Spirituality Archives - Quantum Babble

A Zen Master Explains the Art of ‘Letting Go’

Craig — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 20:43:40 +0000

Thich Naht Hanh, the Zen Buddhist master, has some interesting advice about what it means to truly let go. Many people mistake detachment or non-clinging to be a form of aloofness, or emotional disconnect from others, but as Hanh explains, truly letting go often means loving someone more than you have ever loved them before.

The Buddha taught that detachment, one of the disciplines on the Noble Path, also called ariyasaavaka, is not a physical act of withdrawal or even a form of austerity. Though the Buddha teaches of a “non-action which is an integral part of the Right Way,” if it is taken out of context it can give the impression that we should develop a lack of concern for others, and that we should live without truly feeling or expressing our emotions – cutting ourselves off from life.

These type of misinterpretations are sadly common, since there are not always direct translations from the Paali language into English.

This form of “detachment” is an erroneous understanding of the Buddha’s message. Master Hanh states that to truly let go we must learn to love more completely. Non-attachment only happens when our love for another extends beyond our own personal expectations of gain, or our anticipation of a specific, desired outcome.

Hanh describes four forms of complete detachment, which surprisingly, aren’t about holing yourself up in a cave and ignoring everyone who has broken your heart, or ignoring your lust or desire for a romantic interest. This is not detachment. Letting go, means diving in. For example:

Maitri (Not the Love You Know)

Hanh describes the importance of Maitri, not love as we normally understand in a Westernized use of the word. He states,

“The first aspect of true love is maitri (metta, in Pali), the intention and capacity to offer joy and happiness. To develop that capacity, we have to practice looking and listening deeply so that we know what to do and what not to do to make others happy. If you offer your beloved something she does not need, that is not maitri. You have to see her real situation or what you offer might bring her unhappiness.”

In other words, your detachment may come in accepting that certain things you would normally do to make another person feel loved and appreciated may not be what the person you are actively loving now, needs. Instead of forcing that behavior on another person, with an egoic intent to “please” them, you simply detach from that need in yourself, and truly observe what makes another person feel comfortable, safe, and happy.

Hanh further explains,

“We have to use language more carefully. “Love” is a beautiful word; we have to restore its meaning. The word “maitri” has roots in the word mitra which means friend. In Buddhism, the primary meaning of love is friendship.”

Karuna (Compassion)

The next form of true detachment is compassion. When we let go, we don’t stop offering a compassionate touch, word, or deed to help someone who is in pain. We also don’t expect to take their hurt or pain away. Compassion contains deep concern, though. It is not aloofness It is not isolation from others.

The Buddha smiles because he understands why pain and suffering exist, and because he also knows how to transform it. You become more deeply involved in life when you become detached form the outcome, but this does not mean you don’t participate fully – even in others’ pain.

Gratitude and Joy

In truly letting go you practice gratitude. Mudita, or joy arises when we are overcome with gratitude for all that we have, such that we no longer cling to some other longed-for result. The Buddha’s definition of joy is more like “Unselfish joy.” It means that we don’t only find happiness when something good happens to us, but when others find happiness.

If you’ve ever had to say goodbye to a love or friend so that they could continue on their life’s path – one that may not have continued to intertwine with your own – you may have felt pain when they found someone new to love, or made a new friend that seemed to take your place. This is not true detachment. Joy arises when you find happiness even when others find joy – and it has little or nothing to do with you.

Upeksha (Equanimity)

Master Hanh describes the final quality of true love which sheds inordinate light on the true process of letting go.

He states,

“The fourth element of true love is upeksha, which means equanimity, non-attachment, nondiscrimination, even-mindedness, or letting go. Upa means “over,” and iksha means “to look.” You climb the mountain to be able to look over the whole situation, not bound by one side or the other. If your love has attachment, discrimination, prejudice, or clinging in it, it is not true love.

People who do not understand Buddhism sometimes think upeksha means indifference, but true equanimity is neither cold nor indifferent. If you have more than one child, they are all your children. Upeksha does not mean that you don’t love. You love in a way that all your children receive your love, without discrimination.”

Hanh explains that without this quality our love tends to become possessive – a stomping ground of the ego. We try to put our beloved in our pocket and carry them with us, when they are more like the wind, or a butterfly, or a stream, needing to move and flow, or risk dying. This is not love, this is destruction.

For love to be true love, it must have elements of compassion, joy, and equanimity – and thisis truly letting go.

The Art of Letting Go is Artless

The real secret is that letting go is not an art, it is an allowing, a being. A non-attached relationship is healthy, strong and filled with effortless love, kindness and compassion. It is completely selfless because your sense of ‘self’ is no longer asserted in every situation. If you want to truly let go, you’ve got to love more, not less. This is the most common misunderstanding about this priceless teaching of the Buddha.

Featured Image: Photo © Unified Buddhist Church.

