Max Relax

My daily reflections

2012-02-12T16:00:00.001-08:00

I have decided to make videos out of my daily reflections. Every day I get s o many e mails thanking me for the insights, love and timeliness of them. I find it amazing how a message will show up on the very day a person needs it.

Here is my first video. I hope you enjoy it and if you have any feedback I’d love to hear it.

http://youtu.be/wqPYEXSJOW0

Read the full post here »

Source: http://blog.beliefnet.com/angelsonyourshoulder/2012/01/my-daily-reflections.html

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Listen to This!! Good Stuff...

2012-02-11T21:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/listen-to-this-good-stuff.html
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Bodhi Day Message of 2011: The Gift of the Dharma.

2012-02-11T05:00:00.001-08:00

PHOTO CREDIT: Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree gazing upon the morning star. Image provided by the American Public Broadcasting Service, which was used in their documentary titled, "The Buddha."

Today marks the day that Buddha found his way out of the maze of suffering. Otherwise known as his "enlightenment." Countless Buddhists, worldwide, mark this day each year with personal reflection, meditation, and gratitude. For me, while the actual moment of enlightenment is to be honored, the essence of my celebration on Bodhi Day is that Buddha determined to share his discoveries in the first place!! Upon breaking free of the prison of the mind, he questioned sharing this information.

He wasn't sure if he could be an effective teacher. Remember, he was just emerging from the life of a hermit aesthetic who had given up on society and organized spirituality. Throughout his laborious practice, he had studied under many spiritual teachers, only to realize that true liberation comes from within. No amount of teaching can replace personal insight and awareness achieved through meditative reflection. Given this reality, he wondered if sharing the particulars of his discovery would even make sense or gain interest in a society that was so immensely ingrained in the pursuit of worldly desires.

Why would they listen to some barely clothed hermit who just wandered out of the forest talking about achieving spiritual freedom from just sitting still? Why wouldn't they ignore someone who would not only tell them that the way they'd been living for eons would never make them truly happy, but that even worse, it was causing them deep suffering!! Would he simply be wasting his and their time? But, luckily for us, the profound and unrelenting compassion that comes with the liberation of enlightenment compelled Buddha to share his discoveries. His compassion for those trapped in the suffering of materialism won out.

One of his realizations during his final night of searching was that he was interconnected to all beings. He couldn't have achieved his liberation had it not been for the aid given to him by others who came before him. Thus, given his understanding, it would be like the brain not sharing life-saving information with the rest of the body for him to not offer his wisdom to those would seek him out. It was up to the individual to decide what to do with the information once learned.

I believe that Buddha would be the first one to say that celebrating him on this day is kind but that the center of our focus on this day should be the Dharma itself. Perhaps he would politely remind us of its timelessness and that it is not something be created, but discovered. I think he would not want to be worshiped, because the Dharma belongs to no one and everyone at the same time. It is like oxygen or thermal heat -- universal and timeless. It is not something to own, or sell, or claim as solely yours. That would be like saying you own a patent on the sun. So, the Dharma itself is what I celebrate on Bodhi Day. For Buddha's part, I feel gratitude that he chose to sacrifice the rest of his life to share the discoveries he realized that night, under the Bodhi tree (the scientific name of a Bodhi tree is a banyan fig tree).

Thus, instead of a having a Christmas tree during this month of December, we get into the American, holiday season by decorating a traditional "Christmas" pine tree with Buddhist themed ornaments. Including, a star at the top of the tree that I made from local pine twigs, which signifies the morning star that Buddha saw during the last minutes of the night before his first day as a Buddha. And, at the base of the tree, we place a Buddha statue to signify Buddha meditating under the Bodhi tree. I hope you had a peaceful and renewing Bodhi Day (Rohatsu)!!

~I bow to the Buddha within all beings~
Source: http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/bodhi-day-message-of-2011-gift-of.html
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New Beginnings

2012-02-10T05:00:00.001-08:00
This is a time for new beginnings. The past is behind us and it is time for us to move forward. Most people don’t strive for new beginnings because the unknown is scary. Even though people may not like where they are at the moment (job, relationship, anything), it is still familiar, comfortable, predictable … [...]
Source: http://www.exploremeditation.com/new-beginnings/
health benefits of positive thinking holistic spirituality

Heaven and Hell

2012-02-09T02:00:00.001-08:00
Heaven and Hell; they both live within us. This may be a challenging thought but I really believe we create our heaven or our hell based on our perception. We will all have difficult times to face on our journey. I believe the trick is not to dwell there any longer than we have to. [...]
Source: http://www.exploremeditation.com/heaven-and-hell/
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Who is Creating Your Life?

2012-02-07T20:00:00.001-08:00
You woke up this morning in some location in the world, on some sort of bed. You may, or may not have a partner or kids to share your life with. You may, or may not have a job....
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EvolvingBeings/~3/6_NY8pMHp8Q/
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"The Longer I Stayed, The Larger It Grew."

2012-02-06T21:00:00.001-08:00
Early in his career, artist Alberto Giacometti moved into a Paris studio that measured only about sixteen feet square. He didn't expect this to be a permanent situation, but he stayed for the next thirty-eight years. "The longer I stayed,"...
Source: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2012/01/the-longer-i-stayed-the-larger-it-grew.html
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Non-resistance in Meditation

2012-02-05T18:00:00.001-08:00
Comment from Kathy — “I have trouble meditating in general. I can relax completely but then the slightest things disturb me. Things like my eyelids fluttering or an itch. My limbs become restless. Can you advise any strategy to help deal with that so I can stay in that relaxed state?” ———- 11-19-2011 — Meant [...]
Source: http://www.meditationoasis.com/2011/11/18/non-resistance-in-meditation/
how to meditate how to stay positive

So, What Has President Barak Obama Actually Accomplished So Far? Anything? Take a Look...

2012-02-04T22:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/so-what-has-pres-obama-actually.html
meaning of zen meditation

Meditation Techniques May Guard Against Unhappiness

2012-02-03T15:00:00.001-08:00
When the mind begins to wander, a person can become very distracted. This not only makes it more difficult for them to deal with their everyday responsibilities, it can also lead to profound unhappiness. A distracted mind is unable to focus on the present moment, making it difficult to enjoy anything fully. Two of the [...]
Source: http://www.exploremeditation.com/meditation-techniques-may-guard-against-unhappiness/
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Listen to This!! Good Stuff...

2012-02-02T15:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/listen-to-this-good-stuff.html
spiritual guide spiritual guides

China’s bloody crackdown on Tibetan protesters escalates, as self-immolations continue

2012-02-01T18:00:00.001-08:00
Xeni Jardin (BoingBoing): Ethnic Tibetans throughout Tibet this week held some of the largest demonstrations against Chinese rule in four years. Chinese forces responded by shooting protesters. Up to 5 are said to have been killed and more than 30 wounded, according to Tibetan advocacy groups. On January 9, a 42-year-old monk became the latest [...]
Source: http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/news/chinas-bloody-crackdown-on-tibetan-protesters-escalates-as-self-immolations-continue
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How “letting go” helps us get things done

2012-01-31T14:00:00.001-08:00
Joe, a student in my online class, was worried that meditation would hurt his career. He works in a very competitive business where everyone is single-mindedly pushing and driving hard all the time. The whole idea of “letting go” seemed absurd in that context. But at the same time his stress and anxiety levels were [...]
Source: http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/how-letting-go-helps-us-get-things-done
spiritual breakthrough spiritual consciousness

Celebrating 5 years of our podcast

2012-01-30T12:00:00.001-08:00
On November 7, 2006 we published our first Meditation Oasis podcast episode. We had no idea that 5 years later, there would be over 8 million downloads and that people all over the world, of all ages and backgrounds, would become listeners. Our podcast meditations have been used in ways and in places we would [...]
Source: http://www.meditationoasis.com/2011/11/07/celebrating-5-years-of-our-podcast/
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Make a Joyful Noise...

