Author: Posts

Emotional turmoil begins with an initial perception of a sight, sound, or thought, which leads to a feeling of discomfort.  When you feel that initial tug, remain steady, relax into the energy you feel, stay with the experience, let the energy move through you without getting stuck.

There are three things we need from life: sound health, a way through the bewilderment of life, and liberation from all our fears.  Following the ancient teachings, you will find a source of sustenance that, once you taste it, doubts will begin to fade and life will be easier.

We live by rules and a way of living that has been given to us by our parents and institutions.  We have the power to transcend these entrapments for an alternate way of life.  We can live in a world of love, respect, and beauty by just giving up our addictions taught to us by others.

Before abandoning your work to help others, weigh the matter carefully.  When helping others you must be careful and not to deplete your own resources.  Helping others is the best way to learn to give and receive, in this way you invariably help yourself.

Quote:  It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

Caring for things, in moments of appreciation, in moments of gratitude, and letting go of holding on to ourselves will start to awaken our heart.  Whenever we connect with sorrow or joy, dropping our resentments and complaints will help us to awaken further.

Embrace all things, hold no anger or resistance toward any idea or thing.  To embrace all things means also that you rid yourself of any concept of separation: male or female, self and other.  Foregoing antagonism and separation you enter the harmonious oneness with all things.

There is an alternative way of living, start with detoxifying the mental-emotional spiritual garbage we all inherit.  Do this by returning to our own natural humanity, we can then realize our full human potential enabling us to transform our institutions and ourselves.

The same principals apply to managing a household as to governing a country.  From the courteous manner of one household a whole state can become courteous.  With the spirit of sincerity and mutual love one is able to create a harmonious situation anywhere, in any circumstance.

Quote: Be the best version of yourself.

If we try to protect ourselves from suffering, we become fearful and alienated, caring only for the people close to us.  If we primarily try to shield ourselves from discomfort, we suffer.  Yet if we don’t close off and let our heart hurt, we discover our kinship with all beings.

No matter what the problem, it is important not to take it on whole or all at once.  Break it down into more easily handled components, this way they can be managed easily.  Even the greatest difficulties can be resolved when they are slowly reduced.

Since the advent of civilization, many have exchanged natural harmony for ego orientated lifestyles.  Clinging to old habitual ways of doing things keeps us chained to a lifestyle that violates our true nature.  We have the ways and means to liberate ourselves, just look.

If you want to act on something, first, you must have a clear understanding of it.  If it is a problem that you don’t understand fully you can just act on the parts you are clear on, thus reducing the problem a little at a time until the parts that are not clear are all that are left.

Quote: Its OK to make mistakes.

There is often a discrepancy between our ideals and what we encounter.  It’s the rub between these two things, the squeeze between vision and reality that causes you to grow up, wake up, to be alive and compassionate.  This rub is one of our most productive places to learn about yourself.

During times of adversity, vision and determination decide the outcome.  If you find yourself tested by a situation, consolidate your resources and don’t be overcome by fear. You can emerge from diversity stronger than before if your mind is focused to the utmost.

The ancients used the term “not trying”, this doesn’t mean we should accept our current situation. They identify trying with forcing.  To act without trying means to act without coercion.  They suggest “being” as an alternative, to be that totally human person that our nature craves.

The purpose of the ancient teachings is to offer guidance in one’s daily life and to avoid misconduct.  They show us how to explore natural and social phenomena.  They show us how to use our abilities and offer them to all without selfish motives.

Quote: Every morning practice being more quiet, peaceful and slow for as much of the day as you can.

When others have problems, let them be, do not give advice or try to solve their problems for them.  If they ask you for support, listen attentively, you will find this to be the most help you can give them. They know their problems best and usually will come up with a solution on their own.

If we feel out of sorts, it could be a variety of things: something that we ate, our mind is upset, or some external event.  Look at the way you are eating, your mind with its habits, your outer environment or social change, then arrange your life so that it comes back into balance.