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Myths and Truth

Craig — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 12:36:52 +0000

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Once you learn these 5 brutal truths about life, you’ll be a much better person (according to Buddhism)

Craig — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 18:03:34 +0000

According to Buddhist philosophy, happiness involves embracing and accepting all the different aspects of life, even if they’re negative. Otherwise we’re turning a blind eye to reality and resisting the natural forces of the universe.

So below, we’re going to go over 5 truths about life Buddhism says we’d all benefit from accepting.

1) Worrying is useless.

Worrying is created in the mind and really doesn’t offer any value to our lives. Will worrying change what’s going to happen? If not, then it’s a waste of time. As Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh says below, try to remain in the present moment without putting labels on your “future conditions of happiness.”

“Worrying does not accomplish anything. Even if you worry twenty times more, it will not change the situation of the world. In fact, your anxiety will only make things worse. Even though things are not as we would like, we can still be content, knowing we are trying our best and will continue to do so. If we don’t know how to breathe, smile,and live every moment of our life deeply, we will never be able to help anyone. I am happy in the present moment. I do not ask for anything else. I do not expect any additional happiness or conditions that will bring about more happiness. The most important practice is aimlessness, not running after things, not grasping.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

2) If we want to be happy, we must see reality for what it is

Buddhism teaches us that we must see reality for what it is if you want to be truly free. Instead of being fixed on our ideas and opinions, we need to stay open and curious to whatever truth arises.

So many of us try to remain perpetually positive by avoiding negative emotions or situations. But we need to confront them and accept them if we are to be truly free. Buddhist master Pema Chödrön says it best:

“We have two alternatives: either we question our beliefs – or we don’t. Either we accept our fixed versions of reality- or we begin to challenge them. In Buddha’s opinion, to train in staying open and curious – to train in dissolving our assumptions and beliefs – is the best use of our human lives.”

3) We need to accept change actively

Everything in life is change. You’re born and you eventually die. The weather changes every day. No matter how you look at life, everything is change. However, many of us attempt to keep things “fixed” and “constant”. But this only goes against the true forces of the universe.

By accepting and embracing change, it gives us enormous liberation and energy to create the lives we want. Buddhist Daisaku Ikeda says that accepting change allows us to take initiative and create positive changes in our lives.

“Buddhism holds that everything is in constant flux. Thus the question is whether we are to accept change passively and be swept away by it or whether we are to take the lead and create positive changes on our own initiative. While conservatism and self-protection might be likened to winter, night, and death, the spirit of pioneering and attempting to realize ideals evokes images of spring, morning, and birth.” – Daisaku Ikeda

4) The root of suffering is pursuing temporary feelings

So many of us crave those feelings of what we think is happiness. We think happiness includes excitement, joy, euphoria…but these are only temporary feelings. And the constant pursuit of these feelings only turns into suffering because they don’t last.

Instead true happiness comes from inner peace – being content with what you have and who you are. Yuval Noah Harari describes it perfectly:

“According to Buddhism, the root of suffering is neither the feeling of pain nor of sadness nor even of meaninglessness. Rather, the real root of suffering is this never-ending and pointless pursuit of ephemeral feelings, which causes us to be in a constant state of tension, restlessness and dissatisfaction. Due to this pursuit, the mind is never satisfied. Even when experiencing pleasure, it is not content, because it fears this feeling might soon disappear, and craves that this feeling should stay and intensify. People are liberated from suffering not when they experience this or that fleeting pleasure, but rather when they understand the impermanent nature of all their feelings, and stop craving them.” – Yuval Noah Harari

5) Meditation is the path to reducing suffering

Meditation teaches us that everything is impermanent, especially our feelings. It teaches us that the present moment is all that exists. And when we truly realize that, we become content and happy, according to Yuval Noah Harari:

“This is the aim of Buddhist meditation practices. In meditation, you are supposed to closely observe your mind and body, witness the ceaseless arising and passing of all your feelings, and realise how pointless it is to pursue them. When the pursuit stops, the mind becomes very relaxed, clear and satisfied. All kinds of feelings go on arising and passing – joy, anger, boredom, lust – but once you stop craving particular feelings, you can just accept them for what they are. You live in the present moment instead of fantasising about what might have been. The resulting serenity is so profound that those who spend their lives in the frenzied pursuit of pleasant feelings can hardly imagine it.” – Yuval Noah Harari

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25 Powerful Quotes From Alan Watts That Will Awaken Your Soul

Craig — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 15:11:45 +0000

Writer, speaker, and British philosopher Alan Watts is best known for his interpretation popularization of Asian culture and philosophy for the West. With more than 25 books, multitudes of articles on higher consciousness, identity, the nature of reality, the meaning of life, and the pursuit of happiness, he left an impressive body of work that continues to inspire people 40 years after his death.

Perhaps the most profound part of Watts was that he had the incredible ability of expressing complex thoughts in the simplest of ways.

Here is a glimpse into some of his profound wisdom.

1. “This is the real secret of life – to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”

2. “The religious idea of God cannot do full duty for the metaphysical infinity.”