2012-01-29T21:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/joyful-noise-how-to-beat-bluesand-reds.html
spiritual journal spiritual knowledge

Manifesting from Dreams to Reality in 2012

2012-01-28T23:00:00.001-08:00
As the days turn lighter and brighter and our vibrations quicken, we'll soon be able to manifest things faster. There's one caveat. Be careful what you wish for. Dreams will come true faster. So staying aligned with the highest good is essential. What's your deepest desire? What's your wildest dream? Maybe it's time to put those thoughts and feelings into action. The...
Read the full post here »
Source: http://blog.beliefnet.com/awakeintheworld/2012/01/manifesting-from-dreams-to-reality-in-2012.html
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The Power of Sacred Spaces

2012-01-27T22:00:00.001-08:00
Your sacred space is where you will find yourself again and again. - Joseph Campbell The sacred space at Assisi, Italy played a key role in the inspiration for the polio vaccine. Jonas Salk was at St. Francis’ birthplace when he conceived of the vaccine that has saved millions of lives. He attributed his inspiration in large part to the power of Assisi and its architecture. Salk felt so certain of the power of place to inspire intuition and uplift the mind that he eventually...
Read the full post here »
Source: http://blog.beliefnet.com/awakeintheworld/2012/01/the-power-sacred-spaces.html
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New Beginnings

2012-01-26T18:00:00.001-08:00
This is a time for new beginnings. The past is behind us and it is time for us to move forward. Most people don’t strive for new beginnings because the unknown is scary. Even though people may not like where they are at the moment (job, relationship, anything), it is still familiar, comfortable, predictable … [...]
Source: http://www.exploremeditation.com/new-beginnings/
self development self empowerment

Jesus didn’t die for your sins

2012-01-25T08:00:00.001-08:00
Jesus never wanted to be a savior. He wanted to show each of us how to live, love and act as he did. A sin in archery refers to missing the mark. Every time we do anything but love, every time we judge we definitely miss the mark. Jesus taught about love and acceptance. He beseeched his followers to...
Read the full post here »
Source: http://blog.beliefnet.com/angelsonyourshoulder/2012/01/jesus-didnt-die-for-your-sins.html
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"I Feel Discouraged By My Messy House."

2012-01-24T03:00:00.001-08:00
2012 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2012 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2012 a happier year -- and even if you haven’t officially signed up for the challenge -- welcome! Each week in a video, my friend...
Source: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2012/01/2012-happiness-challenge-for-those-of-you-following-the-2012-happiness-project-challenge-to-make-2012-a-happier-year-and.html
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How to Live a Bold Life Without Being Loud

2012-01-23T09:00:00.001-08:00
This is a guest post from Stuart Mills. "Remember that life is short and death is long." – Fritz Shoulder Some people associate being bold with being loud, extroverted, and outgoing, and that if we don’t have any of these qualities then we aren’t confident within ourselves. If you are [...]
Source: http://theboldlife.com/2012/01/live-bold-life-loud/
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Are You Better Off Because Rich People Have Created So Many Jobs? Not Necessarily...

2012-01-22T01:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/ddd.html
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World's Largest Crocodile.

2012-01-21T07:00:00.001-08:00
A monster 21-foot (6.4-metre) saltwater crocodile, believed to be the biggest ever captured, has been trapped in the southern Philippines after a spate of fatal attacks, officials said Tuesday.

James: The giant croc weighs in over a ton!! Yet, what interested me most was that the people in the village chose not to kill the beast despite its violent past. They decided instead to build a nature park to include the crocodile to increase eco-tourism to the area and protect a species that has been over-hunted in the area. I applaud their efforts to make a tragic situation less tragic for all involved. There are unfortunately a lot of people in this world who would have killed that animal and displayed it like a grotesque trophy, so I bow in deep gratitude to those villagers in the Philippines. May their example lead to better and better treatment of animals in this world.

We are reminded by the Buddha that we are interconnected to all living beings, so animals are no different than our cousins. Thus, when ever possible they should be treated with the same compassion and care that one would show a human being. Sadly, however, some society's still allow the death penalty in certain criminal cases--including, unfortunately, my country of the United States. So, the plight of a misunderstood carnivore, such as the crocodile, is even less of a concern. Hopefully, however, we can continue to raise awareness that we can protect ourselves from dangerous animals without killing them all.

~Peace to all beings~
Source: http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/worlds-largest-crocodile.html
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Make a Joyful Noise...

2012-01-20T09:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/joyful-noise-how-to-beat-bluesand-reds.html
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Evolving Being in Action: Lynn Fang

2012-01-19T16:00:00.001-08:00
Hello everyone… I’m Lynn Fang, and I generally describe myself as an eco-conscious writer who dreams of a more harmonious and sustainable world. I also play the role of biologist and graphic designer. I write about my adventures in sustainable...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/EvolvingBeings/~3/8kE9FtinE0A/
spiritual development spiritual direction

Your body

2012-01-18T08:00:00.001-08:00
We often take better care of our car than we do our body. Our bodies are our vehicles, our home during this life and our temple - the home for our spirit. Take a very deep breath and feel your body. Start with your breath. Feel it as it fills your body with much needed oxygen. Then start...
Read the full post here »
Source: http://blog.beliefnet.com/angelsonyourshoulder/2012/01/your-body.html
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"Volunteering Made Me So Happy That I Altered the Course of My Life."

2012-01-16T15:00:00.001-08:00
Happiness interview: Conor Grennan. I met Conor Grennan at a book event in Canada—he was there for his book, Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal, and I was there for The Happiness Project....
Source: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2012/01/ive-never-seen-somebody-come-back-from-exercising-in-a-bad-mood.html
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Nuclear Weapons Don't Make The World Safer.

2012-01-15T12:00:00.001-08:00
The above is a nuclear weapon 600 times stronger than the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It is mercifully the last of the most powerful nuclear weapons in the United States of America. There is a profound saying in America about the greedy desires of building a massive military in the delusional belief warfare creates peace; nobody truly "wins" in a war. The original quote speaks of Air Force bombers but I altered it a bit to address the issue of nuclear weapons. To paraphrase, "It will be a great day when people get all the money they need for healthcare and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a nuclear weapons."

There is another quote that I like about the insanity of unchecked military aggression; "Arms are for hugging, not killing."

~I bow to the Buddha within all beings~
Source: http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/nuclear-weapons-dont-make-world-safer.html
spiritual pathways spiritual peace

Free Soothing Music for Yoga

2012-01-14T16:00:00.001-08:00

Music for Yoga
Soothing Music
A recent collection that was added to the free yoga and meditation resources was the Free Meditation Music Downloads. In this collection you will find yoga and meditation music from a variety of artists and musicians. Included in that collection are also mantras, chants, prayers and hymns for you to enjoy and use in you spiritual practice.
Some of the music that is quite popular and often downloaded is the following...
Inspiration Yoga Music MP3 Download
Meditation Music Free MP3 Download - Dreamscape
Free Downloadable Meditation Music - Gayatri Raga
Today I would like to share with you another great track, which is great for practicing Yoga. It is a soothing track and so can also be used for relaxation, inspiration or as preparation for meditation.
This music comes from the Kundalini Yoga tradition, which incorporates music and mantra as a major aspect of its practice. Kundalini Yoga has not just given us great teachers and yogis, but has also been a source of great artists and musicians.
Kundalini Yoga Musician - Simrit Kaur
The artist whose work I am sharing with you is Simit Kaur and you will find her enchanting and beautiful music on her website at Simrit Kaur Music.
Here is how her music and band are often described:
Known for its eclectic sound, the band is gaining world recognition for the uniquely fresh arrangements combined with a contagious uplifting energy and ancient appeal. Attendees often compare the sound to world chant fusion music meets Sound Tribe Sector 9 and Pink Floyd. The Simrit Kaur Band has established itself as a group with incredible energy, groove and vision while simultaneously debunking preconceived notions of the traditional band.
The band is anchored by vocalist Simrit Kaur with her rhythmic arrangements and hypnotic melodies. Simrit studied both Western and Eastern classical vocals and is an accomplished percussionist.
Yoga Music Benefits:
If you have ever attended a Kundalini Yoga class, you will be well aware that music is an integral part of the practice and if the teacher is experienced and intelligent, they will be able to use the music to enhance your yoga practice. In my classes, I design my CDs and playlists such that they start with slow to medium tracks, then move to energetic tracks as we approach the tail end of Kriyas, when things are getting really challenging, and finally have soothing and relaxing music for the relaxation periods done at the end of the class.
In this way the music really helps set the internal and external atmosphere for the practice appropriately. The free download below is great for such relaxation periods, flowing yoga movements or warm-ups.
Also, for those who really enjoy this great blend of etheric melodies and consciousness altering music of Simrit's please find her tour details below as well. There is nothing like the energy of a live concert, so if you can attend go for it. Please note her concerts are right around the corner, so be sure to act quickly!
Free Music for Yoga Download
To download this Soothing Yoga Music Track please RIGHT CLICK the link below and choose "Save As…" to save to your computer.
Please note this track is 19 Megabytes big, so please download to your computer to play it, please don’t play it directly from the website repeatedly, as that will devour my bandwidth quickly :-). Thank you.
RIGHT Click and SAVE to Download Free Music for Yoga MP3
To get more great yoga and meditation music visit Simrit's site here ---> Simrit Kaur Music
If you are a musician or artist and would like to share your work with the world as well, please email me at anmol@anmolmehta.com.
Live Music for Yoga - Simrit's Concert Dates:
December Tour dates:
2 - Cedar City, UT at Sage Hills Retreat Center
3 - Las Vegas, NV at the Ganesha Center
6 - Eugene, OR at Eugene Yoga
8 - Ashland, OR at Hidden Springs
9 - Sebastopol, CA at The Temple at Hummingbird Hill
10 - Nevada City, CA at Haven Underground
15 - Santa Monica, CA at Bhakti Yoga Shala
17 - San Diego, CA at the World Beat Center
If you know of any artists or albums which provide great music for yoga, please share that information with us in the comments section below.
Connect w/ Anmol

