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The scriptures serve to indicate the existence of the Higher Power or Self and to point the way to It. That is their essential purpose. Apart from that they are useless. Ramana Maharshi
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1. They express gratitude. When people were told to write and then personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had been especially kind to them, but whom they had never thanked properly, they experienced a huge increase in happiness, according to a study at the University of Pennsylvania. Even more, that happiness boost lasted an entire month.
2. They smile more. Smiling does more than make us look happy—it makes us feel happy, too. Studies have found that smiling has provides a variety of psychological and physical benefits including: lowering stress levels, improving your mood, and helping you make more friends. Researchers believe that this is because smiling reduces stress hormones and makes you appear more approachable.
3. They forgive. Although it may be easier said than done, learning to forgive instead of holding a grudge leads to a more positive lifestyle, says David Mezzapelle, author of Contagious Optimism. “Make peace with your past so that it won’t spoil the present. Once you accomplish this, you will close those chapters and live a more positive and happy life.”
4. They write down good things which come into their lives. Those who pay attention to the positive and write down the good which comes their way tend to be happier notes psychologist Amy Przeworski, PhD. Even if it wasn’t a particularly great day, try to find something positive to say about it, she advises. “Most situations can be seen in both a positive and negative light. You just have to find the positive one and keep reminding yourself of it in order to eventually believe it.” Taking time to write down positive experiences is a way of training the brain to be more optimistic in general. And, the benefits of being a positive person extend far beyond the writing exercise. A study of Catholic nuns who journaled regularly found that those who focused on more uplifting content ended up living longer.
5. They spend time around positive people.
One study reported that forty-eight percent of the women surveyed strongly agreed that they are happier when around optimistic people. Good moods are contagious, as are bad ones.
Associating with positive people breeds more positivity in your own life. It’s an upward spiral rather than a downward one when spending too much time with negative individuals.
2. They smile more. Smiling does more than make us look happy—it makes us feel happy, too. Studies have found that smiling has provides a variety of psychological and physical benefits including: lowering stress levels, improving your mood, and helping you make more friends. Researchers believe that this is because smiling reduces stress hormones and makes you appear more approachable.
3. They forgive. Although it may be easier said than done, learning to forgive instead of holding a grudge leads to a more positive lifestyle, says David Mezzapelle, author of Contagious Optimism. “Make peace with your past so that it won’t spoil the present. Once you accomplish this, you will close those chapters and live a more positive and happy life.”
4. They write down good things which come into their lives. Those who pay attention to the positive and write down the good which comes their way tend to be happier notes psychologist Amy Przeworski, PhD. Even if it wasn’t a particularly great day, try to find something positive to say about it, she advises. “Most situations can be seen in both a positive and negative light. You just have to find the positive one and keep reminding yourself of it in order to eventually believe it.” Taking time to write down positive experiences is a way of training the brain to be more optimistic in general. And, the benefits of being a positive person extend far beyond the writing exercise. A study of Catholic nuns who journaled regularly found that those who focused on more uplifting content ended up living longer.
5. They spend time around positive people.
One study reported that forty-eight percent of the women surveyed strongly agreed that they are happier when around optimistic people. Good moods are contagious, as are bad ones.
Associating with positive people breeds more positivity in your own life. It’s an upward spiral rather than a downward one when spending too much time with negative individuals.
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If I had to summarize the entirety
of most people’s
lives in a few words,
it would be endless resistance to what is.
As we resist, we are in constant motion
trying to adjust,
and yet we still remain unhappy about what is.
If I had to summarize the entirety of an enlightened
person’s life in a few words,
it would be complete acceptance of what is.
As we accept what is, our minds are relaxed
and composed
while the world changes rapidly around us.
- Haemin Sunim
of most people’s
lives in a few words,
it would be endless resistance to what is.
As we resist, we are in constant motion
trying to adjust,
and yet we still remain unhappy about what is.
If I had to summarize the entirety of an enlightened
person’s life in a few words,
it would be complete acceptance of what is.
As we accept what is, our minds are relaxed
and composed
while the world changes rapidly around us.
- Haemin Sunim
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Suffering is very real, and,
I fear, mankind rather
increases than decreases it.
- Allan Bennett
I fear, mankind rather
increases than decreases it.
- Allan Bennett
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Eliminate from your life
all the people and practices
that unleash your
negative and unhealthy side.
Daniel D'Apollonio
all the people and practices
that unleash your
negative and unhealthy side.
Daniel D'Apollonio
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When we get angry, we lose the dignity of our intelligence. We become a stranger to pleasure. Others stay away from us and we are left alone. - Dzigar Kongtrul
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(public domain image from www.pixabay.com)
After the birth date of the Buddha, this is viewed as the second most important Buddhist day of celebration. Makkha Puja is commonly known as “Sangha Day” honoring the establishment of the Buddhist Sangha. Makkha means the third lunar month and Puja means to venerate or honor. Thus, Makkha Puja takes place on the first full moon in March and is a national holiday in many Southeastern Asian countries. It celebrates a day which took place nine months after the Buddha's awakening. At that time 1,250 disciples came to see the Buddha without being summoned where they were ordained by the Buddha and received the following instructions:
- to cease from negative actions
- to do what is good
- to purify and strengthen the mind
Join me and others this Friday (6-8pm) for a meditation retreat celebrating Sangha Day - chanting, silent meditation, guided meditation and a dharma talk.
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Researchers in Taiwan followed over 13-thousand adults who were vegetarians, or who ate meat and fish.
They found vegetarians were 60% to 74% less likely to suffer a stroke regardless of any other risk factors, like high blood pressure.
The study was led by researchers at Tzu Chi University (TAI) and published in 'Neurology.'
They found vegetarians were 60% to 74% less likely to suffer a stroke regardless of any other risk factors, like high blood pressure.
The study was led by researchers at Tzu Chi University (TAI) and published in 'Neurology.'
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Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and 35 wealthiest person in the world experienced the death of her father. Recently interviewed by a reporter from the New York Times. When she was three years of age, her father, a military pilot, died in a plane collision. He was 31 years of age and she was three. Ms. Powell Jobs recalls the lingering effect of his death on her life:
“My father died the day before his 31st birthday, when I was 3. My mom remarried, so we had a blended family growing up. My stepfather was a high school guidance counselor, and my mother was a substitute teacher for a long time. It’s quite a world-shaping event when you lose a parent in a tragic accident. All of us, my siblings and I, grew up knowing the impermanence of this existence. And while that’s very difficult for a child to make sense of, it’s the greatest blessing of my life, that I understand the temporal nature of our existence deeply, and the fragility of everything that we witness. To have the gift of the day is a very real and profound thing.”
“My father died the day before his 31st birthday, when I was 3. My mom remarried, so we had a blended family growing up. My stepfather was a high school guidance counselor, and my mother was a substitute teacher for a long time. It’s quite a world-shaping event when you lose a parent in a tragic accident. All of us, my siblings and I, grew up knowing the impermanence of this existence. And while that’s very difficult for a child to make sense of, it’s the greatest blessing of my life, that I understand the temporal nature of our existence deeply, and the fragility of everything that we witness. To have the gift of the day is a very real and profound thing.”