3. “Without birth and death, and without the perpetual transmutation of all the forms of life, the world would be static, rhythm-less, undancing, mummified.”

4. “Peace can be made only by those who are peaceful, and love can be shown only by those who love. No work of love will flourish out of guilt, fear, or hollowness of heart, just as no valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.”

5. “What we have forgotten is that thoughts and words are conventions, and that it is fatal to take conventions too seriously. A convention is a social convenience, as, for example, money … but it is absurd to take money too seriously, to confuse it with real wealth … In somewhat the same way, thoughts, ideas and words are ‘coins’ for real things.”

6. “The style of God venerated in the church, mosque, or synagogue seems completely different from the style of the natural universe.”

7. “Things are as they are. Looking out into the universe at night, we make no comparisons between right and wrong stars, nor between well and badly arranged constellations.”

8. “We do not ‘come into’ this world; we come out of it, as leaves from a tree.”

9. “No one is more dangerously insane than one who is sane all the time: he is like a steel bridge without flexibility, and the order of his life is rigid and brittle.”

10. “Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.”

11. “Just as true humor is laughter at oneself, true humanity is knowledge of oneself.”

12. “The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.”

13. “No work or love will flourish out of guilt, fear, or hollowness of heart, just as no valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.”

14. “Omnipotence is not knowing how everything is done; it’s just doing it.”

15. “What I am really saying is that you don’t need to do anything, because if you see yourself in the correct way, you are all as much extraordinary phenomenon of nature as trees, clouds, the patterns in running water, the flickering of fire, the arrangement of the stars, and the form of a galaxy. You are all just like that, and there is nothing wrong with you at all.”

16. “Faith is a state of openness or trust. To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don’t grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float. And the attitude of faith is the very opposite of clinging to belief, of holding on. In other words, a person who is fanatic in matters of religion, and clings to certain ideas about the nature of God and the universe, becomes a person who has no faith at all. Instead they are holding tight. But the attitude of faith is to let go, and become open to truth, whatever it might turn out to be.”

17. “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”

18. “There will always be suffering. But we must not suffer over the suffering.”

19. “To put is still more plainly: the desire for security and the feeling of insecurity are the same thing. To hold your breath is to lose your breath. A society based on the quest for security is nothing but a breath-retention contest in which everyone is as taut as a drum and as purple as a beet.”

20. “I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.”

21. “You and I are all as much continuous with the physical universe as a wave is continuous with the ocean.”

22. “But I’ll tell you what hermits realize. If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you’ll come to understand that you’re connected with everything.”

23. “Technology is destructive only in the hands of people who do not realize that they are one and the same process as the universe.”

24. “You are that vast thing that you see far, far off with great telescopes.”

25. “The ego is nothing other than the focus of conscious attention.”

By Matt Caron

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Embracing the Way of Nature: Polarity and the Tao

Craig — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:34:44 +0000

Taoism offers a unique way of viewing the world. Though it is often taught as the “Way of Nature,” Tao, translated means simply, “the Way.” As its greatest teacher, Lao-Tzu explained, nature contains polarities. Tao creates and nourishes everything in the Cosmos, and yet It appears to “do nothing” (wu wei in Chinese), which means that Tao, being spontaneous, has no intent or impulse to strive, to act and to react as we humans do. The Tao simply allows things to take their own course. The acceptance of this dual nature of the world can help put us at ease, but only when we truly understand how polarity works to manifest our “seeming” reality.

Psychologist Swami Ajaya once said, “In Taoism it is believed that when one is unaware that the two sides of a polarity support one another to form a whole, he identifies with only one side of the polarity. This in turn leads to suffering and self-destruction. But understanding how the two poles support one another leads to a peaceful and integrated life.”

In the Tao-te Ching, the Tao is also described as the allness of the universe, as the true reality of existence beyond the “shadows” of false appearance, as nothingness, as a synonym for God, as a state of mind or being, as a paradox of opposites, as wisdom through emptiness. It is at once all these things and none of them.

For example, the world is currently in a state of chaos as the very beginning revelations of corruption and evil (darkness) that permeates so many levels of our government and society. Many among us are in denial that such evil could even exist. Many are unaware that the evil traits exemplified by so many are mirrors of our own faults, albeit exaggerated in such a gross form, that we might hopefully be compelled to overcome our own moral and ethical shortcomings, and move toward the “light.” We must be careful, though, not to move to another false matrix.

The forces of true Divine Light that exist outside of the corrupt world matrix are not bound by the left-brain right-brain dynamics and dark-light polarities that define the demiurgic sub-universe.

In the ultimate book of Taoist teachings, the Tao Te Ching, a text which embodies Lao-tzu’s teachings, it is explained that “when the world knows beauty as beauty, without knowing that it depends upon its opposite, i.e., ugliness, then beauty turns out to be ugly. Similarly, when people know goodness as goodness, without knowing that it co-exists with evil, goodness tends to become evil.”

If we look at a less extreme example than ritualistic, satanic spirit cooking dinners, or any other evil practice coming to light — which might be more relatable — this concept becomes more clear.