Related posts:
Free Yoga Music Downloads | Inspiration MP3
DreamScape MP3 | Free Meditation Music MP3 Download
Free Downloadable Meditation Music for Relaxation
Free Meditation Music MP3 Downloads
Serenity Prayer – Free MP3 Download of the Beautiful Wahey Guru Hymm
Source: http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2011/12/02/free-soothing-music-for-yoga/
articles on positive thinking articles on spirituality

People are all the same…

2012-01-13T19:00:00.001-08:00
The Cheers theme song has been playing in my head today ever since meeting a podcast listener while doing my grocery shopping today. “You wanna go where people know, people are all the same, You wanna go where everybody knows your name.” When you have an online presence, or people hear your voice on a [...]
Source: http://www.meditationoasis.com/2011/08/16/people-are-all-the-same/
spiritual articles spiritual attunement

Why Jehovah's Witnesses Do Not Celebrate Christmas

2012-01-12T21:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/why-jehovahs-witnesses-do-not-celebrate.html
being spiritual benefit of positive thinking

How to Manifest Your Desires | Manifestation Techniques

2012-01-12T05:00:00.001-08:00

Desire Manifestation
Techniques to Manifest Desires
With the new year upon us and many of us having forged resolutions and goals, I thought this would be a good time to summarize all the techniques and wisdom from previous articles on how to manifest your desires. This knowledge and these techniques can be very useful, not just in helping you manifest your intentions, but very useful in helping you determine what indeed is worth manifesting in the first place.
Below are the best articles on the topic of manifestation from past years. I have provided a summary of each of these articles below, and you can click the title link to read the articles which are of interest to you.
1. The 4 Key Laws of Manifesting Desires:
If you are interested in manifestation, law of attraction and intention manifestation this article is a must read. It summarizes the topic of desires end to end. It discusses the mysterious states of desirelessness and witnessing, and also explains what kind of desires one ought to pursue and what kind of desires the Universe helps fulfill. This is one of the most popular and important articles on the topic of manifestation.
2. Secret to Manifesting Abundance and Wealth:
In this followup article to the 4 Key Laws of Manifestation, I discuss what I consider the fifth law of manifesting desires. This article goes into the difficult topic of security and how it needs to be approached in order to have the Universe taking care of you and fulfilling your desires.
3. Relax and Let the Universe Fulfill Your Desires:
Along the lines of the fifth law of manifestation, this article explores the value and practice of "going with the flow". The great challenge and benefits of this approach are discussed, and it includes a funny real life event of mine to illustrate the points.
4. Meditation for Making Money and Success:
This article details a visualization meditation often used for manifesting money, success, or anything else you feel you need in your life. It exploits the power of the Third Eye and the mind to assist with the manifestation.
5. Infinite Energy and Prosperity Meditation:
Here you will find details of the powerful kundalini yoga technique to bring upon you blessings and rewards. There is also a video demo of how to practice this potent technique.
In addition to the above articles, the following posts also explore manifestation and mind power, and you might find them useful in helping you realize your desires.
Visualization Technique to Manifest Desires
Weight Loss Meditation
Mind Power to Manifest Desires and Intentions
If you have used techniques to help you manifest your desires successfully, please do share them with us in the comments section below. I am sure everyone will benefit from your feedback.
If you enjoy any of the articles of Mastery of Meditation and Yoga, please do share them with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, E-mail, etc. I appreciate your love and support.
Connect w/ Anmol

Related posts:
Effective Visualization Technique to Manifest Your Desires and Dreams
Mind Power to Manifest Intentions & Desires Instantly
Secret to Manifesting Abundance and Wealth
The 4 Key Universal Laws For Manifesting Desire If You Absolutely Must
Weight Loss Visualization Meditation w/ 3SRB Breathing Technique- Guided Meditation Book- Ch 6
Source: http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2012/01/09/how-to-manifest-your-desires-manifestation-techniques/
effect of positive thinking effects of positive thinking

Man’s request to use his garage as a meditation gathering room is denied

2012-01-11T09:00:00.001-08:00
Deena DiBacco: Wednesday night, Collingswood [New Jersey] Zoning Board members unanimously denied a borough man’s use variance application, aimed at using his detached garage as a gathering place for group meditation. Applicant Stephen Tumolo, who owns the said property at the unit block of Coulter Ave., holds a master’s degree in Theology and currently teaches [...]
Related posts:

Not a joke: Barbie’s 2011 dream house has solar panels, meditation room

Kaiser’s new meditation room reflects shift away from chapels in U.S. hospitals

Meditation chapel reflects diversity of spiritual culture

Source: http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/news/mans-request-to-use-his-garage-as-a-meditation-gathering-room-is-denied
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The Clutterfat Challenge: Transform Your Living Space in a Month

2012-01-09T23:00:00.001-08:00
Post written by Leo Babauta. Look around your living space, and imagine that half of your clutter were gone. In one month, it will be. You’ll be living a beautiful, simple, clutter-free life. Along with my friend Courtney Carver, I’ve created the Clutterfat Challenge — we challenge you to get rid of half your clutter [...]
Source: http://zenhabits.net/clutterfat/
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Yoga Breathing Helped Me Lose Weight – Pat’s Success Story

2012-01-08T20:00:00.001-08:00

Yoga Helps You Lose Weight
Help for Weight Loss
Next time someone asks you, "Will yoga help me lose weight?" You can say, "Yes, it sure can!" And for proof you can go ahead send them this article link :-). In fact, as you will see below, you don't even need a full fledged yoga workout in order to lose weight, you can do it by simply practicing Yogic Breathing!
Today I received an email from a long time reader who had undertaken the serious practice of Kapalbhati Yoga Breathing Exercise with the objective of burning fat and losing weight. So did Kapalbhati help her lose weight? It sure did and here is her success story in her own words.
Kapalbhati Helped Me Lose Weight - Pat's Story:
Pat Writes:
Hi Anmol,
Remember me? I corresponded with you a number of times, but have not done so in over 6 months -- I think it has been that long. Anyway, here are my wonderful Kapalbhati yoga breathing weight loss results so far, as I promised you that I would let you know what they are from time to time. Well, I started doing Kapalbhati yoga breathing in Mid or late Feb. of 2011--about 11 months ago. At that time, I weighed 210 pounds. I just weighed myself today, and find that as of today, I have lost 17 pounds, and now weigh 193 pounds. Naturally, I am very happy and hope that you will be happy for me!!!
I have long since made Kapalbhati my own, and will most definitely use it for the rest of my life for continued weight loss and then for low weight maintenance. My goal is to get down to, and then to maintain 120 pounds, for the rest of my life. So, that means, I have about 73 or so more pounds to lose. I expect that that goal might take maybe 4 or 5 years for me to attain, but that does not matter to me because I am going to do Kapalbhati yoga breathing for the rest of my life, anyway, and I know that the longer it takes me to lose all of the weight I still have to lose, the better off I will be health wise. So, these are my Kapalbhati breathing yoga weight loss results that I have to report to you so far.
Yoga Helps with Weight Loss:
Pat is not the only one I know who has had success with losing weight with Kapalbhati. There are others who too have enjoyed success, with some have completely transformed their body, with Kapalbhati being the core of their weight loss program.
Although Pat's testimonial is evidence that yoga breathing exercises in and of themselves are effective for weight loss, I would suggest a program which includes other aspects of yoga and Ayurveda to further accelerate your weight loss process. With Kapalbhati alone, Pat has been able to shed 17 pounds over the course of 11 months. This type of gradual weight loss is safe, natural, healthy and permanent. The weight that comes off, stays off. If you include yoga poses and exercises, along with an appropriate Ayurvedic Diet, you can aim to comfortably lose 5 pounds or so a month.
Below are more yoga resources to help you achieve your weight loss goals. I hope you will find them useful and I look forward to receiving your email saying, "Yoga has helped me lose weight too :-)".
Yoga Resources to Help You Lose Weight:
Yogic Breathing:
Along with Kapalbhati, I would suggest Bhastrika Pranayama for Burning Fat and Kundalini Yoga's Breath of Fire as effective weight loss techniques.
Ayurvedic Diets:
I would suggest following the Ayurvedic Diet to Burn Fat and also using the these 5 Healthy Weight Loss Tips from Ayurveda to help you lose weight.
Yoga Sets:
For Beginner's or those who are obese I would suggest one of the following yoga set for weight loss.
Best Yoga Poses for Weight Loss
Best Morning Yoga Stretches - Surya Namaskar
For those in better shape, I suggest the following yoga set.
Online Yoga Exercises to Lose Weight
Meditation for Weight Loss:
Emotional eating and food issues are often the cause of obesity and being overweight. To combat such conditions, use the following meditation techniques to promote self love and resolve emotional problems.
Emotional Healing Through Meditation
Ayurvedic Treatment to Stop Emotional Eating
Ayurvedic Herbs for Weight Loss:
You can also supplement your weight loss program with Ayurvedic Herbs. Here is one product in particular designed to help you lose weight naturally and safely - Ayurvedic Herbs for Weight Loss - Yogic Slim.
If you have achieved successful weight loss through yoga or other natural means, please do share your stories with us in the comments section below. I am sure it will be inspirational and helpful to all.
If you enjoy this or any other article on Mastery of Meditation and Yoga, please do share it with your friends and family via Facebook, Twitter, E-mail, etc. I appreciate your love and support.
Connect w/ Anmol

