Category: Buddhism

Defeat Negative Thinking

9/8/2026

When obstacles show up in our lives, we seem to have a natural propensity to view the issue in a negative light. Negative thinking is emotionally dangerous because it can block our personal growth, lead us to make bad decisions, and drive us to become the worst versions of ourselves. That’s why it’s important to do a mental reset, directing the mind away from the negative and into the positive.

In Buddhism, this perspective shift is called “right view” and is the first step of Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path. Right view means disciplining yourself to silence that inner negative voice, allowing optimistic and hopeful vision to emerge. According to the ancient Indian sage Patanjali, it’s not that complicated. He advises, “When presented with negative, disquieting thoughts or feelings, cultivate an opposite, elevated attitude.”

Anytime you find yourself in a negative frame of mind, acknowledge it and make a transition toward the positive. Doing so will enhance your life, says Swami Vivekananda, who writes, “Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience.”
-Victor M Parachin, "How to Build Persistence the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health

Persistence and Patience

9/5/2026

“The importance of patience and persistence to the success of any endeavor cannot be emphasized enough,” noted modern Buddhist master Hsing Yun. This combination is powerful because patience helps us endure delays and disappointments, while persistence motivates us to keep moving forward toward our objective. Anytime you feel that your patience level is weak, especially when facing difficulty, inspire yourself by reading and reflecting on these types of wisdom statements:
“Can you remain unmoving until the right action arises by itself?” -Lao Tzu
“The greater your patience, the closer you are to success.” -Hsing Yun
“The wonderful thing about patience, unlike commodities, is the more we use it, the more we offer it, the more we have.” -Alan Lokos
“Patience is the capacity to calm the mind under stress so we can see our way clearly.” -Ker Cleary
-Victor M Parachin, "How to Build Persistence the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health

Walking Meditation Part 2

9/1/2026

"I have two doctors, my left leg and my right leg." -G.M. Trevelyan
2. When walking you can give your mind a focus by a simple method of counting your steps. As you walk, count the number of times your right foot touches the ground beginning with three steps: 1, 2, 3. Once at 3, add another number and begin again: 1, 2, 3, 4. Once at 4, add another number and begin again: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Follow this pattern until you get to the number 10. Then, do the same with the left leg and keep alternating the legs. Once you feel your mind is relaxed, stop counting. If you find yourself overly preoccupied with thoughts start up the count again.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha

Walking Meditation Part 1

8/29/2026

A four-mile walk takes around 60-70 minutes. It not only refreshes and strengthens the body but does the same for the mind when walking is used as meditation. There are many approaches to transforming walking into walking-meditation:
1. Just walk and observe. Be truly mindful, noticing the path, the grasses, the trees and shrubs, insects, birds. On such a meditation walk one day, I encountered one of the largest turtles I'd seen making his way to a water refuge. On the way back I came across a mother raccoon gently guiding her three young ones across the path into a forested area.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha

Good Guilt

8/25/2026

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. . . .
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.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners

Humility for Spiritual Growth

8/18/2026

Here are some reasons why humility is so vital for spiritual growth:
- With humility comes sincerity and genuineness. When we are sincere and genuine, others are able to be equally open, sincere and genuine.
- With humility comes the openness to new truth, new insights and new ideas. Without humility, learning cannot take place.
- With humility one realizes one's weaknesses, one's limits in knowledge and wisdom. Those who are humble are aware of their shortcomings and seek to remedy them.
- With humility comes a receptive spirit, a willingness to hear and learn. . . . Lack of humility produces the narcissistic, self-absorbed individual.
- With humility people are quick to listen and slow to speak.
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds

Ten Rules for Kindness

8/15/2026

Many elementary schools post "Rules for Kindness" to guide the children. . . placed on a wall that students walk by several times a day.
- Be kind and gentle in all things
- Respect others
- Everyone gets to play
- No violence in word or deed
- No put downs, only pull ups
- No exclusive behavior ("you can't play with us")
- Treat people the way you want to treated
- Don't hurt others on the inside or the outside
- Help others when they need help
- Treat everybody with kindness
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha

Five More Ways to Grieve Mindfully

8/11/2026

6. Mindful silence. . . can involve spending time alone in meditation, prayer, reflection, contemplation.
7. Mindful eating. . . . Be sure to mindfully eat fresh, healthy foods to keep your body strong during your grief journey.
8. Mindful exercise. . . . Think carefully about an activity that appeals to you--hiking, biking, swimming, yoga, group fitness classes, dancing, kayaking--and do it.
9. Mindful determination. Grief doesn't allow you to rewind your life so it's important to find ways of motivating yourself to keep moving forward.
10. Mindful possibilities. As grief eases and days become lighter and brighter, be mindful about your future, about your ability to move forward and reinvent yourself.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners

Loving Kindness

8/8/2026

The Buddha never wrote anything himself, but many wisdom sayings are attributed to him. . . . Here is an excerpt from Sutra on Lovingkindness:

May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit

Five Ways to Grieve Mindfully

8/4/2026

If you've recently had the unwelcome experience of a loss . . . the ensuing emotion is grief. Even this bitter taste of life can be the occasion to deepen our practice of mindfulness. . . .
1. Mindful breathing. . . . When you breathe deeply it sends a message to your brain to calm down and relax.
2. Mindful thoughts. . . . Whenever negative thoughts emerge replace them with positive ones. Move from "I can't" and "I'm not able" toward "I can" and "I am able."
3. Mindful words. . . . Use words, phrases and sentences which build up, encourage, inspire and applaud yourself and all those you come in contact with.
4. Mindful support. There are individuals around you who want to be as helpful as possible. . . . Don't hesitate to lean on them from time to time.
5. Mindful action. Take steps necessary to learn about and adapt new coping skills to help you through the hardest days.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners

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