Friday, August 31, 2007

Follow Your Bliss....


A beautiful image and quotation -Provided By Our Friend -
Dream Weaver @ My Space.

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The Anger Habit...Grrrrrrr




The 'anger habit' includes the tendency to experience temper tantrums, feelings on on-going frustration, resentment, irritability, etc.


We call it a habit because it is a habitual way of behaving and responding to circumstances of which we disapprove. It is not 'how I am' - it is 'how I react'.

The habit of feeling angry a lot of the time can control your life. It can damage your health, ruin peace of mind, spoil your relationships, jeopardise your career - and even cost you your liberty......

Anger makes you the victim!

After an angry exchange you can be affected you for hours or even days as you endlessly go over the event in your mind, churning up the anger feelings and adding to them. And during this period your mood is being ruled by the memory of the person you are angry with and not by you. You are a victim of the event.

When you allow someone else's behaviour to make you angry you are indeed the victim. They are likely to go off and forget about it. You are being controlled by them without their even knowing about it - as you fume and fret and relive the event for days or months afterwards - while trying to enjoy yourself with friends or family, while relaxing on the beach, or while trying to sleep at night.

Strategies To Keep Anger At Bay


Relaxation

Simple relaxation tools, such as deep breathing and relaxing imagery, can help calm down angry feelings. There are books and courses that can teach you relaxation techniques, and once you learn the techniques, you can call upon them in any situation. If you are involved in a relationship where both partners are hot-tempered, it might be a good idea for both of you to learn these techniques.

Some simple steps you can try:


* Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm; breathing from your chest won't relax you. Picture your breath coming up from your "gut."

* Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as "relax," "take it easy." Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply.

* Use imagery; visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination.

* Non strenuous, slow yoga-like exercises can relax your muscles and make you feel much calmer.

Practice these techniques daily.
Learn to use them automatically when you're in a tense situation.

Cognitive Restructuring

Simply put, this means changing the way you think. Angry people tend to curse, swear, or speak in highly colorful terms that reflect their inner thoughts. When you're angry, your thinking can get very exaggerated and overly dramatic. Try replacing these thoughts with more rational ones. For instance, instead of telling yourself, "oh, it's awful, it's terrible, every thing's ruined," tell yourself, "it's frustrating, and it's understandable that I'm upset about it, but it's not the end of the world and getting angry is not going to fix it anyhow."

Be careful of words like "never" or "always" when talking about yourself or someone else. "This !&*%@ machine never works," or "you're always forgetting things" are not just inaccurate, they also serve to make you feel that your anger is justified and that there's no way to solve the problem. They also alienate and humiliate people who might otherwise be willing to work with you on a solution.

Remind yourself that getting angry is not going to fix anything, that it won't make you feel better (and may actually make you feel worse).

Logic defeats anger, because anger, even when it's justified, can quickly become irrational. So use cold hard logic on yourself. Remind yourself that the world is "not out to get you," you're just experiencing some of the rough spots of daily life. Do this each time you feel anger getting the best of you, and it'll help you get a more balanced perspective. Angry people tend to demand things: fairness, appreciation, agreement, willingness to do things their way. Everyone wants these things, and we are all hurt and disappointed when we don't get them, but angry people demand them, and when their demands aren't met, their disappointment becomes anger. As part of their cognitive restructuring, angry people need to become aware of their demanding nature and translate their expectations into desires. In other words, saying, "I would like" something is healthier than saying, "I demand" or "I must have" something. When you're unable to get what you want, you will experience the normal reactions—frustration, disappointment, hurt—but not anger. Some angry people use this anger as a way to avoid feeling hurt, but that doesn't mean the hurt goes away.

Problem Solving

Sometimes, our anger and frustration are caused by very real and inescapable problems in our lives. Not all anger is misplaced, and often it's a healthy, natural response to these difficulties. There is also a cultural belief that every problem has a solution, and it adds to our frustration to find out that this isn't always the case. The best attitude to bring to such a situation, then, is not to focus on finding the solution, but rather on how you handle and face the problem.

Make a plan, and check your progress along the way. Resolve to give it your best, but also not to punish yourself if an answer doesn't come right away. If you can approach it with your best intentions and efforts and make a serious attempt to face it head-on, you will be less likely to lose patience and fall into all-or-nothing thinking, even if the problem does not get solved right away.

Better Communication

Angry people tend to jump to—and act on—conclusions, and some of those conclusions can be very inaccurate. The first thing to do if you're in a heated discussion is slow down and think through your responses. Don't say the first thing that comes into your head, but slow down and think carefully about what you want to say. At the same time, listen carefully to what the other person is saying and take your time before answering.

Listen, too, to what is underlying the anger. For instance, you like a certain amount of freedom and personal space, and your "significant other" wants more connection and closeness. If he or she starts complaining about your activities, don't retaliate by painting your partner as a jailer, a warden, or an albatross around your neck.

It's natural to get defensive when you're criticized, but don't fight back. Instead, listen to what's underlying the words: the message that this person might feel neglected and unloved. It may take a lot of patient questioning on your part, and it may require some breathing space, but don't let your anger—or a partner's—let a discussion spin out of control. Keeping your cool can keep the situation from becoming a disastrous one.

Using Humor

"Silly humor" can help defuse rage in a number of ways. For one thing, it can help you get a more balanced perspective. When you get angry and call someone a name or refer to them in some imaginative phrase, stop and picture what that word would literally look like. If you're at work and you think of a coworker as a "dirtbag" or a "single-cell life form," for example, picture a large bag full of dirt (or an amoeba) sitting at your colleague's desk, talking on the phone, going to meetings. Do this whenever a name comes into your head about another person. If you can, draw a picture of what the actual thing might look like. This will take a lot of the edge off your fury; and humor can always be relied on to help unknot a tense situation.

The underlying message of highly angry people, Dr. Deffenbacher says, is "things oughta go my way!" Angry people tend to feel that they are morally right, that any blocking or changing of their plans is an unbearable indignity and that they should NOT have to suffer this way. Maybe other people do, but not them!

