Simple And Useful Tips For Identifying The Stress Symptoms
Simple And Useful Tips For Identifying The Stress Symptoms |
- Simple And Useful Tips For Identifying The Stress Symptoms
- Meditation and Spiritual Awareness
- The Power of Words
- 6 Steps to Release Anxiety Through Meditation
- The Habits That Crush Us
- Travel To Singapore – Nice Buddhist Temple at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown
- Achieving Happiness Through Meditation
- Early Morning Stress Reduction Inspiration - 1/23/2012
- Let Yoga Shoes Make You More Comfortable
- Why Autism Diagnosis Can Change as Children Grow Up
- The Benefits Of Yoga
- The problem with religious Buddhism
- How Yoga Improves New Year's Resolutions Success
- The Buddha Walks Into A Bar, by Lodro Rinzler
- How To Recognize The Stress Symptoms
- Some Lung Cancer Patients Keep Smoking, Study Finds
- Is There Any Evidence That Meditation Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis?
- Love, Meditate and Celebrate : The Gurumaa Mantra
- Buddha Statues: Way of Enlightenment
- What Does A Buddhist Monk Do About Pests In The Garden?
- 3 Lessons to Teach Children about Spirituality
- Karmic causality -- believable and unbelievable
- Mind Control Marketing: How And Why It Works
- How To Identify The Common Symptoms Of Stress
- How To Identify The Symptoms Of Stress
| Simple And Useful Tips For Identifying The Stress Symptoms Posted: 23 Jan 2012 01:00 PM PST Article by Edward Meyer Most people who suffer with stress aren't aware of it until it's severe. One reason it can be hard to notice is that we all respond to stress a little differently, so it has many diverse symptoms. Of course early recognition leads to early treatment. To make this easier, in this article we'll be exploring some stress symptoms that many people experience. While there can be many reasons why you feel an overall lack of energy or frequent bouts of fatigue, stress is a common cause of this, especially if no obvious physical cause can be found. Mental and physical fatigue can be caused by stress. When we are stressed, we can feel worn out just sitting at our desk or driving through traffic. If you aren't sleeping well and feeling more fatigued, stress could be the main factor. This fatigue can become a real problem if you tend to experience a great deal of stress. You need to find a cause for your lack of energy and figure out a way to reduce it. Stress often causes discord among the masses for some people while others manage to deal with it in a more subdued manner or by withdrawing into social isolation. This occurs when you're so wrapped up in your own thoughts or problems that dealing with others seems like too much trouble. Just like any other stress symptom this can have a spiraling effect in a downward motion since being isolated often only makes us feel even worse creating additional stress. You need to think about the reasons why you are isolating yourself from those whom you would normally enjoy spending time with. It may be time for you to consider seeking help for your stressed life. While some people respond to stress by acting in an aggressive manner, others internalize it and experience depression. Very often, this starts out as a feeling of being overwhelmed, and can worsen into feelings of hopelessness or despair. Learning coping skills sooner rather than later is best. Depression is a serious possible symptom of stress, and it should never be ignored. ! No matte r which symptoms of stress you commonly experience there are effective methods for dealing with them. It could be that you experience one of the symptoms mentioned above or you could experience something completely different. Symptoms of stress do not have to be permanent since there are so many effective stress reduction treatments and methods available. About the AuthorEdward's websites: Mexican Airlines, Qatar Airlines, Alaskan Airlines and Austria Airlines. 
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| Meditation and Spiritual Awareness Posted: 23 Jan 2012 12:00 PM PST Article by David G Wilcox Meditation is a spiritual practice which attempts to quiet the mind in order to reveal the divine reality of conscious awareness that remains hidden from us most of the time. This divine reality of conscious awareness is called many things however, I will call it the Power of the Spirit, because I believe that the divine reality of conscious awareness which is contacted in meditation is the Spirit of God. Whatever you choose to call it, and the name is not as important as the actual practice of communing with this reality through meditation, it is important to understand that the divine reality of consciousness that you contact during meditation is not you. You are its reflection, you are deeply rooted and connected to this Power of the Spirit, but you are not this power. This is why we must meditate, because we are not the Power of the Spirit, but are instead conduits of this Power. However, like an electric appliance cannot work unless it is plugged into an outlet, we too cannot work properly unless we plug ourselves into the Power of the Spirit. Perhaps at this point you are asking why we should need to plug ourselves into this power, and what would the benefit be? And maybe you are even asking why this so-called divine power should need us to contact it. Why does it not contact us directly, and why do I need to learn how to quiet myself in order to make this connection? These are very good questions. Let me just say that I cannot explain all the mysteries of the universe, not should I want to! However, through my experience, and through practicing meditation and prayer for many years, I have surmised the following. First, that the divine reality of consciousness is pure mind, pure infinite thought. How do you communicate with a reality like this? The Book of Isaiah has God saying, "my thoughts are not your thoughts." I interpret this to mean that our day to day objective thought processes will not help us, and in fact actually hinder us, from communicating with the Power of ! the Spir it. Meditation quiets the objective mind, and allows you to communicate with it on its terms. Through practice, you become familiar with how the Spirit communicates, and this expands your overall understanding and experience of reality. Second, that we, and the human race as a whole, are a work in progress. Communicating with, and becoming aware of, the Power of the Spirit effects change in us individually, and the human race as a whole. Once you contact this reality and move within the Power of the Spirit, your life can never be the same. Everything you previously thought about life will change; your goals, your desires, your dreams. You will have changed, become a new creature, a new creation. And human society will be better because of this change which is manifesting in your life. And third, the divine reality is love (that is its nature) and wishes to have a genuine relationship with us. Genuine relationships can only happen when both parties freely choose to enter into the relationship. The Spirit waits until we are ready to make the first move to find it, and then it reveals itself to us. Not all at once, because we could not handle that, but only in the measure that is best for us, and will help us to grow and develop positively. There are many other reasons, why we meditation is necessary for linking up with the Power of the Spirit. However, the three I have presented in this article form a good foundation for further inquiry. Look into meditation, and try it out, and begin enjoying its life changing effects. About the AuthorDave Wilcox writes articles on topics such as self-improvement, spirituality, diet, and fitness. If you would like to learn more about self-improvement and meditation visit: http://thepowerofthespirit.blogspot.com http://www.squidoo.com/meditation-for-self-improvement Sheldan Nidle - (97 min.) Galactic Humans 101 Webinar 
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| Posted: 23 Jan 2012 12:00 PM PST This is a very powerful video that was shared with me by one of my wonderful Zen Students, Rev. Bill Charama. I must say that it is important for all of us to realize in our hearts that even the little things we do can have a dramatic impact on this world if our intentions are pure.  
