I saw a maple tree that had grown around a big rock, wrapping it with its large roots. I imagine that this large rock must have caused the tree a lot of trouble, yet the maple managed to not only grow around it, but also embrace the rock and make it a part of itself. We all face big obstacles too. But with patience and natural simplicity, we can be like that tree—accepting, embracing, and transforming our suffering, no matter how major, as integral parts of our being. - Liu Yingzhao
Research consistently reveals that meditation does increase a person’s happiness level. You can do a quick online search for this to find ample convincing studies.
However, the key is to meditate and keep meditating regularly. In his book, No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering,Thich Nhat Hanh shares an insight which helped him in his meditation practice: “When I was a young monk, I wondered why the Buddha kept practicing mindfulness and meditation even after he had already become a buddha. Now I find the answer is plain enough to see. Happiness is impermanent, like everything else. In order for happiness to be extended and renewed, you have to learn how to feed your happiness. Nothing can survive without food, including happiness; your happiness can die if you don’t know how to nourish it. If you cut a flower but you don’t put it in some water, the flower will wilt in a few hours.” So, even if you are satisfied with your current happiness level, it still needs to be nourished through regular meditation. To study Buddhism is to study loss. Shakamuni Buddha is a good example. He left his father’s palace, his beautiful wife, his lovely child and gave up his splendid clothes to become a beggar. He practiced begging with bare feet and a shabby robe for the rest of his life. All the Buddhas and ancestors suffer loss intentionally.
- Homeless Kodo Sawaki October 12 is Thich Nhat Hanh's birthday (though he prefers to call it 'continuation day') and he turns 95. Here are some words of wisdom from this modern Buddha:
When you have found a way to do good, you are at peace with yourself and happiness becomes possible. A friend can be a teacher, a fellow practitioner can be a teacher, and you yourself can be a teacher. A teacher is anyone who helps you practice and find more freedom—even freedom from your teacher. When you are enlightened, your karma can only be good karma. You have no discrimination, no anger, and no fear, so what you think, what you say, and what you do can only bring good results To be happy is the real success. When you are happy, you don’t need to compete anymore. You compete because you are not happy. The practice of meditation can help you suffer less and be happy. Buddhism is the teaching of waking up. Our society needs a collective awakening in order to save ourselves from our crises. Practicing Buddhism, practicing meditation is for us to be serene and happy, understanding and loving. - Thich Nhat Hanh
While none of us want to suffer, the reality is that suffering can be very useful to us. We exhibit wisdom when we respond positively to suffering seeking to embrace it’s lessons. And there are many. Suffering can us to change life direction. Suffering drives us onto a spiritual path seeking more meaning for our living. Suffering creates humility and softens us reducing the human tendency toward arrogance and judgmentalism. Suffering makes us stronger mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Suffering increases confidence for dealing with life’s challenges. So, instead of doing everything you can to prevent suffering – which is actually impossible – consider working with it, using to become a better human.
Meditation can turn fools in to sages but
unfortunately fools never meditate. - Swami Vivekananda The country of Mongolia (a Buddhist majority nation) has launched an official national campaign to plant one billion tress by 2030. This noble move is sanctioned and supported by the government to deal with the country's threat of climate change.
With a total land area of 1.6 million square kilometers, only 7.9 per cent of Mongolia is covered by forests, while some 77 per cent of the country has been subject to desertification and land degradation, according to data from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Since 2010, Mongolia has designated the second Saturday in May and October as national tree-planting days. To study Buddhism means to learn from the Buddha. One takes the Buddha as one’s ideal and one’s mentor and learns from him incessantly. When one reaches the same level as the Buddha, then one has become a Buddha. - Yin Shun
(public domain photo www.pixabay.com) It is estimated that approximately 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives, according to the American Chiropractic Association. These people will then go on to spend at least $50 billion a year on treatment. However, yoga could provide an effective and cheap alternative. Several studies have shown that yoga helps ease lower back pain, including one in the Annals of Internal Medicine that found it as effective as physical therapy. Meanwhile, a meta-analysis of seven studies in the Journal of Yoga and Physical Therapy found participants who practiced yoga reported less lower back pain and greater functional ability. Interestingly, the benefits were reported to continue for 12 to 24 weeks after the sessions had finished. |
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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