Nowadays, everybody wants to change the world. But I think the best thing to do is to change yourself. We are all part of this world and we influence each other every day. If you can change yourself in a positive direction, then you can influence three or four other people. Then they can positively influence another three or four people, and so on. - Mingyur Rinpoche
Though guilt is most often presented as a negative and destructive emotion, there is this neglected or hidden aspect about guilt: it's a vital component of a healthy conscience and the sign of spiritual sensitivity. This positive and constructive side of guilt which nudges us to offer an apology, make an amend, seek forgiveness, restore a relationship and clear our conscience.
Furthermore, good guilt moves us to accept responsibility for our actions and, as we do that, we develop a deeper humility. Three of the hardest words to say are “I am sorry.” It is our pride, our ego which makes it difficult to speak say those words. Without the prodding of guilt we can deflect responsibility by blaming others, pretending no one noticed our infraction, and or simply justify our conduct. When guilt emerges in your life, look at it closely. Pay attention because it's a signal to take a second look at what is going on. Recognizing and responding to the source of guilt with wisdom, maturity and compassion liberates us to live in a healthy relationship with others and with ourselves. Then guilt becomes beneficial, not damaging. By proper practice of pranayama (breath), all diseases are eradicated. Through improper practice, all diseases can arise. - Hatha Yoga Pradipika
We can never get the facts straight because our memories are simply memories: shaded, imprecise, serving the needs and defending the fears of the small self. Memories are not factual reality. - Jan Chozen Bays
A meditation teacher is part of an emergency rescue operation, like when police, paramedics, and rescue workers go in with sirens blaring, red and blue lights flashing, helicopters whirling overhead with search lights - to help people drowning in danger and distress. - Lama Zopa
Meditation is the arduous labor of freeing ourselves from the reactions of the mind. It requires actually draining the marshland of the unconscious and its habits and addictions. - David Frawley
The Buddha and other living Buddhas who have come after him all have one thing in common: they attained this higher state of life by struggling against hardships. It is impossible to evolve highly without encountering serious trouble, trauma, and vicious trials. A noble state of life is achieved only when issues are present and only when one develops the skillful ability to transform the negative into a positive and a burden into a benefit. So, rather than avoid and flee from sufferings, whether they are minor or major, reframe your mind so that you can emotionally digest the issue and emerge wiser, kinder, more insightful and more compassionate.
If you search through the bible looking up the few references to eggs, you won’t find a single text which makes any kind of connection to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet, if you search your own memory concerning Easter you will certainly remember baskets of brightly colored eggs along with Easter egg hunts.
The connection between Easter and eggs is a mysterious and tenuous one. It has been traced in the West to 1290 when court records indicate that Edward I, King of England, distributed 450 eggs - some covered with gold - to the royal household at Easter. In some European countries, Christians would bring eggs to the church for a blessing the day before Easter. One legend traces the egg all the way back to Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom Jesus expelled seven demons. The last glimpse of her in scripture takes place on the first Easter when she encounters the Risen Christ at the empty tomb and then informs the disciples. (John 20:18). However, according to the Orthodox tradition, Mary then went to Rome and appeared at Caesar’s court. There she protested Pilate’s poor administration of justice at Jesus’ trial and announced to the court that Jesus had risen from the dead. She picked up an egg from the table using it as an object lesson to explain Resurrection as new life breaking out. Caesar was incredulous, declaring that a person could no more rise from the dead than the egg Mary was holding could turn red. Immediately, the egg did turn red. That’s why today it is common among Orthodox Christians to dye eggs red. War and the large military establishments are the greatest sources of violence in the world. Whether their purpose is defensive or offensive, these vast powerful organizations exist solely to kill human beings. - Dalai Lama 14th
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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
April 2024
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