How To Not Overwhelm Yourself By Just Relaxing
- How To Not Overwhelm Yourself By Just Relaxing
- Start with the fundamentals
- Is God In Zen?
- Solid Gold® Helps Heartland SPCA Feed Over 18,000 Pets in Kansas
- Understanding All About Mind Power
- Getting far, far away from it all
- Can Everyone Use The Power Of Mind?
- Mind is a tough nut to crack
- Simple meditation technique for beginners
- The Zen of Steve Jobs
- What To Get Your Spiritual Friend For Christmas?
- Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/5/2011
- Moving from Spiritual Awareness to Spiritual Enlightenment to Spiritual Awakening
- THE BASICS AND BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
- Meditation at Home to Keep you Fresh for Whole Day
- Meet The Zen Warriors
- To Be Spiritual Do You Have To Be Religious?
- Zen and the Art of Home Office Furniture
- How to Unlock Mind Power ? Stop Wandering Mind
- Understanding Buddhism
- Take the Edge Off of Anxiety With These Seven Stress Reduction Techniques
- How to Shift Consciousness
- Buddhist Temples an Essence of Buddhist Dharma
- The Essence of Breathing in Zen Meditation
- How To Learn Power Of Mind Techniques
| How To Not Overwhelm Yourself By Just Relaxing Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST Article by Gen Wright Deep Relaxation Hypnosis Hypnotherapy Session Relaxation Revolution Recent scientific breakthroughs—demonstrating that mind body strategies can actually "switch off" or "switch on" gene activity associated with health and disease—have triggered a mind body revolution in the medical world.In the 1970s, Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School ushered in a new era of understanding in the field of mind body medicine. Coining the term "relaxation response," Dr. Benson identified the body's physiologic reaction that is the exact opposite of the stress (fight-or-flight) response. In the four decades since that initial discovery, Benson and his colleagues have established the first effective therapy to counteract the harmful effects of stress. They have explored how the relaxation response, the power of expectation and belief, and other mind body phenomena can produce healing in your own body. A new era has dawned. Genetic research now shows conclusively that the mind can influence the body down to the genetic level. Your mind has the ability to change the way your body and your genes function. We now have scientific proof that the mind can heal the body. In Relaxation Revolution, Dr. Herbert Benson and William Proctor present the latest scientific endings, revealing that we have the ability to self-heal diseases, prevent life-threatening conditions, and supplement established drug and surgical procedures with mind body techniques. In a special "treatment" section, Benson and Proctor describe how these mind body techniques can be applied—and are being applied—to treat a wide variety of conditions, including: • High blood pressure • Anxiety and depression • Infertility • Insomnia • Menopausal hot flashes • Many pains, including backaches and headaches • Phobias • And much more Relaxation Revolution details Dr. Benson's recent work with colleagues in the field of genetics, which links mind body treatments to the healing of a steadily expanding number of medical conditions! . Mind a nd body have become part of a scientific and medical whole; together they represent a complete approach to healing and maximal well-being. In clear, straightforward language, Benson and Proctor cite the experiences of real people to show how mind body techniques have the potential not only to enhance healing but also to reduce health costs to individuals and to society as a whole. Relaxation Revolution shines a light on the future of medicine.Recent scientific breakthroughs—demonstrating that mind body strategies can actually "switch off" or "switch on" gene activity associated with health and disease—have triggered a mind body revolution in the medical world. In the 1970s, Dr. Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School ushered in a new era of understanding in the field of mind body medicine. Coining the term "relaxation response," Dr. Benson identified the body's physiologic reaction that is the exact opposite of the stress (fight-or-flight) response. In the four decades since that initial discovery, Benson and his colleagues have established the first effective therapy to counteract the harmful effects of stress. They have explored how the relaxation response, the power of expectation and belief, and other mind body phenomena can produce healing in your own body. A new era has dawned. Genetic research now shows conclusively that the mind can influence the body down to the genetic level. Your mind has the ability to change the way your body and your genes function. We now have scientific proof that the mind can heal the body. In Relaxation Revolution, Dr. Herbert Benson and William Proctor present the latest scientific endings, revealing that we have the ability to self-heal diseases, prevent life-threatening conditions, and supplement established drug and surgical procedures with mind body techniques. In a special "treatment" section, Benson and Proctor describe how these mind body techniques can be applied—and are being applied—to trea! t a wide variety of conditions, including: • High blood pressure • Anxiety and depression • Infertility • Insomnia • Menopausal hot flashes • Many pains, including backaches and headaches • Phobias • And much more Relaxation Revolution details Dr. Benson's recent work with colleagues in the field of genetics, which links mind body treatments to the healing of a steadily expanding number of medical conditions. Mind and body have become part of a scientific and medical whole; together they represent a complete approach to healing and maximal well-being. In clear, straightforward language, Benson and Proctor cite the experiences of real people to show how mind body techniques have the potential not only to enhance healing but also to reduce health costs to individuals and to society as a whole. Relaxation Revolution shines a light on the future of medicine.
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| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST
I and others tend to skip over the fundamentals for a variety of reasons, including impatience, laziness, or a kind of arrogance that thinks we can sort of get away with not paying our dues. There's also the subtle impact of our media, which showcases celebrities who seem to spring out of thin air – though actually it took years for them to become an overnight success. But when we don't take care of the fundamentals, the foundation is shaky for whatever we've built: a relationship, a career, personal well-being, spiritual practice – or playing the clarinet. Perhaps we can get away with this for awhile, but there's usually a background cost in uneasiness, waiting for a day of reckoning, perhaps with the sense of being an imposter. And eventually, when a real challenge comes, the building shakes and maybe topples. On the other hand, when you handle the basics, the cornerstones, you feel like you're on solid ground. Even if things don't turn out perfectly, in your heart you know you had the humility and conscientiousness to honor the prerequisites, the essential requirements, the bedrock of the matter. So how do we start with the fundamentals? First, know what is basic for you – since this will differ from person to person. Here are some potential "basics" for you to consider; they're just a start, and please add your own! Use the list that results to see if anything pops out to address:
Now, the second step. Perhaps one or more things have come to mind after you've done the reflection above. Pick one this week and act upon it. In your mind, getting back to something basic means: giving it your attention; acknowledging in your heart, your emotions, that it's important; committing honestly to it; and making a plan about it. Out in the world, taking care of something basic means doing something differently. It could be as down-to-earth and modest as not watching TV past 10 pm so you can get to bed at a reasonable time, or flossing your teeth each day, or not interrupting your partner, or getting home from work by 6:00 for dinner with the kids. Then, third step: Open to appreciating the benefits to you and others of honoring and handling this fundamental thing, whatever it is. Let the felt sense of its rewards, its goodness, keep drawing you toward continuing to take good care of it. When we take care of the basics, everything else usually takes care of itself. Related posts:
Buddhist Song 大日如来  |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Article by Dinah Jackson I have often heard that "Zen is a Godless religion." Since I have never heard of a religion without a concept of God or Gods, I can only conclude that Zen is not a religion. And yet, Zen clearly is a religion, so what gives. Some people claim that Buddhism in general is more a philosophy than a religion, but after all the traveling I have done in Asia and in my twenty years of living in Japan I can unequivocally say that Zen is no more a philosophy than any other religion. And make no mistake about it- Buddhism has a strict ethical code and is no way relativist. Avoiding sin plays a center role in Buddhism. One thing that many people do not realize about Buddhism is that it arose in India during a period in which the Gods of Hinduism were in decline, distant from the populace, and mysteriously practiced in rituals by the priests, little of which the public understood. Religion was in decline and faith in the Gods was weak, just as it is today in developed countries. It was in this atmosphere that Buddhism grew. Eventually, Hinduism regained its strength and bounced back in India, but by that time Buddhism was already firmly established elsewhere. There are many elements to Buddhism that define it as a religion, including an incorporation of a multitude of Hindu Gods, but there is a glaring absence of any supreme and divine identity (God) that worshippers can turn to as the highest of the high. Instead, there is nirvana, which is extremely difficult to grasp. If pushed, one would have to say that in Buddhism nirvana is heaven, and heaven is God. The point I think though is that Buddhism is very much a metaphysical practice as well as a practice replete with religious doctrine. It is unique, but isn't everything unique? About the AuthorThis article was written by Dinah Jackson who enjoys writing about Pokemon and travel. We have every Pokemon plush that you can imagine. We have hundreds of Japanese Pokemon charms, plushie, plush toys, pokedolls, binders, deck boxes, sleeves, figures, straps, dice bags, and thousands more very rare Japanese Pokemon items. Direct from Japan to your door. One Precept: Zen Buddhism in America - PREVIEW  |
