Browsing Category: "meditation"
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?
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
The art of turning difficulties into practice
happiness, meditation, productivity, simplicity June 22nd, 2008
I’m almost finished with my master’s paper and really happy to get back to posting, reading and practicing. Each tough time when we’re too busy, too troubled or too overwhelmed with emotions we get a true challenge and best conditions for inner practice.
In the book I’m reading now, “A Path with Heart”, Jack Kornfield tells about a prayer for difficulties:
May I be granted proper obstacles and sufferings on this path so that my heart could really awaken, so that my liberation and overall compassion practice could really happen.
In Buddhism troubles are considered valuable as they give unique possibility to go deeper into one’s feelings, see the origin of suffering, gain wisdom and understand suffering others feel.
Instead of treating every problem as a punishment, or meeting it with aggression, depression and complaint, - one could overstep own limitations and treat it as a challenge. Here are few advices we could all use when we meet some obstacles to overcome them and be free in every moment of life.
Vipassana meditation
happiness, meditation May 22nd, 2008
I first heard of Vipassana meditation practice about 4 years ago. I had no clue of Buddhism or serious meditation at that time, and decided I can simply join a course and learn. Till date, 10 days Vipassana course is unique in our country and makes the best choice to get into meditation and contemplation.
Vipassana (from Pali, “seeing reality as it is“) is very simple and very ancient. More then 2500 years ago Gautama Buddha showed Vipassana as a method to free yourself from suffering and never ending samsara chains. In October a second Vipassana Center will be opened in UK (European Long-Course Centre Dhamma Padhāna) in addition to Dhamma Dipa, overfilled with people wishing to participate.