnan Mountain range." The Zhongnan Mountains have been home to recluses since the time of the Yellow Emperor, some five thousand years ago. Many of China's most realized Buddhist masters attained enlightenment in this very range!

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Keeping and handling Japanese inro

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 10:00 AM PST

Article by John N. Cohen

Antique lacquer was always highly valued for its lasting qualities and strength. A very high gloss could be achieved, proving impervious to alcohol, acids and hot liquids. It would also have appealed to the Zen Buddhism ideals of 'Yin and Yang', as lacquer appears to be so delicately beautiful and light in weight. Yet, it is hard, impermeable and enduring.

However great care still needs to be taken when handling antique Japanese lacquer inro (especially when complete with ojime and a netsuke, or manju) as the inro can so easily be damaged by knocks. The most common cause of damage occurs when an inro is first picked up. If the netsuke, or manju, is allowed to swing and bump into the inro, the lacquer will certainly dent and worse still might chip.

The best and correct way to pick up an inro, is to firstly pick up the netsuke, or manju, then to hold and use the silk cord to turn the inro around to look at the other side when inspecting Inro, rather than to finger the lacquer, as there is something in our perspiration that dulls the shine in time. As an alternative some people only handle lacquer whilst wearing very soft gloves.

All lacquer is best kept in a reasonably humid atmosphere, avoiding any sudden changes of temperature. In some climates this is difficult to arrange, without having good airconditioning. It is also a good idea to keep a bowl, or two, of water where ever the inro are stored, but even more important to avoid the use of any hot spot lights within the same cabinet.

Antique Japanese lacquer Inro and boxes are such incredibly beautiful works of art, that I consider many of them to rate very highly, amongst the finest treasures of the World! So it is well worth while taking good care of them.

About the Author

The author has been a very keen collector for many years in helping to create 'The Cohen collection'. http://www.jncohen.net/Cohen_collection/index.htm

To see other articles, with photographs, please click on the following link: http://www.jncohen.net/antiques/articles.htm




The Best Stress Reduction Writing 2011

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 10:00 AM PST

Another year passes and it's time for another issue of The Best Stress Reduction Writing, 2011, from Shambhala Publications. This is the seventh edition of what has become an annual treat of good writing for those who do not — or cannot — subscribe to the many Stress Reduction magazines or buy the many Stress Reduction books published each year.

The editor of the series, Melvin Mcleod, who is also the editor of The Shambhala Sun, does his typically nice job, with the assistance of his fellow editors at the Sun, of selecting a representative sampling of writing from many well-known and lesser-known writers and teachers. The usual names are here, the names that sell each year's edition, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, Lin Jensen (an editor at Tricycle), Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Matthieu Ricard, and Pico Iyer, to name only a few.

Title: The Best Stress Reduction Writing 2011
Author: Edited by Melvin McLeod
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 978-1-59030-933-9
Available from: Shambhala, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.com.

Interestingly, there is nothing from Pema Chodron this year, nor is there anything from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche (leader of the Shambhala lineage) — two figures closely associated with Shambhala Sun. There also is nothing from B. Alan Wallace or Robert Thurman, two prolific authors who bring a more academic flavor to these collections.

As a reader, the absence of some of the big names makes room for newer writers — such as Susan Piver, Joanna Macy, and others — who are a pleasure to read and who bring a distinctly Western flavor to this year's edition.

Many of the pieces in this volume are about real life, about finding the lessons in the mundane and the unexpected. The first article, "Hand Wash Cold" by Karen Maezen Miller, recounts her meeting of her future husband in a restaurant in Florence, Italy. But the piece is really about dishes, a dishwasher, and how a couple learns that "marriage is a lot like a silent meditation retreat." Both marriage and the retreat can bring us "face-to-face with the most unlovable aspects" of ourselves, all the ways we are unpleasant, selfish, and want to run when things get tough.

Near the end of the volume, a piece called, "This Is Getting Old," by Susan Moon, deals with the mother-daughter relationship, when the daughter is already sixty-three years of age. Even while the elder woman introduces the author to her friends as "my Stress Reduction daughter from California," the author still is learning from her mother about being in the present, "because that's important in old age."

I am drawn to these teachings more than the traditional dharma teachings—probably because much of my practice is in being mindful in the moment, whatever moment that is. But there are some good articles in the traditional teaching model as well.

Kathleen McDonald's "Awakening the Kind Heart" is an excellent introduction to loving-kindness meditations, from a nun in the Tibetan Stress Reduction tradition. Likewise, "Taming the Mind," by Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, offers a clear, short teaching on how we might tame the mind, but for this reader it feels like a view from 30,000 feet, not as down in the muck of everyday life as the first two articles I mentioned.

Another example may be Thich Nhat Hanh's "The Child Within," which is an excellent article (especially for a new psychotherapist such as myself), because it presents a Stress Reduction slant on a topic that is central to a lot of trauma work: that we have wounded child parts who need love and attention. Still, as important as this article is, the feeling one gets is that it is more removed from everyday living, more abstract.

On the other hand, the article that precedes it, Susan Piver's "The Wisdom of a Broken Heart," starts with the immediacy of loss, triggered by a basket of jalapeño cheddar-cheese cornbread. The ex-boyfriend loved that food, and the author is immediately plunged back into the grief that follows a break-up, crying in a bathroom stall and trying not to be heard, which only "leads to a bulbous nose and Mount Rushmore-sized headache." She learns not to fight the loss, but to befriend it (much as Pema Chodron might teach). More importantly, however, she speaks directly to the reader about the embodied experience of loss, how it feels in the right-now.

Reading the volume, there is a sense that Western Buddhism, whatever that may or may not be, is developing a different set of teachings than the traditional Eastern teachers, and even different from those first pioneers who brought Stress Reduction teachings to West in the 1950s and 1960s.