| Solid Gold® Helps Heartland SPCA Feed Over 18,000 Pets in Kansas Posted: 05 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Solid Gold® donates over 60,000 lbs of holistic pet food to Heartland SPCA in Kansas City. San Diego, CA (PRWEB) December 05, 2011 Solid Gold®, one of the nation's leading pet food brands, is pleased to partner with Heartland SPCA to contribute to the welfare of over 18,000 pets throughout Kansas. On October 31, 2011, Solid Gold® kindly donated over 60,000 lbs in pet food to Kansas City's second largest humane society and animal welfare organization."Founded over 40 years ago to provide pets worldwide with holistic nutritional products, Solid Gold® shares Heartland SPCA's mission and philosophy and is pleased to contribute to its cause with this donation" said Steve Wirick, chief sales officer, Solid Gold®. Solid Gold Health Products for Pets was one of the first pet food companies in the United States using all-natural ingredients in its products. Solid Gold® is committed to providing the best food, supplements, and coat care products for pets. Solid Gold® newest product line, Sun Dancer™, is a grain-free chicken-based dry dog food with a moderate protein and fat content. Sun Dancer™ includes three new healthy ingredients; tapioca, chia seed, and fructooligosaccharide (FOS). "We couldn't be more grateful for the support" commented Emily Amos, director of marketing and communications for Heartland SPCA, "on behalf of more than 18,000 pets in the greater Kansas City area, thank you for the generous Solid Gold® pet food donation of 60,807 pounds." Heartland SPCA's HERO program serves the animals in the community who are most in need of a helping hand. About Solid Gold®
Discover more at http://www.SolidGoldHealth.com For further information, contact Solid Gold® at 800-364-4863 or email Dane(at)SolidGoldHealth(dot)com ### Solid Gold  Read More @ Source Buddhist Meditation (2) Bhavana  |
| Understanding All About Mind Power Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST Article by Charles Mentreut Your mind is an incredibly powerful thing, and it's actually a magnet to things that happen in your life. What you think and see is eventually what you're going to attract. This is known as The Law of Attraction and is specifically the power of your own mind. This is real mind power! If you can think and feel and believe that you will have a great life, then you will. First you must imagine it and that takes practice. But with persistence in anything you do, you can achieve success. The mind is a remarkable thing. And by the way, this is something that we all have. We all have the ability to use our mind power to the best of our ability and outcomes. However, most of us don't because we just don't think we can. Yet, researchers have shown that we only use about 10% of our brainpower. Don't you think that's crazy? Most of us stick with the tried and true, things we only know, and that's what we live with. When we fail at something, rather than learning from it, we let it act as a negative magnet, pulling further ill will and misfortune upon us. The things that we think happen to us because we let them. The reality of life first happens within the mind. Whatever you have accumulated thus far has been a result of your mind power. It has been said that everyone has psychic and extra sensory skills or 'powers', but in reality, it is simply a state of advanced subconscious mind power. If you want something better out of life, you just have to visualize it.and this works in reverse, too. People who expect the worst, get the worst. So instead of going through life like them, why don't we teach you the right way to use your mind? It all starts with visualization. If you've ever seen the movie 'Happy Gilmore' with Adam Sandler, his coach in the movie helps him create a happy place to allow him to make the putt. However, there is a time where he tries to think happy thoughts, but the negative ones take over. Visualizing simply means that you sit down and think of im! ages and pictures inside your head, of things that you want. These images can eventually be brought to life in reality, but first you have to start with yourself and ultimately, your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind is more powerful than anything else, in that it can really bring your visualizations to life like nothing else. The images in your mind have to be positive because that's the only way they can get to you. You need to think about how you want your life to be before you try to do this, though. It may be a help to you if you write everything down on a piece of paper, either in bullet format where you simply list the things you want to achieve, or by creating a story whereby you are the central player, living your best life. What goals do you have for yourself? Write those down so that you have something to shoot for. Then, create visions around those goals. When you write things down, it makes it hard to forget what you've visualized and it also helps cement them in your subconscious mind as well. You can also increase your mind power by doing affirmations. Affirmations are simply little pieces of encouragement that you give yourself as you go throughout your day. It can be a bit of positive encouragement about anything. For example, you can say that you're going to lose 10 pounds in a month. And it doesn't matter if it's something you're not used to it first. If you do it for 28 days, you'll notice that it'll start to become a habit. You can also develop your mind power by using brainwave entrainment. This is simply synchronizing brain waves through the use of different frequencies, by using audio technology. Our brains are very good at doing things, and one of them is that it can actually heal itself. Entrainment can actually help you tap into this even more. It also can improve memory and awaken our natural psychic powers. Mind power can be greatly enhanced through the use of these different frequencies. This is an advanced method of expanding mind power b! ut it br ings amazing results. Related to that is hypnosis, which works on a similar principle. The subject goes into a hypnotic trance and lets their subconscious mind open up to take new impressions. Hypnotherapy recordings are a lot like hearing someone repeat the same positive message, over and over again. This can be used to curb addictive behaviors, induce people to lose weight, even boost self confidence and positive imagery. These people become convinced through their subconscious minds that they are able to quit smoking. They are convinced to believe in themselves when before they did not. Everyone has mind power, even you. It is just a matter of believing in it and your mind's ability. It is probably not going to happen overnight, but you can use it overtime to change your life and bring positivity and good luck into your life. It is simply about communicating to the universe what you want and pulling it to you. Remember everything starts with the subconscious mind. The only thing holding you back is your conscious mind! About the AuthorLook at the exciting world of using your mind power with the popular http://www.mindpower-info.com website. Learn to develop esp power yourself. Find out the hidden secrets to become an esp psychic when you visit here and get your FREE DVD video, audio and ebook Package. Ruby Wax talks about her experience of mindfulness meditation Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness: A Guide for Anyone Who Teaches Anything Mindfulness is going mainstream, and author Deborah Schoeberlein pioneers its practical application in K-12 education. By showing teachers how to tune into what's happening, inside and around them, she offers educators fresh, straightforward approaches to training attention and generating caring in the classroom. Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness emphasizes how the teacher's personal familiarity with mindfulness seeds the ground for an education infused with attention, awareness, kindness, empathy, compassion, and gratitude. The book follows a teacher from morning to night on typical school day. The schedule provides a practical context for applying and promoting mindfulness throughout the day. Brief, readable segments focus on a full range of topics including classroom procedures, lesson structure, and pacing, as well as social and emotional learning. This approach familiarizes the reader with mindfulness and fosters gradual and steady skills development. Reading the book catalyzes readers' insights and inspires the teacher's self-confidence in applying mindfulness — personally and professionally.
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| Getting far, far away from it all Posted: 05 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST
The previous week he had begun the withdrawal process, leaving word with clients, cutting back his use of technology and giving up caffeine. Before checking out completely, he made one final call to his girlfriend, Jee Chang. By careful design, Mr. Trippetti would not see or communicate with anyone until Nov. 20. At his spartan cabin … Related posts:
Alan Watts On Buddhism - Test Clip 1  |
| Can Everyone Use The Power Of Mind? Posted: 05 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST Article by Charles Mentreut All of us remember the commercials of the 80s; or at the very least, we remember its slogan: 'the mind is a terrible thing to waste'. While we're talking about something different than going to university today, the slogan is definitely on point here. Your mind has lot more power than you might think; and the power of mind is indeed a terrible thing to waste. When you can access the power your mind contains, you can use it to change the world around you for the better. You've certainly heard about the law of attraction; the idea behind the book and film 'The Secret'. Whatever you put your mental energy toward will come to you is the message of the work. The goal behind it is to help you understand that we can all manipulate our minds into creating reality by using the power of mind. In fact, some people have even blamed their subconscious mind on negative actions hoping it would lighten their sentences in a court room. In scientific studies, this is sometimes called the observer effect, or the Placebo Effect. More plausibly, it's that keeping a good mental attitude and a solid set of goals in mind keeps you mentally prepared to take advantage of opportunities you'd've overlooked before. Opportunism is one of the great defining characteristics of successful people. A good example will be two individuals having different choice of thoughts. There is one who thinks that he is really sick and on the other side there is man who thinks he is not. Both have different perspectives but in reality thoughts can have a great effect on our body and soul. All of us have experienced something like this in our own lives. We all have those days where we wake up thinking that this is going to be a bad day - and in fact, these days usually are. This is the power of the mind at work. It has to do with the power of your mind - when you think a day is going to be a bad (or a great one) then your subconscious has the ability to make this happen. There is an increasingly l! arge bod y of scientific evidence which suggests that there is a basis for this phenomena in the laws of physics. A surprising idea comes from the world of quantum mechanics which suggests that matter (which at its most basic level is simply energy) exists only when being observed - suggesting that our minds may have more influence over the universe than we have let ourselves believe in the past. Many scientists now believe that all so called 'supernatural' powers such as esp, telepathy, remote viewing, psychic and clairvoyant phenomena can be explained in terms of quantum theory. Even though you may not have really thought about it too much yet, the power of your mind can be the key to changing your life for the better. The power of the mind is