There is an incident which happened recently in China, where a girl committed suicide because she could not beautify herself to meet society’s standards. In another case, three girls committed suicide because they hadn’t been able to finish their homework. While psychotherapists preach “unconditional acceptance,” none of these suicide cases could accept their own faults, resulting in a non-discriminative personality abjectly unable to embrace their own God-given worth.

Lao-tzu teaches that it is only when we can accept the unity of beauty-ugliness, or discipline-laziness, etc. that we can avoid deep mental illness.

The teacher of the “Way” is not asking us to accept the actions of the evil, but to realize that their efforts are only one side of the false, duplicitous Universe, set up to fool us. Without cold, there can be no warm. Without sun, there is no rain. Without “evil”, there is no “good.” No “Yin,” no “Yang.”

More specifically, the Way of Nature is to strive toward good by overcoming evil. We cannot simply act as if it doesn’t exist. Ultimately, though, we free ourselves from false Gods, false flags, and the illusion that we were ever separate from the One to begin with. This is the Tao.

The Campbellian journey, and its long list of archetypal heroes and villains is just a template for what we are experiencing now, and what Lao-Tzu taught ages ago.

If we don’t go on this adventure, face a crisis and succeed, and transform, then we have missed the entire point of existence. Christ, Buddha, Krishna – they all faced similar challenges – but theirs was a lesson in transcending duality.

Joseph Campbell taught that it was only once a hero or heroine transitions through an apotheosis, do they achieve the prize. He said, “Those who know, not only that the Everlasting lies in them, but that what they, and all things, really are is the Everlasting, dwell in the groves of the wish fulfilling trees, drink the brew of immortality, and listen everywhere to the unheard music of eternal concord.”

Even George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, wrote his characters based on this underlying paradox, and the Campbellian journey. You can see this in Star Wars’ plot. Human beings were once very aware of their connection to Infinite Source and all of life, and that awareness has been maintained by spiritual individuals throughout the entire reign of darkness on this planet. Because this awareness could not be “beaten out of us” by the dark forces, a plan was formed to co-opt the spiritual nature of human beings.

Similarly, Toaist master Chuang Tzo taught, “The Taoist secret of power is to follow the nature of things, a sensitivity and skill obtained by minute concentration on the Tao running through natural objects of all kinds. This knowledge and skill cannot be handed down but is that all the men of old took with them when they died.” The knowledge can’t be handed down because it is already inherent within us.

Truly, we are a spirit dwelling within a body. These experiences here are only part of the Way. This hologram or matrix we are captive within has been called Maya by the Hindus, and the Gnostics referred to it as the Corrupt Demiurge. The world is an entropic system of artificially-induced separation consciousness that is slowly dying, and it depends on harvesting the energy from the souls incarnated within its system in order to preserve its existence. This is what we must not lose sight of. This false world does not represent the Cosmos as a whole.

These challenging times are here to help us purge fear, sickness, and warped passions from our minds and hearts. Only then do we become illuminated beings, no longer subject to the laws of matter, space and time. To transcend duality, we must first understand it.

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The Wisdom of a Silent Mind

Craig — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:11:44 +0000

Silent Mind

When your sense perception contacts sense objects and you experience physical pleasure, enjoy that feeling as much as you can. But if the experience of your sense perception’s contact with the sense world ties you, if the more you look at the sense world the more difficult it becomes, instead of getting anxious—“I can’t control this”—it’s better
to close your senses off and with a silent mind observe the sense perception itself.

Similarly, if you’re bound by the problems that ideas create, instead of trying to stop those problems by grasping at some other idea, which is impossible, diligently investigate how ideas cause you trouble. At certain times, a silent mind is very important, but “silent” does not mean closed. The silent mind is an alert, awakened mind; a mind seeking the nature of reality.

When problems in the sense world bother you, the difficulty comes from your sense perception, not from the external objects you perceive. And when concepts bother you, that also does not come from outside but from your mind’s grasping at concepts. Therefore, instead of trying to stop problems emotionally by grasping at new material objects or ideas, check up silently to see what’s happening in your mind.

No matter what sort of mental problem you experience, instead of getting nervous and fearful, sit back, relax, and be as silent as possible. In this way you will automatically be able to see reality and understand the root of the problem. When we experience problems, either internal or external, our narrow, unskillful mind only makes them worse.

When someone with an itchy skin condition scratches it, he feels some temporary relief and thinks his scratching has made it better. In fact, his scratching has made it worse. We’re like that; we do the same thing, every day of our lives. Instead of trying to stop problems like this, we should relax and rely on our skilful, silent mind. But silent does not mean dark, non-functioning, sluggish or sleepy.

So now, just close your eyes for ?ve or ten minutes and take a close look at whatever you consider your biggest problem to be. Shut down your sense perception as much as you possible can, remain completely silent and with introspective knowledge-wisdom, thoroughly investigate your mind. Where do you hold the idea of “my problem”? Is it in your brain? In your mouth? Your heart? Your stomach? Where is that idea? If you can’t find the thought of “problem,” don’t intellectualize; simply relax. If miserable thoughts or bad ideas arise in your mind, just watch how they come, how they go.

