tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72548373998717343532024-03-13T11:21:50.710-05:00The Self Proclaimed Solitary BuddhistSharing the Dharma and discovering Mindfulness. Providing resources for the Solitary Buddhist Practitioner.WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-50853895576911590602022-12-31T08:30:00.002-06:002022-12-31T08:30:00.147-06:00Being Present For The Holidays<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">If you are anything like me, the holidays are a very stressful time of year. From what I remember it's supposed to be full of cheer. I am happy to say this year compared to the past ten years will probably be the best year I have ever had for the Christmas holidays. </span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">10 years ago I suffered a major mental breakdown in my life. This is the first time I'm saying this out loud, ( besides doctors and close family). Which led me on a path of searching for a fix for my "issues" that I didn't really understand. Of course, I saw a Psychiatrist, and I took and still take medications. But I knew that would not be enough for me to be whole again. To make a long blog short, this path led me to become "The Self-Proclaimed Solitary Buddhist", and this blog. Buddhist practices seemed to help with a lot of the issues I was dealing with. Slow at first, it took years. I wasn't leaving my room, and I wouldn't visit with my family. </span></span></h3><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif"><a name='more'></a></span><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">No matter what chaos the world around you seems to be in. You still have the power of this present moment. STOP and take a deep breath in, hold it in for just a second and breathe out. </span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span face=""verdana" , sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal;">2022 is almost over and as we head into 2023 if you have been lucky enough to find your path, good luck to you. If you are still searching for your path, don't give up. You might have to try many different paths until you find the one for you, but the key is "action" you have to try. I know sounds simple. But not always easy.</span></h3>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Happy Holidays </span></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Wishing Everyone a Happy and Safe 2023 </span></div>
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WC Falgout</div>
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The Self-Proclaimed Solitary Buddhist</div>
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<br />WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-64146227707124177452022-12-22T08:30:00.001-06:002022-12-22T08:30:00.152-06:00Mindfulness Practices for Beginners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJN8XyANhgI/WHhKRPp9BlI/AAAAAAAABsQ/DkDKzaYEpFwLOUW8aiOUc2ZaPLHjddvQACLcB/s1600/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NJN8XyANhgI/WHhKRPp9BlI/AAAAAAAABsQ/DkDKzaYEpFwLOUW8aiOUc2ZaPLHjddvQACLcB/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Although <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness" target="_blank">mindfulness meditation</a> is all the rage these days, most of us have little time for formal practice.</span><br />
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Studies have found mindfulness meditation has many benefits.<br />
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<li>Reducing <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007" target="_blank">Depression</a></li>
<li>Reducing Pain</li>
<li>Increasing Creativity</li>
<li>Accelerating Cognition</li>
<li>Settling the Mind</li>
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Mindfulness meditation doesn't have to be a chore in itself. There are quick and easy ways to add a little mindfulness into your busy everyday life.</div>
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<li><i><a href="https://tnhmeditation.org/walking/" target="_blank">Walking Meditation</a></i> - Easiest and best done somewhere with few distractions, but you can try this one anywhere you will be walking for as little as ten to fifteen minutes. As with most forms of mindfulness, it's about focusing your attention. Start with how your feet feel touching the ground with each step, then you can begin focusing on your breath or maybe move your attention around to each part of your body. The key is to develop a relaxed state of attention. When your mind wanders bring it back without judging yourself.</li>
<li><i>Eating Meditation</i> - Practice a little mindfulness meditation while you eat. When you take that first bite, really notice how it tastes. Take notice of how it smells or maybe the textures in your mouth. You don't want to do this the entire meal. But as a tool to focus your attention on the present moment.</li>
<li><i>Small Break</i> - Turn away from the computer, tablet, or smartphone. Just sit for a while noticing the sensations in your mind and body. How do you feel? What can you hear? Just being present in the moment. Let wandering thoughts go, and bring your focus back to the present. Just be.</li>
<li><i>Mindful Listening</i> - We get used to all of the commotion of life that we have a tendency to tune out things in our surroundings. ie; If you live in a city, there might be sirens, trains, and the hustle and bustle of people. In the country, trees sway about, or maybe birds sing. What can you hear right now? As an exercise, you can put on some music, try to not let your mind wander. It may remind you of something or someone, bringing your mind back to the music. Try not to focus on the lyrics just take notice of the flow of the music. </li>
<li><i>The Small Things</i> - Even small things we do on a daily basis can become an opportunity to experience this moment. Brushing your teeth, your mind may be thinking of a thousand other things. Instead, try to focus on the task at hand. Take notice of the taste of the toothpaste, and how the bristles feel on your teeth. Showering or bathing is yet another opportunity to focus your mind on your senses instead of worries and useless thoughts.</li>
<li><i>The Breath</i> - One of the most well-known techniques to focus on the moment is paying attention to your breath. Simply experiencing your breath in and out, it's like push-ups for your mind.</li>
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Hopefully, these exercises will help you develop a mindfulness practice. By no means is this list all there is. </div>
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A quote from mindfulness expert <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Kabat-Zinn" target="_blank">Jon Kabat-Zinn</a>,</div>
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<i>"Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally."</i></div>
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So don't feel limited to these exercises. Feel free to mix and match, explore the internet, and find the ones that fit you and your life the best.</div>
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Almost any activity can be incorporated into your mindfulness practice, and "Practice Makes Perfect."</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://peaceinawareness.blogspot.com/2022/12/your-thoughts-in-past-manifest-your.html" target="_blank">Your-Thoughts-In-Your-Past-Manifest-Your-Future</a><br /></div>
WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-29096907062189694772022-01-28T18:52:00.003-06:002022-01-28T18:53:14.868-06:00Thay final ceremony and cremation LIVE<p> Thich Nhat Hhan final ceremony and cremation live on youtube.com</p><p><br /></p><p>https://youtu.be/IHYCibNJV2E</p>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-71206415632094609552021-12-28T09:00:00.001-06:002021-12-28T09:00:00.152-06:00Turning New Year's Resolutions Into Habits<p>It's the end of the year and, for many of us, that means we have a few <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/378105/new-years-resolution/" target="_blank">New Year's resolutions</a>. They might be <a href="https://outdoors.securedsite.cloud/gosports-6x3-mid-size-table-tennis-game-set-indooroutdoor-portable-table-tennis-game-with-net-2-table-tennis-paddles-and-4-balls-blue-pp-table-6x3-blue/" target="_blank">exercising</a> more often, eating healthier food, spending less time on Facebook and Instagram, or finally starting that meditation practice.
But here's the problem. Resolutions quickly fade. By the time February or March comes, we can easily forget all those well-intentioned resolutions.
Habits, on the other hand, are sticky. The reason? Habits are automatic. We don't have to think about doing them. They just sort of happen, operating in the background of everyday life. So the key to making all those New Year's resolutions stick is simply this: turning them into regular, daily, habits.
What's the best way to do that? Here are five strategies drawn from an emerging body of research on habit formation. </p><p></p> 1.) Stack your new habits on top of existing habits. Habit expert James Clear
calls this technique "habit stacking." It's the idea that we increase our
likelihood of building a new habit by tethering it to an existing habit. For
example, let's say you want to build the habit of meditating for five minutes
each day. One way to build this habit would be to say to yourself, "I'm going to
try to meditate for five minutes each day." A better way would be to stack it on
top of an existing habit, to say to yourself, "After I brush my teeth each
morning, I will meditate for five minutes." <div><br /> 2.) Start small. Stanford researcher
and habit expert BJ Fogg notes in his book <a href="https://amzn.to/3Ct99Yi" target="_blank">Tiny Habits</a> that the key to habit
formation is to start with small steps you can realistically achieve. If you are
new to running, for example, starting with a 10-mile run is a recipe for
failure. It's better to start with a mile, then 2 miles, then three miles, and
so on. </div><div><br /> 3.) Make a 100 percent commitment. Building a habit requires doing it
every day until it becomes automatic. And that requires a mindset of 100 percent
commitment to doing this new habit every day, no matter what. Ironically, it's
much easier to commit 100 percent than it is to make a 95 percent commitment.
That 5 percent, after all, invites all sorts of indecision and internal
struggle. It fuels the voice in your head that says, "it wouldn't be that bad if
I skipped just this one day, would it?" With a 100 percent commitment, that
voice loses its power. </div><div> <br />4.) Create an environment that supports your new habit.
Research on habits indicates that the environment you live and work in plays a
powerful role in shaping your habits. If you want to lose weight by eating
healthier food, for example, living in a house with an endless supply of ice
cream, donuts, and junk food makes it really difficult to succeed. A better
strategy is to create a context that supports your new habit, in this case, to
remove the foods that tempt you and stock your kitchen with healthy options. </div><div><br />5.) Leverage the power of social accountability. You can do this in two ways. First,
you can team up with an accountability partner, a friend, a coworker, or a
family member. Tell them your goal and check in once every week or two on your
progress. Your desire to avoid disappointing them will add additional motivation
to building your new habit. The second way to do this is to join a group of people who share your interest in forming the habit. If you want to build a habit of <a href="https://amzn.to/3FIYk6v" target="_blank">meditation</a>, for example, join a meditation group. If you want to run more frequently, join a running club. Surrounding yourself with others who share a similar interest in building this new habit creates a subtle form of reputational pressure. To stay in the group, after all, you must stick with your new habit. </div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: left;">6.) You've probably heard the standard advice about making New Year's resolutions stick, make them realistic, and make yourself accountable to others. You might have even heard of the acronym <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/guides/smarterliving/resolution-ideas" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00a4a1; font-family: Merriweather, serif; user-select: text;" target="_blank">SMART</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: Merriweather, serif;">, which represents the gold standard of goal achievement, i.e., making resolutions specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. What often is missing is how to implement these principles in setting goals for the new year, which represents the gold standard of goal achievement, i.e., making resolutions specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. </span></p><p> Without these strategies, the sad fact is that most New Year's resolutions fail. I used to be a member of a gym in my hometown. And I remember how, during the first three weeks of January, the classes filled to capacity with newcomers eager to build the habit of doing losing weight or becoming healthier. By the end of January, however, most of them were gone. The gym returned to the group of regulars who had always been there. The New Year's resolution crew had disappeared. </p><p> The bad news is that this is the way it generally goes with New Year's resolutions. The good news is that, if you can turn these resolutions into habits, they will slowly shift from requiring enormous amounts of motivation and will to becoming automatic daily rituals that stick with you throughout the rest of the year.</p>
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</iframe></div>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-32088166259897288172021-12-01T08:30:00.009-06:002021-12-01T08:30:00.156-06:00Becoming The Best Version Of You<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/falgoutpublishing" target="_blank"><br /></a></h1><h2 style="text-align: left;">My new book has been published and is available now on Lulu.com, it will be available later next week on Amazon.com</h2><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">But no need to wait, for early holiday buyers I asked them to hold the price down until after the first of the year. If you head there NOW! You can get it for ........ </h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">only $9.95</span></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/falgoutpublishing" style="background-color: #fcff01;" target="_blank">Click Here </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><a href="https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/falgoutpublishing" target="_blank">Becoming The Best Version Of You</a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/falgoutpublishing" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1K3poa86Gs/YaYkxMP-kEI/AAAAAAAAIaY/2sErPHkvi7syUQHvRrF9nhQqWE9upKHxwCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h213/download-27636991638163013.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/falgoutpublishing" target="_blank">Becoming The Best Version Of You</a> </div><p></p>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-32221479503841828782021-11-24T20:13:00.000-06:002021-11-24T20:13:08.216-06:00Living Life Through Simple Mindful Moments<p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"> Mindful Moments; a mindful walk through the park, a mindful meal, or even pausing to take a few deep breaths. Each mindful moment is a pause in our everyday life that brings us back to the center of life with purpose. Enjoy this short video from the YouTube Channel Peaceful Escape. </div><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U8EHTV3T_lY" width="481" youtube-src-id="U8EHTV3T_lY"></iframe></div><p></p>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-86388770095553638522021-11-15T08:30:00.004-06:002021-11-15T08:30:00.153-06:00Matcha Tea Better then Loose Leaf Tea?<p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fthepath108%2Fposts%2F4353236961442158&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="609" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-21089434990166326062021-11-03T17:30:00.002-05:002021-11-18T18:57:40.328-06:00How To Start a Spiritual Journey - The Joy Within<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q06mIxtez9Q/YYL_DTKG7VI/AAAAAAAAIRA/c0Muc1q6VGIcY2b6cW2g0F1_uVCyDnSgwCLcBGAsYHQ/s634/Deepriverpath.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="634" height="170" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q06mIxtez9Q/YYL_DTKG7VI/AAAAAAAAIRA/c0Muc1q6VGIcY2b6cW2g0F1_uVCyDnSgwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h170/Deepriverpath.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><br />The idea of a spiritual journey is a thing that has been around since the dawn of Man.</span><p></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">It is thought having a spiritual life is something almost other-worldly. To truly be spiritual, one must abandon all things and live a life in isolation. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Even if you devote your entire life to spiritual mastery, you still won't get enlightened.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">I propose that everyone has the ability to become enlightened and that we need to rethink our approach to spirituality. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Spiritual life is not about achieving anything or becoming anything, but about becoming more aware of what you are already. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">You can become aware of Who You Are simply by being wherever you are.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">I'll share a number of ideas, exercises, and strategies to help you on your journey, but please do not worry if something does not resonate with you.</span></p><p></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3kRSKGF" target="_blank">Ram Dass </a>writes that spirituality is an individualized and highly personal journey. Listen to your own truth. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">I encourage you to give up the idea of an epic quest for enlightenment and start believing that there is no end to life. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">You are already spiritual, you don't need to go on a quest to become spiritual.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">There's a great quote that says, "we are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey." </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Our spiritual journey is a process of awareness. We set an ever-unattainable goal and fail before we have even begun. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">When we think linearly, we tend to judge ourselves and others. This can lead to elitism and spiritual elitism. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">You don't have to strive to be spiritual, as you can relax and become more open and receptive to the world around you.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">You gain a sense of continuous renewal by viewing life as a constant, interminable series of unfolding. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Thinking non-linearly can help you through the tides of your consciousness, so you can feel more connected and spiritual. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">In the process of becoming spiritual, you become more aware of your inner sense of joy. Spirituality is about learning to trust in and act upon your inner joy. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">This doesn't mean you become a hedonist, but you learn to surrender to your inner self.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">To prioritize joy over suffering, and to choose love over fear, it takes time and practice. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">In this process, you will encounter the ups and downs of your life in a more nuanced way as you confront the limiting beliefs you hold. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Everything is as it should be, though some people want to be somewhere else because they think the present moment is incorrect.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">If we want to become happier, we think that we need to be happy. We also set a goal to become happy. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Therein lies the problem. To achieve something, we must start from a state of lack. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The more we strive to "attain" happiness, the more we focus on lack, disbelief, and inability, preventing us from realizing that joy is already available to us. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">The seekers' dilemma is a paradox. The resolution is to realize that joy can't be achieved or attained and that it must be allowed.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">In closing, let's do some breathing and </span><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/happiness" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;" target="_blank">happiness</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> meditations. </span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">To begin, close your eyes, take a few seconds to focus on your breath, and start to bring some of these principles into your life, right now.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">As you breathe, activate the highest feeling of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happiness" target="_blank">happiness</a> you can remember. Activate it, and feel the positive emotion flowing through your body.</span></p><p class="15"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Imagine yourself happy, and ask yourself what thoughts you need to think, to become happy.</span></p>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-39586313609911763612021-11-01T08:54:00.000-05:002021-11-01T08:54:24.251-05:00Ram Dass Journey of Awakening<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/xo0L0r_Y2is" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">#Short Youtube Video </div><div style="text-align: center;">Summary Ram Dass Journey of Awakening</div>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-23420919183282376232021-10-26T20:22:00.000-05:002021-10-26T20:22:11.382-05:006 Incredible Health Benefits Of Mindfulness<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Bitter, serif; font-size: 24px;">Discover Seven Minute Mindfulness</span></p><p class="" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: auto; margin: 0px 0px 10px; user-select: text !important;" text-left=""><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">By Greg Thurston<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Creator of <a href="https://bit.ly/3vN1KkE" target="_blank">Seven Minute Mindfulness</a> </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">"Mindfulness" is a bit of a buzzword right now, but that doesn't mean that you should discredit it. Being mindful is one of the best things you can do for your body and mind!</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">But you might not be sure what it is. Is mindfulness just being more aware? Or does it mean clearing your mind?</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Being mindful, in one sense, is like simplifying things. Normally we try to multitask all day, worrying about 20 things while doing 10. That doesn't work too well.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Being mindful means focusing on the present moment. Being fully here. It allows you to attend to what's going on right around you and inside you. So it simplifies things because you can just enjoy the present moment.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">You can mediate to be more mindful, and you can practice it throughout your day. Whatever you're doing, give it all of your attention. Be proactive about putting down your other worries and being present in what you're doing and who you're with.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">To experience the ultimate feelings of inner calm and presence, I highly recommend that you follow this link...</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Click </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3vN1KkE" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">Here</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;"> To Discover 7 Minute Mindfulness </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">You'll gain inner peace, happiness and feel 'uncluttered' in your life.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Mindfulness is a gift that we don't give to ourselves much. In fact, our society teaches that we should be getting as much done as possible all the time, which leads to burnout, stress, health problems, and lower productivity.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Mindfulness, on the other hand, offers the opposite, so let's take a look at all the benefits of mindfulness.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; text-align: left;">1. Mindfulness reduces stress</span></div></div><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Let's start with the biggie. In today's world, we really battle stress from all sides.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc3Wa8yykK8/X35DxDLW4pI/AAAAAAAAGcM/Qe8lGLFsNpI3wp775StcRfZU1iD6ZYrWACPcBGAYYCw/s1920/stress-853645_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1920" height="164" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc3Wa8yykK8/X35DxDLW4pI/AAAAAAAAGcM/Qe8lGLFsNpI3wp775StcRfZU1iD6ZYrWACPcBGAYYCw/s320/stress-853645_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">If we carry around all the things we have to worry about, our mind never gets a break. That's why so many people are completely burned out, feeling down, and stressed to the point of panic attacks or needing medication.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">This kind of worrying steals away any chance of joy or relaxation in our day. You probably know how it goes: you're sitting at your desk at work, stressed about a deadline, and also about a disagreement with your partner, and some tension you're feeling with a coworker, and the company party you're supposed to attend tonight...</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;">Constantly carrying all of these things and feeling continued stress leads to:</span><p></p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Restless sleep</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">A racing mind</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Low energy</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Feeling irritable</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Feeling defensive</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Getting angry easier</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Panic attacks</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Constant panic</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Headaches, body aches, migraines</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Jaw pain from clenching teeth</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Tight shoulders and back pain</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Depression</span></li></ul><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">As you can see, trying to keep everything on your mind leads to all kinds of problems, resulting in lower productivity and even worse things.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We might even feel guilty if we forget to worry about something. Do you ever do that? You'll finally get absorbed in something and it feels really nice, but then you remember all the things that aren't resolved, and you feel guilty for letting yourself have a few minutes.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">But you need those minutes!</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Being mindful and present will allow you to get absorbed in what you're doing, give it your full attention so you can do better, and you'll feel more clear and mentally energized.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Your body and brain weren't made to handle constant stress. It's so much healthier to be present and put aside the other pressing thoughts.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Challenge yourself to be mindful in one activity a day: a walk, mediation, making a craft, writing, drawing, singing, or something else you enjoy.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">See how it feels to let yourself be fully present with that one thing and not have thoughts about anything else. And then see how you feel the rest of the day.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Click <a href="https://bit.ly/3vN1KkE" target="_blank">Here</a> To Discover 7 Minute Mindfulness </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">2. Mindfulness creates better health</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Being mindful and present lowers our stress levels and also centers us, bringing many health benefits.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">You might notice that you're calmer after practicing mindfulness, your head feels more clear and focused, you're more productive, and more alert.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Being mindful greatly benefits your mind, and that in turn benefits your body and overall health.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">People who practice being mindful have higher brain function, an increased immune function, lower blood pressure, lower anxiety levels, and are calmer.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We've heard this for years, but experts were talking about meditation and yoga. Both of those are ways to be mindful!</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">3. Mindfulness decreases depression symptoms</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">When you decrease stress and improve your health, that can help with depression.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mindfulness does that and more. It's been considered an effective part of overall depression treatment for a long time.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Being mindful often helps people see and acknowledge their feelings, and that leads to better coping. Be mindful and let you say, "I see that I'm feeling that way, and that's okay."</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Being mindful engages the observant self, so you can notice how you're feeling, and what you're thinking, but not get completely sucked into those feelings. You can step back and analyze the situation better.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">4. Mindfulness increases Neuroplasticity</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Neuroplasticity is one of those fun words (in my opinion) that show you what they mean. Neuro, or brain, plus plasticity, or being flexible.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Think about how plastic can be soft and pliable.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Being mindful helps your brain increase its ability to change and adapt, which is pretty important to our survival even though we're not back in the caveman era.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">In a simple sense, neuroplasticity refers to how our brain grows, learns, and changes. When we change our minds or learn new things, we actually make new pathways.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">But this has bigger scientific implications. When someone has a stroke and has to relearn how to walk, they're actually learning how to re-circuit their brain around the damaged area.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Imagine how much stronger your brain will be if you practice mindfulness and therefore improve neuroplasticity. That's a huge advantage for dealing with all of life's curves and for any brain damage you might suffer.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">5. Mindfulness helps you deal with illness</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Studies have found that mindfulness helps people with cancer and people with a chronic illness-even terminal illness.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I can see why being in the moment more would help someone enjoy life day by day. Research has found that mindfulness helps cancer patients reduce stress while relieving fatigue.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">For many, mindfulness increases our spirituality and sense of purpose, and it helps people handle their emotions regarding their illness.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mindfulness can greatly improve life for people with chronic pain, such as low back pain. It helps patients focus on something other than the pain.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">6. Mindfulness helps recovery</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We've seen all the ways mindfulness benefits our mental and emotional health. It also helps us physically when we need to recover from illness.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This is probably due to all the other benefits of being mindful.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We have better focus, we're less stressed, we feel more at peace, and so we're happier.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We've talked about some big areas where mindfulness helps. To zoom in a bit, here's a list of more specific ways that being mindful improves our lives:</span></span><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Better mental health</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Less stress at work</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Better emotional regulation</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Fewer problems with alcohol and drugs</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Less depression and anxiety</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Better performance at school and work</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Better relationships</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Better self-awareness</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Less burnout</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">Better able to cope with ups and downs</span></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">More resilience</span></li></ul><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>We're just healthier when we're more mindful because people aren't really made to multitask 5 things all day long and always worry.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We can benefit from slowing down and enjoying the present moment. Why let other things detract from what you're doing? You can give those other things your attention in due time.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">For the ULTIMATE experience of mindfulness, I highly recommend that you check out</span></span><div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Open Sans, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3vN1KkE" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="550" height="187" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MlsTzd1djM8/YXiajPdTY3I/AAAAAAAAIPs/2kcxGUaHbjow5cZlAGqi3jJOG0WmFYM-wCPcBGAYYCw/s320/7mm-thrive-newcollage-550px.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3vN1KkE" style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">7 Minute Mindfulness</a></div><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This method will make your mind as calm as water...</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I'm talking about a method that will allow you to sink into relaxation, and feel abundantly positive and happy within minutes...</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">It will fill your life with joy and satisfaction...</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And teach you how to easily defeat any life problems that you may be facing.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">And it only takes 7 minutes!</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Follow this link: </span><a href="https://bit.ly/3vN1KkE" style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">7 Minute Mindfulness</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /></span><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span></div></div></div>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-31140105953170312572020-12-18T14:58:00.037-06:002020-12-18T15:12:43.928-06:00Everyone You Didn't Meet Could Be Your Teacher Funkadelic Style<p><span style="font-size: large;">T</span>his is sort of a follow up to a post I wrote in August of 2017. I was born at the very end of the 60's, the Summer of 69 to be exact. A time of transition I'm told from the days of peace and love hippie movement to the Funk of the 70's, LOL. </p><p>This past week I have been re-reading a really great book about Jarvis Jay Masters, A Buddhist on Death Row. A lot more on that great book to come in the near future. If you haven't purchased it yet, I highly recommend it. </p><p>So in this book, one of the many lessons Mr. Masters learns is about learning to watch his mind and freeing it from the preconditioned restraints that life itself had put on him. As he is contemplating this a song that would be played often in his youth came to mind by the Funkadelic's, "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow."</p><p>Everyone you didn't meet could be your teacher.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="330" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rrZzE0TilZs" width="397" youtube-src-id="rrZzE0TilZs"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Funkadelic's, "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow."</div><p><br /></p><p><yt-formatted-string class="style-scope ytd-comment-renderer" id="content-text" slot="content" split-lines=""><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">The lyrics to this next song are loosely based on a combination of a book called "As a Man Thinketh", a literary essay by James Allen, published in 1902,</span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"> </span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">and the basis of The Law of Attraction (you reap what you sow)</span><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"> It starts off with a very looooooong instrumental intro, it puts you in touch with yourself. But don't stop there is more, stick around it gets even better.....let it speak to you. You won't regret it.</span></yt-formatted-string></p><p><yt-formatted-string class="style-scope ytd-comment-renderer" slot="content" split-lines=""><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto"><br /></span></yt-formatted-string></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="373" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UGGVy4RkUs0" width="431" youtube-src-id="UGGVy4RkUs0"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;">Funkadelic's "Good Thoughts, Bad Thoughts"</p><p style="text-align: left;">Have you come across anyone or anything in your path that has opened your eyes to help you make sense of a teaching that you have been contemplating? </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Have one or more of those eye-opening moments come from an expected source?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMvO9KPjdeg/X90HTWbcM9I/AAAAAAAAGvY/sp3x2Nk1wlEV1P6pTkc1Uiw8YvVZuov-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/transcend-612459_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="989" data-original-width="1280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rMvO9KPjdeg/X90HTWbcM9I/AAAAAAAAGvY/sp3x2Nk1wlEV1P6pTkc1Uiw8YvVZuov-gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/transcend-612459_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trance End</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-44276815861063544192020-10-08T14:00:00.008-05:002020-10-08T14:00:05.681-05:0010 Guidelines for Meditation Success<h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10 Guidelines for Meditation Success</span></b> </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meditation and mindfulness have been growing in popularity. </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Even mainstream medicine is touting the virtues of meditation.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Meditation is a skill that can be learned by anyone. However, learning a new skill is challenging. Try these helpful tips for greater success in your meditation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qoscZMK-MRc/X3496Sa2GjI/AAAAAAAAGbo/3GgPlb9Sr7UpCIPDs2NX_pf47GqeD4XwgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qoscZMK-MRc/X3496Sa2GjI/AAAAAAAAGbo/3GgPlb9Sr7UpCIPDs2NX_pf47GqeD4XwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w536-h640/image.png" width="536" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KbMrdgJAT1Y/X34_7_mG9cI/AAAAAAAAGb0/UrxCfI8cbkgFS7AD_eAGWs_kr9Vo6BtjACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="720" height="406" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KbMrdgJAT1Y/X34_7_mG9cI/AAAAAAAAGb0/UrxCfI8cbkgFS7AD_eAGWs_kr9Vo6BtjACLcBGAsYHQ/w533-h406/image.png" width="533" /></a></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Build the habit of meditating daily. </span><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meditation can enhance your life in many ways, both physically and mentally.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> It can take years to become an expert, but you’ll notice benefits after just a few days. Go slowly and enjoy the process.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Related Articles;</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://theselfproclaimedsolitarybuddhist.blogspot.com/2020/10/10-reasons-why-you-may-think-meditation.html">10 Reasons Why You May Think Meditation Is Not Working For You</a><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://theselfproclaimedsolitarybuddhist.blogspot.com/2017/01/mindfulness-practices-for-beginners.html">Mindfulness Practices For Beginners</a></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLt_DE0Ieh0/X35DuUQI_aI/AAAAAAAAGcA/CUQSvZE7ZT0kQrA3oAWvwPZ5261Y7FZcACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/meditate-576511_1280.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meditating Frog" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1044" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLt_DE0Ieh0/X35DuUQI_aI/AAAAAAAAGcA/CUQSvZE7ZT0kQrA3oAWvwPZ5261Y7FZcACLcBGAsYHQ/w261-h320/meditate-576511_1280.png" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Meditating Frog</div></div> <p></p>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-55216504392336343642020-10-06T09:00:00.025-05:002020-10-06T09:00:05.081-05:0010 Reasons Why You May Think Meditation Is Not Working For You<h1 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: auto; margin: 0px; text-align: left; user-select: text !important;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1x0v49xvBE/X3wGSqES-VI/AAAAAAAAGbA/l9K3AYZXjDItJJQotfkvV9DuvGg1xvuggCLcBGAsYHQ/s305/images%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="305" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1x0v49xvBE/X3wGSqES-VI/AAAAAAAAGbA/l9K3AYZXjDItJJQotfkvV9DuvGg1xvuggCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h216/images%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></h1><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">Meditation is simple, cheap, and highly effective, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;">It actually is pretty easy, it’s just not what people expect it to be.</span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; text-align: justify; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;">Beginners have all sorts of challenges when meditating, but most of them aren’t really problems. The complaints beginners have are simply part of the meditation process.</span></p></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">Meditation can work for everyone that puts in the time and effort.</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><h3 class="x-el x-el-h3 c2-5y c2-5z c2-c c2-d c2-60 c2-2g c2-3k c2-25 c2-26 c2-3 c2-42 c2-50 c2-r c2-51 c2-52 c2-53 c2-54" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #b58c74; cursor: auto; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: unset; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: unset; user-select: text !important;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are these challenges holding you back?</span></h3><h3 class="x-el x-el-h3 c2-5y c2-5z c2-c c2-d c2-60 c2-2g c2-3k c2-25 c2-26 c2-3 c2-42 c2-50 c2-r c2-51 c2-52 c2-53 c2-54" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #b58c74; cursor: auto; font-size: 37px; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: unset; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-transform: unset; user-select: text !important;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></h3></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"></p><figure class="x-el x-el-figure c2-1 c2-2 c2-5w c2-4b c2-g c2-3d c2-2g c2-25 c2-3k c2-5x c2-3m c2-3 c2-4 c2-5 c2-61 c2-62 c2-63 c2-64 c2-6 c2-7 c2-8" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; float: left; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px 24px 24px 0px; max-width: 50%; text-align: center;"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><img class="x-el x-el-img c2-1 c2-2 c2-3d c2-5p c2-3a c2-3b c2-25 c2-26 c2-1b c2-3 c2-4 c2-5 c2-6 c2-7 c2-8" src="https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/stock/12159/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1280" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" /></div></figure><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">1. Your mind is too active.</span> Of course, it’s active. It takes practice before the mind quiets down, and it’s rarely silent even after years of practice. It takes about 20 minutes for experienced meditators to notice a slowing down of the mind.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;">● This isn’t really a problem. Part of the purpose of meditating is to learn how your mind operates.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">2. Your mind wanders.</span> It’s not uncommon to suddenly realize that you’ve been daydreaming for the last five minutes. The solution is the same as the previous issue. <span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">Just return your attention to your breath and continue.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">3. A lack of consistency.</span> Meditation needs to be done daily to see the greatest benefits. It also needs to be done daily to gain a high level of proficiency. You can’t become skilled at what you don’t practice. Get as much practice as you can.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">4. You fall asleep.</span> It’s not easy to fall asleep if you have the proper posture. It should be impossible to stay asleep if you have the proper posture, as you’re sure to lose your balance and fall over.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"></p><p></p><ul style="box-sizing: inherit; text-align: left;"><li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The best position for meditating is to sit up straight. If you lie down, you may struggle to stay awake.</span></li></ul><p></p><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"></p><figure class="x-el x-el-figure c2-1 c2-2 c2-5w c2-4b c2-g c2-3d c2-2g c2-25 c2-3k c2-5x c2-3m c2-3 c2-4 c2-5 c2-61 c2-62 c2-63 c2-64 c2-6 c2-7 c2-8" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; float: left; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px 24px 24px 0px; max-width: 50%; text-align: center;"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><img class="x-el x-el-img c2-1 c2-2 c2-3d c2-5p c2-3a c2-3b c2-25 c2-26 c2-1b c2-3 c2-4 c2-5 c2-6 c2-7 c2-8" src="https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/stock/10298/:/rs=w:1280" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" /></div></figure><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">5. Body pains.</span> Holding one position can be painful, especially when you’re just starting out with meditation. Over time, your aches and pains will largely go away.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;">● It’s best to try to remain still. Shifting your position will only give temporary relief, and the process starts all over again. No matter how much it hurts, you’ll find the pain fades away and eventually moves to another location if you stay still.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;">● Itches fall into the same category. Just leave them alone and observe them.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">6. Boredom.</span> Yes, meditation can be boring, especially if you’re used to significantly more stimulation. Learn to sit still with your boredom and just observe it. Boredom can be more fascinating than you might think.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">7. Rationalizing that quitting is a good idea.</span> Common thoughts include things like, “This is a waste of time.” “Why am I doing this?” “Is this all there is?” Again, just sit with your thoughts and notice them. Every thought is as meaningless as the next.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">8. Just realize that it’s your discomfort with stillness that’s bothering you.</span> You’ll come to understand that many of the things you do in your life are to avoid this feeling. This includes things like staring at the TV and overeating.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">9. Finding time.</span> This excuse is hardly a valid excuse. Go to bed 20 minutes early and sit in the corner. Or get up 20 minutes early and do the same. The truth is, after a little practice, you can meditate at your desk or on a bus.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"></p><figure class="x-el x-el-figure c2-1 c2-2 c2-5w c2-4b c2-g c2-3d c2-2g c2-25 c2-3k c2-5x c2-3m c2-3 c2-4 c2-5 c2-61 c2-62 c2-63 c2-64 c2-6 c2-7 c2-8" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; float: left; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; justify-content: center; margin: 0px 24px 24px 0px; max-width: 50%; text-align: center;"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><img class="x-el x-el-img c2-1 c2-2 c2-3d c2-5p c2-3a c2-3b c2-25 c2-26 c2-1b c2-3 c2-4 c2-5 c2-6 c2-7 c2-8" src="https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/stock/3459/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1280" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto;" /></div></figure><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;">● If you had time to watch TV, surf the internet, or play on your phone, you had time to meditate.<br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">10. Desiring perfection.</span> Perfection in meditation isn’t achievable, but you don’t need to be perfect. <span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-size: inherit !important; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;">Put in the time with your best effort. That’s all that’s required.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #5e5e5e; cursor: auto; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; user-select: text !important;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; user-select: text !important;"><b><br style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both;" /></b>Meditation rarely involves earth-shattering insights. It’s a gradual process that brings understanding over time.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;">The problems I've listed above aren’t really problems.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span class="x-el x-el-span c2-28 c2-29 c2-5f c2-17 c2-23 c2-5g c2-3" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-transform: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They’re simply misunderstandings of what normally occurs during a meditation session.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;"> Each obstacle is nothing more than an opportunity to develop your meditation practice. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5e5e5e; font-family: "Gentium Basic", Georgia, serif; font-size: 18px;">Just keep at it and have faith that everything is as it should be.</span> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hywaQ4NOEx4/X3wCfGVuzUI/AAAAAAAAGa0/1c4UGi3jT_kvQcVzzVjC19uj5k2IkA6OACPcBGAsYHg/s2560/Adobe_Post_20180627_192407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What does the path you follow look like?" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hywaQ4NOEx4/X3wCfGVuzUI/AAAAAAAAGa0/1c4UGi3jT_kvQcVzzVjC19uj5k2IkA6OACPcBGAsYHg/w640-h360/Adobe_Post_20180627_192407.jpg" title="We all have our own path to follow" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-30968247580432240032020-09-30T18:00:00.001-05:002020-09-30T18:00:02.529-05:00Mindfulness for Parents<h2>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0EJd1PxDlk/WHhAWaxHdxI/AAAAAAAABrk/8qw4zATPIOsoCQC43avDh6W0DMjA11JAwCLcB/s1600/mum-meditating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Meditating Parent" border="0" height="183" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I0EJd1PxDlk/WHhAWaxHdxI/AAAAAAAABrk/8qw4zATPIOsoCQC43avDh6W0DMjA11JAwCLcB/s400/mum-meditating.jpg" title="Meditating Parent" width="400" /></a></div>
A Parents Practical Guidelines for a Mindfulness Practice</h2>
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<b>Setup Your practice in Plain Sight. </b>If using a meditation cushion, place it in a place in your home where it will be noticed everyday. For example your bedroom floor, as you pass by let it invite you to practice meditation daily. Just five minutes a day could turn your life around.</div>
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<b>Live by Routine. </b>Develop a routine for bedtimes, plan meals ahead. A predictable flow of a healthy and secure life will help everyone relax.</div>
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<b>Turn Off Distractions. </b>Control TV and computer usage, it will reduce distraction and stimulation. It begins with you the parent.</div>
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<b>More Attention. </b>Devote at least one hour a day to giving your undivided attention to your children. Not with your agenda in mind but according to their terms. This is the ultimate expression of love you can give.</div>
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<b>Take a Break before you do. </b>Find quiet time for your self. Maybe a walk around the block or a spot in the garden. </div>
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<b>Restore Household Harmony. </b>Be the first to apologize. Your children learn from your actions.</div>
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<b>Watch Their Lives Unfold. </b>Refrain from making judgments and coming to rash conclusions about your children. Watch their lives unfold, let them surprise you. You have the best seat in the house. </div>
WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-80070313112939096032020-09-30T17:30:00.002-05:002020-09-30T17:30:06.104-05:00Buddhist Meditation Plan for Beginners<h2>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PbsAUinstRk/VpUlgsq1XDI/AAAAAAAAAO8/2t6D7iiBgTw/s1600/buddha-rainc.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PbsAUinstRk/VpUlgsq1XDI/AAAAAAAAAO8/2t6D7iiBgTw/s320/buddha-rainc.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 1.5;">With this Buddhist Meditation Plan
for Beginners, I'm supposed to learn the best Buddhist meditation techniques
for quieting my mind, cultivating inner peace, and achieving sustained
happiness.</span></h2>
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<i>The key to being successful with this meditation plan for beginners is to commit to it. . I need to try and do at least one of the exercises each day. In this set meditation training plan, it is suggested when to do each technique, but feel free to meditate according to your own plan. What matters with meditation is simply that you do it! So let’s get started.</i><br />
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<b>A Buddhist Meditation Plan for Beginners: Step 1</b></h2>
The first step in our meditation plan for beginners is simply to acquaint yourself with the different types of techniques. Of course before starting something we need to learn a little or as much as we feel comfortable about it. Reading about some of the techniques that we have previously written about here or elsewhere, in books or watching videos on <a href="http://youtube.com/">Youtube.com</a> would be a great start. At the same time, it is important not just to read or watch videos but to also practice the techniques. Your meditation training should be broken down into 90% practice with a 10% theory.<br />
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<b>To begin with, acquaint yourself with the following meditation techniques. </b><br />
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<i>In
a moment we will look at how to use these techniques for beginners in an ideal meditation plan. First, however, it is important to learn about the techniques themselves. Read through these descriptions and click the link for more detailed information on each technique.</i><br />
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<b>Buddhist Meditation Plan for Beginners #1: </b><b>Breathing: </b>The absolute best technique for beginners is a simple breathing meditation.