When you feel that urge, he suggests, picture yourself as a god or goddess, a supreme ruler, who owns the streets and stores and office space, striding alone and having your way in all situations while others defer to you. The more detail you can get into your imaginary scenes, the more chances you have to realize that maybe you are being unreasonable; you'll also realize how unimportant the things you're angry about really are. There are two cautions in using humor. First, don't try to just "laugh off" your problems; rather, use humor to help yourself face them more constructively. Second, don't give in to harsh, sarcastic humor; that's just another form of unhealthy anger expression.

What these techniques have in common is a refusal to take yourself too seriously. Anger is a serious emotion, but it's often accompanied by ideas that, if examined, can make you laugh.

Changing Your Environment


Sometimes it's our immediate surroundings that give us cause for irritation and fury. Problems and responsibilities can weigh on you and make you feel angry at the "trap" you seem to have fallen into and all the people and things that form that trap.

Give yourself a break. Make sure you have some "personal time" scheduled for times of the day that you know are particularly stressful. One example is the working mother who has a standing rule that when she comes home from work, for the first 15 minutes "nobody talks to Mom unless the house is on fire." After this brief quiet time, she feels better prepared to handle demands from her kids without blowing up at them.

Some Other Tips for Easing Up on Yourself


Timing: If you and your spouse tend to fight when you discuss things at night—perhaps you're tired, or distracted, or maybe it's just habit—try changing the times when you talk about important matters so these talks don't turn into arguments.

Avoidance:
If your child's chaotic room makes you furious every time you walk by it, shut the door. Don't make yourself look at what infuriates you. Don't say, "well, my child should clean up the room so I won't have to be angry!" That's not the point. The point is to keep yourself calm.

Finding alternatives:
If your daily commute through traffic leaves you in a state of rage and frustration, give yourself a project—learn or map out a different route, one that's less congested or more scenic. Or find another alternative, such as a bus or commuter train.

Do You Need Counseling?


If you feel that your anger is really out of control, if it is having an impact on your relationships and on important parts of your life, you might consider counseling to learn how to handle it better. A psychologist or other licensed mental health professional can work with you in developing a range of techniques for changing your thinking and your behavior.

When you talk to a prospective therapist, tell her or him that you have problems with anger that you want to work on, and ask about his or her approach to anger management. Make sure this isn't only a course of action designed to "put you in touch with your feelings and express them"—that may be precisely what your problem is. With counseling, psychologists say, a highly angry person can move closer to a middle range of anger in about 8 to 10 weeks, depending on the circumstances and the techniques used.

What About Assertiveness Training?


It's true that angry people need to learn to become assertive (rather than aggressive), but most books and courses on developing assertiveness are aimed at people who don't feel enough anger. These people are more passive and acquiescent than the average person; they tend to let others walk all over them. That isn't something that most angry people do. Still, these books can contain some useful tactics to use in frustrating situations.

Remember, you can't eliminate anger—and it wouldn't be a good idea if you could. In spite of all your efforts, things will happen that will cause you anger; and sometimes it will be justifiable anger. Life will be filled with frustration, pain, loss, and the unpredictable actions of others. You can't change that; but you can change the way you let such events affect you. Controlling your angry responses can keep them from making you even more unhappy in the long run.

So the next you feel you are about to have a short fuse, try the following techniques. Count to 10, go look at your self in the mirror and see your expression. Get rid of that frowning mug!!!Then drink a glass of water this will help calm your blood pressure. Meditation always helps. Also try not to aggravate the situation. Remain calm don't loose your cool and walk away from the heat of the situation.
Om Shanti :) Breath deep and be still for a moment.

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Thursday, August 30, 2007

MOP Positive Affirmation



"I Have Infinite Potential. I Improve Day By Day."

Repeat these words aloud 10 to 15 times in a row, as many times as you can, thoroughout the day, to impress your subconscious mind. Words have incredible power and can manifest amazing changes in your life.


Affirmation provided by the blessed people of Seicho-No-Ie

Wikipedia info about Seicho-No-Ie can be found here

thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much


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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Blessings To You All




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Ayurvedic Principle for Healthy Living




Get up early in the morning around 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. to catch the energetic vata cycle.

Go to bed before 11 O Clock to catch the restful Kapha cycle.

Get a Proper Good Lunch between 11 and 2 at noon to catch the best digestive Pita period.

Eat at proper time, proper place and proper quantity.

Exercise For proper digestion, metabolism, and circulation of the doshas and dhatus, exercise in moderation is a must.

Non Suppressible Urges:
Never suppress natural urges like Urine, Yawning, Hunger, Thirst, tears, sleep, faecal, Semen, flatus, vomiting, belching, sneezing over exertion, breathing.

Suppressible Urges:Always suppress all Vices relating to mind, speech and physical action. Rashness and evil deeds - mentally, orally, physically. Greed, Grief, Fear, Anger, Vanity, Shamelessness, jealousy, too much of attachment and malice. Speaking harsh words, back biting, lying etc. Violence to others, Adultery, Theft and Persecution.

To Remain Healthy Say "NO" To Indigestion and "BYE' To Constipation.

Sleep: For proper recharging of the system, the body requires about 5 to 8 hours sleep preferably between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m

Brahmachariya: Regulated physical and sexual activity, i.e. No excess abuse or misuse of the senses. Over indulgence in these are condemned as these lead to shorter life span, more susceptible to diseases, and debility.


2) Healthy Food Habits

Timely meals, proper food with right combination of fruits and vegetables are a must. Indigestion and constipation are major reasons for various problems but can be easily rectified. Avoid junk food

3) Time Management.
Stress at the young age should be unheard of. Proper time management can certainly set right most of the problems. The rest that a brain needs can be a change like change of subject, activity etc., Never induce the child to intense stress by arranging classes from morning to evening though they may be different in nature. They should have sufficient time to play and relax.

