Why Women Are More Likely to Have Alzheimer's Disease
Why Women Are More Likely to Have Alzheimer's Disease |
- Why Women Are More Likely to Have Alzheimer's Disease
- Stressed Your Job Interview? How to Stay Calm During Your Job Interview So You Can Be at Your Best
- What's the Best Way to Treat Warts?
- How To Minimize Stress During World Travel and Tours
- Three Little Habits to Find Focus
- Should You Study Meditation?
- Five ways to incorporate meditation into your life
- relaxation meditation
- Using Awareness To Battle Stress
- Buddhism and the West in the Eyes of Western Scholars
- Antique Lamps - A Lamp with a Message!
- Environmental Stresses And What They Mean To You
- Early Morning Zen Buddhism Inspiration - 5/10/2012
- Ways to Eliminate Stress, Exercise - Part 2
- Stress Relief Methods 1: Rhythmic Breathing
- Spiritual Discoveries Through Meditations
- 3 Ways to Achieve Superior Mind Control
- Yoga Exercise For Flat Stomach
- Sukhothai : Changing Monarchical Styles
- Tranquil Vesak in Bangkok
- Buddhism with and without faith
- Get to Know Your Subconscious Mind
- Cold mountain. Han Shan / 寒山
- Uncover the History of Borobudur before Visiting this Grand Temple in Central Java
- Jobs Affect Depression Risk Differently in Men and Women
| Why Women Are More Likely to Have Alzheimer's Disease Posted: 10 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT
Changes in the brain that happen after menopause may make women vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease, recent research suggests. The hypothesis may explain why women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease after age 65 compared with men, the researchers say. (About 17 percent of women in the U.S. over age 65 have Alzheimer's, compared with 9 percent of men.) Traditionally, researchers have believed that women's increased risk of Alzheimer's disease was due to the fact that women live longer, said Roberta Diaz Brinton, a professor of pharmacology, biomedical engineering and neurology at the University of Southern California's School of Pharmacy. However, women only live about four years longer than men, and Alzheimer's develops over decades, Brinton said. Now, research from Brinton and colleagues suggests that, as women age, their brains experience a shift in the way they use energy. A woman's risk of Alzheimer's disease may, in part, be determined by how well it adapts to this energy shift, Brinton said. "Just like the woman is going through a reproductive shift," Brinton said, "the brain is undergoing adaptations as well." Brinton's studies on mice have shown that, during menopause, the cell's powerhouses, called mitochondria, become less efficient at producing energy. In addition, cells start to use fuel sources other than glucose, which is a sign that the energy system is not working well, Brinton said. The brain has the highest energy requirement of any organ in the body, using 20 percent of the body's fuel, she said. In a 2011 study, Brinton and colleagues removed the ovaries of mice and found that the subsequent loss of ovarian hormones such as estrogen harmed the mitochondria. In both people and mice, declines in the brain's energy production have been shown to precede the development of Alzheimer's disease, Brinton said. "Over time, the reduction in the ability to generate sufficient energy for the brain leads to, ultimately, an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease," Brinton said. Brinton and colleagues are now conducting a clinical trial to see if a drug that promotes estrogen activity in the brain reduces cognitive difficulties in women going through menopause. The drug does not promote estrogen activity in other parts of the body, such as the breast, where the hormone has been shown to increase the risk of cancer. The largest trial of estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women did not find that the therapy reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease, Brinton said. But that may be because there's a window of time when the therapy is effective, Brinton said. "If you treat a woman at age 65, her brain is no longer estrogen-responsive," Brinton said. The time to provide an estrogen therapy for cognitive benefits could be during menopause, when women are still experiencing symptoms, Brinton said. Brinton said changes in brain metabolism likely increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease in men as well. However, men tend to experience hormonal changes, a stage known as andropause, later in life than women, Brinton said. Brinton discussed her research last month at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in New Orleans. Pass it on: Changes in the brain's metabolism during aging may put people at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily staff writer Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner. Find us on Facebook.  Read More @ Source 
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| Stressed Your Job Interview? How to Stay Calm During Your Job Interview So You Can Be at Your Best Posted: 10 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT Article by Elisabeth Kuhn Are you nervous about your upcoming job interview? You're not alone. Just about everybody is nervous when they're being scrutinized and when so much depends on the outcome. So yes, a job interview can be a high stress affair. But it doesn't have to be. There are a number of things you can do that will help you stay calm. For starters, there are a few stress reduction techniques you can do: Deep breathing is one of them. Believe it or not, something as simple as slow, deep breathing can calm you down quite a bit. Another key to peace of mine is keeping things in perspective. Reminding yourself that you have already passed a series of hurdles and your interviewers really want you to succeed. Yes, they do. After all, they only invite winners to an interview. But you're still nervous. So what can you do? Let me guess... Let's look at a few things you probably ARE doing that make stress almost inevitable: You worry, and not just the normal garden variety kind of worrying, but you're practicing some serious catastrophic thinking. Chances are that some of the following questions are racing through your head: 1) What if they won't like you? 2) What if they'll laugh at you? 3) What happens if you don't get the answers to their questions right? 4) What if you don't get the job? 5) What if you won't ever get another job? 6) Will anyone ever love you again if you can't get this or any other job? 7) Will you lose your home? 8) What will people think if you don't get the job? You get the idea. It's impossible to function at your peak when you worry about those things, or even some of them. What to do? Don't worry about them. Seriously. Your job interview is not the place for those kinds of thoughts. First of all, worrying about things is NOT going to make anything better. The only thing it does is make it hard for you to come across well when it counts most. So if you absolutely must worry, schedule it for later. You can plan ! an hour at a coffee shop later where you'll allow yourself to worry to your heart's content. During the job interview, just listen to each question, and answer it to the best of your ability. If they should ask you a question you cannot answer, just tell them you don't know right now, and would they please ask something else. Don't forget to breathe, and to remember, it's just a job interview. There will be others. And if you stay focused, chances are you'll do just fine. Stressing, no matter how much you do it, will never help you improve your performance. Especially not in a job interview. Just one last thing. A little nervousness is okay. It's pretty much expected. So don't worry about being a little nervous. But when your thoughts drift off to catastrophic scenarios, catch yourself and tell yourself, "Later!" For the moment, you have a job to do. About the AuthorStill stressed? Here's some help for getting rid of excess stress anytime you want. Just click on the link for Elisabeth Kuhn's FREE Stress Tips Report and reclaim your inner calm. And if you want a MUCH less stressful way to find a job, check out this FREE audio and ebook: http://www.ThePerfectJobForYou.com and discover how you can get a job you REALLY want. Choosing Which Emotions to Wear, by Ajahn Sona 
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| What's the Best Way to Treat Warts? Posted: 10 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT
"The Healthy Geezer" answers questions about health and aging in his weekly column. Question: Can you get rid of warts with duct tape? Answer: For starters, check with your doctor before beginning any self-treatment for warts. You might mistake another kind of skin growth for a wart and hurt yourself. The jury is still out on duct-tape therapy for warts. A recent study showed that duct tape wiped out more warts than conventional freezing did. In this study, warts were covered with duct tape for six days. Then, the warts were soaked in warm water and rubbed with an abrasive such as pumice stone. The treatment was repeated for as long as two months. However, subsequent research has not found duct tape to be significantly effective for treating warts. You can treat warts at home with medications from the drugstore. Get a patch or solution that contains 17 percent salicylic acid. You have to use these products daily for weeks. Two of these medications are Compound W and Occlusal-HP. Dr. Scholl makes a different product called Freeze Away that it claims that it removes warts "with as few as one treatment." Warts are benign skin growths caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Like other infectious diseases, wart viruses pass from person to person. You can also get the wart virus by touching an object used by someone who has the virus. Warts are usually rough and skin-colored. However, they can be dark, flat and smooth. Warts may grow one at a time or in bunches. They may bleed if picked or cut. They often contain one or more tiny black dots, which are sometimes called wart seeds. These dots are small, clotted blood vessels. There are several kinds of warts. Common warts grow on hands. They are more common where skin has been broken, such as where fingernails are bitten. Plantar warts are found on the soles, or plantar area, of feet. Walking pushes plantar warts back into the skin. They can be painful. When they grow in clusters, they are known as mosaic warts. Flat warts are small, smooth and tend to grow in large numbers. They can show up anywhere on the body. They are often found where people shave—the face on men and the legs on women. Irritation from shaving probably contributes to the development of flat warts. Genital warts are sexually transmitted. They can appear externally or internally. The wart virus affects people differently. Some people get warts; others don't. The likelihood of getting warts is similar to the chances of catching a cold. If your immune system is weak, you will be more prone to getting warts. Freezing — or cryotherapy — is one method for removing warts. Burning — or electrosurgery — is an alternative. Lasers are used when other therapies fail. There are also surface-peeling preparations such as salicylic acid. Retinoids, which are medications derived from vitamin A, are used to disrupt a wart's skin cell growth. Another treatment is to inject each wart with an anti-cancer drug called bleomycin. The injections may be painful and can have other side effects. Immunotherapy, which attempts to use the body's own rejection system is an additional treatment method. New warts should be treated as soon as possible to prevent them from shedding virus into nearby skin and creating additional warts. If you like to read more columns, you can order a copy of "How to be a Healthy Geezer" at http://www.healthygeezer.com. All rights reserved © 2011 by Fred Cicetti More from the Healthy Geezer: Read More @ Source 