Related posts:
Healthy Weight Loss Via Yoga, Breathing & Meditation Program- Online Course #104
Can You and How to Lose Weight with Yoga? – Part 1
Healthy Ayurveda Diet To Burn Fat & Lose Weight
Sweet Ayurveda Treatment to Stop Emotional Eating & Lose Weight
Bhastrika Yoga Breathing Exercise to Burn Fat for Natural Weight Loss & More
Source: http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2012/01/05/help-me-lose-weight/
importance of positive thinking improve positive thinking

Getting a Buddhist Tattoo.

2012-01-08T01:00:00.001-08:00
I've written on this subject before but seeing how it's in the news again, I figured it was time to revisit the topic:

As our ancestors emerged from the ancient mists of the Neolithic age, they carried with them a deep reverence for spirituality. It was as beneficial to their survival as their closely guarded fire. Even to their rudimentary brains, they understood that the universe around them was special, and radiated with a spiritual energy. All of nature seemed to be pulsating with a vibrant glow that echoed a timeless message of divine power. In reverence of that energy, they began marking their bodies with tattoos. These also served as messages before the time of written texts and languages. Tales of their history and spiritual beliefs were laid out upon their bodies as a sort of semi-permanent record.

It is a tradition that is carried forth by modern humans who mark their bodies to honor ancestors and their spiritual beliefs. They often carry inspirational meanings for those who wear them. Some believe that tattoos are a sign of disrespect for a body that is considered a sacred temple. However, for those who believe in the power of tattoos, they see it a bit differently; those with tattoos often agree that the body is a sacred temple, and that they are honoring that temple by adorning it with sacred and personal symbols of spiritual inspiration.

The belief by some Buddhists that tattoos are disrespectful of our bodies is odd given that Buddha spoke of not attaching too much importance upon the body due to it's impermanent nature. Despite this, some Buddhists in Thailand are decrying Buddha tattoos done in their country as insensitive; which puzzles me a bit because Buddha didn't even want his image to be used at all!! So, if getting a Buddha tattoo is disrespectful than so is adorning Buddhist temples with gilded Buddha statues (as is common in Thai Buddhist temples). The bigger lesson here, in my view, is to not get so attached to an image that we become angry, distressed or otherwise thrown into suffering over an image that is nothing but a symbol.

So, if you want a Buddha tattoo, I say, go for it. Just don't expect that tattoo to bring you long term happiness, or forever stay beautiful. Just like all things of this world, it will one day fade and completely disappear with the death of your body. I personally feel it's also important not to get a tattoo with the intention to "impress" people. Then it becomes purely about the ego. In addition, seeing it as something that protects you from suffering is a misguided view within the Buddhist teachings; as there is no magic in this world to help us avoid doing the work to over-come suffering. There are no short-cuts in samsara. No symbol, chant, ritual or prayer will take the place diligently following stepping stones of the Dharma toward ultimate liberation from suffering. No one can do the work for us. No symbol has the power to help us avoid the process of personal refinement.

A tattoo is no different than any of the helpful symbols in life; they are fingers pointing at the moon. In other words, they are helpful but only as guide posts pointing the way. The guide posts can't transform your suffering into the pure freedom of Nirvana. But, still, tattoos aren't any less disrespectful than a bird pooping on a Buddha statue in the temple garden!! Or, the ornate carvings that add to the beauty of most Buddhist temples. I don't believe that we shouldn't have a little fun in this life, either. We shouldn't take ourselves so seriously all the time.

~Peace to all Beings~
Source: http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/getting-buddhist-tattoo.html
spiritual light spiritual living

Awaken Kundalini with Yoga Spinal Twists

2012-01-07T06:00:00.001-08:00

Awakening the Kundalini
Yoga to Awaken Kundalini

Kundalini Yoga exercises, poses and sets are designed to dissolve blockages in the gross and subtle body, and promote the flow of energy throughout all its systems and dimensions. Ultimately, upon reaching certain critical thresholds, large amounts of energy can be released from the base of the spine and felt rising up the central column. This phenomenon is typically referred to as "Awakening the Kundalini" or "Kundalini Rising" and can be quite a memorable experience for those who encounter it.
One should keep in mind though that Kundalini Yoga, regardless of whether you are experiencing full blown Kundalini Awakening or not, is benefiting your mind and body in enormous ways. Done regularly, this practice will help you increase your energy, make your strong, fit and flexible, give you clarity and bless you with peace and joy.
There are various exercises which have a reputation of triggering kundalini to awaken and I have written about my own experience with one such exercise is the article - Explosive Kundalini Rising in Class Today. The particular movement I was doing that day, is not the exercise I am going to present a video for below. It was actually an exercise called Camel Ride and it is part of the famous Spinal Warm-up Series of Kundalini Yoga. Visit that set to see the details of how to do that particular pose.
One tip if you are planning to use these poses to awaken kundalini is that you have to do them with considerable intensity and passion, in order to generate the necessary spark. So be ready for giving it your all.
If you are not a hard core Yogi, but are instead a serious meditator, take heart, you are also very likely to have the very same kundalini awakening experiences as the yogis. In fact, my first experience with explosive Kundalni, was not from physical yoga, but actually from meditation.
For those interested in this approach to awakening kundalini, you should definitely read the following article - Kundalini Meditation | Power of the Energy.
Yoga to Awaken Kundalini
Today's video article teaches you how to do Kundalini Spinal Twists. You will get full details of this exercise in the following article - Lower Back Exercise | Yoga Spinal Twists. Of course, this exercise has plenty of benefits, especially for your back and spine, so whether you are interested in awakening kundalini or not, this is a great exercise to learn and practice.
In the video below I have demonstrated several arm and hand positions for doing this exercise. The one that is generally indicated for stimulating kundalini, is the one where your fingers are interlaced and your arms are behind your back, and pulled away from your body as far as possible. Twisting in this position adds additional pressure to the base of the spine. The resting place of kundalini shakti.
As usual, this video will be added to the Free Yoga Exercise Video Series hosted here on Mastery of Meditation and Yoga. This is a great resource for free yoga videos, but I would suggest another free resource for those interested in kundalini awakening as well, and that would be the Free Online Kundalini Yoga Kriyas collection. There you will find full yoga sets, which are great for optimizing your body, mind and energy.
For Yoga and Meditation Certification Students and Teachers:

To fellow yoga teachers, if you have developed your practice sufficiently, I do suggest trying these exercises with greater pace and intensity. Experiencing the awakening and rising of kundalini yourself, will give you a very special insight into this mysterious and powerful energy, and it will help you a great deal in understanding and guiding students who come upon such experiences as well.
This exercise is part of the Yoga Teacher's Training and Certification Program and is certainly suitable for those taking the Meditation Certification Program as well.

Spinal Twists to Awaken Kundalini Video Details:
The video gives a full demonstration of Yoga Spinal Twists.
It teaches 3 different arm and hand variations for this exercise.
It discusses the benefits of this pose, along with other details about the technique.
Please note if you have trouble viewing the video from here, I have provided the YouTube link as well which you can use.
Yoga to Awaken Kundalini - Spinal Twists

DIRECT YOUTUBE LINK --> AWAKEN KUNDALINI WITH YOGA SPINAL TWISTS

Connect w/ Anmol

Related posts:
Lower Back Exercise – Yoga Spinal Twists
Advanced Kundalini Yoga Technique to Awaken Kundalini
Spinal Warmup Yoga Exercises – Free Book of Kundalini Yoga Poses & Kriyas – Ch 1
Free Online Kundalini Yoga Class Video – Part 3
More Easy Yoga Exercises – Simple Yoga Twists
Source: http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2011/12/07/awakening-the-kundalini-with-yoga-twists/
guided spiritual meditation health and happiness

How to Eliminate Excuses and Fear in 2012

2012-01-06T06:00:00.001-08:00
I made too many excuses this year. I wanted to create more videos. I did not. I wanted to be more active on social media. It’s been an on again, off again endeavor. I wanted to learn photo shop. I did not. Only one thing has stood in my way. Fear. I lacked courage and I failed to [...]
Source: http://theboldlife.com/2011/12/eliminate-excuses-fear-2012/
spiritual deliverance spiritual development

Listen to This!! Good Stuff...

2012-01-05T05:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/listen-to-this-good-stuff.html
beyond positive thinking buddhist

2012: so much to do, such things to be

2012-01-03T19:00:00.001-08:00
(♥) I'm afraid of 2012. No, I don't think the world is going to end. In fact, I think my world is just beginning. And, oddly enough, that's more intimidating than the end of the world. I am excited by...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PositivelyPresent/~3/haQjDWaoAwg/2012-such-things-to-be.html
children s spirituality chilling

cheers to a new year!

2012-01-02T22:00:00.001-08:00
(♥) "Cheers to a new year and another chance to get it right." Oprah Winfrey Happy 2012! I have a feeling this is going to wonderful year filled inspiration and exploration. I'm looking forward to sharing my journey through this...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PositivelyPresent/~3/iwuogpW1K78/cheers-to-a-new-year.html
keys to positive thinking learn positive thinking

Post Wedding Stress Syndrome - the Sweetness and the Bitterness

2012-01-01T19:00:00.001-08:00

Vivi-Mari & Martin

Disclaimer: the title is made up and has no base in medical research.

So, I am now a wife and Mrs! Did I ever think that day would come - no! I look at my rings in amazement.

Married!

Leaving the beaches I had come to love since Martin came to live with me was bittersweet, and I still miss them. They meant less to me while I was alone; sharing gave them a new lustre altogether and it was great to get away from everything and breathe sea air when needed, just a short walk away. It was a cold and in this respect an unusually magnificient winter. The summer on the other hand was very warm, and we tried to go out on the cliffs as much as possible despite the arduous task of emptying the house. People in Wales figure I must be used to the cold... I laugh. Finnish houses are double or triple glazed and the summers are usually quite predictable and often warm. How I will survive in the cold old house in Wales is a mystery, but I knew what I signed up for...

The melancholy of the ice breaking in spring, Hanko

Just before the move, in Hanko

Enjoying the Baltic Sea

We packed like crazy, as we are both diligent and wanted to make sure my things wouldn't get damaged in transit - we also wanted order so that packing the things up in a three storey house would be relatively painfree. We brought most things I own, as in the end replacing stuff is seldom an option when you're not well-to-do. It took a lot of effort to get a reasonably priced lorry and quotes, and to figure out a schedule for everything. We had to bring my three cats and the process was complicated beyond belief... in the end all went well and though we couldn't afford going on the same VIP flight as them the timing with another cheaper air company was perfect. It was the strangest thing to finally see them at the other end, after all the paperwork and worrying that they would be okay and let into a country with such strict rules! During all this, we also planned our wedding which was to take place three weeks after our arrival in the UK. I don't know... maybe a date in late September would have been better... but then we didn't know we'd be delayed and the venue we had chosen did not have other weekends open in the summer.

We went to the neighbouring town once a week to try on the dress I had made by seamstresses as well as the engagement ring that we eventually decided to design ourselves since we couldn't find a suitable existing one. The processes with these items was excruciating, as I was not quite confident that it would all come out alright in the end. It's not like we had designed dresses and rings before! In retrospect, things went quite smoothly nonetheless and the results were both good and well priced. Martin's Victorian style suit arrived on time and fit him perfectly.

Green velvet dress in natural materials only, made in collaboration with Anita and Mikaela in Ekenäs, made thanks to my dad's kind contribution. The process was tough but we ended up with something that did not feel tight anywhere and that hid my flaws.

The Welsh bride

When we finally arrived in Wales we were too busy trying to get the house into some kind of shape before our guests started arriving. All throughout the summer I went through a lot of painful processes regarding other people. On the one hand we had to decide who to invite and how to put guests up in the house. On the other, some people didn't let us know whether they were coming or not, and I was hurt by the nonchalance. In the end, some people promised to come but either told us at the last minute they couldn't afford it, didn't arrive at all without explanation, or just screwed things up. I was left with less guests than anticipated but despite my frustration I was by that time so exhausted I was glad the house wasn't as full as I had optimistically envisaged it. Those who did come were very helpful and cheerful and the ambience was good. My mother was happy here as well. Thanks to a select few to whom it occurred to help us we managed to get everything ready on time. Why someone like me who has limited energetic resources had to create a custom made wedding may seem silly... yet we both had a vision and were determined to make it come true. We were also on a budget and yes, we did stretch our limits both financially and energetically.

Ambience

The Venue by night - a renovated chapel on a farm (photo courtesy of Adrian Roberts)

In the end, what Martin and I were in charge of turned out really well, but many things left for others to take care of because we simply did not have the time and energy, were disappointing. The taxi driver whose minibus we had booked for the day to take people to the venue had decided to give up his company without telling us about it. Luckily we found out - but then he did the job alongside with other jobs and many people had to wait for a long time in the rain or had to give up altogether because the taxi didn't appear within a reasonable amount of time. A local journalist was one of those who never made it. My dad who is 78 had to sit with his bad hips on wet ground until one of the guests took him and his party back to their hotel. The caterers that we had to go for due to lack of inoffical options (DM Klassic Catering: http://www.dinewithmichelle.co.uk/) had promised a fabulous buffet but it turned out that all the wishes I had stated in a letter to them and discussed in person at the venue beforehand were ignored. They cost more than normal caterers and so we expected higher quality ingredients. I told them what a Scandinavian buffet/smorgasbord is like but they did not lay all the foods out at once as I asked them to. I had particularly looked forward to the trifle and the chocolate cake but the former was appalling and nothing like what I had asked for, and the former was served long after most people had left. We had these in lieu of a wedding cake. We had asked for a selection of Welsh cheeses but these were not brough in until all the foreigners had already left and then the caterers had the nerve to send us a substantial bill due to some imaginary "late addition". They also judged the space poorly and so a lot of my shabby chic decoration that I had spent months collecting in junkshops disappeared when they laid out their food. Trestle tables they had asked for were left leaning on the walls of the renovated chapel where the party was taking place... I felt very frustrated with my condition because I had not been able to make sure that everything was alright before the party started - I needed my rest.

Some of my decorations before it all had to be arranged

Trying to quickly rectify the badly arranged fruitbowls!

Question is, how do you stop ruminating over the negatives? As someone said, it's not uncommon to feel so overwhelmed after such enormous and very personal efforts and to feel disappointed that everything wasn't as perfect as one would have hoped, though many things (such as the music) were better than expected. In my case, the efforts I have made and the physical transition to another country were humangous! The truth is, the party was a great success and most people did not suffer too much from the shortcomings or didn't know about them. It just went by so quickly and before I knew it I was rushed to the stupid taxi that wasn't going to be flexible as expected. We went to a "sort of posh" hotel but learnt the following day that we had been given the wrong information about check-in time and could have stayed at our own party much longer. I was tossing and turning in bed, whishing we had made other arrangments altogether. Had we decided to stay and party much longer, others would have stayed too. Now it seemed that we made such incredible preparations for a fairly short party. But you only get one go at something like this. And you have to live with the choices you had to make months before. You don't normally get a second chance either! This is one of the hard facts of life, maybe a lesson.

