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We can use sounds and noises to deepen our meditation. Some examples:
- If you hear a clock ticking, remind yourself, "Life is precious and short. I will do the best I can with the time I have."
- When you hear people laughing, remind yourself, "It is so good to hear sounds of laughter and joy. I will lighten my life through humor and laughter."
- If you hear sirens of an ambulance, offer this meditation: "May those who are ill or injured quickly receive medical services. May they recover from their illness or injury."
- When you hear rain coming down, say to yourself, "Just as the rains nourish the planet, my meditation practice nourishes my body, mind and spirit."
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
- If you hear a clock ticking, remind yourself, "Life is precious and short. I will do the best I can with the time I have."
- When you hear people laughing, remind yourself, "It is so good to hear sounds of laughter and joy. I will lighten my life through humor and laughter."
- If you hear sirens of an ambulance, offer this meditation: "May those who are ill or injured quickly receive medical services. May they recover from their illness or injury."
- When you hear rain coming down, say to yourself, "Just as the rains nourish the planet, my meditation practice nourishes my body, mind and spirit."
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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Far too often we encounter difficult people, those who are inconsiderate, rude, arrogant, ignorant and even unkind. . . . The Buddha taught that we should be grateful for difficult people because they helped us refine and develop good character. . . . The Buddha instructed his followers to practice discipline and patience in four unpleasant situations.
First, when others become angry with you, do not react with anger but with discipline and patience. Secondly, if another person strikes you, do not retaliate or return blows. Thirdly, when others criticize you, do not criticize them in retaliation. Fourthly, when others insult you, do not respond by insulting or embarrassing them. . . .
The Buddha explained that there are four corresponding advantages--followers will improve their patience and discipline, bring harmony to their relationships, create more social goodwill and move more rapidly to awakening.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
First, when others become angry with you, do not react with anger but with discipline and patience. Secondly, if another person strikes you, do not retaliate or return blows. Thirdly, when others criticize you, do not criticize them in retaliation. Fourthly, when others insult you, do not respond by insulting or embarrassing them. . . .
The Buddha explained that there are four corresponding advantages--followers will improve their patience and discipline, bring harmony to their relationships, create more social goodwill and move more rapidly to awakening.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
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The Bhagavad Gita is an essential Hindu sacred text. . . . In it, the God Krishna leads the warrior Arjuna to a higher and deeper understanding of his spiritual nature and how that is to work itself out in daily life. For those who believe in a Higher Power, the Gita offers these four "yogic" ways of deepening a connection with the Divine.
1. Through the intellect. If your style is to research, read, study then your best access to the Divine is via those intellectual approaches. This one is called Jnana yoga.
2. Through the heart. If your style is a heartfelt approach to life, then your best access to the Divine is through adoration and expression of love for the Divine. This one is called Bhakti yoga.
3. Through action. If your style is one of energetic activities, then your best access to the Divine is via serving others and offering that as your commitment to the Divine. This one is called Karma yoga.
4. Through the mind. If you are a reflective and introspective person, then your best access to the Divine is through meditation. This one is called Raja yoga.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
1. Through the intellect. If your style is to research, read, study then your best access to the Divine is via those intellectual approaches. This one is called Jnana yoga.
2. Through the heart. If your style is a heartfelt approach to life, then your best access to the Divine is through adoration and expression of love for the Divine. This one is called Bhakti yoga.
3. Through action. If your style is one of energetic activities, then your best access to the Divine is via serving others and offering that as your commitment to the Divine. This one is called Karma yoga.
4. Through the mind. If you are a reflective and introspective person, then your best access to the Divine is through meditation. This one is called Raja yoga.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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In Sanskrit, chakra means "wheel" or "disk." Eastern sages teach that chakras are vital energy centers flowing through the nerves up and down the spinal column and up to the head. Think of a vortex, which is a spiraling, whirling mass of water or air that sucks everything near it toward its center. Chakras are often described as spinning vortices channeling cosmic energy. These energies are considered part of our connection with the divine or higher consciousness. When the chakras operate optimally--that is when we are most united with the divine--we experience physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. On the other hand, when that energy is blocked or interrupted--when we are less connected to the divine energy--the result is confusion, emotional difficulty, and illness.
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
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Here are three more koans to consider:
-Is emptiness empty?
-What does not exist?
-How can I stop thinking by thinking about stopping thinking?
When you're finished meditating on these koans, write down your answers. Later in the day, tell the koan to a friend or two, asking them for their answers. Then you can compare and see how different personalities can have completely different explanations.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
-Is emptiness empty?
-What does not exist?