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| How To Minimize Stress During World Travel and Tours Posted: 10 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Article by Jon Arnold With world travel the very first thing you can do to reduce your stress levels is to have a travel agent you can trust. This is because you have no idea of all the rules and regulations that are going to come up during your world tours. Having an agent that you trust is a great source of stress reduction. This is because you do not have to worry about all the little details and the infinite amount of paperwork and changes that come up. A good travel agent can advise of things like your passports, visas, shots and immunizations, as well as providing tips on local customs and culture so that you can fit in more easily when you arrive. There are a number of travel sites out there and the most popular ones deal with getting you the cheapest flights and hotels. This is great and wonderful for what they do and they are good at it. They however will not make sure that all the little details are taken care of or provide the personal touch that other sites and agencies can. I have found that world-travel-tour.com is one of those sites that does a good job of keeping their eye on all the small details. World travel these days can be a very scary thing filled with all kinds of stress because of the events in the news. A good agent is aware of all those things and will do everything to make sure that you are safe. Your world tour will be enjoyable and relaxing when you have the assistance of a knowledgeable agent. Here are some other things to consider while on your world tour. Make sure you have your schedule set and that you did allow yourself some "me time" in all the hustle and bustle of the trip that is something that can be easily forgotten. Keep your schedule realistic, these tour spots have been there for thousands of years and they will be there when you get to come back. Make sure you have a list of your medications and doctors so that if something should happen you can get proper treatment. Bring a good book to read since the flights are long and you will have plenty of tim! e to rea d and sleep. Make sure you get a good night's sleep before you head out on your flight. Even if your world travel is for business, schedule yourself some time for yourself to enjoy the new location you are in, instead of just trying to cram in back to back meetings and appointments. You will be able to enjoy being in the place you're at for the meeting and be well rested and be able to work better in the end. Relax and enjoy your world tour and find all the secrets the world has to offer. If you go to world-travel-tour.com it will be a good start to finding what the secrets are. The secret after all is that this world travel stuff really does not have to be filled with stress and doubt. If you want that, then go to work, world travel is about stress free time for you. About the AuthorJon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge and findings. You can read more about the stress of world travel and tours at his web site at http://www.world-travel-tour.com/ Kundalini Yoga for Beginners & Beyond - Guru Rattana 
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| Three Little Habits to Find Focus Posted: 10 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT
Post written by Leo Babauta.I'll be the first to admit that I fall victim to the trap of the Internet — a wonderful empowering tool that can fill your day with distractions, a million little "productive" tasks that matter little, constant interruptions from messages and status updates. Who doesn't fall victim to this? We are frittering our lives away. So how do we beat this? How do we make best use of the awesomeness of the Internet (which has given me the power to do what I love) without succumbing to its powers of distraction? This is a question that obviously occupied the minds of the ancients, from Aristotle to Lao Tzu (who was particularly prone to Lolcats), without any good answer. I have good news. There is a way. It's not always easy, but I've done it, and if I can do it, anyone can. It takes three little habits: 1. Set a time limit. Pick something important to do, and set a limited time to do it. That might be one hour, or 20 minutes, or even just 10 if you're having a hard time getting into it. The time limit helps sharpen your focus. If you have limited time to do something, you'll be forced to decide what's important. It also means you're not doing some unlimited task that could take hours, but a very specific one that will be over in X minutes. Setting a limit is good too for when you decide to process your email — only 20 minutes to get as many emails processed as you can, for example. 2. Close everything. This means everything possible on your computer that isn't absolutely necessary for the task at hand. If you don't need the Internet to write something, close it. Close email, all notifications and reminders, all programs not needed for your task. If you need your browser open, close all tabs — bookmark them, or save them to a read-later service like Instapaper. You can always open these sites when you're done. 3. Pause before switching. So you've closed everything else, you've set a time limit for your task at hand, and you're getting started … but then you get the urge to check email or Facebook or Twitter. You want to see what's happening on Instagram or Pinterest or Youtube. Stop. Make yourself pause for 5-10 seconds. This is the key habit that makes the other two work. Take a deep breath. Think about whether you really want to fritter your life away doing those things all day, every day, or if you want to do something great. Choose great, most of the time. These are little habits, and you can do them. When your time is up, you can give yourself a few minutes' break to check your favorite sites, and then close them again. But when you're trying to focus, practice these habits. They're a small price to pay for a life not frittered away by distractions. Read More @ Source 
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| Posted: 10 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT Article by Kate Chamberlain Meditation is a great option for eliminating stress out of your life. After you spend some time uncluttering your head from all of the distractions of life, you are well on the path to having and maintaining a peaceful existence. This mental state lets you feel good as you go about your day. It means you can put things into proper perspective as well as to find calmness of mind. Everybody should study meditation to find which way of meditation works for them. Additionally, you should try meditating at different times during your day. A number of people receive more benefits from meditating in the daytime while other people prefer to meditate at nighttime. This personalization of your meditation routine will increase the positive impact it provides on your life. In order to learn meditation, you could use the web. By searching in the numerous meditation information, tools, guides, courses, and programs offered online, you will gain a good comprehension of the different styles of meditation techniques. Aside from that, you can look at and discover specific books, music, dvds, along with other products that will help you to study meditation. Frequently, the easiest method to learn something is as simple as working together with a person that is an expert in the field. The quality of your wellbeing will greatly improve once you start meditating. You will be totally free of panic and anxiety. This new degree of clarity can significantly enhance your health. You will have more energy than you imagined possible. Your feelings gradually become far more positive as you invest time to learn meditation. Once you commit to this practice, you're clearing your body and mind of negative energy. Suddenly you become serene, experiencing and enjoying the small things all about you, and experiencing tranquility. When you feel happier about your connection and relationship to the people and world around you, you obtain internal peace. This particular form of serenity is possible via different meditation ! techniqu es. If you study meditation, you're opening the entranceway towards a better quality life. You can prioritize things in a considerably more sophisticated way. You feel well rested and able to move forward inside your life with awareness, mindfulness, and acceptance. Each one of these wonderful attributes is usually directly related to meditation. By taking some time out of your day to practice meditation daily, you strongly benefit your mind, body, and spirit. If you become healthy in these elements of life, the change in quality with your own daily existence may be monumental. Meditation must be honed to your individual preferences. By customizing how and when you meditate, you make sure that you get the maximum quantity of benefit. For instance, a number of people prefer to meditate after having a long day of work and others prefer to do so when they first awaken. By naturally implementing meditation in your lifestyle, you may be likely to continue to practice and study it. The study of meditation contributes to better health, a much more peaceful outlook, and increased energy with loved ones. By practicing meditation, you transform your life through clarity and understanding. About the AuthorIf you want to learn more and study meditation, please check out Study Meditation at http://www.studymeditation.net. Meditation: Clearing Negativity 