4) Mental and Physical Exercises
Meditation is one of the best means to enhance memory and ability. There should be a proper balance between mental and physical activity. There should be some free time for the child to play without any worry.This leaves them fresh and sharp for the next activity.

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Embrace Life




For those who choose a path of beauty and simple grace,
open your arms wide for the life that you embrace.
Too often obligations, in your daily life,
interferes with knowing what is wrong or right.

To embrace life and merge, joy together with pain,
is to feel pleasure or fear, without guilt or shame.
It's how to meld your body with your mind and heart,
to cooperate together; this is how you start.

To embrace life is to trust, in who you truly are,
love yourself completely to heal all wounds and scars.
Then release control fully; let your shield fall down,
and accept the powerful force flowing all around.

Embracing life will bring, bliss beyond compare,
but first you must be open, then become aware.
Of nature and the universe far beyond the stars,
with the power of your mind you can travel far.

And material wealth is minor; irrelevant to your soul,
embracing life is important; reaching spiritual goals.
Always remaining true for how you think and act,
being positive in your outlook and how you react.

Enjoying every moment for the little things that count,
basking in the pleasure, which makes your happiness mount.
Embracing life will give you, the strength to clearly see,
that a simple life brings freedom that makes you truly free.

By: Margaret Jang

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Monday, August 27, 2007

Nature




Learn lessons from every living being, everything that you find around you. Learn faithfulness and gratitude from the dog, patience and fortitude from the donkey, perseverance from the spider, farsightedness from the ant, and monogamy from the owl.

The Universe is the best University for man; Nature is his best teacher. With an observant mind he can learn many lessons from rivers and hills, from birds and beasts, from stars and flowers, and from the trees. A tree gives shade to others and takes nothing for itself. It gives fruits to others but does not itself partake them. A plant sprouts beautiful flowers and gives joy to others but does not enjoy the beauty itself. The sun is constantly at work, giving life, light and energy to the world. Does it ask for anything in return? No, it performs Nishkama Karma, that is action without the desire for reward. These are some of the examples of the selflessness of Nature and are perfect lessons to the selfishness of man. If only man watches and studies Nature carefully, he can imbibe a lot of philosophy from it which will make him a better person.

Reference: Sathya Sai Speaks; Vol. XV, P. 79-80.
Sathya Sai Speaks; Vol. XIV, P. 152.

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Shiv Shakti




Shiva and Shakti are the twin aspects of Paramashiva - the ultimate Truth.

While Shiva is the static principle, Shakti is the dynamic.

Shiva is the basis and support of Shakti

in Her multitudinous manifestations of the universal phenomena.

One is the invisible, formless, omnipresent and motionless Spirit;

the other is the visible, moving, universal Power revealed in name and form.

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The Law of Compensation






You Get What You Give......


Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essay,"Compensation ," wrote that each person is compensated in like manner for that which he or she has contributed.
The Law of Compensation is another restatement of the Law of Sowing and Reaping. It says that you will always be compensated for your efforts and for your contribution, whatever it is, however much or however little.

Increase Your Value
This Law of Compensation also says that you can never be compensated in the long term for more than you put in.
The income you earn today is your compensation for what you have done in the past. If you want to increase your compensation, you must increase the value of your contribution.

Fill Your Mind With Success
Your mental attitude, your feelings of happiness and satisfaction, are also the result of the things that you have put into your own mind. If you fill your own mind with thoughts, visions and ideas of success, happiness and optimism, you will be compensated by those positive experiences in your daily activities.

Do More Than You're Paid For
Another corollary of the Law of Sowing and Reaping is what is sometimes called the, "Law of Over-compensation. " This law says that great success comes from those who always make it a habit to put in more than they take out. They do more than they are paid for. They are always looking for opportunities to exceed expectations. And because they are always overcompensating, they are always being over rewarded with the esteem of their employers and customers and with the financial rewards that go along with their
personal success.

Provide the Causes, Enjoy The Effects

One of your main responsibilities in life is to align yourself and your activities with Law of Cause and Effect (and its corollaries) , accepting that it is an inexorable law that always works, whether anyone is looking or not. Your job is to institute the causes that are consistent with the effects that you want to enjoy in your life. When you do, you will realize and enjoy the rewards you desire.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.First, remind yourself regularly that your rewards will always be in direct proportion to your service to others. How could you increase the value of your services to your customers today?

Second, look for ways to go the extra mile, to use the Law of Over-compensation in everything you do. This is the great secret of success.

By: Brian Tracy

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Monday, August 20, 2007

Healthy Bodies....




HEADACHE? EAT FISH!

Eat plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent headaches.
So does ginger, which reduces inflammation and pain.

HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT!

Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season.
Also-eat honey from your area (local region) daily.

TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA!
Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea.
(actually, tea suppresses our appetite and keeps the pounds from invading....Green tea is great for our immune systems!

INSOMNIA (CAN'T SLEEP?) HONEY!

Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.

ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!!
Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.
(when I was young, my mother would make onion packs to place on our chest, helped the respiratory ailments and actually made us breathe better).

ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!!
Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis.
(fish has omega oils, good for our immune system)

UPSET STOMACH? BANANAS - GINGER!!!!!

Bananas will settle an upset stomach.
Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!!
High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!!
Bone fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS!
Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc.

COLDS? EAT GARLIC!

Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too.)

COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!!
A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper.
Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.

BREAST CANCER?
EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage
Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE VEGGIES!!!

A good antidote is beta carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.

ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!!
Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.

DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES!

Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment)

CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO!

Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? EAT CELERY AND OLIVE OIL!!!
Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? EAT BROCCOLI AND PEANUTS!!!

The chromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

Kiwi: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E &fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple:
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants &flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry:
Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits &protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you..they're high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young.........blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field........they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C &Potassium. (watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn uv rays)

Guava &Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent constipation.

Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas and indigestion)

Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies.

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Friday, August 17, 2007

There is Nothing to Get from Looking for Happiness



Happiness is not found through great effort. It resides within, very close, in relaxation and abandonment.

If you worry, it can not be found

All that rises in the mind does not have any importance, because it has no reality.