Don’t react emotionally. Practising in this way, you can see how the weak, unskilful mind cannot face problems. But your silent mind of skilful wisdom can face any problem bravely, conquer it and control all your emotional and agitated states of mind.

Don’t think that what I’m saying is a Buddhist idea, some Tibetan lama’s idea. It can become the actual experience of all living beings throughout the universe. I could give you many words, many ideas in my lecture tonight, but I think it’s more important to share with you the silent experience. That’s more realistic than any number of words. When you investigate your mind thoroughly, you can see clearly that both miserable and ecstatic thoughts come and go.

Moreover, when you investigate penetratingly, they disappear altogether. When you are preoccupied with an experience, you think, “I’ll never forget this experience,” but when you check up skilfully, it automatically disappears. That is the silent wisdom experience. It’s very simple, but don’t just believe me—experience it for yourself. In my experience, a silent lecture is worth more than one with many words and no experience. In the silent mind, you find peace, joy and satisfaction.

Silent inner joy is much more lasting than the enjoyment of eating chocolate and cake. That enjoyment is also just a conception. When you close off your superficial sense perception and investigate your inner nature, you begin to awaken. Why? Because superficial sense perception prevents you from seeing the reality of how discursive thought comes and goes. When you shut down your senses, your mind becomes more conscious and functions better. When your superficial senses are busy, your mind is kind of dark; it’s totally preoccupied by the way your senses are interpreting things. Thus, you can’t see reality. Therefore, when you are tied by ideas and the sense world, instead of stressing out, stop your sense perception and silently watch your mind.

Try to be totally awake instead of obsessed with just one atom. Feel totality instead of particulars. You can’t determine for yourself the way things should be. Things change by their very nature. How can you tie down any idea? You can see that you can’t. When you investigate the way you think—“Why do I say this is good? Why do I say this is bad?”—you start to get real answers as to how your mind really works.

You can see how most of your ideas are silly but how your mind makes them important. If you check up properly you can see that these ideas are really nothing. By checking like this, you end up with nothingness in your mind. Let your mind dwell in that state of nothingness. It is so peaceful; so joyful. If you can sit every morning with a silent mind for just ten or twenty minutes, you will enjoy it very much. You’ll be able to observe the moment-to-moment movement of your emotions without getting sad. You will also see the outside world and other people differently; you will never see them as hindrances to your life and they will never make you feel insecure. Therefore, beauty comes from the mind.

So, that was the experience of silence. You can discuss what I’ve been saying through your own experience. Observing and investigating your mind is so simple; very simple. Constantly, wherever you go, at any time, you can experience this energy. It’s always with you. But chocolate isn’t the peaceful stillness of the silent mind . . .always with you—when you want it, it’s not there and when you don’t feel like it, there it is in front of you. The joy of the silent experience comes from your own mind. Therefore, joy is always with you. Whenever you need it, it’s always there.

Transcript from public talk by – Lama Thubten Yeshe

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These 7 Buddhist monk habits are hard to adopt but they’ll change your life forever

Craig — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 15:11:14 +0000

What’s the secret to feeling calm and focused?

It’s not an easy question to answer.

So, why do Buddhist monks appear peaceful and present all the time?

How do they do it? Do they know some hidden secret that you don’t?

Actually, yes they do!

For thousands of years, Buddhist philosophy has focused solely on how to reduce human suffering and keep the mind focused on the present moment.

And today, we’re going to go through Buddhism’s most important principles and habits that we can all adopt in our daily lives.

While they may appear difficult at first, if you keep at it, they’ll benefit you for a lifetime.

Habit 1 – Outer decluttering

Did you know that the Buddha was born a prince? Yep, he could have spent his life in a big, beautiful palace where everything is done for him.

But he didn’t.

He abandoned everything when he realized the frustrating nature of materialism.

2300 years later, Buddhist monks do the same. They keep material possessions to a minimum and only hold what they need to live their life. Usually this will all fit in a small backpack.

They completely declutter their life.

Habit 2 – Inner decluttering: taking care of others

In many Buddhist circles, monks learn to do things not for themselves, but for the whole world.

When they meditate, it’s for the sake of everyone. They attempt to attain enlightenment to reach their full potential and help those in need.

When you can develop this kind of selfless attitude, you focus less on your personal problems. You get less emotional about small things and your mind becomes more calm.

This is what’s called inner decluttering: making room for others and dumping selfish habits.

Habit 3 – Meditating A LOT

One of the main reasons you become a monk is to have more time to meditate. Most monks wake up early and meditate for 1 to 3 hours and do the same at night. This kind of practice changes the brain. If you’ve read any articles on the benefits of meditation, then you know what I mean.

You don’t have to adopt this kind of rigorous schedule, but what if you started the day with 30 minutes of meditation?