The current generation of authors who are writing about Buddhism do so from the lived experience of daily life, raising a family, navigating relationships, earning a living, and so on. Theirs is not a Buddhism acquired in monastic life, in pilgrimage to study with Tibetan lamas, or from some other context removed from what was once known as being a householder. This emerging Western Buddhism feels like an embodied Buddhism, a way to live the teachings in the context of a postmodern technological society.

Related posts:

  1. "The Best Stress Reduction Writing 2010," edited by Melvin McCloud
  2. "The Writing Warrior: Discovering the Courage to Free Your True Voice," by Laraine Herring
  3. The Buddha Is Still Teaching: Contemporary Stress Reduction Wisdom Selected and Edited by Jack Kornfield

Read More @ Source

Looking Forward To 2012

Ajahn Brahm talks about uncertainty and the coming new year. This is Dhammaloka's inaugural live-streamed broadcast.

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Buddhist Monastries

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST

Article by Shreejana

Buddhist monasteries are the centre of both religious practice and education study for the large number of Tibetans living in Nepal. It is believed that Tibetan monks and nunnery students are amongst the few who receive a balanced education of both the traditional and modern education. Basically being a monastic center, the monks learn traditional monastic debate, logic, text-memorization and classical Tibetan Calligraphy as a priority in its curriculum. The monks are also taught modern reading and writing including Tibetan and Nepali, and English, which is of growing importance in the wider world.

Education for Tibetan children is a high priority and the biggest challenge for them.Many students come from such remote regions and extreme poverty, however, that they have no access to education of any kind back home. Their parents often can't afford to send their children to school even if a school exists in their village. The monasteries provide an opportunity to preserve and impart the precious Tibetan Heritage of quality and sacred monastic education of Buddha along with modern education.

The monk and nunnery students at the monasteries are given the facilities of boarding, food, stationery, medicine, and opportunities to grow and other important needs apart from the education itself, free of cost. The students receive no financial contributions or subsidy from the Nepalese government; the education costs are met by voluntary donations

As a volunteer at a Buddhist monastery, you will provide basic conversational English instruction to monks and nunnery students. Volunteers will be responsible for planning their own creative English lessons and activities, such as games, drawing and painting, and observe and participate in traditional Buddhist rituals. Working in partnership with Nepali teachers enables you to introduce new practical teaching methods to the classroom that can be carried on after your placement. Volunteers also have a chance to participate in some monastery run pr! ograms a nd meditation during free time. This program combines religious learning and research through volunteering. This 'Teach English Volunteer Program' will help Tibetan children to explore more scriptures written in English and to circulate Buddhist teaching practice to the whole world.

Eligibility and Skills Required

Teaching English at Buddhist Monasteries in Nepal

* You do not need any formal teacher training or experience to participate, but whatever experience you do have will be taken into account when arranging your day-to-day activities. * A good command of oral and written English * Volunteers need to be independent, enthusiastic and adaptable, hard-working with an open-minded attitude. * International volunteers are welcome.

Interested to Volunteer in Nepal?Contact us info@volunteeraidnepal.org

About the Author

http://volunteeraidnepal.org/




The Best Buddhist Writing 2011

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST

Another year passes and it's time for another issue of The Best Buddhist Writing, 2011, from Shambhala Publications. This is the seventh edition of what has become an annual treat of good writing for those who do not — or cannot — subscribe to the many Buddhist magazines or buy the many Buddhist books published each year.

The editor of the series, Melvin Mcleod, who is also the editor of The Shambhala Sun, does his typically nice job, with the assistance of his fellow editors at the Sun, of selecting a representative sampling of writing from many well-known and lesser-known writers and teachers. The usual names are here, the names that sell each year's edition, such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, Lin Jensen (an editor at Tricycle), Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Matthieu Ricard, and Pico Iyer, to name only a few.

Title: The Best Buddhist Writing 2011
Author: Edited by Melvin McLeod
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 978-1-59030-933-9
Available from: Shambhala, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.com.

Interestingly, there is nothing from Pema Chodron this year, nor is there anything from Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche (leader of the Shambhala lineage) — two figures closely associated with Shambhala Sun. There also is nothing from B. Alan Wallace or Robert Thurman, two prolific authors who bring a more academic flavor to these collections.

As a reader, the absence of some of the big names makes room for newer writers — such as Susan Piver, Joanna Macy, and others — who are a pleasure to read and who bring a distinctly Western flavor to this year's edition.

Many of the pieces in this volume are about real life, about finding the lessons in the mundane and the unexpected. The first article, "Hand Wash Cold" by Karen Maezen Miller, recounts her meeting of her future husband in a restaurant in Florence, Italy. But the piece is really about dishes, a dishwasher, and how a couple learns that "marriage is a lot like a silent meditation retreat." Both marriage and the retreat can bring us "face-to-face with the most unlovable aspects" of ourselves, all the ways we are unpleasant, selfish, and want to run when things get tough.

Near the end of the volume, a piece called, "This Is Getting Old," by Susan Moon, deals with the mother-daughter relationship, when the daughter is already sixty-three years of age. Even while the elder woman introduces the author to her friends as "my Buddhist daughter from California," the author still is learning from her mother about being in the present, "because that's important in old age."

I am drawn to these teachings more than the traditional dharma teachings—probably because much of my practice is in being mindful in the moment, whatever moment that is. But there are some good articles in the traditional teaching model as well.

Kathleen McDonald's "Awakening the Kind Heart" is an excellent introduction to loving-kindness meditations, from a nun in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Likewise, "Taming the Mind," by Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche, offers a clear, short teaching on how we might tame the mind, but for this reader it feels like a view from 30,000 feet, not as down in the muck of everyday life as the first two articles I mentioned.

