Tugging on Nature is Tugging on all Things.
RSS item from "The Buddhist Blog"
on 17 Mar 10 at 04:07
Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:52:00
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, one finds it attached to the rest of the world.
Walking Meditation Through the Woods.
meditation
To meditate on something means lingering over it, devoting attention to it, for more time than usual. In spirituality, meditation means voluntary and relaxed contemplation. The intent is to increase spiritual presence, over a sustained period of time.
The meditative state is a natural state which we encounter between sleep and wakefulness. In meditation, unlike in sleep, this state is induced voluntarily and consciously.
You start by focussing attention on being alert and aware, in the present moment. You aim to quieten the chattering of your mind, and to intensify the feeling of awareness or spiritual presence. The ultimate aim of meditation is enlightenment, or union with the divine.
A beginner may aim simply to calm the mind for a few minutes. You sit at peace, focus on your breathing and awareness of your body, and aim to replace the chatter of the mind with a positive mantra or visualisation. ....(more)
a definition of meditation
meditation - going beyond thoughts
we are not our thoughts
Observe your own mind. Become aware of your conditioned thinking. How do you react in everyday situations? What kind of thoughts go through your head? Are you reacting to the negativity you see around you in the world? Your reaction will amplify that negativity.
Are you aware of what your mind is doing? Observe your mind, and be a witness of it. Are you aware? Are you present, alert, and in the moment?
We are not our thoughts. Our thought processes are dysfunctional. They evolved through thousands of years. This is how the ego arose: thousands of years of conditioning. And our combined egos have created the situation in the world today. Our individual fears, doubts, angers, jealousies, resentments - all these combine into a collective ego.
Observe your mind. What are you putting out into the world? Do you have negative thoughts or emotions? ....(more)
The Zen of Pain.
influencing children
When raising children, our own state of consciousness at home is critical. Children absorb, from us, our predominant state of consciousness. They are more influenced by what they experience from us, than by what we tell them.
So, we should be present in the moment when we are with them. We should not be thinking about work, or the things we need to do around the house. We should give them our full attention.
When we are in a state of presence, we don't want anything from them. We just listen, or watch them play, or otherwise give attention. Many parents don't do that - they only give attention when they want something. That has its place, of course - children need to brush their teeth, and they need to learn to tidy up their room - but more is needed. The child wants to be acknowledged in his or her being. So it is vital to give them conscious attention at home. Give the child space to be. It doesn't need to be long, just a few minutes every day. But be there, be present, ....(more)
Can You Imagine the Dalai Lama Holding a Machine Gun?
we are not our illness
breaking out of our chains
There is a separation inside us: there is the image of who we think we are, the human ego, and then there's a being, the real "me". We mix the two up.
The true self, that essential consciousness, which is eternal, awake, and still, is separate from the false self of the ego.
The ego is an unhappy creation of the mind. It is fed continually by our stream of thinking. The instincts, emotions, and thoughts, that make up the ego, create the dreadful suffering that we experience.
We can break out of the chains of the ego. We can walk through a garden without naming every flower. We can lay down the burden of the heavy me, the personality, with all of its' problems, its' past, and its' future. We can stop thinking. ....(more)
inner goodness
"Persist" by Peter Clothier is an Inspiration to Creative People Everywhere.
the power of the group
When we join with others for group meditation, spiritual talks or readings, we enter the state of "being present" together. The group generates an energy field. There is synergy: together, the group generates more spiritual energy than we can individually. We feed each other more than we take from each other. We create a group energy which nourishes all of us.
So group meetings and activities are beneficial. But be careful not to become dependent on any group. It is our individual responsibility to bring this new consciousness into our everyday lives. If we become dependent upon a group, then we always need to go back to the group, and we do not learn how to live individually "in the moment" in our daily lives.
So, we go to the group to generate more presence, and then we go home and live it in our everyday lives. Most of the time, perhaps, we will be surrounded by people who are not yet present. More and more people are beginning to awaken, yet the vast majority of people on the ....(more)
religion and the new spirituality
This site is not about religion. It is about spirituality. Religion can be an open doorway into spirituality, but it can also be a closed door, preventing us from going deeper. If we go deep enough into any religion, then we end up at the same place, in the golden light of universal truth, in enlightenment. However, as soon as we say that "our belief" is true, and that the beliefs of others are false, then we have adopted a religious ideology. And then religion becomes a closed door.