With this technique, you will learn to focus your mind on your breathing. This will teach you the basic process of meditation and is the entry point for more advanced techniques.<b> <a href="http://www.freemindfulness.org/download" target="_blank">Learn Breathing Techniques Here.</a></b><a href="http://thedailymeditation.com/meditation-breathing-techniques-to-relax/"> </a><br />
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<b>Buddhist Meditation Plan for Beginners #2 Mindfulness: </b>Mindfulness is a simple practice that gets you to focus your mind on the present moment. This is important for many different reasons. It is an excellent way of removing stress and learning to relax, but it also makes you more effective at what you are doing because you will learn to focus your mind on your actions. Learn <b><a href="http://www.freemindfulness.org/download" target="_blank">Mindfulness HERE.</a></b><br />
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<b>Buddhist Meditation Plan for Beginners #3 Zen Walking: </b> With
Zen Walking you will focus your mind on the process of walking. This is very important for many reasons. To begin with, you will heighten your mind/body connection. This helps to focus your mind on your actions and also makes you more aware of your body. Zen Walking is also a good form of gentle exercise and is one of the most relaxing meditation techniques in the world. Learn<a href="http://liveanddare.com/walking-meditation/" target="_blank"> <b>Zen Walking HERE.</b></a><br />
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<b>Buddhist Meditation Plan for Beginners #4 Vipassana: </b><br />
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<b> </b>Vipassana
is a specific type of meditation in which we cultivate mindfulness of thoughts. Essentially, with Vipassana meditation we learn to recognize when we are experiencing thoughts, we then learn to see a thought as only a thought and nothing more. This is very important for quieting the mind. Once we become more aware of our thoughts we are able to silence them. Most people think mindlessly. They simply think about things over and over without awareness of the fact that they are thinking and that their thoughts are interfering with the mind. When we practice Vipassana meditation we learn to recognize thoughts, which in turn gives us control over our thoughts and finally allows us to quiet the mind. A very impressive website to learn <b><a href="http://www.vipassanadhura.com/howto.htm" target="_blank">Vipassana meditation</a></b>. But if you are looking for a simpler explanation here you go <b>click <a href="http://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-practice-vipassana-insight-meditation/" target="_blank">here</a></b>.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Buddhist Meditation Techniques for Beginners Step 2: </b></h3>
Now
that we are familiar with the different types of Buddhist techniques it
is time to put that knowledge into practice by adopting a training
plan. Here is the plan that's recommended.<br />
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<b>WEEK 1: </b>The most important thing in your first week is simply to commit to practice. In week 1 you want to do only the simplest techniques, which is a breathing meditation. Take twenty minutes each day to sit and focus your mind on your breathing. This will quiet your mind and enhance your focus. Choose a time each day where you can focus on your breath for twenty minutes.
Do not focus on results during this time, simply aim to do twenty minutes of breathing meditation each day.<br />
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<b>WEEK 2: </b>In week 2
you will want to continue your breathing practice, continuing your commitment to those twenty minutes a day. We now want to advance our
progress a little too, though, which is why we will now introduce Zen
Walking. In Zen walking, we usually walk on a short and straight path. However, this demands that we put aside another 20 minutes to practice. Many people simply don’t have the time. For this reason, It's recommended practicing Zen walking while on your way somewhere. If you are going to work, for instance, choose a safe path to walk and leave a
little earlier than usual. This will give you the time to practice zen walking while you are on your way to work (which saves time compared to having a dedicated schedule for this practice). You may practice Zen walking whenever you are on a safe path, so the next time you are walking somewhere, go a safe route, and while you walk.<br />
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<b>WEEK 3: </b>In
week 3 we want to begin to use meditation in our everyday living. For
this we use mindfulness. It is possible to practice mindfulness meditation while doing anything. Say, for instance, that you are doing the dishes. You can meditate on the process of cleaning, thus practicing while you work. You can equally practice while exercising while showering, and while doing other simple tasks. By practicing mindfulness meditation while you work you are learning to adopt a
meditative style of living, rather than simply practicing at specific times.<br />
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<b>WEEK 4: </b>In this final week I recommend adding
Vipassana to your current meditation training schedule. For this, you will need another time slot of twenty minutes each day to sit and observe your mind. I have added two resources for you to "click" on in the article on Vipassana Meditation. I really do recommend a more detailed website. It has an enormous amount of detailed information that is very useful in this meditation practice. <br />
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<h4>
<b>So there it is the complete schedule for “A Buddhist Meditation Plan for Beginners”</b></h4>
What I ended up with in week 4 is a complete training plan that looks like this:<br />
Breathing Meditation: Practice 20 minutes of mindful breathing per day<br />
Mindfulness: While doing any simple tasks, do them mindfully<br />
Walking: While en route somewhere, take the safe path and practice Zen Walking<br />
Insight Meditation: Include a second 20 minute period per day when you will practice Vipassana Meditation (Insight Meditation).<br />
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The complete Buddhist Meditation Plan for Beginners.
With this meditation plan for beginners, I hope to find inner peace and
sustained happiness.<br />
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WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0United States38.548165423046562 -103.007812513.026130923046562 -144.3164065 64.070199923046559 -61.6992185tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-76272633587338646242020-09-30T11:47:00.000-05:002020-09-30T11:47:21.281-05:00Meditation For Stress Relief<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meditation For Stress Relief</td></tr>
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<b>H</b>ave you tried meditation to solve your stress and health problems? If you haven’t yet, now may be one of the best times to make that experience a reality. Mediation is one of the most sought after forms of stress relief and is even recommended by many doctors.<br />
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<b>I</b>f you are someone that spends your evenings worrying, stressing about all that needs to get done and even feeling physically bad without being sick, then meditation may be an ideal solution for you.<br />
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<b>I</b>n meditation, you transform the way that your mind is working. While you can’t say that it’s a simple process, meditation is something that you can easily learn to do and then use daily.<br /><br />
<b>I</b>n fact, studies show that when you do allow yourself (especially your mind) to meditate for just a few minutes each day, you can reduce the stress levels you face improving your quality of life.<br />
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<b>T</b>here are many more benefits to meditation. For each person, this experience is going to be quite unique. If you wish to find out what it can offer you, you must learn to meditate. There is nothing negative that can come of meditation.<br />
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<b>A</b>s you will learn the further you look into meditation, there are many different types of meditation. Some are very ancient methods that have been used for thousands of years by various cultures. Others are much more modern and, in such, are sometimes more popular. Yet, learning about these types is something you should invest in.<br /><br />
<b>F</b>inding the right type of meditation for you is key and the process means educating yourself about the various types of meditation that you can select from. Yet, all of these methods of meditation will fall into one of two different classifications. If you were to select meditation on any sole factors, it would be based on these two methods available. Thoroughly exploring both of these methods of meditation can be very important to finding success. You’ll need to experiment with both types, eventually, to determine the best route for you to take.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Focused Meditation</td></tr>
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<b>Concentrative Meditation</b></h4>
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<b>T</b>he first type of meditation is that of concentrative meditation. In this type of meditation, the focus is on the way that you breathe, on an image, or on a sound. Sound, or mantra, is often used. By using these tools, so to speak, you are able to clear the mind and allow for greater awareness as well as clarity.<br />To focus on meditation, you’ll use one of these elements to help you to focus. By focusing on it, like you would a camera lens, you can then effectively reach the state that you are in.<br />
<h4>
Breathing</h4>
<b>O</b>ne method of concentrative meditation that is commonly used is that of concentrating on your breathing. It is probably the most simple of methods to use because you can do it any time without much need.<br /><br /><b>B</b>reathing is effective because of how it plays a role in your daily life and well being. Many of hose that practice other alternative medicines, such as yoga, also believe that breathing is essential to maintaining the correct state of mind. In meditation, it is believed that breathing must be regulated in order to meditate properly.<br /><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7tk3J6sfKsI/VoJWU6M7rKI/AAAAAAAAALo/adoRR4kTc-Y/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7tk3J6sfKsI/VoJWU6M7rKI/AAAAAAAAALo/adoRR4kTc-Y/s320/group.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>Y</b>ou can see this clearly in your everyday life without considering meditation at all. When you are relaxed and comfortable, your breathing is slow and deeper. But, when you are worried, stressed or anxious, your breathing speeds up. If you are distracted, this happens as well. By regulating your breathing, you can focus your mind and gain control over it more effectively.<br /><br />
<b>B</b>ut, how does breathing effect meditation? Have you ever felt overwhelmed and anxious? Were you afraid or even terrified? If so, then you may have told yourself to take a deep breath and to calm down. As you can see, you can control your own breathing.<br /><br />
<b>A</b>s a tool in meditation in the concentrative methods, you can gain control over your mind using breathing. To do this, you must regulate the breathing. To do this, you’ll need to focus on the rhythm of your breathing. The rhythm is the movement between inhaling and exhaling.<br />When you do this, sit and close your eyes. Focus on your breathing, the movement of air in and out of your body. You’ll need to concentrate on that breathing and only the breathing you are doing. <br />
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Soon, your meditation on breathing will become something that helps to ease your mind. You’ll see this as your breathing becomes more regular and then deeper and slower. When this happens, your mind too is changing. It becomes quiet, calm and collected. You’ll feel serenity and peace. You are also more aware of your surroundings and more likely to gain the benefits of meditation.<br />Breathing is just one example of concentrative meditation. There are many other forms, some of which we will talk about later in this book. Yet, remember that there is another type of method of meditation that accompanies concentrative meditation as the two forms that all methods and techniques of meditation fall under.<br />
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<h3>
Mindfulness Meditation</h3>
<b>M</b>indful meditation is quite unlike that of concentrative. If we use the example of a lens to help show the difference, you can see this. In concentrative meditation, you are concentrating on one single thing, focusing the lens on that one element, like breathing or something in the room that you are in.<br />On the other hand is mindfulness meditation. Here, you are not focusing your lens, but widening it to include more and more information.<br /><b> </b><br />
<b>Y</b>ou may wonder just how including more of what is happening in any one moment can help you to collect your thoughts and focus your mind. Yet, the fact is that you can do this because of how you do it.<br />Using your abilities, you’ll become very much aware of everything around you including all of your feelings, the things that you see, the things you hear, the smells and sounds, the very elements that you may want to filter out of your mind.<br /><br />
<b>F</b>rom here, though, something is unique. You’ll notice and become mindful of these things, but you will not react to them. Instead, you are simply taking in whatever is happening in your mind. Don’t become overly involved with these elements. You won’t allow for images, thoughts, or memories to filter into your mind here as they do when you are concentrating.<br /><br /><b>B</b>ecause, you are not becoming involved with the images and elements that are filtering through your mind; you actually calm down. Your mind is now clearer because it has taken in many of the things that are happening around you. You aren’t focusing in on any one thing. Instead, you are aware of everything going on, but not participating in it.<br /><b> </b><br />
<b>A</b>lthough this method of meditation is one that is less well known and used by beginners because of how challenging it can be, it is still an ideal choice because it allows for a renewed sense of being and wholeness. By focusing on everything but not on one single thing, you can clear your mind fully.<br /><br />
<b>A</b>ll types of meditation fall in one of these groups. You will either use methods that are concentrative, in which you will concentrate on one thing to enter into a meditative state or you will use a mindfulness meditation method to enter this state. For those that are looking towards these methods and wondering which to choose, don’t. You can use both types of meditation to gain benefits and sometimes one method will work better than others will. With the ability to learn either type, you’ll be that much better at meditation that fits what you are doing and what your body and mind needs at any one time.<br />
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<b>Namaste</b><br />
<br />WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-38630979524862048092020-01-15T10:06:00.001-06:002020-01-15T10:06:30.017-06:00Let Common Sense Be Your Guide <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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No matter what <span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #14171a; flex-direction: row; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; text-align: start; user-select: text !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1n1174f r-1loqt21 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" data-focusable="true" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/news?src=hashtag_click" role="link" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b95e0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text !important; white-space: inherit;">#news</a></span><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #14171a; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: start; user-select: text !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>you are following today. It's always best to trust in your own <span class="r-18u37iz" style="-webkit-box-direction: normal; -webkit-box-orient: horizontal; background-color: white; color: #14171a; flex-direction: row; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; text-align: start; user-select: text !important; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1n1174f r-1loqt21 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" data-focusable="true" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/commonsense?src=hashtag_click" role="link" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b95e0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; user-select: text !important; white-space: inherit;">#commonsense</a></span></h2>
<br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5J5zU1N_lxk/Xh8xXAA-L-I/AAAAAAAAGE4/2GPqLmWQgI4qvlP5vfCd_0TnAnpd3cHpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/%25E2%2580%259CBelieve%2Bnothing%252C%2Bno%2Bmatter%2Bwhere%2Byou%2Bread%2Bit%252C%2Bor%2Bwho%2Bsaid%2Bit%252C%2Bno%2Bmatter%2Bif%2BI%2Bhave%2Bsaid%2Bit%252C%2Bunless%2Bit%2Bagrees%2Bwith%2Byour%2Bown%2Breason%2Band%2Byour%2Bown%2Bcommon%2Bsense.%25E2%2580%259D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5J5zU1N_lxk/Xh8xXAA-L-I/AAAAAAAAGE4/2GPqLmWQgI4qvlP5vfCd_0TnAnpd3cHpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/%25E2%2580%259CBelieve%2Bnothing%252C%2Bno%2Bmatter%2Bwhere%2Byou%2Bread%2Bit%252C%2Bor%2Bwho%2Bsaid%2Bit%252C%2Bno%2Bmatter%2Bif%2BI%2Bhave%2Bsaid%2Bit%252C%2Bunless%2Bit%2Bagrees%2Bwith%2Byour%2Bown%2Breason%2Band%2Byour%2Bown%2Bcommon%2Bsense.%25E2%2580%259D.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter it I said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."your own common Sense</td></tr>
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We all have our own path's to follow in life. We all choices's that we make. Sometimes that divides communities, families, and friends.<br />
<br />
I feel it's important to not be distracted by news, government, or individuals. Who would like to cloud our judgment or common sense.<br />
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I am not a political person, I have never posted anything political on my blog before.<br />
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BUT, my common sense tells me ....... and this is just my opinion.<br />
<br />
1st) I am an American born and raised, I was once very proud of that statement.<br />
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2nd) I believe the recent drone attack on the Iran general was a distraction created by the Trump Administration hoping it would get the News media and democrats off his back and stop Impeachment. (Killing someone for your own personal gain has to be a crime) I can't condone this behavior as an American Citizen. (Common Sense)<br />
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<br />WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-49780361300685340572019-01-23T09:30:00.000-06:002019-01-22T01:22:08.777-06:00Reducing Suffering In Your Life<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stupa_Karma_Ling.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Stupa Karma Ling" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted zemanta-img-configured" height="236" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Stupa_Karma_Ling.JPG/350px-Stupa_Karma_Ling.JPG" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="350" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15481411838708354954940">Stupa</gwmw> Karma Ling (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stupa_Karma_Ling.JPG" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
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<h2 class="post-title" style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #222222; font-family: "Open Sans", HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://buddhismguide.org/how-to-reduce-your-suffering/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permanent Link: How to reduce your suffering">How to reduce your <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15481411841718848315059">suffering</gwmw></a></h2>
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<span style="color: #666666;">In </span><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Buddhism"><b><span style="color: blue;">Buddhism</span></b></a><span style="color: #666666;">, there is a practice called </span><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lojong" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Lojong"><b><span style="color: blue;">Mind </span></b><span style="color: blue;"><b>Training</b></span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> and within this practice, there is a section on reducing one’s suffering. Now, suffering here means dissatisfaction with life, an unease, discontentment and a feeling that life could be better.</span><span style="border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span id="more-2502" style="border: 0px rgb(225 , 225 , 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><span style="color: #666666;"> The following four methods are described in mind training as the best way to stop the suffering of all beings, and bringing them, and ourselves, happiness. Of course, we have to be realistic and understand that life is not always going to be happy, and it is an unsatisfactory part of life that suffering is always lurking around the corner. However, these four practices will help to reduce our suffering and give us the tools to be able to cope with whatever comes our way.</span></div>
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We have to take responsibility for our actions and ensure we act in a way that will help and not harm ourselves and others. This can be achieved by practicing the ten helpful acts and refraining from the ten harmful acts. These acts are listed below:</div>
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<ul style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 20px 7px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harmful Acts</strong><div style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.85em; margin-top: 0.85em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Killing or causing others to kill</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stealing/taking what has not been given</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sexual misconduct – harming someone with the sexual act</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Lying</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Divisive speech – speech that divides people</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harsh words</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Idle talk/gossip</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Covetousness – a desire for things we do not have</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ill will – thinking harmful thoughts about someone</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666; font-weight: inherit;">Inappropriate view – not understanding impermanence, </span><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causality" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Causality"><b><span style="color: blue;">cause & effect</span></b></a><span style="color: #666666; font-weight: inherit;">, non-self, and suffering</span></li>
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<ul style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 20px 7px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Helpful Acts</strong><div style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.85em; margin-top: 0.85em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Compassion</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Generosity</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Self-control</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Truthfulness</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kind speech</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-2" id="gwmw-15481411948005959430017">Pleasant words</gwmw></li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Helpful words</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contentment</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodwill</li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1em; padding: 3px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Appropriate view</li>
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If we adhere to the ten helpful acts we will be helping ourselves and others. We will also be mentally calm, as we will not be tormented by past unacceptable behavior.</div>
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<a name='more'></a><strong style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong>
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<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.85em; margin-top: 0.85em; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Acknowledge Harmful Deeds</strong></div>
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If we have committed any of the ten harmful acts we should acknowledge that fact. </div>
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We do not need to go to a priest or guru, or even tell our friends and family, but we do need to acknowledge the mistake ourselves. This acknowledgment should not be taken lightly and we must be totally honest with ourselves, and not try to justify our actions. We have to mean it and promise to refrain from such an <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15481412003256456828387">act</gwmw> again. This acknowledgment should not be used to beat ourselves up or to feel guilty – neither of these is helpful. We have made a mistake or done a harmful act, we have acknowledged it, made a mental note not to act in that way again and learned a valuable lesson, now it is time to let go and move on.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #666666; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.85em; margin-top: 0.85em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Removal of external hindrances</strong><br />
Sometimes we come across hindrances whilst practicing meditation and mindfulness. Like we are too busy and can’t find the time or place to practice, our friends want us to go out, or we are trapped by Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and so on. So, think about the benefits of doing meditation/mindfulness practices, and this will help free yourself from any hindrances.</div>
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<strong style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Removal of internal hindrances</strong></div>
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Sometimes we have inner hindrances that stop us from practicing meditation and mindfulness, such as laziness, tiredness or strong disturbing emotions. So, see all thoughts, feelings, and emotions as impermanent and in constant flux, and this will help you understand that what you are going through right now won’t last. That will bring you back to the path of meditation and mindfulness.</div>
<span style="color: #666666;">(You can read more about the five hindrances</span><a href="http://theselfproclaimedsolitarybuddhist.blogspot.com/2017/09/5-hindrances-to-buddhist-practice.html" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue;"><b> here</b></span></a><span style="color: #666666;">.)</span></div>
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If you wish to reduce your suffering, and the suffering of those around you, follow the helpful path, acknowledge your mistakes and do not let the five hindrances push you off track.</div>
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WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-5190388042972833352019-01-22T09:03:00.000-06:002019-01-22T01:11:36.737-06:00If the Buddha were here to give relationship advice to us today.<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; line-height: 1.65; margin-bottom: 17px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #777777; font-family: "museo sans";">Ever wondered what it would be like to have the ancient wisdom of the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Gautama Buddha">Buddha</a> to guide you through the dating process? </span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z9F9koeSI0E/WYY-SLEPVMI/AAAAAAAACzU/LSX7DFpxWHIayjkIbY9ZKGQE_VEhSh-uACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/119638914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="507" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z9F9koeSI0E/WYY-SLEPVMI/AAAAAAAACzU/LSX7DFpxWHIayjkIbY9ZKGQE_VEhSh-uACPcBGAYYCw/s320/119638914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #777777; font-family: "museo sans";"><br /></span> <span style="color: #777777; font-family: "museo sans";"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.amazon.com/If-Buddha-Dated-Handbook-Spiritual/dp/0140195831%3FSubscriptionId%3D0G81C5DAZ03ZR9WH9X82%26tag%3Dzem-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0140195831" rel="amazon" target="_blank" title="If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path">If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path</a> by Charlotte Kasl, Ph.D., since it was published in 1999 it has been loved by those seeking relationship advice.</span><br />
<span style="color: #777777; font-family: "museo sans";">If the Buddha were to give dating tips, they might be a little confusing to some modern-day folks. So consider this a Top 10 CliffsNotes, each with modern day explanations.</span><br />
<span style="color: #777777; font-family: "museo sans";"><br /></span>
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<ul>
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<li>“When you say goodbye to someone or decide not to see them again, remember you are but a moment in their story. Make it a story that doesn’t leave a scar.” Translation: Do whatever it takes to leave on good terms.</li>
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<li>“<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_equality" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Social equality">Equality</a> doesn’t need to mean that both people earn the same amount of money, have equal status, or equally good looking. It means they value each other as equals when it comes to making plans, making love or making decisions. They have an equal voice. One should not have to sacrifice himself, or herself, to the other.” Translation: Equality is not based on materialistic things or statistics. Equality is based on shared values, shared communication, and shared self-respect. </li>
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<li>“In an unequal relationship, because the subordinate mate gives in reluctantly and complies, the dominant ones are never challenged to reflect on themselves. There is little or no growth, flexibility, or no forming of the “us” bond that brings two people into spiritual union.” Translation: In equal <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15481397210962017296993">relationships, both</gwmw> people are challenged to grow and evolve together, rather than one person always pushing for the other partner’s growth.</li>
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<li>“Things are always changing—our thoughts, cells, hormones, hairline, consciousness, relationship, and the landscape around us. Instead of trying to freeze the present moment and hanging onto it, we need to remember that life is a process of constantly letting go.” Translation: The only constant is change. Every present moment is a chance to embrace the newness and let go of the past<gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15481397231987483130143">.</gwmw> Nothing is permanent. </li>
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<li>“To be loyal to our journey is to know the rhythm, tone, and pulse of our essential inner world- the song that is ours alone. When two people bring the richness of their inner music to each other, they bring the possibility of a <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-2" id="gwmw-15481397254775804635456">new composition, of</gwmw> counterpoint, harmony, voices weaving together creating a magical composition. If we’re disconnected from the music of our essence and attempt to find happiness through another’s song, there will be a dependency and relationship without harmony.” Translation: We must know and accept who we are fully before we enter a relationship, or else we end up <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15481397282724772096618">in</gwmw> a co-dependent relationship. When two whole people join in a supportive relationship, the results can be magical. </li>
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<li>“If we have the belief ‘I’ll always be abandoned’ we create situations where we’ll be abandoned, and forget to notice when people are loyal friends. Our task on the spiritual path is to stop repeating the same old stories and become aware of all the ways we keep proving our stories are true.” Translation: Thoughts become things, and we become our thoughts. Choose to write your own fate for better results. </li>
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<li>“We can either bargain, hold back, and hang onto comfort and security, or we can take a deep breath, and say take me, and leap into the fire.” Translation: Taking a risk is often worth it, especially in love.</li>
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<li>“There are so many dating books with numerous rules about the right thing to do and say when dating. On the spiritual path, the ‘rules’ are simple. Simply ask yourself, am I being guided by my rigid ego” Translation: Ego-driven actions love rules. The spirit of love needs no rules to guide us.</li>
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<li>“Ego says I want someone to fill me up. Non-ego says I’ll have someone to help me wake up, to challenge my blind spots and be a companion and playmate on the journey. Translation: If we believe and live as already-full beings (complete), we don’t look to others to fulfill us. </li>
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<li>“Another aspect of loving kindness is to remember that it’s not being free of <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15481397469557850841475">imperfections that’s</gwmw> crucial to relationships, it’s being honest about our faults and mistakes. When we accept our humanness we become able to apologize (not grovel) for having been rude, insensitive, or dishonest. Our apology to another is a form of compassion to ourselves because it signifies acceptance. This is at the heart of intimacy.” Translation: By honestly accepting our faults and mistakes and apologizing with sincerity, we practice compassion towards ourselves and others.</li>
</ul>
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WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-20404032208026995742018-08-23T09:00:00.000-05:002018-08-28T00:50:13.287-05:00Having the Right Approach to Buddhism<h2>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Right Approach to Buddhism</span></b></h2>
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When we pursue studies of Buddhism and Dharma, it is important to develop a correct motivation and also to aim at the correct goal. It is not exactly like when we study other things.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lxb9Jd0vWOs/WGd4xm6uhwI/AAAAAAAABkE/EO1oDGzcuHYthpgw9VIQ2iwaZms62fxLwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Goldenized-Lotus-Flower.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1600" height="113" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lxb9Jd0vWOs/WGd4xm6uhwI/AAAAAAAABkE/EO1oDGzcuHYthpgw9VIQ2iwaZms62fxLwCPcBGAYYCw/s200/Goldenized-Lotus-Flower.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<h3>
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Dharma</span></h3>
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Since we study Dharma, the motivation must follow correspondingly. This is because Dharma is not just studied in order to know more, or to get more knowledge. Dharma is studied to obtain a concrete gain; and not just any gain, but a far-reaching gain from which we can profit from for all time.</div>
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<h3>
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How can we achieve such a far-reaching gain? </span></h3>
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We achieve this goal by understanding what the actual roots of our happiness and suffering are and by transforming them. On one hand, if we do not understand the actual causes for happiness and suffering, and on the other hand, if we understand them, but do not bring about the necessary transformation, then it will not be possible to achieve that far-reaching and lasting gain, despite whatever other means we may employ.</div>
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To pursue other kinds of studies does not have this effect. When we follow other studies, we learn all sorts of things. But the knowledge that we acquire does not have such a direct relation to the actual causes of happiness and suffering; it cannot bring any lasting gain. It is possible that through such knowledge we may gain something temporary, but to obtain an everlasting result is very difficult.</div>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-size: small;">What are the actual causes for happiness and suffering?</span> </span></h3>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z9F9koeSI0E/WYY-SLEPVMI/AAAAAAAACzU/LSX7DFpxWHIayjkIbY9ZKGQE_VEhSh-uACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/119638914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="507" height="132" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z9F9koeSI0E/WYY-SLEPVMI/AAAAAAAACzU/LSX7DFpxWHIayjkIbY9ZKGQE_VEhSh-uACPcBGAYYCw/s200/119638914.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suffering and Unhappiness</td></tr>