Another example may be Thich Nhat Hanh's "The Child Within," which is an excellent article (especially for a new psychotherapist such as myself), because it presents a Buddhist slant on a topic that is central to a lot of trauma work: that we have wounded child parts who need love and attention. Still, as important as this article is, the feeling one gets is that it is more removed from everyday living, more abstract.

On the other hand, the article that precedes it, Susan Piver's "The Wisdom of a Broken Heart," starts with the immediacy of loss, triggered by a basket of jalapeño cheddar-cheese cornbread. The ex-boyfriend loved that food, and the author is immediately plunged back into the grief that follows a break-up, crying in a bathroom stall and trying not to be heard, which only "leads to a bulbous nose and Mount Rushmore-sized headache." She learns not to fight the loss, but to befriend it (much as Pema Chodron might teach). More importantly, however, she speaks directly to the reader about the embodied experience of loss, how it feels in the right-now.

Reading the volume, there is a sense that Western Buddhism, whatever that may or may not be, is developing a different set of teachings than the traditional Eastern teachers, and even different from those first pioneers who brought Buddhist teachings to West in the 1950s and 1960s.

The current generation of authors who are writing about Buddhism do so from the lived experience of daily life, raising a family, navigating relationships, earning a living, and so on. Theirs is not a Buddhism acquired in monastic life, in pilgrimage to study with Tibetan lamas, or from some other context removed from what was once known as being a householder. This emerging Western Buddhism feels like an embodied Buddhism, a way to live the teachings in the context of a postmodern technological society.

Related posts:

  1. "The Best Buddhist Writing 2010," edited by Melvin McCloud
  2. "The Writing Warrior: Discovering the Courage to Free Your True Voice," by Laraine Herring
  3. Living with Mindfulness Retreat, Feb 25-27, 2011

Read More @ Source




Buddhist Hindu Religious Rites and Wedding Rules

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 08:03 AM PST

Article by Dressesa




Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 1/2/2011

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 08:01 AM PST


"Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to."

~Lao Tzu
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Technorati Tags: Buddha Buddhist Buddhism Meditation Dharma
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Does Stress Trigger Migraines?

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 07:00 AM PST

Article by Scott Geer

People often get migraines or headaches when they are under a lot of stress. Is this reason enough to classify stress as a migraine trigger?

Stress is Not a Migraine Trigger

The general consensus is that stress is not a migraine trigger. Stress in itself is hard enough to quantify, so to label it as the trigger or even the cause of a migraine can be very dangerous.

But why do I get migraines when I'm stressed?

People will often experience the migraines more when they are stressed because the state can make them more susceptible to illness and other conditions.

Furthermore, when we are stressed we often change our environment or behaviour to cope with the stress. For example, someone who is stressed about their work may work for longer at their computer without taking the regular breaks they normally do. Or they may skip a meal to try to meet a deadline.

It is these changes during times of stress that are often the real triggers for the migraines.

Common migraine triggers during stressful times include:

Hunger - skipping meals.Eye strain - remember to take regular breaks.Dehydration - water can go a long way to help avoid migraines.Posture - very important especially when working long periods.

Stress Can Result in Misdiagnosis

Stress will often mask the real trigger for a migraine. If one accepts it as a migraine trigger, further diagnosis may not occur to reveal the true trigger of the migraine.

Why is Stress Reduction Recommended for Migraine Sufferers?

Stress reduction is a good thing regardless of whether or not a person suffers from migraines. During times of low stress however, migraine sufferers are more inclined to keep track and control of their known migraine triggers, thus reducing the frequency of their migraines.

About the Author

For more about Migraine Headaches visit NoMigraines.org.

Disclaimer: This article represents personal experience and is for entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a medical professional.




Don’t beat yourself up

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 06:03 AM PST

Most people know their less than wonderful qualities, such as too much ambition (or too little), a weakness for wine or cookies, something of a temper, or an annoying tendency to rattle on about pet interests. We usually know when we make mistakes, get the facts wrong, could be more skillful, or deserve to feel remorseful.

Some people err on the side of denying or defending these faults ( a word I use broadly here). But most people go to the other extreme, repeatedly criticizing themselves in the foreground of awareness, or having a background sense of guilt, unworthiness, and low confidence.

It's one thing to call yourself to task for a fault, try to understand what caused it, resolve to correct it, act accordingly, and move on. This is psychologically healthy and morally accountable. It's another matter entirely to grind on yourself, to lambaste your own character, to fasten on the negative and ignore the good in you, to find yourself wanting – in other words, to beat up yourself. This excessive inner criticism tears you down instead of building your strengths; it's stressful and thus wears on your mood, health, and longevity.

Nor does beating up yourself help others. Most of the time, they don't even know you're doing it, and if they do, they usually wish you'd stop it. Harsh self-criticism can also be a way to avoid feeling genuine remorse, taking responsibility, making amends for the past, and doing the hard work of preventing the fault in the future.

Further, the charges and scorn we throw at ourselves are often based on nasty scoldings, shamings, rejections, and humiliations experienced as a child: bad enough that they did this to you back then, and even worse that you're doing it to yourself today.

How?

Pick a small fault – such as being a few minutes late, interrupting, or having too much dessert – and then try on two approaches about it. First, talk to yourself about it like a supportive but no-nonsense friend, coach, teacher, or therapist. Notice what this feels like, and what the results are for you. Let's call this the encouraging approach. Second, talk to yourself about it like an alarmed and intense critic – maybe like your dad, big sister, or a minister or teacher talked to you. What's this approach feel like, and what are its results?

Let the differences between approaches sink in. How do you feel inside when you're "listening" to each one? What's your sense of the influences in your life that have created each approach? What are the distortions or fixations on the negative in the critical approach?

