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Thich Nhat Hanh says that “meditation can be very informal” and cites the example of washing dishes.
“When you wash the dishes, if you enjoy breathing in and breathing out and your smile, the dish washing becomes very pleasant. I enjoy washing dishes very much. Washing dishes is not only to have clean dishes, but to simply enjoy the time of washing dishes. With the energy of mindfulness, every action in our daily life can become pleasurable.
“When you wash the dishes, if you enjoy breathing in and breathing out and your smile, the dish washing becomes very pleasant. I enjoy washing dishes very much. Washing dishes is not only to have clean dishes, but to simply enjoy the time of washing dishes. With the energy of mindfulness, every action in our daily life can become pleasurable.
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Editors of the website Buddhist Door note that there is one common motif shared between Buddhist meditation practice and Olympian training: that of the finely tuned lute. Strung too tightly, the strings will break; strung too loosely, the strings will sound off. That's a teaching of the Buddha who observed:
"If the lute strings are too tight, will your lute make a nice sound? If the strings are too loose, will your lute make a nice sound? . . . In the same way, if you practice too intensely, it causes stresses. If you practice too little, it causes indolence."
"If the lute strings are too tight, will your lute make a nice sound? If the strings are too loose, will your lute make a nice sound? . . . In the same way, if you practice too intensely, it causes stresses. If you practice too little, it causes indolence."
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Grant yourself a moment of peace,
and you will understand how foolishly
you have scurried about.
Learn to be silent,
and your will notice that you
have talked too much.
Be kind,
and you will realize that
your judgments of others were too severe.
- Chinese Buddhist Wisdom
and you will understand how foolishly
you have scurried about.
Learn to be silent,
and your will notice that you
have talked too much.
Be kind,
and you will realize that
your judgments of others were too severe.
- Chinese Buddhist Wisdom
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Everything is temporary; experiences are continually changing. This insight makes difficult situations less painful and frightening because they can be thought of in the context of ‘This, too, will pass.’ - Sylvia Boorstein
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The Buddha was so eager to achieve enlightenment that he went to extremes adopting a severe ascetic style. At one point, his daily meal consisted of a few grains of rice. Later, he told followers that he was so emaciated that he could touch his belly button and feel his spine.
He was close to death when a woman found him and began to feed him small meals. Regaining his strength, he realized it was a mistake to torture his body. He began to follow a more moderate, middle path and then experienced enlightenment.
In our lives, the middle way – avoiding extremes – is the path to happiness and fulfillment.
He was close to death when a woman found him and began to feed him small meals. Regaining his strength, he realized it was a mistake to torture his body. He began to follow a more moderate, middle path and then experienced enlightenment.
In our lives, the middle way – avoiding extremes – is the path to happiness and fulfillment.
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Ajahn Brahm is a monk and spiritual director of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia. He observes that people are unable to enjoy the fruit of their labor. “Most people in Australia have a garden with their house, but few know how to find peace in their garden. For the rest, the garden is just another place for work. So I encourage those with a garden to nurture it’s beauty by working a while and nurture their hearts by just sitting peacefully in the garden, enjoying nature’s gifts.”
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Remember that you are not the only one who goes through suffering. - Margaret Meloni
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There are these two conditions for the arising of wrong view. Which two?
The voice of another and inappropriate attention.
These are the two conditions for the arising of wrong view.
There are these two conditions for the arising of right view. Which two?
The voice of another and appropriate attention.
These are the two conditions for the arising of right view.
—Buddha Shakyamuni, Ghosa Sutta
The voice of another and inappropriate attention.
These are the two conditions for the arising of wrong view.
There are these two conditions for the arising of right view. Which two?
The voice of another and appropriate attention.
These are the two conditions for the arising of right view.
—Buddha Shakyamuni, Ghosa Sutta
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Ultimately, everything comes down to you. No matter how supportive your family, no matter how vast your friendship circle may be, you cannot rely on others to solve your problems.
Therefore, it’s important and vital to develop a strong sense of self. When your self is operating at optimum, then your inner warrior emerges and you are strong enough to face life’s fiercest storms with courage, confidence, patience, perseverance and wisdom.
So, the next time – and there will be next times – troubles and traumas come your way, you can face them with a determination which says I can take you on. Just watch!
Therefore, it’s important and vital to develop a strong sense of self. When your self is operating at optimum, then your inner warrior emerges and you are strong enough to face life’s fiercest storms with courage, confidence, patience, perseverance and wisdom.
So, the next time – and there will be next times – troubles and traumas come your way, you can face them with a determination which says I can take you on. Just watch!
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Actor Michael Caine rightly notes that “no one can succeed in the movies or anywhere else without luck.” With considerable insight he also says:
“But I haven’t just been lucky. I’ve been unlucky plenty of times too. And I’ve never rested on my laurels. I’ve worked hard, learned my craft, grabbed my opportunities and just kept on bloody going when others gave up.”
“But I haven’t just been lucky. I’ve been unlucky plenty of times too. And I’ve never rested on my laurels. I’ve worked hard, learned my craft, grabbed my opportunities and just kept on bloody going when others gave up.”