If I were to develop feelings of vindictiveness, anger, or hatred towards the Chines, who would be the loser? I would, because I would thereby lose my peace of mind, my sleep, and my appetite. At the same time, my bitterness would not affect the Chinese in the least. If I became extremely upset, that would also prevent me from making those around me happy. - Dalai Lama 14th
Try to help others. If you are not able to be of help, then at least do them no harm. - Dalai Lama 14tha
The ailments of old age are really those incurred in youthful times. Weakness in one’s last years is really something wrought in the prime of life. Therefore, when life is at its peak, the noble person endeavors exactingly to take full care in every way. - Hong Zicheng
Thankfulness expands our happiness, joy and pleasure in life. The attitude of gratitude is the twin companion of positive thinking. According to psychologist Brenda Shoshanna, author of 365 Ways To Give Thanks, an effective way to cultivate the gratitude attitude is to write down on a calendar the best thing happened to you that day.
“So many of our victories and small delights drift out of our minds or pass by unnoticed. Taking the time each day to writ them down and keep them where you can see them makes a big difference,” she says. Dr. Shoshanna recommends buying a calendar used exclusively to record thanks. “At the end of each day, write down the best thing that happened to you that day. Write it in large letters. As you do this day by day, you will soon have quite a collection of happy memories. Looking back over them will serve to inspire and remind you of how fortunate you have been.” Worthy persons deserve to be called so because they are not carried away by the eight winds: prosperity and decline, disgrace and honor, praise and censure, suffering and pleasure. They are neither elated by prosperity nor grieved by decline. - Nichiren
When a person becomes enraged, even if he is wise, his wisdom deserts him. - Babylonian Talmud
(public domain photo www.pixabay.com) Lena Schmidt, a San Diego yoga instructor, persuasively explains the four ways yoga eases depression. First, yoga is exercise . . . and exercise is scientifically verified to lift and shift moods. For an extra boost, she recommends practicing yoga outdoors. Second, yoga gives you language to understand feelings. Words such as ‘notice,’ ‘investigate,’ ‘experiment,’ and ‘curious’ are important cues guiding the mind to become more aware of what’s going on inside. Third, yoga is a mindful practice. Yoga teachers often encourage you to focus breathing, observe body sensations, and pay close attention to emerging thoughts or emotions. “Practicing mindfulness on the yoga mat can provide you with tools to incorporate into your daily lives” she adds. Fourth, yoga is communal. Making the effort just to get to a yoga class produces the important benefit of social connection. There is a positive energy link to others even when you don’t know anyone in the room. “Although the benefits of yoga are tremendous if practiced solo or at home, getting yourself to a yoga session in the community can boost your mood even more,” Ms. Schmidt notes. Out of compassion one refrains from killing or eating animals because we don’t want to cause them fear and suffering. Therefore, we should avoid any occupation that involves killing animals. - Sheng Yen
Anger generates poison in the blood and heat in the brain, liver, blood and the whole body. It gives rise to fever and depression. It affects the nerves and the heart. - Swami Sivananda
Affluence is not going to bring freedom to people – it is going to tie them up in knots. - Sadhguru
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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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