Showing posts with label meditation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meditation. Show all posts
Monday, June 7, 2010
Under Stress you can Harvest Life Gracefully by listening and enjoying a Mountain Stream
I recommend these two videos to watch on your own TV. They are great stress relievers. You are bound to feel peace and contentment from watching either one of these wonderful DVD. .
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully-positive living, spirituality and learning who you are
Harvest Life Gracefully- positive living and spirituality learning who you are
A simple story sharing a simple and profound exercise which can prepare us for meditation on emptiness.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall - Who Am I? A Preview to Emptiness Meditation
Author: Christopher Boozell
Once upon a time, a young man decided to pursue the path of enlightenment. He asked many people if they knew a teacher who could teach this path. Everyone in his village told him to seek out a particular guru in the next village.
He did so, asking the spiritual teacher to become his master and show him the path to enlightenment. "Certainly", replied the guru. "Here is what you do - every morning when you get out of bed, look at yourself in a mirror and ask yourself 'who am I?' If you do that, soon you will be enlightened."
"What?" cried the young man. "That's silly - it would never work!"
"Hmmm," said the master. "OK. Maybe you should go see the master another village over. I hear he is even wiser than I am."
A bit disappointed that first master wasn't able to help, and a little insulted that the man would even have suggested something so foolish, the young man went to the next village where he found the second guru. "Will you help me find enlightenment?"
"Of course!" said the second guru. "But I must warn you - the path is very demanding. You will be challenged in ways you can't even imagine right now. Are you willing to give up everything you have and do whatever I say?"
"Yes! Yes!" said the young man. Finally! This teacher obviously knew what he was talking about. So the young man settled into discipleship with the second guru, dutifully performing every meditation, every prayer, every ascetic act demanded of him.
After five years of rigorous study and deep meditation, the guru said to the young man, "You have been a fine student, and done everything I have assigned you with excellence. Are you ready for the final instruction?"
Excited, the student assured his master that he was ready for this last step to enlightenment. His guru told him, "OK, here it is: every morning when you get out of bed, look at yourself in a mirror and ask yourself 'who am I?' If you do that, soon you will be enlightened."
"W-what??" sputtered the young man. "That's it? You could have told me that five years ago!"
"You're right, I could have - but you were not ready to hear, yet. That is why you came to me, instead of doing what the first teacher told you."
Beside being mildly humorous, this story has a couple of lessons for us, if we'll hear them.
The spiritual path is not necessarily complicated, or esoteric. Zen teachings work to drive this point home relentlessly: "Stop fooling around. You are living smack dab in the middle of Truth - just get it!" In other words, it is possible to come to spiritual realization without jumping through tons of hoops.
As simple as spiritual Truth can be to experience, it usually isn't easy and we often can't get at it without significant preparation. This is why study, meditation, prayer, and ethical behavior are so critical to our development. Such practices are intended to give us the perspective necessary to recognize what has always been in front of us.
On top of that, the exercise offered by both teachers in this story really is useful as a pre-cursor to meditating on emptiness. Try it the next time you look in a mirror. Look yourself in the face and ask, "Who am I?"
This is not a rhetorical question. Answer yourself. Who are you? There will be a lot of quick, easy answers: you have a name, you are a husband or wife, a son or daughter, a father or mother, an employee, a friend, an enemy... You are many things. When you have run through those obvious answers, which come easily and are just as easily dismissed as incomplete answers, keep going. Keep digging. See what you find. Where is the truest you, the ROOT you?
Do this every day. At first, you could feel a bit narcissistic, but you'll soon realize this exercise is not even close to that kind of self involvement. (By the same token, any temptation to criticize perceived flaws will quickly fall away). As you continue searching for anything concrete on which to rest the answer to this question of who you are, your idea of self can begin to change. The storyline about your own reality will morph, possibly leading to a fresh relations with yourself, the world around you, and the Divine.
Ultimately, this is just another technique, as is meditation. But every time you use one of these special practices to make a shift in perspective, you become healthier. See where this one can take you.