Habit 4 – Following the wise

In western society, we have an unhealthy relationship with old age. But for Buddhist monks, they see elder people as having wisdom. They seek elder spiritual guides that can help them on their path.

If you look around, there are always insightful people to learn from. Older people have more experience which means they can offer countless life lessons.

Habit 5 – Listen mindfully and without judgment

Our brains naturally judges others. But according to Buddhists, the point of communication is to help others and ourselves suffer less.

Criticizing and judging obviously doesn’t help.

What’s wonderful about mindfulness is that it’s judgment-free. The main goal of mindful communication is to take in everything that someone is saying without evaluating it.

So many of us pre-plan our answers while we’re listening but the main goal here is to simply take in all that they are saying.

It leads to more mutual respect, understanding and chances for progress in the conversation.

Habit 6 – Change is the only law of the universe

According to Buddhist master Sazuki, a crucial principle we all need to learn is to accept change:

“Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately, although it is true, it is difficult for us to accept it. Because we cannot accept the truth of transiency, we suffer.”

Everything changes, it’s the fundamental law of the universe. Yet, we find it hard to accept it. We identify strongly with our fixed appearance, with our body and our personality. And when it changes, we suffer.

However, Sazuki says we can overcome this by recognizing that the contents of our minds are in perpetual flux. Everything about consciousness comes and goes. Realizing this in the heat of the moment can diffuse fear, anxiety, anger, grasping, despair. For example, it’s hard to stay angry when you see anger for what it is. This is why Zen teach that the moment is all that exists.

Sazuki says: “Whatever you do, it should be an expression of the same deep activity. We should appreciate what we are doing. There is no preparation for something else”

Habit 7 – Living the moment

As humans it can be tough to simply embrace the present moment. We tend to think about past events or worry about what the future holds. Our mind can naturally drift.

But mindfulness encourages us to refocus. Practising mindfulness enables us to get better at redirecting our thoughts back to what we’re actually engaged in.

Without judging ourselves for getting lost in our thoughts, we simply acknowledge that we lost our attention and direct our focus to our senses or any task we’re engaged in.

It takes discipline but it’s what we need to do if we want be present for the miracles of life.

In Mind & Body

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The 6 Major Differences Between Religion And Spirituality

Craig — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 16:08:20 +0000

Spirituality vs Religion

Have you ever told someone you’re spiritual, but not religious?

They tend to get a confused look on their face.

But there’s nothing wrong with spirituality; in fact, spirituality is perhaps the most natural thing there is.

It’s simply recognizing that you are more than just a body, that you are a soul with infinite potential.

The next time you have a conversation like that and it starts to go a little deeper, remember these key differences between religion and spirituality- and you’ll notice some people just might think you have the right idea.

Religion tells you what to believe– Spirituality lets you discover it

Religion is black and white; it tells you what to believe and what not to believe.

For instance, stories of creation written thousands of years ago are largely seen as infallible, and in some cases even interpreted literally.

But spirituality empowers you to find your own truth in all things and sets no limits to how deep you can go in understanding all there is to know.

Karma and Punishment

In order to reinforce beliefs and keep people thinking about religion, ideas of hell and eternal punishment were introduced. If you don’t believe, you have to pay.

Spirituality only talks about karma- you get what you give. It’s about living a centered life.

Find your own path

Religion talks a lot about ancient stories and gods, whereas spirituality encourages you to make your own paths and create your own stories.

This sets you on your own path- one which the only limits are set by yourself. It’s all about following your own heart.

There are no rules to Spirituality

Religion is rigid and full of rules; spirituality encourages you to follow your heart, find your intuition, and do what’s right for yourself and those around you.

It’s about freedom- freedom to choose your own path, without the promise of any other reward other than the happiness you get from making others happy.

Spirituality is based only on love and not fear

Throughout religion, there is lots of fear. The afterlife, particularly, is a big one. There are very specific rules that create real problems if they’re not followed.

This can lead to psychological complexes and insecurities.

But choices made from fear never produce the right results.

Spirituality encourages making decisions out of love and the pure desire to be the best you can be, for its own sake.

Religion separates, Spirituality unites

To each religion, their story is the only way. All others are false.

But to spirituality, all truth is the same- though it might have different interpretations.

By focusing on the quality of divinity within their message, they see every religion’s beauty and special offering.

All religion stems from deep spirituality.

Jesus and Prophet Mohammed, for example, all had deeply profound spiritual journeys before they embarked on their own.

Each religion has beautiful souls, but anything that carries the negative aspects of religion will hurt the progress of humanity…and the world.

Ultimately, spirituality teaches us there are no walls, divisions, borders, races, or cultural divides; we’re all one.

By Matt Caron

The post The 6 Major Differences Between Religion And Spirituality appeared first on Quantum Babble.

Reflections on Calm Abiding in Meditation

Craig — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 17:06:24 +0000

My mind has long been lost in search of happiness
Without knowing how transient all things are.
Seeing the unsatisfactoriness of real life experiences
I will not let my mind wander outside.