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| Five ways to incorporate meditation into your life Posted: 10 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT
Meditation acts as a great tool to combat the day to day stressors that we encounter. Our minds can take us on an emotional roller-coaster ride. Meditation works on controlling this emotional roller coaster ride, so we can experience more happiness and less stress. By taking a few minutes a day to train our attention, we can experience a much deeper sense of calm, balance, and self-control. You can practice meditation anywhere, whether you're at a business meeting, waiting inline at the grocery store, or waiting in the car to pick up your kids from school. Here are Five Ways To Incorporate Meditation Into Your Life. 1. At work Come up with strategies to take two to five minute meditation breaks throughout the day. A simple meditation practice is to close your eyes and bring your awareness to your breathing, without trying to control your breathing. Use a non-judgmental awareness when accessing this state. If you have an alarm on your phone, set it up to remind you to do this. One way to incorporate a practice into your day is to do it at your lunch break. Or you can get to your office a few minutes early and do two to five minutes of meditation for clarity. Another strategy is to become conscious of early stress responses. If you find yourself starting to become stressed at work, immediately slow down and bring your awareness to your breathing. 2. When you wake up A great way to start your morning off is with morning meditation. This will give you clarity of mind that will impact your entire day. Make it a ritual to incorporate ten to fifteen minutes of meditation right when you wake up in the morning. It will greatly improve the quality of your day. 3. While Waiting I do meditation all the time while I'm waiting in line at a grocery store. Remember you don't have to do meditation with your eyes closed all the time. You can do meditation just by bringing your awareness to your breathing while you're waiting, which will put you in a more centered and balanced state. Try this when ever you're waiting at the bus stop, while sitting in traffic, or even in the parking lot while you're waiting to pick someone up. 4. Before You Go To Bed I find doing meditation right before bed to be extremely beneficial. It will greatly improve your sleep. I also recommend if you're having trouble going sleep to get out of bed and do some meditation. Find a time to schedule meditation sessions, and do it every night at the same time. 5. Schedule a Ten Day Challenge Make a commitment today that you are going to do meditation every day for the next ten days straight. Meditation is like anything else — it takes a lot of focused attention to get used to doing it. But once you get over the initial difficulties, like trying to focus your mind, it becomes easy. Read More @ Source
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| Posted: 10 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT Article by Stephanie Lousena The western religions came about a lot later, No matter how you believe meditation is about the individual.The choice of position when meditating is just personal choice. You can be sitting, lying down, and kneeling, go using some of the older traditional positions. A regular meditation practice can and will change your life. Meditating on a daily basis provides you with the tools you need to be honest with yourself and others. Meditation is the essential tool for self-improvement.Meditation requires focusMeditation requires discipline.Meditation requires willingness.When you realize the above, it becomes obvious that meditation is the foundation for self-responsibility. Without a process for reflection and self-assessment, you will not be able to make the changes in your life that you want to make.Meditation develops and strengthens your ability to look at yourself from an emotionally detached point of view. This point of view provides you with the necessary perspective for an honest evaluation of your life: how you're responding to others, how you're effecting others, what path you're heading down and what steps you can take to change that path for the better.In addition with being able to assess yourself, meditation gives you the ability to forgive yourself. That may sound strange but it's true. It is also important. Without the ability to forgive yourself for your past mistakes you will not be able to move forward in life. Without the ability to forgive yourself, you will not be able to forgive others. If you don't forgive others you will spend your life building up a host of unresolved resentments that will wear you down mentally and emotionally without your ever realizing it.Meditation helps you develop "witness consciousness." This mental state creates for you the mental space needed to do all the above. Without a reflective, meditative practice witness consciousness cannot be developed.Having said all the above, you need to know that meditation is easy. Many people I have talked to over t! he years have said they really wanted to learn how to meditate but didn't know where to begin. Many people believe that learning how to meditate requires going to a teacher (usually some skinny guy with a bald head wrapped in robes) and following some rigorous process or schedule. This couldn't be further from the truth. Not that you can't learn how to meditate that way, just that there are much better ways. Listen to a guided visualization CD, download an mp3 file, go on YouTube and look for videos, check out amazon for books and ebooks.Like learning anything else, there are many different ways to start learning how to meditate. The most important thing is to start somewhere and keep at it.Meditation - not just for yogis anymore!How can one start learning about meditation? What kind of meditation is easiest for the beginner? From ancient Vedic teachings, to the latest technological tools, answers are as varied as the many different styles of the age-old practice of meditation. While each style has its advantages, the obvious choice for any beginner is the one that he or she will feel comfortable with and practice on a regular basis.Nevertheless, listed below are eleven tips that will make it easier for beginners to get started with meditation. About the AuthorI'm a life style blogger. I web site about lots of matters, all of them related to our impressive mind. Relaxation meditations are an amazing tool for destressing your mind and shape. Please examine my other content articles or observe me on my particular web siteKabbalistic Concepts: Meditati, <a hr Crystals Aur Hum - Crystals Aur Hum - How to Meditate 
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| Using Awareness To Battle Stress Posted: 10 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT Article by Gina Sarento Awareness is an incredibly powerful and important tool that we often take for granted. We tend to go through our day focusing on the tasks ahead and don't always open our eyes to the things going on around us. By taking the time to discover and explore the messages we get everyday from around us and within us, we can actually find a more vibrant, stress free, and healthy life. One way to reach a higher level of awareness is an amazing tool called Quantum Biofeedback. It is a technologically advanced interface born out of traditional biofeedback that can assess so much about you, your environment, and the stresses you face everyday. This tool allows you to become more aware of what may be causing you harm so you can start making better decisions about your health right now. Quantum Biofeedback uses a highly sophisticated device called the SCIO/EPFX to read your body's reaction to the frequency of over 9000 different items. This safe, non-invasive process takes place in the office of a Certified Biofeedback Specialist and is as easy as relaxing in a chair. After the "testing" phase is over, the SCIO/EPFX returns the findings to the Specialist who then acts as an analyst and coach informing you about the stresses your body is undergoing and what you can do about them. You see, everyday you are exposed to stresses of many kinds: emotional, spiritual, magnetic, electrical, and nutritional just to name a few, but most of us live life unaware of the strain these things put on our immune systems and the natural functioning of our bodies and minds. Often even if we did feel like something just wasn't right, in the past there was no easy way to find out what exactly was causing the imbalance. Now, with the SCIO/EPFX, there is a way to narrow it down and administer the therapy to bring the body and mind back to a healthy balance. This process, at it's core, is truly stress reduction. By identifying the major stresses on your body you can then take the necessary steps to get rid of them, easing t! he strai n on your body and allowing it to act and react in the way it was intended. Users of the SCIO/EPFX are often amazed at how aware they become of everything they eat, the people they associate with and the emotions they feel simply by having a few Quantum Biofeedback sessions. The special attention and extra consideration that goes in to making these decisions along with the therapy that the device administers can create dramatic differences in the lifestyle of anyone ready to live a healthier life. If you're ready to gain greater awareness and take control of your health, contact a Certified Biofeedback Specialist today for a Quantum Biofeedback session. About the AuthorPeople are slowly migrating from traditional western medicine and accepting Alternative therapy as a solution to healing. By using Biofeedback diseases and problems can be healed! Coping With Stress - Stress Eating and Premature Aging 
