Sunday, April 28, 2013, 9:37 AM
We who lived in concentration camps can remember those who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way. -Viktor Frankl
What a powerful image. Perception is such an important part of the way each of us lives every single day. As the quote illustrates, even in the most trying instances, the most chaotic circumstances, we can choose how we view our reality. The Buddhist tradition teaches that we are not in the world, the world is actually in us. What this means is we are the ones in charge of how we shape and perceive our universes. We choose whether or not we want to embrace the natural flow of the cosmos or swim against their current. The more conscious an individual becomes of these choices, the more visible the flow of the universe becomes. Once this flow is realized, the easier it becomes for us to simply enjoy the ride.
Every morning before work my manager will address the group and ask us the same question, "are we going to choose our attitudes today?" The response to this question is an overwhelming, "yes!" Over the course of the day consider this question and the power behind Viktor Frankl's words. How will you choose to embrace the day?
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Perception is Powerful
Friday, April 26, 2013
Let the Current Take You
It is better to give and receive. - Bernard Gunther
Recognize that our gifts and thoughts flow through the world like water and we must be willing to not just provide aid and assistance to others, but also be willing to receive assistance from others. We must remember to allow the energy to flow through us and not erect blockages to this flow. By damming this flow we are limiting our true potential as well as the true potential of those aiding us in our experiences. Wrapping ourselves in pride and discrediting the experiences and gifts of others keeps us from experiencing life within the natural flow of the universe. Every individual has something to teach us and can help us on our journey, if we are willing to listen with an open heart.
Today, be willing to listen for the gifts being given to you and not dismiss those that do not match your current vision.
Recognize that our gifts and thoughts flow through the world like water and we must be willing to not just provide aid and assistance to others, but also be willing to receive assistance from others. We must remember to allow the energy to flow through us and not erect blockages to this flow. By damming this flow we are limiting our true potential as well as the true potential of those aiding us in our experiences. Wrapping ourselves in pride and discrediting the experiences and gifts of others keeps us from experiencing life within the natural flow of the universe. Every individual has something to teach us and can help us on our journey, if we are willing to listen with an open heart.
Today, be willing to listen for the gifts being given to you and not dismiss those that do not match your current vision.
Open Your Heart to Duality
Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us. - Rainer Maria Rilke.
Opening up oneself to the spectrum of experiences in life helps us to understand the truth behind the facade. Instead of making judgements based upon the effect something has upon us, we need to peer deeper without judgement and seek the true meaning of another’s anguish. Rarely is anything black or white, right or wrong, good or evil. The compassionate one understands that we live in a world of duality between love and fear. What is represented as fear is nothing more than one’s longing to enter the sphere of love. The two are actually one and the same. I believe the longing for love and acceptance is the primal urge that drives most interactions and most responses. Much of the hate and violence is based upon that person’s fear that they are not being heard or are helpless to change.
Today I'm going to open my heart to those projecting helplessness and help them find the love they seek.
Opening up oneself to the spectrum of experiences in life helps us to understand the truth behind the facade. Instead of making judgements based upon the effect something has upon us, we need to peer deeper without judgement and seek the true meaning of another’s anguish. Rarely is anything black or white, right or wrong, good or evil. The compassionate one understands that we live in a world of duality between love and fear. What is represented as fear is nothing more than one’s longing to enter the sphere of love. The two are actually one and the same. I believe the longing for love and acceptance is the primal urge that drives most interactions and most responses. Much of the hate and violence is based upon that person’s fear that they are not being heard or are helpless to change.
Today I'm going to open my heart to those projecting helplessness and help them find the love they seek.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Habits Give Way to Intention
The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give. -Walt Whitman
"Giving," is going to be a common theme over the next year. On Sunday I spoke about consciously giving a gift to everyone you come into contact with, regardless of the gifts tangibility. How did that go? If you found it difficult, don't feel discouraged. It takes time for habits to form and as Mr. Whitman says in the above quote, the more you find yourself giving, the more you will want or intend to give. Eventually, you'll find that you are giving intuitively. Over the course of the day there are infinite opportunities to give, even if the gift is a simple smile toward a stranger passing you in the street.
Today let us shift our focus away from the act of giving and instead focus on our intent to give. Do you feel as though you would like to give more? If so, how will you practice developing this habit? Today I'm going to contemplate the ways I give and how I'd like to improve upon my intention to give more, eventually allowing this habit to become a part of my everyday life.
"Giving," is going to be a common theme over the next year. On Sunday I spoke about consciously giving a gift to everyone you come into contact with, regardless of the gifts tangibility. How did that go? If you found it difficult, don't feel discouraged. It takes time for habits to form and as Mr. Whitman says in the above quote, the more you find yourself giving, the more you will want or intend to give. Eventually, you'll find that you are giving intuitively. Over the course of the day there are infinite opportunities to give, even if the gift is a simple smile toward a stranger passing you in the street.
Today let us shift our focus away from the act of giving and instead focus on our intent to give. Do you feel as though you would like to give more? If so, how will you practice developing this habit? Today I'm going to contemplate the ways I give and how I'd like to improve upon my intention to give more, eventually allowing this habit to become a part of my everyday life.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Share the Wealth
Money is like manure, it's not worth a thing unless it's spread around encouraging young things to grow. -Thornton Wilder
In the contemporary world everything seems to be about money. It is a constant source of stress and aggravation in many individuals' lives. The building pressures of trying to sustain one's self often makes us forget what money truly is, a tool. In Deepak Chopra's book "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success," he gives an enlightening analogy. Money is the life source of our society, similar to the blood running through the veins of any living creature. If the flow of this life source ceases to exist, the beast to which it supplies this energy and nourishment will whither and die. Thus, like blood flowing through our veins, the flow of currency running through our lives must never stop. Whether you have very little or are exceptionally affluent, if you are conscious of this flow you will undoubtedly lead a much happier life. Today I am going to maintain awareness of where my money is going and do the best I can to give back what has so graciously been given to me.
In the contemporary world everything seems to be about money. It is a constant source of stress and aggravation in many individuals' lives. The building pressures of trying to sustain one's self often makes us forget what money truly is, a tool. In Deepak Chopra's book "The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success," he gives an enlightening analogy. Money is the life source of our society, similar to the blood running through the veins of any living creature. If the flow of this life source ceases to exist, the beast to which it supplies this energy and nourishment will whither and die. Thus, like blood flowing through our veins, the flow of currency running through our lives must never stop. Whether you have very little or are exceptionally affluent, if you are conscious of this flow you will undoubtedly lead a much happier life. Today I am going to maintain awareness of where my money is going and do the best I can to give back what has so graciously been given to me.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give. -Winston Churchill
The concept behind giving and receiving during one's life is an idea my father and I have discussed on many occasion. My father has always taught me that whenever you encounter someone, whether they be a new acquaintance or an old friend, it is important to be aware of the gifts being given and received over the course of the interaction. Now when I say "gifts" I don't necessarily mean something tangible. A gift can be all kinds of things. A smile, a hug, a friendly conversation, these are only scratching the surface of the ways in which one can give to another during everyday life.
When giving and receiving a gift, remember to try the best you can to remain judgement free. Judgement is driven by our egos and our egos love nothing more than convincing us something is better than something else. There is no better or worse, there only is. Thus appreciate every gift you give and as well as every gift you receive.
That old cliche, "it is the thought that counts," hits the nail directly on the head. It is the act of giving and receiving that matters, not what is being given. Today I am going to give a gift to everyone I meet, and I'm going to willingly receive and appreciate all gifts given to me without passing judgement.
Trimming the Fat
Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials. -Lin Yutang
The concept of non-essentials is something I myself have great difficulty with. Trimming the fat of one's life, whether through the reduction of material consumption or the elimination of misplaced energy is a challenging practice to master, especially in the time in which my generation has been raised. Today I'm going to practice the art of eliminating non-essentials in my physical and spiritual life. I'm going to start by focusing on the present, the moment taking place in front of me. By localizing one's awareness it becomes easier to see where energies are being expended and where they are being misplaced. At the end of the day I'm going to take the time to consider my interactions, and reflect upon what actions where non-essential.
The concept of non-essentials is something I myself have great difficulty with. Trimming the fat of one's life, whether through the reduction of material consumption or the elimination of misplaced energy is a challenging practice to master, especially in the time in which my generation has been raised. Today I'm going to practice the art of eliminating non-essentials in my physical and spiritual life. I'm going to start by focusing on the present, the moment taking place in front of me. By localizing one's awareness it becomes easier to see where energies are being expended and where they are being misplaced. At the end of the day I'm going to take the time to consider my interactions, and reflect upon what actions where non-essential.
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