Archive for July, 2008
Relaxation methods. Start changing your life today
meditation, music and movies, simplicity July 17th, 2008
I hope all of my dear readers are well and your awareness grows every day 
You’ve probably noticed that a short rest from any intensive activity clears your mind and gives a different perspective of the same situation, whether it is a work problem or a personal question. Depending on your involvement and the depth of emotions, you may need just a few minutes.. or several days to calm down and reach deeper relaxation. In our daily routine we often need to “reset” our mind, become fresh and more active. Diversify our doings.
Depending on the way you perceive the world, you will find music or visual relaxation fitting you better. I am suggesting several methods to let everything be for a moment. To realize the value of every second; to realize what is really important for you. Don’t miss a chance, this life is so short.. Small daily meditation may become your refuge and change your life for better.
Web relaxation tools
Tools available online are amazing - you can simply sit back and relax a little, letting your mind travel somewhere else and meditate, concentrating on a beautiful video or sound.
Here are my favorite relax-videos from different sources. They are short and light. Don’t forget to turn on the music or wear headphones. I wish you all could leave problems and hard situations aside and simply relax. Let it all go. Just be present for a moment.
Tender flowers, smell of spring and great sounds.
Water drops and sound of the ocean.
Zen symbols, Buddha statue, simplicity of a flower, - accompanied by theme music. My favorite.
Murmur of the forest. Green grass and spikelets, ancient trees.. You are almost standing there.
Galaxies and planet pictures with beautiful ambient music.
Amazing piano music, cold and bright winter pictures. Remember your cozy winter evenings?
Thoughts on efficiency
productivity, simplicity July 14th, 2008
Usually I am continuously thinking on open questions I get from books or people and on the flow of situations in my life, turning them around in my head, looking at them from different angles. I live with them, trying to come to some final idea or understanding. These thoughts pull up another books, people and other connected situations that give some answers (you probably noticed it in your experience, - when you think about something, - alike things start happening).
Whether you think of something good or bad, - you make it more real, more probable to happen or somehow come to your life (that is why many fears come true when we actually *do* fear and don’t want them to happen).
What ideas am I thinking on these days? I decided to record a few.
1. Hard work and productivity in a global sense
I must confess to myself and other beings that my office work is truly useless. It doesn’t bring any joy to me or thousands of people visiting sites my company develops. And it will not get any better, as the company is money-oriented only. Sometimes I prefer not to think about it, as I’m leaving this place soon. But is it really fair, am I really seeing things the way they are? What if I die in 3 month, still working in a dull office and promising myself to start a new life tomorrow.. This is a hard question. Usually people ask to stop talking about it and make death a taboo topic. But this is silly, - we can’t run away from it.
Imagine what your life could be if you set a single motivation - reach enlightenment and help others no-matter-what? Life would simplify a lot. It would become beautiful, full of hard work and very realistic. Lama Ole Nyidahl said that those people who work more, - reach more on the way of Dharma, get more blessings and results. They live a full, complete life. We all talk about ego we want to get rid of, but are we really honest with ourselves about it? Are we doing everything we could do today? You can let everything be, thinking that “I have much time. I will do it later. I am tired. I am not in the mood right now”. But the truth is.. we never know how much time we have.
2. Finding my own path and practice
This is a second big thought flying around me for quite a while. I have had a hard week with 2 yoga classes daily at 9am and 7pm and office work in between. By my Saturday’s “2 hours weekend yoga” I got so tired that I felt energetically overworked. I did my personal meditation practice in a public transport through the week and dedicated only 5-10 minutes in the mornings and evenings. This did upset me much (as I started feeling I don’t move anywhere in it, my mind got less meditative and more chaotic). Teaching yoga in this state is difficult because you have to continuously give-give-give, help and coach. Synchronize with others. “No ego”-state. Otherwise the practice becomes empty.
In any case I’m very grateful for this tough experience. I hope I started understanding the point of giving and finding happiness in it. And.. I can’t combine office with such an intensive practice, - it will simply burn me out. I can switch my priorities to own practice and coaching.
Life brings so many challenges and every situation is a key to a deeper understanding.. : )
Lama Ole says: “Sometimes you have to go away from meditation in order to get back to it in a while with a new look”. I agree, I’m starting my meditation with so much aspiration now. I find a saving refuge in it, realizing it’s impact on my mind and the way I treat others.