Turning back the forces of harmful habitual inclinations
And holding firmly to the peace and tranquillity within,
I rejoice in the store of joy I have discovered
In the happiness of observing the intrinsic calmness.

Let this clear and luminous nature of the mind
Not be overshadowed by my habitual tendencies;
Abiding in the natural calmness of the mind
Let me see all perceptions as nothing but mere reflections.

Neither grasping nor rejecting any sensory perceptions,
I shall see them as adventitious ripples and waves
Of the sea of my mind in deep meditation
And absorb them into the ocean of clear mind.

As I focus my mind to sit in the correct meditation posture
Let the physical self express the deep yearning
To experience the calm, still and spacious nature of the mind
And transcend the problems I have with this body.

The incoming breath brings in all the positive things outside me
And permeates the whole nervous system of my body;
Like the rays of the morning sun dispelling the darkness
It soothes the pain and temporary discomfort.

As I retain the breath, let me sustain
The vital energy of wakefulness and alertness
Enabling me to let go and forgive the past
And to enjoy the fresh manifestation of this bare moment.

My outgoing breath releases all feelings
Of tension, anger, stress, anxiety and worry;
Like the masses of dark clouds suddenly disappearing
Let the adventitious circumstances elapse to dawn a new beginning.

Breathing and observing the bare moments of awareness
Without assuming what it will become
May I live every moment with pristine awareness,
Without waiting for an unforeseen future to cultivate it.

Following the wise sages by respecting their words of wisdom
Let me remember skilful ways to apply them in everything
I do, say and think, so that my conduct brings no harm to others
And I do not become a victim of what I do, say and think.

While watching the constant flow of thoughts
Without discriminating between those that are good or bad
Let me neither be overjoyed with my meditation
Nor depressed by my lack of concentration.

Sinking in a withdrawal of the senses
Is relaxation of the conscious self, but not meditation.
Let me not be excited by the slight virtues of concentration
I have just begun to experience.

Holding the rope of mindfulness and the hook of alertness,
May I resolve to tame this mind which is like a wild elephant.
Steadily focusing the mind with a moderate application of antidotes,
May I discover what causes its restlessness.

When I find no sensory objects which are not my own reflection,
All visions and experiences are circumferences of myself.
Like trees and mountains, rivers and the earth
My existence is to give and share what I have with others.

How can I cling to and grasp what I have obtained from others?
As soon as I let something go, I create space and experience joy;
As soon as I give things away, I find a joy not found in keeping them.
Learning to cherish others will bring me a happiness that will last.

Calm Abiding Written by Lama Choedak Rinpoche

The post Reflections on Calm Abiding in Meditation appeared first on Quantum Babble.

10 Ways to Become More Conscious

Craig — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 16:16:39 +0000

What does it mean to become more conscious? It is the progressive realization of conscious mastery over your mind.

The challenge is that it takes consciousness to grow consciousness. But you needn’t worry about this because you already have the seed. Think of it like fire. You have a flame, and you want to turn that flame into a huge blaze. How do you do it? You add fuel. The following list includes examples of how you can add fuel to your flame of consciousness to become a raging inferno of consciousness. Well, OK, the analogy sort of falls apart there, but you get the idea.

So here are 10 ways to raise your consciousness:

1. Truth

Truth raises your consciousness. Falsehood lowers it.

First, accept the truth. Whatever you’re afraid to know lowers your consciousness. Step on the scale to see how much you weigh. Have a long talk with your spouse about the status of your relationship. Take a deep look at your career. In every case accept the outcome. Don’t just acknowledge the current status and dismiss it. Really accept it as the truth. Think about what it means for this to be true. Also accept your feelings about the truth, whether you like them or not.

Secondly, speak the truth. If honesty is a challenge for you, it’s because you aren’t being honest enough with yourself. Lies you tell others are shadowed by lies you tell yourself. Take note of those areas where you feel incapable of genuine honesty, and dig deep enough to find out why. You’ll find that you uncover a part of yourself you’ve been unwilling to accept. You don’t lie about the parts of yourself that you accept 100%.

The more you’re able to accept and speak the truth, the more conscious you become. Raise your consciousness by uncovering and dumping all traces of falsehood from your life. Allow this to be a gradual process. As your consciousness increases, genuine honesty will come more easily to you.

Yes, there may be consequences when you switch from lies and half-truths to the full truth, but highly conscious people know that crossing that bridge is well worth the effect. A short-term adjustment is nothing compared to the joys of living honestly and openly. It’s so much easier and less stressful to be yourself and allow others to do the same. Not everyone will appreciate the real you, especially if they’ve grown accustomed to a false version, but that won’t matter once you accept and appreciate yourself.

2. Courage

Courage raises your consciousness. Cowardice lowers it.

Courage is the gatekeeper between unconscious growth and conscious growth. As long as you remain on the unconscious side, life will keep throwing problems at you until you step up and take charge. When you face your fear, the fear vanishes, and problems transform into opportunities. But when you run from your problems, your fear only grows.

