I would say that acceptance is about knowing the way things appear. It’s kind of like awareness; you need acceptance to see what is really going on. But you don’t stay there. You say, 'Okay, that’s what is going on. But what are the limits? What are the possibilities? What do I need to accept because there is not much I can do about it? And what is it I can transform? Acceptance is just the beginning. In meditation, we are not trying to stare at reality. We are developing our creative awareness so we can bring a creative response - Martine Batchelor
Our mind is analogous to a cup of muddy water. The longer you keep a cup of muddy water still, the more the mud settles down and the water will be seen clearly. - Bhante Gunaratana
Because people know that they are judged largely on the basis of their appearance, many people spend far more time working on how they look than on how they behave. - Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
The next time you are with a person, think about this. Present are two 'real' people and four imaginary ones.
1. Who you think you are; 2. Who you think the other person is; 3. Who the other person thinks he is; 4. Who the other person think you are. Who is the 'real' person in that mix? Suffering is what creates the motivation for enlightenment. - Tashi Nyima
Shortened to the letters "TM", transcendental meditation is a mantra style of meditation which is silently recited for twenty minutes two times a day, usually in the morning and later in the evening.
The mantra is selected by a teacher specifically for a student. Like all mantra meditation, the focus is on effortless relaxation of the mind versus sitting silently to clear the mind of thoughts. This ancient Vedic technique was introduced by Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yoga. Researchers in Norway analyzed blood from 10 volunteers before and after two-hour sessions of a yoga practice with rhythmic breathing and saw significantly increased gene activity in circulating immune cells.
Similarly, scientists at UCLA studying breast cancer survivors discovered yoga decreased the expression of genes involved in inflammation, believed to be a root of many complex diseases. These kinds of studies suggest strongly that cell development which contributes to aging and illness can be corrected and even reversed. As your mindfulness develops, your resentment for the change, your dislike for the unpleasant experiences, your greed for the pleasant experiences, and the notion of selfhood will be replaced by the deeper awareness of impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and selflessness. - Bhante Gunaratana
The editors of Lion's Roar magazine have put together an excellent short list of great Buddhist books published this year. They would make exceptional gifts for the Buddhist in your life. Here's their list:
Feed the poor. Clothe the naked, Comfort the distressed. Do actions as your duty. Do not expect any thanks or appreciation, applause, salute, for your work. Share what you have with others. Always scrutinize your inner motives. Annihilate all selfish motives. - 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
April 2024
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