Do not attach to the mind. Do not judge.

Let the play of mind be done alone, rising and ceasing, without anything to change; dissapearing, it starts again unceasingly.

Only searching for happiness prevents you from seeing it.

It is a rainbow, which one follows without ever catching up to it. Because it does not exist, it always was there and accompanies you at every moment.

Do not believe in the reality of the good or bad judgements; they are like rainbows.

To want to see that which is imperceptible, one becomes exhausted in vain. When one releases this grasping, space is there, open, hospitable and comfortable.

There is attainment. Happiness is with you, already. Do not seek any more.

Do not seek in the jungle the elephant which is quietly at the house.

Nothing to make.

Nothing to force

Nothing to want.

And all is done all alone.

om mani padme hum

by LAMA Guendune Rinpoché

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Thursday, August 16, 2007

10 laws of life by Swami Vivekananda




1. Love Is The Law Of Life:

All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore, love for love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.

2. It's Your Outlook That Matters:
It is our own mental attitude, which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light.

3. Life is Beautiful:

First, believe in this world - that there is meaning behind everything. Everything in the world is good, is holyand beautiful. If you see something evil, think that you do not understand it in the right light. Throw the burden on yourselves!

4. It's The Way You Feel
:
Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, and the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.

5. Set Yourself Free:

The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him - that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.

6. Don't Play The Blame Game:

Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way.

7. Help Others:

If money helps a man to do well to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better.

8. Uphold Your Ideals:

Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.

9. Listen To Your Soul:

You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.

10. Be Yourself.

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Water vs. Coke



We all know that water is important but you have never seen it written down like this before.

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half world population)

In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

COKE and it's many uses!

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and...let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, Remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, And run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FYI:

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its Ph is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials.

3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

You still want to drink coke?

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Mind Of Peace

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional farming

Organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional farming on the same amount of land, according to researchers at the University of Michigan. Check out this press release from University of Michigan.

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10 Best Foods & 10 Worst Foods to eat

I just found this great list of the 10 Best Foods & 10 Worst Foods to eat.

Top 3 Best Are: Sweet Potatoes, Grape Tomatoes, 1% Milk (or soy milk)

Top 3 Worst Are: Pepperidge Farm Roasted White Meat Chicken Premium Pot Pie, McDonald’s Chicken Selects Premium Breast Strips, The Cheesecake Factory’s 6 Carb Cheesecake

Follow this link http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html to read the rest of the list.


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The Zen Glossary



Attachment - A deluded mental factor that observes a contaminated object, regards it as a cause of happiness, and wishes for it.

Bodhi Mind - Mind in which the aspiration for enlightenment has been awakened; the impulse that moves one towards self-realization.

Bodhisattva - One who practices the Buddha Way and compassionately postpones final enlightenment for the sake of others; the ideal of practice in Mahayana Buddhism.

Bodhi Tree - The fig tree under which the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Guatemala, attained complete enlightenment.

Buddha - The name for an enlightened being, usually used to refer to Sakymuni Buddha, the fifth century B.C. Indian founder of Buddhism.

Buddha-nature - The self experienced without separateness from all that is.

Dharma - Universal Truth or law; the Buddha's teachings; all phenomena that make up reality.

Dharma Combat - Unrehearsed dialogue in which two Zen practitioners test and sharpen their understanding of Zen truths.

Dharma Discourse - A formal talk on a koan or significant aspects of Zen teachings; not an intellectual presentation or a philosophical explanation, but a direct expression of the spirit of Zen by the teacher.

Dharma Name - Name given to a student by the teacher during jukai, the precepts ceremony.

Dogen Kigen Zenji - (1200-1253) Founder of the Japanese Soto School of Zen; Dogen established Eihei-ji, the principal Soto training monastery in Japan; he is the author of the Shobogenzo, an important collection of Dharma essays.

Dokusan / Daisan
- Private interviews with the teacher during which students present and clarify their understanding of the Dharma.

Eightfold Path - The content of the Buddha's Fourth Noble Truth, the way out of suffering; it consists of right views, right determination right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration; some translators replace "right" with "perfect" to avoid dualistic connotations.

Eight Gates of Training - Training System used at Zen Mountain Monastery for complete living and realization. It includes zazen, Zen study with the teacher, academic study, liturgy, precepts practice, art practice, body practice, and work practice. It corresponds roughly to the aspects of the Buddha's Eightfold Path.

Enlightenment - The direct experience of one's true nature.

Four Noble Truths - The first teaching of the historical Buddha. It addresses the nature of all suffering and points to the way of overcoming suffering. The Truths are:

1. Life is suffering
2. Suffering has a cause
3. There is an end to the cause of suffering
4. The way to put an end to suffering is the Eightfold Path.

Four Vows - Vows taken by the bodhisattvas, expressing commitment to postpone their own enlightenment until all beings are liberated from delusion. They are chanted at the end of each day at Zen monasteries.

Gassho - Gesture of bringing one's hands together, palm to palm, embodying the identity of all dualities.

Gatha - Short sutra that presents the Dharma teachings in terse, pithy wording; frequently chanted.

Hara - Physical and spiritual center of one's body/mind; area in the lower belly used in centering one's attention in meditation and any activity.

Joriki - Power of concentration, developed through the practice of meditation, that allows a person to place their focus of attention where they choose for extended periods of time.

Jukai
- Acknowledgement of and the reception of the Buddhist precepts; the ceremony of becoming a Buddhist.

Karma - The universal law of cause and effect, linking an action's underlying intention to that action's consequences. It equates the actions of body, speech, and thought as potential sources of karmic consequences.

Kensho
- "Seeing into one's own nature"; first experience of realization.

Kesa - Monk's outer robe, worn across one shoulder.

Ki - Vital life-force present in and permeating all things; the energy which is the source of all creative activity.

Kinhin - Walking meditation; it provides a transitional stage for shifting the concentration developed in zazen into activity.

Koan - An apparently paradoxical statement or question used in Zen training to induce in the student an intense level of doubt, allowing them to cut through conventional and conditioned descriptions of reality and see directly into their true nature.

