The Only Way to Respond to Life
The Only Way to Respond to Life |
- The Only Way to Respond to Life
- Early Morning Stress Reduction Inspiration - 9/22/2012
- Six Simple Steps to Better Time Management
- Six Simple Steps to Better Time Management
- Women Who Eat Soy May Have Lower Heart Disease Risk
- How to Reduce Sodium in Your Diet
- New Kidney Donation System Could Change Who Gets Best Organs
- 5 Signs of Gynecological Cancer Women Ignore
- Will Soda Make You Fat? Genes May Tell
- A visit to a dark, deep place within
| The Only Way to Respond to Life Posted: 22 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT Post written by Leo Babauta.I went for a run along the beach at sunset yesterday, foam kissing my bare feet, smooth sand caressing my soles, and the sky exploding with color. I paused for breath, mostly because the sky, and the Pacific, had borrowed my breath from me. I stopped and applauded. This is the only response that life deserves: overjoyed applause. This morning, wherever you are, whatever life has given you, take a moment to really appreciate this gift, and applaud. I mean, actually applaud. Then give back to life, something, anything, to show your gratitude for this miracle you've been given. Do anything: be kind to someone, create something, be gentle with your children, do something where your body feels full of life. We often not only take life for granted, but complain about it. Life isn't perfect, work is boring, people are too rude, drivers are idiots, no one gets me, I have too many things to do. But goodness, look around you! What a wonder life is! If only we would take the time to see it, to really appreciate it, and to applaud. This moment is a ridiculously generous miracle. Give it up, folks, for life. Read More @ Source
| |||
| Early Morning Stress Reduction Inspiration - 9/22/2012 Posted: 22 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT  "When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky." ~The Buddha       Read More @ Source 
| |||
| Six Simple Steps to Better Time Management Posted: 22 Sep 2012 05:00 AM PDT  If you work for yourself, it's even more important – poor time management could spell the end of your business, or at least make you less successful than you'd hoped. Poor time management can be at the root of many problems. If you find yourself taking work home in the evenings, for instance, it might not be because you've got too much work but because you're not managing your time well during the day. And if you're often stressed out and frustrated by your work, this might be a time management issue too: no-one likes feeling disorganized and behind with things. If you know your time management skills aren't quite up to scratch, try these simple steps to improve: #1: Use an Organizer It doesn't matter what kind of organizer you use – some people like a paper diary, others use Google Calendar, and others have a favorite software program. What's important is that you have an organizer and that you use it. Your organizer should let you keep track of your appointments. If you've ever forgotten a meeting, or double-booked yourself, you'll know why this matters! You'll also want to keep a note of key reminders ("Buy anniversary card for spouse"). It's also useful if there's space for a daily to-do list or similar... #2: Write a To-Do List Every Day How do you begin your working day? Many people start off by checking their emails, and then begin tackling whatever happens to have come in. It's easy to end up spending the whole day on minor tasks, rathe! r than tackling the work that really needs to be done. At the start of each day, take five or ten minutes to write down a list of what you want to accomplish. You'll probably have a few mission-critical items ("Finish client's report") and a few things that are essentially just reminders of small tasks ("Phone Joe"). Writing down the big items helps you focus on them right from the beginning of the day; writing down the small ones means you don't have to use up valuable mental energy trying to remember them. #3: Prioritize by Importance How do you decide which tasks to tackle first? If you go for the ones that seem most urgent – with the closest deadline, or the pushiest client – then you might end up shoving aside more important things. Sometimes, prioritizing by urgency makes sense, but as a general rule, you should be tackling the important tasks first. One way to do that is by dividing your day into two halves: work on important, longer-term tasks in the morning, and on urgent tasks in the afternoon. If those urgent things truly need to get done by 5pm, you'll probably manage them just fine -- without spending the whole day caught up in them. #4: Understand Your Peak Times of Day Are you a morning lark or a night owl? Do you find it easier to focus at 8am or 8pm? We all have peaks and troughs of energy throughout the day – and it's useful to get to know when your best (and worst) times are. For me, mornings are the best time: I use them for my most creative and energy-demanding work, which is writing. Afternoons are when I deal with editing, admin, emails, and other smaller tasks. I have a slump around 4pm - 5pm, when I'm grouchy and unable to focus. I can easily accomplish twice as much between 9am - 10am as between 4pm - 5p! m. Your u! ps and downs may be very different from mine – but by figuring out when they are, you can plan your work and manage your time more effectively. #5: Take Regular Breaks This might sound a little counter-intuitive – but are you taking enough breaks? If you're aiming to improve your time management, you might try to do so by working steadily for hours without stopping ... but this isn't going to make you more productive. By taking regular breaks, you give yourself a chance to switch off and recharge. Most people can only focus for around 25 - 45 minutes before needing a brief break (even if it's just five minutes to get up, grab a glass of water, and move around a