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Self control will pale one among the Gods, while lack of it will lead to deepest darkness.
- Tirukural 121
- Tirukural 121
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(public domain image from www.pixabay.com)
When I sit to meditate, I begin by lighting up a stick of incense. Here's why:
- to honor the triple gem of the Buddha, his dharma and the sangha;
- it's fragrance spreads widely just as ethical conduct and good behavior brings benefits to many;
- burning of an incense stick is a reminder to burn away one's negative qualities;
- incense rises and dissolves into the air and is, therefore a subtle lesson about the transient nature of existence;
- as incense burns, the ashes fall and scatter, a reminder that the mind is easily scattered and unfocused if one does not pay attention and work at managing it.
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A good day doesn’t just happen. It’s requires mindfulness, intention, deliberation, commitment and a soft heart. No matter what’s going on in your life, no matter how you’re feeling emotionally, physically, mentally, you have the power to make it a good day for others and yourself. Each morning when you rise, resolve to …
- believe the best in people
- smile at everyone you encounter
- be courteous and very civil
- express gratitude
- focus on the positive
- be merciful
- speak your love
- practice patience with others, especially yourself.
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Cultivate friendship with
people who are
wise and good.
You cannot gain wisdom
and goodness from
books alone.
- Victor M. Parachin
people who are
wise and good.
You cannot gain wisdom
and goodness from
books alone.
- Victor M. Parachin
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You practice dana (generosity) to eradicate the attachment that comes from feelings of scarcity and separateness. - Phillip Moffit
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Whatever technique one is using, remember that the spirit of practice is more important than the technique. Finding a way to enjoy just sitting is key. Sitting meditation is a refuge, not a test. - Narayan Liebenson Grady
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The purpose of life is to strive to break bad habits and improve oneself. Otherwise, what is life for? - Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna
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Wherever you've been and whatever you've done so far, your entire life was building up to this moment. Now is the time to burst forth into our greatness - a greatness you could never have achieved without going through exactly the things you've gone through. - Marianne Williamson
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Long before the category SBNR - spiritual but not religious - came into vogue, Einstein could easily be classified as someone who is spiritual but not traditionally "religious". Here's how he explained his belief in something beyond.....
"Try and penetrate with out limited means the secrets of nature, and you will find that, behind all the discernible laws and connections, there remains something subtle, intangible, and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything we can comprehend is my religion. To that extend I am in, fact, religious.... What separates me from most so-called atheists is a feeling of utter humility toward the unattainable secrets of the harmony of he cosmos."
"Try and penetrate with out limited means the secrets of nature, and you will find that, behind all the discernible laws and connections, there remains something subtle, intangible, and inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond anything we can comprehend is my religion. To that extend I am in, fact, religious.... What separates me from most so-called atheists is a feeling of utter humility toward the unattainable secrets of the harmony of he cosmos."
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Anytime in 2019 when you're feeling sluggish, unmotivated, perhaps sad, try one or more of these simple vedic but effective ways to life your spirit.
1. Yoga. Sure, this may be the last thing you really want to do but physical activity is good for body, mind and spirit. The great thing about yoga is that you can match the yoga to your mood. If you're dragging, try a high intensity vinyassa flow. If you're really worn out, a passive Yin class could be ideal.
2. Meditate. Ten minutes of silently focusing on your breathing - inhaling and exhaling - can leave you feel refreshed mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.3. Chant. Chanting a mantra lifts you spirits no matter how low they may be.
4. Inspire yourself. Tune into a podcast of someone who has overcome a major life trauma. This will inspire you to keep chipping away at whatever issue you face.
5. Create a gratitude list. Write down a dozen things which are good, right, positive in your life. Don't think too much about it or censor yourself. Just let the gratitude flow out of you.
6. Practice generosity. Donate money to a person in need or to a charity. "There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up” noted John Holmes.
7. Change your posture. Your body reflects how you feel. Hold your head high, straighten your back when you walk anywhere.
8. Spend time in nature. Take a long, leisurely stroll through the neighborhood, a park or a forested area. Nature soothes. Author Sylvia Plath observed: "I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, 'This is what it is to be happy.' "
9. Smile more. This means smiling at everyone you encounter. Make eye contact as you smile. Yoko Ono says: "Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you'll start to see a big difference in your life."
10. Affirmations. Create or select a positive, life affirming phrase and repeat it several times a day. Some examples - I can do this! I am confident and capable! I can deal with this! Make this a habit and you be sure to cut back on so much negative self-talk that we all do.
1. Yoga. Sure, this may be the last thing you really want to do but physical activity is good for body, mind and spirit. The great thing about yoga is that you can match the yoga to your mood. If you're dragging, try a high intensity vinyassa flow. If you're really worn out, a passive Yin class could be ideal.
2. Meditate. Ten minutes of silently focusing on your breathing - inhaling and exhaling - can leave you feel refreshed mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically.3. Chant. Chanting a mantra lifts you spirits no matter how low they may be.
4. Inspire yourself. Tune into a podcast of someone who has overcome a major life trauma. This will inspire you to keep chipping away at whatever issue you face.
5. Create a gratitude list. Write down a dozen things which are good, right, positive in your life. Don't think too much about it or censor yourself. Just let the gratitude flow out of you.
6. Practice generosity. Donate money to a person in need or to a charity. "There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up” noted John Holmes.
7. Change your posture. Your body reflects how you feel. Hold your head high, straighten your back when you walk anywhere.
8. Spend time in nature. Take a long, leisurely stroll through the neighborhood, a park or a forested area. Nature soothes. Author Sylvia Plath observed: "I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, 'This is what it is to be happy.' "
9. Smile more. This means smiling at everyone you encounter. Make eye contact as you smile. Yoko Ono says: "Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you'll start to see a big difference in your life."
10. Affirmations. Create or select a positive, life affirming phrase and repeat it several times a day. Some examples - I can do this! I am confident and capable! I can deal with this! Make this a habit and you be sure to cut back on so much negative self-talk that we all do.