Darn rain!

We didn't even have time to write our vows so we improvised
(photo courtesy of Adrian Roberts)

And yes, although I had tried to make sure I didn't have any physical ailments on the Friday and Saturday of our wedding, I did come down with a headache from all the stress and Martin had tachycardia... it rained heavily and it was difficult to get my aging ex-photographer Mom to take decent pictures of us! But in the end, I guess we do have a good collection as a couple of friends also helped out in this respect.

Married!
The Townhall was beautiful and the ceremony was nicely conducted. It really felt like "this is it".
We played "What a Wonderful Li(f)e" by The Real Tuesday Weld on entering.

Now everyone in Swedish speaking Finland knows...

When we went back to pack up I cried floods of tears because it was all over. Martin looked perplexed. I said, I know I have complained but the truth is it was something so beautiful yet so ephemereal, and I couldn't bear it! Why must the good things in my life always be so very transitory?! There was yet another thing for me to process. I am way too scared of losing the good things... and way too incapable of enjoying them while they last.

After the party the clearing up

After the months of pressure and the two fleeting days of celebration, I certainly had a bad bout of postwedding blues. It dissipated over the course of the following week but it doesn't mean there isn't much to process still. When I had to deal with yet another person's complications I got extremely enraged. Martin thought all sorts of things about me that were anything but positive until I started screaming at the top of my voice for 15 minutes. I can't take anymore!! He held me and comforted me with wise words of understanding and accepting that I had so much disappoinment with people building up over the past few years and it all came crashing down on me. As we all know, expectations are harmful but how do you stop having them? To date I haven't seen any convincing evidence that this is entirely possible without taking very radical measures.

Just the two of us...

I even had fantasies about Martin's evil ex, who stalked me online last winter and seemed unable to let go, having put a curse on us to make the wedding days as rainy and arduous as possible. He wants me not to become bitter and cynical, and this is probably one of my spiritual challenges today. What do you do when people are so unreliable, you think the best of them or at least give them the benefit of doubt, and you even entrust them with things that are important to you - and so many let you down. Some because they don't understand better, but many because all they want is to extract money from you (the people who did help us, who did my dress and my ring as well as the people who own the farm of our venue are however not a case in point, and this must be kept in mind). Martin says he has been through a similar process and dealt with the fact that you simply have to accept the way people are rather than close off altogether. Obviously, we are all different and for some, like me, this is a hard chunk to swallow and it comes late in life. I do not know why it all hurts so much and how I can somehow gather myself and be less emotionally affected by other people's actions and behaviour. Things you cannot change are things you must accept, it's as simple as that. I also feel guilty, of course, because maybe it's just me and there's a sordid reason why I have attracted certain people of low character...

The wedding especially has shown what people are made of, and not all of it is pretty or the way I would expect it to be. I do also realize that I mirror myself in that I have little tolerance with complicated people like myself, as dealing with myself is quite enough. I am not as tolerant as I'd like to be, and quite harsh in some ways. I'm fed up with ignorance or idealism. I actively seek that which seems somehow "normal" so that I can find my balance and my place in this new life situation. I need to find myself again, fine balance and sleep better, and redefine who I think I am as my self has changed. Only then can I possibly find a new way of relating to people. I hope, at least.

Some of the lovely gifts given by old and loyal friends of mine -

the samovar is ours but we received the gorgeous tea glasses.

After the wedding I felt empty because first there was so much hard work and preparation and then there was "nothing". We had quickly bought a car, I quickly learned to drive in left-hand traffic with a British car on tiny and winding country roads, and we showed guests around - then they were all gone and the house was quiet. Well, there is that so-called real life when you have to start dealing with fixing up and renovating a house, adapting, making money so you'll survive, and trying to get money-hungry companies off your back (nasty surprises that took me right back to my former life...) - while one would expect to feel happy, in reality it's all quite daunting. But I also felt a sort of spiritual emptiness though. We talked about our beliefsystems as we walked along the beaches in Finland, and we also made plans for collaboration on a creative level. I'm glad we did because then came the circus and spirituality was at the bottom of the list of priorities. After the rumba, I felt nothing for any spiritual issues and that despite the fact that I've moved to a place where many spiritually minded people live and from what I can see, in general it's not very different from the way Martin and I look at things. But then I thought... spiritual emptiness is often a good thing, it means there is room for something new. What this will look like only the future can tell. First we have to make our life work for us on the mundane level.

That was it... now real life begins with the process of acklimatization and the unfortunate debts.

All photos are copyrighted!

Source: http://vivi-mari.blogspot.com/2010/09/post-wedding-stress-syndrome-sweetness.html
good attitude good karma

What You Don't Know About Christmas--And Probably Should!

2011-12-31T14:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-you-dont-know-about-christmas-and.html
spiritual guidance spiritual guide

Are You Better Off Because Rich People Have Created So Many Jobs? Not Necessarily...

2011-12-30T16:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/12/ddd.html
earth based spirituality effect of positive thinking

World's Largest Crocodile.

2011-12-30T01:00:00.001-08:00
A monster 21-foot (6.4-metre) saltwater crocodile, believed to be the biggest ever captured, has been trapped in the southern Philippines after a spate of fatal attacks, officials said Tuesday.

James: The giant croc weighs in over a ton!! Yet, what interested me most was that the people in the village chose not to kill the beast despite its violent past. They decided instead to build a nature park to include the crocodile to increase eco-tourism to the area and protect a species that has been over-hunted in the area. I applaud their efforts to make a tragic situation less tragic for all involved. There are unfortunately a lot of people in this world who would have killed that animal and displayed it like a grotesque trophy, so I bow in deep gratitude to those villagers in the Philippines. May their example lead to better and better treatment of animals in this world.

We are reminded by the Buddha that we are interconnected to all living beings, so animals are no different than our cousins. Thus, when ever possible they should be treated with the same compassion and care that one would show a human being. Sadly, however, some society's still allow the death penalty in certain criminal cases--including, unfortunately, my country of the United States. So, the plight of a misunderstood carnivore, such as the crocodile, is even less of a concern. Hopefully, however, we can continue to raise awareness that we can protect ourselves from dangerous animals without killing them all.

~Peace to all beings~
Source: http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/worlds-largest-crocodile.html
spiritual insights spiritual inspiration

The Gift of Life

2011-12-29T05:00:00.001-08:00
I would like to remind you of something I often remind myself of. Life may not be wrapped in bows, and it’s not always pretty … but it is still a gift. We need to be willing to take delight in the unwrapping each day and taking pleasure at each stage of the unwrapping until [...]
Source: http://www.exploremeditation.com/gift-of-life/
articles on spirituality atheist spirituality

Wanted: Urban Monks.

2011-12-28T02:00:00.001-08:00

"All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else."-Buddha

I really like this striking image--the pagoda speaks of the timelessness of the Dharma while the buildings project the essential, utilitarian-nature of day-to-day modern life. Perhaps some might try and crop out the buildings from this picture believing they take away from the pagoda. But nothing in this world exists in a vacuum--everything exists in relation to everything else. If the world were full of nothing but serene, Buddhist, pagodas full of chanting monks, who would provide the upkeep of this world that must get done regardless of the Dharma? We need "urban monks," as well; lay people who bring the serenity of the pagodas to office buildings, prisons, schools, apartments and every nook of this world. We can touch places and lives that a lot the ordained monks can't ever reach.

I use to want to be a "traditional monk" because I believed it would provide a haven from a world that I perceived of as pure disaster. I didn't realize then how foolish and naive I was being. I was only seeing the disastrous suffering in the the world because I was filtering out the positive stuff. Through meditating upon the pitfalls of perceptions, I became aware that I was projecting the disaster that I was ignoring inside my mind, out onto the world. So, of course, all I was seeing was a chaotic world!! It is a delusional trick that we perform, so that we can blame the world for all our troubles, and not accept our responsibility.

It doesn't mean we're bad people for making these mistakes. You don't blame the baby for shitting in it's pants, do you? It's simply being a baby--and so are we. We are simply being a typical but loveable infant who is trying his/her best to grow. It's natural for a baby to make a mess of things--that's how they learn. How are you going to know that some things are less helpful in your life until you make a mistake?

