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“To get genuine relaxation we need to give ourselves some inner space.” Vicki Mackenzie
Relaxation is defined as a condition of calm attained when tension levels are brought down.
While we often associate the idea with our body, it concerns our state of mind as well.
Piling up tasks upon tasks, we exert effort and energy, that can simply become too much.
Knowing when it’s time to give yourself a break is important if you don’t want to burnout.
“May I and all sentient beings be free of the pain associated with excessive desire and attain the virtue of nonattachment.” Traleg Kyabgon, Ken Wilber
Nonattachment is regarded as a mental virtue in Buddhist mind training, it relates to our general attitude towards everything.
We take on the practice as a way to counter our tendency to hang on what we care about too tight.
Why would one willfully take on the practice? For one, it helps correct our understanding and behaviors.
Furthermore, it prevents us from falling in the pitfall of attachment which causes us much suffering.
Continue reading “Nonattachment – the way to healthy relationships”
“Mind cannot think without duality. Duality is the way of thinking.” Rajneesh
Duality in mental training refers to our way of perceiving the world, it relates to our construing things in isolation.
We experience objects as separate and independent from ourselves, ‘so what’ you may ask? well…
Our making distinctions creates a rift, there is Me standing here and the rest standing over there.
According to the Buddhist view, the division between self and what we consider outside of ourselves is wrong and potentially harmful.
Continue reading “Duality | The source of all pervading pain”
“Right livelihood is concerned with ensuring that one earns one’s living in a righteous way.” Bhikkhu Bodhi
Right livelihood relates to work, it’s about doing right by those you work with and for, to the benefit of everyone.
It doesn’t stop at having an honorable profession, it is concerned with the how and the why we do our job.
Why is it important? Because actions carry effects and that applies to our professional careers as well.
The practice protects us from wrong actions and helps us take care now of what’s to come later.
“The mind that guards against unwholesome behavior is called ethical discipline.” Gen Lamrimpa, Pauly B. Fitze, Dalai Lama, B. Alan Wallace
Ethical discipline, morality, is one of the three higher trainings of the mind in the Buddhist tradition.
It implies steering clear of wrong doing as well as the willingness to lay a hand when we can.
Staying mindful of our ethics under every circumstance may be hard but it’s to our benefit, it serves as a shield.
Making sure our actions are directed towards the greater good protects us from unnecessary grief.
“Mindfulness is necessary, but it’s not sufficient.” Rick Hanson
Mindfulness is necessary, no wonder the meditation practice which aims at directing awareness to the present moment has been growing in popularity.
More and more people are adopting the regimen, mindfulness-based therapies and courses are flourishing.
The promise of lowered stress and anxiety, well-being, and better emotional regulation is appealing.
Indeed, MBSR and MBCT research has shown that practicing routinely brings benefits to practitioners.
Continue reading “Mindfulness is necessary | But is it enough?”
“Only the inner protection of patient forbearance can keep us from experiencing the turmoil of negative thoughts and emotions.” The Dalai Lama
Forbearance is a quality, it expresses itself in patience, in the ability to forgive and control ourselves in times of difficulty.
Not all that we encounter is to our liking yet sometimes we have no choice but to take it as is.
Whenever resistance and opposition come our way, we can respond to it negatively or constructively.
For us mere humans it takes a measure of fortitude to endure hardships, thankfully that can be cultivated and nurtured.
“With effort anything can be accomplished, even things that previously seemed beyond our imagination.” Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
We all have big dreams, we all strive to bring our vision to fruition, and this takes right effort.
That is, the determination that drives us to keep on trying and the energy we willingfully put into it.
Some of our long-term goals take time to come about, we’re not magicians things don’t just happen.
If we want to enjoy the fruit of our labor, we have to keep at it even when the end seems far ahead.
“The only constant in life is perpetual change.” Deepak Chopra, David Simon
Change is happening every second of every day, while we may not be always aware of it, that’s a fact.
Nature is in a perpetual process of transformation, moving from one season to another in an evergoing cycle.
Whether living or inanimate everything around us shape shifts, nothing can ever stay the same.
It is a law of nature, all must go through the motion, we know that, yet we tend to see things as permanent.
“Forgiveness is a full time job, and sometimes very difficult.” Marianne Williamson
Forgiveness is not easy, we can all agree to that, but when it comes to our happiness we have to.
Life turns out is no walk in the park, from childhood to adulthood, in every area of our life we hurt.
Every incident leaves its mark, their memory is stored away deep inside, and we carry them around.
Some emotional and physical scars won’t heal, some we’re not conscious of, still we feel their pain.