something that you can train yourself to use for your own benefit. If you could use your own mental energy to bend the universe and make positive changes, wouldn't you want to learn how? Let's take a closer look at how to use the power of your mind to achieve what you want. One important thing to keep in mind is that it is far easier to focus your mind to achieve a specific goal rather than a general one. It will probably be difficult at first, but if you stick with it even on the first time out, things will change. Many people already know about the power of the mind and use it every day to make their goals a reality. They are able to decide on a specific goal and put all of their mind power towards this objective - and this is exactly how some of the world's most successful people have managed to become who they are today. It's not difficult to do, though learning to focus your mind on your goal does take a little metal training. Thus such individuals are in fact able to drive all their mental energies to the goal they have set in their mind. In fact now that the mind is supreme the other energies too find a path to help the person attain the goal. This feat may overwhelm people because it may sound so easy to perform. But! the tru th is that it is easy if we are determined enough to carry out the task of using the mind power. Visualize changing your life. Decide what you want. Say for example you want your dream home. Now all of your thoughts, feelings and actions need to be directed towards that end. Even imagine yourself in that house painting and decorating it or landscaping the gardens. From now on, everything you do needs to be focussed on getting that house. This could be anything from choosing the decor color scheme to looking at the best rate for mortgages even if you think you can't afford it the moment. Buy a few things to put in the house. Then just watch what happens. suddenly it all falls into place. Your dream house comes on the market at a great price. You get the mortage and move in! All of your thoughts and energy have been directed at getting the dream house and you got it! Every one of us can do this. It's just a matter of understanding your own inherent abilities and believing in the power of the mind to achieve the things you want out of life. Start with a small goal and you can work from there to accomplish ever greater things. About the Author Discover your mind power from the popular http://www.mindpower-info.com site. Find details of the healing power of mind for yourself and find out the real hidden secrets of developing your human mind powers when you visit here and get your FREE DVD Package. Stress Relief 23 - Mindfulness Meditation with Dr. Joe Parisi (Chapter 23 of DVD)  |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST For Westerners citta is often a tough nut to crack. It can mean "thinking," "reflecting," "intuition," "mind," "intellect," etc. Mind is not a bad rendering of citta which is the past participle of cit which roughly means observe, perceive, understand, know, etc. Translating citta with Mind doesn't close off Mind from being taken to be closer to the German word, Geist, i.e., spirit. If I said, "There is basically only the Mind (citta-mâtra)," which is the cardinal notion of the Lankavatara Sutra, it would be written in German: "Es gibt im Grunde nur den Geist (citta-mâtra)." Clearly, Geist is much closer to citta than Mind. Confusion attends citta when some translators render it consciousness. But clearly citta is not consciousness or vijñâna—at least it shouldn't be. Consciousness is only an attribute of citta or Mind/Geist or maybe a particular mode of spirit which takes the form of sensory space. There is no real positive determination of Mind or spirit without altering Mind, itself, making it into something that it is not. The substance of Mind is so pure such that it is not identical with anything, or the same, is not identical with its phenomenalizations. Mind's detection only occurs with the cessation of its self-obscuring activity like the waves of the ocean ceasing. Mind's almost incomprehensible mystery doesn't make for happy Western Spiritual Consciousnesss. It is my impression that they tend to equate Mind with awareness or the same, mindfulness (S., smriti). But the Buddha never taught that awareness is ultimate. In Mahayana Buddhism, Mind is the alpha and omega of Buddhism.
What is buddhism and how to become a buddhist (1/6)  |
| Simple meditation technique for beginners Posted: 05 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Article by Jonsonmak Now a day most people prefer to buy meditation techniques to relive themselves from stress and anxiety. To maintain the modern style of living people go under every day stress and pressure. Now the people want a break form this stressed life, they want peace and happiness back in their life. To avoid this stressed life usually people watch television, listen to music or go for a tour. But these ideas do not help much; it works only for few hours or days. Some people choose wrong path to avoid stress, they take slipping pills or alcohol. Meditation is the easiest and right way to avoid stress. Simple meditations techniqu are available for bingers that can be learned easily with out killing you precious time and money on the meditation instructors. Meditation is the only way through which one can get a permanent relive from stressful life, it is all about shooting and calming the mind. Most of the meditation technique for stress for beginners involve listening CDs and breathing exercises. Once you have learned and practiced these meditation you can go for more advanced techniques of meditation. These meditation techniques will surely help you to cover journey of your life easily. Focused breathing work out is one among the easiest meditation for stress. Usually bingers go for this technique. One can lie down; sit in a chair or lean back to practice this meditation. You can do your meditation from any where you feel comfortable, there are no strict meditation postures or position that you need to follow. While practicing this meditation you need to close your eyes and breathe calmly. If you have sleep disorder then you can practice this meditation for sleep. Focused breathing meditation technique is the most effective one for beginners. Guided meditation technique has become the most common meditation among the beginners as it is very easy technique with effective result. This meditation can be done in various ways. CDs of guided meditation are available in market. Naturally ! music is played at the beginning which would help you to relax and will prepare you mind for the meditation. Next you will be directed to follow some instructions which would help you to relax and breathe. Lastly the voice will guide you to a meditative condition in which you can relax your brain and fall asleep. Various meditation techniques are there for beginners which can help them to lighten the stress. Meditation books are also available in book stores. These books contain various kinds of guidelines of meditation techniques for stress. Usually this books starts with an instruction "think nothing" or "be casual, let your ideas come and go". These types of instructions create confusion for the beginners as for them it is very difficult to concentrate at the beginning. Many books and CDs which contains techniques for meditation for sleep are available in market. You can also get numerous ideas on meditation techniques for beginners from web. Remember meditation works better when you practice it daily. About the Authorjonsonmak is a Doctor who recommends meditation techniques for a stressful life or for a good physical and mental health. He also writes articles on meditation techniques for stress & meditation for sleep. For more information he always recommends to visit http://themeditationmind.com/ Guided Meditation | White Light Protection Your Present: A Half-Hour of Peace: A Guided Imagery Meditation for Physical & Spiritual Wellness Publishers Weekly Award, Best Audios Audie Awards Finalist, Best Original Work Town & Country, "As Good As It Gets" Issue
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| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST In collaboration with Forbes Media and JESS3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is pleased to announce the publication of The Zen of Steve Jobs (Wiley; January 2012; ISBN: 9781118295267; Paperback & E-Book; $ 19.95) written by Caleb Melby, a Forbes contributor and illustrated by JESS3. A tribute in memory of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs (1955-2011), this graphic narrative is a thoroughly researched interpretation of a well documented period in his life that revolutionized technology and design. The Zen of Steve Jobs (Wiley; January 2012; Paperback & E-Book) (Photo: Business Wire) Steve Jobs impacted so many lives. What few understand is that much of his success was due to collaboration with designers, engineers and the world's premier thinkers. In the mid 1980s, Jobs was forced to leave Apple. He then founded NeXT, a computer company in Redwood City, California. Cynical journalists began to question if he had been a one-hit-wonder and NeXT's computers, though beautiful, experienced disappointing sales. During this difficult time in his life, Jobs discovered his spiritual side through a unique friendship with Kobun Chino Otogawa, a Japanese Soto Zen Buddhist priest. This spiritual relationship ultimately created the foundation behind Jobs' continued innovative success. The Zen of Steve Jobs is a reimagining of the friendship between Jobs and Kobun. Kobun emigrated to the U.S. from Japan in the early 1970s. He was an innovator, lacked appreciation for rules and was passionate about art and design. Kobun was to Buddhism as Jobs was to technology: a renegade and maverick. The story moves back and forward in time, from the 1970s to 2011, but centers on the period after Jobs' exile from Apple in 1985 when he took up intensive study with Kobun. Their time together was integral to the big leaps that Apple took later on with its product design and business strategy. The Zen of Steve Jobs connects this period in Jobs' life with key moments in Apple's history. A section of the book takes place in 1986 at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in California. Kobun teaches Jobs kinhin, a walking meditation, and alludes to Jobs' quest to understand ma, a Japanese design concept apparent today in the simplicity in all iProducts. Since his triumphant return to Apple in 1996, it was evident that Jobs' experiences with Buddhism played a significant role in his corporate philosophy. The Zen of Steve Jobs is not only a visual tribute but a look back at an icon whose life shaped the future. Readers will walk away with a better understanding and appreciation of the legacy Steve Jobs left behind. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Caleb Melby is a native of Mankato, MN, a town known as the site of the nation's largest mass hanging. It is otherwise a very nice place. Prior to writing The Zen of Steve Jobs, Caleb wrote for the Chicago Tribune and The Times of South Africa. He currently lives in a variety of places with no wives and no children. JESS3 (Washington, DC) is a world-renowned creative agency that specializes in data visualization. Through the mastery of illustration, information design, animation and engineering, JESS3 brings beauty to complex concepts, issues and data sets. In addition to working with Forbes on The Zen of Steve Jobs, JESS3 is dedicated to the craft of storytelling for vanguard brands that include Google, Nike, Intel, MTV, Twitter, Samsung, Facebook and NASA. JESS3 also has a dedicated Labs division, which funds and launches its own products and initiatives. Forbes Media encompasses Forbes and Forbes.com (www.forbes.com), the leading business site on the Web that reaches on average more than 21 million people monthly. The company publishes Forbes and Forbes Asia, which together reach a worldwide audience of more than 6 million readers. It also publishes ForbesLife magazine, in addition to licensee editions in Africa, Argentina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Middle East, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Other Forbes Media Web sites are ForbesWoman.com; RealClearPolitics.com; RealClearMarkets.com; RealClearSports.com and RealClearWorld.com. Together with Forbes.com, these sites reach on average nearly 28 million business decision makers each month. Steve Forbes serves as Chairman and Editor in Chief. Mike Perlis is President and Chief Executive Officer. Lewis D'Vorkin is Chief Product Officer. Kevin Gentzel is Chief Revenue Officer. To schedule an interview or request a review copy, contact: Heather Condon, Wiley – hcondon@wiley.com / 201-748-6017 THE ZEN OF STEVE JOBS By Caleb Melby and JESS3 Wiley; Paperback & E-Book; $ 19.95; ISBN: 9781118295267; January 2012 For more information about Wiley's books, please visit our Press Room www.wiley.com/go/press Follow us on Twitter @WileyBiz and @WileyFinance for more information on our business books and authors About Wiley Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace. Our core businesses publish scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb. Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50093719&lang=en Read More @ Source Nam Myoho Renge Kyo - Daimoku ((題目) - 南無妙法蓮華經  |
| What To Get Your Spiritual Friend For Christmas? Posted: 05 Dec 2011 04:00 AM PST Article by Sam Qam We all have a friend who is into relaxation, spiritual awakenings, yoga, reiki, mantras, sitting quietly and reading about philosophy and what not. They are really lovely people and deserve your love and respect, and if it's coming up to Christmas you may even want to get them a gift. But what do you get them?What if they aren't into material possessions such as DVDs, jewellery, sparkly tops and make up? Well to help you out, here are some gifts they will love:Yoga StuffIf they are into yoga, or even if they're not, yet, you can get them some of the stuff that they use for it. This includes things like a yoga mat, a block, a rope/ribbon, a relaxation CD, maybe a book full of different positions and, if they are total beginner, some yoga classes. Singing BowlA singing bowl is used in various forms of relaxation, medicinal and spiritual practices. These are bowls, normally made from 7 metals that have been handmade in Tibet. They come with a wooden stick and when you hit the bowl with it, it produces a unique ringing sound, a bit like a bell. This is something really special that will certainly put a smile on their face. Relaxation CDsYou can never really have too many relaxation CDs as they are used almost constantly during a range of practices such as yoga, reiki, meditation and just for a nice general atmosphere before and after classes. You may want to get something natural like wave sounds or whale noises, or something more electronic and modern.Pillar CandlesBoring to some people, but pillar candles are great for setting a nice atmosphere when doing yoga or meditating. You can get these anywhere, but the best ones to get are lightly scented, large and can be designed to produce different levels of calming or invigorating effects.Chakra JewelleryYes I know we said earlier that they don't like jewellery, but this is different. Chakra jewellery is made based on the 7 energy centres in the body, so will help your friend to enjoy their relaxing a whole lot more. You can get this in necklace, brace! let, rin g broach form or pretty much as a part of any other style of jewellery. So there you go - some great Christmas present ideas for your energy conscious friend. Any of these will be greatly appreciated and will show that you respect their lifestyle. About the AuthorSam Qam is a spiritual person. For Christmas, he hopes to get some Chakra jewellery or some pillar candles. Zen Biology Lesson for Enlightenment  |
| Early Morning Buddhist Inspiration - 12/5/2011 Posted: 05 Dec 2011 04:00 AM PST  "No other foes are greater than birth and death. No other friends are greater than merits." ~Buddhist Quote   Relaxing Chinese Buddhist Music  |
| Moving from Spiritual Awareness to Spiritual Enlightenment to Spiritual Awakening Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:00 AM PST Article by Evette Gardner We come across these terms all the time in spiritual study: Spiritual Awareness, spiritual enlightenment and spiritual awakening. Is there any difference to their meanings or are they simply variations of a theme? They are often used interchangeably so any difference in meaning would have to be negligible - right? As with the concept of "the trinity" where an understanding of the one God tries to be explained in terms of three distinct overall expressions of God, these three concepts of spiritual study (spiritual awareness, spiritual enlightenment and spiritual awakening) might more understandingly be thought of as three distinct phases of a single process known as spiritual evolution. Every phase within the spiritual evolution process so seamlessly flows into and feeds the next phase that there really is no genuine distinction between them. It's all one process which continually repeats itself. After moving through each of the three phases you find that the process turns in on itself and that the end of one cycle is simply the beginning of another cycle, with the same phases, but at just a slightly higher degree of nearer to Source-ness than you were before. One journey ends, and a new one instantly begins. And along each rite of passage you move through the stages of spiritual awareness, spiritual enlightenment and spiritual awakening, then back again.Let's examine the definitions of the words awareness, enlightenment and awakening in their specific contexts. To be aware simply means to be cognizant of; to recognize. In this, spiritual awareness is simply about being mindful of spiritual Truths.To enlighten means to inform; to give the light of truth to. So having spiritual enlightenment implies that your awareness of spiritual Truths actually informs both your thinking and life outlook. Spiritual enlightenment happens when you actually become accepting of spiritual Truths. For it is possible for you to be aware of something but still not allow that awareness to illuminate or factor into your w! ay of th inking or in the way you perceive life. For example, it's common knowledge to nearly everyone above age six who lives in an industrialized society that if you step out into traffic without waiting for it to be safe first, you could very well be hit by a car. Now I don't know how prevalent this behavior is in other cities, but where I live (in Boston) it's not an uncommon occurrence for grown people to knowingly step out into the path of an oncoming car. I've never understood what the thinking is here. Perhaps these folks have a running internal dialogue that says, that car is just going to have to stop because I'm out here now. Or I'm superman. My body's invulnerable to high speed impacts. I don't know. It baffles me - but that's moving away from the heart of the conversation. To bring it back to the point, your awareness does not have to inform your thought process. You can choose to disregard, distort or minimize any awareness, any understanding of an idea, you may have.To awaken means to arouse, to become active. Therefore spiritual awakening involves allowing Spirit to actually act through you with lesser and lesser degrees of obstruction from you. Spiritual awakening denotes a growth in your active awareness of spiritual Truths. For you can be aware of something, accepting of that something, but still choose not to act upon it. Simple spiritual awareness can be passive; it may simply bear witness. Spiritual awakening, however, requires that you actually put your spiritual understandings into life action. So if you know that love has power over hate, and you accept this understanding and allow it to illuminate your life outlook, you will have moved through the spiritual evolution phases of both awareness and enlightenment. But in order to progress to spiritual awakening you will have to actually express this understanding in how you react to the situations you are faced with in life. Spiritual awakening is the application part of the spiritual evolution process. It's the leg of the journey which actu! ally pro motes the expansion of consciousness so that your awareness grows to know greater and greater depths of understanding. So here the cycle begins again you see?For every spiritual lesson there is to learn, for every spiritual Truth we must perfect our understanding of, there is a cycle. We each have multitudes of these cycles going on in our lives simultaneously. With this situation in our life we may be working on truly understanding compassion, with that situation it may be patience, and with that situation it may be self-assurance... And for each of these sub-cycles going on within the one grand cycle of spiritual evolution, we move through the stages of being aware of a more pure understanding of a particular Truth; to allowing this deeper understanding to illuminate our life outlook; to actively applying this understanding to the situations which arise in our experience. Spiritual awareness, spiritual enlightenment, spiritual awakening. About the AuthorEvette Gardner is an author of 21 Days to a Changed Life and other spirituality topic eBooks. She currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. You can read more of her articles on her web site and blog. Deepak Chopra Video Set: Explorations Into Consciousness and Overcoming the Fear of Death (Conversations with Deepak Chopra) Two video set featuring conversations with Deepak Chopra. 1) EXPLORATIONS INTO CONSCIOUSNESS: In this informative interview, bestselling author Dr. Deepak Chopra reveals his important ideas about mind/body medicine. In clear and simple terms, Dr. Chopra explains his method for activating the body's own healing mechanisms and for evoking the innate, guiding intelligence of the body. His approach to illness and healing therapies encourage the participation of the mind in changing its effect on our bodies. Spontaneous remission, mental strategies and the importance of meditation each play a role in Dr. Chopra's exploration into wellness throughout our bodies. 2) OVERCOMING THE FEAR OF DEATH: There is one life experience we all have in common, the idea which scares us all "to death." Overcoming the Fear of Death, Deepak Chopra's latest video interview is a comforting conversation between Dr. Chopra and interviewer Aniikas Dopping which provides insights into a subject usually avoided. Throughout the film, Chopra uses stories, poems, and humor to explain is unique notions of embracing death. He assures you that our attitudes about death result from how we live our lives.
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| THE BASICS AND BENEFITS OF MINDFULNESS MEDITATION Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:00 AM PST Article by Saagara Health And Wellness Mindfulness is a form of meditation that allows your mind to focus on the present. The goal is to achieve a mind that is calm, stable and through this practice, you can develop the mind's strength and harmony. Mindfulness produces a mind that is intelligent even in deep meditation. Studies suggest that mindfulness mediation decreases stress, and improves mood and immune function. Finding the right place for your mindfulness meditation Choosing the right place to practice mindfulness is the first step in achieving a strong, harmonious mind. You should find a quiet space, even if it is small, that makes you feel uplifted. It should be free of noise and disturbances, and situations that are likely to trigger feelings of anger, jealousy or other negative emotions. These distractions will compromise your practice. What is meditation, and what is mindfulness about it? Mindfulness mediation should be done frequently for short periods of time, like twice a day for 10, 15 or 20 minutes. The process of training your mind should be simple and doing short meditations – once in the morning and once at night – will allow you to discipline your mind with focus. Meditation should not be a time to let your mind wander. Rather, it should be a time to train and work your mind. Reminding yourself of this before each time you meditate is helpful. Don't be afraid to say it out loud for a boost of inspiration. How to meditate using proper posture and mindful relaxation Your posture affects your mind so good posture while practicing mindfulness meditation is vital to your success. When you sit down either cross-legged on the floor or upright in a chair with your feet touching the floor, spend some time getting your posture just right. You should feel like your spine is being pulled up from the top of your head and then settle in. Your shoulders and hips should be level, your spine strong and stacked. If you feel hazy or drowsy, make sure your posture is correct. You also should ho! ld a sof t gaze in a downward direction, a couple of inches in front of your nose to minimize distractions. Another meditation how to: Use breathing for your mindful meditations When you start practicing mindfulness meditation, you will have a heightened sense of awareness of your body and of where you are. You will then notice the whole feeling of your breathing going in and out. Your breathing should be natural, not forced and with each breath, you will become relaxed. The role of your thoughts in mindfulness meditation When thoughts come up while you are practicing mindfulness meditation, observe them and return to focusing on your breathing. If you find that your mind begins to wander, simply take note of where it went, let it go and don't judge yourself harshly. Mindfulness meditation is a simple practice that teaches you to do a lot while you are doing nothing at all. When your meditation time comes to an end, sit for a couple of minutes to increase your awareness further, then slowly get up and go about your day. About the AuthorSaagara is an Ann Arbor based Digital Health Company, whose founders have an eclectic background in medicine, design, engineering, and yoga/meditation. The Saagara team is dedicated to helping you maximize your overall health and well being, so that you may lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. Through the use of software available on mobile platforms, we make small changes in people's lifestyle for dramatic improvements in their health and well-being. With technology, community, and raised awareness, we wish to do this on a global level. Read more about the benefits of meditation here:http://www.saagara.com/health-guides/mindfulness To read more about Saagara, please visit our website below:www.saagara.com Frequency Of Life - Meditation Music  |
| Meditation at Home to Keep you Fresh for Whole Day Posted: 05 Dec 2011 01:00 AM PST Article by Vanni Jain Shinzen Young: Deep Concentration in Formal Meditation and Daily Life (Theory and Practice)  |
| Posted: 05 Dec 2011 12:00 AM PST Article by Dinah Jackson It may seem a misnomer to describe a warrior as being 'Zen.' The fact is though is that the Eastern martial arts as we know them today were developed as a means of self-defense first by Buddhist monks in China who were being attacked by mountain bandits along country roads. Later, the practices spread and became more secularized. By the time the samurai were being trained in 'bushido,' which is straight from Zen, monks were no longer fending off mountain bandits. On the outside they were pacifists. But politics, being what they are, eventually procured monks as trainers of warriors, known to us as Samurai and Ninja. Like all warriors, the samurai had two facets to the discipline: fighting technique and a code of honor. In war, obviously, it is preferable to come out the winner in a battle and so deadly fighting techniques were practiced by the Samurai day and night. Like all martial arts, 'bushido' consists mainly of close range fighting, with the addition of weapons instead of just hands. Ninja had to be exceptional people from the very start, and only the very best of the Samurai recruits were destined to become Ninja. The stealth and invisibility of a Ninja were likewise the result of rigorous training established by Zen. The code of honor that Samurai lived by had much more to do with the secular world and Confucian values than anything with Zen or Buddhism. This code was a refinement of already extant societal values and elaborated to conform the military ethics of engagement. Zen had a profound effect on Japanese culture in all aspects, including civil war. It is not so much that Buddhism had become aggressive during this time as that as a very large institution affecting the whole populace it was subject to many pressures from without, one of these being the training of warriors. About the AuthorThis article was written by Dinah Jackson who enjoys writing about Pokemon and travel. We have every Pokemon plush toy that you can imagine. We have hundreds of Japanese Pokemon charms, plushie, plush toys, pokedolls, binders, deck boxes, sleeves, figures, straps, dice bags, and thousands more very rare Japanese Pokemon items. Direct from Japan to your door. Zen Buddhist teachings by Chozen and Hogen Bays  |
| To Be Spiritual Do You Have To Be Religious? Posted: 04 Dec 2011 11:00 PM PST Article by Belinda Daly, B.D. Customarily, a lot of faiths have viewed spirituality as an essential feature of religious practice. They believe if you believe in God you will automatically become spiritual and happy. In midst of this common belief a growing number of people are going toward secularism and have agreed to a wider understanding of spirituality. Basically, this means you can attain spiritualism without following any specific dogmatic religion. Spirituality without religion accentuates humanistic assets like love, empathy, endurance, broad-mindedness, mercy, peace, etc. the facets of existence and human knowledge which go past a materialist opinion of the world, without automatically accepting belief in a paranormal actuality or celestial existence. Meditation can be practiced as a guide to human enjoyment minus any transcendent explanation or elucidation. Thus, spirituality in this situation may be a matter of cultivating ideas, feelings, and actions that are in agreement with a certainty that everything in the cosmos is equally reliant on. Some varieties of Buddhist mysticism are similar to this idea. Spirituality is understood to be a pathway to one or more of the following: an advanced state of consciousness, flawlessness of your own existence, knowledge, and empathy with God or gods. The gateway to such a path may involve meditation, prayer, and the observation of holy manuscripts, etc. Whereas the expression spirituality and religion both relate to a search for a God or gods, there are also distinguishing variances in their practice. Religion suggests a specific faith that comprises of the recognition of a paranormal truth; while, on the other-hand, spirituality is not automatically bound to any specific religious practice. There are those who express spirituality separate of religion frequently describe themselves as "a spiritual being but do not follow any religious path" and stressing the significance of discovering your own distinct route to spirituality. Radical thinking men l! ike the 17th century Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza thought God to be real, intangible and detached from mankind. He believed that the mind and body were a single identity, unlike the French Philosopher Rene Descartes dualist belief that the mind and body were two separate substances. In his magnum opus, 'Ethics' Spinoza offered a methodical interpretation of God, natural surroundings, the mind, and the realization to contentment. He claimed that God was merely a part of nature, not an 'Autonomous Creator' as mainstream religions believe. In his book 'Ethics', which was published posthumously, it stated that 'There is no significance, or purpose, to the world though we can still find happiness within it.' In his earlier work like 'Theological-Political Treatise', published in 1670 and anonymously because of its controversial content, he reasoned that the bible, like all scriptures, should be construed as text written by mankind and not God. Spinoza believed that religion is an idea of ethical and dogmatic control, thus, all religions are effective because they achieve this duty successfully. So, remember, whatever spiritual path you choose to undertake and how you get there is your individual choice. I will leave you with a quote from Spinoza, 'I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.' About the AuthorBelinda Daly is a master practitioner in NLP, hypnosis, and TLT. She also has a degree in metaphysics.To recieve free e-courses e-books, audios and videos on self improvement and spiritual development visit our free membeship site. Please click below now. http://www.mindbodyspiritdevelopment.com 2010 2012 Important Message Bashar  |