-How can I stop thinking by thinking about stopping thinking?
When you're finished meditating on these koans, write down your answers. Later in the day, tell the koan to a friend or two, asking them for their answers. Then you can compare and see how different personalities can have completely different explanations.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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Koans do not have one right answer and can actually have various interpretations. They are excellent ways to challenge the mind. Here are more Zen koan statements.
-How does a goose escape from a long-necked bottle?
-What is in an empty mind?
-Is stillness still?
Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
-How does a goose escape from a long-necked bottle?
-What is in an empty mind?
-Is stillness still?
Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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A koan is a short statement or story which is much like a riddle. Koans are often used in Zen Buddhism and are designed to force a meditator to "think outside the box." Because a koan statement is odd, unusual, ridiculous and even bizarre, the meditator must truly focus to come up with an answer.
Here are three to choose from:
-What is the sound of one hand clapping?
-How do you step from a 100-foot pole?
-Can a dog or a cat become enlightened?
Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
Here are three to choose from:
-What is the sound of one hand clapping?
-How do you step from a 100-foot pole?
-Can a dog or a cat become enlightened?
Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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What is the correct way to deal with some human beings who are especially obnoxious, unkind and unlovable because of their actions? As citizens of the planet are we obliged to love them? . . .
According to Buddhist teaching, every person--regardless of how disgraceful and disgusting his or her behavior may be--has Buddha nature, has the potential to emerge into full Buddhahood. While we may not need to love them, we must work to see and respect their inner Buddha nature. And, when possible, do what we can to support its growth. Every human being, through practice and with some assistance from others, can become an enlightened one.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
According to Buddhist teaching, every person--regardless of how disgraceful and disgusting his or her behavior may be--has Buddha nature, has the potential to emerge into full Buddhahood. While we may not need to love them, we must work to see and respect their inner Buddha nature. And, when possible, do what we can to support its growth. Every human being, through practice and with some assistance from others, can become an enlightened one.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
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Some people go through life believing they are serving when they are merely helping. Why? Because serving arises out of humility while helping can emerge from superiority.
Some people go through life believing they are kind when they are merely nice. Why? Because niceness often emerges out of a need to be liked. . . . Kindness arises spontaneously and without motive. . . .
Some people go through life practicing tolerance but never inclusiveness. Why does this happen? Because tolerance contains judgment. If someone says to us, "I am tolerating you," we would not feel that as a warm affirming position. However, when we hear the phrase "you're included!" we recognize that as welcoming.
Become mindful of these mind forgeries.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
Some people go through life believing they are kind when they are merely nice. Why? Because niceness often emerges out of a need to be liked. . . . Kindness arises spontaneously and without motive. . . .
Some people go through life practicing tolerance but never inclusiveness. Why does this happen? Because tolerance contains judgment. If someone says to us, "I am tolerating you," we would not feel that as a warm affirming position. However, when we hear the phrase "you're included!" we recognize that as welcoming.
Become mindful of these mind forgeries.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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The remarkable man known as Buddha (his original name was Siddhartha Gautama) was an immensely likeable and attractive individual. Unlike other spiritual leaders who claim to receive their wisdom as direct revelations from God, Buddha was rather ordinary. Basically, he said, "I'm a regular person who through considerable struggle, managed to become enlightened." By "enlightened" he simply meant he understood suffering and how it could be ended. In various ways, he also told those around him, "If I can do this, anyone can." . . .
The message he taught is condensed in the Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is suffering. To be human is to experience pain.
2. Suffering has a cause. All suffering is rooted in craving and attachment.
3. Craving and attachment can be overcome. When that is done, suffering ceases.
4. The way to overcome craving and attachment is the Eightfold Path: right understanding, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. . . .
One truly inspiring aspect of all Buddhist paths is the Buddha's immense confidence in us all. He emphasized over and over that like himself, each one of us can experience enlightenment, which is boundless wisdom and infinite compassion. Every time you look into a mirror, let your reflection remind you of the powerful truth: There's a Buddha in my mirror!
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
The message he taught is condensed in the Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is suffering. To be human is to experience pain.
2. Suffering has a cause. All suffering is rooted in craving and attachment.
3. Craving and attachment can be overcome. When that is done, suffering ceases.
4. The way to overcome craving and attachment is the Eightfold Path: right understanding, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. . . .
One truly inspiring aspect of all Buddhist paths is the Buddha's immense confidence in us all. He emphasized over and over that like himself, each one of us can experience enlightenment, which is boundless wisdom and infinite compassion. Every time you look into a mirror, let your reflection remind you of the powerful truth: There's a Buddha in my mirror!
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds