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The first thing is to love yourself. You cannot progress by self doubt and self hatred. You can only progress by self love.- Dipa Ma
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Coping with the loss of a close friend or family member may be one of the hardest challenges that many of us face, write the editors at the American Psychological Association health web site. Though “loss is understood as a natural part of life, but we can still be overcome by shock and confusion, leading to prolonged periods of sadness or depression” they add and offer these insights for responding to the death of a loved one.
1. Take comfort in understanding that everyone deals differently with grief. There is not one right or wrong way. “Everyone reacts differently to death and employs personal coping mechanisms for grief. Research shows that most people can recover from loss on their own through the passage of time if they have social support and healthy habits. It may take months or a year to come to terms with a loss. There is no “normal” time period for someone to grieve.”
2. There are no phases or stages of grief. “Don’t expect to pass through phases of grief either, as new research suggests that most people do not go through stages as progressive steps.” So free yourself from any pressure to “get through” the “stages” of grief.
3. You will get through this difficult time. “Human beings are naturally resilient, considering most of us can endure loss and then continue on with our own lives.”
4. Use these strategies for managing the loss from day to day -
*Talk about the death of your loved one with friends and colleagues in order to understand what happened and remember your friend or family member. Denying the death is an easy way to isolate yourself, and will frustrate your support system in the process.
*Accept your feelings. People experience all kinds of emotions after the death of someone close. Sadness, anger, frustration and even exhaustion are all normal.
*Take care of yourself and your family. Eating well, exercising and getting plenty of rest help us get through each day and move forward.
*Reach out and help others dealing with the loss. Helping others has the added benefit of making you feel better as well. Sharing stories of the deceased can help everyone cope.
(Please feel free to re-post and/or share on your social media)
1. Take comfort in understanding that everyone deals differently with grief. There is not one right or wrong way. “Everyone reacts differently to death and employs personal coping mechanisms for grief. Research shows that most people can recover from loss on their own through the passage of time if they have social support and healthy habits. It may take months or a year to come to terms with a loss. There is no “normal” time period for someone to grieve.”
2. There are no phases or stages of grief. “Don’t expect to pass through phases of grief either, as new research suggests that most people do not go through stages as progressive steps.” So free yourself from any pressure to “get through” the “stages” of grief.
3. You will get through this difficult time. “Human beings are naturally resilient, considering most of us can endure loss and then continue on with our own lives.”
4. Use these strategies for managing the loss from day to day -
*Talk about the death of your loved one with friends and colleagues in order to understand what happened and remember your friend or family member. Denying the death is an easy way to isolate yourself, and will frustrate your support system in the process.
*Accept your feelings. People experience all kinds of emotions after the death of someone close. Sadness, anger, frustration and even exhaustion are all normal.
*Take care of yourself and your family. Eating well, exercising and getting plenty of rest help us get through each day and move forward.
*Reach out and help others dealing with the loss. Helping others has the added benefit of making you feel better as well. Sharing stories of the deceased can help everyone cope.
(Please feel free to re-post and/or share on your social media)
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Adversity lends swift feet to your soul by hastening your steps towards Self-realization. Do not try to escape the problems of life. Face them with a strong will and firm determination. - Swami Jyotirmayananda
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Xu Xiangdong is a world-renowned master of Chinese martial arts, at the Bamboo Grove Buddhist Monastery in the suburbs of Beijing. More than a martial artist, Xu is a Chinese philosopher who studies the relationship between mind and body. I find his insights powerfully expansive for understanding and appreciating meditation. For example:
Additionally, this Buddhist koan style sentence presented to him by his teacher, continues to reverberate in his mind: “In which way do you see farther—with your eyes open or closed?” This koan reminds us that we all tend to believe that the eyes are the only way to see, but many times our mind is restricted by our body.
- What is the best state one can reach when practicing Chinese martial arts? Stillness—your body is not moving, but you are moving.
- Qi is the energy that moves the blood in your body, but qi follows what is in your mind. When you are happy, angry, or when you see someone you fancy, your body reacts differently.
- In Chinese martial arts, when you have the sword in your mind, you have it in your hand; when you don’t have it in your mind, even if you are holding a sword, that’s not a sword.
Additionally, this Buddhist koan style sentence presented to him by his teacher, continues to reverberate in his mind: “In which way do you see farther—with your eyes open or closed?” This koan reminds us that we all tend to believe that the eyes are the only way to see, but many times our mind is restricted by our body.
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Not to associate with fools, but to associate with the wise, and to honor those who are worthy of honor, this is the greatest blessing. —Buddha Shakyamuni, Mahamangala Sutta
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. . . you are a person who is doing his or her part to make this planet a kinder, gentler place.
When things are at their worst on the planet, highly evolved beings appear to show a better way of living. The presence of a highly evolved soul in a human body is called an Avatar. The era that we currently live in is regarded as an age of darkness in Hindu philosophy. Buddhist refers to our times as the “dharma ending age”. Look back the brutality of the 20th century which is characterized by multiple world wide wars, intolerant dictatorships, the emergence of cruel leaders, and the complete disregard of basic human rights.
In spite of horrific suffering and killing, the 20th century has produced “avatars”, beings who show a more noble path -
Mahatma Ghandi and peaceful resistance to colonial oppressors;
Mother Teresa and the power of love;
Martin Luther King, Jr., and non violence;
Dalai Lama and compassion;
Thich Nhat Hanh and peace.
Hinduism would describe each of these individuals as “avatars”, the Divine in human form appearing to counteract the evil of the world. Through their lives they model a more a higher way of living and through their teachings they promote the ideal of a non-violent planet.
Our world has benefited greatly from the presence of these great souls. Consider this, however: there are many more such “avatars” though they are hidden from public view. They are made up of ordinary women and men who, in their communities, counties and countries who promote and work toward establishing greater peace, harmony and compassion. Each one of us ought to view ourselves as “avatars” doing our part to help others vibrate higher and brighter.
When things are at their worst on the planet, highly evolved beings appear to show a better way of living. The presence of a highly evolved soul in a human body is called an Avatar. The era that we currently live in is regarded as an age of darkness in Hindu philosophy. Buddhist refers to our times as the “dharma ending age”. Look back the brutality of the 20th century which is characterized by multiple world wide wars, intolerant dictatorships, the emergence of cruel leaders, and the complete disregard of basic human rights.
In spite of horrific suffering and killing, the 20th century has produced “avatars”, beings who show a more noble path -
Mahatma Ghandi and peaceful resistance to colonial oppressors;
Mother Teresa and the power of love;
Martin Luther King, Jr., and non violence;
Dalai Lama and compassion;
Thich Nhat Hanh and peace.
Hinduism would describe each of these individuals as “avatars”, the Divine in human form appearing to counteract the evil of the world. Through their lives they model a more a higher way of living and through their teachings they promote the ideal of a non-violent planet.
Our world has benefited greatly from the presence of these great souls. Consider this, however: there are many more such “avatars” though they are hidden from public view. They are made up of ordinary women and men who, in their communities, counties and countries who promote and work toward establishing greater peace, harmony and compassion. Each one of us ought to view ourselves as “avatars” doing our part to help others vibrate higher and brighter.
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Reuters' new agency is reporting that an Indonesian court sentenced a Buddhist woman to 18 months in prison for blasphemy on Tuesday, after she was accused of insulting Islam for complaining that neighborhood mosque was too loud.
Meiliana, a 44-year old ethnic Chinese Buddhist had complained the Muslim call to prayer, repeated five times a day, was being played too loudly at the mosque near her house in North Sumatra. Indonesia has the world’s largest population of Muslims and sizable Buddhist, Christian and other religious minorities. Recent years have seen a rise in conservative and hardline interpretations of Islam, prompting fears that the secular nation’s long-standing reputation for tolerance and diversity was being eroded.
“She had said something that insulted religion, in this case Islam,” said Jamaluddin, spokesman of the Medan district court, adding the defendant had “showed remorse and apologized”. Political activists have said the country’s stringent blasphemy laws are being used to bully minorities and violate religious freedoms.
Meiliana, a 44-year old ethnic Chinese Buddhist had complained the Muslim call to prayer, repeated five times a day, was being played too loudly at the mosque near her house in North Sumatra. Indonesia has the world’s largest population of Muslims and sizable Buddhist, Christian and other religious minorities. Recent years have seen a rise in conservative and hardline interpretations of Islam, prompting fears that the secular nation’s long-standing reputation for tolerance and diversity was being eroded.
“She had said something that insulted religion, in this case Islam,” said Jamaluddin, spokesman of the Medan district court, adding the defendant had “showed remorse and apologized”. Political activists have said the country’s stringent blasphemy laws are being used to bully minorities and violate religious freedoms.
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Research continues to indicate that yoga and meditation are an ideal combination for good health. Yoga, specifically, appears to be more effective as a physical exercise system than other forms of physical activity.
Recent studies found that meditation and yoga reduce diastolic blood pressure (the lower range) by 3-8 millimetres of mercury (mmHg), compared with people who engaged in another activity, such as aerobic exercise or relaxation.
Both focused attention and automatic self-transcending meditation styles, as well as yoga, reduced systolic blood pressure (the upper range) by 4-5mmHg, compared with people who were not practicing any kind of meditation or yoga. This is important because reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of as little as two mmHg can reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke.
Open monitoring and focused attention meditation and yoga reduced heart rate by three to four beats per minute. This is similar to the effects of aerobic exercise, which reduced heart rate by five beats per minute in one study.
(source: https://theconversation.com/its-not-all-in-your-mind-how-meditation-affects-the-brain-to-help-you-stress-less-97777 )
Recent studies found that meditation and yoga reduce diastolic blood pressure (the lower range) by 3-8 millimetres of mercury (mmHg), compared with people who engaged in another activity, such as aerobic exercise or relaxation.
Both focused attention and automatic self-transcending meditation styles, as well as yoga, reduced systolic blood pressure (the upper range) by 4-5mmHg, compared with people who were not practicing any kind of meditation or yoga. This is important because reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of as little as two mmHg can reduce the incidence of heart disease and stroke.
Open monitoring and focused attention meditation and yoga reduced heart rate by three to four beats per minute. This is similar to the effects of aerobic exercise, which reduced heart rate by five beats per minute in one study.
(source: https://theconversation.com/its-not-all-in-your-mind-how-meditation-affects-the-brain-to-help-you-stress-less-97777 )
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Develop a heart that melts at the suffering of humanity, a mind that is full of creative thoughts for the promotion of harmony in the world. - Swami Jyotirmayananda
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This should be a simple question with a simple “yes, I want to be a sage!’ Yet, most people are fools and this includes many who follow a Buddhist path. Look at the reality and the difference between a sage and a fool
Sages look within and use their minds to solve their problems. They understand that everything they need for dealing with life can be found within.
Fools seek help from outside. They pray to the Buddha and other deities asking for wealth, health, security, and relief from problems rather than strengthening their minds.
Sages cultivate the mind more than the body. While both are important, all things begin in the mind so they develop mind management to deal with life’s poisons. Anger is replaced with patience; greed with generosity; ignorance or stupidity with wisdom.
Fools develop the body while completely neglecting the mind. Placing a total focus on a healthy body while the mind become weaker and sicker is counterproductive.
Sages develop spiritual friendships. They associate with people on a spiritual path providing mutual support, encouragement and accountability.
Fools have friendships but exclusively at levels which are superficial, frivolous, and one-dimensional. They have friends with whom they party, drink, use recreational drugs but no friends who offer spiritual insight and companionship.
(please feel free to re-post and/or share on your social media)
Sages look within and use their minds to solve their problems. They understand that everything they need for dealing with life can be found within.
Fools seek help from outside. They pray to the Buddha and other deities asking for wealth, health, security, and relief from problems rather than strengthening their minds.
Sages cultivate the mind more than the body. While both are important, all things begin in the mind so they develop mind management to deal with life’s poisons. Anger is replaced with patience; greed with generosity; ignorance or stupidity with wisdom.
Fools develop the body while completely neglecting the mind. Placing a total focus on a healthy body while the mind become weaker and sicker is counterproductive.
Sages develop spiritual friendships. They associate with people on a spiritual path providing mutual support, encouragement and accountability.
Fools have friendships but exclusively at levels which are superficial, frivolous, and one-dimensional. They have friends with whom they party, drink, use recreational drugs but no friends who offer spiritual insight and companionship.
(please feel free to re-post and/or share on your social media)