Our traditional religions are based on authority, on a hierarchy. Church authorities tell us how to worship in church, and how to behave outside of church. God is external, and the path to worship God has already been defined. Our role is to follow the directions, and do what we are told.
In the new spirituality, we are not told what to think or what to do. We are our own best authority, as we work to know and love ourselves. We learn to listen inside, and discover how to live a more spiritual life.
T ....(more)
Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya 2010.
crisis point
Mankind is reaching a crisis point. In the past, spiritual awakening was a luxury, enjoyed by only a few. They tried to teach others, but their teachings were largely misinterpreted. Now there is an absolute need for a broader awakening. We have to awaken if humanity is to make it to the next evolutionary level. The ego-centered consciousness has become so destructive, that we will destroy ourselves and the planet if we do not step out of that consciousness. We have to step out of the collective ego.
In the 20th century, 160 to 180 million human beings were killed by other humans through warfare and concentration camps, and prison camps, and manufactured starvation. This is true insanity. As a species we relish, through books, film and video games, other people being maimed and killed and murdered. We see this as entertainment.
If there is no shift in consciousness, we will go downhill very quickly. We are already in the process of destroying the planet, and in continuous conflic ....(more)
impressions
stop thinking - start living
Science, the Brain and Meditation.
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, one finds it attached to the rest of the world.-John Muir
James: I propose that while all environments are helpful, nature is one of the best places to understand interconnection and interdependence. It i
....(more)
Walking Meditation Through the Woods.
RSS item from "The Buddhist Blog"
on 15 Mar 10 at 04:07
Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:59
Feet touch the damp Earth as green, wet leaves stick to well worn heels as they reach a small clearing on the edge of a forest. The smell of Earthy life fills lungs and relaxes muscles. A reverent hush rolls through the emerald forest and the silent figure stops to gaze up into the rain soaked branches just as a cool drop falls upon the fore head--the third eye. The person smiles, breathes deeply and methodically and slowly continues down the meandering path until they di
....(more)
Feet touch the damp Earth as green, wet leaves stick to well worn heels as they reach a small clearing on the edge of a forest. The smell of Earthy life fills lungs and relaxes muscles. A reverent hush rolls through the emerald forest and the silent figure stops to gaze up into the rain soaked branches just as a cool drop falls upon the fore head--the third eye. The person smiles, breathes deeply and methodically and slowly continues down the meandering path until they di
....(more)
meditation
To meditate on something means lingering over it, devoting attention to it, for more time than usual. In spirituality, meditation means voluntary and relaxed contemplation. The intent is to increase spiritual presence, over a sustained period of time. The meditative state is a natural state which we encounter between sleep and wakefulness. In meditation, unlike in sleep, this state is induced voluntarily and consciously.
You start by focussing attention on being alert and aware, in the present moment. You aim to quieten the chattering of your mind, and to intensify the feeling of awareness or spiritual presence. The ultimate aim of meditation is enlightenment, or union with the divine.
A beginner may aim simply to calm the mind for a few minutes. You sit at peace, focus on your breathing and awareness of your body, and aim to replace the chatter of the mind with a positive mantra or visualisation. ....(more)
a definition of meditation
reply by howiemac to "Words don't come easy."
on 13 Mar 10 at 13:41
MEDITATION: relaxed contemplation intended to increase spiritual presence.
meditation - going beyond thoughts
Our aim, when meditating, is to transcend thought. This is easier said than done, and itself needs some thought! Avi Sion's article "Observe the mechanisms of though" provides some useful insight, and here is my own adaptation of what he is saying (quotes are from the article):
To the beginner in the art of introspection, thought seems almost uncontrollable. But, with experience, we learn to analyse our thought processes in various ways.
By "thought" we mean any consciousness other than direct experiences of matter, mind or self. Thoughts include verbal sentences - whether inside the head or spoken aloud - and non verbal visualisations and imaginations. Many of ou ....(more)
It is normal for thoughts to arise during meditation. Look upon your thoughts with a non-judgmental, benevolent attitude, to begin with; you do not want to get into conflicts with them. You want to get to understand thinking, before you can hope to master it.