Mu - One of the first koans used in koan training. The first case in Master Wu-men's Gateless Gate collection of koans.

Nirvana - Union with the absolute. In Zen it is essential to realize that samsara is nirvana, form is emptiness, that all beings are innately perfect from the outset.

Oryoki - "Containing just enough"; set of bowls and the ceremonial meal eaten in silence in Buddhist monasteries.

Paramitas - Perfections; virtues of attitude and behavior cultivated by bodhisattvas in the course of their development, necessary on the path of transcendence or realization. "Reaching the other shore", the six (6) paramitas are:

1. generosity
2. discipline
3. patience
4. exertion
5. meditation
6. wisdom

Patriarch - A term meaning "father" applied to the founders and early influential contributors to Buddhism.

Prajna - Wisdom; not that which is possessed but that which is directly and thoroughly experienced.

Samsara - The world of appearances adn ever-changing flux. The illusion of separateness. Teh wheel of reincarnation that leads a soul through many births in its search of enlightenment.

Sanskrit - The sacred language of ancient India.

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Tuesday, August 14, 2007

100 Ways You Can Improve The Environment



In Your Home - Conserve Energy

1. Clean or replace air filters on your air conditioning unit at least once a month.
2. If you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused rooms.
3. Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120.
4. Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket.
5. Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods.
6. Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time.
7. Set your refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to 5 .
8. When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door.
9. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less energy.
10. Unplug seldom used appliances.
11. Use a microwave when- ever you can instead of a conventional oven or stove.
12. Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
13. Reverse your indoor ceiling fans for summer and winter operations as recommended.
14. Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.
15. Purchase appliances and office equipment with the Energy Star Label; old refridgerators, for example, use up to 50 more electricity than newer models.
16. Only use electric appliances when you need them.
17. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
18. Keep your thermostat at 68 in winter and 78 in summer.
19. Keep your thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you are away
20. Insulate your home as best as you can.
21. Install weather stripping around all doors and windows.
22. Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
23. Plant trees to shade your home.
24. Shade outside air conditioning units by trees or other means.
25. Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.
26. Use cold water instead of warm or hot water when possible.
27. Connect your outdoor lights to a timer.
28. Buy green electricity - electricity produced by low - or even zero-pollution facilities (NC Greenpower for North Carolina - www.ncgreenpower.org). In your home-reduce toxicity.

In Your Home - Reduce Toxicity

29. Eliminate mercury from your home by purchasing items without mercury, and dispose of items containing mercury at an appropriate drop-off facility when necessary (e.g. old thermometers).
30. Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals.
31. Buy the right amount of paint for the job.
32. Review labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives like baking soda, scouring pads, water or a little more elbow grease.
33. When no good alternatives exist to a toxic item, find the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result.
34. If you have an older home, have paint in your home tested for lead. If you have lead-based paint, cover it with wall paper or other material instead of sanding it or burning it off.
35. Use traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.
36. Have your home tested for radon.
37. Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs.

In Your Yard

38. Avoid using leaf blowers and other dust-producing equipment.
39. Use an electric lawn- mower instead of a gas-powered one.
40. Leave grass clippings on the yard-they decompose and return nutrients to the soil.
41. Use recycled wood chips as mulch to keep weeds down, retain moisture and prevent erosion.
42. Use only the required amount of fertilizer.
43. Minimize pesticide use.
44. Create a wildlife habitat in your yard.
45. Water grass early in the morning.
46. Rent or borrow items like ladders, chain saws, party decorations and others that are seldom used.
47. Take actions that use non hazardous components (e.g., to ward off pests, plant marigolds in a garden instead of using pesticide).
48. Put leaves in a compost heap instead of burning them or throwing them away. Yard debris too large for your compost bin should be taken to a yard-debris recycler.

In Your Office

49. Copy and print on both sides of paper.
50. Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
51. Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.
52. Set up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each employee.
53. Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.
54. Use recycled paper.
55. Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
56. Encourage your school and/or company to print documents with soy-based inks, which are less toxic.
57. Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.

Ways To Protect Our Air

58. Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.
59. Recycle printer cartridges.
60. Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
61. Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
62. Don't use your wood stove or fireplace when air quality is poor.
63. Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires. They produce the largest amount of pollution.
64. Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.
65. Use solar power for home and water heating.
66. Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
67. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle.
68. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.
69. Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternative to lighter fluid.
70. If you use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990. They are required to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and cleaner burning.
71. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible.
72. Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.

Ways to Use Less Water

73. Check and fix any water leaks.
74. Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
75. Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously.
76. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
77. Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.
78. Install a low-flow shower head.
79. Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
80. Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks.

Ways to Protect Our Water

81. Revegetate or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible.
82. Never dump anything down a storm drain.
83. Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.
84. Check your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil.
85. Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.
86. Learn about your watershed.

Create Less Trash

87. Buy items in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging wasted.
88. Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.
89. Buy products that you can reuse.
90. Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
91. Check reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown rates.
92. Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.
93. Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
94. Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
95. Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap.
96. Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
97. Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.
98. Reuse packaging cartons and shipping materials. Old newspapers make great packaging material.
99. Compost your vegetable scraps.
100. Buy used furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper than new furniture.

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Six Simple Steps to Going Green

(ARA) - You don't have to compost your kitchen waste or pick bugs off plants by hand to help the environment. From the red carpet to your favorite garden shop, new "green" products are making it easy to have a beautiful yard while being good stewards of the earth in your own back yard.

Outdoor living trend-spotter and garden guru Susan McCoy has gathered six savvy, yet surprisingly simple solutions for going "green" this summer.

1. Plant, Plant, Plant!


One of the simplest ways to give back to the planet without breaking your budget is to plant anything. "Just plant something, anything. A single tree, shrub, bush or container will help the environment," says McCoy, "It's one of the easiest ways you can make a difference. Imagine if we all planted jut one new plant every year!" Trees and other plants remove carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis. This improves the quality of the environment by cleaning and oxygenating the air and removing CO2. Plants also help prevent soil erosion, control water cycles, and moderate temperatures. It's the balance of nature at the most basic level.