A powerful guiding principle to adopt is, “Whatever I fear, I must face.” The more fears you face down, the more conscious you become. As you master this lesson, eventually courage becomes less necessary. Once you develop the courage to face any fear life throws at you, you stop attracting so many fear-based experiences into your life. This is why courage is the dividing line between unconscious growth and conscious growth. The mastery of courage gives you the power to decide how you’ll grow instead of being a victim of the whims of fate.

3. Compassion

Compassion raises your consciousness. Cruelty lowers it.

A great way to become more conscious is to search for signs of unconscious cruelty and disconnection in your life. This can be very difficult to do since it also requires courage. We naturally resist facing our own cruelty, but it’s there just waiting to be uncovered.

Compassion is the root of unconditional love, a feeling of connectedness with everything that exists. Do you feel connected to yourself? To others? To animals? To all living things? To everything that exists? The more you develop this connection, the more conscious and aware you become.

4. Desire

Desire raises your consciousness. Apathy lowers it.

When you get clear about what you want, such as by setting a goal, you raise your consciousness. Clarity focuses your mind and gives you the power to think and act intelligently. You can feel this effect whenever you think about something you definitely want.

On the other hand, when your desire is unclear, your consciousness is muddled. Your thoughts lack focus and direction, and you merely spin your wheels.

Strive to become more clear about what you truly desire most, and your consciousness will expand.

5. Attention

Attention raises your consciousness. Distraction lowers it.

Improving your ability to concentrate will make you more conscious. Pick up a rock, give it your full and complete attention, and notice what happens.

But allow your mind to be riddled with distractions, and your consciousness will sink. A distracted mind is a powerless mind.

Meditation is a great way to practice attention and concentration. Sit quietly, breathe deeply, and focus your mind as you do your best to tune out distracting thoughts. This is simple to learn, but it can take a lifetime to master.

6. Knowledge

Knowledge raises your consciousness. Ignorance lowers it.

First and foremost, know thyself. Think deeply about your life, and keep a journal to record your thoughts. Ask questions to which you don’t know the answers, and then search for those answers.

Look around you as well, and soak up knowledge like a sponge. Interact with your environment with a sense of curiosity and wonder. Study it. Learn from it. Experiment with it.

Strive to understand reality, including your role in it, as accurately as possible. The more accurate your beliefs about reality are, the more conscious you become.

7. Reason

Reason raises your consciousness. Irrationality lowers it.

Logic is a powerful tool of consciousness when used correctly. It lends structure and substance to thought.

However, the great challenge of logic is the avoidance of false assumptions. A single false assumption can throw off a lifetime of otherwise logical conclusions. So challenge all of your beliefs, and never have too much certainty about those that rest on clouds.

8. Conscious People

Conscious people raise your consciousness. Unconscious people lower it.

Seek out others you perceive to be at a higher level of consciousness than you are. Talk to them, ask questions, and enjoy their presence. Allow their ideas and awareness to infect you, and you’ll find yourself expanding in all directions. You’ll become more honest, more courageous, more compassionate, and so on.

But spend time with people at a lower level of consciousness, and you’ll gradually sink to their level. Their thoughts will infect you as well, causing you to become more dishonest, more fearful, more apathetic, etc.

Strive to find a balance between spending time with those who raise your consciousness vs. spending time with those you can help. Learn from those who are a little more conscious, and help those who are a little less conscious than you. In this manner you serve the highest good of all, expanding consciousness everywhere.

9. Energy

Energy raises your consciousness. Disease lowers it.

Take care of your physical body, for it is your primary means of interacting with the world. Energy gives you an ongoing flow of vital life experiences. But without energy you starve your consciousness.

Eat with an awareness of what you’re consuming. Exercise with an awareness of how you’re affecting your body and mind. Before putting anything in your body, consider its effect on your energy, not just in the short term but in the long term as well. Always ask yourself, “Will this produce energy or disease?”

10. Intention

The intention to raise your consciousness raises it. The intention to lower your consciousness lowers it.

Consciousness has the capacity to self-expand or self-contract, just as you have the capacity to grow or to commit suicide. In any given moment, you have the freedom of choice.

By genuinely voicing the intention (or by offering the prayer), “I intend to become more conscious and aware,” you will initiate the expansion of your consciousness. Holding the intention to improve in any of the previous nine areas will yield a similar effect.

Alternatively, you are perfectly free to lower your consciousness at any time. While it’s unlikely you would choose to do so directly, you can achieve the same effect indirectly by lowering your performance in any of the previous nine areas. By choosing to lie, to succumb to fear, to commit acts of cruelty, to remain ignorant, and so on, you put out the intention to lower your consciousness. And in so doing, you initiate a process that will attract more falsehood, fear, cruelty, ignorance, etc. into your life.

Every thought you hold serves to either expand or contract your consciousness. There is no neutral. So choose wisely.

By Steve Pavlina

The post 10 Ways to Become More Conscious appeared first on Quantum Babble.