To the beginner in the art of introspection, thought seems almost uncontrollable. But, with experience, we learn to analyse our thought processes in various ways.
By "thought" we mean any consciousness other than direct experiences of matter, mind or self. Thoughts include verbal sentences - whether inside the head or spoken aloud - and non verbal visualisations and imaginations. Many of ou ....(more)
we are not our thoughts
episode of "impressions" by howiemac
on 13 Mar 10 at 09:46
Observe your own mind. Become aware of your conditioned thinking. How do you react in everyday situations? What kind of thoughts go through your head? Are you reacting to the negativity you see around you in the world? Your reaction will amplify that negativity. Are you aware of what your mind is doing? Observe your mind, and be a witness of it. Are you aware? Are you present, alert, and in the moment?
We are not our thoughts. Our thought processes are dysfunctional. They evolved through thousands of years. This is how the ego arose: thousands of years of conditioning. And our combined egos have created the situation in the world today. Our individual fears, doubts, angers, jealousies, resentments - all these combine into a collective ego.
Observe your mind. What are you putting out into the world? Do you have negative thoughts or emotions? ....(more)
The Zen of Pain.
RSS item from "The Buddhist Blog"
on 13 Mar 10 at 04:07
Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:08:00
I have from time to time heard of monks who can meditate in the freezing cold and maintain a warm body temperature, and those who have a high threshold for pain. Well, it seems that science has proven that meditation helps reduce pain.
AFP, March 3, 2010
I have from time to time heard of monks who can meditate in the freezing cold and maintain a warm body temperature, and those who have a high threshold for pain. Well, it seems that science has proven that meditation helps reduce pain.AFP, March 3, 2010
Montreal, Canada -- ZEN meditation helps lower sensitivity to pain
....(more)
influencing children
episode of "impressions" by howiemac
on 11 Mar 10 at 07:29
When raising children, our own state of consciousness at home is critical. Children absorb, from us, our predominant state of consciousness. They are more influenced by what they experience from us, than by what we tell them. So, we should be present in the moment when we are with them. We should not be thinking about work, or the things we need to do around the house. We should give them our full attention.
When we are in a state of presence, we don't want anything from them. We just listen, or watch them play, or otherwise give attention. Many parents don't do that - they only give attention when they want something. That has its place, of course - children need to brush their teeth, and they need to learn to tidy up their room - but more is needed. The child wants to be acknowledged in his or her being. So it is vital to give them conscious attention at home. Give the child space to be. It doesn't need to be long, just a few minutes every day. But be there, be present, ....(more)
Can You Imagine the Dalai Lama Holding a Machine Gun?
RSS item from "The Buddhist Blog"
on 11 Mar 10 at 04:07
Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:19:00
Neither can I, but that's exactly what some are suggesting now that Tibet has been under Chinese occupation for over 50 years. A recent online article called for the Dalai Lama to end the campaign of non-violence in relation to the oppressive Chinese government:
Neither can I, but that's exactly what some are suggesting now that Tibet has been under Chinese occupation for over 50 years. A recent online article called for the Dalai Lama to end the campaign of non-violence in relation to the oppressive Chinese government:It has....(more)
we are not our illness
episode of "impressions" by howiemac
on 10 Mar 10 at 10:42
When we are ill, we often identify with our illness. Unconsciously, the ego clings to the illness. The illness becomes a primary part of "me". How can this identity be undone?
First, realise that the illness has become part of your self image. Become aware that it has become "my" illness, and a part of "me". These thoughts have become habitual, and you now see yourself as a sick person. Once you are aware of that negative thought pattern, you can stop giving it energy, and you can replace it with a positive thought pattern: "I am healing", "my body is fixing itself". ....(more)
First, realise that the illness has become part of your self image. Become aware that it has become "my" illness, and a part of "me". These thoughts have become habitual, and you now see yourself as a sick person. Once you are aware of that negative thought pattern, you can stop giving it energy, and you can replace it with a positive thought pattern: "I am healing", "my body is fixing itself". ....(more)
breaking out of our chains
episode of "impressions" by howiemac
on 10 Mar 10 at 10:35
There is a separation inside us: there is the image of who we think we are, the human ego, and then there's a being, the real "me". We mix the two up. The true self, that essential consciousness, which is eternal, awake, and still, is separate from the false self of the ego.