Let a real conviction form as to which approach is better for you – and a real resolve to truly use the one that's best for you.

Then, when you find a fault in yourself – no need to go looking, they appear on their own! – really try to use the encouraging approach. Name the fault to yourself and admit the facts of it unreservedly. Open to any appropriate remorse. Commit to skillful corrections for the future.

And then take a big breath and very deliberately name to yourself three strengths or virtues you have. Let the sense of them, and of your natural goodness, sink in.

And then take another big breath and move on.

Related posts:

  1. Admit fault and move on
  2. How meditation helps beat stress

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NATO in Afghanistan - Afghanistan's mineral wealth

Recent studies suggest Afghanistan may be home to massive rare earth deposits, worth over trillion. The precious mineral resources have the potential to completely transform the nation's economy. But security concerns and the historic heritage's preservation pose many challenges to the Afghan government.

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Buddhist Monastries in Nepal

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 06:01 AM PST

Buddhist
by Stuz?

Article by Shreejana




Buddhist Monastries in Nepal

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST

Buddhist
by fanz

Article by Shreejana

Buddhist Chants - Mantra of Avalokiteshvara

Tibetan Incantations - Mantra of Avalokiteshvara - Song Huei Liou/Ya Ging Ging/Huang Tung Sun/Sheng Yan

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We are fundamentally psychical beings

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST

Humans are fundamentally psychical beings which is to further say they are intrinsically minds (citta) without any shape.  What human perceive as the physical world, including their physical bodies, is done from a perspective which is dimensionless and space-like of which they have no direct knowledge.

Most people believe that the perceived object dominated world is anything but psychically derived and grounded.  Collectively, they choose to ignore the psychical even though that which chooses to ignore it is, itself, psychical and can't be ignored!  

When Kipling wrote, "East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet" he had no idea that this stanza pointed to a much deeper problem with human beings which has nothing to do with East v. West.  They have deceived themselves into believing physical reality is the only reality, while the psychical is, for the most part, false since it lacks shape (rupa) and locality.  This stance couldn't be further from the truth. 

Now enters Buddhism.  The Buddha essentially teaches that the object world we perceive is composition of the psychical (citta); it is not really absolute or final as we believe it is.  More importantly, the Meditation adept, by following the Meditation path, can directly behold this psychical substance or tathata which is space-like lacking dimensionality, etc.  This awakening puts an end, once and for all, to the belief that the physical world is something other than a fiction (mâyâ).

 

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Tibetan Buddhism: Secrets of the Yogis of Tibet - Part 4

The Yogis of Tibet

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Yoga Holidays - Its yoga Thailand

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 04:00 AM PST

Article by hollen

Yoga retreats the human body and helps the individual come out of their daily stress and tensions. It improves their working lives and normal living conditions and working lives. Yoga helps an individual to spend quality time with their body. It helps to reconnect with their mind, body as well as spirit. Health is wealth; with that said if health is lost everything is lost. Women should take care of their health from childhood as that is the time when immune system is developed. During childhood the entire body remains moldable; so women can give it a shape as her wish. Hence, basic healthcare should be started from childhood and often it's the responsibility of parents to impart the sense of healthcare within the kids especially the girl child. Thus, woman needs extra care and attention. Thus, they should be given extra nutritious and healthy dietary constituents. Sound health is the key to happy life for women. A state of being free from any form of physical and mental disease can be referred as good health. Health is treasure and everybody should be attentive towards keeping healthy. Thus, it is very important for every woman to maintain their health and fitness. We all know that health is wealth. A good health has many advantages associated with it. From the childhood we all are taught about the numerous benefits about health. Woman should understand that whatever they achieve in life but if they do not have good health, all achievements will go in vain. Thus, it is very important to maintain health and fitness.In this fast moving world Woman do not have to time to take care of their health. They skip their meals and they eat junk food which leads to an unhealthy life. Healthy body gives a healthy mind. Woman who are unhealthy are more prone to diseases and other such things. Their self esteem goes down and this affects their work. If a woman will remain fit than she will be able to work more and more efficiently. For good health Woman can try the things like meditation, gym, health centers ! and othe r such. Proper diet should be the main focus of the Woman for a good health. There are numerous benefits of yoga and meditation. Few minutes in a day, meditation can keep you healthy and strong. Meditation can improve your physical health along with mental health. But Woman has to do meditation on regular basis. Meditation on daily basis will help your mind to get quiet and calm. Calm mind can do wonders whether it is your work place or whether you are at home. This will help her to take good care of her health as well as her family. Thus, a yoga holidayYoga holiday encourages spending time for relaxation. One can learn the art of meditation on a yoga holiday. Thus, the Asana's of yoga help to gain their effect over time. Thus, one can try various positions and techniques during a yoga holiday.

More information about the yoga teacher training and Yoga holidays in Thailand can be found to their website:www.itsyoga-thailand.com/

About the Author

More information about the yoga teacher training and Yoga holidays in Thailand can be found to their website:www.itsyoga-thailand.com




Norristown Area teacher recalls long road to recovery

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 04:00 AM PST

LIMERICK — In the drama that defined Kristi Morrisroe Hertzog's life at the beginning of the year, it's 2011's closing chapter with the happiest of endings that most people will probably remember — including Kristi and her husband Dave.