Vigilate,
Chris
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/meditation-articles/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-who-am-i-a-preview-to-emptiness-meditation-2365157.html
About the AuthorFor more information on Christian meditation check out Christopher Boozell's website: http://www.tantricchristianity.com/lesson_signup.html where you may sign up for a free mini-course on meditation! You can also read related to emptiness meditation in my blog.
A simple story sharing a simple and profound exercise which can prepare us for meditation on emptiness.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall - Who Am I? A Preview to Emptiness Meditation
Author: Christopher Boozell
Once upon a time, a young man decided to pursue the path of enlightenment. He asked many people if they knew a teacher who could teach this path. Everyone in his village told him to seek out a particular guru in the next village.
He did so, asking the spiritual teacher to become his master and show him the path to enlightenment. "Certainly", replied the guru. "Here is what you do - every morning when you get out of bed, look at yourself in a mirror and ask yourself 'who am I?' If you do that, soon you will be enlightened."
"What?" cried the young man. "That's silly - it would never work!"
"Hmmm," said the master. "OK. Maybe you should go see the master another village over. I hear he is even wiser than I am."
A bit disappointed that first master wasn't able to help, and a little insulted that the man would even have suggested something so foolish, the young man went to the next village where he found the second guru. "Will you help me find enlightenment?"
"Of course!" said the second guru. "But I must warn you - the path is very demanding. You will be challenged in ways you can't even imagine right now. Are you willing to give up everything you have and do whatever I say?"
"Yes! Yes!" said the young man. Finally! This teacher obviously knew what he was talking about. So the young man settled into discipleship with the second guru, dutifully performing every meditation, every prayer, every ascetic act demanded of him.
After five years of rigorous study and deep meditation, the guru said to the young man, "You have been a fine student, and done everything I have assigned you with excellence. Are you ready for the final instruction?"
Excited, the student assured his master that he was ready for this last step to enlightenment. His guru told him, "OK, here it is: every morning when you get out of bed, look at yourself in a mirror and ask yourself 'who am I?' If you do that, soon you will be enlightened."
"W-what??" sputtered the young man. "That's it? You could have told me that five years ago!"
"You're right, I could have - but you were not ready to hear, yet. That is why you came to me, instead of doing what the first teacher told you."
Beside being mildly humorous, this story has a couple of lessons for us, if we'll hear them.
The spiritual path is not necessarily complicated, or esoteric. Zen teachings work to drive this point home relentlessly: "Stop fooling around. You are living smack dab in the middle of Truth - just get it!" In other words, it is possible to come to spiritual realization without jumping through tons of hoops.
As simple as spiritual Truth can be to experience, it usually isn't easy and we often can't get at it without significant preparation. This is why study, meditation, prayer, and ethical behavior are so critical to our development. Such practices are intended to give us the perspective necessary to recognize what has always been in front of us.
On top of that, the exercise offered by both teachers in this story really is useful as a pre-cursor to meditating on emptiness. Try it the next time you look in a mirror. Look yourself in the face and ask, "Who am I?"
This is not a rhetorical question. Answer yourself. Who are you? There will be a lot of quick, easy answers: you have a name, you are a husband or wife, a son or daughter, a father or mother, an employee, a friend, an enemy... You are many things. When you have run through those obvious answers, which come easily and are just as easily dismissed as incomplete answers, keep going. Keep digging. See what you find. Where is the truest you, the ROOT you?
Do this every day. At first, you could feel a bit narcissistic, but you'll soon realize this exercise is not even close to that kind of self involvement. (By the same token, any temptation to criticize perceived flaws will quickly fall away). As you continue searching for anything concrete on which to rest the answer to this question of who you are, your idea of self can begin to change. The storyline about your own reality will morph, possibly leading to a fresh relations with yourself, the world around you, and the Divine.
Ultimately, this is just another technique, as is meditation. But every time you use one of these special practices to make a shift in perspective, you become healthier. See where this one can take you.
Vigilate,
Chris
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/meditation-articles/mirror-mirror-on-the-wall-who-am-i-a-preview-to-emptiness-meditation-2365157.html
About the AuthorFor more information on Christian meditation check out Christopher Boozell's website: http://www.tantricchristianity.com/lesson_signup.html where you may sign up for a free mini-course on meditation! You can also read related to emptiness meditation in my blog.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Harvest Life Gracefully a healing tip from abuse
Harvest Life Gracefully a healing tip from abuse
Survivors typically experience feelings of terror and being overwhelmed. Many experience flashbacks. I find that guided meditation and having a breath prayer helps to reduce anxiety and to center individuals suffering from trauma.
Breath Prayer And Guided Meditation Help Abuse Survivors
Author: Judy Brutz
Survivors typically experience feelings of terror and being overwhelmed. Many experience flashbacks. I find that guided meditation and having a breath prayer helps to reduce anxiety and to center individuals suffering from trauma.
Find a safe place where you are able to pray and experience a guided meditation. Prompts for the guided meditation are included below.
1. Imagine that Jesus or a Holy Presence, who conveys love, acceptance, comfort, and welcome, is by your side. Breathe in the sacredness. It's all right if you do not sense the presence of the sacred. Breathe in and out slowly, noticing how you breath feels. Rest. Allow yourself to relax.
2. Quietly, softly, you are asked, "What is it you want?" You know this is a spiritual question and you consider what your greatest need is. What do you say?
3. You are asked, "What name for God do you prefer to use?" You answer. What name do you say?
4. Take the name and the phrase and play with them, trying different sequencing of words until there is an easy rhythm and your Breath Prayer resonates with you. Notice how the prayer flows with your breathing.
5. Write down your prayer. Place reminders, post-its, in many places, bathroom mirror, a dot on your watch. Make it a practice to say your prayer as you go through doorways, or when you look at the time, or when you go to your computer, or when you pick up your keys. What makes sense for you?
6. Here are examples of Breath Prayers that my hospice patients formed. "God be with me always." "Bless me, Lord." "Jesus, heal me."
To heal and be transformed, seek the help you need from spirituality, social workers, and other sources. You do not need to be alone, or trapped by the trauma you experienced.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/breath-prayer-and-guided-meditation-help-abuse-survivors-2191593.html
Survivors typically experience feelings of terror and being overwhelmed. Many experience flashbacks. I find that guided meditation and having a breath prayer helps to reduce anxiety and to center individuals suffering from trauma.
Breath Prayer And Guided Meditation Help Abuse Survivors
Author: Judy Brutz
Survivors typically experience feelings of terror and being overwhelmed. Many experience flashbacks. I find that guided meditation and having a breath prayer helps to reduce anxiety and to center individuals suffering from trauma.
Find a safe place where you are able to pray and experience a guided meditation. Prompts for the guided meditation are included below.
1. Imagine that Jesus or a Holy Presence, who conveys love, acceptance, comfort, and welcome, is by your side. Breathe in the sacredness. It's all right if you do not sense the presence of the sacred. Breathe in and out slowly, noticing how you breath feels. Rest. Allow yourself to relax.
2. Quietly, softly, you are asked, "What is it you want?" You know this is a spiritual question and you consider what your greatest need is. What do you say?
3. You are asked, "What name for God do you prefer to use?" You answer. What name do you say?
4. Take the name and the phrase and play with them, trying different sequencing of words until there is an easy rhythm and your Breath Prayer resonates with you. Notice how the prayer flows with your breathing.
5. Write down your prayer. Place reminders, post-its, in many places, bathroom mirror, a dot on your watch. Make it a practice to say your prayer as you go through doorways, or when you look at the time, or when you go to your computer, or when you pick up your keys. What makes sense for you?
6. Here are examples of Breath Prayers that my hospice patients formed. "God be with me always." "Bless me, Lord." "Jesus, heal me."
To heal and be transformed, seek the help you need from spirituality, social workers, and other sources. You do not need to be alone, or trapped by the trauma you experienced.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/breath-prayer-and-guided-meditation-help-abuse-survivors-2191593.html
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