bit). Planned breaks are crucial: don't simply work until you get stuck or run out of steam. If you know you're going to take a break at 11am and it's 10.40, it's easy to stay focused – you may even find yourself working harder to get a task completed before your break. #6: Check Email Less Often Do you keep your inbox open constantly? Or do you find yourself checking emails every half-hour? If so, you're destroying your ability to get into the zone with your work. Yes, your clients and colleagues might like it that you always reply promptly – but if this pulls you away from your actual work, you aren't doing anyone any favors. Try checking email a bit less frequently. That might mean every two hours, or just once or twice a day, depending on your industry and the expectations of your boss or clients. You'll find that you're not only more focused, you're able to get through your emails in less time, because you can tackle them! as one b! atch. Do you have any great time management tips to add? Or do you have a particular time management problem that you're struggling with? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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 
| |||
| Six Simple Steps to Better Time Management Posted: 22 Sep 2012 04:00 AM PDT If you work for yourself, it's even more important – poor time management could spell the end of your business, or at least make you less successful than you'd hoped. Poor time management can be at the root of many problems. If you find yourself taking work home in the evenings, for instance, it might not be because you've got too much work but because you're not managing your time well during the day. And if you're often stressed out and frustrated by your work, this might be a time management issue too: no-one likes feeling disorganized and behind with things. If you know your time management skills aren't quite up to scratch, try these simple steps to improve: #1: Use an Organizer It doesn't matter what kind of organizer you use – some people like a paper diary, others use Google Calendar, and others have a favorite software program. What's important is that you have an organizer and that you use it. Your organizer should let you keep track of your appointments. If you've ever forgotten a meeting, or double-booked yourself, you'll know why this matters! You'll also want to keep a note of key reminders ("Buy anniversary card for spouse"). It's also useful if there's space for a daily to-do list or similar... #2: Write a To-Do List Every Day How do you begin your working day? Many people start off by checking their emails, and then begin tackling whatever happens to have come in. It's easy to end up spending the whole day on minor tasks, rathe! r than tackling the work that really needs to be done. At the start of each day, take five or ten minutes to write down a list of what you want to accomplish. You'll probably have a few mission-critical items ("Finish client's report") and a few things that are essentially just reminders of small tasks ("Phone Joe"). Writing down the big items helps you focus on them right from the beginning of the day; writing down the small ones means you don't have to use up valuable mental energy trying to remember them. #3: Prioritize by Importance How do you decide which tasks to tackle first? If you go for the ones that seem most urgent – with the closest deadline, or the pushiest client – then you might end up shoving aside more important things. Sometimes, prioritizing by urgency makes sense, but as a general rule, you should be tackling the important tasks first. One way to do that is by dividing your day into two halves: work on important, longer-term tasks in the morning, and on urgent tasks in the afternoon. If those urgent things truly need to get done by 5pm, you'll probably manage them just fine -- without spending the whole day caught up in them. #4: Understand Your Peak Times of Day Are you a morning lark or a night owl? Do you find it easier to focus at 8am or 8pm? We all have peaks and troughs of energy throughout the day – and it's useful to get to know when your best (and worst) times are. For me, mornings are the best time: I use them for my most creative and energy-demanding work, which is writing. Afternoons are when I deal with editing, admin, emails, and other smaller tasks. I have a slump around 4pm - 5pm, when I'm grouchy and unable to focus. I can easily accomplish twice as much between 9am - 10am as between 4pm - 5p! m. Your u! ps and downs may be very different from mine – but by figuring out when they are, you can plan your work and manage your time more effectively. #5: Take Regular Breaks This might sound a little counter-intuitive – but are you taking enough breaks? If you're aiming to improve your time management, you might try to do so by working steadily for hours without stopping ... but this isn't going to make you more productive. By taking regular breaks, you give yourself a chance to switch off and recharge. Most people can only focus for around 25 - 45 minutes before needing a brief break (even if it's just five minutes to get up, grab a glass of water, and move around a bit). Planned breaks are crucial: don't simply work until you get stuck or run out of steam. If you know you're going to take a break at 11am and it's 10.40, it's easy to stay focused – you may even find yourself working harder to get a task completed before your break. #6: Check Email Less Often Do you keep your inbox open constantly? Or do you find yourself checking emails every half-hour? If so, you're destroying your ability to get into the zone with your work. Yes, your clients and colleagues might like it that you always reply promptly – but if this pulls you away from your actual work, you aren't doing anyone any favors. Try checking email a bit less frequently. That might mean every two hours, or just once or twice a day, depending on your industry and the expectations of your boss or clients. You'll find that you're not only more focused, you're able to get through your emails in less time, because you can tackle them! as one b! atch. Do you have any great time management tips to add? Or do you have a particular time management problem that you're struggling with? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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 