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Alan Watts -- Let it go

advice from Alan Watts www.youtube.com original video^

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Watch Criminal Minds - Season 6 Episode 24 - Supply & Demand s06e24 Online

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 03:00 AM PST

Article by Paula

CRIMINAL MINDS Season 6 Episode 24 Supply & Demand Photos: "Supply & Demand" - The physiques of two missing persons can be found in the car trunk, along with the BAU suspects the interstate human trafficking ring reaches work. Also, Hotch alerts they of possible changes, and they are surprised each time a beloved team member returns, concerning the sixth season finale of CRIMINAL , Wednesday, May 18 (9: 00-10: 00 PM, ET/PT) regarding the CBS Television Network. A. J. Prepare returns as Jennifer "Qq" Jareau. Nicholas Brendon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") returns as Garcia's boyfriend, Kevin Lynch. Amy Cost-Francis ("24") guest stars as SSA Andi Swan, mind inside the Domestic Trafficking Task Pressure, who assists the BAU regarding the situation.

Watch a sneak look and check for photos within the season finale episode ofCRIMINAL MINDS "Supply & Demand" Season 6 Episode 24 which airs on Wednesday May 18 at 9: 00-10: 00 PM, ET/PT regarding the CBS Television Network. Read our coverage of Criminal here.

Episode Synopsis: CRIMINAL MINDS "Supply & Demand" Season 6 Episode 24 - Because the BAU searches for a suspected human trafficking ring once the physiques of two missing persons are situated inside the trunk in the vehicle, Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner intimates there can be changes within the team due to budget cuts as Jennifer "JJ" Jareau returns for the FBI. They might be also assisted by SSA Andi Swan, your mind within the Domestic Trafficking Task Pressure.

CRIMINAL MINDS Season 6 Episode 24 Supply & Demand: "Supply & Demand" - The physiques regarding several missing individuals are situated inside the vehicle trunk, with the BAU suspects the interstate individual traffic band reaches function. Also, Hotch alerts the c's of achievable modifications, and they're shocked every time a beloved group connect returns, around the sixth season ending regarding, Wednesday, May 18 (9: 00-10: 00 Pm, ET/PT) regarding the CBS Television Network. A. J. Prepare returns as J! ennifer "Jj" Jareau. Nicholas Brendon ("Buffy the specific Vampire Slayer") earnings as Garcia's boyfriend, Kevin Kill. Amy Cost-Francis ("24? ) customer celebs since Ssa Andi Swan, mind while using the Domestic Trafficking Task pressure, who assists the particular BAU involved.

Go here to check out Criminal Minds Season 6 Episode 24 Season Finale Online

Criminal Minds Season 6 is probably the actual Behavior Evaluation Unit comprises a high-notch group associated with Fbi profilers that examine the particular nation's many sprained criminal minds and assume their unique Subsequent actions before they may hit once again. Criminal Minds stars Thomas C. D. Gibson as Unit Chief Aaron Hotchner Joe Mantegna because Senior Supervisory Special agent David Rossi Mister James Paget Brewster because Supervisory Agent Emily Prentiss Shemar Moore because Supervisory Agent Derek Morgan Matthew Gray Gubler since Supervisory Agent Physician. Spencer Reid AJ Prepare because Supervisory Special agent additionally to Press Liaison Jennifer "JJ" Jareau and Kirsten Vangsness since Analyst Mythical being Garcia.

Because the BAU searches for The concept individual traffic band when the physiques regarding two missing persons sit within the shoe in the vehicle, Unit Primary Aaron Hotchner shuts there might be changes within the group due to trading budget cuts since Jennifer "JJ" Jareau earnings for the Fbi. They may be also aided by Social Security Administration Andi Swan, the very best while using the Household Trafficking Military unit.

Another fascinating episode upon Criminal Minds Season 6. Supply & Demand might be the title regarding episode 24 airing within the day or two. Discover how this Criminal Minds episode (s06e24) pans available whenever Supply & Demand affectedness upon Might 17, 2011. Be careful for a lot more Criminal Season 6 campaigners such as the examine movie of Criminal Minds Season 6 Episode 24 Supply & Demand being published the following soon.

Criminal Minds can be! a legal episode which exposed up upon Cbs television art galleries about September 22, 2005. It appears sensible the particular escapades within the Fbi profiling group from your FBI's Behavior Analysis Unit (BAU) from Quantico, Virginia, that celebs Thomas C. D. Gibson as Aaron Hotchner. Criminal Minds is different from Numerous criminal system procedural dramas by focusing in regards to the particular criminal instead of the offense itself.

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Mindfulness Intervention in Chronic Illness (Part 2/5)

Mindfulness Intervention in Chronic Illness was presented by Steven D. Hickman at the Marion Brodie Symposium held in La Jolla, CA on September 13th, 2007. Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral research clinician, Steven D. Hickman, Psy.D., has been a faculty member at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, CA since 2002. Dr. Hickman's specialty is teaching courses in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction which focuses on the practice of present-moment awareness as a way of coping, healing and living with the challenges of chronic pain, life-threatening illness, anxiety, and depression. For more information about the Parkinson's Disease Association of San Diego visit www.PDASD.org, call (858) 273-6763 or e-mail Info@PDASD.org.

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Bonsai Tree Gardening - Basic Tips for Growing a Beautiful Bonsai

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 02:00 AM PST

Zen Buddhism
by araki

Article by Katya Coen

The art of training the bonsai tree has been enjoyed for ages, and can make for quite the enjoyable and rewarding hobby. In fact, early forms of this practice actually began over a thousand years ago, when the Chinese started growing potted trees of a single specimen, this practice was known as "pun-sai." The Chinese admired the gnarled and twisted trunks and branches for their fantastic appearances, sometimes resembling dragons and animals, while the Japanese approach was more for the appreciation of the simplicity and harmony in the natural beauty of the tree itself, and how that fit in with Zen Buddhism. The Japanese adopted the art form around the year 1195, and while Buddhist monks mainly practiced it at first, it soon became an activity that people all over Japan would enjoy. From its early stages as tree planting, over the years it has developed into the act of training a tree through meticulous pruning and care.

Today, bonsai is the act of training a miniature tree to look similar to its larger counterparts. Bonsai trees are actually not miniature trees by nature, but stay that way through constant trimming and binding.

Choosing Your Bonsai

Bonsai trees are typically sold in one of two ways: as carefully trained plants or as starter plants. Carefully trained ones are often found in good garden/landscape centers and have had lots of work and already have many branch formations. Because of this, they can be quite expensive. The other option you have is buying starter bonsai trees - those plants that are commonly seen around shopping malls, for this reason these tree are also referred to as "mallsai." You can train a starter plant, but it will take a lot more work and time to get it to be as lovely as professionally trained bonsai are.

Watering Your Tree

Since bonsai trees are typically grown in pots, like many potted plants, they need to be watered often. This is for the simple fact that water can quickly drain from pots leaving the plants dry. I! n summer , you'll want to water just about every day, making sure that your bonsai is moist to the touch at all times - but do not over-water or else the roots will rot. This may be the beginner bonsai enthusiast's greatest problem - watering the tree too much. In winter, it is advisable to water your bonsai about once every three days.

Fertilizing Bonsai Trees

Feeding your bonsai with the right fertilizer at the right time of year is imperative for keeping it in good health. The best types of fertilizers for bonsai are the pellets that slowly release nutrients into the soil, with these, you can make sure that it's not all washed away when you water your tree. Soluble powder and liquid fertilizers will work, too, though. The best time to fertilize your bonsai is from early spring to late summer. Look for a fertilizer that has a low nitrogen content to feed to your tree year-round. And in autumn, look for a fertilizer with very little to no nitrogen.

If you keep these tips in mind and give your tree lots of proper care, you're likely to end up with a beautiful bonsai that you can enjoy for years to come.

About the Author

Katya Coen provides information on garden supplies and garden tools for GardenSupplyGuide.net - your guide to growing beautiful gardens in your own backyard.

Zen Master Pohwa: What is God's Body

Zen Master Pohwa gives a dharma talk about God's body.

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Mind over Matter

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 01:00 AM PST

Article by Shakti Holistic




Stop Workplace Stress in Its Tracks - The Top Five Tactics to Restore Peace in Your Workday

Posted: 02 Jan 2012 12:00 AM PST

Article by Julie A. Fleming

Does this sound like you? Running all day, trying to handle conflicting requests from multiple clients, colleagues, and/or supervisors, managing staff, facing deadlines, and hoping to maintain your personal life, perhaps wanting to address family needs as well. Offices are breeding grounds for stress. And we've all had days that start off wrong and only get worse, to the point that you begin to feel that you're living the adult's version of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

You may feel stress, but you don't have to marinate in it. Try these stress-busting techniques instead.

1. Breathe. Stress is a by-product of the "fight or flight" response, which is a biologically-driven response to a perceived danger signal. The "fight or flight" response causes the body to make certain physiological adjustments, including tightening muscles and increasing the rate of heartbeat and breathing, so that our bodies are ready to fight off the danger or to run away from it. The stress we feel is a consequence of this response, which is well designed to help us survive if we spot a tiger but not so well designed to help us cope with a pressing deadline - there's nothing in a deadline to fight against or to run from. Engaging in deep breathing can interrupt the "fight or flight" response by relaxing the body and releasing stress so we can do the necessary tasks to face the more "civilized" threats that we tend to face today. The quickest way to release tension is to take deep breaths that fully inflate your lungs and provide your body with sufficient oxygen, alternating with slow exhalations. Try breathing in and out to a count of 7.

2. Move. It's important to get up and walk around when you're feeling stressed. There are two reasons for this: first, it allows you an opportunity to release some of the tension in your muscles, and second, moving allows you to shift your perspective in a tangible way. Make sure you get up and walk around at least every other h! our.

3. Relaxation exercise. Find an audio guided visualization or develop a meditation practice. It only takes 5 or 10 minutes to feel relaxed once you've become accustomed to the relaxation process. You can close your office door, pop in a CD or turn on your iPod, sit comfortably in your chair, and relax.

4. Anger release plus frame shift. This is my favorite way to move through stress based on anger and frustration. Go somewhere private (a parked car is a good place) and allow yourself two minutes to rant out loud about whatever is making you angry. The idea here is to release the anger in a safe place, somewhere that won't create negative repercussions. Do not do this in your office! Having ranted for two minutes, shift your attention to gratitude. Take two minutes to identify, out loud, those things for which you're grateful, no matter how small or how repetitive they may be. This exercise will release your frustration and refocus your mind on what's good in your life.

5. Laugh. Yes, it's hard to do when you're in the moment of stress. But make time to watch a funny movie, read a funny book, or listen to a comedy performance that makes you laugh. You might even want to keep a list of things that make you laugh (such as a TV series, a great website, a friend who always makes you laugh, etc.) so you don't have to think it through when you need to laugh. You might even try to take a humorous look at what's causing you stress and see whether you can reframe the situation in a way that allows you to find the comedy. Getting a guffaw going can take as little as 5 or 10 minutes, and you'll feel like a new person.

It's difficult, if not impossible, to avoid stress entirely. These tactics will allow you to perform emergency stress reduction, but you must also be aware when you're beginning to feel stressed. Do a self-check periodically (hourly, when you get up and move, or some other interval that works for you) so you can notice stress build-up so you can take these stre! ss reduc tion steps before the stress level becomes unmanageable.

To learn more, to subscribe to Julie's monthly email newsletter The DLR Report, or to request a complimentary consultation with Julie, please visit http://www.DynamicLeadershipResults.com/ or call her at 800.758.6214.

About the Author

Julie A. Fleming, J.D., A.C.C. provides business and executive coaching with an emphasis on business development, leadership development, time mastery and organization, and work/life integration. Julie holds a coaching certificate from the Georgetown Leadership Coaching program and holds the Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coach Federation.




Reaching Success With Spiritual Empowerment

Posted: 01 Jan 2012 11:00 PM PST

Article by Patric Chan

Copyright (c) 2011 Patric Chan

One of the greatest success secrets is spiritual empowerment. Spiritual empowerment is a state in which your mind and body is calmed and relaxed and you have inner peace. When it comes to this, it doesn't imply that you need to be religious in order to attain spiritual empowerment.

This could also indicate that you are able to accomplish this on your own and with the assistance of other folks that surround you. Also, you need to be consciously aware that positive things may occur in your life when you have embraced it with "arms wide open".

The first thing you need to do is to train yourself by reading personal development books or courses. Stick to the what you have learned and implement it positively. Attempt to make things easier by thinking happy thoughts and eliminate all your negative thoughts. By doing this, you shall not be burdened and you can takes things easily because your mind is calm and at peace.

Obstacles will surely come in your way, nonetheless, you have to be strong and manage things in a really calm manner. You don't need to be in a rush since things can get messed up as soon as you rush through things without having a definite mind and a positive plan.

Also, you need to know you capabilities and your limitations too. This is very important so that you can discover your role in this world.

Meditate using natural solutions like Yoga, Reiki and Tai Chi. These techniques will relax your body and mind. Moreover, you must be firm and strong in conquering the negative aspects in your life.

Well, you also need to share what you have learned. This is a simple humility to others where you can also benefit from as you will grow more by keeping connected with other people that surround you.

It is also a very important thing to acknowledge your previous mistakes. This can help you grow and move on. Simply take these mistakes as a challenge to empower your mind and spirit. With absolutely no doubts, you can a! chieve s uccess with these challenges.

As you go through the process of spiritual empowerment, you have to focus and persevere through the pressure surrounding you. There will be certain mistakes that will be made however, you have to persevere and move on to the right path.

You will certainly reach your goals by trying your best. Do not forget that it is not easy at first. However, with proper determination and self guidance it could be easy for you to reach it.

Regardless of your place in society, you have to share your knowledge about spiritual enlightenment. You don't need to be selfish, my friend. Life could be easier once you know that you have helped others in empowering them spiritually. This is when you can say that you are satisfied because you have helped yourself and other people around you.

About the Author

Patric Chan is the founder of successandlife.com, a Web 2.0 self improvement website where everyone can add their own articles and content on it for free. He is also giving away 2 of his best Success Secrets Videos at SuccessTrace.com.

Animals and Consciousness

The information in this video was channeled from Ra, spokesperson for the Pleiadian Emissaries of Light. I am not the channeler. Ra is a being who is part of a collective group called the Pleiadian Archangelic Tribes of Light. These archangels serve as wards of Earth and our solar system. There are four of these Archangelic Tribes that are delineated by the color they emanate: the golden yellow, the scarlet red, the clear sky blue, and the gentle emerald green. There are many beings of each color, and all beings of the same color share the same name. All of the golden yellow Pleiadian Archangelic Tribe members are called Ra and are the keepers of divine wisdom, which is the product of all experience. The other beings are called Ptah, Ma-at and An-Ra. These names are familiar because they were frequently used in ancient Egypt, especially for royalty. The Egyptians were more advanced spiritually in ancient times than they are currently. The Pleiadians, including the Archangelic Tribes, were commonly in communication with the ancient Egyptians who were able to respond to them during their height of spiritual advancement. Usually every 5200 years or 26000 years, the Pleiadian Emissaries of Light make themselves known to awaken us to where we are in our evolution and to what is needed in order to take the next steps. Their common purposes are the overall evolution of the planet and the human race and to store enough higher knowledge here on Earth for the Great Awakening.

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How to Deal with Stress - Effective Tips

Posted: 01 Jan 2012 10:00 PM PST

Article by Nick Mutt




Is There A Cancer Personality?

Posted: 01 Jan 2012 09:00 PM PST

Article by Dr Laurence Magne

From the desk of Dr Magne, author of Cancer Free For Life

Over 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates noticed a potential connection between personality traits and health conditions. Since he is considered by many to be the father of modern medicine, is it possible that he was onto something?

Current research is indicating that he was. Traditional Chinese medicine has known this for quite awhile, generally looking to the personality of a patient for diagnosis purposes.

A variety of illnesses, ranging from chronic fatigue, arthritis, diabetes, asthma and various auto-immune disorders have been shown to be a link between personality traits and health. The main reason for this appears to be the fact that our personality traits tend to determine what causes us stress and how we handle that stress.

Stress has an incredibly negative impact on the immune system, dragging it down and making it function poorly.

Our personality traits and health often times seem out of our control in this day and age. Far too many people fall back on the common excuse that it is "just how I've always been," when discussing either half of the equation.

As an example, we've all been around people who seem to be able to take the stresses and negative conditions of life in stride, without allowing anything to really bother them. At first glance, this personality trait would probably lead to good health, right?

If a person is truly unbothered by things then, yes, their personality traits and health are working together to create a positive outcome. If, however, they are actually bothered by things but suppress them, then that is likely to have a negative impact on their health. Suppression of emotion, which creates internal stress, has been shown to negatively affect the immune system.

Because of the intimate connection between your personality traits and health, try implementing the following three suggestions:

Take charge of your life. Feeling out of control is one of the most ne! gative p ersonality traits and health damaging points of view. Understand that you are constantly making choices in your life and that, in reality, everything that occurs in your life is a result of a choice you made.

Focus on the task at hand, without wasting energy by letting your thoughts wander. This is actually one of the central concepts of Zen Buddhism, frequently summed in the following way: When hungry, eat; when tired, sleep. People frequently hear this and think that everyone does that when, in reality, too many people have a thousand thoughts running through their head at every moment. In the book Cancer Free For Life, there are many examples and ways to reduce stress in your life and techniques to understand cancer in order to eliminate it.

Eliminate worry from your thinking. When you boil down every situation in life, you find only two different types...the situations you have control over and the situations you don't have control over. If you don't any control, there is no point in worrying. If you do have control, don't worry about it, just plan on making sure the best outcome is realized. Eliminating worry from your life is one of the most positive personality traits and healthiest thing you can do. Visit http://www.alternative-health-ebooks.com today for a wealth of FREE articles on cancer and natural ways to reverse it.

About the Author

Dr Laurence MagnePublisher, AuthorCancer Free For LifeEmail : lmagne@yahoo.comWebsite : http://cancer-free-for-life.com

American Buddhist CitiZens

This is a Nightly News Clip on Buddhism in the "heartland" of America.

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Reduce Your Level of Stress

Posted: 01 Jan 2012 08:00 PM PST

Stress Reduction
by OmarC

Article by Robert Vitelli

Decreasing your level of stress can be achieved by determining the root cause of your stress. Symptoms that are associated with stress are loss of work, unsettled relationship, underpaid dues, and a lot more. A deeper understanding of what really generates your stress will give you an idea on how to overcome it. Treating the symptoms will not generally put you into recuperation because these symptoms may come back. But if you cure the main problem, then recuperation of mind, body, and life can be achieved. Stress reduction can be accomplished by seeking a program that will help you reduce the stress level you are experiencing.Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. Of course this is not as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress are not always obvious, and it is all too easy to overlook your own stress inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors but maybe it is your procrastination rather than actual job demands that leads to deadline stress. To identify your true sources of stress, look closely at your habits, attitudes, and excuses. You explain away stress as temporary even though you cannot remember the last time you took a breather. You define stress as an integral part of your work or home life or as part of your personality. You blame your stress on other people or outside events, or view it as entirely normal and unexceptional. Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control. Think about the ways for stress reduction and how to manage and eliminate it. Find a program that will get rid of all the troubles the stress is giving you. Remember that you are in control of your mind so take control of the situation.

About the Author

Robert Vitelli, author of this article is also interested in stress reduction and recommends you to please check out whole body harmonics if you liked reading this information.




How yoga affects the mind?

Posted: 01 Jan 2012 07:00 PM PST

Article by Denis

Philosophy of Buddha yoga awakens the spiritual mind of man and develops a three-dimensional spiritual vision, which gives the ability to understand the laws of the material and spiritual world. In my articles, books, video and audio lectures you will be able to closely acquainted with the philosophy of Buddha-yoga for the development of spiritual intelligence.

Mind - the ability to recognize the deep spiritual truths that lie beyond the senses. With the help of our body can touch solid objects, but with the help of the mind can enjoy the taste of candy, but still, these possibilities were not even close to the capabilities of the mind. The mind can penetrate into the sphere of spiritual knowledge and gives a person's ability to acquire volumetric spiritual vision. "But what is it - the volume's spiritual vision and why is it we want?" - You ask. Explain.

There are two types of intelligence - both materially and spiritually. With the help of the material mind can solve math problems, schedule your time and your life, do business, to comply with all deliberate actions. But with the help of the spiritual mind can be aware of spiritual truth, to know the Absolute and God. "Well, tell me - ask you - how you can realize, for example, the Absolute with the help of reason?" You may have your answer, but I use the philosophy of yoga, which gives an answer that awareness of the spiritual first occurs at the level mind. Neither intelligence nor hands, nor the stomach and the brain and mind can only grasp the deep spiritual truths. After all, mind - is a tool of consciousness that early in the process of cognition can gain a logical understanding, and this is its advantage over the mind. I explain to you some examples.

Look at this: with the help of which you can read this text? You are viewing it through the eyes, where information goes into the mind, and there already is processed by the mind. Some of you reading this article to find in it some kind of structural logic, since they use th! eir mind s and believe him, but some believe that all this philosophizing makes no sense, as used to check everything with their hands. Just want to see that your newfound spiritual vision you can not bring the other on the plate so they can plug it to taste as it is transmitted only through the philosophical discussions and reading of the scriptures. This is the mechanism of learning and it is impossible to alter once by himself or by someone else. Why? Yes, because the mind develops through hearings, but not gymnastics yoga. So, for the realization of spiritual truths we need to use your mind rather than your hands and do not mind. I hope you will become clear what tool is responsible for a specific kind of knowledge. And now once again all together sums up what have been said.

With the growth of our spiritual understanding and personal practice and spiritual experience, we awaken our spiritual mind. And already by the spiritual mind we gain spiritual understanding, which is also called "spiritual vision". Some people perceive the world through the prism of the theory of the evolution of matter, and others - through the prism of spiritual knowledge. To each his own, and that's why so much criticism and misunderstanding.

"And who is right and who is wrong?" - You ask. It is obvious that everyone has their own truth, but closer to the truth, he who realizes the Absolute Truth. After all, every intelligent person understands that there is some Absolute, which has created this world that operates according to certain laws. Therefore, reasonable people do not come to mind to argue with the obvious laws, such as the law of gravity. And although it has not been seen alive, but saw only indirect manifestations, such as falling apples, but they all somehow have faith in this material law of nature. Note that this is just one of many absolute laws that emanate from the Absolute, and how many more! But many of them we do not see with my own eyes and hands can not touch. But that they did not cease to exist! Is! not it? Or do you believe only in what you see? If so, then you will be bored in this topic for philosophers and lovers of logic and spiritual knowledge.

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