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| Buddhism and the West in the Eyes of Western Scholars Posted: 10 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT Article by Arjanyai John Walters, a British journalist converted to Buddhism, writes in his The Essence of Buddhism: "This, in the West, is a period of gigantic material and economic progress..... It is often boasted that everything in America has, with her amazing material progress, changed for the better. But what of man ? Everything may appear happier; yet man himself is no happier. Today, as statistics prove, a bigger proportion of people than ever before worry themselves into insanity. Psychiatry has become a big business because of the fears of men and women that they are going mad." "An increasing number of men and women, bewildered by the material and ideological chaos of today, are finding that the teaching of the Buddha brings them back to sense and clarity, to serenity and peace." Trevor Ling, Senior Lecturer at the University of Leeds, writes: "In other quarters there is a suspicion that religion in the West has betrayed man at the most important point in life, and consequently a tendency to find meaning in Eastern Religion." "There is plenty of evidence that in Western Europe people desire to find a coherent and meaningful system of values.... It may be that the words and the way of the Buddha have much to contribute at this moment of history to the religious life of the West." According to Dr. Donald K. Swearer, "Among American college students at this time there is an active and increasing interest in Asian religions. While acknowledging the esoteric appeal of Buddhism and other Asian religions, this interest is not simply part of the youthful rebellion against the religious establishment. Rather, much student involvement in these areas reflects a genuine quest for a meaningful set of values and a viable life-style. Nor is the growing interest in Buddhism simply the preserve of the young. John Cobb, an outstanding contemporary theologian, has observed that Buddhism offers one of the most compelling religious alternatives today, and Christian ministers utilizing Buddhist insights and ! practice s are becoming less and less rare. Indeed, a United Church minister friend of mine recently wrote requesting information on Zen Buddhism to be used in a senior high church school class." "Buddhism is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. Its popularity rests not only on the appeal it has among college students or the role it has played in influencing "hip" culture. It offers a serious religious option for many Westerners, and it may well prove to have a significant impact on Judaeo-Christian thought and practice. Alan Watts exemplifies those whose thinking has been decisively influenced by Buddhism, and even as devout a Catholic mystic as Thomas Merton was deeply involved in Buddhism before his untimely death in Asia while visiting Buddhist centers.""Yet, among all the varieties of Buddhism one can find in America today and all the forms of Buddhist practice, no aspect of Buddhism has a stronger appeal than meditation, especially among younger people." "Buddhist meditation is attractive for many reasons, to be sure. For some it offers a retreat from the chaos and complexity of today's world. For others it may serve as a means of introspective self-understanding; and, for still others it is the means for attempting seriously to grasp the truth of Buddhism." In the words of another American writer: "Today Buddhism and Buddhist art have spread round the world, from Japan east to America, from India west to Europe." "With the advance of science and psychology many of the older faiths have suffered. Their beliefs went against the new knowledge and the new knowledge won. But in this conflict the teaching of Buddha required no adjustments. Its wisdom has encompassed everything that modern thought can devise. Over 2,500 years ago the Buddhists had already solved many of the problems that modern psychology is still discovering." "It is perhaps significant that while mighty empires built upon greed and oppression have never lasted for more than a few centuries, the selfl! ess life of the Buddhist community has carried it safely through 2,500 years... Knowledge of Buddhism is being sought with increasing interest in the West, for it offers a personal philosophy to counteract the fragmented condition of Western society where many individuals no longer feel part of, or responsible for, the community in which they live. Expressions of this distress are seen in the demonstrations of students, flower people, hippies, and others who wish to drop out of, or change a society which they feel no longer supplies their needs."As it was written by a German scholar, Ernst Benz: "Many of these European students of Buddhism became converts to the new faith. They were also active in the creation and guidance of Buddhist organizations-matters in which the Asiatic Buddhists are less inclined to engage." About the AuthorGift ideas for kids How to time management Used church furniture Tibetan Buddhism: Secrets of the Yogis of Tibet - Part 5 
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| Antique Lamps - A Lamp with a Message! Posted: 10 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT Article by Maurice Robertson The story of Siddhartha's transformation into the Lord Buddha, meaning "one who has awakened", is well known to both the East as well as the West, with a growing Western interest in his life and teachings. Every one has heard the name of the Buddha, born, by common tradition, about 565 B.C. Very few of the details of the Buddha's life can be verified, and it is difficult to determine the difference between history and myth. Historically we believe that he was born in Lumbini which is in modern day Nepal, close to the border of northern India. He is believed to have been born into a ruling princely family and was given the name "Siddhartha" meaning, "One who has achieved his aim." At the time of the Buddha's birth, astrologers predicted that he would become a great king, or a monk who would evolve into a great teacher. His father, with this in mind, had the boy raised in luxury with every need met, in the hope that he would not become involved in a religious life. At the age of 16, his father arranged for him to marry a princess of his class, she was named "Yaśodharã". He continued his palace life until, aged 29; his wife gave birth to a son "Rãhula". Shortly after his son's birth, he began to travel away from his palace home. Buddhist tradition tells that he was deeply disturbed by the sight of an elderly, helpless, frail man. On his second journey, he saw an emaciated and depressed man suffering from an advanced disease. On the third, he saw a grieving family carrying the corpse of a family member to cremation. He was deeply affected by this and reflected on the suffering he saw, old age, illness and death. On his fourth journey he saw a wandering monk who led a reclusive life of meditation. He could see that he was calm and serene. This fourth experience motivated him to follow the path of the monk and find a spiritual solution to the problems brought about by human suffering. Siddhartha left his wife, child and luxurious lifestyle, in order to seek ! truth. T his was not uncommon and was accepted practice for some men to leave their family and lead the life of a wandering monk. After his enlightenment, the Buddha continued to teach, moving from place to place preaching and teaching his message. After forty-five years of teaching, aged 80, he died in the small town of Kuśinagara. His final words were: "Decay is inherent in all things. Be sure to strive with clarity of mind". The message of the Buddha began to spread and historical records tell that in 68 AD two Indian Buddhist monks were received at the Chinese Tang court and presented the teachings of the Buddha to the Emperor. The monks were well received and were given Imperial favor. They stayed in China, translating Buddhist texts and teaching. The Tang dynasty saw the flowering of Chinese Buddhism and by about 500AD the message had spread throughout China and in fact, at this time, there were more Buddhist's in China than in India, where most of the Buddhist's had reverted to Hinduism! Buddhism has always had a rich language of symbolism, as has China's ancient culture. When these two cultures merged, new heights of symbolism were reached. Much of the Buddhist teaching is metaphysical which requires a broad spectrum of symbolism, until the message, beyond the symbol, is read and understood. One of the Buddha's great teachings is called "The Eight Auspicious Symbols". Here we look at a Chinese altar vase, rich in the language of symbol, now reincarnated as a lamp! (To see this lamp please visit the company website below) "The vase", is one of the eight auspicious symbols and means many different things when it comes to Buddhism. It is, perhaps, one of Buddhism's most important symbols. It represents wealth, but not in the same way as wealth is understood in the West. Here wealth means "the ever increasing amount that we have as a result of our understanding through the study and effective practicing of the Dharma". This would be understood by such statements as, "the vase of inexhaustib! le treas ures", or "a vase for emptiness, allowing it to receive the Doctrine of Truth". Specifically, it means the spiritual abundance of the Buddha, a treasure that does not diminish, however much of it is given away. (An additional vase symbol is that fresh cut flowers are always placed on Buddhist altars in temples and in house altars in memory of the tradition that the Buddha loved flowers). Our second symbol is the vase handles, with modelled and applied Ju'i shaped sceptre handles. The Ju'i is the Chinese name for the sceptre shaped, short, curved staff held by the Mandarin class, signifying authority. The applied sceptre handles on the lamp translate as "transcendent" or true authority. Our third symbol is probably the most well known of all Buddhist symbols, the lotus. The bottom half of the lamp is composed of stylised lotus petals symbolically opening to reveal the pure vessel held within. The lotus flower represents purity. It is able to grow and flower from the muddy water, and therefore is a symbol of spiritual growth and regeneration. The roots of the lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the beautifully scented flower lies pristinely above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the rise from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment. The lotus is one of Buddhism's most recognized symbols and appears in all kinds of Buddhist art, painting, sculpture and ceramics. The lamp described is fitted with a finely turned maple wood cap and stand, water gilded with a satin finish. Circa 1850 Overall height (including shade) 25"/63cm A truly serene antique lamp with a message! About the AuthorThe Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique lamps with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique lamps on view. Lamps are shipped ready wired for the U.S, the U.K and Australia. For more information you are invited to visit their web site at -:http://www.antiquelampshop.com© The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009 The Conscious Universe: Where Buddhism and Physics Converge 
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| Environmental Stresses And What They Mean To You Posted: 10 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT Article by Maria Sanchez With more emphasis being put on the state of our global environment these days, do you ever stop to assess your local environment? Your home, neighborhood, office, or your regular grocery store... Each one has it's own "environment" made up of the air circulating throughout, the chemicals and materials that went into building and cleaning them, and even the people and energy the fill each area. All of these considerations go into making where we live and work a healthy or non-healthy environment. Often we spend so much time in these places that we overlook big issues that contribute to our health and well-being when we should be extra diligent in recognizing the harmful components and replacing them with better choices. Doing so qualifies as stress reduction when you really think about it. You are choosing to reduce the stress these things have on your body and mind. One of the most powerful ways to reduce the stresses of your daily environment is called Quantum Biofeedback. When used along with a general awareness of the places you go each day and the things you expose yourself to, Quantum Biofeedback is a safe, easy way to balance the effects of your environment. Certain elements of your local environment may, to some extent, be out of your control like electrical fields and air pollution and some may have already taken a toll on you causing illnesses, aches, pains, or unexplainable issues. Why not take the steps now to not only reduce your exposure to these harmful stressors, but also clear your body of the effects of years and years of living side-by-side with them by having a Biofeedback session? Quantum Biofeedback is a technologically advanced interface born out of traditional biofeedback that can administer therapy to reduce multiple kinds of stress, environmental being only one. Quantum Biofeedback uses a highly sophisticated device called the SCIO/EPFX to read the body's physiological reaction at the subconscious level to the frequencies of over 9000 different items like nat! ural rem edies, organs, and environmental stresses. This safe, non-invasive process takes place at the office of a Certified Biofeedback Specialist. The client is "linked" to the SCIO/EPFX by way of a safe, comfortable headband and a chair pad that rests where the client is seated for the duration of the session. After the "testing" phase is over, the SCIO/EPFX returns the findings to the Specialist who then acts as an analyst and coach informing the client of their current stressors so that they can take steps to reduce them. Because the SCIO/EPFX is communicating with the subconscious mind, the effect of the therapy can be very deep and incredibly powerful. If you are ready to find out more about what a SCIO/EPFX can do for you, contact a Certified Biofeedback Specialist today for a Quantum Biofeedback session. About the AuthorFinding a qualified Biofeedback specialist can be hard. Visit our website today and join the love healing center. We specialize in Stress Reduction. More Fun with American Word Stress! Enjoy! 
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| Early Morning Zen Buddhism Inspiration - 5/10/2012 Posted: 10 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT  "If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence." ~Thich Nhat Hanh       Read More @ Source 
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| Ways to Eliminate Stress, Exercise - Part 2 Posted: 10 May 2012 04:00 AM PDT Article by Darlene Siddons One of the best stress reduction techniques is frequent exercise, exercise is not only healthy for you but it also relaxes tense muscles and helps you to sleep. By exercising you speed up the flow of blood which improves the flow of blood to the brain, which clears the brain and the toxins out of the brain and you can think clearer, which is needed when you are thinking intensely, this is why when you are stressed you tend to get headaches. We often say to our friends and colleagues, I am just stressed out, now we can see that it isn't "just" a just, it is something that affect our bodies and our lives in every area. Exercise also releases endorphins into the blood stream and they are what can give you the feeling of happiness and wellbeing. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do, no matter where you are you can go for a walk, if you walk for at least 15 minutes a day it helps raise your level of endorphins, and get those mood-boosting chemicals to your brain, and start those feeling good feelings take over. Yoga is a great exercise to do also, there are all different kinds of yoga, find one that fits your style and then attend classes and/or get a video and do the movements at home. This will align your mind, body and soul and just release the stress right out of your body. I really recommend a yoga class, as the group activity is good for us and also to learn the yoga moves correctly. Another exercise you can do is progressive muscle relaxation this is where you sit in a chair back straight, head tall and straight, both feet on the floor and your hands resting on your lap. Tighten each muscle group and keep it tightened for about 15 to 20 seconds. Then relax slowly, it is best to start at the head and work down or at the feet and work up, exercise all muscle groups twice a day. This is another good one that can be done anywhere, even while waiting in the airport, shopping mall anywhere you can sit. So get moving and exercise those stressful waves right out of yo! ur body and think happy joyous thoughts. Thought for the Day: "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." -Elisabeth Kubler-Ross- About the AuthorMy life is a work in progress; my current passion is health and wellness in the arena of organic food, holistic health, natural wellness and sharing information with the physically challenged. I reside in my own personal wellness center retreat and sanctuary in California and this affords me to bring to you my wisdom, knowledge and spiritual self in my writings by Darlene Siddons Spirited Boutique 
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| Stress Relief Methods 1: Rhythmic Breathing Posted: 10 May 2012 03:00 AM PDT Article by Sandi Anders, M.Div., R.Y.T. Creating the experience of relaxation is essential to offset the injurious effects of recurring stress on the body. Through the use of relaxation techniques, one can begin to undo this cumulative, detrimental process, and connect to the body's amazing potential for self-healing. Herbert Benson, M.D., Harvard Professor and stress reduction specialist, first coined the phrase "Relaxation Response" in the early 1970s to describe the physiological and mental modifications that take place when one consciously relaxes. In The Wellness Book he indicates that the relaxation response is "a physiological state characterized by a slower heart rate, metabolism, rate of breathing, lower blood pressure, and slower brain wave patterns." Here are some of the valuable changes that occur when your body is resting in the Relaxation Response: 1. Heartbeat and respiration are slowed.2. Oxygen consumption is noticeably reduced.3. The expiration of carbon dioxide drops.4. Blood pressure stabilizes.5. Blood lactate levels (which many researchers believe are associated with panic attacks) decline steeply. There are numerous tested techniques which promote this state of intense rest and release. This piece of writing focuses on rhythmic, deep, diaphragmatic breathing. This valuable stress management tool is "right under your nose" and as close as your breath! When you drop into slow, deep breathing, the in-breath fills your lungs and causes your lower belly to expand as the diaphragm drops downward into the softness of your relaxed belly. Try it right now: Relax your body and let go of any noticeable tension. Allow your tongue and jaws to relax. Drop your shoulders away from your ears. Let your belly relax and become softer, freeing yourself of all tightness in that part of your body. Become aware of your breathing just as it is. Inhale, and take a deep full breath. Allow the breath to travel all the way down into the lower belly. You can imagine that there is a small! balloon in the belly. As you breathe in, let that balloon quietly inflate. As you exhale, feel how the balloon quietly deflates. Take in several of these deliberate, restful, deep breaths. Then start to notice that there is a slight pause that naturally occurs at the end of each exhalation. Give yourself permission to wait here without being in a hurry to inhale. Allow the next inhalation to surface as your body is ready to receive it. Take pleasure in the soothing tranquility of the pause. Float peacefully in the stillness of this pause between exhalation and inhalation, allowing the breath to happen of its own accord. Let the breath breathe you! If you are just learning diaphragmatic breathing, it can be useful to begin by lying on your back with your knees bent. In this posture, it is easier to feel "soft-belly", diaphragmatic breathing. Notice how the belly rises with inhalation and falls with exhalation. Let the breath create that movement. You can also lay your hands on your abdomen and breathe into their warmth. Feel how the weight of the hands goes up with in-breath and falls with exhalation. A heavy book placed upon the abdomen will create the same sensation. Another wonderful way to find deep belly breath is to lie face down on your belly. In this position, the only way you can breathe is diaphragmatically! Lastly, it can sometimes be useful to sigh out loud with the exhale. Sounding is an excellent way to release stress and tension. Deep, diaphragmatic, soft-belly breathing has a profound effect on the body. Just three minutes of soft-belly breathing can move your body out of Stress Response mode into the Relaxation Response! And if you can remain in that Relaxation Response for just 20 minutes each day, you will go a long way toward offsetting the injurious effects of recurring stress on your body. About the AuthorSandi Anders, M.Div., R.Y.T. http://www.SandiAnders.com offers her relaxation CD Alchemy of Peace and Love at http://www.Imagery4Relaxation.com, and recommends Stress Management and Relaxation resources at http://www.Books4SelfHelp.com/stress-management.htm. © 2007 Permission is granted to reprint this article in print or on your website as long as the paragraph above is included. 
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| Spiritual Discoveries Through Meditations Posted: 10 May 2012 02:00 AM PDT Article by Elizabeth J Dabrowski What I really like about any beginnings is the naivety of any beginner; no fear, no bad experiences to make one careful, complete trust in life that everything will turn out okay and an aura of freedom to do whatever the heart is set on. When we find out about spirituality for the very first time we almost feel the same way. And it seems very easy in the beginning; we have the knowledge, we understand what all the books and teachers are talking about, so we only have to start practicing it to change our lives around. At that point we are usually very optimistic, full of hope, wishing for the stars. And this is great and beautiful! So how come it is not happening?! It is because of what all the past bad experiences have done to us or, being more precise, without realizing on conscious level what we let them do to us. If something important happens we give it an emotional weight which is stored in our subconsciousness and later will reflect on our future reactions, and they will reflect on our lives. If the emotions are positive we can expect positive outcomes, but if they carry negative baggage like fear for example, it seems like a vicious circle; we know more but nothing changes! At least previous state of ignorance gave us the illusion of being powerless and unable to change anything. Now, with so much more understanding, it can be much harder to accept that it is us who hold ourselves back from reaching our dreams. To simplify it, it comes down to our expectations on subconscious level, and most of the expectations come from our childhood. If you were brought up in a well off family you naturally expect to always have money; if your parents were loving towards themselves this is how you expect your partnered live to be. You do not analyze it, you take it for granted, you expect it and that is what you usually get. Usually, because things can happen along the way as you are growing up, things which will sink deeper into your subconscious then you would ! wish for , changing your expectations at the same time. Observe little children playing; the way they presume their roles in a game, how and what they say. Very often it will give you a very good insight how their family lives shape them for their future, already presenting them with challenges to overcome. As we grasp the idea of spirituality, as we face the fact that it does not work as we hoped for, obviously we become very disappointed and discouraged, even doubting what we already know. At this stage we are very prone to find the right way to get a quick fix, to get what we want the most now! That is when we will be subscribing to all sorts of different courses, different gurus, anybody or anything which promises to help and solve our problems. And if that does not work next emotion could be anger (remember that anger is born out of unhappiness) with God, parents, other people and of course ourselves. Hopelessness and frustration here is even bigger as by now we know that it is up to us to change it but at the same time whatever we do does not change anything. You may feel completely lost and wanting to go back to the times of ignorance. But is it possible to go back knowing what you already have? I really do not think so. I believe the only way out is to go more in, to seek more and more understanding, until you can reach the stage of surrendering, acceptance and peace. Without recommending anything, I believe meditation is the key. The way and level of depth in your meditating will evolved as you practice, bringing with it all you need to start changing your world to what you want it to be. All that has always been inside you waiting doormat till you are ready to access it and I cannot stress enough how much meditating on regular basis can help bringing the change in you. And of course, change in you will bring change in your world! The best part is that meditations will remove constant struggle out of your life, replacing it with so much peace and astonishing resu! lts to t he degree when you will only be able to say: "Wow!", making everything you have been through worth while. Elizabeth J Dabrowski writes on Spirituality and Law of Attraction subjects. You can learn more by visiting her website http://www.beingawoman.net About the AuthorI write about what I have experienced myself, either personally or as an observer. Even though many people have influenced and shaped my theories, they are mainly based on my own development and as such reflect my very personal point of view. To find out more, visit my website http://www.beingawoman.net Spirit Science 5 - Keys of our Past 
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| 3 Ways to Achieve Superior Mind Control Posted: 10 May 2012 01:00 AM PDT Article by Gregory Frost The power of the mind is still a subject shrouded in mystery - even in these modern times. We humans have only discovered the use and potential power of less than half the mind, and this is after more than 500 years of research into the brain. When modern science came along, with proponents like Sigmund Freud, they discovered that within the conscious, tangible mind lies a deeper, more powerful component of the brain, called the pre-conscious mind. Now termed the subconscious mind, it has been identified as the secret mind that is operating beyond the realm of awareness. When science did discover this hidden awareness, it has been trying for many years to target the subconscious mind and literally change a person from within. Technologies such as affirmations, auto suggestions, binaural beats, hypnosis and even subliminal messaging are just some examples of the modalities used to subvert the subconscious mind and place positive messages within. These technologies give the end user superior mind control, in the sense that it allows them to drive past the normal defences of the conscious mind - right into the core of the subconscious. To a microbe within the human brain, the subconscious mind would probably represent an ethereal presence within the cerebral cortex of the human mind, wiping and moving as a single almost ghostlike entity within the recesses of the brain. Its wisps touch all the neurons that are critical to emotion, fear, character, speech, nuance - the very basic building blocks of the human soul and spirit. Within the subconscious would be a halo of messages and instructions, all wrapping along in a sort of maelstrom in the mind, sending messages into various parts of the brain. The subconscious mind is actually the soldier - carrying out orders from the physical awareness. These orders are in turn translated into base and raw emotional reactions that we experience. A good example would be phobias. The subconscious is affected either by a constant bombardment of messag! es or a single, catastrophic event that imprints within its matrix. Let us take the fear of swimming as an example. It could be due to horror stories told by friends, watching movies of people drowning and associating water with trauma. As a child grows up, this constant bombardment of messages will lead to a fear of water and of swimming. Or it could be a single event, like an explosion on a boat, or seeing someone get mauled by a shark. The carnal emotions reverberate into the subconscious mind and thus get reproduced every time there is physical contact with water. Reverse this technology and you have yourself methods in which you can gain superior mind control. They follow the same principles as mediation and hypnosis - or any one of the more advanced techniques discussed earlier in this article. Once you have these methods practiced to perfection, you will be able to conquer any hindrances or addiction in your life, over time and with effort. About the AuthorClick Here to get your Free 'Ultimate Success Unleashed' and achieve success faster. Greg Frost is a self improvement coach and has been helping thousands of people worldwide to achieve their dreams and goals through the use of subliminal messaging cds. 
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| Yoga Exercise For Flat Stomach Posted: 10 May 2012 12:00 AM PDT Article by Madhu Yoga Exercise For Flat Stomach has become a very popular form of exercise. Yoga is such a familiar term everybody seems to be at home with it. Even those who have not tried it seem so familiar with it because of its good reputation The health benefits of this exercise are, of course, undeniable.It is actually the body's way of healing itself. It is a mind, body connection and other motivations which can happen in your body if we continue to practice yoga exercise repeatedly. Yoga will also help you balance your mind, body and spirit through a series of physical exercises. Yoga exercises for abs target the stomach region, but they increase flexibility as well. For centuries, people wanting to increase their posture, strength and overall physical condition have relied on yoga.yoga helps in keeping your body active and flexible..In yoga classes, we are often taught to pay attention to the present moment. Instructors often remind us to pay attention to the breath to help us be in the moment. A yoga class can also help us quiet the mind from the noise of the world. A popular yoga exercise for abs, begins with your feet distanced about 3-feet apart. Turn your left foot out 90 degrees and keep your right foot pointing to a forward direction. Extend your arms out on either side of you at shoulder length. Then slowly bend to your right at your waist, and keep your chest facing forward. Place your right hand on your shin and point your left hand up to the sky. Hold this posture for 15 seconds and then return to your starting position. Switch feet and sides, and complete three poses on each side. For more information about "Yoga Exercise For Flat Stomach" Go to this website Yoga For Flat Stomach About the Author Also if want some more tips and workouts you can visit my website "and get ripped for six pack abs fast MY BLOG:Yoga For Flat Stomach Yoga For Kids - Make Your Belly Muscles Strong 
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| Sukhothai : Changing Monarchical Styles Posted: 09 May 2012 11:00 PM PDT Article by Manora A river island city-state founded in 1350 by King U-thong (later crowned King Ramathibodi), Ayutthaya remained the Thai capital for 417 years until its fall in 1767. In all, 33 kings ruled Ayutthaya during its glorious four centuries, but the rise of the island capital heralded radical changes in the concept and style of the Thai monarchy. Sukhothai rulers had subscribed exclusively to the formalised Buddhist science of kingship, and were both paternal and accessible to their people. Ayutthayan kings, however, while not relinquishing Buddhist ideals, embraced the Brahman concept of divine kingship to become increasingly highly structured and remote. According to legend, the Buddha, at birth, had the choice of becoming either Buddha or a Chakravartin, the Universal Monarch upon whom ideal Buddhist king-ship is modelled. Based on canonical descriptions of the Chakrauartin -an enlight-tened monarch who ruled according to Buddhist precepts, cherishing righteousness, honesty and charity- the Buddhist ideal of kingship inspired every Southeast Asian monarch after the Indian emperor Ashoka, himself.an ideal Buddhist monarch, sent missionaries to the region during his 3rd century B.C. reign. Briefly, the ideal Buddhist monarch is a King of Righteousness who abides by the ten kingly virtues of piety, liberality, charity, freedom from anger, mercy, patience, rectitude, mildness, devotion and freedom from enmity. A paragon of virtue, such a king unfailingly upholds the five Buddhist precepts of abstaining from killing, stealing, lying, adultery and intoxicating drinks. Furthermore, he dispenses justice, protects the weak, enriches the poor and diligently guards his human and animal subjects. Pre-Sukhothai rulers were chosen by tribal elders for their overall wisdom and leadership qualities. New contenders for the throne were continually arising and no ruler was ever in power long enough for dynasties to be established. The Sukhothai period, the first stable era of That history, saw d! ynastic succession established and kingship embodied in the benevolent paternalism moulded by Buddhist ideals. Then, during the Ayutthayan period (1350-1767), Thai kings adopted the practice of divine kingship. Thus, Ayutthayan kings, upon coronation were invested with the trappings and ceremony of Brahmanic ritual and retitled with the names of Hindu gods. For example, Ayutthaya's founder, Ramathibodi, de rived his name from Rama, the god Vishnu's reincarnation and the hero of the Indian epic "Ramayana". Brahmans, the highest caste Hindus, were a hereditary aristocracy who dominated Indian thought. Concerning them-selves with sacred ceremonies, cosmology, esoteric treatises and sublime speculation, the Brahmans viewed kingship purely as the logical karmic reward for spiritually-exalted previous existences. In an age when thrones were more often seized than inherited, such a concept held obvious appeal and was eagerly adopted by Khmer courts. Gradually, Khmer monarchs found Brahmans indispensable as sources of legitimization. Ayutthayan kings came to share the same view. King Ramathibodi specifically imported eight Brahmans from the Hindu holy city of Benares to preside over and legitimize his coronation. Their descendants comprise the Brahmans who conduct various ceremonies in the royal Thai court today.Essentially, complex Brahman ceremonies endowed Ayutthayan kings with a divine aura. Gradually, their lives assumed supernatural eminence and, apart from obligations to perform sacred ceremonies, they were free to do precisely as they wished, when they wished and how they wished. Universally viewed as being without equals and residing above the law, authentic strong-men who held the power of life and death over their subjects, they appointed all officials and owned all land and all it contained including people. State revenues were exclusively theirs. Their unique positions were further sustained by the elaborate court etiquette, language, ceremonies and protocol with which they surrounded them! selves. Their persons were literally sacred. Commoners were forbidden to look upon them, touch them or even mention their names in public. They ruled through a rigid hierarchy of intermediary courtiers, chamberlains, ministers and court officials. Being a law unto themselves, the greatest Ayutthayan kings were forceful leaders who led as innovators, warriors, statesmen and scholars. Never conforming to any stereotype, they inevitably formed the vanguard in new developments and gradually united fragmented Thai kingdoms throughout the Menam Chao Phya basin into what, at its apex, was the most powerful and brilliant Southeast Asian civilization. About the AuthorPlease visit travel guide The hotel room The house hotel The spa hotel "南無地藏王菩薩" 聖號- Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Extended Serene Version) 
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| Posted: 09 May 2012 10:00 PM PDT Article by Pushpitha Wijesinghe Bangkok, Thailand's vibrant capital is a multi-faceted paradise for visitors from around the world, renowned for its imposing buildings, temples and shopping opportunities as well as its famous nightlife. Bangkok is also well-known for its cultural and religious traditions. In Thailand, as a Buddhist country following the Theravada school of Buddhism, Vesak, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and demise of the Buddha holds pride of place on the religious calendar. The day of Vesak falls on the full moon day of the fifth or sixth month of the lunar Buddhist calendar. In the Western Gregorian calendar Vesak day falls in April or May. According to Buddhist tradition, the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha Gautama occurred on the same full moon day, although in different years. This day, known by a multitude of names in the various Buddhist countries, is the most important religious occasion throughout the Buddhist world. On Vesak day Thai Buddhists gather at the temples in the early morning, in time for the raising of the Buddhist flag and chanting of verses in honour of the sacred Triple Gem - the Buddha, Dharma (teachings of the Buddha) and Sangha (the order of monks). Buddhists bring candles, flowers and sticks of incense to be offered to the Buddha; these offerings are placed at the foot of the Buddha statue in the temples. Just as the incense and candles soon burn out and the flowers wither, these objects represent the universal law that all things are subject to decay. The laity are encouraged to abstain from killing of all kinds, and to limit themselves to a vegetarian diet for the day. Pious Thais will dress in white clothing and pass the entire day in temples, reaffirming their will to follow the Eight Precepts (ethical and religious resolutions). Buddhists also take this opportunity to assist the less fortunate, including the infirm, aged and the ill, giving gifts of cash and goods to charitable institutions. Vesak is a time of great joy, expressed! in thes e activities and the decoration and adornment of temples. Visitors can experience the traditional Vesak celebrations from a conveniently located Bangkok hotel. Giving travelers easy access to many shopping, cultural and business districts, Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok provides exceptional service and a wide array of facilities. About the AuthorPushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry. Gyuto Monks from Tibet performing Harmonic Chanting in Sydney 
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| Buddhism with and without faith Posted: 09 May 2012 10:00 PM PDT The Pali word for faith is saddhâ (in Sanskrit it is shradhâ) which is not unlike the English sense of faith or belief. In early Buddhism saddhâ, while being very close to the English sense had, also, a more cognitive meaning which made it instrumental in leading to enlightenment. This is evident in this passage:
The cognitive sense is better illustrated in this passage from the Bodhirajakumara Sutta.
In this example of faith, it eventually leads to becoming a competent elephant rider and handler of the goad. If the man lacked faith or belief in the Prince's abilities he would be unable to attain mastery of elephant-riding. This is not to say that faith is final. It is not. In Buddhism faith or saddhâ is only a means to knowledge or awakening. When one fully 'knows', there is no need for faith. In fact, the Arhat is free from faith (assaddho, Dhammapada 97) insofar as he knows the increate (akataññû). Modern day Buddhists who want to take faith or belief out of Buddhism are doing a great injustice. They deserve our just contempt. In fact, there is no such thing as Buddhism without faith or belief—not if you happen to be a beginner or even a veteran who is still unable to awaken.