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| 6 Steps to Release Anxiety Through Meditation Posted: 23 Jan 2012 11:00 AM PST Article by Eliza Phernetton 6 Steps to Release Anxiety Through Meditation Meditation is becoming a popular practice for many athletes, artists, and even business people. It has long been known as a tool to help keep the mind sharp and devoid of negativity. You'd be surprised what a few moments of peaceful reflection can do to a mind set on stress and anxiety. However, unless you're a Shaolin monk, most people have feelings of uncertainty when it comes to the proper techniques for an effective meditation session. No matter what your goal is for meditation, there are many common characteristics shared in all approaches: 1. Isolate YourselfGet away from other people. Some people like mediation groups, but I find these to be distracting for most. No matter how much internal focus you have, you will always be mentally responding to incoming stimuli from other people. Most people also find it more comfortable to meditate alone. 2. Find Your Happy PlaceThis can be hard in our modern age, especially if you live in a city. Indoors versus Outdoors - this is entirely up to you. I being inside to avoid noisy birds and screeching automobile tires, but some find it more beneficial to be "one with nature". If there aren't any quite places near where you are, isolation tanks are great ways to cut yourself off from incoming stimuli. 3. To Jam or Not to Jam - Not to JamI find music distracting when meditating, as I would expect most musicians to. It is easiest to do away with anxiety when you can truly focus on your thoughts and analyze that X stimuli is causing Y emotion. However, if you find that music really puts you in the right mood, go for it - it's all about preference. 4. Position Yourself How You Want ToThe full lotus position doesn't really matter here; mediation for anxiety relief is more about reflection then having no thoughts at all. Sitting, standing, or even laying down - it all works. The key here is to find the most relaxing position for you. If you can relax your body, you can relax y! our mind . 5. Take As Long As You Need ToDon't make a pre-set time period. If you say, "I'm going to meditate for half an hour today," you're going to be thinking about how long it's been since you sat down instead of what's causing you to be anxiety. It doesn't matter if it takes two hours or just ten seconds. 6. Learn What You Can ControlYou control how anxious a situation makes you. Be conscious of things in your life are fixable and which ones are simply beyond your control. Neither situation requires you to be anxious. Realize that all you need to do is make a decision and then act upon it. Follow these simple steps and you'll be anxiety-free before you know it! About the AuthorLearn how to leave anxiety behind for good here. Guided Meditation with Eckhart Tolle 
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| Posted: 23 Jan 2012 11:00 AM PST
Post written by Leo Babauta.Why is it that we cannot break the bad habits that stand in our way, crushing our desires to live a healthy life, be fit, simplify, be happier? How is it that our best intentions are nearly always beaten? We want to be focused and productive, exercise and eat healthy foods, stop smoking and learn to get rid of debt and clutter, but we just can't. The answer lies in something extremely simple, but something most people aren't aware of: We don't know how to cope with stress and boredom in a healthy way. The bad habits we've formed are often useful to us, in dealing with stress and boredom. Consider the bad habits that fit this bill:
This isn't a complete list, but all of these habits fill a strong need: they are ways to cope with stress and/or boredom. We have formed them as coping mechanisms, and they stick around because we don't have better ways of coping. So what if instead, we replaced them with healthier ways of coping? We'd get rid of the problems of these bad habits, and start getting the benefits of better habits. Better Coping HabitsHow can we deal with stress and boredom instead? There's no one answer, but the habits we form should be ones that lead to healthier results. Some ideas:
These are some good examples. Each habit above will help cope with or prevent stress or boredom. If you replace the bad habits with these, your life will be less stressful and healthier. You'll have less debt, less clutter, less fat, less disease. Changing the HabitsThe old habits of coping didn't build up overnight, and they won't go away overnight either. We built them up through years of repetition, and the only way to change them is also years of repetition. But an important start is to realize why we do them — stress and boredom, largely — and realize that there are other ways to deal with these two problems. We need to be aware when stress and boredom start to kick in, and instead of being afraid of them, realize that they are problems easily solved by other habits. Let's take the fear out of stress and boredom. Let's learn that we can beat them simply, and prove that with repeated good habits. Once you have that realization, follow the usual Zen Habits steps to changing a habit:
We have been crushed by the habits we've formed out of fear of stress and boredom. We can fight back, by learning to breathe, to smile, to go slowly. We can humble these giants that crush us by turning them into mere gnats to be shooed away with a smile. Read More @ Source
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| Travel To Singapore – Nice Buddhist Temple at the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown Posted: 23 Jan 2012 10:00 AM PST Article by Alec Chan There are many great Chinese temples all around Singapore to visit. They all have very elaborate architecture and they provide a glimpse into how old Chinese traditions are still very relevant in modern Singapore. One of the newest and most interesting temples is one that is located right in the middle of Singapore's Chinatown. In between the Maxwell Food Centre and the Chinatown Complex in Singapore's Chinatown is a magnificent Buddhist temple called the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. It took a few years to build this temple and it was completed in the year 2007 at a cost of about S million Singapore dollars, from which most were through donations given from fund raising charity events. The first floor of this temple is where the main shrines to Buddha and to the bodhisattva, Guanyin (sometimes also referred to as the goddess of mercy) are located. There is also a museum explaining the history of Buddism, an alter that contains the tooth relic of Buddha, and a garden on the upper floors. In the basement of the building, it houses the cafeteria that serves up some fresh vegetarian meals. This is where many visitors to the temple will come to during lunch time. One thing to take note of when visiting this temple is that proper attire must be worn. Visitors must ensure they wear clothing that covers their shoulders and that any hats worn must be taken off when entering the temple. Alternatively they also have robes available free of charge in which you can wear to cover your shoulders. Just approach the staff at the temple and they will provide you with a robe to wear. The address of the Buddha Tooth Relic temple is on 288 South Bridge Road, and it is open throughout the week from Monday to Sunday at 7 o'clock in the morning until 7 o'clock in the evening. It is conveniently located near the Outram Park MRT subway station and the Chinatown MRT subway station. It is quite an interesting place to visit as you get to see some beautiful architecture and to learn more about Bud! dhist cu lture. The best part of it all is that the admission is free. Therefore if you are around Singapore's Chinatown, it is highly recommended to put this place on your travel itinerary. It should take about 1 hour or so to see everything in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. About the AuthorAlec Chan is a travel writer, intrepid traveler, and food enthusiast, who is very passionate about traveling. If you are sick and tired of over spending on your trips, then this will be the most important book you ever seen. Inside the How To Travel For Cheap guide, you'll discover an arsenal of tactics to score you the best travel deals every time! These tactics will show you how to immediately get up to 1000$ 's in savings off your travel expenses. Get the guide now while it's still free, as this promotion will end soon: http://www.alectravelguide.com/offer/ 
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| Achieving Happiness Through Meditation Posted: 23 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST Article by Say Devendra There is just one method to attain happiness.That method is to easily be happy.You are most likely thinking straight away how do i buy to be happy." "Things simply do not work like that, It does not take into thought the days that i'm miserable attributable to issues or mishaps that return up in my lifestyle,not to mention the tragedies." At now I actually have to prevent and meditate. Meditation is done many various ways in which, simply realize the one that works best for your functions. Being happy rather more of the time than you have got been is an incredibly tough task to accomplish-not within the doing of it once you recognize how and then keep tuned in to what you have got discovered.Yet,I still say that with meditation you'll be able to do it.The path that you just have selected that led you to your current state of affairs wasn't some days or months within the creating,but a protracted and strenuous path that has spanned through a few years. In reality it's taken you as long as you have got been alive to become the method you're these days.It has conjointly taken you that long to attain what you have got achieved, to possess,and to arrive at your current condition.By taking the time to meditate and have faith in who you're,and what you have got in your life is actually what you would like,If you're fully glad with the method your life goes,congratulations-do a lot of of what you have got been doing and you'll get a lot of of what you have already got in your life. But if who you're,what you would like,what you have got,and your current conditions are but what you would like or maybe are totally different from what you would like,you have to start out meditating concerning some basic changes you'll got to build in your life.Failure to create those changes can realize you continuing to hunt the items you actually would really like in your life because the years pass by. Because a number of this that you just are reading can appear not possible,ridiculous,or to you! perhaps even foolish and it should initially offend you,causing you to ridicule what you're browseing and perhaps even cause you to reject what you have got read. i actually wish to recommend to you that before you'll reject how meditation will assist you through your life,ask yourself whether or not or not you would like it to be true-then for your profit please offer yourself the possibility to examine it as true. In this day and time with all the items we've to upset in our lives it's terribly arduous to remain on a positive level and be happy all the time,But simply taking some minutes each day simply meditating by yourself can assist you keep things in perspective where rather than being sad concerning matters you're in you'll be able to realize the way to seek out the happy a part of being sad. About the AuthorSay 
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| Early Morning Stress Reduction Inspiration - 1/23/2012 Posted: 23 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST  "All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else." ~The Buddha  Technorati Tags: Buddha Buddhist Buddhism Meditation Dharma      Read More @ Source The Heart Sutra 般若波罗密多心经by Anita Mui 梅艷芳 
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| Let Yoga Shoes Make You More Comfortable Posted: 23 Jan 2012 08:00 AM PST Article by chris binnie Let Yoga Shoes Make You More Comfortable There are so many people doing yoga these days. It has becomes very popular all over the world and there are many who practice it today. There are many physical sports and activities out there that people do and have been doing for years. These sports often have sports wear and the shoes are most important because they help give you stability and range of motion. This is important if you are being physical and if you need all the advantages you can get. The same goes for yoga the only difference is that this is physical movement that does not include shoes. Yoga is practiced barefooted and this id done because in order to do the poses you will need free range to move and flexibility. The practice of yoga is done without shoes because they will limit the flexibility of one. This of cause is unless there are yoga shoes especially designed for yoga how you would have tennis shoes to improve your movement in tennis. These have been improved over the years and studies have revealed the best shoe for each sport. Made For Your Food And Yoga Yoga shoes are designed for yoga students and improve the chances of gaining flexibility. This is because while doing yoga poses one would experience some seating of the palms and feet. This makes holding a pose very difficult and hard to enjoy as well. Yoga shoes can help you regain stability and they will not have to worry about slipping. If one feels imbalanced and can not do a pose without being distracted then the whole point of the teachings of yoga are useless. Yoga shoes are made for comfort during the practise of yoga. These will give you more stability if you are prone to slipping. They are not like any other shoes that will limit your movement. There are slip-on yoga shoes that are made from 100% recyclable rubber and are tough enough for the road and include a removable sock that dries very quickly. These are also good particularly because they are good for the environment. Ther! e are ot her brands that have created yoga shoes that you can also use for tai chi and these can be great for you if you do both. These help keep the feet cool to avoid seating and are made to improve range of movement and they allow flexibility while practicing yoga or even tai chi. About the AuthorCheck out bible study topics and more Youth Ministry Resources. 
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| Why Autism Diagnosis Can Change as Children Grow Up Posted: 23 Jan 2012 08:00 AM PST
Children with autism tend to also have other disorders, such as a learning disability or depression, which affect them in different ways as they age, a new study finds. The findings may explain, in part, why children with autism often see a change in their diagnoses as they grow older, the study suggests. The study was based on 1,366 children who had taken part in a national health survey who either were currently diagnosed with autism, or had been in the past but no longer had the diagnosis. "Parents should have their child checked for other conditions to make sure an autism diagnosis is properly determined," said study researcher Li-Ching Lee, a psychiatric epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "That way, a more appropriate intervention for the child can be planned as early as possible," Lee said. The study is published today (Jan. 23) in the journal Pediatrics. Making a proper diagnosis can often be difficult Autistic spectrum disorders — including autism, Asperger's syndrome and other developmental disorders — affect a child's ability to communicate and interact with people. About 1 in 110 children in the U.S. is currently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls. Symptoms of co-existing medical conditions, such as learning disabilities, hearing and speech problems, depression and anxiety, have been shown to overlap with symptoms of autism, often making it difficult for doctors to make a proper diagnosis. Previous studies have shown that children with autism have higher rates of co-existing conditions than normally developing children, and those with developmental delays who don't have autism. How long an autism diagnosis lasts seem to vary over time. One study found that more than 10 percent of children diagnosed with autism at age 2 no longer had the disorder at age 9. "We're not saying that a child who was diagnosed with autism at age 2 won't have autism later in life," said lead author Heather Close, a researcher at the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "But there are other mechanisms at work that we don't know about that could take place," she said. More than one diagnosis is likely The new study included 2007 data from the National Survey of Children's Health. Parents were surveyed about their child's physical and mental health, current and past medical, behavioral and developmental diagnoses and health care needs. Researchers looked at data for children in three age groups, including young children who were 3 to 5 years old, children who were 6 to 11 years old and teenagers who were 12 to 17 years old. They found that young children with a current diagnosis of autism were 11 times more likely to have a learning disability, and nine times more likely to have another developmental delay, than young children diagnosed with autism in the past who no longer had a diagnosis. Of those in the 6- to 11-year old group, children with a current diagnosis of autism were almost four times more likely to have a past speech problem and suffer from anxiety than those who no longer had a diagnosis. And among teenagers, those with a current diagnosis of autism were almost four times more likely to have speech problems, and 10 times more likely to have epilepsy than those who no longer had a diagnosis. "This study looks at a broader population of kids," than previous work, said Tristram Smith, a behavior specialist at the University of Rochester, who was not part of the study. "It shows that developmental delay and seizures are what can increase the likelihood that autism will stay in someone who has a current diagnosis," Smith said. Smith said he recommends that parents learn to understand that diagnoses can change, or there can be more than one. "Parents are often looking for that one answer," he said. "Reality is, it's a moving target, and it's complicated. It can be more than one diagnosis at one time, or it can be different diagnoses at different times too." Pass it on: Certain co-existing conditions could likely lead to a change in autism diagnosis. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. Find us on Facebook.  Read More @ Source 
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| Posted: 23 Jan 2012 07:00 AM PST Article by chris binnie The Benefits Of Yoga Yoga is sweeping the globe. Though it has been practiced for centuries in some cultures, it has only recently hit the world at full force, sweeping into the world's superpowers and taking hold of the exercise industry. And yet, you might be a skeptic. After all, what can this strange exercise strategy really do for you? Here are some of the benefits of yoga to help you fully understand hy so many people have accepted this as the best exercise form out there. Your Body And Yoga Yoga does so many things for your body. You might think that you are too old or lack flexibility and therefore cannot practice yoga. Do not be misled! Though the poses seem difficult and sometimes even excruciatingly painful, you get to these poses in time. Beginners yoga is much easier. When you start yoga and do it regularly, you will actually be increasing your flexibility over time. There are certain positions in yoga that acts upon certain joints in your body, some that you never even knew you had! It is like the old saying, "my body aches everywhere, even in muscles I did not even know existed!" In addition to increased flexibility, yoga also helps increase the lubrication of your joints, tendons, and ligaments. Just like certain yoga poses work to make unknown joints flexible, one of the benefits of yoga is that it also works the unknown and infrequently used tendons and ligaments. Massaging You Inside And Out Another great benefit of yoga is that it massages all of your body, both inside and out. While this may seem strange, the benefits of yoga are second to none in this department. This is probably the only exercise that can effectively massage all of your internal glands and organs. Yoga will stimulate certain parts of your body that almost never in a lifetime get externally stimulated, including places like your prostate gland! One of the benefits of yoga is that it works in a beneficial way on all of these parts of your body. Stimulating and massaging y! our glan ds and organs is a great mechanism of defense against diseases. In addition, one key benefit to yoga is that it gives people a keen awareness of what is going on with their bodies. This stimulation and massaging process is what helps people to have a forewarning of the first possible onset of a problem. The benefits of yoga are real and quite far reaching. So go ahead and give yoga a try! About the AuthorCheck out bible study topics and more Youth Ministry Resources. Yoga for beginners -- Twist Sequence - Bharadvajasana 
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| The problem with religious Buddhism Posted: 23 Jan 2012 07:00 AM PST The most obvious difference between religion and spirituality is the former exists within a structured organization while the latter does not. Another important difference to consider is that religion is generally materialistic whereas spirituality seeks a transcendent reality beyond the reaches of the material. This is nowhere more evident than in Christianity where there is still an ugly divide between orthodoxy and gnosticism. From what as been said so far Buddhism, we can say, was born out of spirituality—not religion. And to the extent that it relies on a religious structure the spiritual content of Buddhism remains more or less hidden for those who follow it religiously. If I decide to visit my local Dharma center or Zen center, I am entering a religious organization that has structure. There is hierarchy, too. I will have to learn my place and follow my teachers. So far this may appear okay but in my own experience of having been a member of several Dharma centers, the spiritual message of Buddhism is very seldom taught if at all. It is something you have to do on your own. Sometimes organization and structure are necessary but in religion its seems almost counterproductive since it only serves to hide the spiritual content of religion. On this same score, I have to say it is much easier to add organization and structure to Buddhism than spirituality. It is easier to crank out conformists than spiritual seekers, in other words. If anything, too much organization and structure inevitably end up laying the foundation for a kind of institutional insanity. It is often the case that those who are most blind will be found leading the unsure blind. If Buddhism is to serve as a guiding light out of the dark valley of spiritual blindness so that we might find our real Buddha-nature, then it is going to have to stop thinking like a modern structured religion. I would rather see twenty-five people chip in fifty bucks or so a month and rent part of an old building, then use the place for discussions, conversations, and meditation; inviting anyone they wish to talk about a particular subject of Buddhism, and leave it at that. Admittedly, this is not spiritual but neither is it religious.
Chants of TIbet - Om Mani Padme Hum 
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| How Yoga Improves New Year's Resolutions Success Posted: 23 Jan 2012 06:00 AM PST Article by Suzanne Andrews Yoga offers the missing link to weight loss. Motivation often starts out strong and strays as time goes on. Yoga can help you keep your New Year's Resolution this year. Yoga Weight Loss On of the most common New Year's Resolutions is the resolution to lose weight. This is often a difficult resolution for people to keep, but practicing yoga can help. Yoga poses (called asanas), and meditation reduce stress that may lead to overeating or other bad habits. The relaxed, focused state that comes from this ancient discipline tends to fall right in line with better choices such as eating healthier foods. In addition to this are the practical fat burning and muscle building qualities of practicing yoga. Yoga asanas can be quite muscularly demanding and are thus similar to many fat burning regimens that give muscles relatively short periods of intensive work. This is well known to be one of the fastest ways to burn fat. Even gentle yoga postures stimulate and massage organs in the body and in so doing improve things like digestive function, kidney and liver health, and circulation, all of which help to purify the system and burn unwanted fact. Meditation and Motivation Meditation is well known to create a sense of relaxation as well as focus. As such, it can assist greatly with motivation and will power. In the meditative state, things tend to become clearer and less jumbled and confused. The meditator can see with more clarity what the issues with motivation are and act on them more consciously. All of this can be a great advantage when you are trying to keep a New Year's Resolution, or any other resolution or goal for that matter. Whether it is a weight loss resolution, a resolution to find an exciting new career, or to find romance, meditation helps you focuse attention and creates the relaxed confidence that is beneficial for pursuing goals. Statistical Support These are not merely glittering generalities. There is a direct correlation of statistical evidence! that su pports the role of yoga in increasing focus and motivation. A study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) set out to show that yoga is more than just exercise. Traci A. Statler and Ami Wheeler, both PhDs tested the motivation, concentration, and anxiety levels of students at Cal State San Bernadino during the course of 10 week Hatha Yoga class. They gave the students standard assessments 2 weeks into the course and again at 9 weeks. They discovered marked increases in motivation and concentration on the part of students, and a clear decrease in students' anxiety. New Year's Resolution Success New Year's Resolution Success can thus be a natural, even spontaneous, result of practicing yoga. The ability for an individual to manifest what he or she wants is a natural part of yoga. The practice exercises and tones the physical body while at the same time creating a sense of purified and relaxed focus that tends to make sticking to resolutions much easier. So it is in the interests of almost anyone trying to keep a new year's resolution to take up yoga. You can practice yoga in a class or in the comfort of your own home. If you choose a class, make sure your teacher understands your limitiations. Ask the instructor if you can preview the class first. There are also many beginners yoga DVD's to choose from. Just make sure that if you are a yoga beginner that you choose a yoga DVD that goes at a relaxed pace with plenty of explicit instruction. About the AuthorPresident of http://www.healthwiseexercise.com , Suzanne Andrews offers you Dr. recommended Yoga Chi For Energy DVD for weight loss and stress release especially for plus sized adults. Also included is a specially designed doctor recommended meditation to increase your energy. Available at http://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Chi-Energy-Suzanne-Andrews/dp/B0015VKX28 Bed Time Yoga to Help you Sleep 