| Zen and the Art of Home Office Furniture Posted: 04 Dec 2011 10:00 PM PST Article by PAUL BARTHOLOMEW What, if anything, has the Zen to do with Home Office Furniture? The author Robert M. Pirsig who penned the philosophical classic of the 70's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance asked himself a similar question and came up with the only answer: Zen in its purest form has everything to do with everything. Because Zen is in everything. Zen is in the air.But Zen in the home office? Is this a shameless plug for something?The Buddha opened the dhammapada by saying that all suffering begins in the mind. The mind creates our existence. Before we start to ask ourselves if this is slightly irreverent in face of an almighty God, we have to say that Buddhism is not concerned at all with a God Creator. The Buddha was neither a believer nor a non believer when I came to the existence of God. But that is a religious and philosophical issue and for another day. Let me just state the office: if your workplace is chaotic and shambolic, it is almost certain that this comes from a chaotic and shambolic mind. A creative mind, no doubt, but undisciplined. And making money requires discipline with creativity,This is where a perfectly balanced working arena comes into play. We need a surface to work on; a space to keep stuff in; horizontal planes for printers; a way of keeping all the cables in order. These are the functions and materially these are known as desks, bookcases, cupboards, pedestals and so on. To these basic ingredients you add comfort and convenience, and after comfort you add style. Comfort is still anchored in the physical realm. When we get to style, things start to become interesting. Style is begins with an idea; it maybe an idea of a cool contemporary office.Or a retro 60's thing. Perhaps an old time country cottage theme. The trick with style is to take a theme and run with it so the theme blends in with its surrounding. This is where you need Zen and detachment. Try to see the style theme that you have in your mind for what it is: a creation of the mind, pleasing and complex. Do not becom! e absorb ed by your idea. Instead let the style that you have created open itself into manifestation. A wise sage said emptiness and fullness are just other sides of the same coin. The internet is full of stores selling computer desks and home office furniture. It is a cacophony of sounds, a wall of images. Be still and let the products come to you. You do not choose. You are chosen About the AuthorThe author runs online stores, Orispace and Funky Home Office. He believes the Internet is a force for good, despite it being awash with temptation and calls to unskillful actions. The Internet is Evolution. A Day in the Life of Buddhist Zen Monks  |
| How to Unlock Mind Power ? Stop Wandering Mind Posted: 04 Dec 2011 09:00 PM PST Article by Nil Celen You need to unlock mind power before you can start to use mind power. Wandering mind is a big lock of mind power. You must stop the wandering mind before it uses up all the mind's energy which you need to lead your life. Mind wandering is simply a task unrelated thought. I am sure that you all experience the moments that you do not know why you feel angry, depressed, unhappy or bored. When you try to figure out what is going wrong, you cannot find any evidence which may force you feel like that. Actually it is not always your experiences which change your mood but the wandering mind. Thoughts are more effective than tasks on your emotions. * Have you ever find yourself thinking about a sad experience which is not related with your daily life? * Have you ever notice that you are talking with someone you dislike in your mind? * Have you ever try to change the result of a problem which you solved before? These are the products of a wandering mind without conscious. You change your mood with these experiences from the past or the tragedies you create about the future. Whether you unlock mind power, you will not find much power left because it was used by wandering. Both mental and physical tasks of a daily life requires energy. Unfortunately, mind is not a limitless source of power. You have to keep power to set goals and make decisions consciously. How can you achieve your life goals with the mind without power? How to Stop Wandering Mind to Unlock Mind Power 1. Hold on to your passions and desires Wandering mind is a product of the mind working on default mode. All you have to do is give your mind a more exciting thing to think of. As soon as you notice that you feel angry, sad or unhappy, try to focus on your goals which you are passionate about. You may prefer holiday plans or a coming promotion. Anything which makes you excited can help you change your focus. If you prefer thinking about your goals, that will help you use mind ! power fo r success. The more you visualize about the your goals, the closer you get to them. 2. Clear your mind from everything to recharge your mind There is no need to say; meditation is one of the best tools to unlock mind power. No matter which meditation style you choose, they can concentrate your awareness on a target. This way your mind can stop wandering. 3. Relieve stress and relax to stop mind wanderingYou have too many options to relieve stress. Exercise and spending time with friends have proven benefits on stress. Unfortunately, when stress is much more than you can handle, it may cause depression and it wastes all the power you have. This means lack of mind power. If it is getting harder each day to relax you should need some help. I recommend you to try Brainwave Entrainment. It will help your mind tune in and remember how good it feels to relax. This will change the default mode of the mind and unlock mind power. Your mind will no longer exaggerate problems and it will be easier to solve them. You should always keep in mind that a wandering mind is a suspect for killing mind power. You want to unlock mind power? Stop your mind wandering. About the AuthorWe may all need a little push to move on sometimes and we search for the easiest solutions to our problems. It is scientifically proven that Brainwave entrainment helps to relax, meditate, increase creativity, boost energy, increase consciousness, motivation and memory and much more.. I am an investigator for the proofs of "Mind Power" based on scientific resources. If it is hard to convince you like me, you are always welcome to my blog Scientific Proofs of Mind Power The Power of Mindfulness & Compassion Child's Mind: Mindfulness Practices to Help Our Children Be More Focused, Calm, and Relaxed The interest in teaching meditation to children is growing rapidly, as a number of recent stories in the mainstream media have documented. Child's Mind aims to teach parents and child professionals how to integrate mindfulness into their work with children and teach both young children and adolescents the basics of mindfulness and meditation. The book is a great resource for anyone who work with young people, including family coordinators at retreat centers, religious instructors in a range of traditions, teachers, therapists, and medical professionals. Child's Mind aims to teach children the power that comes with the comfort of just being, as well as the capacity to be, be aware, and be comfortable with oneself.
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| Posted: 04 Dec 2011 08:00 PM PST Article by Nancey Mcgeeney The world is jam-packed with many religions and beliefs. While some are followed by particular communities ; others have a rather more universal appeal. Buddhism fits into the latter class. It is a widely known religion and has many supporters around the planet. Here are some basic facts on the same to help you understand the Buddhist religion better. Buddhism can be outlined simply as a religion that is based on the teaching of the great Siddhartha Gautama. Gautama was referred to as 'Buddha' or the 'Awakened one' by his supporters. After the enlightenment, Buddha travelled and preached his teachings to the planet. He taught the way of enlightenment to the masses. These teachings formed the essentials of Buddhism, the faith. And, it went up to becoming one of the most dominant faiths of Asia. Buddhism is unlike any other religion in the world. The biggest difference is probably the indisputable fact that it focuses hard on philosophy rather than the religious sentiment. It doesn't target a specific deity ; but inspires self realization. This is also an idea followed by anti acne products such as Exposed Skin Care System, which follows a totally different but effective path to acne healing. While Buddhism doesn't employ any doctrines, it exploits the 4 Nobles Truths as its foundation. These include - the truth of suffering, the truth of the root of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering and the truth of the trail that frees us from suffering. Like most other faiths, Buddhism too has evolved over the years. About 2,000 years ago, Buddhism was split into two major faculties. These are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism is further specified into Pure Land and Zen. These 2 schools differ vis their experience of a doctrine called 'anatman '. Both these forms of Buddhism remained dominant in different regions. As an example, Theravad was more dominant in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Burma where as Mahayana was popular in Taiwan, Tibet,! Nepal a nd Korea. Today, there are several forms of Buddhism, tendai Buddhism being one of the favored ones. Even though it's a preferred faith, there are a few abundant fables about Buddhism. Most people accept that Buddhism recommends the speculation of reincarnation. However, this is not wholly right. In fact, Buddhist teachings and knowledge of rebirth is quite different from that of another religion. It is also assumed that all Buddhists are vegetarian. This again is not completely true. Though Buddhism does promote vegetarianism, it is considered as a matter of choice in some sects. That said, vegetarianism is a great thing especially if you are suffering from acne. For quicker relief, try Zenmed Derma Cleanse System. The above read is expected to impress a better understanding of Buddhism in you. About the AuthorWedding flowers are important part of a wedding. So, here I am a florist, to help you with them. Here are a few more ways to know about Exposed Skin Care System and Tendai Buddhism. Zen Buddhism: Shunryu Suzuki Roshi - Part 5 Writings from the Zen Masters. (Great Ideas) These are unique stories of timeless wisdom and understanding from the Zen Masters. With rich and fascinating tales of swords, tigers, tea, flowers and dogs, the writings of the Masters challenge every perception - and seek to bring all readers closer to enlightenment. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
