When your grief is fresh and raw, you need compassion. You are your most important source. To be with your grief without being constantly overwhelmed by it requires tremendous self-compassion. - Margaret Meloni
Most people want to experience life satisfaction and fulfillment. The first step is vital: conducting a fearless, and even ruthless, emotional self examination. Pause to do a self exam by asking these types of questions about yourself:
What am I feeling right now? (Positive or negative? Relaxed or anxious?) What or who triggers me? (How can I respond skillfully to triggers?) Who are the individuals who help me vibrate higher? (Am I intentional about spending more time with these persons?) Not only is this a first step but one which should be taken regularly and frequently and done with utmost honesty and sincerity. The word 'grace' is generally used by Christians where it means "God's favor toward (us) the unworthy." However, Hindus also use the term and it's much more expansive and inclusive. Here's how Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati (an American Jewish woman who embraced Hinduism several decades ago becoming a renunciate in India) explains it:
"When I speak of grace, I’m talking about the sacred and pervasive intelligence of the universe, through which a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, through which a seed sprouts and becomes a tree, through which a flower opens its petals to the sun. There is a grace in the universe that is there for us if our hearts are open to it. I also think of grace as the experience of oneness with the divine, the energy through which we experience our oneness with the divine." As I eat and drink, may the hungry and thirsty be sated;
as I go on my way, may all journey safely; as I sit and lie down, may the tired find rest; as I breathe in and out, may all draw in joy and expel sorrow. Bless me to benefit all beings by my thoughts, words, and deeds! —One and Two, LoJong Aspirations Religions are like languages: no language is true or false; all languages are of human origin; each language reflects and shapes the civilization that speaks it; there are things you can say in one language that you cannot say or say as well in another; and the more languages you speak, the more nuanced your understanding of life becomes. - Rabbi Rami Shapiro
Whenever you look at yourself in a mirror, gently remind yourself that you are looking at a Buddha. A core theme of Buddhism is that all beings are equal because all beings have Buddha nature. That means you are endowed with basic goodness and basic wisdom. What the Buddha discovered and experienced is something you can also discover and experience.
You are of the nature to evolve and expand spiritually. You are of the nature to bring wisdom and compassion to this world. You are of the nature to be of benefit to all other beings. You are a Buddha! There is no doubt about that fact. It is important for parents to bring their children closer to ‘people of good character’ outside their own families so that children may advance in a more positive direction. - Daisaku Ikeda
“In a relationship, it is demeaning to constantly seek your partner’s approval. Such relationships are bereft of real caring, depth or even love. For those of you who find yourselves in relationship where you are not treated the way your heart says you should be, I hope you will have the courage and dignity to decide that you are better off risking the scorn of your partner than enduring unhappiness with him or her.” - Daisaku Ikeda
Self centered anger generates evil, but wrath at social injustice becomes the driving force for reform. - Daisaku Ikeda
If covid eases and if enough qualified yoga teachers can be found, schools in Nepal will offer yoga along with math, science, and liberal arts. This means hundreds of thousands of students will be enrolled in yoga classes which will include both the physical as well as the history of yoga and the principles of ayurveda. In addition, Nepal's Ministry - Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training - announced the introduction of a three year technical vocational diploma course in yoga, ayurveda and naturopathy.
(source: www.hinduistimtoday.com) |
Victor M. Parachin ...is aVedic educator, yoga instructor, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of a dozen books. Buy his books at amazon or your local bookstore. Archives
July 2024
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