Category Archives: Spirituality

Inspirational, News, Spirituality, Thoughts

8 Truths That Strengthen Your Connection With Your True Self

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The day to day hum-drum of life can mask the deeper meanings and energies of life. Our monkey or robotic mind is given the lead, to carry us through tasks and duties we may not much care for. Anytime life seems to be monotonous, I guarantee it’s the way you’re looking at it. Take back the reigns with these simple reminders.

Everything Is Temporary

While this fact can sometimes be depressing, it can be a source of joy. The world and our lives in it are constantly evolving. This means new challenges, experiences and friends! It’s only when we stop rolling with the punches, and become rigid and attached does this fact become a hindrance.

You Are What Your Supposed To Be

You are an amazing and unique person. If you ever lose sight of this, you need to only shift your perspective and stop yourself from examining the negative.

You Are Where You Belong

Where you are in the world is exactly where you need to be. If it weren’t, you would be elsewhere. If you disagree, your probably on your way to a different locale. Something brought you to where you are currently, and the your momentum will carry you else where.

All Answers Lie Within

You are an aspect  and expression of the infinite. You have every conceivable possibility inside of you. This includes answers to any question or problem you may have. The fact the you are able to understand a problem or think of the question means you can find the answer. You need only focus and try.

Fear Doesn’t Have To Rule You

Only the reckless ignore their fear, and only a fool lets it rule him. Listen to this emotion as it can point out a hidden pitfall. Beyond examining the situation, fear is a tool of your lower mind. Answer the danger head on and do something productive with it. Fear is a teacher, not a punishment.

Don’t Try To Control Everything

Tired of trying to keep everything in line? Then stop it. Life isn’t supposed to be compartmentalized, or ‘kept in line’. Trying to control everything is a great way to drive others away from your and limit possibilities. If you find your self attempting to monitor and limit many of the aspects of your life realize that everything you are doing control wise is based off fear, expectation and an egocentric view point. Nothing about this is healthy.

Acceptance Is Key

Acceptance is the second step an any productive procedure. The first is acknowledgement. After acknowledging an element and then accepting it for what it is, the door opens to genuinely interact with it. Whether changing it, nurturing it, or what ever the case may be, you must first accept what it is and does.

A Comparative Mind Is A Destructive Mind

Life is full of differences and similarities, when you start to attribute specialized meaning to these characteristics you will run into trouble. We only ever know a fraction of a situation or person so diagnosing meaning with such a limited array of information is counterproductive.

You Are Never Alone

You always carry with you the voices, decisions and love of the people you’ve known. The sum of who you are is influenced heavily by the people you’ve known and knowledge you’ve gained. I think it’s beautiful to remember how many voices are combined within my own. There are monks and people around the world giving prayers and goodwill to everyone who needs it. There are some many energies, people, and institutions out there wishing you well, you only need to ask.

Inspirational, News, Spirituality, Thoughts

When The Dalai Lama Passes, Will He Reincarnate?

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The 14th Dalai  Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is famous for his well phrased, unique insights. Always enunciating difficult concepts into simple arguments with examples universally relevant. Tenzin is probably one of the most open minded, international spiritual leaders. Most of the speeches he delivers isn’t specifically aimed for strict Buddhists or about Buddhism. His words are obviously powered from a Buddhist point of view, but he successfully broadens his topics and arguments to be understood by anyone.

During an interview he was asked what surprises him the most. His answer was quick and profound.

“Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

Like most things His Holiness says, this is plainly worded. His truths are so obvious that most of us need to take a moment and let it set in.

What he is describing is a great example of the monkey mind. The monkey mind is a general phrase that refers to the lower aspect of the mind, the one wrapped up in desire, powered by fear and not truly tied to the moment. This is the mindset of too many people in modern times. All of the screeching distractions and ever present noise prompting emotional responses for commercial uses, can bleed out a person’s sincerity if they aren’t paying attention.

As I read this quote, I thought about how most people are stretched between dealing with the past and anticipating the future. This leaves them in a weird context that can look like the present but is in actuality a illusion. One fed by their fears and desires.

As you read this quote, how did it resonate with you? Did any examples of this cyclical living sound familiar when compared to examples from your experience? If your like me, after reading this I worried that I was doing this to myself with out realizing it. Forcing myself to breathe, I examined my fears and what I was doing about them. I looked at my average day and figured how much I was sacrificing my health and happiness for no sustainable reason. If you follow these steps, make sure you are willing to accept the answers, and not simply asking to continue to feed your illusions.

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The Intention Challenge: Are You Ready To Change Your Life?

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The way we start our day has a huge impact on the day’s events. Its common and natural to wake up in a reactionary kind of way. We wake up hungry so we eat. We wake up upset so we try and run from that feeling. I’d like to challenge you to an one week experiment. I promise it’ll take maybe an hour, over the course of your week.

I’d like you to create an intention or feel free to use any combination of the ones listed below. Write it down in a couple of choice locations such as your fridge, next to your laptop, in the bathroom, at your desk at work, or in your car. When you wake in the morning take a couple moments to acknowledge how you feel and with out expectation, examine your intention. At the end of the week see how you felt and how productive you were. At the end of this week I’ll go into further detail on how to craft intentions specific to you. I’ll also cover potential pitfalls that occur in playing with intention.

The difference between an expectation and a intention is a crucial distinction. Expectation is the perception that something will occur. This aim can be passively or actively worked toward, but it is only a perception. Expectation can lead to surprise but more often it adds disappointment to our lives. Intention is the acknowledgement of aspects of our present. You acknowledge the love in your heart and encourage it to grow. Your not expecting it to. You pour energy into the intention and that changes the ‘depth’ of the intended aspect. Try not avoid turning your intention into a expectation.

Do your thing with passion and integrity even if folks don’t notice you.  We do what we do not for an applause, but because we know it’s right.

It important that we be able to acknowledge the opinions of our peers and not become dependent on them. Only you know what certain actions and ideas mean to you. You do your best to relate them to others so they can understand you better but that understanding will never be first hand. So if you go through life allowing external forces to change you, you will never achieve any deeper understandings of the world around you.

Whatever your challenge is, worrying about it won’t help.  Either do something to address it or do something to let it go.

You only have so many hours in the day, so many tasks you can stay focused on, why waste any energy towards worry. If I find myself obsessing negatively on something, I remind myself of what I am already doing to achieve that end. If there is nothing more I can do , then I remind myself that I took the matter a seriously as I could and whatever happens happens. I renew my faith in my ability to roll with the unexpected.

The secret to being grateful is no secret.  You choose to be grateful.  Then you do it again and again.  Every day.  When you forget, begin again.

Persistence in repetition is a staple of meditative practice. Forgetting is a human error and to be easily forgiven. In ALL things it is important to remember to continue to strive.

Two things, more than anything else, define you daily: Your patience when you are struggling, and your attitude when you are not.

Suffering is the instrument of change and how we deal with it defines our character. whether your life is currently stable or unbelievably hectic, remember that all things come to pass. Keep your head as high as you can and act with modesty and compassion, the craziest life transitions occur when we never expect it.

Before you waste it on anger, resentment, spite or envy, think of how precious and irreplaceable your time is today.  Positivity always pays!

This is the whole reason you are setting an intention, the Buddha once said, ‘The trouble is that we all think we have time.’ He was right the future is uncertain and the possibilities are infinite. Live your life with appreciation and enjoyment, you have no idea what tomorrow holds.

Check this out!, Inspirational, Spirituality, Thoughts

13 Brilliant Quotes On Life, Love And Happiness From Robin Williams

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Robin Williams was a stand up comedian, turned actor. He sadly took his own life in August of 2014. I grew up with Robin Williams and I laughed with the rest of America as he entertained us with his quirky eccentricities and hilarious insights. He came a long way from his prior drug addiction but in the end his humorous outlook didn’t save him from the horrors of his own insight. His death shocked the world and reminded us that EVERYONE needs support and love, no matter how ‘strong’ or ‘cheery’ they may seem. He said and did a lot of crazy stuff in his day, but what made his high energy observations so funny was the insight he afforded. He was anything but a dunce. Here are some of his more memorable quotes to cheer you up, think, and stop taking life too seriously.

“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”

He would know this better than most, but its true. What makes a ‘normal’ person? I don’t even want to try to quantify it but I bet it’s boring and devoid of creativity. Embrace yourself and all that makes you the beautiful and distinct person you are!

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.”

The pen is mightier than the sword has been proven time after time, but this modern age solidifies it. Ideas and the words that give them life and definition are a vital part of our technological age. A well chosen word can bring emotional relief to thousands of suffering people.

“Tweets? That stuff kills conversation. And people taking pictures with their phone or recording you, sometimes surreptitiously, is creepy. They come up and just start talking to you, and you can see the red light on their phone.”

This is not only a remark on how social media is an entirely overrated phenomena but how people are always trying to get something from you. Social media has its time and place but it should only ever be an aspect of your communication, not the sum. Go out and make a new friend in a coffee shop or gather your friends for a walk!

So often people are trying to get something from us. A reaction, a phone number, a friend or even a dollar. Be wary as you walk through life.

“I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone.”

At least when you are alone you have room for someone new once you find them. Being trapped in a damaging or negative relationship can consume you if you aren’t careful. Remember that being alone and happy is better than having emotional hyenas at your dinner table.

“I do believe in love; it’s wonderful – especially love (the) third time around, it’s even more precious; it’s kind of amazing.”

Hahahaha! For anyone losing faith in love this one’s for you! Love comes in all forms and sizes, though it always has similar themes. These similarities doesn’t mean you are experiencing the same thing as you did in the past. Give love a chance!

“Reality: What a concept!”

Pure Williams. We all live in different realities, and sometimes we forget that we can change ours with a thought. Even better pull your head out your cloud and visit Earth every so often! It’s gotten a lot better than you remember, I promise.

“I’m sorry, if you were right, I’d agree with you.”

Sticking to your guns is an important characteristic for personal growth. Have faith in your decisions and when that isn’t enough have faith in your ability to roll with the punches. Life is about sustainable forward momentum, not crying over split milk or walking on eggshells.

“Sometimes over things that I did, movies that didn’t turn out very well – you go, ‘Why did you do that?’ But in the end, I can’t regret them because I met amazing people. There was always something that was worth it.”

Regret will try to creep into your life and mess up your day no matter what you do. The only defense we have to remain focused on the present, do our best and remember all the good that occurs in every scenario.

“The essential truth is that sometimes you’re worried that they’ll find out it’s a fluke, that you don’t really have it. You’ve lost the muse or – the worst dread – you never had it at all. I went through all that madness early on.”

Having faith in yourself is crucial. Keeping this faith is made easier when you don’t listen to the expectations of others. Do what is right by you and trust your gut in times of need. Even if a form of success in your life was a fluke, enjoy it while you got it and have gratitude you got to try something new.

“Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting.”

The Buddha said that the problem is, that everyone thinks they have time. We have our whole lives in front of us until we don’t. Our ‘whole life’ is a series of moments. Don’t waste this finite number on the small stuff, you still have so much to experience!

“You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to.”

You can interpret this a couple of ways. I choose to see this as, even amidst your darkest day, if you pay attention outside of your suffering you’ll see so much to be grateful for.

“Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love: these are what we stay alive for.”

We get so wrapped up in the concepts of life, that sometimes we loose sight of whats important. Do what you feel is right to make your life long and productive but don’t forget the basic spice of life, love. Have fun, cry with friends, go skinny dipping in a lake! A life well lived is pockmarked with friendships and acts of compassion and fun.

“See, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run one at a time.”

This one is too fun. Don’t ever forget your desires but don’t let your sexuality become the sum of your personality.

Inspirational, News, Spirituality, Thoughts

What Are The 7 Centers Of Consciousness?

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Humans are naturally complicated. Emotions, thoughts, intention,s, and knowledge are just a few of the infinite formations that make us, us. Through different styles of discipline (meditations or yoga)we can fully acknowledge and interact with with ‘ourselves’.  The more clearly and thorough we are in identifying formations, the more efficiently we grow, both spiritually and mentally.

There is a grouping of core formations, that we will call centers in this article. These centers are similar to charkras but in your mind.

The Security Center

This is the part of yourself that handles securing and protecting your basic needs and health. Food, shelter, water, family, friends, and general emotional content, are just a few examples of the assets that this aspect of yourself prioritizes. Serving as a sort of ‘situation room’, this aspect kicks into gear when threatened or a necessity is identifies.

The Sensory Center

This part of yourself is concerned with your enjoyment of life’s riches. This part of you tries to encourage as many pleasurable activities as it can. On the flip side of that sensory coin, it endeavors to not be hurt.

The Power Center

Concerned with both internal and external forms of power, this aspect seeks and tends to power. Building sources of wealth, influence, and prestige, to gain more of the same or striving for a specific goal, you’ll want to be careful when nurturing this center. It’s important to be able to influence the world around us in as diverslly as possible.Equally as important, is humility and a desire to strengthen your community. To keep safe from the greed that drives people to do terrible things for money and power, don’t ever seek influence and power alone. These aspects should only be sought when a specific goal is recognized. After the goal has been finished, cease to manipulate your enviroment.

The Love Center

This center is obviously responsible for your romantic relationships. The responsiblities of this center extend past that, including any interpersonal relationships, and the very important ability to love ourselves. The development of this center is crucial to transcending the barriers that seperate individuals from individuals. As you nurture this center, you strengthen the inoput and output of your heart. This results in a boost to the sincerity and frequency of empathic response’s.

The Cornucopia Center

This emotionally driven aspect of yourself is responsible for the creation and maintenance of your sense of consciousness and your specialized perception of reality.

The Self Awareness Center

This center of yours, is arguably the most important on this list, your self awareness center will co-ordinate your personality strengths to better understand yourself and the world around you. This featured outlook is particular to you, so you’ll want to always take the time to understand your feeling towards life and the relationship between your feelings and your growth and productivity rate.

The Cosmic Awareness Center

The cosmic awareness center is how all your other centers, talents, friends and understandings boil into the ‘grand scheme’.  This is the highest operational center for you. When everything is firing correctly with your other centers, this will be where you look to the mysteries and infinite beauty of the universe. This is where you put aside ‘you’, your name and become one with the cosmos.

Check this out!, Discoveries, Energy, Inspirational, News, Spirituality, Thoughts

10 Must-Read Spiritual Books That Will Honor Your Soul

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HEY! You clicked this link because your interested in getting smarter, living better, being more knowledgeable or simply passing an afternoon without Facebook? Well how are you do expect to finish a book if you can’t even give an article a try?

This list is a compromise between a few people who are important to me and my own searches. We hope to give you a list that will be practical and accessible, but most of all entertaining. If you don’t see something that you feel NEEDS to be mentioned please post it so everyone can see!

Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism: Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Well known for his severely blunt attitude towards nonsense in every form, Rinpoche Trungpa writes in a similar but compassionate vein. This is a must read for EVERY modern spiritualist out there. When I read this my own perceptions were more finely tuned.

We can deceive ourselves into thinking we are developing spirituality when instead we are strengthening our egocentricity through spiritual techniques.” ~ Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Finding Freedom: Jarvis Jay Masters

Masters wrote this from death row, the entire time he claimed his innocence. A highly emotional read for anyone, I would recommend this for anyone incarcerated, whose been through the system, or facing irresponsible life elements. This debuts the side of Buddhism in action you’ve never thought of. Masters creates his mala from Tylenol and jean fabric.

The Spiritual Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: Ramana Maharshi

This book is the varied conversations between Ramana and international spiritual seekers. Ramana’s style of teaching is famously non denominational. He asks’ Who am I’ repetitiously to convey his message. This book can be shared between religious groups with reliable ease.

Be Here Now: Ram Dass

Is probably one of the most famous western author of mindfulness and meditation. Be Here Now is the most commonly read of his books, but in seriousness you could pick up anything he wrote and find it alarmingly profound. He is one of a handful of authors that literally makes me smile or laugh with the beauty of his revelations. Covering a wide set of practices and stories of travel, you are bound to learn or laugh.

A Gradual Awakening:  Stephen Levine

Levine offers very practical and accessible meditative practices in this book. Many people I know started with this book to build their initial practice. From the ground up it is an excellent guide for the development and stages of mindfulness. As a fun tid-bit, if this bloke’s name seems familiar it may be because his son is Noah Levine (Dharma Punks, Against the Stream very good traveler’s reads)!

A Brief History of Everything:  Ken Wilber

This entertaining foray into key individual’s place in history. The focus sways over a staggering number of topics, everything from multiculturalism, ecology, gender wars, environmental ethics to equality. Wilber does a great job finding hidden connections and keeping audiences amazed.

The Places That Scare You: Pema Chodron

A student of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Chodron definitely has no tolerance for bull. With out fear she will help readers grip the inherent wisdom and strength we already have. She aptly points out patterns and fear that keep us ‘where we are’.

The Awakening of Intelligence: Jiddu Krishnamurti

Not the most famous of his works, this book is a wider venue of ideas. He touches on ideas and concept that apply to ANYONE living in the modern world. He is a teacher if Vendata, and presents things in a non dualistic manner. This is probably not a beginner’s book as the content is very heavy. While I am always happy to to help a person start their path, I feel I neglect those further along. This one is for you my friends.

The Heart Of The Buddha’s Teachings: Transforming Suffering Into Peace And Joy  Thich Nhat Hanh

I love this man and his teachings more than any others! My bias is due to he was the first one to explain mental concepts to me, helping me grasp the nature of the mania that was destroying my life. This book is the most basic and fundamental aspects and view points into Buddhism. This former advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King has a way of inspiring compassion in ways that made me giggle. I handed my copies of his books to many a prisoner, who normally wasn’t Buddhist. They all, with out fail came back with new insights and desires to love. This book is highly recommended to anyone trying to figure out how to meditate or curious what Buddhism truly is.

The Self-Aware Universe:  Amit Goswami.
The Disappearance of the Universe: Gary Renard

This book covers a lot of scientific ground. While slightly outdated, it makes for an accessible read for most. Mainly focused on the Vedic side of science, it helps people understand concepts behind the nature of the universe and time, with the help of well written alterations.