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| Take the Edge Off of Anxiety With These Seven Stress Reduction Techniques Posted: 04 Dec 2011 07:00 PM PST Article by Andrew Hunter We all experience stress, at one time, or another. Stress will affect you as long as you allow it. It causes irritability and anger. Many studies show the harmful effects of stress, but you can find some relief. Technique #1: The first step of our stress relief techniques is meditation. Even ten minutes of meditation can offer relief. Meditate on the positive things in your life. This is such a simple, yet effective, stress relief technique. Inhale deeply, close your eyes, and think of serene, and peaceful things. You will feel a sense of calm, as the stress leaves your body. Technique #2: Healthy food consumption plays a big role in relieving stress. High caloric, and sugary, foods will increase your stress level, as well as creating fatigue. Eating fruits and vegetables will make a significant difference. Couple these with good carbohydrates, lean meats, and fish. You will be amazed at your energy level when eating healthily. Technique #3: Stress can also be relieved through daily exercise. When you feel the onset of stress, a brisk walk is just what the doctor ordered. The more exercise, the less stress you will feel. May I enlighten you about the release of endorphins through exercise? Endorphins create that feel-good feeling. A triple benefit; good feelings, weight loss, and looking great! Technique #4: Learning to manage your anger can drastically reduce your stress level. Pinned up anger is a cesspool for stress. Managing anger is a wonder stress relief technique. Breathe deeply when you start to feel stressed. Remain rational, never allowing the anger to take hold. There are plenty of free, and stress-targeted, anger management classes out there. Technique #5: The fifth stress relief technique is taking time for yourself. Shop, go to a spa, or simply relax. Anything; as long as you enjoy doing it. Nothing complicated; reading a book, or watching a favorite movie. Having some 'me' time is a perfect stress relief technique. In this rat race called life, alone t! ime can give you a new perspective on things. Technique #6: Stress can't coexist with positive thoughts. It's understandable that you're under a lot of stress, and that positive thinking isn't the easiest thing to do. Play a tape of positive affirmations while driving in your car. Having a positive and optimistic view on life will make it harder for you to feel the effects of stress. Technique #7: Forgive yourself for past mistakes, and mishaps; this will alleviate tons of stress. To reiterate, this will reduce your stress level drastically. Letting go of past mistakes is a very fitting stress relief technique. These techniques will provide you with healthy tools to combat stress. Notwithstanding how stress can be a daily challenge, these steps will prepare you to deal with it. The less stress you encounter, the happier you'll be. About the AuthorIf you enjoyed these tips and you'd like to discover more ways to find relaxation for anxiety check out my Panic Away review. Tips for stress reduction  |
| Posted: 04 Dec 2011 06:00 PM PST Article by Michael Mackintosh What happens when we meditate? Everyone has their own unique experience based on a number of factors, including level of consciousness, amount of practice and ability to shift consciousness states. We may begin by using the mind to convince ourselves that we are peaceful and have 'positive thoughts' or affirmations. This does have some effect but is often tedious and is inherently limited. The mind, in general, is the product of the ego. Thoughts emerge from an original 'I thought' or, in other words, 'I am so and so, I am a limited being, I live in…, I am a teacher…' etc. This is the backdrop consciousness from which all thoughts arise. To have positive thoughts about this 'limited (false) self' to empty affirmations 'I am happy,' 'I am peace,' etc. is utterly fruitless as long as the 'I', the inner self image, is based on identification with the body or anything limited, external and perishable. There is no real power until this false assumption that I am a body/person is transcended. A person, a character in a play, cannot be an Ocean of Peace, unlimited consciousness or the embodiment of endless bliss, complete and perfect, free of all karmic bandages, eternal and constantly Divine. The sense of 'I am a human being' traps us in a glass box where the ceiling is based on the limitations of human beings. We are NOT limited human beings. We are eternal spiritual beings having an experience that includes the awareness of a human being. It includes the body, the role, but the one who is consciousness, from which the body arises, is beyond all limitations of the person perceived. We simply need to drop this 'human' identity and allow the vastness of eternity to reveal itself in all its power. This is not something a human being can attain. It is what already exists eternally regardless of any external situations. It is not the ego mind thinking positive thoughts that brings this into existence. It is the nature of the eternal self. Nothing need be done t! o make t his happen. It is more a matter of moving the attention of the self away from the limiting lie that 'I am a person' to the underlying reality that the consciousness that I AM is eternal bliss already, constantly, eternally and is here now. That is as permanent and omnipresent as my true identity. Nothing except that remains throughout eternity. There is nothing to do - just release yourself from the one who is trying to meditate and open to what exists beyond the thoughts, beyond the constant shifting events of life. Life will happen by itself, so relax, let go and experience the full depth that is eternally present as yourself. The true you has never done anything wrong and is constantly an embodiment of pure love. About the AuthorBorn in South Africa, Michael spent 18 years in Cambridge, England studying meditation, philosophy, fine art, design, health and well-being. He taught Raja Yoga Meditation and Personal and Spiritual Growth and Development in Cambridge for eight years, and co-founded Mood Foods, a thriving organic raw superfood chocolate company in Europe. He has traveled extensively throughout India, Africa, Europe, and the United States. Michael organizes and runs trainings and courses in Spiritual Development and Living Your Dreams, writes articles on wellbeing and spirituality, leads meditation classes & satsangs, and conducts Gentle Warrior Retreats. Michael also provides spiritual, business & marketing advice, hypnotherapy, recording transformational meditation CDs and lots more. He is the founder of Divine Abundance LLC & Success Ultra Now LLC - both of which serve to help people take their lives to the next level. Michael is passionate about life. His mission is to help others live their highest potential with flawless ease and grace, and to help change their inner worlds allowing the outer worlds to flourish. Self realization and Krishna Consciousness  |
| Buddhist Temples an Essence of Buddhist Dharma Posted: 04 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST Article by Mr. Subrato Mukherjee Published Date-4-10-2011Unbelievable India is a terrain of numerous religions from where religious development started for humankind. Out of the various religions that evolved in India the religious faith of Buddhism was extensively acknowledged and followed. Buddhist tours India is the true essence of dharma, which defines the guidelines for spiritual transformation of soul.Buddhist tour is the most balanced values created by the complicated brain of Lord Buddha realizing the world and its creations. To spread the religion for many ages the Buddhist saints have introduced many stupa, chaitya and vihara specifically meant for practice of Buddhism. The Buddhist temples are the prime preaching medium of Buddhist doctrines and its sole motive is to spread peace across the world. The Buddhist temples are the last protector of Dharma so as to teach the generations the importance of love and unity. The famous Buddhist temples from the scores of temples are Mahabodhi Temple, Nalanda, Chaukhandi Stupa, Dhameka Stupa, and Rumtek Monastery. Mahabodhi Temple: - The temple constructed by Emperor Ashoka at Bodh Gaya in Bihar is the holy place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The UNESCO heritage site is situated beside the sanctified Bodhi tree under, which Lord meditated for years to attain the answers of existence and creations.Nalanda:- In the history of humanity Nalanda is recorded as one of the oldest residential university. The students from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Turkey, and Persia came to Nalanda for attaining knowledge of various subjects of significance. The Turkish invasion brought an end to the university and it also marked the decline of Buddhism in India for a brief period.Chaukhandi Stupa & Dhameka Stupa: - At Sarnath Chaukhandi Stupa was built in the place where Buddha and his five disciples meet for the first time to discuss the set principles of Buddhism. Dhameka Stupa is also situated at Sarnath and is strategically built by Ashoka to mark the place as the place ! where Bu ddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment.Rumtek Monastery: - India Buddhist Monasteries are the core where the real Buddhist teachings are followed and preached. All Buddhist followers visit the monasteries to realize self, meditate, get the answers of creations, and to receive the blessings of Lord Buddha. Rumtek Monastery is the world famous monastery located at the enamoring city of Sikkim and is also known as the Dharma chakra of Buddhist doctrines. For deeper and enhanced sympathetic of the religious conviction, a Buddhist tours to India, Nepal, and Bhutan is a must for all those who are diehard devotional. The popular Buddhist sites in India are Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Vaishali, and Ajanta & Ellora caves. About the AuthorAuthor is an eminent and experienced Content Writer in Travel & Tourism related topics. He has written several articles on India Tour Packages, Buddist toursand Buddhism in Indiaetc. Simply Buddhist Meditation 2010 two CD collection. Music has been used as an aid to meditation since the dawn of time. Buddhists believe that the daily practice of meditation will make them more calm, controlled and self-aware. This set of peaceful meditation music will help you to survive the stresses and strains of our frenetic 21st Century lifestyles. Simply.
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| The Essence of Breathing in Zen Meditation Posted: 04 Dec 2011 04:00 PM PST Article by Christos Varsamis In layman's term, Zen meditation is letting go of pessimistic thoughts and simply relaxing. In Buddhism, it is a contemplative discipline performed to achieve calmness in the mind and body. Most importantly, it aims for a practitioner to understand the nature of life to obtain enlightenment. To fully experience positive results of Zen meditation, there are three general methods to consider such as (1) Concentration; (2) Koan Introspection; and (3) Shikantaza. Concentration is the main emphasis to start Zen meditation. You need to focus on your breathing which is commonly ministered by counting. Let breathing be your shield to any distraction. On the other hand, Koan Introspection focuses on "koan." Koan is an entity used for meditation. "Just sitting" or Shikantaza is meditation where an object has no place, instead mere concentration is needed. Once you have chosen a specific method, then it is time for you to be aware of the common positions undertaken in Zen meditation. Burmese Position At first glance the said position looks like a simple cross-legged position. With the Burmese position, you need to situate your feet so it will be in front of one another and let both your feet relax on the floor. You need to ensure that your heels are pointed towards your pelvis. Also rested on the floor are your knees. Seiza Position Seiza is the Japanese term for correct sitting. It can be achieved by letting your lower leg kneel. Make sure that your feet are under your buttocks and that your toes are positioned in a backward manner. Half-Lotus Position Indian-style with one leg on the top of the other is the half-lotus position. To achieve such sitting position, you need to be seated on an Indian-style of sitting. After which, lift one leg without letting the legs be unfolded. Full-Lotus Position Make sure that you are seated Indian style. Then, pick one foot and take it to the crook of your knee. Let it rest, ensuring that the base ! of your knee is in an upward position. The final step you need to undertake is to bring the other foot to the other knee just like what you did on the first. After you have chosen a comfortable Zen position for you, there are other important considerations you need to carry out: - Keep your mouth close. Ensure that your tongue is calmly pushed beside the upper palate to prevent salivation and swallowing. - Keep your eyes low. Fix your eyes on the ground. - Keep your chin tucked-in. - Keep your nose in line with your navel. - Keep your torso not to lean forward or backward. - Keep your hands enclosed in a "cosmic mudra." Your dominant hand should be in an upward palm position to hold the other hand. Zen meditation concentrates on breathing. Breathe in Zen meditation is said to be the fundamental force in one's body. Together with mind, the two are considered the reality of life. With the kind of life people are in right now, Zen meditation may be a helpful act to be relieved from stress and tension. About the AuthorMore Free information about Meditation Techniques visit http://cosmosvibe.com/ Where's My Zen?: A Parable of The Ten Paradoxes Join Master Nomi as he reveals the Ten Paradoxes to three travelers seeking to find their Zen. They mystically encounter the Hut of the Blind Donkey in Japan. This small hilltop monastery where Master Nomi lives serves as the backdrop for an unforgettable night filled with enlightening experiences and ancient Zen secrets.Through the Ten Paradoxes, Master Nomi reveals that our minds are trained from birth to be overly analytical. We over-think and over-analyze; we feel we must identify and name everything, categorize, and associate to understand how each thing fits into our world. We never objectively perceive reality as it is. We perceive, act, and react as we have been conditioned through a lifetime of environmental and genetic cues. We block our intuitions, inspirations, creativity, psi functions (higher perception), and spiritual awareness. As the Master says, we simply lose our Zen and inevitably suffer the consequences and we ponder the question, "Where's My Zen?"Join Master Nomi as he reveals the Ten Paradoxes to three travelers seeking to find their Zen. They mystically encounter the Hut of the Blind Donkey in Japan. This small hilltop monastery where Master Nomi lives serves as the backdrop for an unforgettable night filled with enlightening experiences and ancient Zen secrets. Through the Ten Paradoxes, Master Nomi reveals that our minds are trained from birth to be overly analytical. We over-think and over-analyze; we feel we must identify and name everything, categorize, and associate to understand how each thing fits into our world. We never objectively perceive reality as it is. We perceive, act, and react as we have been conditioned through a lifetime of environmental and genetic cues. We block our intuitions, inspirations, creativity, psi functions (higher perception), and spiritual awareness. As the Master says, we simply lose our Zen and inevitably suffer the consequences and we ponder the question, "Where's My Zen?"
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| How To Learn Power Of Mind Techniques Posted: 04 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST Article by Lloyd Masters You may not know this, but back around the early to mid-80s, we really saw an increase in powerful messages helping the subconscious mind. Most of them dealt with anti-drug slogans and commercials that were just about everywhere. However, there was one that said, 'The mind is a terrible thing to waste.' Well, they couldn't have brought more right. The power of mind is also a power you can harness to create the life you want. The subconscious mind has unbelievable power hidden within it. If you've had the opportunity to watch, 'The Secret' you realized the potential and possibly used it to your advantage. This uses the idea of the 'power of mind'. The idea is that when you focus your mind on something, it attracts it to you. You don't even have to be expending mental energy on this goal consciously in order for this effect to work; the power of mind works anyway! Scientific studies of the subconscious mind show this more than ever. In today's world we use studies like the Placebo Effect to understand the thoughts that can run through an individuals mind. It really is true that people can 'think' themselves better. Conversely they can 'think' themselves ill. For example, how many times has your alarm gone off, or you had something happen that put you in a foul mood, and you've said 'Oh, great. It's going to be one of those days.', only to drag yourself into one bad experience after another, with each one compounding the ill will of the former? Welcome to the Law of Attraction on a personal scale. It's your own mind and your own expectations sabotaging you. Quantum mechanics talks about the 'observer effect' and how information in the system alters the outcomes. While the link between quantum mechanics and The Secret is tenuous, the same guiding principle applies to the Law of Attraction. Your ability to observe the universe alters it. Scientists now belief that the theories of Quantum physics can explain the mystery behind the psychic powers lik! e remote viewing, clairvoyance, etc. On the extreme end, this leads to solipsism, the belief that nothing is real until you observe it, and the question of 'If a tree falls in the woods, and nobody's around, does it make any sound?' If you can use the power of the subconscious mind, you can have a wonderful life. However, it all starts with you and the way you train your mind for the future. Understanding the importance that revolves around this matter is only the beginning to your new found success. In fact if we really try it is quite easy to harness the power of the mind for a better life. This is the way to do it. Initially there must be a goal set in our mind and it must be done in a scrupulous way. The goal however should not contain anything that is not clear. If it is an amount of money that we have set in our mind, the amount must be clearly etched in our thoughts. After this we must drive all our thoughts and mind activities to this goal and will soon see the result. Pull yourself away from distracting influences. Keep that effort constant. Try to clear your mind of the usual pattern of thirty different thoughts running at once. There are certain individuals who have learnt to control and harness their mind power to great extent. They remain completely focused on the goal they want to achieve in life and hence are able to shape their life in a better way. They focus on specific objectives and put all of their efforts towards their objective, using the full power of the mind. This is what makes it happen; it's more difficult than it sounds on paper, but it's something that all of us can achieve if we put our minds to it. Imagine completely altering your life by actively taking part in the influence your mind has on your reality. Say that you wanted a new house. You want that new house so much that it almost becomes an obsession. You think about it all the time, you have even planned the landscape and the color of the master bathroom. Every day you st! art out with a list of tasks that will bring you closer to your dream of home ownership. You plan it, you think about color schemes and landscaping. Eventually, this will boost your performance at work; it'll encourage you to save, or to cut back your credit card debt. How would you feel if all of the sudden your dream home came on the market and you were able to afford it? Pretty good right? What if a year from now you actually own it? These are the kinds of things you can do to make your life a whole lot better. If there is anything we recommend as a goal, it has to be to take a vacation. Everyone needs them, especially if you never take one. In a nutshell our mind is really a powerhouse that has no bound to impossible things it can do. We should not thus have any doubts to the capabilities of the human mind. About the Author Explore the phenomena of using your mind power by visiting the popular http://www.mindpower-info.com website. Find out about using the power of your mind for yourself and get the subconscious mind FREE video and audio DVD Package. Leading@Google: Michael Carroll Letting Everything Become Your Teacher: 100 Lessons in Mindfulness Yes, there actually is a way to let everything become your teacher, to let life itself, and everything that unfolds within it, the "full catastrophe" of the human condition in the words of Zorba the Greek, shape your ongoing development and maturation. Millions have followed this path to greater sanity, balance, and well-being, often in the face of huge stress, pain, uncertainty, sorrow, and illness.In his landmark book, Full Catastrophe Living, Jon Kabat-Zinn shared this innovative approach, known as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), with the world. Now, in this companion volume, 100 pointers from that groundbreaking work have been carefully selected to inspire you to embrace what is deepest and best and most beautiful in yourself. Whether you are trying to learn patience, cope with pain, deal with the enormous stress and challenges of the age we live in, improve your relationships, or free yourself from destructive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, these deceptively simple meditations will remind you that you have deep inner resources to draw upon, the most important of which is the present moment itself. Regardless of your age or whether you are familiar with the healing power of mindfulness, this insightful, inspirational guide will help you to honor, embrace, learn from, and grow into each moment of your life. From the Trade Paperback edition.Yes, there actually is a way to let everything become your teacher, to let life itself, and everything that unfolds within it, the "full catastrophe" of the human condition in the words of Zorba the Greek, shape your ongoing development and maturation. Millions have followed this path to greater sanity, balance, and well-being, often in the face of huge stress, pain, uncertainty, sorrow, and illness. In his landmark book, Full Catastrophe Living, Jon Kabat-Zinn shared this innovative approach, known as mindfulness-based stress reduction ! (MBSR), with the world. Now, in this companion volume, 100 pointers from that groundbreaking work have been carefully selected to inspire you to embrace what is deepest and best and most beautiful in yourself. Whether you are trying to learn patience, cope with pain, deal with the enormous stress and challenges of the age we live in, improve your relationships, or free yourself from destructive emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, these deceptively simple meditations will remind you that you have deep inner resources to draw upon, the most important of which is the present moment itself. Regardless of your age or whether you are familiar with the healing power of mindfulness, this insightful, inspirational guide will help you to honor, embrace, learn from, and grow into each moment of your life. From the Trade Paperback edition.
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In middle school, I thought it would be cool to play a musical instrument, and picked the clarinet. My wise parents rented one rather than buying it, and I started practicing. (In the garage because it sounded pretty screechy.) After a week or two of doing scales, I got bored and picked my way through a couple easy songs. But after a few more weeks, I couldn't go further because I hadn't laid a foundation with scales and similar exercises – so I quit in frustration. To this day, I regret never learning to play a musical instrument.
Hilary Stout: On a Friday morning in October — Oct. 21, to be exact — Mark Trippetti, an advertising consultant from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, surrendered his laptop and iPhone to storage at a remote mountainside center in southern Colorado and prepared to drop out of human contact for a month.
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