The ego is an unhappy creation of the mind. It is fed continually by our stream of thinking. The instincts, emotions, and thoughts, that make up the ego, create the dreadful suffering that we experience.
We can break out of the chains of the ego. We can walk through a garden without naming every flower. We can lay down the burden of the heavy me, the personality, with all of its' problems, its' past, and its' future. We can stop thinking. ....(more)
inner goodness
episode of "impressions" by howiemac
on 10 Mar 10 at 09:57
We don't become good by trying to be good. We become good by finding the goodness that is already within us. We allow that goodness to emerge.
But the goodness can only emerge when there is fundamental change in our state of consciousness. Otherwise, we remain trapped in ego consciousness, and no matter how good our intentions are, we always end up in conflict.
It is not enough to just think positively. We have to go deeper, and find the formless consciousness within. This is the soul, our own inner divinity. We find inner stillness and silence, where the mind is no longer chattering. We are just conscious without thinking. Here we realise that we are that stillness. We are eternal. We are eternal souls. This formless, pure consciousness is the essence of every being. ....(more)
But the goodness can only emerge when there is fundamental change in our state of consciousness. Otherwise, we remain trapped in ego consciousness, and no matter how good our intentions are, we always end up in conflict.
It is not enough to just think positively. We have to go deeper, and find the formless consciousness within. This is the soul, our own inner divinity. We find inner stillness and silence, where the mind is no longer chattering. We are just conscious without thinking. Here we realise that we are that stillness. We are eternal. We are eternal souls. This formless, pure consciousness is the essence of every being. ....(more)
"Persist" by Peter Clothier is an Inspiration to Creative People Everywhere.
RSS item from "The Buddhist Blog"
on 10 Mar 10 at 04:07
Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:12:00
Peter Clothier is a long time expert in art, a fellow dharma practitioner and fellow blogger. You can find his blog over at, "The Buddha Diaries." He has written a great, easy to read book titled, Persist: In Praise of the Creative Spirit in a World Gone Mad with Commerce. As both a Buddhist and an artist I was pleased to read aspects of Buddhism within his advice on how to be a crea
....(more)
Peter Clothier is a long time expert in art, a fellow dharma practitioner and fellow blogger. You can find his blog over at, "The Buddha Diaries." He has written a great, easy to read book titled, Persist: In Praise of the Creative Spirit in a World Gone Mad with Commerce. As both a Buddhist and an artist I was pleased to read aspects of Buddhism within his advice on how to be a crea
....(more)
the power of the group
episode of "impressions" by howiemac
on 09 Mar 10 at 07:48
When we join with others for group meditation, spiritual talks or readings, we enter the state of "being present" together. The group generates an energy field. There is synergy: together, the group generates more spiritual energy than we can individually. We feed each other more than we take from each other. We create a group energy which nourishes all of us.So group meetings and activities are beneficial. But be careful not to become dependent on any group. It is our individual responsibility to bring this new consciousness into our everyday lives. If we become dependent upon a group, then we always need to go back to the group, and we do not learn how to live individually "in the moment" in our daily lives.
So, we go to the group to generate more presence, and then we go home and live it in our everyday lives. Most of the time, perhaps, we will be surrounded by people who are not yet present. More and more people are beginning to awaken, yet the vast majority of people on the ....(more)
religion and the new spirituality
episode of "impressions" by howiemac
on 08 Mar 10 at 12:25
This site is not about religion. It is about spirituality. Religion can be an open doorway into spirituality, but it can also be a closed door, preventing us from going deeper. If we go deep enough into any religion, then we end up at the same place, in the golden light of universal truth, in enlightenment. However, as soon as we say that "our belief" is true, and that the beliefs of others are false, then we have adopted a religious ideology. And then religion becomes a closed door. Our traditional religions are based on authority, on a hierarchy. Church authorities tell us how to worship in church, and how to behave outside of church. God is external, and the path to worship God has already been defined. Our role is to follow the directions, and do what we are told.