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| The Buddha Walks Into A Bar, by Lodro Rinzler Posted: 23 Jan 2012 06:00 AM PST
I must admit, I did wince slightly at some of the expressions in the book, such as "Sid said…" when referring to the Buddha, but perhaps this is due to not being so 'down with the kids' these days. However, the cringe-effect quickly passed and I found Rinzler's approach to be both down to earth and inspiring at the same time. The introduction clearly sets out the book's purpose as a guide for (young) people who have sex, drink alcohol once in a while and still get annoyed at life when it doesn't go our way. The book also discusses how to apply the Dharma to these daily issues that pervade our lives by living life to the fullest and being more in the "now" (and not necessarily having to give up those things that you enjoy. I think this is a reassuring message for young people interested in Buddhism. I run monthly events for young people at the Brighton Spiritual Consciousness Centre. There has been some resistance and challenge from people who are too old to come along, asking why young people need their own separate events, and this is why: Early adulthood is a time when people are exploring their identity and role in society. Young adults, from teenage years even into their twenties and thirties, may be still going through the process of separating from their parents by exploring, pushing and defining their own boundaries, beliefs and ideologies. What is needed is not any perceived imposition of more rules or boundaries, or anyone telling them how they ought to behave. What this book does well is to avoid that; it acknowledges in the first chapter that we might have the intrusive thought "Brett is a real asshole" [sic] while meditating. Rather than discussing the negative implications of having such thoughts on a prolonged and regular basis, Rinzler simply gives advice on how to use meditation practice to break free of our habitual responses in a playful and realistic way. To give you a flavour of the playful and realistic character of the chapters, here are some the chapter headings: Being Gentle with Your Incredible Hulk Syndrome; Sex, Love and Compassion; How to Apply Discipline, Even When Your Head gets Cut off; Singing a Vajra Song (in the shower). Each of these chapters appears in one of four parts of the book: The whole book is divided into four parts: 1. First, get your act together, 2. How to save the world, 3. Letting go into space and 4. Relaxing into magic. Each part explores a different 'dignity' of Shambhala Buddhism: the tiger, the snow lion, the garuda and the dragon. The qualities of the tiger are discernment, gentleness and precision. This part of the book guides us in discerning our intentions and motivations in life (discerning our mandala), and working with difficult emotions and includes some instruction some shamatha practice that is simple enough for a beginner, starting with just 5 minutes. Rinzler also emphasises the importance of inhabiting the present moment, and making the most of it by taking care of the details of our home, our finances and even our clothes, in a way that is relevant to young people. In the next part, the snow lion represents open heartedness and positive emotion; her qualities are applied particularly to sex and relationships, and we are introduced to the six paramitas (perfections) and the practice of loving kindness meditation. Following on from this, the garuda makes its entry. The garuda is an outrageous mythical being (half man, half bird) who flies above the earth and embodies the quality of fearlessness. Here we come to recognise the nature of fear, impermanence, groundlessness and to ultimately develop equanimity. This part of the book guides us leaning into the less comfortable aspects of life, letting go of attachment and creating a greater sense of spaciousness with our jobs, family, money, gadgets, social life, et cetera. Finally, we are introduced to the magical dragon, and her qualities of authenticity, humour and delight. I loved this part of the book; I'm currently writing my PhD thesis and can get a bit cranky at times! The dragon has at some dark times inspired me to let go and be a bit lighter, and to be more accepting when I'm not feeling at my best. This part also contains the story of Milarepa, who caused much harm in his lifetime but still managed to attain enlightenment. Reading the story reminded me that we can all transform ourselves and shine light into the darkness. There is a lovely simple exercise here for opening the heart and mind, which can be really helpful when feeling as though one is in the middle of a maelstrom! Overall, I found this book enjoyable, engaging and inspiring. I think I would have liked to see a bit more of a health warning along the lines that although the practices in the book are great and can be really effective, they aren't always easy to do, and that deeper effects tend to be cumulative. Having said that, I loved the book and think it's a great introductory read for a younger person who would like to know more about Buddhism, or just life in general. There is no pressure from the book to become a Spiritual Consciousness; in fact this is even stated in the introduction. We're actually planning to use some of the ideas from the book, combined with Sangharakshita's System of Meditation' as a theme for our Young Sangha activities at Brighton Spiritual Consciousness Centre, so there's a recommendation! Read More @ Source 
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| How To Recognize The Stress Symptoms Posted: 23 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST | |||
| Some Lung Cancer Patients Keep Smoking, Study Finds Posted: 23 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST
A number of lung cancer and colon cancer patients continue to smoke despite their diagnosis, a new study finds. The study highlights the need for physicians to address smoking cessation with their patients at the time of their cancer diagnosis, experts say. The study determined smoking rates around the time of diagnosis, and five months after diagnosis, in 5,338 lung cancer and colorectal cancer patients. At diagnosis, 39 percent of lung cancer patients and 14 percent of colorectal cancer patients were smoking. Five months later, 14 percent of lung cancer patients and 9 percent of colorectal cancer patients were still smoking. Colorectal cancer patients were less likely than lung cancer patients to quit smoking following diagnosis, according to the study. The study is published online today (Jan. 23) in the journal Cancer. When a patient receives a cancer diagnosis, the main focus is to treat the disease. But stopping smoking after a cancer diagnosis is also important because continuing to smoke can negatively affect patients' responses to treatments, their subsequent cancer risk and, potentially, their survival, said study researcher Elyse Park, of the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Lung cancer patients who continued smoking were more likely than those who quit to have Medicare or other public health insurance, have a lower body-mass index and have low emotional support. Those who were still smoking were also more likely to say they had smoked a high number of cigarettes per day at some point during their lives. Colorectal cancer patients who continued to smoke tended to be male, be uninsured, have less education and say they had once smoked a high number of cigarettes per day. "These findings can help cancer clinicians identify patients who are at risk for smoking, and guide tobacco counseling treatment development for cancer patients," Park said. In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Carolyn Dressler, of the Arkansas Department of Health in Little Rock, noted that the study highlights the critical need for physicians and other caretakers to address tobacco cessation, particularly at the time of diagnosis. "Most clinicians acknowledge the importance of addressing tobacco cessation in their patients; however, few do it," Dressler wrote. "We know enough now to implement effective cessation programs to identify and help cancer patients quit at the time of diagnosis and support them to prevent relapse. By doing so, we maximize patients' response to therapy, their quality of life and their longevity." Pass it on: Because smoking can impact cancer risk and survival, patients diagnosed with cancer should quit smoking. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily staff writer on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. Find us on Facebook. Read More @ Source 
