- Marla Paul
You can’t take friendship for granted. You have to show a friend you value him or her, make time for him or her, pay attention and be there when there’s a crisis.
- Marla Paul Rabbi Jacob Emden (1697-1776), an authority on Jewish law, was asked if it was permissible for a Jew to smoke cigarettes. Following the science of the day, Rabbi Emden responded:
“Tobacco is a healthful substance for the body . . . its natural action is important in helping to digest food, cleanse the mouth … and help with the movement of essential functions and blood circulation which are the root of health … It is indeed beneficial to every healthy man, not only because of the pleasure and enjoyment it affords, but because it preserves one’s health and medical fitness.” Clearly, science and medicine are not infallible though many persons believe it is the final authority. Asking questions is healthy. However, I believe that spiritual practice is more about
holding questions than finding answers. Seeking one correct answer often comes from a wish to make life-which is basically fluid-into something certain and fixed. This often leads to rigidity, closed-mindedness, and intolerance. - Thubten Chodron There’s no better sign of accomplishment than a disciplined mind. - Chatral Sangye
To obtain real peace and happiness in this world, one has simply to follow the path of ahimsa —nonviolence. - Chatral Sangye
One of the most pervasive and dangerous myths people accept is that it’s normal for the body to weaken and become increasingly fragile with age. That’s not true. Author and yogi Suza Norton argues that yoga can prevent and reverse what is considered a “normal” part of the aging process such as:
• Accumulation of fat in all the wrong places. • Loss of muscle strength. • Reduction in motor fitness – balance, flexibility, agility, power and reaction time. • Reduction in work capacity and associated oxygen intake capacity during attempts at hard work or exercise. • Reduction in respiratory reserves (breath holding and ventilatory capacity) • Increased ligamentous injuries and dislocation strains in shoulders, knees, spine, and inguinal (groin) region. • Decrease in resiliency and suppleness of the arteries. • Loss of calcium or osteoporosis, which leads to a weakened and brittle skeletal system. Your path should be one which is open to everyone. If there is any path or religion which excludes certain people, then it cannot be a true path or a true religion. God belongs to everyone and is within everyone. - Swami Muktananda
The word ‘quest’ means the act of seeking or pursuing something. It’s intimately related to the word “question” whereby a person studies his or her life asking questions which can clarify the quest. Here are ten zen question to ask yourself from time to time.
1. Looking back five years what did I do right? 2. Looking back five years where did I go wrong? 3. Do the people I spend the most time with inspire me? 4. Do the people I encounter feel inspired and uplifted by my presence? 5. What in my life is worth smiling about right now? 6. When was the last time you did something out of your comfort zone? 7. What makes you happier? 8. Who makes you happier? 9. What do I need to let go of in my life? 10. What five words best describe me? Different beings, in their joys and sorrows, are like me, all one in wanting happiness. - Shantideva May I be a guard for those who are protectorless,
A guide for those who journey on the road. For those who wish to go across the water, May I be a boat, a raft, a bridge. - Shantideva |
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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