There is no need to seek external deities or seek power over nature and others.  Become co-creators with all others creating the great process of life.  Be constantly aware of all that is happening to you and around you by entering into harmony with nature.

Only a collective moral force can unite the world, such times of unification will leave great achievements.  Problems usually come because of unexpected events against which we are not forewarned.  To achieve great things, prepare for unforeseen events or unexpected change.

Quote: Practice not knowing and be curious.

We don’t open our hearts and minds to others, because it confuses us, and we don’t feel brave or sane enough to open up.  To help us open up, look clearly and compassionately at yourself, feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes.

The main goal of your self-cultivation practice should be to awaken your inner urging and being able to distinguish spiritual impulses from instinctual ones. The ability to distinguish between them and to silence all the voices except the one in our heart is the goal.

Don’t look at evil as a force to resist, but simply as an opaqueness, a state of self-absorption which is in disharmony with the universal process, so that as with a dirty window the light cannot shine through.  This allows you great compassion for the wicked and the selfish.

Excess and insufficiency is going beyond the middle way.  Generally, insufficiency is better than excess.  When you accomplish small things, you will be able to judge if it is enough or not enough and be able to adjust your reactions so that you can stay in balance.

Quote: Live a life of authenticity and purpose.

Whenever you feel uncomfortable and don’t know what to do, find some place to look at the openness of the sky and experience the freshness, free of hope and fear, just completely open. This open space permeates everything and is available to us every moment of our lives.

Flowers can make you smile, their beauty is delicate, and you cannot alter their nature.  Their tenderness arouses feelings of mercy, compassion, and understanding. They are fragile, ephemeral, and uncompromising.   Take the time to appreciate their beauty in the midst of temporality.

Give up all concepts, judgements, and desires and your mind will grow naturally compassionate.  The more we let go of what we love, the more present our love becomes.  The clearer our insight into what is beyond good and evil, the more we can embody the good.

If you want to practice virtue, you first must become virtuous yourself.  The practice of virtue is the study of the body, the mind, nature, and life.  Practice the worthy qualities about yourself a little each day and work diligently on your bad habits by changing your belief in them.

Quote: The wisdom you need is within you now, listen to your inner self. 

Whether we are talking, eating, listening, or whatever we are doing, the reason we are here in this world is to study ourselves.  We study ourselves to find out how vast and uncomplicated our minds really are.  We can only find this unbiased truth by our own direct experiences.

It is only human interaction that creates meaning to things.  For example, our house may be precious to us, but this only comes from the value and memories we associate with it.  As long as we remember that the meanings we attribute to objects are all subjective, we will avoid mistakes.

It is possible to be a gentle contemplative person right here in the middle of everything, utterly unaffected, thoroughly sustained and rewarded by your integral practices.  Encouraging others, giving freely to all, awakening and purifying the world with all you do.

Practice undiscriminating virtue carefully and conscientiously, even doing a little good and getting rid of slight faults, will make you stronger.  With persistence and working consistently, steadily, and accumulating strength will give you a better understanding of life.

Quote: Its not what you say, it’s what you do.

Trying to tie up all the loose ends and finally getting it right is rejecting a lot of life’s basic experiences.  The essence of life is that it is challenging.  Sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter.  Sometimes you are tense, sometimes relaxed and open.  To live life fully is to experience each moment as completely new and fresh.

Problem solving is based first on thinking there is a problem and then thinking there is a solution.  The concepts of problem solving can keep us stuck in thinking there is a right way and a wrong way.  Instead, keep your heart and mind open to whatever arises, not knowing what will happen.

A true teacher realizes that enlightenment is not the end, but the means.  The goal is virtue, and it often takes unending self-cultivation to attain it.  Don’t scheme to become a teacher, but quietly shoulder whatever responsibilities come your way.

To accomplish large undertakings, you should start off with a plan and small goals.  The accumulation of these small steps will eventually lead you to the completion of the larger task.  If you have a modest attitude, you will be able to find able helpers to assist you.

Quote: When you perceive that an act done to another is done to yourself, you have understood the great truth.