We finished off our last class talking about what the Buddhists might consider "idle chatter". Idle chatter might include gossip, and conversation that has little value and may cause harm. We focused on "complaining" and took a close look at how it depletes our motivation .
Chronic complainers wear us down and create negative energy.
It is true that we all complain. How much we each complain may be something to explore.
Take one day and resolve not to complain... Each time you do complain make a note of it.
Try it for two days and then maybe a week. Notice how it feels when you avoid idle complaints.
There are, of course, times when it is right and proper to complain so something can change.
When we lodge a complaint we are acting to create change.
When we are doing it out of habit, it is without purpose and robs you and others of a degree of contentment and happiness.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Summer Reading
Just in case you are looking for some good summer fiction reads, here are some that I have enjoyed this year and would recommend.
The Help
The Art of Running in the Rain
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Water for Elephants
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
" A book must be the ax, for the frozen sea inside us." Kafka
The Help
The Art of Running in the Rain
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
Water for Elephants
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
" A book must be the ax, for the frozen sea inside us." Kafka
Speaking of....
Do you pause before you speak?
Do you just say whatever is on your mind?
Do you ever wish you could take back what you said?
Do you wish you could express yourself more clearly or more kindly?
Ancient wisdom asks us to be full of care with our words. Of course being full of care means we have to consider the intent and value of what we share. Sometimes our intent is hidden, even from ourselves. We may speak from a place of misunderstanding, frustration, envy, hurt. Our words take on a power that we might not have intended at a conscious level. If we are not careful and conscious our words can betray us.
When we know ourselves and trust ourselves at a deep level our speech becomes more skillful.
Saucha, which means purification, can include our choice of words, when to speak, when not to speak, knowing our intention and also how we use humor.
Do you just say whatever is on your mind?
Do you ever wish you could take back what you said?
Do you wish you could express yourself more clearly or more kindly?
Ancient wisdom asks us to be full of care with our words. Of course being full of care means we have to consider the intent and value of what we share. Sometimes our intent is hidden, even from ourselves. We may speak from a place of misunderstanding, frustration, envy, hurt. Our words take on a power that we might not have intended at a conscious level. If we are not careful and conscious our words can betray us.
When we know ourselves and trust ourselves at a deep level our speech becomes more skillful.
Saucha, which means purification, can include our choice of words, when to speak, when not to speak, knowing our intention and also how we use humor.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
REFRAME IT !!!
"Reframe it".
What exactly does that mean? Well, for me it means to step to a new vantage point and view the situation or the person through a different lens. It is so easy to get lost in one way of looking at a situation and the more we stay there the more our wheels spin and the rut deepens. We then begin to realize we are stuck. When we feel stuck our energy feels stagnant and heavy.
This is where "space clearing" comes in.
Can we start doing some "cleaning and rearranging" here? What if we took on a new way of seeing something, acknowledging that our immediate perception may be distorted in some way.
When someone says to us "sleep on it", it means that in the morning we may have a new take on it... we may see it differently with new insight. Insight flows, moods shift, inner guidance is available to us all and comes in many shapes and forms. As human beings we have all had moments of clarity. We often know when we are seeing more clearly.
So try it ... "reframing" is a wonderful strategy for living a happier and richer life.
What exactly does that mean? Well, for me it means to step to a new vantage point and view the situation or the person through a different lens. It is so easy to get lost in one way of looking at a situation and the more we stay there the more our wheels spin and the rut deepens. We then begin to realize we are stuck. When we feel stuck our energy feels stagnant and heavy.
This is where "space clearing" comes in.
Can we start doing some "cleaning and rearranging" here? What if we took on a new way of seeing something, acknowledging that our immediate perception may be distorted in some way.
When someone says to us "sleep on it", it means that in the morning we may have a new take on it... we may see it differently with new insight. Insight flows, moods shift, inner guidance is available to us all and comes in many shapes and forms. As human beings we have all had moments of clarity. We often know when we are seeing more clearly.
So try it ... "reframing" is a wonderful strategy for living a happier and richer life.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Procrastination
"If you want to make an easy job hard, just put off doing it." Olin Miller
Procrastination ... why do we do it?
We had interesting discussions this week in class about the "P" word. Reading quotes from famous wise people we realize quickly that procrastination is the thief that lives in our homes and is the way we most often sabotage ourselves.
If we think we perform better by leaving things to the last minute, we really end up with our backs to the wall and think the pressure has somehow given us the" juice". Yet we have really just lost our freedom and are now under the control of the deadline. "It" is now controlling us.
The most common causes of procrastination are:
Fear of failure
Miscalculating how long a task will take.
Perfectionism.
Indecisiveness.
Thinking we work better under pressure.
Waiting until we are in the "mood".
Feeling overwhelmed.
Rebellion
There are many ways to deal with the above. What strategies help you deal with " putting things off" ?
Procrastination ... why do we do it?
We had interesting discussions this week in class about the "P" word. Reading quotes from famous wise people we realize quickly that procrastination is the thief that lives in our homes and is the way we most often sabotage ourselves.
If we think we perform better by leaving things to the last minute, we really end up with our backs to the wall and think the pressure has somehow given us the" juice". Yet we have really just lost our freedom and are now under the control of the deadline. "It" is now controlling us.
The most common causes of procrastination are:
Fear of failure
Miscalculating how long a task will take.
Perfectionism.
Indecisiveness.
Thinking we work better under pressure.
Waiting until we are in the "mood".
Feeling overwhelmed.
Rebellion
There are many ways to deal with the above. What strategies help you deal with " putting things off" ?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Why do we roll to the right?
A number of students have asked me at different times why we roll to the right when coming up from the floor. My explanation has been somewhat incomplete as I only knew that it was an esoteric, symbolic gesture which had to do with the sun rising in the east. But mostly I just want students to all roll the same way so they don't roll uncomfortably into each other and keeping it on the right simplifies it. However a more thorough explanation is the following:
"It is considered, in India, more auspicious to enter a holy place with the right foot and in many parts of the world, we extend our right hand in greeting. The right side also represents the east: rolling towards the east or the rising sun symbolizes asking for blessings, grace and bliss.
Physiologically, since your heart is on the left, when you roll to the right it remains open and free of pressure. It also keeps one of the main channels of prana/life force active and helps keep your body in a state of calmness as you come into a sitting position."
-Desiree Rumbaugh.
"It is considered, in India, more auspicious to enter a holy place with the right foot and in many parts of the world, we extend our right hand in greeting. The right side also represents the east: rolling towards the east or the rising sun symbolizes asking for blessings, grace and bliss.
Physiologically, since your heart is on the left, when you roll to the right it remains open and free of pressure. It also keeps one of the main channels of prana/life force active and helps keep your body in a state of calmness as you come into a sitting position."
-Desiree Rumbaugh.
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