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| Get to Know Your Subconscious Mind Posted: 09 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT Article by Gregory Frost When you are talking about the power of the mind, what you need to do is to find out more about the subconscious mind and what kind of potential it has to actually control every aspect of your body and mind. The subconscious mind is hidden deep within the cortex of the brain, and it resides within the intangible areas of the brain. Every one has a sub conscious mind, and this is what you need to know about on how powerful it is and how you are going to be able to use it to your own advantage. Mind power is our cognisant intellect, the way we reflect. The brain is comparable to a continually graceful mechanism on the other hand an ordinary spring cannot dispatch forth unsullied stream and acidic from the identical gap, nor acquiesce equally salt water and unmarked. So it is with the brain and its thoughts; it cannot uniformly imagine unenthusiastic and optimistic judgments at the identical time. When talking about this, the whole point of the power of the mind is that it is able to give some sort of momentum for yourself for some sort of self development and improvement. It can be the way you unconsciously handle a state of affairs whether appropriately or not. The force of the non conscious mind comes from the thoughts and beliefs of the office within the mind. Nevertheless your considerations and believe is what your subconscious brain force will produce. The process is done continuously, minute by minute. Every Last thought generated regularly by your psyche index will trigger your non conscious mind to form those persuasions and muscularity whether positive or severe into your spirit. This is how your present and future is created. This is why you need to get to know the subconscious mind as far as you can because it can be the key to your own self improvement. Follow through with some research and really, you would be surprised on what you are going to find out about your mind and yourself. The subconscious mind is in there, and it is time that we wake up and find out how we! are goi ng to use it to our own advantage. If your are looking at the whole host of psychological and physiological problems in the world today, most of them can be tracked back to being rooted within the mind and this is what you need to trust and believe in. So, take some time to yourself and get to know the small and still voice in your mind, and you would be able to fundamentally change your life in ways that you cannot even conceive. As you know, you will be able to find yourself and improve on the things in your life. So, the good thing is that there are plenty of websites and information online that you can use to help yourself find out more about the subconscious mind and how you can use it to increase the potential of your life. About the AuthorClick Here to get your Free 'Ultimate Success Unleashed' Subliminal Cd and supercharge your success. Greg Frost is an authority in the subliminal industry for many years and has helped thousands of individuals worldwide to attain their dreams and goals with his subliminal messaging cds. 
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| Posted: 09 May 2012 09:00 PM PDT Hanshan (Chinese: 寒山; pinyin: Hánshān; literally "Cold Mountain", fl. 9th century) was a legendary figure associated with a collection of poems from the Chinese Tang Dynasty in the Taoist and Chan tradition. He is honored as an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Manjusri in Zen lore. In Japanese and Chinese paintings he is often depicted together with his sidekick Shide or with Fenggan, another monk with legendary attributes. Both Toaists and Zen Buddhists claim Han-shan as theirs. The poetry of Han-shan shows a familiarity with both traditions, though he seems to have enjoyed poking fun at Taoists and Buddhists alike.  Español 1 Enseñanza de Dawa Gyaltsen por Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoché 
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| Uncover the History of Borobudur before Visiting this Grand Temple in Central Java Posted: 09 May 2012 08:00 PM PDT Article by Exotissimo Travel Borobudur is Southeast Asia's largest Buddhist monument. The Mahayana Buddhist temple consists of six levels topped by an additional three circular platforms and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The topmost platform consists of the monument's dome, which is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues. The temple is a major Buddhist pilgrimage site and is one of the country's most visited attractions. The temple is located near Magelang, Central Java Indonesia, about 40 kilometers northwest of Jogjakarta. Besides Borodudur, there are other Buddhist and Hindu temples in the area, such as Pawon, Mendut and the Prambanan temples compound. What differentiates Borobudur from the other temples in the region is that it is built on a bedrock hill, about 260 meters above sea level while the other temples were built on a flat surface. The is no concrete history as to who built the temple and for what purpose, but historians believe that construction was finished sometime in the 9th century and that it may have taken over 70 years to complete. It may have started out as a Hindu temple but was converted into a Buddhist monument right before construction. The base of the temple is square in shape, perhaps to symbolize earth's impurity. As one goes up, the 'stiffness' of the square gives way to circular rings, symbolizing the transaction into the heavens. The paths also contain miniature stupas containing Buddhas inside. The way up the temple circumnavigates around the center, allowing visitors to observe over a kilometer of reliefs depicting events in Buddha's life. The path also ascends through three levels of Buddhist cosmology, namely Kamadhatu (the world of desire), Rupadhatu (the world of forms) and Arupadhatu (the world of formless meditation), with a system of stairways and corridors containing more than 1,400 relief panels. The reason for Borobudur's abandonment remains unclear. Two possibly interlinked events may explain its desertion. Between 928 and 1006 A! D, there was a shift in power from Central Java to East Java and a series of volcano eruptions took place during that time. It is not entirely known if the natural disasters led to the shift in power, but this is the general consensus of Borobudur's disbandment. Another popular belief for the temple's abandonment is the population's conversion to Islam in the 15th century. The Buddhist monument was found under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth by a joint British and Dutch expedition in 1814. Due to the fragile nature of the temple, Borobudur could not be completely unearthed at the time, having to wait until 1835 for the whole structure to be fully revealed. There were initial fears that Borobudur had to be disassembled completely and the reliefs placed in museums because of the monument's unstable condition. But after a thorough investigation of the structure, it was revealed that these fears were unjustified and that it should be left intact. After the UNESCO-funded restoration work in 1973, Borobudur was once again a place of worship and a Buddhist pilgrimage site. The ceremony for Visakha Bucha (sometimes known as Vesak), a day commemorating Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away is celebrated at the three Buddhist temples by walking from Mendut to Pawon and ending at Borobudur. Borobudur is certainly one of the must visit temples in all of Southeast Asia. It is massive and is perhaps the oldest temple in the region. Arrive early to reach Borobudur for sunrise, before the crowds turn up and enjoy a guided tour of the monument with Exotissimo's Highlights of Jogjakarta and Surroundings tour. This 3-day highlight of Java's smallest province is not too intense, offering a balance between time spent at your own leisure and following our itinerary. See our Indonesia tours page for other memorable programs into this fascinating country or contact us for any questions or if you would like to tweak any of our tours. About the AuthorEstablished in 1993, Exotissimo Travel is a well known Tour Operator with 16 offices throughout Southeast Asia. We have the expertise and connections to create your perfect tours in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Indonesia at the best possible price. Amitabha Buddha Mantra (Namo Amituofo) 
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| Jobs Affect Depression Risk Differently in Men and Women Posted: 09 May 2012 08:00 PM PDT
A job can increase the risk of depression in both men and women, but for different reasons, a new study from Canada suggests. Women in the study who felt they were not appreciated at their job, or were not appropriately rewarded for their efforts, had an increased risk of depression, compared with women who felt they were rewarded appropriately, the study showed. No such link was found in men. On the other hand, a high amount of job strain increased the risk of depression in men working full time, but not in women. Conflicts between family and work influenced depression risk for both sexes, but in different ways. Men were at increased risk of depression if their family life got in the way of their work life, while women were at increased risk of depression if their work life interfered with their family life. The findings agree with previous studies suggesting that achievements at work play a bigger role in men's identity than in women's, the researchers say. Even though more women are in the work force, and more men take family responsibilities, "men and women, they may view their family role or their work differently," said study researcher JianLi Wang, an associate professor in the departments of Psychiatry and Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Wang and colleagues surveyed about 2,700 men and women living in Alberta between 2008 and 2011 who were not currently depressed. Participants were followed to see if they developed depression. They also answered questions about their jobs, such as their level of job strain and whether they felt adequately rewarded for their efforts. After a year, 3.6 percent of participants were diagnosed with depression. The incidence of depression was higher in women with 4.5 percent developing the condition, compared with 2.9 percent of men. Women who worked full time (35 to 40 hours a week) had an increased risk of developing depression. Men who worked full time had an increased risk of depression only if their job had a high level of strain. Eleven percent of men who worked full time and had high job strain developed depression, compared with 1.5 percent of men who worked full time and did not have high job strain. Worrying about losing a job increased the risk of depression in both men and women. Major depressive disorder has a significant impact on the health of employees, and affects job performance, Wang said. Employers should monitor the magnitude of these factors, such as job strain, in order to prevent their full-blown negative effects, Wang said. Future studies with more people are needed to confirm the results. Larger studies may also aid in the development of strategies for employers to prevent depression in employees, the researchers said. The study was published May 3 in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Pass it on: The impact of a job on depression risk is different for men and women. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily staff writer Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner. Find us on Facebook. Read More @ Source 
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Meditation is an incredible tool that has been used for thousands of years in eastern spiritual traditions of India, Tibet, and China. Most recently, it has been used in western medicine to work with pain, stress, and even by American Troops suffering from PTSD.
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