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Though it sounds dark and unpleasant, the Buddhist tradition has strongly stressed the importance of thinking about one's own death. The reason: a meditation on death is a powerful tool for developing insight into the best way of living a meaningful, significant and satisfying life. . . .
If this was the last day of my life,
- what would I do?
- what would I say?
- who would I be with?
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
If this was the last day of my life,
- what would I do?
- what would I say?
- who would I be with?
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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The right people for grievers include those who listen compassionately and without judgment and who respond with these kinds of empathy statements:
- This must be very difficult for you.
- This has got to be hard to accept.
- What can I do? How can I help?
- I'm so sorry.
- Tell me more.
- It's okay to cry.
- Call me whenever you want to talk.
- You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Compassionate listeners do more listening than speaking. They never make you feel as though you have been judged or misunderstood. You know that they know your pain or, at the very least, are trying hard to understand and be supportive. Blanket yourself with these kinds of people.
-Victor M Parachin, Healing Grief
- This must be very difficult for you.
- This has got to be hard to accept.
- What can I do? How can I help?
- I'm so sorry.
- Tell me more.
- It's okay to cry.
- Call me whenever you want to talk.
- You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Compassionate listeners do more listening than speaking. They never make you feel as though you have been judged or misunderstood. You know that they know your pain or, at the very least, are trying hard to understand and be supportive. Blanket yourself with these kinds of people.
-Victor M Parachin, Healing Grief
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We are awakened (enlightened) women and men if. . .
-We are less preoccupied with ourselves and more concerned about helping others;
-We naturally, spontaneously express kindness, compassion, acceptance, love;
-We are patient with others and with ourselves;
-We are generally peaceful and serene;
-We are generous with our time, talent and material possessions;
-We feel both sadness and compassion for the condition of the world;
-We wish to relieve suffering of other beings;
-We realize that life is precious to all, human and all sentient beings--animals, fish, insects;
-We enjoy nature and being outside--it's not a coincidence the Buddha became enlightened while meditating outside, under a tree.
Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
-We are less preoccupied with ourselves and more concerned about helping others;
-We naturally, spontaneously express kindness, compassion, acceptance, love;
-We are patient with others and with ourselves;
-We are generally peaceful and serene;
-We are generous with our time, talent and material possessions;
-We feel both sadness and compassion for the condition of the world;
-We wish to relieve suffering of other beings;
-We realize that life is precious to all, human and all sentient beings--animals, fish, insects;
-We enjoy nature and being outside--it's not a coincidence the Buddha became enlightened while meditating outside, under a tree.
Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
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Eleanor Roosevelt once advised, "Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give." Here is a meditation to heighten the joy in your life.
Look back over the last seven days--one week--meditatively asking:
1) Where did I experience joy? Pause to ponder carefully.
2) Where did I bring joy? Pause to ponder carefully.
3) Where can I deliver joy? This time look into the next seven days--one week--identifying people and places where you can transmit joy.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
Look back over the last seven days--one week--meditatively asking:
1) Where did I experience joy? Pause to ponder carefully.
2) Where did I bring joy? Pause to ponder carefully.
3) Where can I deliver joy? This time look into the next seven days--one week--identifying people and places where you can transmit joy.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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Albert Einstein said, "Never lose a holy curiosity." Curiosity is one common denominator to all great inventors. And curiosity is an important aspect of mindfulness for these reasons:
- Curiosity makes your mind active not passive
- Curiosity keeps your mind observant and attentive
- Curiosity opens you up to fresh insights and new possibilities
- Curiosity prevents you from being on automatic pilot
- Curiosity helps you see the big picture
- Curiosity forces you to ask "Why?"
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
- Curiosity makes your mind active not passive
- Curiosity keeps your mind observant and attentive
- Curiosity opens you up to fresh insights and new possibilities
- Curiosity prevents you from being on automatic pilot
- Curiosity helps you see the big picture
- Curiosity forces you to ask "Why?"
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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Right associations have always been emphasized in Buddhism because we are greatly influenced, positively and negatively, by the people we associate with the most. Here are three key ways to create right associations.
First, surround yourself with positive, optimistic, joyful people. Little by little, reduce and eventually, remove from your close circle people who are negative, cynical and prone to drama.
Secondly, be part of a spiritual community such as a yoga class, meditation group, or among people who meet regularly to study religious texts. . . .
Thirdly, read or listen to teachings which are informative and inspiring. Though we cannot always be in the presence of gifted teachers, we can still benefit from them by reading their writings and listening or viewing their talks.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
First, surround yourself with positive, optimistic, joyful people. Little by little, reduce and eventually, remove from your close circle people who are negative, cynical and prone to drama.
Secondly, be part of a spiritual community such as a yoga class, meditation group, or among people who meet regularly to study religious texts. . . .
Thirdly, read or listen to teachings which are informative and inspiring. Though we cannot always be in the presence of gifted teachers, we can still benefit from them by reading their writings and listening or viewing their talks.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
- Published on
CPR Meditation is an excellent stress-reliever and body-relaxer, based on the words calm, peaceful, relaxed. Simply repeat these sentences over and over while deeply and slowly inhaling and exhaling.
I am calm.
I am peaceful.
I am relaxed.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
I am calm.
I am peaceful.
I am relaxed.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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Quietly and slowly repeat these words over and over for five minutes while slowly and evenly inhaling and exhaling.
Meditation #1
Every day in every way my body is healing.
Every day in every way I am getting better.
Every day in every way I increase in strength and wholeness.
Meditation #2
Love of God, fall fresh upon me.
Love of God, fall fresh upon me.
Healing power of God, fall fresh upon me.
Healing power of God, fall fresh upon me.
Meditation #3
I release all fear.
My treatment is effective.
Healthy cells are growing.
I release all fear.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
Meditation #1
Every day in every way my body is healing.
Every day in every way I am getting better.
Every day in every way I increase in strength and wholeness.
Meditation #2
Love of God, fall fresh upon me.
Love of God, fall fresh upon me.
Healing power of God, fall fresh upon me.
Healing power of God, fall fresh upon me.
Meditation #3
I release all fear.
My treatment is effective.
Healthy cells are growing.
I release all fear.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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In his book A Monk's Guide to a Clean House and Mind, Shoukei Matsumoto says these things about the spiritual practice of cleaning:
- Cleaning practice--that is sweeping, polishing, wiping, tidying, washing--constitutes an important step toward inner peace.
- Buddhism does not separate the person from the environment and cleaning expresses both respect and unity with the world around us.
- Cleaning when done mindfully is a powerful meditation practice.
- There is no end to cleaning just as there is no ending of or "graduation" in meditation practice.
"A monk's day begins with cleaning. We sweep the Temple grounds and gardens, we polish the main Temple Hall. We don't do it because it's dirty or messy. We do it to eliminate gloom in our hearts." -Shoukei Matsumoto
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
- Cleaning practice--that is sweeping, polishing, wiping, tidying, washing--constitutes an important step toward inner peace.
- Buddhism does not separate the person from the environment and cleaning expresses both respect and unity with the world around us.
- Cleaning when done mindfully is a powerful meditation practice.
- There is no end to cleaning just as there is no ending of or "graduation" in meditation practice.
"A monk's day begins with cleaning. We sweep the Temple grounds and gardens, we polish the main Temple Hall. We don't do it because it's dirty or messy. We do it to eliminate gloom in our hearts." -Shoukei Matsumoto
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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"When you become aware of silence, immediately there is that state of inner still alertness. You are present. You have stepped out of thousands of years of collective human conditioning."
Eckhart Tolle
Silence is an important aspect for the deeper development of mindfulness because silence brings clarity while activity often brings confusion.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
Eckhart Tolle
Silence is an important aspect for the deeper development of mindfulness because silence brings clarity while activity often brings confusion.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha