“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
~~~ Mother Teresa
Oftentimes the true meaning of the holidays can get lost in all the details. You know what I mean — all the different things on your plate — the festivals — the feasts — the decorating of the house — the overloaded to-do-lists and many other obligations and commitments which have a way of arising at this time of year.
Some of these are designed to be times for celebrating life, new beginnings, and traditions, but what so often happens is we get so wrapped up in the stress of the to-do-list, that we forget what it’s all about. Yet there are many unique and satisfying ways to celebrate the holidays without spending too much money or becoming exhausted in the process. Whereas the media, and possibly even loved ones, may encourage you to do and buy more, concentrating on the spirit of the season by giving love and hope during the holidays can help you do more with less. You can create new holiday traditions that help you focus on what you find important.
Many of you know that I follow a Buddhist lifestyle. Even though Buddhists don’t have a particular thing to celebrate this time of year, there’s no reason why this isn’t a great time to take stock of what matters most to me, you, or anyone, regardless of our spiritual beliefs.
What matters to you? Is it family, friends, community, helping those less fortunate, or loving the earth? If you feel driven to give the people in your life gifts, consider presents that encourage positive living or where the gift will have impact felt long after the holidays are over.
Think about donating your effort to making someone else’s life better. Maybe you could make a charitable donation or plant a seedling tree in a loved one’s name. A couple of my favorites are to make a contribution to a place like Heifer International or to Oxfam or Kiva. When I’m asked what I want for a gift, I ask people to make a contribution to help someone else and I suggest these organizations. Instead of giving your friends and family material goods, give them the gift of your time. Time spent making homemade gifts can give you a chance to ruminate on what you treasure about your loved ones.
When exploring the true meaning of the holidays and getting back to the true spirit of the season, allow yourself to alter existing traditions. Even a blessing before a meal or a walk under the stars can help you reconnect with the holidays. Do what fulfills you and then stop before your celebration becomes more of a hassle than a happy occasion. Get back to the basics of generosity and goodwill, and your holiday will certainly be a rewarding one.
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Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
~~~ Buddha
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I meditate every day to help keep me centered. Those glimpses we get of peace, love, acceptance and happiness when we’re meditating will soon grow into more than glimpses if we keep practicing. Keep those feelings alive. A meditation can be as simple as one, deep, conscious breath. When something happens in one of your moments to cause you to suffer, just stop and take one of those breaths and remember, “This too shall pass!” Another thing that is wonderful, especially at certain times of the year, is to have a fresh flower where you work. Just stop from time-to-time and look at it — don’t label it — don’t judge it — just be with it for a couple of moments. It really does work. It’s winter where I live so I do miss my fresh flower.
“Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature”
~~~ Gerard de Nerva
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In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution.
Take a few moments, click the link above and check it out. It’s a good one.
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“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”
~~~ Buddha
Namaste!
You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.
Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader. Oh, and another thing — follow me on Twitter (see the button up on the left under Resources or click this link: Follow Me on Twitter) and I’ll let you know what’s going on with my blogs and a lot of other neat things as well.
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"I’ve been taking Body Balance since 2001 and LOVE the energy and mental alertness it brings into my body and mind. These 121 nutrients are amazing and could change your life!"
~~Ron Rink~~
“By means of meditation we can teach our minds to be calm and balanced; within this calmness is a richness and a potential, an inner knowledge which can render our lives boundlessly satisfying and meaningful. While the mind may be what traps us in unhealthy patterns of stress and imbalance, it is also the mind which can free us. Through meditation, we can tap the healing qualities of mind.”
~~~ Tarthang Tulku
As you saw, the last article was a small step towards bringing this blog back to its origins and away from the triple “R” — aka the “Ron Rink Rant”! That’s not to say I won’t get peeved about something from time-to-time and write about it — I’m certain I will. But, now I’m tired of harping and want to get back to things of a more peaceful nature. There are so many blogs out there where screaming and yelling are the rule, and I sort of like being the exception to that rule. So, until I get really pissed about something again, I’m back to my kind of writing which relates to more peaceful thinking.