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These are explained in the Dharma, and how we can directly deal with them and change them is the essence of Dharma. This is also the reason why the study of Dharma produces a tangible and lasting result.</div>
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Sometimes we think that our ordinary activities produce real, concrete results, while Dharma-activities are something rather abstract and have no concrete results. But the truth is that somebody who really understands Dharma and applies it correctly into practice does achieve the best tangible result for oneself.</div>
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However, if one considers Dharma activities as something that has little to do with real Dharma, or if one approaches Dharma wrongly, then there are risks and dangers that one's efforts will be in vain. In this case, instead of bringing concrete, beneficial results, one will end up wasting much time and energy for nothing.</div>
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When we get involved with real Dharma in an unmistaken way, there is nothing that could produce greater results for oneself and for the sake of others.</div>
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We think that an activity makes sense if it improves our experience of happiness and prevents our suffering, and that something is worthless or no good if it worsens our situation. There is no other meaningful criteria to distinguish what is meaningful from what is meaningless, to distinguish what is useful from what is useless.</div>
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The experience of happiness and suffering is dependent upon the causes of happiness and suffering. That which directly connects us to the causes of happiness and suffering is Dharma. And by practicing Dharma, these causes of happiness and suffering can be directly influenced. Therefore, there is nothing more useful and effective than getting involved in Dharma.</div>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-size: small;">Causes of Happiness and Suffering</span></h3>
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The root philosophy of Buddhism, the teachings that Buddha gave, is the statement that the actual causes for happiness and suffering lie in one's own mind, and that the outer objects may serve as conditions, but are not the actual cause for happiness and suffering. Other people, for example, are not the actual cause, nor are any other objects; gods or ghosts. There are, rather, causes in one's own continuum that are responsible for all our suffering and happiness. This is a central point of Buddha's teachings.</div>
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By understanding that the causes of happiness and suffering are to be found in our own mind, we make efforts to change these in order to accomplish the real benefit for ourselves and others. The teachings of Buddha have many aspects, but some are fundamental, and to understand them correctly is very important.</div>
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As already said before, the ultimate goal and central core point of the Buddha Dharma are the beings, and nothing else. Some people may think that the actual central point of Buddhism is Buddha or Nirvana, the freedom from cyclic existence, or the calmness of the mind. But this is not correct. All of these are surely very worthwhile achievements, but the central point of the Dharma is benefitting the sentient beings.<br />
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-size: small;">Explanation of Sentient Beings </span></h3>
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When we speak of "beings" we mean objects that are endowed with consciousness. Thanks to this, they are able to experience happiness and suffering. And it is because of the existence of beings that the teachings and the practice of Dharma are so relevant. Thus, Dharma exists only in relation to them.</div>
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The whole content of Dharma is a precise description of the situation of the beings, of their experience of happiness and suffering, and of the possibilities of changing their situation. It is only in relation to the beings that the explanations of Dharma have great significance. The explanations on the liberation from the cyclic conditioned existence and those on the state of Buddhahood and others are all descriptive of the various states in which beings are immersed. Without relation to the beings, they have no meaning whatsoever.</div>
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When we speak about conditioned existence or Samsara, this is a description of the current situation of the beings. When we speak about freedom or Nirvana, this is also a situation that is possible for beings to attain. All of these descriptions are nothing else than descriptions of states in which beings are found or that they can attain in the future.</div>
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<h3>
<span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-size: small;">The Four Noble Truths</span></h3>
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The Four Noble Truths (Chatwari Aryasatyāni) are also exact descriptions of the situation of the beings. The Noble Truth of Suffering (Dukha Ārya Satya) is the description of the basic situation of the beings. The Noble Truth of the Origin (Samuda Ārya Satya) is a description of the cause of that situation of the beings. The Noble Truth of Cessation (Nirodha Ārya Satya) is a description of the liberated situation of the beings; and the Noble Truth of the Path (Mārga Ārya Satya) is a description of the valid method which enables the beings to attain the liberated state.</div>
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When we talk about the state of an Arhat, this describes a situation of the beings. When we speak of Bodhisattvas, this also describes a situation of the beings. When we speak about Shunyata, this is still a description of the situation of the beings in a deeper sense. Thus, there are many different terms in Dharma, and all of them have a direct relation to the sentient beings.</div>
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By "dharma practice" we mean the development of love (Maitri), compassion (Karūñā), patience (Shānti), giving (Dāna), ethics (Shila) and so forth. All of these practices have a direct relation to the beings: this can easily be understood. When compassion is developed, it is compassion towards beings. In the same way, developing love is only thinkable in relation to beings. Giving is also something that only has meaning in relation to others, as a direct help for them. Ethics only makes sense in relation to other beings, because ethics means avoiding destructive actions and practicing beneficial actions. When we say "destructive actions", we mean to say actions that harm beings, and "beneficial actions" are actions that benefit beings. Thus, practicing ethics only makes sense in relation to the beings.</div>
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Therefore, all the teachings and practices of Dharma are directly related to the situation of the beings. Since there are beings, there is Dharma, and for them it is useful and necessary that Dharma exists. If there were no beings, there would also be no need for the Dharma; the Dharma would have no use. </div>
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In this way, we see that the central point of Dharma is neither a god nor nirvana; rather, it is just the beings. Even Buddha is not the central point. This is because Buddha is something that is born out of a sentient being and not vice versa. </div>
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Buddhahood is also attainable only by the beings and in dependence upon the beings. The beings do not come into existence in dependence upon Buddha, but Buddha comes into existence in dependence upon the beings. Thus, they are the central point of Dharma. This is one of the most important points of the Buddhist view, and it is essential to understand it correctly.</div>
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When we are asked what the central core of Buddhism is, we should be able to give a direct answer. On one hand, the answer is that the beings are the central point, and on the other hand, the causes for happiness and suffering can be found in one's own mind and these causes have to be transformed. That is another essential point of Dharma.</div>
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As long as the mistakes in the mind, such as greed (Rāga), hatred (Dvesha), and confusion (Moha) are present in oneself, we speak about the state of conditioned cyclic existence, in which there are all the manifestations of suffering. When the mind is liberated from mistakes such as greed, hatred and ignorance, then we speak about liberation, about a state that is free from all suffering and characterised by lasting peace. It is wrong not to see things that way and to think that we are in Samsara as long as we are in this world, and in Nirvana when we go to another world. To be of the opinion that we are in Samsara as long as we exist and we are in Nirvana when we cease to exist is also wrong.</div>
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As long as the delusions are present in our mind, we are a typical samsaric being of cyclic existence. As soon as we have removed delusion from our minds, we get freedom from the chain of Karma, Klesha, and suffering, thus attaining Nirvana: the state beyond sorrow. This does not at all mean that we stop existing. We continue to exist but in a state of full freedom and lasting peace. In addition to that, when even the subtlest imprint that the delusions left on the mind are completely removed and all the qualities of the mind such as wisdom, compassion, abilities, and actions have been fully perfected, we speak about the attainment of Buddhahood. It is also important to understand the fact that Buddhahood is a state of mind and not something like another world, or a state somewhere high up in space. Although we use the English word "enlightenment", it is not something that necessarily has to consist of light or be luminous. None of these are the meaning of Buddhahood.<br />
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Buddhahood</span></span></h3>
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Buddhahood is the state of a being when all the obstacles from the largest up to the smallest have been brought to a total end and all virtues or wholesome qualities have been developed to the level of perfection, infinity, and spontaneity. That is also shown by the very Sanskrit word "Buddha", which means "fully awakened" or "fully blossomed".</div>
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Another essential point in the view of Buddhism is that the mistakes of the mind are not in the essential nature of the mind and therefore, the mind can be freed from its mistakes and obstacles; thus, it is possible to remove all faults and obstacles, because they are not the very nature of the mind.</div>
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Additionally, we have to understand that the teachings given by the Buddha have various aspects. There is not just one Dharma that exists regardless of its being suitable for the beings or not; rather, according to the various capacities, characteristics, and needs of the beings, there are corresponding teachings of the Buddhas. A person who understands this point correctly cannot become fanatic about one specific form of Dharma. When this point is not understood, the ignorance in one's mind creates a sense of strong attachment and of fanatic adherence to a certain aspect. Due to such a view, there is the danger to develop fanatic sectarian views. Such false views will be the source of disputes and conflicts.</div>
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Beings have different conditions, capacities and inclinations. Buddha, out of his great compassion, wisdom, and skilfulness gave a great variety of teachings that are suitable to all.</div>
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Another special quality of the teaching of Buddha is that the validity of his teaching and the worthiness of its practice are established on the ground of a sound logical basis and personal experience. It is not judged in terms of a teacher's status such as racial origin, physical shape or colour, age, social rank, titles, popularity, etc., but rather on the basis of the accuracy of the meaning, of the correspondence to reality and of the positive effects on the minds of the seekers. When the meaning is illogical and lacking real essence, it doesn't matter who teaches it and in what eloquent or poetical manner it is taught; it is of little use for a Dharma-learner and practitioner. Therefore, blindly believing and following anything that is taught is not the right approach. </div>
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The Enlightened One has pointed this out very clearly when he said: "Oh monks and wise men: just as a gold seeker examines the gold through burning, cutting, and rubbing, likewise evaluate my teachings and then accept them, but not just out of your respect to me”.</div>
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The right approach to Dharma for a true practitioner should be like that of a sick man seeking treatment. For the cure of a sick person three things are indispensable: a qualified doctor, the right medical treatment and medical assistance such as nurses. What a patient should have as a motivation or impulse is knowing oneself to be sick, and aspiring to full recovery. One is determined to seek the necessary help to get well. This quest is also not because it is a tradition, not because it is fun, nor because one will gain fame, reputation, wealth and so on; rather, it is simply because one can't live as an ailing person and good health is aspired to from the depth of one's heart.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffe599;">Sincere in Motivation</span></h4>
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Exactly in that way should we also be sincere in our motivation for the Dharma, seeing the roots of all our suffering within ourselves and Dharma as the only treatment to cure us. Thus, one seeks Buddha as the perfect qualified physician, Dharma as the perfect valid treatment, and Sangha as the perfect, most helpful team.</div>
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This heartfelt seeking of these indispensable teachings helps in what is called TAKING REFUGE (Triratna Sharañā Gaman) in the THREE JEWELS! With this pure attitude all practice of Dharma begins.</div>
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<b>Buddham sharanam gacchaami</b><br />
<b>Dharmam sharanam gacchaami</b><br />
<b>Sangham sharanam gacchaami</b></div>
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<b><b>I go for refuge in Buddha</b></b><br />
<b><b>I go for refuge in Dharma</b></b><br />
<b><b>I go for refuge in Sangha</b></b><br />
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<b><b><a href="https://theselfproclaimedsolitarybuddhist.blogspot.com/2016/03/delusions-and-illusions.html" target="_blank">Delusions and Illusions</a></b></b><br />
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WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-30199137531282495602018-08-22T09:00:00.000-05:002018-08-22T09:00:00.590-05:00Essential Ideas of Buddhism<h2>
<b>The Essential Ideas of Buddhism</b></h2>
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When we speak about Buddhism we refer to an extraordinarily vast and deep subject. I have learnt but a single drop of this great ocean of knowledge, however I will share here a short, introduction to some of the fundamental points of the Dharma.</div>
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Most might know that Buddhism is one of the great World Religions and that it traces back to Buddha Shakyamuni, who was born in Lumbini (Nepal) over 2500 years ago. Many of you will also probably know some of Buddha's great deeds, as it would take too long to describe them all. At the age of thirty-five, Buddha manifested the attainment of full enlightenment; then, he lived on until the age of eighty-one. From the attaining of enlightenment until his Parinirvana, he spent most of his time sharing and teaching.</div>
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The first teaching Buddha had given was on the Four Noble Truths: the Noble Truth of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering, the Noble Truth of the Cessation (or Liberation) of Suffering and the Noble Truth of the Path to End Suffering. After that, he covered a variety of teachings, always in accordance to the needs and mental dispositions of his disciples.</div>
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At first, these teachings of Buddha spread widely in India. Tibetans were first introduced to the Dharma in the seventh century of the western calendar; and, immediately recognising its extraordinary value, they applied great efforts into bringing the doctrine to their home country. Many travelled to India in order to study Buddhism there, and some outstanding Indian Buddhist masters were also invited to teach in Tibet.</div>
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<b style="background-color: #ffe599;">So what is Buddhism</b></h3>
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Briefly, the actual central point of all Buddha's teachings focuses on all living beings, also known as sentient beings (Sattva or Prāñin). It is neither about Buddha the man nor attainment of supernatural powers, nor is it focused on any kind of god or philosophical theme. None of these are the central point of Buddhism, but sentient beings, those endowed with life. Especially referring to those who have mind (Citta or Mana) or consciousness.</div>
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What are the characteristics of beings endowed with consciousness? Such beings’ minds allow them to perceive, acknowledge and understand, as well as experience happiness and suffering. In the range of existence there are many objects with no mind; thus, such objects, such as automobiles, are unable to undergo the experiences of happiness and suffering. Sentient beings have minds and feelings of happiness and suffering. We human beings are not the only ones who have this characteristic: there are many other beings who feel just as we do, regardless of their outer forms.</div>
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All humans and animals, down to the smallest insect experience happiness and suffering. Not only do we undergo these experiences, but also share the same wish to obtain happiness and to be free from suffering. Besides, all beings have equal right to live happily and avoid suffering.</div>
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Thus, practicing a religion is an effort directly related to these experiences. Since beings with a mind have the quality of wishing for happiness and trying to avoid suffering, we can speak about the necessity and value of a religious practice. Without relation to the sentient beings and their feelings, religious practice has little meaning. I do not think this is merely a characteristic of the Buddha's teachings, but an actual goal shared by every religion.</div>
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If we summarise the practices of Buddhism, we can speak of view (Dristi), conduct or behaviour (Charyā), and meditation (Bhāwanā). These are the three aspects of Buddhist practice. For any valid Buddhist spiritual practice to be complete, it must contain these three aspects.</div>
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A pure and correct view is necessary. Our mind lacks clarity and is full of ignorance. We can only obtain the capacity to see correctly what is and what is not, by developing a pure view. Only on the basis of a correct view can we know the truth.</div>
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Such view cannot be just of any type. It must comprehend the basis, the path, and the goal; that is, it should present an accurate understanding of our actual situation, of the process of transformation, and of the goal to be attained. This means things should be understood according to their actual mode of existence, as the reality, free of fantasies and fabrications. This is the right view.</div>
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But right view alone is not enough: it won’t be helpful if our conduct is not in accordance with it. Therefore, behaviour of body, speech, and mind is of utmost importance because our experiences will result from it. Whether we experience happiness or suffering is determined by our type of behaviour and not by the philosophy we follow. This works both on the individual and collective levels.</div>
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That is why it is so important and necessary to act in a correct and beneficial manner and to avoid destructive behaviour. What is beneficial and what is destructive? Actions that directly or indirectly cause suffering for oneself and others are destructive. Actions that bring true well-being to oneself and others, are beneficial. Therefore we should avoid harmful actions and engage in beneficial ones.</div>
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This is why ethics are a very important point in Buddhism. According to the level of development in one's mind, there are different levels of ethics, but (Ahimsa), the absence of harming; to not inflict harm, is the root of them all. We should absolutely avoid harming the lives of others by use of our body, speech, and mind. To remove all intention of harming others and to help them as much as we can is the meaning of ethics in Buddhism.</div>
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In order to eliminate all harm and to help others in the most complete way, we need to fully eliminate our ego. As long as your ego is not completely eliminated, it will not be possible to avoid all harm to others nor benefit them completely. Thus, making the ego one of the greatest mistakes that we want to challenge, overcome and eliminate. But it is not an easy delusion to eliminate. There are many degrees of an ego, from the very egotistical level down to the very subtle. We might be able to control the very overpowering ego for some time, but in order to eliminate all forms of ego down to its subtlest levels, we have to train ourselves into that direction for a long time. This is why having a pure conduct or correct behaviour in Buddhism are essential points.</div>
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Once we have obtained the basis of a correct view and of correct behaviour, then it can be very useful to practice meditation. It is of no use whatsoever if we try practicing any type of meditation without the basis of pure view and pure behaviour. Without these two, it is not even possible to practice any real meditation. This is because meditation is not just a relaxation, but rather a gradual training of the mind. The mind can only be educated and trained if we have the clarity of a pure view and if we follow a wholesome behaviour. Therefore, all of these three points must be united.</div>
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If, for example, we want to build a house, we will need the ground on which to build the house, and a stable foundation. We will then also need construction materials such as bricks and wood. Once we have the ground and the materials, we can start the actual building of the house and progress day by day. In the same way, we need the basis of good ethics, just like we need the material that comes from pure view. Once we have both, we can start the actual building of the house with meditation, which is the actual development of training the mind.</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-size: small;">So how Important is Meditation to Buddhist Practice?</span></h3>
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If we are to follow the path of meditation, we need to seek proper instructions of meditation so that we can walk correctly on the path of meditation and reach its goal. There are different types of meditation practice's. With today's technology it is easier than ever to explore the different types of meditation.</div>
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When we build a house, we need to follow the guidelines of a qualified architect. If we start construction without the aid of qualified people, it will be likely to fall apart sometime soon. Therefore, if we want to construct a building in our own mind, it is good to investigate different meditation practices and teachers who are experienced who can instruct us. The internet is a great resource to explore the many different types of meditation.</div>
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Many people think that meditation is mere relaxation of the mind, but this is by no means the real meaning of meditation. Meditation is a goal-oriented training and educating of the mind. It is something active: instead of relaxing, it is more like a battle in one's mind. In meditation we try to build up something on the mental level, but there are many mental factors that arise as obstacles to prevent this. For a beginner, this would lead doubtlessly to a heavy fight. But it is only by practice – and not by spending our time being sleepy and lazy – that we can accomplish something.</div>
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To practice meditation correctly is the best method to increase and promote the extraordinary qualities of compassion in our mind and to develop the wisdom, clarity, and generate pure love.</div>
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When starting to practice meditation, the hardest thing is the lack of control over one's mind. To start controlling the mind, it is first necessary to develop concentration. Currently our mind is never calm: it is like a flag waving in a strong wind. It has to calm down a bit at first, before it can be used to follow important thoughts and lines of reasoning. As long as the mind is constantly moving chaotically, it will be hard to follow precise or deep thoughts.</div>
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Buddha explained many methods of meditation (Bhāvanās). They can be summarised into two types: concentrative (Sthāpita Bhāvanā) and analytical meditation (Vichārita Bhāvanā). Both kinds of meditation are necessary. Concentrative meditation alone does not lead to the realisation, and analytical meditation alone also does not. It is necessary to combine them.</div>
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To do meditation, we can assume certain body-postures, but the most important thing about meditation is the position of the mind. Some people think that meditation is just a sitting posture, but this is not the case. Everybody can sit in a certain way, but it is not the body that has to meditate; it is the mind.</div>
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To practice meditation, first, it is necessary to have a corresponding knowledge (Pragyā). There are three types of knowledge: knowledge from hearing or learning (Shrutimayi Pragyā), from reflecting (Cintamayi Pragyā), and from meditating (Bhāvanāmayi Pragyā). First, we have to acquire knowledge through learning, which opens the door of understanding the points of the practice. Then this knowledge can be deepened, leading to firm conviction, by reflecting in a clear and correct manner. This knowledge can be developed into an even deeper understanding, which leads to a direct realisation through the practice of concentrative and analytical meditation.</div>
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I will cover more on this subject in greater depth at a later time. For now l will give some further descriptions of the first of these three points: the view of Buddhism.</div>
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One of the most important points of the view of Buddhism is the description of the mind. This is because, as we mentioned at the beginning, sentient beings are the central point of Buddha's teachings, and the mind is in direct relation to beings' experiencing happiness and suffering. Buddha has made it clear that the actual root of all our experiences of happiness and suffering is in the mind.</div>
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This way of looking at things does not correspond to our usual, spontaneous way of thinking; rather, we usually believe that the causes of our happiness and sufferings are somewhere out there. When we experience happiness and suffering, we usually blame other people or outer conditions. We think: Yes, I experienced this because of him; it is his fault. Or, we think that the cause of our experiences lies in our country, the house we live in, or that our problem is all the neighbour’s fault. These are usual reactions when we experience happiness and suffering. Some people have particular ideas and hold invisible forces to be responsible for their sufferings: they imagine that the experienced suffering is inflicted by an evil entity. In short, they have a view that sees the causes of their suffering as lying outside. Most people see an enemy as the cause of their suffering, and whenever suffering arises, it is accompanied by the thought: “It is entirely this enemy's fault that I have to undergo such misfortune”.</div>
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With regards to happiness we have a similar opinion, seeing outer objects as the causes for our happiness. The source of happiness is "he" or "she", money, a new object that we acquire or a new philosophy that we turn to. In such things we see the sources of our happiness. And some people, again, have somewhat strange ideas and think that good spirits or good fairies provide them with happiness.</div>
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All these opinions point to the causes of happiness and suffering outside. There is no doubt that sometimes these outer objects can work as a factor for happiness and suffering. However, we consider these as the very cause of our experiences, while in fact, they are not. Outer objects like the weather can certainly be triggering factors for our experiences, but the real cause of our happiness and suffering – as was clarified by Buddha – is not outside our mind, but within.</div>
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The outer factors can change. A factor which at once generated happiness can transform into one that causes suffering, and vice-versa. And a person who is a factor of happiness for one can be the cause of suffering for another. And he who was a factor of our wellbeing in the past can transform into a factor of suffering later on. Such changes are always occurring. Thus, enemies become friends, and friends become enemies.</div>
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For many people, eating chili peppers is a factor of blissful experience; while for many others, eating chili peppers can become an indescribable suffering. For some, eating sauerkraut means pure happiness, whilst for others this is not at all the case.</div>
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In brief, these outer factors can change. Even outer sacred objects such as churches, statues of holy beings, temples and others are factors of happiness and well-being solely for those who have faith in them. Contemplating upon these objects gives them a sense of devotion which triggers well-being and happiness. Christians have churches and the Buddhists have temples. For devoted practitioners of these religions, perceiving such objects triggers confidence and well-being in their minds. But people who lack faith might not like such objects, and there are many such people in the world. For them, these outer objects are not a factor leading to happiness, and even the sight of a church or a temple might trigger their anger, annoyance or dislike.</div>
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If we ask whether these outer holy objects are useful, the answer is: yes, they are very useful, because we can get blessings from them. But whether we get blessings from these outer objects or not depends on our state of mind. Therefore, the outer holy object is only a factor, while the actual cause is in one's own mind.</div>
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Buddha has clearly described that the actual roots for happiness and suffering are in one's mind.</div>
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What are these actual causes for suffering? They are nothing mysterious or unknown to us. Rather, they refer to states of mind like greed (Rāga), jealousy (Ishiryā), anger (Krodha), pride (Abhimāna), avarice (Matsara), and so forth: states of mind we all know very well. The root of all of these are self-grasping ignorance (Ātmagrha) and self-cherishing egos (Ahampriye): thus, ignorance and our own egos are the actual roots of suffering in our mind.</div>
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As long as these factors of the mind are present and strong, we will have to experience suffering, even though we wish to be free from it. Even when exposed to a very pleasant setting, the egotistic person will never be truly happy or experience real well-being. Wherever such a person goes, others will always appear as a negative factor and every place will be experienced as unpleasant because objects will mostly be considered dissatisfying. Such a person can be with anyone, go anywhere, use anything, but nothing will really bring happiness and contentment.</div>
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As one Venerable Master used to say, an intensely selfish person can be compared to someone whose whole body is covered with wounds. He will not feel well anywhere. Wherever such a person sits or moves, pain will be felt. Whenever touched, it will hurt.</div>
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On the other hand, the actual causes for happiness, the states of mind such as contentment, satisfaction, pure selfless love, sincere compassion, patience, true wisdom and cherishing others, are also in one's mind. These are states of mind that represent the real, actual causes for happiness. If these factors are strong in one's mind, then we will undoubtedly feel well when the outer circumstances are agreeable, but even when finding ourselves in adverse outer conditions, these strong inner causes will enable us to remain undisturbed.</div>
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When someone manages to rid his mind completely from anger and hatred, there are no more enemies in the entire world. This is because "enemy" is a label, a designation produced by our own mind. As long as anger is present in one's mind, there will be plenty of outer enemies.</div>
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This situation was described with the following example by the Indian Buddhist master Shantideva: We will never find enough leather to cover the whole surface of the earth so that our feet are protected from thorns. But if we cover our feet with leather, we reach the same result, as we will be protected at all places we go. Accordingly, the master mentions: if we wanted to overcome all enemies by meeting them, talking, becoming friends or giving them presents, we would never accomplish it, because beings are countless. If, instead, we overcome hatred and anger in our mind, it has the same effect as overcoming all enemies. Visiting every human being and creating a good relation with them is impossible. It is possible, however, to overcome irritation and anger completely.</div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-size: small;">The Inner Causes</span></b></h3>
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These actual roots of suffering are called Kleshas in Buddhism, a term that is often translated as delusions. These delusions can temporarily manifest very strongly in one's mind, but they can still be removed. Everyone has the prerequisites to completely remove delusions from the mind by application of the right means.</div>
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Delusions are not a part of the very nature of the mind, whose essential nature is pure and free of faults. At the moment, the mind is covered by many defilements and delusions - much like a crystal that is clear and transparent, but that can be completely hidden by a rock. However, it is possible to break this rock and reveal the crystal’s clear, transparent nature. In the same way, it is possible to free the mind from the mistakes and obstacles that cover it and thereby reveal its pure, clear nature.</div>
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If these mistakes were a part of the essential nature of the mind, the situation would be hopeless. Then, we would not be able to change. If this was our situation, then our efforts would be like those of a person trying to wash a piece of coal until it gets white. But this is not the situation that we are in. Rather, in its nature, the mind is pure and free of defilements. This pure nature is temporarily covered by the present obstacles, and therefore, it is possible to free the mind from these obstacles. It is like the clear and empty sky which can be filled with thick clouds temporarily, that will be blown away by the wind within a short time.</div>
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This is one reason why it is possible to separate the mind from obstacles. But there is also another reason; the mistakes of the mind do not have a stable foundation. They are based on a wrong view. For example, if we build a big project on a lie, then we can get away with it up to a certain point, but sooner or later the lie will be unmasked and the project will tumble down.</div>
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The same is true for the mistakes in our mind, such as greed, hatred, jealousy and so on. These mistakes can be overwhelmingly strong temporarily, but they have no stable basis; they are based on a wrong view (Mithyadhristi) and ignorance (Avidhya).</div>