In the new spirituality, we are not told what to think or what to do. We are our own best authority, as we work to know and love ourselves. We learn to listen inside, and discover how to live a more spiritual life.
T ....(more)
Dalai Lama in Bodh Gaya 2010.
RSS item from "The Buddhist Blog"
on 08 Mar 10 at 04:07
Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:13:00
The Dalai Lama recently visited to Bodh Gaya for discourses to Buddhist pilgrims at the Mahabodhi temple. The following, and above are all pictures taken during his visit to the site venerated by Buddhists as the place where Buddha realized enlightenment. I like the first three pictures and the last one most.
....(more)
The Dalai Lama recently visited to Bodh Gaya for discourses to Buddhist pilgrims at the Mahabodhi temple. The following, and above are all pictures taken during his visit to the site venerated by Buddhists as the place where Buddha realized enlightenment. I like the first three pictures and the last one most.
....(more)
crisis point
Mankind is reaching a crisis point. In the past, spiritual awakening was a luxury, enjoyed by only a few. They tried to teach others, but their teachings were largely misinterpreted. Now there is an absolute need for a broader awakening. We have to awaken if humanity is to make it to the next evolutionary level. The ego-centered consciousness has become so destructive, that we will destroy ourselves and the planet if we do not step out of that consciousness. We have to step out of the collective ego. In the 20th century, 160 to 180 million human beings were killed by other humans through warfare and concentration camps, and prison camps, and manufactured starvation. This is true insanity. As a species we relish, through books, film and video games, other people being maimed and killed and murdered. We see this as entertainment.
If there is no shift in consciousness, we will go downhill very quickly. We are already in the process of destroying the planet, and in continuous conflic ....(more)
impressions
Life grows ever more complex. We have less and less time. We find it more and more difficult to pay full attention to anything. We rush. We don't take things in.
We wish to rescue ourselves from this complexity and haste. We crave simplicity, and directness. We want to slow down and create space in our lives.
Less input can give us more wisdom. And so I write this series of impressions. Each short episode conveys a simple point of spiritual wisdom, in clear and concise language. You can treat them each as a "thought for the day", a simple focus, an inspiration, something to hold on to, and to guide you, in the whirlwind of modern life.
I hope you find these impressions helpful. ....(more)
We wish to rescue ourselves from this complexity and haste. We crave simplicity, and directness. We want to slow down and create space in our lives.
Less input can give us more wisdom. And so I write this series of impressions. Each short episode conveys a simple point of spiritual wisdom, in clear and concise language. You can treat them each as a "thought for the day", a simple focus, an inspiration, something to hold on to, and to guide you, in the whirlwind of modern life.
I hope you find these impressions helpful. ....(more)
stop thinking - start living
episode of "impressions" by howiemac
on 06 Mar 10 at 14:16
There is only now, the present moment. The past has passed away, and we cannot alter it. The future is unknown, and we cannot predict it with any certainty.
Thought absorbs energy. We waste our energy when we think about the past or the future. And when we are thinking, we miss the present moment.
So, stop thinking. Enter the present moment. Start being. Shift attention to now.
This is a very conscious state. We are conscious, but thinking much less, or perhaps not at all. ....(more)
Thought absorbs energy. We waste our energy when we think about the past or the future. And when we are thinking, we miss the present moment.
So, stop thinking. Enter the present moment. Start being. Shift attention to now.
This is a very conscious state. We are conscious, but thinking much less, or perhaps not at all. ....(more)
Science, the Brain and Meditation.
RSS item from "The Buddhist Blog"
on 05 Mar 10 at 04:06
Thu, 04 Mar 2010
One of the subjects that interest me most is the intersection of science and Buddhism as I highly value both. So, it is always enlightening and exciting to see where they meet and compliment each other. I have posted several articles showing the effects of mediation on the brain but this one triggered a fresh perspective to the subject--That being the interactions between the left and right hemispheres of the brain:
One of the subjects that interest me most is the intersection of science and Buddhism as I highly value both. So, it is always enlightening and exciting to see where they meet and compliment each other. I have posted several articles showing the effects of mediation on the brain but this one triggered a fresh perspective to the subject--That being the interactions between the left and right hemispheres of the brain:Enlightenment has been described in....(more)