Convincing people to give a daily practice of meditation a chance in their lives is right up there with pulling teeth. I guess it’s just a natural part of human nature to avoid things when people say, “It’s good for you!” We sort of learn to turn our noses up at those “good for you” items from the time we’re small children. Think about how often you were told to “Eat your spinach — it’s good for you!” — and then it was a huge “Yuck” when you took the bite. As we eventually comprehended the “trick” attached to the “good for you” promise, we soon learned to make excuses to avoid those things which others told us would make us feel better, or be better.
Back when I was first learning about meditation there were many times when I would feel a need to sit for a while and feel the peace and power of the silence. But then, the inevitable happened, I’d find myself making excuses — I’m too busy right now — I don’t have the time — I have to finish this project — I really don’t have the right place to do this — etc., etc. It was a lot easier to come up with dozens of reasons to put off meditating than to just stop and do it.
When we take a moment to really look at the kind of excuses we make, we should begin to see a strong message there. These excuses we’re making are actually the strongest reasons why we should look past the illusion of the hustle and bustle of daily life, and take the time to connect with the place within. These excuses are the reasons why we need to go to our inner place that intersects with the timeless power and limitless potential of the universe. This beautiful place within every one of us is where we can always find the perfect, potent stillness — it will always be there no matter what. And we don’t have to go anywhere to find it — it is just a breath away.
Why is it we are making these excuses to avoid meditation? Why do we fight so hard against something so beneficial to our peace of mind and well-being. Are we afraid that if we were to stop this frantic pace we keep day-after-day that our world may fall apart? Are we afraid to take those moments for fear we might have to face some undeniable realities of who we are and see some of the results of the choices we’ve made? Is it a fear of making changes in ourselves?
I suppose it could be some of those things which keep us from slowing down and including mediation in our daily lives, but I suspect it’s more a fear of the unknown. Once again it’s in our nature to fear the unknown more than we fear the frustrations and anxieties of the known world.
But the truth is — when we cooperate with the universe by allowing our lives to develop from the truth of our being, life becomes less of a struggle and more of a process of living blissfully.
I can attest to the power of daily meditation. I’m in a place in my own life where if I skip a day I have a sort of feeling of withdrawal. I will miss spending the time each day in peace and silence. I will miss the bliss of staying in the present, the Now, even if it’s only for a few moments. One plus I wasn’t expecting is the sense of calm wisdom I now bring to my work — a factor I didn’t experience before.
Taking the time, each day, to recenter — to refocus, will remind you how important it is to stay connected to your inner being — your source. When you make meditation a regular, daily part of your life, you will soon notice how time seems to expand to make room for even longer periods of inner peace. You will feel the rejuvenation — you will realize a newfound energy you’ve never experienced before. You will see the power of living with calmness, peace, and amazing wisdom.
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Always remember this wonderful quote from Buddha ….
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
~~~ Buddha
========================================================
I meditate every day to help keep me sane in this crazy world we live in. Those glimpses we get of peace, love, acceptance and happiness when we’re meditating will soon grow into more than glimpses if we keep practicing. Keep those feelings alive. A meditation can be as simple as one, deep, conscious breath. When something happens in one of your moments to cause you to suffer, just stop and take one of those breaths and remember, “This too shall pass!” Another thing that is wonderful, especially at certain times of the year, is to have a fresh flower where you work. Just stop from time-to-time and look at it — don’t label it — don’t judge it — just be with it for a couple of moments. It really does work. I’m looking at mine as I write this.
“Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature”
~~~ Gerard de Nerva
========================================================
In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution.
“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”
~~~ Buddha
Namaste!
You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.
Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader. Oh, and another thing — follow me on Twitter (see the button up on the left under Resources or click this link: Follow Me on Twitter) and I’ll let you know what’s going on with my blogs and a lot of other neat things as well.
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Receive a FREE 2-WEEK SUPPLY of 100% Organic Raw Whole Food Liquid Nutrition!!
Copy this ID# 20369984 and Click Here! (shipping charge is not included)
"I’ve been taking Body Balance since 2001 and LOVE the energy and mental alertness it brings into my body and mind. These 121 nutrients are amazing and could change your life!"
~~Ron Rink~~
“The wise ones, ever meditative and steadfastly persevering, alone experience Nirvana, the incomparable freedom from bondage.”
~~~ Buddha
Since I already started working on this article last night, I’m going to go ahead and publish it even though I have something else on my mind today. I feel a real need to begin a conversation with you about our world — our Earth — and where we are in our relationship with it today. I’ll begin a series of articles on that subject starting with next week. I hope you’ll be back and that you’ll share in this conversation with me.
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For today, let’s once again begin with our meditation. Although this one isn’t the same type of meditation video like the ones I’ve been offering each week, this one is a New Music Video inspired by Oprah & Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth Web Classes. Be awakened and inspired. Know that YOU are awakening! Feel the peace, love and joy of Presence as you watch.
This is about 3 minutes long.
Here’s a link in case the video doesn’t play for some reason:
One of the things we’ve talked about often over the past several weeks (hmmm, or has it actually been months, now?) is the fact that we are clearly identified with the mind of our ego rather than seeing our true reality. Our personal world, (and the personal worlds of most of our fellow human beings), is/are the reality that what our ego-minds tell us is true. Once we learn to detach ourselves from this ego-world we will begin to get a taste of another Reality, our true Reality. What is that true Reality? It is just “what is”, right now, this moment, without all the mental images that our minds constantly impose on us. It is our Awakened self.
As mentioned before in this blog, our ego way of thinking will do everything it can to resist and reject our true Reality. It will use every trick in the book to get us to believe that our true Reality is false and will work hard to take control over our thoughts. One of the ways it does this is to make us feel as though what our minds are telling us is “right” and most of this other “spiritual stuff” is not real. It makes us think of ourselves as something better in our relationship with the world and others. Where this kind of thinking is used, the people who are believing it will tend to be conceited and insist on always being right.
Then there is the other side of the coin that the ego will often use, and that is to make us feel as though we are inferior to others. The ego will cause us to develop stories about ourselves to reinforce this belief that we’re not worthy. People who are buying into these stories will usually have low self-esteem and are often depressed.
It’s our ego-minds that are making us believe these stories about ourselves. We’ve been hearing the stories since we learned how to understand language. Sometimes the stories will have some partial truths in them, but usually are quite removed from our true, awakened Reality.
There can be a lengthy laundry-list of the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves.
“I am so creative. I am the princess (or the prince). I was abused as a child. I’m just a loser. I always do the right thing (or the wrong thing). I’m really smart. I’m really dumb. I’m different from you. I’m a loner. I’m a “people-person”. I’m special. I’m lazy. I’m very ambitious.”
You see what I mean? These are the stories we cling to because they give us our identity.
What can we do to break this cycle of stories that we allow ourselves to believe? How do we get to that place where we are able to see who we really are — right now — at this moment?
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you know that I believe that one way to break the cycle is to develop a regular practice of meditation. In order to quit buying into the ego-mind stories, we have to find a way to turn the thoughts off, even if it’s only for a short while.
As Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor says in her wonderful book, “My Stroke of Insight“, she has the “priceless gift of knowing that deep inner peace is just a thought/feeling away.”
For many of us the distance between our ego-thinking mind and our compassionate heart can seem miles apart. While it’s true that some of us can travel this distance easily, others of us are so committed to our “stories” about our angers, our frustrations, our jealousies, our endless mind-chatter, that even the idea that there is this beautiful place of peace, love and compassion in us all the time seems like a foreign idea. In Reality, this place is no more than a thought away.
This feeling of peace can happen only in the present moment. It’s not something that we bring with us from the past or project into the future. The first major step to finding that place in us — that place of true Reality — is our own willingness to be present in the right here, right now.
As always, I have to stress to you that one of the best ways to find that place in us, is through the practice of meditation — regular, daily meditation. Once we begin this practice, we’ll get a feel for what that place is like. Once we feel that deep, inner peace, the easier it will be for us to purposefully move there — to feel awakened — the sort of Awakening that the video above tells us is always ours.
