3 Keys to Life You Can Learn from Shawn Johnson
3 Keys to Life You Can Learn from Shawn Johnson |
- 3 Keys to Life You Can Learn from Shawn Johnson
- What Phone Calls Does Your Telephone Number Attract?
- Colonizing Buddhism
- Early Morning Spiritual Consciousness Inspiration - 9/20/2012
- 3 Keys to Life You Can Learn from Shawn Johnson
- Why Buddhism doesn't believe in self-realization
| 3 Keys to Life You Can Learn from Shawn Johnson Posted: 20 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT  So viewing the London Olympics each night the past couple of weeks has been a family affair. It all started when our oldest daughter flipped like crazy in the womb. It was a sight to see! Then by the age of 2 she was doing cartwheels and round-offs without any instruction. Realizing tumbling was her gift; we entered the world of the gymnastics. Soon we found ourselves living at the gym. Climbing the gymnastic levels there were years she jumped, twisted, and twirled 4-5 hours a day in the gym. It was grueling and exciting, but a journey we made as a family. Fears were continually being conquered, despite aches, pains, fractures, and sprains. There were tears and there was much laughter. As our daughter entered high school, juggling the world of gymnastics and cheerleading became impossible. With each sport requiring long hours of practice she decided to pursue cheerleading. Choosing to focus on one sport cheerleading was a great call, as she soon landed a scholarship to college. Being the mom of a gymnast and cheerleader, I wouldn't trade those years for anything. There were many long days, but each challenge became new ground to conquer. From a mom's perspective, looking back I learned a lot along this journey. If you struggle to know the right amount of time that your child should pursue sports as an extra-curricular activity or as a serious endeavor, here are a few keys to help you. Keep a Balance in Life My oldest daughter was not the only child involved in activities. They were each involved in their schools and ! extra-curricular activities. I became great friends with my Franklin Planner, as I made sure each child got their time in the gym, on the field, or on mom's lap. We didn't skimp on family time. We didn't neglect the things that were truly important. I made sure our lives were balanced. Each day was not necessarily balanced, but taking a look at the whole picture it was. Sometimes You'll Want to Quit There were days were my daughter would get aggravated over the complexity of not getting a skill or that she was in pain from new rips and tears from the bars. She'd voice the notion of quitting. I'd listen, as a mom should. I knew her passion and figured once she had time to rest, her thought processes would be back on track. Isn't that how we all are as leaders and parents? It's those frustrating days that get us down. At our wits end, we voice we want to quit. When we're tired of living in our cars, running from activity to activity, we're exhausted and ready to quit. Just remember that voicing you want to quit occasionally is natural, but quitting is not an option. Staying positive especially on the days when nothing seems to go right and you're exhausted is key and critical for you and your child. In the End it's all about Character In the end it's not the sport that makes a person. As a parent, it's not the fact that we can multi-task and juggle 14 kids and their activities that matter. No, it's our character. It's the presence of our being as we go through life that others will remember. It's our heart-felt honesty and sincerity that make a difference. At college my daughter was injured which sent her home at the age of 19. Having a meltdown over the fact that her life had changed and the gym now was of the past, my daughter had to come to the realization that the sport did not reflect her as a whole! . ! She was not the sport. No, she had much more to offer than that. While we never made it to the Olympics, I'm thankful for the lessons we learned along side some incredible gymnasts. Thanks to all the parents who balance life, don't quit even while secretly wanting to, and always hold their head high with great character. You are the true champions leading and forming the minds of our children. What areas are hard for you to juggle? Creating a balance? Upholding character? Keeping it positive?
Do you have a bucket list? Here are 101 things to do before you die. Includes a tutorial on how you can create your bucket list too!          Read More @ Source 
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| What Phone Calls Does Your Telephone Number Attract? Posted: 20 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT  Telephone Based on Numerology what type of calls does your telephone number attract? Business call or personal call, is the person on the other end of the line someone you really want to talk to? Just as a name projects a person's or business' image a telephone number makes a non-verbal statement about the conversations to expect. The following information is based on the study of the meaning of numbers – Numerology. To find out what your phone number says, you have to reduce the seven digits of your phone number by adding them together until only one number remains and then read the corresponding number meaning in the list that follows. Example: 528-1803 5 + 2 + 8 + 1 + 8 + 0 + 3 = 27 = 2 + 7 = 9
What about the Area Code?How does the area code fit into all this? Area codes cover an entire group of phones in a particular location in the network. This three digit number provides the backdrop for the seven digit number discussed above. Reduce the three digits of your area code number by adding them together until only one number remains and then read the corresponding number meaning in the list that follows. Example: 289 2 + 8 + 9 = 19 = 1 + 9 = 10 = 1 + 0 = 1
To find out more what the numbers have to say about you and your life and how they can help you contact me for detailed information. Related Posts:
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| Posted: 20 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT Almost all of what secular Buddhist Spirituality protests against in Buddhism, such as rebirth, for example, is not an academic criticism insofar a scholars have not come to any final word as to what the Buddha actually taught. Sure, there are many good educated guesses—some better than others. Nor do various sects, like Theravada have the final word. Rather the protest is an emotional reaction, a reaction against immaterial spirit. More importantly, what the reaction reveals, or I should say, belies, is the fact that traditional Buddhism is being colonized by materialists who claim to be Buddhist Spiritualitys. As part of their colonizing effort, 'science' replaces the former Christian missionaries whose job is now to convert native Buddhist Spiritualitys using the new gospel of scientism. In other words, native Buddhism must be saved from its antiquated, outworn superstitions such as karma, rebirth and nirvana! The colonizing efforts of the materialists like Stephen Batchelor and others certainly has to be stopped in its tracks. A line in the sand has to be drawn that separates the needs and goals of the natural and physical sciences from Buddhism as a spiritual science which has much different goals. Personally, I would like to see a more clearly defined battle between the secular Buddhist Spiritualitys and the true Buddhist Spiritualitys for the hearts and minds of Western Buddhist Spiritualitys, one in which the claim of scientism, namely, the only means of knowledge is through the natural and physical sciences, is crushed once and for all. 
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| Early Morning Spiritual Consciousness Inspiration - 9/20/2012 Posted: 20 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT  "Good men and bad men differ radically. Bad men never appreciate kindness shown them, but wise men appreciate and are grateful. Wise men try to express their appreciation and gratitude by some return of kindness, not only to their benefactor, but to everyone else." ~The Buddha       Read More @ Source 
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| 3 Keys to Life You Can Learn from Shawn Johnson Posted: 20 Sep 2012 05:00 AM PDT So viewing the London Olympics each night the past couple of weeks has been a family affair. It all started when our oldest daughter flipped like crazy in the womb. It was a sight to see! Then by the age of 2 she was doing cartwheels and round-offs without any instruction. Realizing tumbling was her gift; we entered the world of the gymnastics. Soon we found ourselves living at the gym. Climbing the gymnastic levels there were years she jumped, twisted, and twirled 4-5 hours a day in the gym. It was grueling and exciting, but a journey we made as a family. Fears were continually being conquered, despite aches, pains, fractures, and sprains. There were tears and there was much laughter. As our daughter entered high school, juggling the world of gymnastics and cheerleading became impossible. With each sport requiring long hours of practice she decided to pursue cheerleading. Choosing to focus on one sport cheerleading was a great call, as she soon landed a scholarship to college. Being the mom of a gymnast and cheerleader, I wouldn't trade those years for anything. There were many long days, but each challenge became new ground to conquer. From a mom's perspective, looking back I learned a lot along this journey. If you struggle to know the right amount of time that your child should pursue sports as an extra-curricular activity or as a serious endeavor, here are a few keys to help you. Keep a Balance in Life My oldest daughter was not the only child involved in activities. They were each involved in their schools and ! extra-curricular activities. I became great friends with my Franklin Planner, as I made sure each child got their time in the gym, on the field, or on mom's lap. We didn't skimp on family time. We didn't neglect the things that were truly important. I made sure our lives were balanced. Each day was not necessarily balanced, but taking a look at the whole picture it was. Sometimes You'll Want to Quit There were days were my daughter would get aggravated over the complexity of not getting a skill or that she was in pain from new rips and tears from the bars. She'd voice the notion of quitting. I'd listen, as a mom should. I knew her passion and figured once she had time to rest, her thought processes would be back on track. Isn't that how we all are as leaders and parents? It's those frustrating days that get us down. At our wits end, we voice we want to quit. When we're tired of living in our cars, running from activity to activity, we're exhausted and ready to quit. Just remember that voicing you want to quit occasionally is natural, but quitting is not an option. Staying positive especially on the days when nothing seems to go right and you're exhausted is key and critical for you and your child. In the End it's all about Character In the end it's not the sport that makes a person. As a parent, it's not the fact that we can multi-task and juggle 14 kids and their activities that matter. No, it's our character. It's the presence of our being as we go through life that others will remember. It's our heart-felt honesty and sincerity that make a difference. At college my daughter was injured which sent her home at the age of 19. Having a meltdown over the fact that her life had changed and the gym now was of the past, my daughter had to come to the realization that the sport did not reflect her as a whole! . ! She was not the sport. No, she had much more to offer than that. While we never made it to the Olympics, I'm thankful for the lessons we learned along side some incredible gymnasts. Thanks to all the parents who balance life, don't quit even while secretly wanting to, and always hold their head high with great character. You are the true champions leading and forming the minds of our children. What areas are hard for you to juggle? Creating a balance? Upholding character? Keeping it positive?
Do you have a bucket list? Here are 101 things to do before you die. Includes a tutorial on how you can create your bucket list too! Read More @ Source 
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| Why Buddhism doesn't believe in self-realization Posted: 19 Sep 2012 10:00 PM PDT For a long time in my spiritual seeking career -- about 1968 to the present -- I thought "self-realization" was a worthy goal. I knew people who were active in the Self-Realization Fellowship founded by Yogananda. I followed a meditation practice that taught "self-realization before god-realization." I avidly read books by people who has supposedly found their true self. Now, I'm much more inclined to the Stress Reduction viewpoint: there's no such thing as the self, so self-realization isn't possible. This differentiates Buddhism from other religions, spiritual philosophies, and mystic paths which hold that we humans have (or are) a soul which needs to be united with God, spirit, or whatever other name is given to a hypothesized ultimate divinity. Now, I readily admit that my understanding of Buddhism doesn't come from being an actual Stress Reduction. I find Buddhism too organized, religious'y, and dogmatic for my churchless taste, even though if I was offered a million dollars to join an organized, religious'y, dogmatic faith, I'd instantly yell "I choose Buddhism! Money please!" Meaning, of the world's main religions, I dislike Buddhism the least. In fact, I definitely like Buddhism when it is stripped of its supernatural elements, along with its hierarchical side -- teachers, masters, enlightened beings, and such who are considered to be loftier non-souls than the rest of humanity. Case in point: after learning about Sam Harris' recommended reading list, I headed off to the Amazon (web site, not the rain forest) and ordered a couple of Stress Reduction books on the list. This morning I read the first three chapters of "Introduction to Emptiness." Emptiness is an idea that fascinates me. I really like the notion that nothing is the essence of everthing. This is what stimulated me to start my personal Wu Project, which became a blog category with quite a few posts, starting here. The Stress Reduction view of emptiness, though, is different from "nothing." Guy Newland, the author of "Introduction to Emptiness," does a good job explaining it. (Newland is a Stress Reduction scholar and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Central Michigan University.) We suffer unnecessarily because we do not know ourselves. Like addicts fiercely clinging to a drug, we cannot let go of the sense that we are substantial, solid, independent, and autonomous. ...To be real, to be alive, we feel that we must deep down somehow exist in a solid and independent way. Death tells us a very different story, but for that very reason we find a million ways to avoid hearing the message of death. That message is that we are impermanent. Our bodies are disintegrating moment by moment, right now. And though we desperately wish to believe otherwise, the truth is that beneath our ever-changing minds and aging bodies there is no eternal and essential self. We have no natural existence, no independent way of existing. We exist contingently, interdependently. We exist, but only in dependence on our ancestors, our body parts, our food, air, and water, and the other members of our society. We could not and do not exist otherwise. Devoid of any independent or substantial nature, our existence is possible only because it is far less rigid, less concrete, than what we imagine it to be. Rather than seeing things as they are, we superimpose upon ourselves -- and on things around us -- a false existence, a self-existence or essential reality that actually does not exist at all. In the Stress Reduction philosophy explained here, the ultimate truth is the sheer absence, the lack, of any such essence. This is emptiness (stong pa nyid, shunyata). While this may sound bleak, disappointing, or frightening, it is the very nature of reality. And it is reality -- not fantasy -- that is our final hope and our refuge. The path to freedom from needless misery, for ourselves and others, is through profound realization of this fundamental reality. By and large, I think Newland and Buddhism (Mahayana variety) have it right. Emptiness, in the Stress Reduction sense, is wonderfully compatible with modern science, including modern neuroscience. There's no enduring self to be found within the brain. Nor outside of it, notwithstanding the widespread religious belief in an ethereal soul which somehow floats around independent of body and mind, while also somehow being intimately connected with them as a source of life and consciousness. Of course, I could be wrong. Buddhism could be wrong. Guy Newland could be wrong. This is the way of science: uncertain, open to new evidence, provisional. Heck, even The Onion could be wrong, as shocking as that sounds. I bet, though, that "Search for Self Called Off After 38 Years" is much closer to ultimate truth than the teaching of any religion is. CHICAGO—The longtime search for self conducted by area man Andrew Speth was called off this week, the 38-year-old said Monday. "I always thought that if I kept searching and exploring, I'd discover who I truly was," said Speth from his Wrigleyville efficiency. "Well, I looked deep into the innermost recesses of my soul, I plumbed the depths of my subconscious, and you know what I found? An empty, windowless room the size of an aircraft hangar. From now on, if anybody needs me, I'll be sprawled out on this couch drinking black-cherry soda and watching Law & Order like everybody else." "Fuck it," he added. My sentiments exactly. Except I prefer to drink strong coffee, or red wine, and watch Survivor or So You Think You Can Dance. (See my related blog posts here and here.) 
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