So, it's o.k. to shit your pants from time to time--spiritually speaking, of course. Shit, itself, isn't bad either. To paraphrase my teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, without shit, we wouldn't have roses!! Our mistakes, fertilize the seeds of our good intentions to grow roses of happiness and peace. The key is to not blame yourself for doing something that human's can't help but do--make mistakes. This world itself is imperfect and flawed, so how could we not make mistakes? You are trying, and trying is a pro-active action. A lot of people are too afraid to try, so go easy on yourself.

PHOTO CREDIT: "Hong Kong Pagoda, and buildings" by Stuart Miles for Free Digital Photos.

~may all beings know peace~
Source: http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/wanted-urban-monks.html
spiritual health articles spiritual help

Opportunities are knocking

2011-12-26T15:00:00.001-08:00

At any given moment, infinite oportunities exist. There are those you consciously notice and those you do not. That which you are ready for suddenly takes centre stage in your life. Ever notice how and when your conscious focus is shifting? What is your priority right now? Be aware of a variety of influences on your beliefs. Every 'ah-ha' moment is a teacher, an opportunity for shifts of attention, a gentle reminder all is always well from a vantage point always within reach. Notice what happens as feelings of being centered now appear.

"The ego is nothing other than the focus of conscious attention." - Alan Watts

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DreamBuildersAustralia/~3/hf0qk39q_Sg/opportunities-are-knocking.html
personal development positive affirmation

Which 'Love Language' Suits You? And Your Partner?

2011-12-25T17:00:00.001-08:00
Over the weekend, I read Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages, and I found it fascinating. (I have to confess: the book caught my attention because it's always clustered near, and above, The Happiness Project on the New York Times...
Source: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2011/12/over-the-weekend-i-read-gary-chapmans-the-five-love-languages-and-i-found-it-fascinating-i-have-to-confess-the-book.html
music and spirituality new age spiritual

The Real (and Gruesome) Thanksgiving: A Little Bit of Troubling History

2011-12-25T00:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/11/real-and-gruesome-thanksgiving-little.html
children s spirituality chilling

Doggie, Kittie: It's All In Your Point of View...

2011-12-24T11:00:00.001-08:00

Source: http://spiritfeast.blogspot.com/2011/11/doggie-kittie-its-all-in-your-point-of.html
spiritual meditation techniques spiritual meditations

Top Yoga Poses with Pictures for Daily Practice

2011-12-23T14:00:00.001-08:00

Yoga Poses with Pictures
Top Yoga Poses
In our busy lives, it is not always possible to do 2 hours of yoga daily. It would be great if we all had the time for such devoted practice, and even if some of us were lucky enough to be able to accommodate such a practice, there would inevitably be phases where time would be limited and we would have to make do with a shorter practice. Today I would like to present you with a great set, composed of many of the top yoga poses, which is ideal for meeting the needs of a quick yet complete yoga routine.
The set below incorporates many of the best yoga poses and exercises out there and is quite complete, but you can supplement it with other poses if you feel that there are some aspects that this workout does not cover. An example of such additions, would be adding Spinal Twists for the Lower Back, Frog Pose for Toned Legs or any of the exercises from the Simple Yoga for Upper Body Training Set. Each of the links I have cited above will take you to an article with details of those poses, complete with pictures and illustrations.
To help you customize your set and include such additions, you can use the tips from the article: 6 Guidelines of How to Create Yoga Sets.
You can see from the poses illustrated below, that this set of exercises already targets a wide range of muscle groups and works on many different systems and organs. It also includes some of the most important yoga poses and poses that according to yoga you should try to do daily. For this reason, it is one of my favorite sets and very useful for regular maintenance and upkeep.
This set will be added to our Free Online Yoga Sets and Kriyas Collection, which already has 22 wonderful yoga sets to help you develop and expand your yoga practice. All the yoga sets in the collection also come with pictures of the yoga poses and in many cases, videos are also included.
The building blocks for these sets are of course the yoga exercises, and complete details for each exercise can be found in the Illustrated Kundalini Yoga Exercises Collection and the Illustrated Hatha Yoga Poses Galleries. So if you are looking to enhance this set even further, you can find many more top yoga poses in those collections to do so with.
In addition to just the yoga poses that make up this set, I have added a yoga breathing exercise for you to start this set with and suggest that you end with a meditation of your choice. Incorporating these practices into your routine will ensure that you are not just enjoying the physical benefits of yoga, but are also getting the mental, emotional and spiritual benefits that these sister sciences bestow.
For Online Yoga and Meditation Certification Students:
For those students enrolled in the Yoga Certification Program or Meditation Teacher's Training Course, this set is great to do in a beginner's or intermediate yoga class, as I have seen that most students are able to practice these poses or at least do the modified versions quite well.
Each exercise title and image below are links which you can click for additional details about that pose, including benefits, cautions, modification and more pictures.
Please share any poses and exercises you enjoy. Thank you.
KUNDALINI YOGA SET FOR EVERYDAY HEALTH AND FITNESS
1. 4 Part Deep Breathing Exercise:
Along with the yoga sets and poses collections indicated above, the website also hosts the Free Online Yoga Breathing Exercises Collection. From that collection one of the best exercises to get you energy going is the 4 Part Deep Breathing exercise.
How to Do 4 Part Deep Breathing Exercise:
To do this exercise, sit up straight to ensure that the spine is erect.
Then inhale in 4 parts. This means to break up 1 inhalation into 4 parts, such that by the fourth sniff you have completely filled your lungs to capacity.
After inhalation, exhale in 4 parts, such that by the fourth sniff you have emptied your lungs.
Now start to breathe in again in 4 parts and repeat the cycle
Start with 1 minute and work your way up to 3 minutes or more. Take breaks as you need.
2. Archer Pose for Power and Confidence:
Next come into Archer Pose. This pose is a great exercise for building confidence and energy. In addition, it helps strengthen your legs and opens up your energy pathways. Do this exercise with full focus and concentration.
Start with facing to the left and hold for 1-3 minutes and then switch and face the other way for an equal amount of time.
Do the pose with Breath of Fire or with Long Deep Breathing.

Kundalini Yoga Archer Pose Illustration
3. Forward Bending Yoga Pose:
Next come into one of the best yoga poses for healing and longevity, Back Stretching Pose, also called the Forwarding Bending Pose.
For this pose, make sure you stretch gently at first and only accent the stretch after you feel yourself warming up a little. It is fine if you can't reach all the way to your toes as shown in the illustration below. Simply reach forward as far as you comfortably can.
Hold for 1-3 minutes doing either Long Deep Breathing or the Breath of Fire.

Yoga Forward Bend Picture
4. Camel Pose for Optimal Health:
Camel pose in and of itself is great for maintaining good health as it has a long list of wonderful benefits, so it is only logical that such a useful pose would be part of a daily maintenance set.
For those who are new to yoga, don't feel intimidated by this pose, as it has some very good modifications that are very suitable for beginner's to do. You can find those modified versions in the article (simply click the title to be taken to the article). The full article has pictures of the modified versions of Camel Pose as well.
Hold this pose for 1-3 minutes doing either Breath of Fire or Long Deep Breathing.
Camel Pose Illustration
5. Stretch Pose for Core Abdominal Power:
No Kundailni Yoga set is complete without have an exercise for the abs and core, and the most basic pose for working on this critical region is the famous Stretch Pose.
Do this pose daily and you will enjoy the great benefits of energy, willpower and good digestion that this pose bestows.
Stretch Pose is typically done with Breath of Fire, so try to develop that combination.
Try to build up your time to 3 minutes. In the beginning you can take frequent breaks while doing the pose, or use the single leg modification until your abs get strong enough. The picture below shows the pose being done with both legs up.
Kundalini Yoga Stretch Pose Picture
6. Bow Pose for Eternal Health:
Perhaps one of the most famous yoga poses is Bow Pose. This is another superb pose and certainly one that is excellent to do on a daily basis.
Once you get proficient with the basic version of Bow Pose, try the advanced version where you rock back and forth on your stomach.
For this pose, you can start with doing just 15 seconds and building up from there. Doing this pose with just normal breathing is fine.

Yoga Bow Pose Illustration
7. Shoulder Stand for Brain Fitness:
If we are creating a set for daily practice, it only makes sense that it would have an inversion and a pose which is good for brain health. This pose is Shoulder Stand. Use your hands to support your lower back as I have shown in the illustration below.
Only do this pose for a maximum of 5 minutes a day and also be careful of your neck when practicing it.
While holding the pose just do normal breathing.

Shoulder Stand Pose
8. Meditation of Your Choice:
To Complete this set, select a meditation of your choice from the Free Online Meditations Collection or Free Kundalini Yoga Meditations Collection.
Try to practice your meditation for at least 5 minutes and build up to 20 minutes over time.
The Top Yoga Poses for Everyday Practice is a great set to do daily in order to stay strong, flexible, energized and fit.
Connect w/ Anmol

Related posts:
Basic Yoga Poses for Balance
Basic Yoga Poses for Weight Loss – Part 2
Yoga Positions for Beginners for Daily Morning Practice – Kundalini Yoga Morning Wakeup Series
Best Morning Yoga Stretching Poses – Surya Namaskar
5 Excellent Yoga Poses for Stress Relief
Source: http://anmolmehta.com/blog/2011/11/21/top-yoga-poses-with-pictures-for-daily-practice/
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Normality versus Abnormality - Defining the Difference

2011-12-22T23:00:00.001-08:00

We all question our normality at times. As human beings we are bound to have negative feelings that we're not proud of. We don't always act rationally with sufficient restraint, and so on. Of course, normality is a very vague term that only refers to a generally accepted consensus in the environment we know best. But as such, it does have some validity and we should allow ourselves to learn the lessons this very fact has to teach us. It's about us in relation to others - how can we get along better? Let me say first of all that the fact that we question ourselves is already a sign of mental health, because our inner censor is at work. This is not the case with deeply disturbed people who need to enhance their self-importance to ridiculous degrees in order to maintain a sense of self. To acknowledge flaws would be too catastrophical to them. They wouldn't be able to live with the suspiscion that they are not the perfect human beings they wanted to be. If we feel so inclined, we can feel sorry for the sad history that has made them into such people, but the world is full of them and very often all they need to do is just get a grip or seek help.

We may not always know with confidence whether we're acting within the framework of normality ourselves, but we usually recognize seriously and detrimentally deviant behaviour in other people. I am not saying all deviancy is bad, because the world needs many different kinds - I'm talking about the kind that harms other beings. This is yet another reason for studying other people; it may be a bit of a new age adage that we're only responsible for ourselves and should not concern ourselves with others since we cannot change them, but my opinion is nonetheless that by looking at others we may get a perspective on our own thinking and feeling. This is how we can identify patterns in ourselves that aren't working for us or for other people in our vicinity. In fact, if we look mindfully, we can see ourselves in other people as if we were looking into a mirror. What we dislike about someone else is often something we dislike in ourselves. If we didn't, we'd probably feel pretty neutral about them. Sometimes they disturb us because we are forced to take a stand; we have to decide whether we should be around these people and if we decide their presence is unwholesome to us, we may have to take steps to distance ourselves from their sphere of influence. All this can in truth be quite tiring. I for one have gotten a bit tired of worrying about other people and have decided that some people should simply not be bothered with at all. People are always going to disappoint us as they rarely meet with our expectations. There are times when it's best not to think about others too much but just get on with one's own life the best one can.

I have written extensively about manipulative people so whoever is interested in more is referred to older posts. I have been quite interested in this phenomenon but I think this should be my last post on the subject. Truth to say people who feel the need to manipulate are sorry people with unhappy lives, and the best you can do is leave them to dwell on their own issues. They have problems that don't have to be yours as well.

My husband had an affair with a woman some years ago but recognized after four and a half months that she was not quite "right". He ended the affair but she wouldn't take no for an answer. She became obsessed with him and wouldn't leave him alone. She would do whatever it took to get him in bed with her. When he found me she stalked me online, in the most vile manner. She infiltrated into my private FB account and when we found out, she sent my husband stories about her perception of who I "really am" in order to warn him. When this didn't work, she sent me some derogatory story about my husband, including accounts of their sex and how she would love him forever and ever. Her page was full of spiteful comments about my husband in Dutch (easy enough to run through a translator). She's still sending me anonymous manipulative comments online, obviously with the intent of creating unease. Perhaps she thinks I don't see through these games or understand that she's behind it all. The last thing that came to my notice was that she had forced her way into our house on the morning after our wedding when we were at a hotel. My mother was at the door but completely taken by surprise when this woman "with the mean eyes" ran upstairs uninvited to have a look at our home. The truly sad part is that this woman is a preacher. I don't suppose her God is particularly pleased with her transgressions.

As a side note, nobody that I know in this little town is impressed with her as a human being or a minister. Needless to say, they are sick and tired of her rants about having been badly treated by my husband (who wouldn't hurt a fly). Among other things, she bought some stock for her shop from another local business and never paid for it. And this is not all... But she would probably not be able to see what she's doing, because presumably, in her mind she's not doing anything wrong. I am guessing that hiding behind a facade of spiritual authority in the role of a preacher is her way of justifying her existance in some way while trying to make sure no one sees her darker aspects. We have seen these kind of people over and over again - history is full of them. Religion is the greatest excuse and weapon humans have come up with, ironically the very anti-thesis of true spirituality.

Sometimes, people who want to be an authority within a church feel that as they consacrate their lives to God, God ows them something in return. They think they can expect God to be supportive of whatever they decide to do, and all means are sanctified. Some members of a parish believe that the authorities have been sanctioned by God, and this makes them especially vulnerable to manipulation. Some people are practically asking to be manipulated because they don't want to think for themselves.

While I don't know what drives the woman my husband had an affair with, she did actually do me a favour because she put normality in a perspective for me.

In extreme cases, people with sociopathic and/or narcissistic tendencies step beyond the boundaries of normality and common decency in ways we simply cannot ignore. Unfortunately, many live among us and therefore it's important to recognize the signs even when they are good at fooling people with their ingratiating ways. Intuition is your best guide. But I would also say that one sign of this type of personality disorder is the unability to let go of other people and instead continue to act as if they had a right to possess their victims, who should bend to their will. They are the first class bullies, with very little ability to feel empathy and understand other people's feelings - yet they love to tell other people how to run their lives because this is their power trip. The other sign is that there is no ability to see one's own wrongdoings, in fact there is a tendency to think that God or Satan or whatever entity inspire them is exclusively on their side, very much as fundamentalist religious terrorists or a cult leader would think. I don't think a normal person would be able to continue as an "authorized" advocate of deep religious values of truthfulness, kindness and love if they were able to acknowledge that they had these kinds of problems. If nothing else, this certainly is the greatest give away.

The term "sociopath" has nowadays been replaced with "antisocial personality disorder". Wikipedia says: "...common characteristics of those with Antisocial Personality Disorder include superficial charm, shallowed emotions, a distorted sense of self, a constant search for new sensations (which can have bizarre consequences), a tendency to physically or verbally abuse peers or relatives, and manipulation of others without remorse or empathy for the victim. Egocentrism, megalomania, lack of responsibility, extroversion, excessive hedonism, high impulsivity, promiscuity and the desire to experience sensations of control and power can also be present. This type of disorder does not relate to assaults of panic or to schizophrenia." In other words, people border on the abnormal when their anti-social behaviour is excessive and harmful to others.
Artwork: digital photograph by author, all rights reserved 2010
Source: http://vivi-mari.blogspot.com/2010/12/normal-and-abnormal-how-can-you-tell.html
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The Tao of Joy Every Day by Derek Lin.

2011-12-22T09:54:00.001-08:00
The beauty of Taoism is that the wisdom is simple yet profound and that is the strength of Derek Lin's book, The Tao of Joy Every Day: 365 Days of Tao Living. Its easy reference style makes it a great gift for those who are often too busy for deep, extended, contemplative meditation.

The book offers up easily digestible wisdom for when you need a quick bit of inspiration. It is a great way to start the day, and it's small size makes it ideal for a nightstand book. It's short but powerful entries are great for settling the mind before bedtime, or on nights when you can't sleep.

Another aspect of the book that I enjoyed was the ancient, Taoist wisdom is translated for a modern audience and tailored for today's society. Therefore, it's quite easy to see how the Taoist wisdom can be applied in our every day actions and situations. It's a great "stocking-stuffer" gift for this, and any other holiday season. It's a great addition to any Eastern wisdom book collection.

~I bow to the Buddha within all things~
Source: http://thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/tao-of-joy-every-day-by-derek-lin.html
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