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Modern psychology researchers consistently reveal that optimism is linked to better physical and mental health outcomes, as well as promoting a sense of well-being during difficult times. This would be no surprise to Eastern spiritual teachers who have, across the ages, promoted and endorsed maximizing the positive and minimizing the negative.
Be like the sages and cultivate optimism. Motivate yourself by reading and reciting wisdom statements about optimism and positive thinking such as these:
- “People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”—Thich Nhat Hanh
- “I have no such words as ‘cannot,’ ‘difficult,’ ‘impossible,’ and ‘weakness’ in my dictionary. Those who are attempting to strengthen their will-force should remove these words from their dictionary.”—Swami Sivananda
- “Buddhism is a path of supreme optimism, for one of its basic tenets is that no human life or experience is to be wasted or forgotten, but all should be transformed into a source of wisdom and compassionate living.”—Taitetsu Unno
- “It is a great advantage to be able to face life with a positive and balanced spirit.”—the Dalai Lama
-Victor M Parachin, "Turning Poison into Medicine the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health
Be like the sages and cultivate optimism. Motivate yourself by reading and reciting wisdom statements about optimism and positive thinking such as these:
- “People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?”—Thich Nhat Hanh
- “I have no such words as ‘cannot,’ ‘difficult,’ ‘impossible,’ and ‘weakness’ in my dictionary. Those who are attempting to strengthen their will-force should remove these words from their dictionary.”—Swami Sivananda
- “Buddhism is a path of supreme optimism, for one of its basic tenets is that no human life or experience is to be wasted or forgotten, but all should be transformed into a source of wisdom and compassionate living.”—Taitetsu Unno
- “It is a great advantage to be able to face life with a positive and balanced spirit.”—the Dalai Lama
-Victor M Parachin, "Turning Poison into Medicine the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health
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“Changing poison into medicine begins when we face difficulties with the confidence that we have within us the full resources to overcome them.” —Daisaku Ikeda, Japanese Buddhist philosopher and teacher
The phrase “turning poison into medicine” was first articulated by Nagarjuna (c. 150-250), an Indian Buddhist teacher often described as the “second Buddha.” In his Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom, Nagarjuna presents the truth that any person can become “a great physician who can change poison into medicine.” His principle is astonishingly contemporary, optimistic, and hopeful because it specifically teaches that, with right effort and right thinking, a negative can be converted into a positive, suffering can be transformed into flourishing, and pain can be refashioned into power.
-Victor M Parachin, "Turning Poison into Medicine the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health
The phrase “turning poison into medicine” was first articulated by Nagarjuna (c. 150-250), an Indian Buddhist teacher often described as the “second Buddha.” In his Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom, Nagarjuna presents the truth that any person can become “a great physician who can change poison into medicine.” His principle is astonishingly contemporary, optimistic, and hopeful because it specifically teaches that, with right effort and right thinking, a negative can be converted into a positive, suffering can be transformed into flourishing, and pain can be refashioned into power.
-Victor M Parachin, "Turning Poison into Medicine the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health
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“You have to learn to accept the good and the bad, just as you do with the weather. You can't change it. So it's better that you fit yourself into the weather.” This wisdom is offered by Sivananda Radha, a yogini, author, and founder of Sivananda Ashram in Burnaby, British Columbia. Her wisdom is a reminder that it is not at all unusual for us to find ourselves in situations we simply can’t change. Rather than deny the reality and avoid it as much as possible, a healthier approach is to apply radical acceptance. When that’s applied, we give the issue less power over us, and a path for moving forward emerges.
-Victor M Parachin, "Turning Poison into Medicine the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health
-Victor M Parachin, "Turning Poison into Medicine the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health
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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
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
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“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
“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
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"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
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
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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
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
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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
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
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The tradition of simply chanting OM is an important and powerful part of meditation because it's a way of creating vibration and synchronizing with the energy of the universe.
- Note that OM is actually three sounds made up of A-U-M.
- Begin with your mouth open, saying "Ah" then slowly make a smaller circle with your lips to form the "au" sound and conclude by gently bringing the lips lightly together for the "M" sound.
- At that point feel the vibration on your lips, in your nose and nasal passages, your throat and your chest.
- Chant OM seven times. Then pause and breathe naturally for the same length of time that it took you to chant OM seven times.
- Then return to chanting OM seven more times, followed by the same amount of time for silent meditation.
- Go back and forth this way for five minutes.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
- Note that OM is actually three sounds made up of A-U-M.
- Begin with your mouth open, saying "Ah" then slowly make a smaller circle with your lips to form the "au" sound and conclude by gently bringing the lips lightly together for the "M" sound.
- At that point feel the vibration on your lips, in your nose and nasal passages, your throat and your chest.
- Chant OM seven times. Then pause and breathe naturally for the same length of time that it took you to chant OM seven times.
- Then return to chanting OM seven more times, followed by the same amount of time for silent meditation.
- Go back and forth this way for five minutes.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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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
- 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