2. Start with Healthy Soil

Pesticides and fungicides aren't safe for people, pets or even the planet. Eliminate the need for harmful garden chemicals by pampering your plants with healthy, nutrient-rich soil from the get go. "Healthy soil, rich in minerals, nutrients and 'good bugs,' maximizes a plant's own healthy immune system to let it naturally resist pests and diseases," says McCoy. Compost your own or look for organic potting soils like Organic Mechanics (www.organicmechanicsoil.com) available at Whole Foods stores this spring.

3. Reduce Fertilizer Use

Overfeeding is not only unhealthy for plants; it also causes excess nutrient runoff that pollutes our streams, bays, rivers and other watersheds. "Plants can only absorb so much fertilizer before the excess nutrients run off into the groundwater," says McCoy. Fertilizer runoff contaminates drinking water, kills fish and other sea creatures and causes problems like Red Tide. Reduce overfeeding by using environmentally responsible feeding practices, like the new slow-release fertilizer Dynamite (www.dynamiteplantfood.com). This nine-month plant food releases nutrients to the plant when the plant needs it most, never over or under feeding so there is minimal waste and runoff. Plus, it's low in phosphate making it a nutritious yet earth-friendly plant food option.

4. Water Responsibly

If you don't need to water your plants as often, you'll save gallons of time and money. But more importantly, you conserve water and protect the environment. "Substitute older cultivars with new and improved varieties bred 'to drink responsibly,' " says McCoy. "Updated versions of classic plants like Knock Out shrub roses (www.theknockoutrose.com) require much less water than older cultivars while still offering the same great look gardeners love." Other solutions: use ZEBA (www.zeba.com) in your window boxes or containers. "ZEBA's all natural, starch-based technology repeatedly absorbs and releases water as needed by plants' roots," says McCoy. It is biodegradable, nontoxic and odorless.

5. Be Grass Green

According to Ethne Clarke, garden editor of "Traditional Home," "Most gardens have lawns, and in some cases the lawn is the garden." She suggests mowing less frequently and cutting the grass longer so the top growth protects the roots. And water less frequently to force the roots to go deeper, which keeps them cooler and less susceptible to dry spell damage. She recommends using cornmeal or diatomaceous earth as an insecticide and pulling weeds before they set seed. For tough lawns, use a soil conditioner with good micro-organisms and aerate to encourage soil health. Try LazyMan Liquid Soil Aerator or Soil Conditioner for an easy spray on solution without back breaking work, available at outsidepride.com.

6. Be Kind to Flora and Fauna

After pouring hours of time, effort and in most cases their hearts into the garden, no one wants to wake up one morning to find that their begonia bed served as a late night snack for the neighborhood wildlife. "Keeping my hydrangea from becoming deer food was a big problem as we live in the woods in southeastern Pennsylvania," says McCoy. That was until she started using DeerStopper, a 100 percent organic deer repellant.

"All-natural products of today work just as effectively as or better than their synthetic counterparts," she says. "These products give me all the benefits with minimum health risks and harm to the environment. To safeguard our water supply and our pets and children who play outdoors, McCoy suggests trying organic and all natural animal repellants as an alternative. Learn more at www.messinawildlife.com.

For more information about going green outside your home, please visit www.gardenmediagroup.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Monday, August 13, 2007

Color Healing




Color Frequenices

RED

Red is the color of energy, vitality and power. It is used for burning out cancer, drying up weeping sores or wounds, etc., it will warm cold areas to reduce pain. Red is a powerful healing agent for healing diseases of the blood and circulation. It will help with depression. Red is not to be used on people with high blood pressure or anxiety. If you stay under the red ray too long or are exposed to red for a considerable time it will make you very agitated or even aggressive. It is associated with the male polarity. A red carpet or wall - in a place of business - will draw money. If you are a sales person - try wearing something red!!

ORANGE

The mental body in both its logical and conceptual form. It is used to increase immunity, to increase sexual potency, to help in all digestive ailments, chest and kidney diseases. Orange will have a gentle warming effect if used lightly. Orange, like red should not be used for too long. It is not a good color for nervous people or people easily agitated.

PEACH

The peach frequency is used for peace, truth, and balance.

YELLOW

Yellow is the color of intellect and it is used for mental stimulation, it will help you think quicker. It is good for clearing a foggy head. To help cure dermatitis and other skin problems and again it must be used carefully because it is very stimulating and it could cause exhaustion and depression.

GREEN

Green is the color of healing and traveling back in time. It will balance the emotions and brings about a feeling of calmness. Green is a good general healing color because it stimulates growth therefore it is good for helping heal broken bones - regrowth of tissue of all kinds. Green is also alchemy - the alchemy of consciousness from one realm to another through the spiraling energies of DNA - Sacred Geometry

BLUE

Blue is the color of electricity. We live in a program created by electromagnetic energy - blue white ...back to source.

Blue is the color of truth, serenity and harmony, by helping to soothe the mind. Blue is good for cooling, calming, reconstructing and protecting. Blue will help feverish conditions, it will help stop bleeding and it will help with nervous irritations. It is very good for burns. Too much blue could leave you cold, depressed and sorrowful.

PURPLE

Purple is also a color that will connect you with your spiritual self. It is good for mental and nervous problems. It will assist very well with rheumatism and epilepsy. Helps with pain, is used in deep tissue work and helps heal the bones. Too much purple and you don't tend to live in this world.

LAVENDER

Lavender is the color of equilibrium, it helps with spiritual healing. The Violet Flame - is supposedly charged with the light of divine freedom. It is used to burn off karma from other lifetimes on all levels.

WHITE

White includes all of the colors spectrum. It represents the source of conscious creation. It will purify the body on the highest levels. It is the highest charging field to bring peace and comfort at the highest level.

SILVER

Silver is the color of peace and persistence. It is the major purging color so it is very good for removing unwanted diseases and troubles from the body. It is best for cancer of tissue and blood.

GOLD

Gold represents of alchemy of consciousness. It is the strongest color to help cure all illness. It is so strong that many people are not able to tolerate it, so people have to be conditioned to gold over a period of time. Gold strengthens all fields of the body and spirit.

Astrology and Color Healing

Aries--Red
Taurus--Yellow
Gemini--Violet
Cancer--Green
Leo--Gold
Virgo--Purple
Libra--Yellow
Scorpio--Crimson Red
Sagittarius--Deep Clear Blue
Capricorn--Black and White
Aquarius--Blue with Silver Lights
Pisces--Soft Azure

The Planets and Color Healing

Sun--Gold, Bright Yellow
Moon--Silver
Mercury--Yellow, orange
Venus--Blue, Blue-Green
Earth--Lavendar-Blue
Mars--Red
Jupiter--Purple, Violet
Saturn--Olive Green
Uranus--Electric Blue, Pale Green, Citrine
Neptune--Dark Blue, Indigo, Grays, Green
Pluto--Yellow, Pale Green, Navy Blue

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Friday, August 10, 2007

10 Tips For Spiritual Growth


by Remez Sasson

Spiritual growth is the process of inner awakening, and becoming conscious our inner being. It means the rising of the consciousness beyond the ordinary existence, and awakening to some Universal truths. It means going beyond the mind and the ego and realizing who you really are.

Spiritual growth is a process of shedding our wrong and unreal conceptions, thoughts, beliefs and ideas, and becoming more and more conscious and aware of our inner being. This process uncovers the inner spirit that is always present, but hidden beyond the ego-personality.

Spiritual growth is of great importance for everyone, not only for people who seek spiritual enlightenment and choose to live in far away or secluded places. Spiritual growth is the basis for a better and more harmonious life for everyone, a life free of tension, fear and anxiety.

By discovering who we really are we take a different approach to life. We learn not to let outer circumstances influence our inner being and state of mind. We manifest composure and detachment, and we develop inner power and strength, all of which are very useful and important tools.

Spiritual growth is not a means for escaping from responsibilities, behaving strangely and becoming an impractical person. It is a method of growing and becoming a stronger, happier and more responsible person.

You can walk on the path of spiritual growth, and at the same time live the same kind of life as everyone else. You do not have to live a secluded life in some far away place. You can raise a family, work or run a business, and yet at the same time engage in practices that lead to inner growth.

A balanced life requires that we take care not only of the necessities of the body, feelings and mind, but also of the spirit, and this is the role of spiritual growth.

10 tips for spiritual growth:

1. Read spiritual and uplifting books. Think about what you read, and find out how you can use the information in your life.

2. Meditate for at least 15 minutes every day. If you do not know how to meditate, it is easy to find books, websites or teachers who can teach you meditation.

3. Learn to make your mind quiet through concentration exercises and meditation.

4. Acknowledge the fact that you are a spirit with a physical body, not a physical body with a spirit. If you can really accept this idea, it will change your attitude towards many things in your life.

5. Look often into yourself and into your mind, and try to find out what is it that makes you feel conscious and alive.

6. Think positive. If you find yourself thinking negatively, immediately switch to thinking positively. Be in control of what enters your mind. Open the door for the positive and close it for the negative.

7. Develop the happiness habit, by always looking at the bright side of life and endeavoring to be happy. Happiness comes from within. Do not let your outer circumstances decide your happiness for you.

8. Exercise often your will power and decision making ability. This strengthens you and gives you control over your mind.

9. Thank the Universe for everything that you get.

10. Develop tolerance, patience, tact and consideration for others.

Spiritual growth is the birthright of everyone. It is the key to a life of happiness and peace of mind, and the manifesting the enormous power of the inner spirit. This spirit is equally present within the most material person, and within the most spiritual person. The level of the manifestation of spirituality is dependent on how much the inner spirit is close to the surface, and on how much it is covered and hidden, by thoughts, beliefs and negative habits.

© Copyright Remez Sasson


Remez Sasson teaches and writes on positive thinking, creative visualization, motivation, self-improvement, peace of mind, spiritual growth and meditation. He is the author of several books, among which are "Peace of mind in Daily Life", "Will Power and Self Discipline", "Visualize and Achieve" and "Affirmations - Words of Power".


Visit his website and find articles and books filled with inspiration, motivation and practical advice and guidance.

Website: http://www.SuccessConsciousness.com


Books: http://www.successconsciousness.com/ebooks_and_books.htm



Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Thursday, August 9, 2007

One Love...




Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Sound


Sound is of three kinds. Saamaanya, Varna, and Mooka.

Saamaanya the common: the sound produced by things falling, or breaking apart or fusing, all the sounds of the objective world of rain and thunder, of rivers gurgling, of volcanoes and earthquakes and the like, even the dropping of dew on a tender petal of a rose, the sailing of a feather from a bird's wing through the air.

The second is the sound of the Varna, or the spoken word: this carries a specific meaning and is armed with intention, to inform, or instruct, or inspire.

This is the flow of the heartbeat of one into the heart of another.

The third kind is Mooka or the sound of silence. When one dives into the depth of that silence one hears oneself, the primeval Cosmic Om, Pranava, that emanates from the Prana, or Vital Vibration that fills the Universe. To hear that very summit. It has sound, one has to approach, as near as possible, the core of one's being. That is why the Upanishad calls itself so; it urges you to go near, delve deep, dive to the very floor of the lake. Upa means 'near'; Nishad means 'sitting.'

The tongue is the armour of the heart; it guards one's life. Loud and irresponsible speech, full of anger and hate, affects the health of man. It breeds anger and hate in others. Silence is said to be golden. The silent man has no enemies, though he may not have many friends either. He has the opportunity to dive within himself and examine his own faults and failings. He has no more inclination to seek them in others. If your foot slips, you suffer a fracture; if your tongue slips, you fracture some one's faith or joy. That fracture can never be set right; that wound will fester for ever. Therefore, use the tongue with great care.



Source : Sri Sathya Sai Speaks. Vol. VII - p. 432

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

A , B, C' s of Happiness


A--Accept
Accept others for who they are and for the choices they've made even if
you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.

B--Break Away
Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to
accomplish with your life.

C--Create
Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams,
sorrows, and happiness with.

D--Decide
Decide that you'll be successful and happy come what may, and good
things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the
way.

E--Explore
Explore and experimen t. The world has much to offer, and you have much
to give. And every time you try something new, you'll learn more about
yourself.

F--Forgive
Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness
and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.

G--Grow
Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or
stand in your way.

H--Hope
Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as
you remain dedicated to the task.

I--Ignore
Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals
and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small
inkling of what the future holds.

J--Journey
Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try
to learn something new every day, and you'll grow.

K--Know
Know that no matter how bad things seem, they'll always get better. The
warmth of spring a lways follows the harshest winter.

L--Love
Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart,
there's room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there's
room for endless happiness.

M--Manage
Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you'll suffer less
stress and worry. Then you'll be able to focus on the important things
in life.

N--Notice
Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your
assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.

O--Open
Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the
worst of times, there's still much to be thankful for.

P--Play
Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without
happiness.

Q--Question
Ask many questions, because you're here to learn.

R--Relax
Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things
always have a wa y of working out in the end.

S--Share
Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything
that you invest in others will return to you many times over.

T--Try
Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You'll be
amazed by what you can accomplish.

U--Use
Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that's wasted has no value.
Talent that's used will bring unexpected rewards.

V--Value
Value the friends and family members who've supported and encouraged
you, and be there for them as well.

W--Work
Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel
guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second
chance.

X--X-Ray
Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you'll see the
goodness and beauty within.

Y--Yield
Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you'll
find success at the end of the road.

Z--Zoom
Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rears its ugly head.
Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your
abilities, your dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.


Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace


Source: SBOI.COM

Chakra Theory



The chakra system can been viewed as a "seven-leveled philosophical model of the universe." The seven chakras (Sanskrit for wheels or disks) are wheels of bioenergetic activity radiating from nerve ganglia (clusters) that start at the base of the spine and continue on to the crown of the head.

Although the energy of the chakras can be monitored, they have no mass or substance of their own. Each individual chakra does, however, have a general location. These locations are as follows:

o Chakra one (earth): Base of spine. Associated with survival.

o Chakra two (water): Lower abdomen. Associated with emotions and sexuality.

o Chakra three (fire): Solar plexus. Associated with power and will.

o Chakra four (air): Just over the sternum. Associated with love and balance.

o Chakra five (sound): Throat. Associated with communication and creativity.

o Chakra six (light): Center of forehead, brow. Associated with intuition and imagination.

o Chakra seven (thought): Top of head. Associated with knowledge and understanding.

Each of the chakras also denotes one of the eastern elements (shown in parentheses), adding three intangibles to the "standard" four western elements.

Liberation & Manifestation

"Liberation is the path of transcendence. Manifestation is the

path of immanence. Both lead to the same place: the divine"

-Anodea Judith, Eastern Body, Western Mind

As you can see, the lower chakras are more dense and material, while the higher chakras are more "free" and conceptual. It is an eastern belief that this is because they are closer to their source. Beyond the crown is Shiva, the male principal, believed to symbolize pure consciousness and bliss. Beyond the root is Shakti, the female principal, the mother of the universe and creation itself (herself?). By coming together in union, Shiva can descend upon Shakti and bring Divine Consciousness into the universe while Shakti brings form to pure consciousness.

This can be seen in mundane life as well. Ideas (7) become visualized (6) and then shared with others verbally or written down (5). The love of the idea (4) brings one to invest their will and energy into its creation (3). The passion/need (2) to finish this act of creation urges one to provide it form (1) and thus finish the process. We will call this transfer of ideas into form the manifesting current. Consequently, the transfer of form into ideas can be thought of as the liberating current. These two forces are constantly running through the body and connecting the chakras.

The Seven Rights

Each of the seven chakras has a basic right that, if infringed upon or not claimed/expressed, can provide problems in that chakra and thus, in life.

1. The right to be here: simply to exist, take care of ourselves, and have possessions.
2. The right to feel: to express and understand one’s emotions, needs, and wants.
3. The right to act: to be innovative and free.
4. The right to love and be loved: freedom from projected or received prejudice, low self-esteem, and violent conflict. Being the central chakra, if any of the other rights is harmed, the right to love may be harmed as well.
5. The right to speak and hear truth: Transgressions include: not be listened to, family secrets, and not being spoken to honestly.
6. The right to see: Transgressions include: being told our perception is inaccurate, having things deliberately hidden from us, and having the scope of ones vision denied.
7. The right to know: the right to truth, accurate information, knowledge, and to simply know what’s going on. This includes spiritual knowledge and the right to connect with and interpret the divine as one chooses.

The Demons/Tricksters of the Chakras

These are not fire spawned, brimstone baring, angst driven biblical demons. They are symbolic and conceptual, as is most of what you have already read. I prefer to call them tricksters because although they do hinder the operations of the chakras, they generally do so to teach us something. The challenge of moving past a trickster helps the chakra in question learn how to better accomplish its "job."

1. Fear: Comes when one’s survival is threatened. May force energy into the upper chakras.
2. Guilt: Keeps us from reaching out, hindering emotional and sexual ties with others.
3. Shame: Hinders spontaneity, self-esteem, and personal power, turning one’s will and power in upon themselves.
4. Grief: Hinders the love and lightness of the heart, leaving a heavy burden on one’s persona.
5. Lies: Misinformation hinders our relationship to the world.
6. Illusion: Looking at things incorrectly, not seeing the big picture, and seeing only what one wants to see, can hinder our perception.
7. Attachment: Holding on to the pointless and focusing all of one’s attention in one area can obscure the big picture and hinder our relationship with the divine.

[source: Kenaz Services/Four Feathers Bookstore P.O. Box 1703 , Laurens, SC 29360 greensh@kenaz.com]

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace