- Published on
The ability to forgive a wrong can sometimes be made quickly and directly. Many times, however, it requires more reflection, more time, more emotional distance before this step can be taken. What I do know is this: humans can forgive and, at their best, can do so with a magnanimous heart and benevolent spirit. It was just this kind of generous forgiving attitude offered by General Douglas MacArthur which impressed citizens of Japan. At the Japanese surrender ceremony on September 2, 1945 and delivered on the USS Missouri which was docked at Tokyo Bay, General MacArthur said:
“ We are gathered here, representatives of the major warring powers, to conclude a solemn agreement whereby peace may be restored. The issues involving divergent ideals and ideologies have been determined on the battlefields of the world, and hence are not for our discussion or debate. Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do a majority of the peoples of the earth, in a spirit of distrust, malice, or hatred. But rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished, to rise to that higher dignity which alone befits the sacred purposes we are about to serve, committing all of our peoples unreservedly to faithful compliance with the undertakings they are here formally to assume. It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past -- a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance, and justice.”
“ We are gathered here, representatives of the major warring powers, to conclude a solemn agreement whereby peace may be restored. The issues involving divergent ideals and ideologies have been determined on the battlefields of the world, and hence are not for our discussion or debate. Nor is it for us here to meet, representing as we do a majority of the peoples of the earth, in a spirit of distrust, malice, or hatred. But rather it is for us, both victors and vanquished, to rise to that higher dignity which alone befits the sacred purposes we are about to serve, committing all of our peoples unreservedly to faithful compliance with the undertakings they are here formally to assume. It is my earnest hope, and indeed the hope of all mankind, that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past -- a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance, and justice.”
- Published on
A breakthrough sometimes comes from seeing a simple truth hidden behind a tangle of complications. - Deepak Chopra
- Published on
Improve your life by asking two questions:
1. Who is really important to me?
2. What is really important to me?
Then spend your time with those
important to you and do what is
important to you.
- Victor M. Parachin
1. Who is really important to me?
2. What is really important to me?
Then spend your time with those
important to you and do what is
important to you.
- Victor M. Parachin
- Published on
Every year the UN produces a the World Happiness Report listing countries in order of citizen happiness. Interestingly, the United States is never in the top ten prompting the question "why not?". Here are the top ten happiest countries on the planet:
- Finland
- Denmark
- Norway
- Iceland
- Netherlands
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- New Zealand
- Canada
- Austria
- Published on
The best time to meditate, the best place, the best length of practice is the one that you actually do. Showing up for the practice today, however long or short, is enough. - Kate Johnson
- Published on
Medical studies are done to determine what’s healthy and what’s not and what can be done to increase health and what should be done to decrease the unhealthy. However, one study has confused researchers. It’s called the Helsinki Study for preventing heart attacks in middle aged Finnish men.
The group of men with this risk factor were divide into two groups. One group were generally non-compliant. They did visit their doctors regularly and were given solid advice about reducing their risk of heart attack: lose weight, don’t smoke, exercise and improve their diet. This group generally never followed doctors advice.
Another group were made up of compliant patients. They also visited their doctors regularly and were given solid advice about reducing their risk of heart attack: lose weight, don’t smoke, exercise and improve their diet. Because this group was committed and compliant, they were put on a specialized program to reduce specific heart attack risks such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.
Researchers were stunned to discover that the non-compliant group not only had fewer deaths overall but even fewer from heart attacks than the compliant, committed group. The scientific data driven conclusions were evasive. However, there emerged this probability: health risk increased in those who constantly worried about their heart health.
So, if you're a worrier, here's the advice to follow: "For people who worry a lot, ask yourself: ‘Can I do something about this situation?’ If the answer is yes, then there’s no need to worry. Act. If the answer is no, again worrying is useless. Relax and accept the situation." - Thubten Chodron
The group of men with this risk factor were divide into two groups. One group were generally non-compliant. They did visit their doctors regularly and were given solid advice about reducing their risk of heart attack: lose weight, don’t smoke, exercise and improve their diet. This group generally never followed doctors advice.
Another group were made up of compliant patients. They also visited their doctors regularly and were given solid advice about reducing their risk of heart attack: lose weight, don’t smoke, exercise and improve their diet. Because this group was committed and compliant, they were put on a specialized program to reduce specific heart attack risks such as high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol.
Researchers were stunned to discover that the non-compliant group not only had fewer deaths overall but even fewer from heart attacks than the compliant, committed group. The scientific data driven conclusions were evasive. However, there emerged this probability: health risk increased in those who constantly worried about their heart health.
So, if you're a worrier, here's the advice to follow: "For people who worry a lot, ask yourself: ‘Can I do something about this situation?’ If the answer is yes, then there’s no need to worry. Act. If the answer is no, again worrying is useless. Relax and accept the situation." - Thubten Chodron
- Published on
The Buddha said that his teaching are like medicine because they are able to cure us of our chronic misuse of the mind. - Hsing Yun
- Published on
The people you hang out with
affect the level of your vibration
and impact your behavior.
Place yourself in the company of
beings who elevate and inspire you.
- Victor M. Parachin
affect the level of your vibration
and impact your behavior.
Place yourself in the company of
beings who elevate and inspire you.
- Victor M. Parachin
- Published on
The person responsible for restoring yoga in the early 20th century was a yogic genius named Krishnamacharya. Even in the early 20th century, Krishnamacharya noted that women carried heavy responsibilities caring for others often at the expense of their own self-care, so, in the early 1930s, he wrote -
“The whole world knows that the housewife is the protector of the world undoubtedly. She gives education, food, wealth and place to live. The housewives are so fully occupied in taking care of children, grandchildren, relatives, others in want, dependents, household animals and others. But they have little time to take care of themselves…. It is therefore necessary for women to practice a few asanas of yoga with discipline, for the protection of the entire family.”
“The whole world knows that the housewife is the protector of the world undoubtedly. She gives education, food, wealth and place to live. The housewives are so fully occupied in taking care of children, grandchildren, relatives, others in want, dependents, household animals and others. But they have little time to take care of themselves…. It is therefore necessary for women to practice a few asanas of yoga with discipline, for the protection of the entire family.”
- Published on
One should love those who are virtuous and take delight when others perform wholesome acts. One should never be envious. - Sutra On The Auspicious and Inauspicious Conducts