SPIRIT

February 24, 2013

PEACE FROM ANGER: THE BUDDHIST WAY

We all have a seed of anger in the depth of our consciousness. Even the Buddha said that a monk has the right to be angry, but not for more than one night. The goal is not to suppress our anger, but to take care of it…to heal it…through mindfulness.

When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment, he needs help.

If we think of anger as a seed, it is watered through what we consume with our mouth, eyes, ears, and consciousness. What we eat, see on TV, or hear in conversation can be toxic. It may contain anger or frustration, which you may ingest and express later on. If you drink alcohol mindfully, you can understand that it creates suffering. The intake of alcohol causes disease to the body and mind, and results in deaths on the road. Even the habit energy that is formed by seeing a parent constantly react with anger can be transmitted. We have to live in such a way that we stop consuming the things that poison us and intoxicate us.

Most of the time, anger is born from a wrong perception. You may have misunderstood what you heard or saw. You may have the wrong idea of what had been said or done. You believe that your misery has been created by another person. But, in fact, when faced with the same situation, another person may not have gotten angry at all. Through your anger, you have created the hell inside you.

When anger is present in us, we should refrain from reacting, namely from speaking or doing anything. We are first responsible for calming our own anger. If you chose to respond to a person that is making you suffer, he will try to find relief by making you suffer more. The result is an escalation of suffering on both sides. Only compassion can stop this vicious cycle.

How to heal anger and find peace:

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February 24, 2013

QI GONG: LIFE = BREATH

Stated most simply, Qi Gong (CHEE-gong) is breath. It is the art and science of combining breathing, body posture, and a meditative mindset for healing. I am very fortunate to have Dr. Baolin Wu, a Taoist master and monk from the White Cloud Monastary in Beijing, as a teacher. Dr. Wu is a Qi Gong master and utilizes the practice of Qi Gong to replace the body’s Qi with healthy and vital Qi energy from nature.

The most fundamental Qi Gong practice is proper breathing. Without breathing, there is no life. Proper breathing will allow you to prolong your life and combined with Qi Gong practice, you will be able to heal yourself. I will share a lesson from Dr. Wu:

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February 23, 2013

GAUDI

Antoni Gaudi [1852-1926] became Barcelona’s most famous architect. With designs that could only have been born from the most creative imagination, Gaudi’s works redefined the city of Barcelona…and have made it somewhat of a Mecca for art enthusiasts.

Though most known for his work on Sagrada Familia [“Church of the Holy Family” in Barcelona dedicated to Jesus Christ and his earthly parents, Joseph and Mary], the Casa Battlo [rooftop pictured above] captured my attention during a visit to Barcelona. The myriad of colorful tiles make it stand out from all of the surrounding buildings.

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February 23, 2013

SEEKING ENLIGHTENMENT: THE SUFI WAY

Sufism [“The Way of Love”] is a beautiful and mystical artform [I do not view it as a religion, since it can be found at the root of all religions] that teaches through poetry and stories which question one’s thoughts and beliefs. The chief purpose of this education is to lead the student to true understanding, freedom, and ultimately love.

Among the most famous Sufis are Rumi and Hafiz, who have influenced generations through their beautiful poetry. Another instrumental teacher in Sufism is Mulla Nasrudin. Nasrudin is the classical character created by Sufi masters to increase consciousness of any who listen and understand the deeper meaning of the jokes and stories told by the Mulla. There are many levels within each simple teaching, and each story should be contemplated on a deeper level. Perhaps the most prolific writer on all things Sufi, Idries Shah, shares the following illuminating discussion and story in his book The Sufis:

“People do not know where to look when they are seeking enlightenment. As a result, it is hardly surprising that they may attach themselves to any cult, immerse themselves in all manner of theories, believing that they have the capacity to distinguish the true from the false.

Nasrudin taught this in several ways. On one occasion a neighbor found him down on his knees looking for something.

“What have you lost, Mulla?”

“My key,” said Nasrudin.

After a few minutes of searching, the other man said, “Where did you drop it?”

“At home.”

“Then why, for heaven’s sake, are you looking here?”

“There is more light here.”

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February 22, 2013

SAGE ADVICE: REGAINING CONTROL

DEAR SAGE: My life has been speeding by and a lot of changes are occurring and I feel like I am losing control. I have recently made a few bad decisions in my love life and I don’t know if I should be honest about my mistakes or live with the guilt I face.

DEAR FLOWER: This is serious. I can feel your anxiety. I received your letter and literally stopped everything because I want to help you find peace. So before we get started, I want you to please pause everything and take a deep breathe with me [long inhale, hold it…then long exhale]. Slow everything down and allow yourself to relax in this moment. Keep breathing slowly and consciously with me while we work through this. Ok, let’s do it!

Sometimes life really does flying by when we lose connection with our purpose and goals. What are you really trying to do? Where are you really trying to go? What is it that you really want? Despite all of the things going on, take a step back and first reflect on these questions. You can either let change control you or control the changes. When we get lost, sometimes it can feel like we are swept up in a wave and tossed in different directions outside of our control. The reality is that when we don’t have a goal, the waves really do determine our direction. If we know where we want to go, we can start swimming in that direction. You are on the right path because you realize you don’t want to keep floating along. So right now, it’s time to swim to shore, my dear.  Let’s get you grounded and address your key concern: your love life…

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February 22, 2013

MUSIC IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen! Art, fashion, and story all set to music and portrayed by some truly lovely ladies…Wooooow! Since I’m buying all of the songs used on this vid (as listed in the credits), just thought I’d list them here for you: Turn your lights on – Emanative ft. Ahu – Read More –

February 22, 2013

DO IT ANYWAY

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What – Read More –

February 21, 2013

REGIME CHANGE

Just for laughs! ;)   Source: The New Yorker Magazine: 2012 Cartoons of the Year

February 21, 2013

GETAWAY

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all and have some fun!  There is nothing like a good adventure to add new flavor to your life. Challenge: Find your fun and just go do it! No excuses :)   Photo source: red canoe escape

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