| |||
| Women Who Eat Soy May Have Lower Heart Disease Risk Posted: 22 Sep 2012 01:00 AM PDT
Women who consume higher levels of soy may have a lower risk of coronary heart disease, a new study suggests. Researchers found that women in China with the highest levels of a soy compound called equol in their urine were 54 percent less likely to have heart disease, compared with the women in the study who had the lowest levels. "Our results suggest that higher urinary equol excretion is related to a lower risk of coronary heart disease in women," said study author Dr. Xianglan Zhang, an assistant professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. "Our results provide some clues to further evaluate the role of soy in preventing heart disease," she said. The study is the first to suggest that equol, a marker of soy food consumption as well as its absorption and metabolism in the body, may be linked with lower heart disease risk in women. But the study did not show any connection between men's urinary equol levels and heart disease risk. Although the exact reasons are unclear, Zhang suspects that sex hormones, as well as dietary habits and lifestyle factors, may explain some of the differences in results between women and men. The findings were published online Aug. 27 in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Better clues to soy intake The researchers reviewed data collected from middle-aged and older people in Shanghai. They compared the urine levels of compounds called isoflavonoids of 377 people who developed coronary heart disease, with 753 who did not. Previous studies of soy and its effect on heart disease have relied on questionnaires, which require study volunteers to remember how often and how much soy they typically consumed. Urinary isoflavonoids levels may offer better clues to a person's true soy intake, the researchers said. The findings were based on soy obtained from foods — such as tofu, soy milk and edamame— and do not apply to soy found in dietary supplements. Scientists did not find any link between total urinary isoflavonoids levels and coronary heart disease. But when they looked at specific isoflavonoids, they found that higher equol levels were associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease in women. Equol is produced when soy is broken down by intestinal bacteria, and people vary greatly in their ability to produce it. Asian populations have been shown to have a higher percentage of equol producers than people living in the West. This is one reason, Zhang said, why more research is needed to evaluate whether soy consumption may protect against heart disease for women in Western countries. As for why soy may protect against heart disease, Zhang suggests that it may help by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and improving blood vessel function. Soy and the heart "This is promising research that implicates a soy protein in cardiovascular prevention," said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist and medical director of the Joan Tisch Center for Women's Health at NYU Medical Center in New York City. But because the results were based on a small group of people in China, she said that more studies are needed to show if these same findings can be seen in other groups. People in China have a higher intake of soy and isoflavones, compared with people in the United States, said Goldberg, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association. She suggested that the study's take-home message is that we should add soy protein to the list of heart-healthy foods. Besides eating moderate amounts of soy foods, other heart-healthy food choices include whole grains and colorful fruits and vegetables. Managing your weight, getting regular exercise, not smoking and reducing stress are also good strategies to help to protect against heart disease, she said. Pass it on: Women who consume soy may have a lower risk of heart disease. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+.  Read More @ Source 
| |||
| How to Reduce Sodium in Your Diet Posted: 22 Sep 2012 12:00 AM PDT
"The Healthy Geezer" answers questions about health and aging in his weekly column. In my last column, we discussed sodium in our diets. Today's column is devoted to tips about how to reduce our sodium intake. High-sodium diets are linked to increased blood pressure and a greater risk for heart disease and stroke. Reducing the amount of sodium you consume can help lower blood pressure or prevent it from developing. Diet experts recommend a daily consumption of less than 2,400 milligrams (mg), which is the amount of sodium in a teaspoon of table salt. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may advise limiting yourself to 1,500 mg of sodium a day. Table salt (sodium chloride) is not the only problem. The main sources of sodium in the average U.S. diet are: 5 percent added while cooking, 6 percent added while eating, 12 percent from natural sources and 77 percent from processed foods. About 9 out of 10 Americans consume too much sodium. Americans on average consume 3,436 mg sodium daily. How can you cut down? When you buy prepared and packaged foods, read the "Nutritional Facts" panel for the amount of sodium. Some products also include sodium terms. Here's what they mean: "sodium-free," less than 5 mg per serving; "very low-sodium," 35 mg or less per serving; "low-sodium" 140 mg or less per serving; "reduced sodium, "25 percent less sodium than usual; "lite or light in sodium," 50 percent less sodium than the regular version; "unsalted," "no salt added" or "without added salt," contains only the sodium that's a natural part of the food. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that a food that claims to be "healthy" must not exceed 480 mg sodium. "Meal type" products must not exceed 600 mg sodium. Here are more tips:
If you would 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 © 2012 by Fred Cicetti Read More @ Source 
| |||
| New Kidney Donation System Could Change Who Gets Best Organs Posted: 22 Sep 2012 12:00 AM PDT
The way that donated kidneys are allocated to patients needing transplants might be changed in the next few years, so that the fittest organs would be given to those likely to live the longest with the donated organ. That was the announcement today from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the nonprofit organization that manages organ donations in the U.S. More than 93,000 people in the United States are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and the demand far exceeds the supply. Currently, when kidneys from deceased persons become available for donation, they are offered to transplanted patients based primarily on how long the patients have been waiting for an organ. While this system can be thought of as fair, "it does not strive to minimize death on the waiting list, nor maximize survival following transplant," UNOS says. In some cases, patients that receive relatively poor kidneys are likely to live many years after their transplants, and later need a second or third transplant from the already limited pool of donated organs. Under the proposed policy, kidneys would be given a score that reflects how long the organ is likely to keep working in its new owner. People needing transplants would also be given scores — based on their age, years on dialysis and other factors — that reflect how long they are likely to benefit from the transplant. The top 20 percent of kidneys would be offered to the top 20 percent of patients based on this score, UNOS says. The remaining 80 percent of kidneys would be allocated in much the same way as before. Children would be prioritized to receive high-quality kidneys — those in the top 35 percent. Patients with very sensitive immune systems, who are extremely limited in the type of organ they can receive, would also have priority over those with less-sensitive immune systems. Organs with low scores would be offered to patients in a wider geographic area than under the current system, to increase the chances that they would be used rather than discarded. The changes could result in more than 8,000 total extra years of life, among all patients receiving a kidney in a given year, UNOS says. However, experts say the effects of the changes will be marginal, and do not change the reality that the demands for organs is still far greater than the supply. "It's not a major change," because it only affects 20 percent of patients, said George Annas, chair of the Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights at Boston University School of Public Health. "Obviously, it's not going to solve the shortage of organs problem," Annas said. To address this problem, doctors need to do more to prevent kidney disease in the first place, so fewer people need transplants, Annas said. "You can't just look at a shortage problem from the supply side, you have to look at the demand side too," Annas said. UNOS is seeking comments from the public on the proposed changes until December, and the organization will vote on the proposal as early as June next year. Pass it on: A new proposal could change the way that 20 percent of donated kidneys are allocated to patients. Follow Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner, or MyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Read More @ Source 
| |||
| 5 Signs of Gynecological Cancer Women Ignore Posted: 21 Sep 2012 11:14 PM PDT
Most women don't know the signs of gynecological cancers, and are especially unaware of symptoms unrelated to the reproductive organs, such as back pain and increased urination, according to a new study. There are five main gynecological cancers — cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal and vulvar — and screening is recommended only for cervical cancer. Therefore, early detection may depend on women recognizing the symptoms and making a doctor's appointment. "Our findings illustrate the need to inform women about gynecologic cancer symptoms, and when to seek care," said study researcher Cynthia Gelb, a health communication specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, many symptoms of these cancers are common, and are not cause for alarm — they may indicate benign conditions, Gelb said. "The only way to know what is causing them is to see a health care provider." The study was published online Sept. 3 in the journal Family Practice. The signs of cancer There will be nearly 90,000 cases of gynecological cancers diagnosed in the U.S. in 2012, with more than half of those being cervical cancer, according to estimates from the National Cancer Institute. About 30,000 women will die of these five cancers this year; the deadliest of the five is ovarian cancer, which will cause about half of these deaths. In the study, Gelb and her colleagues conducted focus-group interviews with 132 women ages 40 to 60 in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. Groups had seven to nine participants, and met for about two hours. Each participant was given a list of eight symptoms of gynecological cancers, although the list was not labeled as such, and the moderator didn't use the word "symptoms" during the discussion. Study participants indicated which symptom would most concern them, and the groups discussed what could cause each of the symptoms. The symptom that was most concerning to women was unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge, with many saying this is a sign of "something serious," and some recognizing it as a possible sign of cancer. Many women also said that changes in the skin of the vulva would indicate something serious, though fewer women linked this symptom with cancer, and a few women also indicated that pain or pressure in the pelvic area could be a sign of cancer. There were five symptoms that very few women identified as possibly being due to cancer: vaginal itching or burning, back or abdominal pain, being tired all the time, having to pass urine very badly or more often than usual, and bloating. "All of these things and others may not register as being something to see a doctor about," because they are common, and not seen as potential signs of a major problem, Gelb said. "Many people are tired much of the time," women may feel bloated around the time they menstruate, and post-menopausal women commonly have to urinate frequently or more urgently, she said. What's normal? One key to recognizing when a common symptom might actually indicate cancer is for women to know what is normal for them, Gelb said. Women should know how long their periods normally last and how heavy they are, if they normally feel full quickly when eating, and if their back often hurts, she said. Bleeding that is unusual because of when it occurs, or because it is heavier than usual, is a reason to see a doctor right away, Gelb said. For bloating and other symptoms, it is recommended that women seek care if the symptom has persisted for two weeks. In the study, some women reported experiencing symptoms for much longer. "Some women reported living with symptoms that caused discomfort for extended periods, even years, without seeking care," Gelb said. Even in the case of unexplained bleeding, there were many participants who were not aware this could signal gynecologic cancer, and women who had this symptom did not seek care. Many women in the study also said they searched on the Internet for information about symptoms. Women should be sure to consult reputable websites, Gelb said, such as the CDC's "Inside Knowledge" site, which offers facts about gynecologic cancer and information based on scientific evidence. "The earlier that gynecologic cancers are found and treated, the more effective treatment can be," Gelb said. Pass it on: The five warning signs of gynecologic cancer often go unrecognized by many women. FollowMyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Read More @ Source 
| |||
| Will Soda Make You Fat? Genes May Tell Posted: 21 Sep 2012 10:00 PM PDT
Certain genetic markers may explain why some people who drink similar amounts of soda or other sugar-sweetened beverages are more likely to be obese than others. Participants in a new study who had more of these markers were at a greater risk of obesity than those with fewer markers — and the more sugar-sweetened beverages that people drank, the wider the gap grew between the groups, in terms of obesity risk. These markers are not new to science — people who have them are thought to be genetically prone to obesity. But little was known about how lifestyle factors, such as the type of food and beverages that people consume, influence weight gain for people with these markers. The new study suggests people with a genetic predisposition to obesity are more susceptible than others to the harmful effects of sugar-sweetened beverages, the researchers said. "Our data suggest genetic factors and environmental factors may work together in affecting obesity risk. For those who carry high genetic risk, their risk of obesity could be lessened by [making] healthier beverage choices," said study researcher Lu Qi, assistant professor at Harvard School of Public Health. Qi and colleagues analyzed information from more than 33,000 adults who participated in three studies that began in the 1980s and 1990s. Every four years, participants answered questions about their food and beverage intake. Participants also had their genomes analyzed for the presence of any of 32 genetic markers linked to obesity. They were given a score — based on the number and type of genetic markers they had — that reflected their genetic predisposition to obesity. Not surprisingly, those with a higher genetic predisposition to obesity were more likely to be obese. But the link between genetics and obesity was stronger among those who drank sugar-sweetened beverages. For every 10-point increase in genetic risk score, the risk of being obese increased about 35 percent for those who drank less than one serving of sugar-sweetened beverages monthly, but increased 59 percent among those who drank one to four servings monthly, and 235 percent among those drinking one or more servings daily. "Our findings further underscore the need to test interventions that reduce the intake of sugar drinks as a means of reducing the risk of obesity and related diseases," the researchers write in the Sept. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Sugary drinks likely contribute to obesity because they are high in calories but they don't satiate the appetite, and so people often do not cut back on the calories they eat to compensate for those they consume in liquid form. Further research is needed to determine why these markers increase the risk of obesity specifically when people drink sugar-sweetened beverages, the researchers said. Pass it on: Drinking soda may be more harmful for those with certain genes. Follow Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner, or MyHealthNewsDaily @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Read More @ Source 
| |||
| A visit to a dark, deep place within Posted: 21 Sep 2012 09:00 PM PDT Here's a story from someone who found a dark, deep place within himself which taught him a lot. It was emailed to me, then edited a bit by the author when I told the person "I'd like to share what you wrote on my blog." I enjoyed the honest clear writing. Also, how switching seats on an airplane was an enlightening experience. I've divided the story into two pieces because it is fairly long. Click on the "continuation" link to read the last part. ----------------------------------- Brian, I ran across your site when researching surat shabd yoga. I wanted to find opposing opinions and there you were. I was greatly disturbed when I saw that you had zero results after a lifetime of effort. Even more disturbing were the testimonies of others who had also followed this path and came up short. So sad but true. I'm 58 yrs old and have spent decades reading about religions. I rejected my own Christianity when young because of its demand that I accept Jesus as my personal savior and if I don't I'm going to hell. I was nowhere near comfortable with the original sin, the bloody crucifixion and all the rest. I felt drawn to the Eastern beliefs. Intellectually I recognized that if anything was true it had to be reincarnation and karma. Such a simple elegant system which actually accounts for everything we see -- the pain, suffering, brutality, etc. At one point I asked myself, "Who were the first gods worshiped?" From there I spent years in the Sumerian cuneiform translations; today I feel as comfortable with An, Enlil and Enki as with any other gods. I followed these gods forward in time through all their changes in the Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian cultures. Which led me on a different path, that which is called "alternative history." The idea that in remote times there was a very high civilization of which we modern humans have no record of. Everyone knows of this "myth" from Plato's description of Atlantis. What I found so fascinating was that there does exist a considerable amount of physical evidence for such a civilization. The idea is that our earliest civilizations, Sumer and Egypt, were legacy civilizations which had possession of so called "secret" knowledge from this earlier civilization but, as time went by, lost the understanding of what they preserved. And thus we find the Egyptian beliefs, the Greek mystery religions, the gnostic Christians and even today surat shabd yoga preserving, yet perhaps not understanding, what they have. As crazy as it may sound to you that's the idea. So, this is how I became interested in surat shabd yoga, certainly not your typical spiritual journey although for me it has indeed been just that. I only want the "truth." I don't care about anything else, only the truth. I see hard evidence in our known history for some sort of understanding, a development, quite likely spiritual in nature, of which we do not understand today. Amazingly enough, it appears to me that surat shabd yoga "may" be a degraded form of that ancient system. In particular I was struck with the similarities between the gnostic Christians and surat shabd yoga. I'm sure you're aware of this, perhaps through legitimate scholars such as Andrea Diem-Lane (Gnostic Mystery) or others. Sorry to bore you with such a long introduction but I did want you to know that I'm not a typical seeker -- I have no religion -- my only drive is for "the truth." Recently I had a mystical experience which has strengthened my beliefs. This was an "intervention from above" and it occurred through no deliberate effort of my own. It was something bigger in nature which presented "the truth" to me in a clear straight forward fashion. Of course my having such an experience has no direct relevance for you; you may brush it aside as a temporal fantasy. For me it was as real as anything in all my life and it has had a staggering effect upon me. In short, this experience was a karmic judgment of two events in my life. I was presented these two life events alongside each other and I understood why they happened. My reaction, against the injustice against me, in each case was clearly visible and this was the reason for the presentation -- to show me how I failed to measure up to perfection. I was not there to defend myself, it was not a trial. I said nothing but only understood. I had no questions because it was all clear -- there was nothing to say. It was, to me, the Egyptian ceremony of the Weighing of the Heart. I was measured against perfection and came up short. I've attached below a document which I wrote shortly after this experience. The overriding understanding I've taken away is simply the truth of reincarnation and karma. There is something bigger in nature, call it god if you like, and there are laws which govern this life as well as a purpose to it all. Just like you I have spent a lifetime seeking but in my own way. Please note that it was all black, there were no lights or sounds and such. I was unconscious of my body and absolutely all thoughts ceased. But like surat shabd yoga beliefs it was, literally, as if I had died. Regards, mK ------------------------------------------------------Thursday July 12th, 2012 I recently visited a place deep within. I want to share with you that place - a place so deep, and dark, that you will not find it by accident. It is a place of deep dark heaviness, so deep that it must be within. It was not by baptism, by words or intent, not of my own conscious mind but rather events in the material world. I did not meditate for hours seeking the divine, bow to the dogma of a priestly class nor read words of enlightenment from lofty minds. It was not words that took me there, nor were any words spoken. Instead it was a place of deep knowing, no searching for truth -- rather the truth was presented and understood. How did I arrive, what is the way? How to go there again? I don't know if that is possible -- perhaps it happened only once due to circumstances or perhaps it was an innate need. Some would say a search for god. Many a holy man has spoken of this place, many systems of belief they preach. Do they work? Not for me. For me the way there was not deliberate; in retrospect it was out of my control. This deep personal event started with stress. Sustained interpersonal stress over three days; a period of conflict, agitation, deep personal resistance against a supervisor. It had all negative influences for sure. This conflict arose, continued for days and then abruptly ended, at least in the physical world. As I traveled home more stress. A very late flight followed by a 5 hour drive to Rio ending in a missed flight. Unable to arrange an evening flight I sent email to arrange for an early flight the next morning. I lay down at last at 11 pm -- physically and emotionally exhausted. My body had to stop, my mind was numb. I had a room-mate, Raphael. He was watching the news and I did not care. As I closed my eyes I could not physically move. Every square inch of my body was pressed by its own weight into the bed. I was unable to move, feeling extreme weariness. I was conscious, aware of the material world but my mind was beyond directed thoughts. Without conscious effort I did a quick review of what I needed to do tomorrow; make that morning flight home, get up at 6:15 etc. As I finished my plans my mind ceased thinking, no active thoughts; a stillness of body and mind. No meditation, exhaustion instead. No directed thoughts of god, or peace or light or sound. Instead the mind just quit processing information and lay still through no intent or effort; it was the result of extended stress and physical exhaustion. As my mind quit working all was dark, dark with no lights or movement. As if imprinted on my mind I understood a series of events as not only connected but presented as fact. There was no mulling over the different points of view, no tearing apart the argument. No searching for truth -- the truth was imprinted upon and within -- no explanations needed. It was there and I knew it was true. I could see clearly how and why these events happened. It was deeply personal, events from my life lined up and connected in flow over time. The first event happened about 1986 when I was second mate aboard a ship. The last event was the events of the last few days. Nestled in between them in an obviously connected way was my relationship with my wife. There was no condemnation, no criticism, no analysis, no need to explain. Knowledge of these events appeared simultaneously and the consistent line was understood. These events from my life were shown to me in such a way that I understood the meaning. Was this a religious experience? It was not god touching my forehead and giving me enlightenment. There were no rituals, or smoke or show of any kinds. The purpose was shown and not explained, only understood. In reflection, the closest way to try to express it would be, I died. I lost any sensation or awareness of the physical world and my mind was stilled. There was no endless stream of information flowing through my mind. I believe this state has been described many times in many religions. It was not the religious ecstasy of the Christians but rather close to the stated effects of deep meditation. It was the stilling of the mind and body. But there was no active intent on my part. I did not look for a light, nor listen for a sound. I did not focus my attention -- all was black. No heavenly hosts, bright flashing lights of heaven. All was black and still. Truth came to me in this quiet still place. And the truth? What truth did I see -- the answer to the question, "is life worth living?" It's true, there is no end. There is no beginning and there is no end. I saw these three events connected in a clear intelligent way -- understood and accepted without thought - - a path along a line, a clear deliberate path. The path leads to perfection and release from the material world. I say this and there was no material world. All was black, and silent. These events showed me my own actions when faced with obstructions. When my own wants were circumvented I saw how I responded. It was clear that only my actions were being considered, not the unfairness of the situation in which I found myself, nor other people involved. I was the person, the soul, under review. My responses were consistent and clear. My determination to say "No" -- to resist and never give an inch. This attitude was not condemned, simply on display to understand. When I'm forced into a corner, when I'm unable to advance along my conscious line I rear up into resistance and will not relent. I must have it my way. In many time periods this may be called courage -- to resist against that which should be resisted becomes the question for me. Some things, people, are evil and should be resisted. How to tell righteous action from self-deluding action? It was a violation of my innermost principles which caused me to resist. Although my unwillingness to change, my resistance, is the reason these events happened, there was no condemnation. Only the understanding of "why" these events happened. I was made to understand that because of these soul tendencies these events occurred during my lifetime in order for me to meet these particular circumstances. It was the reason, perhaps only one of several, for life. It was what I had to meet and overcome on the path to perfection. It was an affirmation of reincarnation -- shown to me as proof of karma. I think now of this as a natural law. Just as we have physical laws that govern how the physical world works, we also have spiritual laws which govern how the spiritual world works. I think of all my readings, throughout my life, on religion and beliefs. Indeed it was a search for god, that something we call god. We don't know what it is; it's something bigger in nature, something we can't understand. I don't understand the mind of god now, I was only shown the methods by which our lives are governed. But by seeing that now I understand that there is a reason, a rhyme, a direction along which I'm traveling. You have everything to say about how far in that direction you go, your free will is indeed under your control; but you do not control the path and what you meet along the path. Every action has a reaction. You can read the words and intellectually think that's fine. You're processing this information through the material world -- even when you arrive at a correct understanding, it's still in a physical world understanding. You can use this physical world understanding and advance towards perfection. You can make great progress and become better and better. This understanding may be enforced, desired, reflected through religion. I have no religion, I only want the truth. I now understand from this example how things work. Of course I want more understanding, more progress, closer to perfection. And it is spiritual. Many words have been written, many ideas expressed from so many writers from different philosophy, religions and cultures. I think most all those ideas are being expressed as longing and belief -- not as fact. Fact is what I know Friday July 13th, 2012 I awoke the next morning on time with a normal routine. I tried to get a seat on the morning flight to Sao Paulo but it didn't work. It's difficult to get things done sometimes and I'm well accustomed to doing business in Brasil. I did have a ticket on the evening flight at 8 PM so I resigned myself to waiting at the airport for the evening flight. When the ticket counter opens I check in and ask if they have an aisle seat. There are only three seats left on the flight and one is an aisle ,42C and he mentions "in the rear of the plane." I ask, "Is that right by the bathroom?" and he smiles and says, "Yes." I decline that seat and just keep my assigned window seat. I have made this flight many times and I prefer an aisle seat. This allows me a little extra leg room as well as making it easy to get up and stretch without interrupting anyone. In fact, 22C is my favorite seat -- in the center on the left aisle. But, a window seat is not bad. Unfortunately, on the way down to Rio I had had an unfortunate experience concerning my seat. I had my favorite seat assigned, 22C, and was seated while the plane continued to board. A young Brazilian couple had the two other seats besides me. The sweet girl asked me if I would exchange seats with her daughter so she could sit together with her husband and daughter. I asked which seat and she pointed to the center seat one row ahead. I asked her if I could have the aisle seat instead and she said no, her seat was in the center. At first I declined but she was so disappointed she persuaded me to change seats. I knew it wouldn't be ideal but it was her daughter after all. Immediately after changing seats I knew I had made a very poor decision. The two large, fat Brazilians on either side of me gave me no room. I was scrunched in tight on both sides. They talked loudly to each other for hours, ignoring me in between them. And, they also spoke to the woman who had asked me to change seats. They all knew each other and were together! Yet they took me, a stranger, and put me in this wildly uncomfortable seat in the center in the middle of their group, without any concern at all. I developed a slow burning anger as the flight progressed. I couldn't believe what I had done to myself. By trying to be a nice guy I had put myself into a very uncomfortable spot, and I felt I had been taken advantage of. They didn't care about me at all, they had taken advantage of me and I was mad about it. Well, the flight did end but not without me vowing to myself, "Never again will I change seats for someone else." This was a deep internal vow, a conviction -- never again will I do this thing!!! So, I finally boarded my flight home and took my window seat, not my favorite but something I could live with. And yet again a nice young Brazilian woman comes up and asks me to change seats. She points at an aisle seat two rows ahead. So I change seats and am very happy about it. I was happy to change to a better seat. After all, my favorite seat is an aisle. I'm happy and sitting in my new seat while the plane continues to board. And out of nowhere the same deep dark stillness comes over me. It's that feeling of all mental cessation, deep relaxation, the quiet black place of no motion or thought. Imprinted, as if stamped without effort, the knowing and understanding that this simple episode is also an example of how karma works. This simple act of which seat I'm sitting in is yet a "test" of this defect in my character. Because I had resolved, vowed with deep inner conviction, that never again would I change seats if someone asked me to. And here it was shown to me that when given an opportunity to "advance" in the material world, to achieve something which violated my mentally stated deep inner conviction, I was indeed willing to violate that vow for personal advantage. I had "improved" my seat assignment and was very happy to do it, even though I had vowed not to change seats based upon another person's request. It was only a momentary imprint, lasting half a second. Again, it was showing me how karma works in everyday life; that simple decisions, unimportant decisions, are constantly testing and giving opportunities to improve, to advance. This was not intellectual reasoning, careful thought or persuasion. It was that deep dark death where something greater made something clear -- without talk or inner thoughts. This was not "me" reflecting or thinking. It was something bigger in nature, it was that greater something within. It entered and the effect was the same. What I now think of as death, it is all motion stopping, darkness, quiet, still; something takes control and makes its point. It's that something bigger in nature, god, a higher power. We have no control -- there is control but it is out of our reach. We can range here and there and make decisions which impact our lives. The purpose of life is controlled by that higher power. Our free will effects how we respond to situations, but the situations are produced and provided with intent. There is a purpose and it extends far beyond what we see and do, higher than our awareness. The goal is perfection. 
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from BuddhaRocks ☸ To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
