You have within you all the materials for getting wisdom. There is a vast magazine of power within. It wants kindling. Wake up now! - Swami Sivananda
In a Buddhist text called the Abhidharma the Buddha uses the metaphor of a kingdom saying that each one of us is the king or queen of our own private country. As rulers we are assisted by various ministers who are there to guide us. This means that we must ensure that the various ministries are doing their jobs properly. For example . . .
Is my Minister of Health active in keeping my body at an optimal level? Is my Minister of Religious Affairs directing me to continue spiritual evolution? Is my Minister of Defense protecting me from associating with unwholesome individuals? Is my Minister of Justice guiding me to act with compassion toward the less fortunate? Is my Minister of the Environment prompting me to care skillfully for our planet? Is my Minister of Finance enabling me to manage money properly? Is my Minister of Education directing me toward continuous study and learning? The Buddha, of course, is using the kingdom metaphor as a reminder to keep our minds clear and clean rather than be overwhelmed by negative thinking and harmful emotions. It is very singular how little men seem to realize that they are not caught in the grip of a mechanism from which there is no escape, but that the treadmill is one upon which they remain merely because they have not noticed that it fails to take them up to a higher level. - Bertrand Russell
In many ways abusive speech is a more profound form of harming others than is physical violence, for its impact goes deeper. - Glenn H. Mullin
A wind blowing over a sandalwood forest smells sweet,
but blowing over manure it smells foul. Likewise whether your companions are positive or negative, your lifestyle is affected accordingly. Therefore it is important to choose wisely. - Dalai Lama 7th Even if the whole world opposes you, fear not. Never move a fraction of an inch from your firm resolve and determination. Stand up and proclaim the truth.
- Swami Sivananda Notice that you suffer mentally only when there is a thought. Without a thought, there is no suffering. - Haemin Sun
Just as gold is tested by being burnt, cut, and rubbed, the learned should accept my words only after examining them, not simply out of blind faith or other such reasons. - Buddha
Recently, Dr. Deepak Chopra and 45 friends visited the Dalai Lama in India. Here's what the famed Tibetan spiritual leader said to the group:
We’ve met a few times before, but now I’m happy to be able to welcome you here, my spiritual brothers and sisters, to what has been my home for the last nearly 60 years. In today’s world, despite extensive material development, we face all kinds of problems. Natural disasters are beyond our control, but fighting and killing are things we could put a stop to. However, we pay too much attention to material goals and not enough to human values like love. Many of the problems we face are of our own creation and yet scientists tell us that basic human nature is compassionate. They also tell us that cultivating a compassionate attitude is good for our physical health, while constant anger and fear undermine our immune systems. We don’t give enough weight to inner values. We see other people in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’. Even religious practitioners do this. We distinguish between our country and their country. Young children don’t care about such distinctions. If other children smile and play, they’re happy to be with them. It’s only when we get older that we begin to stress secondary differences between us. We need to look deeper and appreciate that we are all the same in being human. And I believe we have a responsibility to share the importance of warm-heartedness. (source: https://www.deepakchopra.com/news/deepak-chopra-and-friends-meet-his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/ ) Three things are indispensable for the attainment of Self Realization: devotion to the spiritual teacher, yearning for liberation, and a desire for the company of the wise. He alone who is endowed with these three requisites can cross this ocean of life. - Swami Sivananda
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Victor M. Parachin ...is aVedic educator, yoga instructor, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of a dozen books. Buy his books at amazon or your local bookstore. Archives
May 2024
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