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The sun rises, the sun sets—it’s impossible to hold onto the day or night. Enjoy what comes and be at peace with what doesn't. - Roger Gabriel



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Buddhist author Tara Brach makes this observation which most of us can relate to:  "Evolution has rigged all of us with a negativity bias—a survival-driven habit to scan for what’s wrong and fixate on it."  Ms. Brach adds that our negativity bias is quite expansive:  "We habitually fixate on how we’re falling short—in our relationships, work, appearance, mood, and behaviors. And while self-aversion is our primary reflex, we also fixate on the faults of others—how they’re letting us down and how they should be different."

She offers these ways to disconnect from the negative:
  • Actively tap into understanding.  "When triggered by others . . .try to look through the eyes of wisdom at what might be behind their behavior. How might this person be caught in their own sense of inadequacy or confusion? "
  • Actively express compassion.  "When compassion arises, the next step is actively expressing it. This is what brings compassion fully to life."
  • Actively include those who seem different.  "Part of our negativity bias and the cause of much racial, religious, and other domains of violence, is we assume potential danger—something wrong— associated with those who are different."
(read more:  https://www.lionsroar.com/from-blame-to-love/  }
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The world is what it is; we have to face what is happening around us, our relationships, or just whatever goes on in our own mind. We cannot expect it all to go away. We have to be practical otherwise, we just create further suffering for ourselves. - Dzigar Kongtrul

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If you don't like your job, why
not make a change and create a
relationship to work which doesn't
doesn't bring you more suffering?
- Victor M. Parachin

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You have to be extremely careful before taking someone on as a guru; there are many impostors around. Westerners tend to believe too easily. Eastern people are much more skeptical. Take your time; relax; check up. - Lama Yeshe

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Once the Buddha was staying near Kosambī in the Siṁsapā forest. Then, picking up a few leaves with his hand, he asked the monks, “What do you think, monks? Which are more numerous, the few leaves in my hand or those overhead in the forest?”

“The leaves in the hand of the Buddha are few in number, Lord. Those overhead in the forest are far more numerous.”


“In the same way, monks, those things that I have known with direct knowledge but have not taught are far more numerous than what I have taught. And why haven’t I taught them? Because they are not connected with the goal, do not relate to the essentials of the holy life, and do not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to liberation. That is why I have not taught them.


“And what have I taught? ‘This is suffering. This is the origination of suffering. This is the cessation of suffering. This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.’ This is what I have taught. And why have I taught these things? Because they are connected with the goal, relate to the essentials of the holy life, and lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to stilling, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to liberation. This is why I have taught them.
—Buddha Shakyamuni, Siṁsapā Sutra (SN 56:31)

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In his book, The Art of Disappearing, Ajahn Brahm suggests that a key reason why many people feel like meditation failures is because they haven't brought wisdom into the practice. "When people meditate they often use too much force; they just keep bashing away at the same place. lack of progress isn't always due to insufficient effort or motivation, or too little time spent on the meditation cushion or walking the path. Sometimes it's just that the wisdom isn't sharp enough to get through the problems, and if your only had a bit more wisdom, you would suffer less and achieve deeper states more quickly. Thus, cultivating the faculty of wisdom is extremely important."

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We can achieve interesting things, when we move people’s minds. A good work is peaceful and leads to a chain of other good works. - Nichidatsu Fujii

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The more patient you are with people, the more patience you will have. The more generous you are today, the more generosity you will have tomorrow. The more love you give, the more loving you become. - Eknath Easwaran

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(public domain image from www.pixabay.com)


Celebrated on every continent, October 16th is designated World Spine Day to bring attention to the importance of the spine for overall health and comfort.  The objectives of world spine day include:
  • awareness of the importance of a healthy spine;
  • promotion of physical activity;
  • emphasis on good posture standing and sitting;
  • responsible lifting;
  • healthy work conditions.
Anyone with back issues ought to seriously consider meeting privately with a yoga instructor.  The National Institute of Health reports that "recent studies in people with mild to moderate chronic low back pain suggest that a carefully adapted set of yoga postures may help reduce pain and improve the ability to walk and move."

World Spine Day was organized by the World Federation of Chiropractic practitioners. 

Victor M. Parachin ... 

a Vedic educator, yoga instructor, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of a dozen books. Buy his books at amazon or your local bookstore. Sadly, Victor passed away in August 2025, but his blog continues. Janet Parachin, his partner of 45 years, shares quotes from his books and articles each week. 

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