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Because excessive thinking is the fuel that powers the body's stress response, anything that reduces the fuel supply helps us to relax. - Eric Harrison
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Hohm Press published my book this week. It is available from them (wwwhohmpress.com) with free shipping and a 15% discount this month. The book is 220 pages and retails at $21.95. Also available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other book sellers. Here's the cover page:
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"Why do we love eating so much, even to the detriment of our health? It's often the most sensual activity of the day. The Very act of eating - biting, chewing, tasting - pulls us into the present...when you're absorbed in food, you're unlikely to be thinking about other things. Eating relaxes us because it temporarily eclipses the problems of the day." - Eric Harrison
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Inner peace comes to those who master the fine art of adjusting and adapting to life as it presents itself. - Victor M. Parachin
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If you restore balance in your own self, you will be contributing immensely to the healing of the world. - Deepak Chopra
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The spiritual journey involves stepping into unknown territory with a hunger to know what is true. One of the essential elements of such a life is the understanding that everything we encounter— fear, resentment, jealousy, embarrassment—is actually an invitation to see clearly where we are shutting down and holding back. - Aura Glaser
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Decades ago I made friends with a woman who was nearly 90 years of age. She'd been a teacher all her life and in her ninth decade had a strong, healthy mind. During one of many conversations with her, Beulah told me about living through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. Her father died during that time leaving her with a lifelong emotional scar. Beulah lived in a Chicago suburb and at that time it was customary for a family who had a death to place a large black cloth banner on the outside of the home door. She vividly recalls observing in her neighborhood that every third house had a large black cloth banner displayed. She told me "one out of three" families on my street had a death due to the flu.
Here's my take away from that conversation.
Have no fear!
Covid 19 is nothing like the Spanish flu of 1918-1920 which claimed one-third of the population.
Covid 19 death rate continues to be less than one percent for the general population but is higher among those with weakened immunity systems, especially those over 60. Older adults are more likely to already have underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or respiratory illness. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data more than 95% of COVID-19 deaths were among people over 60 years of age, and more than half of all deaths occurred in people of 80 years-plus. In Sweden, for example, 90% of the deaths from COVID-19 were among people more than 70 years of age.
Covid 19 is unlikely to cause a death in a person who has a healthy immune system. In fact, the best "vaccine" is to keep the body healthy. If you're doing that - and this means eating nutritious meals, avoiding eating out, exercising most days of the week, meditating - then have no fear! Continue to look after yourself physically and spiritually.
Here's the Buddhist mudra (hand positions) to exhibit "no fear". The next time you're feeling anxious about Covid 19 issues, try sitting in meditation for a few minutes maintaining the hand positions of "no fear".
Here's my take away from that conversation.
Have no fear!
Covid 19 is nothing like the Spanish flu of 1918-1920 which claimed one-third of the population.
Covid 19 death rate continues to be less than one percent for the general population but is higher among those with weakened immunity systems, especially those over 60. Older adults are more likely to already have underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or respiratory illness. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data more than 95% of COVID-19 deaths were among people over 60 years of age, and more than half of all deaths occurred in people of 80 years-plus. In Sweden, for example, 90% of the deaths from COVID-19 were among people more than 70 years of age.
Covid 19 is unlikely to cause a death in a person who has a healthy immune system. In fact, the best "vaccine" is to keep the body healthy. If you're doing that - and this means eating nutritious meals, avoiding eating out, exercising most days of the week, meditating - then have no fear! Continue to look after yourself physically and spiritually.
Here's the Buddhist mudra (hand positions) to exhibit "no fear". The next time you're feeling anxious about Covid 19 issues, try sitting in meditation for a few minutes maintaining the hand positions of "no fear".
(public domain image from www.pexels.com)
Please feel free to re-post and/or link to your social media.
Please feel free to re-post and/or link to your social media.
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Do not take physical functioning for granted. This is a gift that shouldn’t be overlooked.
- Rabbi Abraham Twerski
- Rabbi Abraham Twerski
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Fear can manifest for us at any time. Many times it related to the past (I am scared that _____ will happen again), or future (I hope ____ doesn’t happen when I get older). This is one of the reasons as Buddhists, we focus so much on being in the present moment, where we are most functional. - Kris Ladusau
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- 4 am Wake up
- 4.10 - 5 am Sutra chanting
- 5- 7 am Zazen and interview with abbot
- 7 am Breakfast of rice gruel, salted plum, and pickles.
- 8 - 10.50 am Cleaning and work duties
- 11 am Lunch, typically barley rice, miso soup, cooked vegetable, and pickled radish
- 1 - 3.50 pm Work duty
- 4 pm Light meal similar to lunch
- 5 - 8.30 pm Zazen and interview with abbot
- 9 pm Lights out
- 9 - 11 pm Night sitting.