This is what I’ve been on recently. I always wonder what others think of. Anyone with alike thoughts? : )
Wonderful picture by Gnaharro Flickr free pics
More to read:
12 healthy eating rules from Yoga teachers
healthy eating, productivity, yoga practice July 8th, 2008
You are what you eat. I’ve started this 12 rules article in one of previous posts to help readers correct their diet and start eating in a more healthy way. Any practice, including yoga, will be times more effective if supported by wholesome nutrition; and some Indian schools of yoga even start education with kriyas - special body cleaning practices - before studying postures or breath techniques.
I will briefly describe the first two rules I wrote about:
1. Eat to live; don’t live to eat
Do you often eat favorite cookies/sweets/chocolate blaming yourself and promising to stop “after this last one”? Do you eat much when you are stressed? Do you automatically eat in front of computer or TV? Do you eat before going to sleep? If you do, this article will help you slightly change the way you eat to become healthier and happier. Food is an instrument, a fuel for your body. Using this or that fuel, your body will feel better or worse. Everyone wants to live a longer, healthier, happier life, - and that is why we should choose good fuel that will not harm our body. It’s very simple in theory Try to treat the food in this way.
2. Hunger is truth, appetite is a lie
Whenever you want to eat and hold out your hand for something tasty, try to think and analyze - “Am I feeling hungry? Is it a real hunger? Or am I bored, stressed, used to eat more then I need?”. Be honest with yourself and try to become aware of every little thing you eat.
Next step is to experience a real hunger. Dedicate your day (why not Friday or weekend?) to explore a real feeling of hunger. Eat less for breakfast and take a long walk during lunch. Don’t eat anything before next meal. Watch how your hunger appears and grows, let it fill your thoughts and body. Remember this feeling. During next few days try to work out a new habit - to eat when you feel hungry, not when you see something tasty.
Lama Ole Nydahl’s lecture in my city
buddhism, meditation July 3rd, 2008
I have had a chance to visit Lama Ole Nydahl lecture yesterday. Lama came to our city with the topic “Meditation in Buddhism”. I don’t have enough words to express light, happiness and aspiration of hundreds of people who came. I bought several books and carried them home as the most precious treasure I could buy.
Lama Ole is unbelievably open, real, compassionate and loving.
If you don’t know who Lama Ole Nydahl is, here’s a small introduction: he and his wife, Hannah Nydahl became the first Western devotees of 16th Karmapa, a leader of Karma Kagyu linage of Tibetan Buddhism. They have studied meditation and other Buddhist practices for several years under Karmapa’s personal guidance. After serious experience and transmissions, they got Karmapa’s blessing for teaching Buddhism in Western countries. Since then, Lama Ole travels around the world establishing new centers and spreading true values among people who is ready to accept them. There are over 450 centers established by Lama Ole and Hannah all over the world where any human being can find peace, meditate and fill life with meaning.
I had a feeling yesterday that I have found a close friend. We’ve talked about Buddhism essentials – morality, meditation and wisdom. We have discovered obstacles on the way to being happy and complete foolishness of these negative thoughts. Lama Ole gave us a possibility to accept refuge and get a blessing of Karma Kagyu linage. We have meditated together and got explanations of Medicine Buddha healing meditation. We have chanted few mantras during meditation, and the voice of several hundreds of people entered my heart and vibrated there long after the lecture was over.
Me and my significant one started doing Ngondro (preliminary practices in Vajrayana Buddhism) 2 weeks ago after getting a lung (oral practice transmission) from Lama Sonam Dorje, who is known to be the first Russian practitioner getting Lama status. We are so novice that I’m scared to write anything about Buddhism ☺ But I believe many novices are around and sharing experience is very important as we don’t live in Tibet/Nepal/India and our motivation should be supported every day and every minute.
I will write more on Lama Ole’s lecture later when I get home to see transcripts. I suddenly noticed how deeply Buddhism settled in my heart during last several months.
May all be happy, may all be free..
More to read:
Lama Ole Nydahl 2008 travel plan - check if you can meet Lama soon : )
Diamond Way Buddhism - informational site with teachings, press-releases, news and other useful things