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This is the reason why Buddhism emphasises ignorance as the root of all mistakes. To fully describe ignorance, we would need more time, but I'll try to describe it briefly. We know different things: we know ourselves, other people and different objects. We know these, but the way we understand them does not fully correspond to reality. There is always a factor of projection that is faulty and does not correspond to reality. And this is what is called ignorance. Greed, hatred, jealousy and so on all have their root in this ignorance.</div>
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Now, what is the mistake we make when we perceive things, ourselves, and others? We, the others, and all objects actually exist interdependently and in an interrelated manner, but we see all these objects as if they existed in an independent way.</div>
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We might think of ourselves: Yes, I am here and I am important. And we perceive this important "I" as if it could be found inside, somewhere in the body, as a powerful, independent "I", a mysterious "I". Whether it is our own person, friends or enemies or any item, we always perceive objects in this concrete way.</div>
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We can doubtlessly investigate these things ourselves. We do not have to trust the explanations of others, because we can see by ourselves how we perceive things.</div>
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If we ask whether this way of perceiving conforms to reality, the answer is no. This apparent way of existing does not at all correspond to reality. If we take an enemy as an example, we perceive as if it was stuck inside this person in a very concrete manner. Let us investigate more precisely what in this object is our enemy. Let us search in the body of this person; is his head the enemy? Are the arms the enemy? Are the legs or nose the enemy? None of these are the enemy. If we continue investigating and start looking for the enemy inside the body, we will only find even many more problematic things to rummage through. There are many things in there, but nothing that is the enemy. If scientists examine the person down to the smallest particle, they will not find the enemy anywhere. If someone does a sharp analytical meditation and looks for the enemy in the object, he will not be able to find him anywhere.</div>
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We can look for the enemy in this concrete person whom we consider as enemy, and to whom we reacted so spontaneously with anger, irritation and dislike for as long as we want, but we cannot find him anywhere. For our own person it is also exactly the same. Sometimes we think that we are happy, that we are sad or angry; and if we start looking inside ourselves for this "I" that makes all these experiences, we might look for as long as we want, but it won’t be found. These ways of analysing clearly show that our usual way of perceiving the objects is incorrect.</div>
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So, how do the objects exist? They exist interdependently (Pratitya Samutpanna). Things exist interdependently and in mutual relation (Apekshita) to each other: not independently (Svatantraka). We and the others exist in dependence upon our causes, circumstances and parts. We exist in dependence upon the consciousness that perceives these things; upon the designations that are given to these things, such as "I" and "you". They are just names, designations; the objects exist depending on all these factors.</div>
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The objects exist by the coming together of the causes, factors, the name, and the perceiving consciousness; that is why they exist in interdependence, in mutual relation. We think of ourselves as something very important. One's own "I" is very important; but on the whole world we are only "I" for ourselves, and for everyone else we are "you", "he", or "she", but not "I". For those who are very close to us, we are "you". For those that are a little farther we are "he" or "she". And for the greatest part of the other beings we have no importance whatsoever. Thus, it also depends on the point of view, on the perspective. There is a similar interdependence when we designate the two sides of a river as "this side" or "the other side". According to where we stand, "this side" and "the other side" are changeable.</div>
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This is the way in which all objects exist in interdependence. We might understand this by intellectual reasoning but still, our spontaneous way to perceive the objects is not changed by our understanding. Rather, we spontaneously see the objects as if they had an intrinsic existence; and on this basis of mistaken view, states of mind such as greed, hatred, pride, jealousy and so forth arise. That fundamental ignorance justifies all our other mistaken conceptions.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Hindrances to Buddhist Practice</b></span></td></tr>
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All these wrong states of mind are based on a fundamental wrong view. As I said before, if we make correct efforts, these delusions of the mind can be eliminated, and this is because they are all based on a wrong view.</div>
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Similarly, we also have the seeds, the potentialities, of the beneficial, wholesome states of mind within us. Every being has these potentialities and especially in the human state of mind they are in a good functionable state. By making the corresponding efforts, we can strengthen and promote these potentialities. There is not one among these states that could not be developed and increased through familiarisation and right efforts. All the positive factors of the mind can be developed and increased by undertaking the necessary familiarisation. And the most important of all of these positive factors of the mind are the universal compassion, sincere cherishing of others and the wisdom that understands exactly the actual mode of existence of the phenomena.</div>
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Thus, if we ask what is the essential training of Buddhism, it is cherishing others. This is because we are not the only ones wishing to experience happiness and to avoid suffering; this is a wish that all beings have. Therefore, this compassion, this wish to cherish others and that all beings may obtain desired happiness and avoid undesired suffering is the essence of Buddhism. We develop it not only by understanding that others wish for happiness and want to avoid suffering just as we do; but also by realising how we are deeply indebted to the kindness of others. By being conscious of the extraordinary gains and benefits that we are constantly receiving from others, we develop the wish to repay this kindness. And this deep gratitude toward others lets us develop the determination to make it possible for all of them to be liberated from suffering and enjoy a lasting state of happiness.</div>
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The ways in which others constantly benefit us is extensively and precisely described in the teachings of Buddhism.</div>
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The fact that we receive incomparable benefits from others at every moment, and the recognition of the inseparable close bond we have with all beings are the key realisations that lead one directly onto the path of the heroic Bodhisattvas, who are destined to become Buddhas. As a result of the gratitude that arises on the basis of this realisation one takes the universal responsibility of liberating all beings from sufferings. This higher consideration (Adhyāshaya) leads one to seek full enlightenment in order to fulfil that courageous aspiration. This is the great vow and determination of a Bodhisattva; in other words, the generation of Bodhicitta, or an enlightened-mind.</div>
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It is not a pure attitude to seek only one's own happiness and even self-liberation from the cycle of suffering, while all other sentient beings remain in suffering and do not accomplish lasting happiness. Of course, individual liberation is a worthy goal and to aspire it is indeed a positive motive, but it is insufficient. Therefore it is necessary to overcome all kinds of egotistic attitudes that see one's own person as the central objective; instead, we should develop the attitude that places all others at the central position and pursue the well-being of all others in the first place.</div>
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The ultimate goal that we pursue is the state of full enlightenment </div>
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(Samyaksambodhi). This state is nothing else than a state in which all the faults, down to the subtlest mistakes, are completely eliminated and all the positive qualities are developed to a perfect point. We do not try to achieve this state to become "the highest" or "the best"; rather, we try to achieve it because we recognise that it is only in this state that we will have the means to actualise the well-being of all. For this reason we try to reach this state of enlightenment by following the teachings of the Enlightened One.</div>
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<b>Buddham sharanam gacchaami</b><br />
<b>Dharmam sharanam gacchaami</b><br />
<b>Sangham sharanam gacchaami</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><b>I go for refuge in Buddha</b></b><br />
<b><b>I go for refuge in Dharma</b></b><br />
<b><b>I go for refuge in Sangha</b></b><br />
<b><b><br /></b></b>
<b><b>Check out some of the other relevant articles by: The Solitary Buddhist</b></b><br />
<b><b><br /></b></b>
<span style="color: blue;"><b><b><a href="https://theselfproclaimedsolitarybuddhist.blogspot.com/2016/03/delusions-and-illusions.html" target="_blank">Delusions and Illusions</a></b></b>
<b><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://theselfproclaimedsolitarybuddhist.blogspot.com/2017/10/does-i-really-exist.html" target="_blank">Does "I" Really Exist</a></span></b></b></span><br />
<b><b><br /></b></b></div>
WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-16322792384502867182018-08-21T11:00:00.000-05:002018-08-21T11:00:04.584-05:0038 Buddhist Wisdoms for Everyday Life<div dir="ltr">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">38 Buddhist Wisdoms</span></td></tr>
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38 Buddhist Wisdoms is based on the Mangala Sutta, the Discourse on Blessing. It's one of the most popular and widely practiced Discourses by Buddhist throughout the world.</div>
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It is a comprehensive summary of Buddhist ethics and practical wisdoms.</div>
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38 Buddhist Wisdom forms a complete body of knowledge of Buddhism that is easy to apply to everyday life.</div>
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This a great place to start, if your wish is to know Buddhism. It is written for the modern reader, presented in a short and concise but comprehensive format. Making use of simple language that is easy to read and understand.</div>
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Check it out at Issuu it would be a great resource for teaching children about Buddhist ethics and wisdom. It's <b><span style="color: red;">FREE</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://issuu.com/mintrachannuan/docs/38_buddhist_wisdoms" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">38 Buddhist Wisdoms</span></a></div>
WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-71343428647704912662018-08-20T09:00:00.000-05:002018-08-20T09:00:02.689-05:00Stopping The Noise In Your Head<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKoHxAC2NOo/W13CTTvVV_I/AAAAAAAAFXA/hg-KsT1z8YsmIq32-iDIXVSMjR98qg1bwCLcBGAs/s1600/26702567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tKoHxAC2NOo/W13CTTvVV_I/AAAAAAAAFXA/hg-KsT1z8YsmIq32-iDIXVSMjR98qg1bwCLcBGAs/s320/26702567.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stopping the Noise in your Head</span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The New Way to Overcome Anxiety and Worry</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>By</b>:<span style="font-weight: normal;"> R. Reid Wilson</span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Paperback, 384 pages </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Published May ,3rd 2016 by Hci</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: small;">Book Review Rating:</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> ✰✰✰</span><br />
<b style="color: #666666; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #666666; white-space: pre-wrap;"></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b style="color: #666666; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></b>
<b style="color: #666666; white-space: pre-wrap;">My 2 Cents</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The author brings us back down to earth with a roadmap to differentiate between the distracting noise clutter in your head and signals from life that require a take action response. Anyone who struggles with anxiety, racing thoughts, and other related mental illnesses will surely benefit from reading this book. The only things I didn't like about the book it can become a bit repetitive, and is a little too lengthy. But has a lot to offer anyone who reads it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666;">I am not paid anything if you purchase this book. I am providing a review of this book in exchange for a free review copy of this book through </span><a href="https://www.netgalley.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">netgalley.com</span></a><span style="color: #666666;"> .</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0757319068/ref=x_gr_w_bb_sout?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_sout-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0757319068&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2" target="_blank">If you like to purchase this book, <span style="color: blue;">click me!</span></a><br />
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WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-80945579966566102182018-06-18T08:30:00.000-05:002018-06-15T16:00:35.111-05:00Does "I" Really Exist?<center>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Within this world, the most powerful obstacle or negativity is known as the grasping of self, the "I", or the<span style="color: blue;"> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id%2C_ego_and_super-ego" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Id, ego and super-ego"><span style="color: blue;">ego</span></a></span>.</span></h3>
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<span style="color: navy;"></span>Ok<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> When one just thinks of "I" and has that kind of strong ego and pride, then within that kind of</span> <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindstream" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Mindstream"><span style="color: blue;">mind-stream</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> it is very difficult to have any dharma teachings and practices. Pride or the ego is like an iron ball which pulls us down.</span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If we carefully investigate ourselves, we will not find an "I" existing in reality. We think, "I am," and "He is," or "She is," but when we examine truly, these are not existing in an absolute sense. For example, we may think of our body as "I," but when we investigate we can see that the body is not the "I." The "I" feels happy, the "I" suffers, the "I" has this pain and sickness, and then the "I" dies. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">But when at death the </span><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://buddhismteacher.com/five_aggregates.php" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">five-aggregates</span></a> </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">of our physical bodies die, still our external body is there, but it no longer has all those kinds of experiences of happiness or pain. For example, when the dead body burns in the fire, it does not feel the heat at all. When it is buried under the ground, there is not any kind of feeling either. Even when it is eaten by dogs and vultures, there is no pain at all. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">When death happens, all the pains and sufferings associated with the body are no longer there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Even right now if we try to find this "I" within our body, from top to bottom, we cannot really find it. When we investigate, asking: Is the head the "I?" Is the eye the "I?" Is the nose the "I?" Is the chest the "I?" We cannot find in any part what we call the "I." There is no way we can find our mind, our "I," there.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In the relative bodily existence, it is our mind's grasping of subject and object through which we think there is this "I" and through which we experience things. It is merely created by the conceptual mind. Verbal speech, also, when we investigate and divide past, present and future, then we cannot find what is called speech. It is just in our mind.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">By His Holiness <span style="color: blue;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penor_Rinpoche" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Penor Rinpoche">Penor Rinpoche</a></span></span></h3>
WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7254837399871734353.post-52181494602521740452018-06-16T09:00:00.000-05:002018-06-15T15:53:50.943-05:00Delusions and Illusions<div style="padding: 5px; text-align: center;">
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<div class="blogaway-section">
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<br /><b>Delusions and Illusions........</b><br />
<br /><b>Simple things and how they can effect our practice even as a Solitary Buddhist.</b><br />
<br /> <b>Candles</b>, ooooohhhh...... How a dimly lit room can effect ones mind and imagination. Helping to create a wonderful environment to try and control the Illusions and Delusions controlled by our ego and out of control minds.<br />
<br /> The permeating smells and smoke of <b>Incense, </b><br />
<br /><b>Ringing of The Bell</b><br />
<br /><b>Buddhist Prayer Flags </b>not everyone goes to this extreme of course as a Solitary Buddhist especially, But<br />
<br />Reciting <b>The Precepts</b><br />
<br />What or How do you bring yourself to the illusion of bliss?</div>
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<br />WC Falgouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926555253232867267noreply@blogger.com0Houma, United States29.5899563 -90.7051485