Try it! You will love it!
This will be the last article devoted to meditation for now. That doesn’t mean that I won’t still be encouraging you from time-to-time about the importance of this practice. I’ll probably never stop doing that. It is vital to achieving true happiness in our lives. Next week we’ll venture off in another direction — closely related — something of which we are all aware — and that is the crisis unfolding around us. Come back and see what I have on my mind.
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
~~~ Buddha
I’d love to hear your comments on this. At the very end of this post (after the commercials and the tags) you should see a place where you can leave your comment. It will be a link that says “No Comments” — or “Comments”. Let me hear from you. Thanks.
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Those glimpses we get of peace, love, acceptance and happiness when we’re meditating will soon grow into more than glimpses if we keep practicing. Keep those feelings alive. A meditation can be as simple as one, deep, conscious breath. When something happens in one of your moments to cause you to suffer, just stop and take one of those breaths and remember, “This too shall pass!” Another thing that is wonderful, especially at this time of year, is to have a fresh flower where you work. Just stop from time-to-time and look at it — don’t label it — don’t judge it — just be with it for a couple of moments. It really does work. I’m looking at mine as I write this.
“Each flower is a soul blossoming out to nature”
~~~ Gerard de Nerva
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If you’re new to us here, be sure read the entire series about meditation. If you look on the upper left of the sidebar, you’ll see a list of the categories. Click the one called “Meditation” and you’ll be able to read the articles you missed. They start with the January 24, 2008 post. The video meditations that I included with the earlier articles may no longer function. I’m sorry about that, but those are out of my control. Hopefully, they’ll all still be working.
Do include meditation in your daily life. If you’re just starting out, make it a 10 minute meditation. If you’ve been doing this for a while, try to do a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes. The longer you can maintain your focus on just your breath, the better. And, remember, anytime you take a deep, conscious breath — that’s a breath where you’re putting your focus on that breath — that’s a meditation. Do it often every day — especially when you’re feeling stressed. I guarantee, you’ll find more peace and happiness in your life if you’ll do this.
“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”
~~~ Buddha
Namaste!
And, as I always say in closing — remember these words …
You are the most precious gift you can give yourself. Every day look in the mirror and say, “I’m available to more good than I have experienced, realized or imagined ever before in my life!” Do this every day while you look into your own eyes.
You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.
Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”
P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically, whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.
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Even though the live webcasts of the Eckhart Tolle New Earth classes are now concluded, you can still download the entire course. It’s being called “The Best Summer School Course Ever!” I highly recommend it. It’s completely free. All you really have to do is get the book, “A New Earth — Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” by Eckhart Tolle. You can access the course online at:
You’ll find everything you need there — all 10 classes. If you happen to have iTunes on your computer, you can also access the course by subscribing to it through the podcast link in iTunes. Check it out. Several million people around the globe took part in this amazing spiritual teaching. I hope you’ll soon be one of them. This is how we can create a new consciousness on the New Earth.
“Feeling will get you closer to the truth of who you are than thinking. ”
~~~ Eckhardt Tolle —
Also, Oprah now has her Soul Series of Webcasts started. There is a series with Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor and more from Eckhart Tolle. You can get these from this site for downloading:
I’ve listened/watched all of these so far, and I highly recommend them. If you have iTunes, you can subscribe to them.
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In my meditation I often use what I believe is a powerful aide to deep meditation. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.
Regular, daily meditation can give you …
(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels.
(5) It is the proven path to finding the peace, love and compassion within all of us –
— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.
With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution
— The Holosync Solution
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Receive a FREE 2-WEEK SUPPLY of 100% Organic Raw Whole Food Liquid Nutrition!!
Copy this ID# 20369984 and Click Here! (shipping charge is not included)
"I’ve been taking Body Balance since 2001 and LOVE the energy and mental alertness it brings into my body and mind. These 121 nutrients are amazing and could change your life!"
~~Ron Rink~~
====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhism, Buddhist, The Secret, Law of Attraction, dreams, spiritual energy, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life[/tags]
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