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1. Sit upright in a comfortable position, either on a cushion or in a chair.
2. Breathe in and out to a count of forty complete breaths.
3. As you do this, try to relax completely, releasing tension of body and mind.
4. Continue to breathe and relax more deeply.
5. Contemplate your own divine nature. See it as a small light or small flame that you can fan and grow by exercising patience, love and compassion for yourself.
6. Visualize that light growing larger, stronger and more radiant, extending out of you, embracing and blessing everything and everyone around you.
7. Speak these affirmations silently and gently to yourself: I am filled with divine light and energy. Divine love and light flow from me toward all around me. Divine love guides and leads me. Because of the divinity within me, I am a powerful, loving, compassionate, creative being. Feel free to add your own unique affirmations.
8. Conclude by sitting quietly and again breathe in and out for forty complete breaths.
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
2. Breathe in and out to a count of forty complete breaths.
3. As you do this, try to relax completely, releasing tension of body and mind.
4. Continue to breathe and relax more deeply.
5. Contemplate your own divine nature. See it as a small light or small flame that you can fan and grow by exercising patience, love and compassion for yourself.
6. Visualize that light growing larger, stronger and more radiant, extending out of you, embracing and blessing everything and everyone around you.
7. Speak these affirmations silently and gently to yourself: I am filled with divine light and energy. Divine love and light flow from me toward all around me. Divine love guides and leads me. Because of the divinity within me, I am a powerful, loving, compassionate, creative being. Feel free to add your own unique affirmations.
8. Conclude by sitting quietly and again breathe in and out for forty complete breaths.
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
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We live in an ocean of illusions . . . that take many forms:
- "I'll be happy when . . ."
- "I'll start exercising, dieting, quit smoking, drinking soon . . ."
- "I'll do that when I have more time . . ."
- "I'll get there faster if . . ."
- "I can change him//her . . ."
- "I have control over . . ."
- "I'm a self-made man/woman . . ."
- "She/he had instant success . . ."
- "I'll make a donation when I have more money . . ."
Because illusions surround us and impact our minds, today is the perfect day to begin the process of becoming dis-illusioned.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
- "I'll be happy when . . ."
- "I'll start exercising, dieting, quit smoking, drinking soon . . ."
- "I'll do that when I have more time . . ."
- "I'll get there faster if . . ."
- "I can change him//her . . ."
- "I have control over . . ."
- "I'm a self-made man/woman . . ."
- "She/he had instant success . . ."
- "I'll make a donation when I have more money . . ."
Because illusions surround us and impact our minds, today is the perfect day to begin the process of becoming dis-illusioned.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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Before beginning the meditation, remember to take a few deep inhalations and exhalations and then return to normal breathing.
1. Light a candle . . . gaze at it . . . let the light symbolize those who have been kind/good to you.
2. Begin to think of them, one at a time, and the kind ways they treated you--family members, friends, teachers, clergy, strangers . . .
3. As you think of them, quietly use their names, one at a time, saying, "Jim, thank you for being kind to me. Jim, may others be as kind to you . . ."
4. Silently think about someone to whom you can bestow kindness tomorrow or in the next few days.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
1. Light a candle . . . gaze at it . . . let the light symbolize those who have been kind/good to you.
2. Begin to think of them, one at a time, and the kind ways they treated you--family members, friends, teachers, clergy, strangers . . .
3. As you think of them, quietly use their names, one at a time, saying, "Jim, thank you for being kind to me. Jim, may others be as kind to you . . ."
4. Silently think about someone to whom you can bestow kindness tomorrow or in the next few days.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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A person strongly grounded in Buddhism exhibits little or no fear. There are several reasons for this absence of fear.
- The law of karma which is not fate, nor is it an omnipresent power judging an individual issuing punishments and rewards. Rather, karma is a natural cosmic event arising from one's actions. Good actions, good words, good thoughts and good mind, all of which characterize a Buddhist lifestyle, result in good karma.
- The law of impermanence. When a Buddhist experiences life's challenges and difficulties, he or she remains patient knowing that life is not static, that his or her difficult circumstances will change, ease and end. During a time of difficulty, a Buddhist will engage in ways of resolving the difficulty as much as possible.
- The inspiration of the Buddha. Like the Buddha, his followers know they have the seed of perfection within. Thus, they do not depend on external sources for their protection and salvation.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
- The law of karma which is not fate, nor is it an omnipresent power judging an individual issuing punishments and rewards. Rather, karma is a natural cosmic event arising from one's actions. Good actions, good words, good thoughts and good mind, all of which characterize a Buddhist lifestyle, result in good karma.
- The law of impermanence. When a Buddhist experiences life's challenges and difficulties, he or she remains patient knowing that life is not static, that his or her difficult circumstances will change, ease and end. During a time of difficulty, a Buddhist will engage in ways of resolving the difficulty as much as possible.
- The inspiration of the Buddha. Like the Buddha, his followers know they have the seed of perfection within. Thus, they do not depend on external sources for their protection and salvation.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
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Eastern attitudes toward conversion or evangelization can be summed up in these points:
- Most Eastern spiritual leaders would not be in favor of conversion from one faith to another.
- Neither would they believe in the fusion of all religions into one. . . .
- Ultimate Truth is one, but has an infinite number of aspects.
- All religions, though differing in philosophy and theology, are on a path that leads to the same goal.
- Eastern spiritual leaders have respect for all religions, because each one offers its own unique markers on the road to Ultimate Reality.
- The infinite cannot be completely contained within any finite concepts.
- One single form of religions could not possibly satisfy everyone.
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
- Most Eastern spiritual leaders would not be in favor of conversion from one faith to another.
- Neither would they believe in the fusion of all religions into one. . . .
- Ultimate Truth is one, but has an infinite number of aspects.
- All religions, though differing in philosophy and theology, are on a path that leads to the same goal.
- Eastern spiritual leaders have respect for all religions, because each one offers its own unique markers on the road to Ultimate Reality.
- The infinite cannot be completely contained within any finite concepts.
- One single form of religions could not possibly satisfy everyone.
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
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An American man completed Zen training in Japan and was given the gift of a monk's robe by his teacher. Inside the robe, his teacher carefully embroidered this last piece of advice: Don't look around. The teacher was a true Zen master because that sentence, if applied, can prevent a wide variety of misery that we bring upon ourselves when we do look around. It's a reminder to
- Tend your own garden
- Mind your own business
- Don't compete
- Don't compare
- Be focused on your life . . .
Everything you need for growing in wisdom will be found within not without.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
- Tend your own garden
- Mind your own business
- Don't compete
- Don't compare
- Be focused on your life . . .
Everything you need for growing in wisdom will be found within not without.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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To deepen compassion, all that is sometimes necessary is to become aware of the people around you--those whom you encounter regularly but with whom you do not have any special connection or interest. . . . It could be your coffee barista, a bank teller, grocery store cashier, etc. Begin to send that person this loving kindness meditation:
May you be happy.
May you be fulfilled.
May you be healthy.
May you be loved.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
May you be happy.
May you be fulfilled.
May you be healthy.
May you be loved.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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"The wasteful consumption of natural resources and destruction of ecology are caused by humankind's psychological craving for convenience and wealth." -Sheng Yen
To this day, Buddhists place great emphasis on protecting the environment not only for humans but all sentient beings, for all plants, for all trees, for all lakes, rivers and streams. Join them in caring for the planet.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
To this day, Buddhists place great emphasis on protecting the environment not only for humans but all sentient beings, for all plants, for all trees, for all lakes, rivers and streams. Join them in caring for the planet.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
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"Who is your enemy? Mind is your enemy. Who is your friend? Mind is your friend." -Buddha
This quote, attributed to the Buddha, clearly shows how we think can either help us or hurt us. So the next time you face a problem, don't do this: don't add to the problem. Just deal with the problem as it is. Use your mind constructively not destructively to help resolve the issue at hand.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
This quote, attributed to the Buddha, clearly shows how we think can either help us or hurt us. So the next time you face a problem, don't do this: don't add to the problem. Just deal with the problem as it is. Use your mind constructively not destructively to help resolve the issue at hand.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha