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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
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The goal of the 1-21 mind management meditation is to count up to 21 breaths without thinking of anything else--without any thoughts entering the mind except for breath counting.
- Sit quietly and begin to count your breaths with an inhalation/exhalation being one count.
- As soon as a thought enters your mind during the count, it means you have lost the contest with your mind and must therefore begin counting again.
- Do not be become discouraged if you only get to the fourth or fifth breath count before your mind wanders and thoughts enter. This is typical for most people. Be both patient and kind with yourself.
- When you realize you are thinking thoughts, simply acknowledge that this has happened and start the count over begininng at one. With practice you will be able to count more breaths before thoughts emerge.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
- Sit quietly and begin to count your breaths with an inhalation/exhalation being one count.
- As soon as a thought enters your mind during the count, it means you have lost the contest with your mind and must therefore begin counting again.
- Do not be become discouraged if you only get to the fourth or fifth breath count before your mind wanders and thoughts enter. This is typical for most people. Be both patient and kind with yourself.
- When you realize you are thinking thoughts, simply acknowledge that this has happened and start the count over begininng at one. With practice you will be able to count more breaths before thoughts emerge.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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1. Do it with a group. It's the easiest way to do meditation because the energy of several people sitting together is motivating and makes it possible to sit longer.
2. Do it with a friend. This way you both support and encourage each other to deepen the practice.
3. Do it alone. Tap your inner Buddha and find a quiet place to sit.
4. Do it with a teacher. Take some private instruction from a meditation teacher.
5. Do it outside. Nature nurtures the spirit and stimulates the senses creating a sense of peace, awe and unity with the planet.
6. Do it with children. Children are naturals for this practice when given user friendly instructions.
7. Do it at work. Instead of taking that coffee break and adding caffeine to work stress, use the break time to meditate.
8. Do it with a student. Many people want to learn meditation but don't know how to get started. Open that door for them.
9. Do it at a temple. You are welcome at the local Hindu or Buddhist temple. Visitors can go inside and simply sit.
10. Just do it! Keep it short or keep it long or somewhere in between. Remember that a few minutes of meditation is better than no meditation at all.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
2. Do it with a friend. This way you both support and encourage each other to deepen the practice.
3. Do it alone. Tap your inner Buddha and find a quiet place to sit.
4. Do it with a teacher. Take some private instruction from a meditation teacher.
5. Do it outside. Nature nurtures the spirit and stimulates the senses creating a sense of peace, awe and unity with the planet.
6. Do it with children. Children are naturals for this practice when given user friendly instructions.
7. Do it at work. Instead of taking that coffee break and adding caffeine to work stress, use the break time to meditate.
8. Do it with a student. Many people want to learn meditation but don't know how to get started. Open that door for them.
9. Do it at a temple. You are welcome at the local Hindu or Buddhist temple. Visitors can go inside and simply sit.
10. Just do it! Keep it short or keep it long or somewhere in between. Remember that a few minutes of meditation is better than no meditation at all.
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
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If you're like most people, the chances are good that you've spent far too much time trying to fit in. It's a huge waste of time which brings nothing but irritation, frustration and disappointment, because ultimately, we can never fit it no matter how hard we try.
Why? Because it's impossible to be everything we think everyone else wants, needs and demands that we be. Trying and trying and trying to fit in and be acceptable to others leaves us feeling compromised, emotionally and intellectually weak and completely lacking in authenticity. Our true voice may not get lost but may become a quiet whisper.
How about doing this instead: stop trying to fit in. While continuing to be intentional about extending kindness, civility, compassion to all those you meet and relate to, decline the pressure to fit in. Allow yourself to follow paths that speak to your spirit, regardless of the culture around. This simple decision will serve you well.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
Why? Because it's impossible to be everything we think everyone else wants, needs and demands that we be. Trying and trying and trying to fit in and be acceptable to others leaves us feeling compromised, emotionally and intellectually weak and completely lacking in authenticity. Our true voice may not get lost but may become a quiet whisper.
How about doing this instead: stop trying to fit in. While continuing to be intentional about extending kindness, civility, compassion to all those you meet and relate to, decline the pressure to fit in. Allow yourself to follow paths that speak to your spirit, regardless of the culture around. This simple decision will serve you well.
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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"If you place your mind on thoughts that are based upon compassion and wisdom, that's what the mind will become familiar with." -Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
The above quote is provocative because it raises this vital question: "What's my mind 'familiar' with?" If you'd like to begin with our culture, ask the question differently: "What's familiar to the mind of people in our society?"
The answer is as quick as it is obvious: violence, anger, greed, frustration, even rage. These are so "familiar" to the mind that they are easily, quickly, and readily triggered by the smallest of issues. The concepts that are not familiar to the minds of many people in our culture are wisdom, compassion, kindness, civility, etc.
The concept that we become what we think was first taught by the Buddha, who succintly said, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." . . .
Here is a meditation to explore mind familiarity.
- Sit comfortably and quietly.
- Focus on your breathing for a few moments by saying "In" on the inhalation and "Out" on the exhalation.
- Ask yourself, "What is my mind 'familiar' with?"
- Pause to see what comes up: anger or acceptance, greed or geerosity, cruelty or kindness.
- Conclude with the resolve to make your mind more "familiar" with virtues associated with compassion and wisdom. Do this by repeating affirmations like these:
--- I act compassionately to all.
--- I respond with kindness to all.
--- I see the best in each person.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
The above quote is provocative because it raises this vital question: "What's my mind 'familiar' with?" If you'd like to begin with our culture, ask the question differently: "What's familiar to the mind of people in our society?"
The answer is as quick as it is obvious: violence, anger, greed, frustration, even rage. These are so "familiar" to the mind that they are easily, quickly, and readily triggered by the smallest of issues. The concepts that are not familiar to the minds of many people in our culture are wisdom, compassion, kindness, civility, etc.
The concept that we become what we think was first taught by the Buddha, who succintly said, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." . . .
Here is a meditation to explore mind familiarity.
- Sit comfortably and quietly.
- Focus on your breathing for a few moments by saying "In" on the inhalation and "Out" on the exhalation.
- Ask yourself, "What is my mind 'familiar' with?"
- Pause to see what comes up: anger or acceptance, greed or geerosity, cruelty or kindness.
- Conclude with the resolve to make your mind more "familiar" with virtues associated with compassion and wisdom. Do this by repeating affirmations like these:
--- I act compassionately to all.
--- I respond with kindness to all.
--- I see the best in each person.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
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For those of us who live in the West and who have been shaped largely by European intellectual tradition, a good way to understand Buddha is through a comparison between Martin Luther and the Buddha. European history and Christianity itself were completely transformed when a monk named Martin Luther proposed alternatives to the Catholicism of his day. At the time, Catholic Christianity was largely a religion of rituals with an elite priesthood ruling over a complex theology. Luther was regarded as radical because he advocated individual effort, plain language, and a simple approach to life and faith.
Buddha acted in much the same way. Buddhism arose in northern India around 500 BCE in response to complex Hinduism. Like the Catholicism of Luther's day, Hinduism was a religion of rituals, an elite priesthood, a complex theology, many gods, and a caste system whereby people were rigidly divided and severely restricted to predetermined roles. Like Luther, Buddha stressed the importance of individual effort and direct personal experience, rather than relying on a priest to be an intermediary.
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
Buddha acted in much the same way. Buddhism arose in northern India around 500 BCE in response to complex Hinduism. Like the Catholicism of Luther's day, Hinduism was a religion of rituals, an elite priesthood, a complex theology, many gods, and a caste system whereby people were rigidly divided and severely restricted to predetermined roles. Like Luther, Buddha stressed the importance of individual effort and direct personal experience, rather than relying on a priest to be an intermediary.
-Victor M Parachin, Eastern Wisdom for Western Minds
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"Simple living helps in high thinking and getting mastery over mind and body." -Swami Sivananda
The Buddha recognized that we humans have four basic needs. in Buddhism these are referred to as "The Four Requisites" which are:
1. Nutrition--food and water to keep the body healthy and strong
2. Clothing--to protect from the elements and from insects
3. Shelter--for safety and protection from weather conditions
4. Medicine--to help the body overcome disease
These are basic and necessary. However, this list of four then raise these important questions:
1. How much food do you really need?
2. How much clothing do you really need?
3. How much shelter do you really need?
4. How much medicine do you really need?
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners
The Buddha recognized that we humans have four basic needs. in Buddhism these are referred to as "The Four Requisites" which are:
1. Nutrition--food and water to keep the body healthy and strong
2. Clothing--to protect from the elements and from insects
3. Shelter--for safety and protection from weather conditions
4. Medicine--to help the body overcome disease
These are basic and necessary. However, this list of four then raise these important questions:
1. How much food do you really need?
2. How much clothing do you really need?
3. How much shelter do you really need?
4. How much medicine do you really need?
-Victor M Parachin, Buddhist Wisdom for Beginners