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| Is There Any Evidence That Meditation Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis? Posted: 23 Jan 2012 04:00 AM PST Article by Nathan Wei Today, arthritis patients are not only more receptive to complementary therapies- what has been called alternative therapy- but actually prefer it to conventional medicines. There are many reasons for this. These reasons include the adverse publicity surrounding the side effects of medicines such as Vioxx and Bextra, cost of pharmaceutical agents, insurance restrictions that make it difficult for patients to get the types of medicines they need, and the widely held concept that "natural" implies safe. As has been demonstrated on multiple occasions, a natural remedy is not necessarily safe, nor is it necessarily even effective. However, there are natural therapies for which there is little evidence supporting their usefulness in conditions like arthritis, but also a paucity of data showing they are harmful. Such is the case with meditation. Meditation not only is safe but has had beneficial applications in other rheumatic conditions such as fibromyalgia. A recent study has demonstrated that meditation may also be useful as an adjunctive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A meditation training program, called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed by Dr. Kabat-Zinn and other researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. MBSR teaches participants to focus the mind in a special way. This technique is supposed to increase clarity and calmness. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine assessed the effect of this meditation therapy on depressive symptoms, psychological distress, general well-being, and disease activity among RA patients. The results of the study indicates that there are potential benefits of MBSR and that it can be used with a conventional course of physical and pharmacological therapy. Sixty-three adult RA patients were selected to participate in this novel pilot study. The subjects averaged 54 years in age and predominately women. All patients remained under their rheumatologist! 's care and continued to take their routine medications throughout the study. Thirty-one of the participants were randomized to receive MBSR therapy, starting with an 8-week training course followed by a 4-month maintenance program. The remaining 32 participants were assigned to a waiting list, agreeing to attend assessment sessions in exchange for free MBSR training at the study's conclusion. Both groups of participants underwent psychological and rheumatological examinations at baseline, and again at 2 months and 6 months into the study. Researchers used the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, a self-report questionnaire, to evaluate depressive symptoms and psychological distress. Overall well-being was measured by the Psychological Well-Being Scales, made up of questions designed to evaluate positive outlook and approach to coping with difficulties. RA clinical factors were assessed by the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS-28). Researchers compared scores of psychological and physical disease symptoms among MBSR participants with those of the control group. Patients receiving MBSR found the program to be enjoyable and continued throughout the follow-up period. After 2 months, both groups showed improvements in depressive, psychological, and emotional symptoms, with no significant difference between the MBSR group and the control group. By 6 months, however, gains in the control group had largely disappeared, while MBSR participants maintained or improved further in psychological outcomes. By the end of the study, the MBSR group achieved a significant 35 percent reduction in psychological distress. The meditation program had no impact on RA disease activity, measured by the DAS-28, which is a composite score derived from swollen joints, tender joints, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The studies flaws include its small sample size and the relative homogeneity of the control group. The study showed that patients with RA may benefit from a meditation progra! m such a s MBSR class. MBSR is also safe and appealing to participants. The lead investigator, Dr. Elizabeth Pradhan, also states, "For doctors wishing to offer patients a complement to medical management, mindfulness meditation may offer hope for improving psychological distress and strengthening well-being in patients with RA." (Pradhan EK, et al. Effect of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients. Arthritis Care & Research. October 2007). About the AuthorNathan Wei, MD FACP FACR is a rheumatologist and Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. For more info: Arthritis Treatment "Sleep Video" 60min "Ocean Waves" Meditation 
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| Love, Meditate and Celebrate : The Gurumaa Mantra Posted: 23 Jan 2012 03:00 AM PST Article by Vijay Raisinghani Love, Meditate and Celebrate - This is the Mantra of Beautiful living that has been suggested by the Contemporary Enlightened Master - Shri Anandmurti Gurumaa. Her teachings can be summarised in the three words - Love, Meditation and Celebration. These are the three essential ingredients for the complete man of the 21st Century. Anandmurti Gurumaa is a Contemporary Woman Master. The word Anandmurti literally means 'an embodiment of divine bliss' and Gurumaa means 'Master Mother'. Shri Anandmurti Gurumaa, true to her name, is a master, a mother and an embodiment of Bliss. She is an exquisite confluence of divine love and sharp intelligence. She is a mystic, a poet at heart with a scientific aptitude by intellect and possesses a strong personality. Its unbelievable that all these amazing attributes exist together is one person. But its absolutely true. Gurumaa is very pragmatic in her approach towards life and is a wonderful personality who is giving hope and spiritual path to seekers worldwide to achieve Buddha hood in this very lifetime. Its hard to find such great persons in today's time, which can truly guide the spiritual aspirants and enhance their spiritual growth by their rich experience. Being an intellectual person is easy, but it is not easy to be simple and adaptable at the same time. Gurumaa is the best of both worlds. She talks extempore on various subjects like Zen, Sufi, Upanishad, Buddhism, Bard Sages, Philosophy, Art, History and Yoga. Her knowledge and Guidance is not mere words, but she helps the spiritual journey of the seekers by her deepest insights on these subjects. Gurumaa is a master who speaks to the modern mind using ancient wisdom such as Vedas, Sufism and Buddhism. She has an excellent sense of Humour and explains the deepest spiritual topics in the most lucid manner, such that it penetrates the hearts and minds of the listeners. She can be called a true Meditation Maestro in that sense. The simpl! e yet po werful teachings of Gurumaa have a life changing impact. She has given many beautiful meditation techniques, which are easy to do and very powerful. A very difficult issue such as Meditation has been made very simple and easy as a 'child's play' by Gurumaa's Guidance. She has spoken widely on the topics of meditation, truth, mind, prayer, devotion, yoga, art of living and many more. Her videos are available on her official website. She has authored many excellent books also which can illuminate the path of the spiritual seekers. Her presence is like an oasis of love in this world which is burning with issues like hatred, terrorism, competition and hypocrisy. She is the Buddha of the 21st century and is the ray of hope in our dark night of ignorance. The philosophy and teachings of Gurumaa adopt a holistic approach. Love, Meditate and Celebrate - these encompass the totality with which one should live his life. Just imagine the beauty and joy that would arise with such a rightful and complete living. Gurumaa gives us the way to make life such a pleasure to live. Her philosophy is not just for the spiritual thinkers, but they are most practical, that even the most common person can adopt them and successfully bring into his daily living. It is our great fortune that such personalities do exist in our times. We can greatly enhance our lives and make it much more joyful by the simple yet powerful teachings of Gurumaa. In a true sense, our quest for everlasting happiness and spiritual fulfilment ends at Gurumaa. About the AuthorVijay Raisinghani is a Successful Currency Trader in Jakarta, Indonesia. His interests include Spirituality, Meditation, Buddhism and Zen. Check out www.gurumaa.com, www.soulcurrymagazine.com and www.yogawonders.com for your free demo of Gurumaa's Life Trasforming Meditation techniques. Kids Meditation #1 - Bubbles of Peace - Soothing, Relaxing - Brahma Kumaris 
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| Buddha Statues: Way of Enlightenment Posted: 23 Jan 2012 02:00 AM PST Article by ambriandruje Buddhism is ubiquitous; it is a religious philosophy that has many followers worldwide. It is based on the ethics, enlightenment and compassion. The statues of Buddha represent the "enlightened one." In today's robotic life, when everyone is search of serenity and tranquility- Buddha statues comes as a great relief. Buddha statues and sculptures can be seen all around us, in the living area, office space and garden area to bring in the serenity in the house. There's a wide-variety of hand-carved Buddhist deities sculptures based on templates and standardized styles such as wooden happy buddha, hand carved sitting buddha, blessing buddha statues, meditating buddha statue, reclining buddha, siddhartha buddha, large thai buddha, buddha on lotus, serenity buddha, teaching buddha etc. Each statue is unique. There's variation in carving, artisans flair and creativity. There are varieties of Buddhist statues and sculptures Garden Buddha Statues:They are made form a variety of materials including granite, stone, brass and bronze. People custom orders garden statues to enhance the exterior décor of Zen gardens and meditation gardens. Large Buddha Statues:They are the most revered statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva. Their size of these statues is up to feet tall or higher. Elegant and beautifully finished large Buddha Statues, come in a variety of style, shape and designs. The craftsmanship of these statues enhances the décor and uplifts the home décor. Wooden Buddha Statues:Statues of Buddha statues are made from a variety of material and wooden Buddha statues are the most popular. These sculptures are made handmade from a variety of wood like shesham and rosewood. These sculptures are carved, aged and dried. It requires great craftsmanship and minute detailing to create a beautiful piece of wooden Buddha sculptures. The great luster of wooden statues of Buddha is imparted by polishing and finishing it with stains and teak oil. It is the brilliant work of art and serene ! addition s to any home. Laughing Buddha: Laughing Buddha is referred to a non-Buddhist Chinese monk. His name was Ho Tai. He is also popularly called the Happy Buddha. Many believe laughing Buddha is an incarnation of a Buddha who will appear in the future. Statues of laughing Buddha are the representation of contentment and abundance. The sculpture is seen as smiling or laughing with bulging pot-belly. Its statues can be seen in various temples, restaurants and business. They are placed in the house to bring in the prosperity and good luck. Standing Buddha Statues:Standing Buddha is also known as Siddhartha Gautam Buddha. It is available in numerous sizes and styles. And perfect for homes, altars and gardens. It is made from a range of material such as Brass statues, copper, silver standing, full gold plated, black brass, marble, wood in different shapes and sizes. Buddha Statues About the AuthorAmberi is an experienced religious education and consultant who has been in the industry for quite a few years. Working as a consultant, he also has written a number of articles on For more Details about Buddhism and Buddha Statues please log on to Buddha Statues Amongst White Clouds - Official Trailer 
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| What Does A Buddhist Monk Do About Pests In The Garden? Posted: 23 Jan 2012 01:00 AM PST Article by Dada Vedaprajinananda I am not a Buddhist monk (I am a yogic monk) but this question was asked to me recently and it deserves an answer. Obviously if you have a pest in your garden you have to make a choice whether you are going to take action or not. To kill the pest would seem to go against "non harming" which is basic to many Eastern religions and philosophies. Not hurting others by thought word or deed is known as Ahimsa, and it is an important value in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and other faiths. The Jains took ahimsa to its limits and some of them said that any kind of agriculture is forbidden because when you plow the soil worms and other small creatures are bound to be killed. So what did they do about this dilemma? I think in most cases they hired other people to plow the soil for them! Clearly this is no solution to the problem. The solution is to have a more practical interpretation of ahimsa. Life feeds on life. Whenever we want to sustain ourselves we have to take some life, whether it be an animal or a plant. Yogis say that it is best to avoid killing animals or living beings where consciousness is developed, and that is one of the reasons why they are vegetarians. Furthermore, Ahimsa doesn't mean living a passive life and letting others attack you without any defense. If a person comes to take your land, burn your house or poison you, you will have to defend yourself if you wish to continue living. The person who comes to attack you is surely an enemy, and if you defend yourself it is not against ahimsa. Similarly, if your food supply depends on a field of grain and vegetables, an animal or insect that comes to eat and destroy that field is also your enemy, just as surely as a person who comes to pillage your land. If you take forceful action to defend your food, and thereby kill some of the pests it is not against the true spirit of Ahimsa. You have used force to continue your own life, not to inflict harm for no reason at all. A strict interpretation of ahimsa, not allow! ing you to kill mosquitoes that spread malaria or to kill pests that eat your food, would be a folly at best and hypocrisy at worst. So, if that Buddhist monk is truly depending on his garden to provide his livelihood, he could kill the pests in the garden. If the garden is only ornamental or done for a hobby, he might just let the worm or insect enjoy a share of the fruits and veggies and not worry too much about it. But if you are really curious about it, the next time you should ask a Buddhist monk. About the AuthorDada is a yoga-meditation teacher with over 37 years of experience. He is the author of Yoga Weight Loss Secrets and an editor at the Free Weight Loss Information article directory. 
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| 3 Lessons to Teach Children about Spirituality Posted: 23 Jan 2012 12:00 AM PST Article by Padma As an adult, it can be difficult to remember how you were taught about spirituality as a child. I remember going to church, but I don't remember much aside from yawning through sermons as my parents took notes. Teaching children about spirituality is an important task because they learn things at an early age from people outside your influence and it is important to create a core set of beliefs that they can lean on when necessary. I realized the importance of this only after my children began bombarding me with questions I wasn't prepared to answer. In the end, I turned to books and short lessons to help teach them about living a spiritual life. The first lessons I wanted my children to learn were of compassion. If children are grounded in compassion, then they are much more likely to see things from another's perspective which helps with discipline and patience. Compassion drives how we treat others, up to and including insects, animals, and other people. I wanted my children to understand how the world works without feeling burdened by it, and teaching compassion was the first part of that process. The next step was to teach my children how to deal with suffering. I began to get bombarded with questions about pain, suffering, and even death and I had no idea how to handle them. I didn't want to be brutally honest, but sometimes children appreciate the hard truth rather than a pretty cover story. Teaching children that suffering is part of life is very important for other reasons as well. If children are compassionate, and they understand suffering, then they will be pressed to take action as a helper rather than a complainer. Having children with strong minds was important to me and the lesson of suffering is often taught far too late. Lastly, I wanted my children to understand old age and death. Lessons on suffering allowed me to work my way up to answer the questions about death. As a child, I remember fearing nothing more than my parents dying and leaving me alone. I wante! d to cut this thought pattern off before it started to spread in the minds of my children. If they understood and did not fear death, then there would be no greater power I could grant them in this life. Although I found many of my own ways to answer questions and teach my children about spirituality, particularly Buddhism and Zen principles, I found children's books to be instrumental in helping with this process. If you look hard enough, you can find several excellent teaching books that teach children complicated subjects in an easy manner. My children could also read these books when my wife or I were busy, which allowed them to do some of their own soul searching. I'm so happy we made the decision to teach them while they were young. It was the least I could do to prepare them for life's difficulties. About the Author To learn more about Buddhism, find a great selection of Buddhist Children's Books, and even get a free Buddhist Children's Book, visit the Buddhist Children's Bookstore. "The Practice of the Wild" Trailer 
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| Karmic causality -- believable and unbelievable Posted: 23 Jan 2012 12:00 AM PST Karma... a word that both is eminently scientific, and also annoyingly religious. I've spent a lot of time exploring both meanings of karma. Ever since I was a kid I've enjoyed learning about science. In my childhood room I set up a card table that fit oh-so-perfectly inside a corner of my closet. I'd sit down at the table, slide the closet door shut, turn on a light that I'd strung over the clothes rod, and spend many happy hours performing experiments with science kits. Then, as now, the essence of science for me was cause and effect. Do this, and observe that. (See my "Thanks for the chlorine gas, Mom" post.) That's the believable side of karma: causes lead to effects which lead to more causes which lead... ad infinitum, back to the beginning of the universe. Karma, though, generally is viewed as having something particular to do with conscious beings. Usually billiard balls richocheting around a pool table aren't thought of as generating karma. But if a person risks her life to save a child about to step in front of a speeding truck, bystanders will say "that should get her some good karma." Especially if they're Stress Reduction. Buddhism, like karma, comes in both scientific and religious guises. I'm enjoying Owen Flanagan's new book, "The Boddhisattva's Brain: Buddhism Naturalized," which aims to sort out the unbelievable supernatural aspect of Buddhism from the believable natural aspect. This includes karma. Flanagan likes how the current Dalai Lama supports scientific inquiry and findings of modern science, albeit with some caveats which allow supernaturalism to remain part of his Stress Reduction teachings. Flanagan says one form of karmic causality discussed by the Dalai Lama is eminently reasonable and scientific. The idea can be understood straightforwardly as follows: once sentient beings exist they think, feel, and act in ways that have effects. These effects are of two kinds: personal -- both intrapersonal (on the person herself) and interpersonal (on those with whom the person interacts) -- and environmental, affecting the natural and built worlds. To these one should add social, economic, and political effects. Karmic causation as depicted in this way is natural. It is not due to theistic intervention at the beginning of the process, say, in creating a Big Bang with a plan, nor is there intentional (intelligent) design along the way other than the effects of the sentient beings (human and nonhuman) who eventually emerged and are creating karmic effects = effects via their actions. However, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religious faiths which have karma as a central tenet don't only look upon karmic causality in this scientific fashion. If they did, karma would be an undeniable truth. Flanagan says that karmic causation then could just be called "sentient-being causation," a subtype of ordinary causation. There's what he calls a less tame (meaning wilder, farther out, much more unbelievable) Stress Reduction interpretation of karma, though. Karmic causation untame... names an ontologically unique kind of causation that accounts for how the psyches of future beings are determined by a set of causal processes that involve more than the environmental cum psycho-social-political-economic effects of previous occupants of the earth. What is meant by the idea of "the law of karma, by which an intentional act will reap certain fruits" [a Dalai Lama quote] is this: my consciousness does not die when my body does, it goes on and reaps in the next and possibly many (many) future lives what it sows in each antecedent life. The Dalai Lama, along with his Stress Reduction followers, admits there's no demonstrable scientific evidence of past lives. So the aforementioned caveat is brought in: Science finds no evidence for rebirth, but it has not found its "nonexistence." Well, science also hasn't found the nonexistence of the Tooth Fairy. But once we get beyond a certain age, we realize that Mom and Dad are better explanations for why a quarter appears under our pillow after a tooth is put there than the Tooth Fairy. (Not sure what the going rate for a tooth is these days; back in olden times, when I was losing my teeth, I recall getting a quarter.) So regular cause and effect, not involving karmic causality extending over past lives, now seems much more believable to me than Buddhism's karma untamed version. Religious believers, however, will keep on believing until the impetus for belief loses its energy. That's what happened to me, after I wrote a book which espoused the unbelievable aspect of karma. Which is the essence of karma tame version. People do stuff; then they do different stuff, because causes keep happening, as do effects.
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| Mind Control Marketing: How And Why It Works Posted: 22 Jan 2012 11:00 PM PST Article by Wahyu Tan When we sell something, we do so with the desire to get it purchased by another party for a specific set price. However, the market is full of competition with the availability of other products. An effective marketer should be able to come up with strategies to make the consumers cast their purchasing power on the specified product. One such way is with the use of mind control marketing. The mind is a thinking being on its own. It has the capacity to make decisions, which the body works on. The bases of such decisions are certain perceptions of the self and the surroundings. People form a kind of filtering in their thinking wherein they ask themselves questions pertaining to a specific situation. A unique characteristic of this filtering process is that it is absolutely done unconsciously. The results can, however, be manifested in one's actions and overall behavior. The works of mind control attack the human mind. With the use of effective techniques, it is very easy to make a person believe something as it is presented. The specific process cannot be perceived by the eyes though. Basically, mind control works and is used in various instances and for various purposes. It can be shown even in the most mundane tasks of everyday life such as convincing a child to eat specific foods instead of other ones. More so, its capacity to influence one's mind can be as potent as being able to control superior power in the society. Intrinsically, mind control is not something bad at all. It can be considered purely neutral in its most basic form. It is with the intention and how it is used that the colors of mind control change. Its various uses led it to become a very powerful tool in the different aspects of life and living. Mind control is a very effective tool in the field of marketing. It is, after all, the brain and the mind that makes up the final say on whether to go or not for a specific product. This is why the knowledge and ample skills on making use of mind control i! s a trea sure for marketers and the likes. Although there is an attack against this concept considering the value of a person's freedom and independence, there is no proof enough to consider the practice of mind control illegal or even simply destructive to a specific point. The perfect use of mind control in marketing is with the use of visualizations. TV commercials, billboards and posters are just a few of the application of visual mind control. With the positive things included in these medium, one can simply bring about good things about the specific product. Unless a negative experience is present to counter them, such mind control technique is very effective in every sense of the word. Mind control can be a very powerful tool in any, if not all, fields in life. There is a tendency that people might get too obsessed with the concept and be totally drunk with the power it entails. Thus, it should be borne in mind the wisdom in the words of Spiderman's Uncle Ben that with great power comes great responsibility. About the Author Do you want to be an expert persuader???WAIT....With my team, I made trusted and independent reviews of the best 3 persuasion skills guides.For Detailed Product Review visit : http://Click101Reviews.com/persuasion/Hope this will help you to get the best value product from every single cent you spent.Let Us Be Your Partner Before Buy A Product. Thanks Deepak Chopra on Mindfulness 
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| How To Identify The Common Symptoms Of Stress Posted: 22 Jan 2012 10:00 PM PST Article by Steve Gilbert Relaxing Nature Scenes - Hawaii Sunset relaxing ocean waves 
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| How To Identify The Symptoms Of Stress Posted: 22 Jan 2012 09:00 PM PST Article by Laura Diamond How To Stay Calm and Focused During a Test 
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The Buddha Walks Into A Bar: A Guide to Life for a New Generation is the literary debut of 28 year-old Shambhala Spiritual Consciousness teacher, Lodro Rinzler. The book is aimed at "Generation O" and makes no assumptions about any prior knowledge or experience of Buddhism. Having said that, despite being a 'young Spiritual Consciousness' I have almost a decade of experience of Buddhism yet I still found this book enjoyable, useful, and interesting.
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