Daily Inspiration

As we close the book on 2009, I would like to wish
everyone a Blessed, Prosperous and Happy New Year.
May all your Dreams, Hopes and Wishes come true in 2010.

Meditation Helps Productivity Soar

No one is unfamiliar with how hectic life can be both in and out of the workplace. Holiday stress, coupled with the everyday stuff of life, can knock even the best of us for a loop.
Idea Village, a Wayne-based company, is finding a way to combat some of that stress, at least the part that happens in the workplace. The company works with Laura Nash on meditation.
Nash comes in to work with the employees twice a week. The company has set up a special meditation room, with comfortable chairs, couches and pillows for the sessions to take place.
"Laura studied under Deepak Chopra," related Idea Village President and CEO Andy Khubani. "I went to a conference where she spoke, and tried meditating with my wife for a while. At first, I found it hard to concentrate." (More)

Source: NorthJersey.com

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Why Meditate? -- Words Do Not Cook Rice

The way I was taught about meditation is that you study the "manual" under the guidance of your teacher, figure out what's going on a little bit, then you practice, you study, practice, study, practice. Without a clear view of the whole process, it's possible to just roam and fumble around for decades or lifetimes for that matter. Developing clarity in the "view" means understanding why we should meditate and how do to go about it. So having a clear view is the first step and then actually doing the practice is the second step.

You could have a totally clear view, you could completely get it. You could understand everything fully. But if there is no practice, the whole thing becomes purely theoretical and conceptual. As Charlie Chan's #1 son used to say, "words do not cook rice." It's happened many times in the past that a person's so smart, got such a strong clear view, but no practice. Sometimes their mind can feel like uncooked rice even to the casual observer. So practice is stage two. (More)

Source: Huffington Post

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Slow Down and Take a Run for Your Mind and Spirit

Running has long been a strong influence here in Western North Carolina, but one aspect of running you don't hear about often is the spiritual journey.

This experience is not reserved to the ultramarathoner and Shut-In champion. Meditation during running is the perfect training tool for experienced and novice runners alike.
This 30-minute mental exercise is a gentle and painless introduction to running and well-being. All you need is a stopwatch to allow you to run without being distracted by keeping time. (More)

Source: Citizen-Times

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MELLOW FELLOW

Crowned a musical icon, Donovan has other priorities...: such as introducing Scotland to transcendental meditation

He is the singer-songwriter who helped out The Beatles.

And his music is still enjoyed four decades after he found fame thanks to a brilliant back catalogue that includes hits such as Mellow Yellow and Hurdy Gurdy Man.

Donovan, 63, has recently been recognised as a legend with a BMI Awards Icon Award but talking to the singer there are none of the airs and graces you might expect from someone who can regard himself as being right up there with the legends of pop androck royalty.

Instead, Donovan is down to earth. And right now he is more concerned with saving Ayrshire's River Doon from environmental catastrophe than bragging about his own career highs.

To help the river, Donovan has put a new melody to the famous Burns poem The Banks O' Doon in the year of Homecoming Live. (More)

California Chronicle

Daily Inspiration

Dr. Wayne Dyer is known by his fans as the "father of motivation," he is a spiritual teacher, respected author, speaker and pioneer in the modern field of self-empowerment. Wayne Dyer joins Oprah on her Soul Series where they discuss Wayne's latest book, Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. This bestseller book reveals modern life lessons from the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, the Tao Te Ching.

You Can Be Happier at Work

Just before the current recession set in, 35-year-old Samuel Peery quit a stable job as a vice president of marketing to start his own social-networking company. Unable to secure funding for his start-up, Mr. Peery, of Lehi, Utah, was left unemployed, with an unrealized dream.

"I got some gigs through my marketing consulting firm, but it wasn't enough to pay the bills," he says, adding that he had to find a way to adapt to the new stresses he was feeling.

Mr. Peery decided to take his happiness into his own hands. "I now make meditation and prayer a part of my daily routine. It helps me to connect to something larger than myself and has provided tremendous comfort and direction," he says.

He also makes it a priority to engage in activities that will boost his mood, from exercising to listening to a song mix or motivational recording. He's still pursuing life as an entrepreneur, and plans to release a multimedia online marketing course for small businesses next year.(More)

Source: Wall Street Journal

Daily Inspiration

Dr. Wayne Dyer is known by his fans as the "father of motivation," he is a spiritual teacher, respected author, speaker and pioneer in the modern field of self-empowerment. Wayne Dyer joins Oprah on her Soul Series where they discuss Wayne's latest book, Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. This bestseller book reveals modern life lessons from the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, the Tao Te Ching.

Meditation Decreases Risk of Death by Stroke, Heart Attack, and Death in General

A study conducted by two universities found that those who meditated saw a 47% decrease in strokes, heart attacks, and death. Two groups of African Americans were followed for nine years. One group practiced traditional methods such diet and exercise to reduce the risks of heart disease. Incidences of stroke, heart attack, or death occurred 31 times.

It is not known if the participants who were supposed to practice traditional methods actually followed the advice as given. However, the second group who practiced meditation only, twice a day for 20 minutes, had 20 incidences of stroke, heart attack, or death.

Dr. Robert Schneider, lead author of study and director of Centre for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University, stated that the meditation group had an overall reduction in blood pressure and psychological stress. (More)

Daily Inspiration

Dr. Wayne Dyer is known by his fans as the "father of motivation," he is a spiritual teacher, respected author, speaker and pioneer in the modern field of self-empowerment. Wayne Dyer joins Oprah on her Soul Series where they discuss Wayne's latest book, Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. This bestseller book reveals modern life lessons from the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, the Tao Te Ching.

Meditation Reduces Heart Disease Deaths

The Medical College of Wisconsin in conjunction with Maharishi University in Iowa funded a study about the effects of transcendental meditation on health. Researchers discovered that over the course of nine years, the group assigned to meditate saw a 47 percent reduction in strokes, heart attacks and deaths.

Two groups of African-Americans were assigned either to meditate or to make certain lifestyle changes. The group told to meditate was instructed to do so twice a day for 20 minutes. The other group was given instruction on traditional methods to reduce the risk of heart disease. After nine years, 20 incidences of stroke, heart attack, or death occurred in the meditation group while 31 incidences occurred in the health education group. (More)

Source: Natural News

Daily Inspiration

Dr. Wayne Dyer is known by his fans as the "father of motivation," he is a spiritual teacher, respected author, speaker and pioneer in the modern field of self-empowerment. Wayne Dyer joins Oprah on her Soul Series where they discuss Wayne's latest book, Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao. This bestseller book reveals modern life lessons from the ancient Chinese book of wisdom, the Tao Te Ching.

Cultivating Compassion: Meditation For Better Relationships

A long time ago, I came across this joke:

Once, a disciple asked, "Master, is associating with people half the holy life?"

The Master replied, "No, associating with people is the whole of holy life".

This joke probably started as a misreading of the famous Upaddah Sutta in Buddhism, where the Buddha told Ananda that friendships with "admirable people" is not half of holy life, but the whole of holy life. Over time, however, I found the humorous apocryphal version to be deeply insightful. There are at least two components to one's spiritual practice, Wisdom and Compassion, and associating with people, especially in difficult situations, helps us grow Compassion. Therefore, you probably cannot live a holy life without associating with people. (More)

Source: Huffington Post

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Countdown to College: Colleges Get Creative With De-Stressing Crazed Students

Your college students should return home for Christmas break feeling very relaxed. Yes, exams are over, but there is a relatively new trend on many campuses across the country to reduce anxiety during finals with "stress buster" programs. Parents are more likely to think of it as pampering. There is positive stress that motivates students, but too much stress is clearly dysfunctional and affects student performance as well as their health and well-being. Students know they need to de-stress, sleep more and eat well, but most don't. Colleges are responding with some novel ideas. Here's a sampling from campuses across the country.

Midnight Breakfasts: Many colleges offer a nighttime feast where traditional breakfast favorites are served up, frequently by the faculty.

Releasing Stress in a Healthy Way: Yoga classes, free 10- to 15-minute chair massages and mediation classes. (More)

Source: The Sacramento Bee

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Part 1 of 6

Colleges use Meditation to Cut Rising Stress Among Students

Amid the stress-inducing madness of finals, two Georgetown University seniors kick off their shoes and settle into wooden chairs. A soft gong fills the room. They close their eyes and clear their minds of everything but a four-syllable mantra.

The session, held in a tiny brick building nestled between dormitories, is part of a movement to provide college students more opportunities to relax and reflect through meditation. A study of D.C. college students published this month found the benefits can include lower blood pressure and reduced anxiety and depression. (More)

Source: Washington Post

Daily Inspiration

One isn't necessarily born with courage,
but one is born with potential.
Without courage, we cannot practice
any other virtue with consistency.
We can't be kind, true, merciful,
generous, or honest.

Maya Angelou

Meditation Could Prevent Disease, Instructor Believes

Meditation helps boost the immune system, making the body less susceptible to disease, Canadian Joseph Takuski believes.

"I have not been sick for many years," the meditation instructor said during a visit to the island.

Although there are bugs everywhere, Mr Takuski's immune system is strong enough to beat them. And he attributes this to meditation, which he started practising when he was very young.

"My father introduced me to it when I was about seven or eight years and I did not realise it was meditation back then. He taught me ways to prepare myself for a race or a hockey game through visualisation so that I could perform better. And I was very successful in sports," he says. (More)

Source: Times of Malta

Daily Inspiration

we go back to the first series of Kung Fu and the episode called "Sun and Cloud Shadow". In this clip Keye Luke as the wonderful Master Po delivers what must be his most profound line in the series, "Peace lies not in the world, but in the man who walks the Path."

This reveals to us that those on the Path do not seek to obtain peace by changing the world, but rather to find peace within themselves. This is in contrast to the highly autocratic religions that would have us believe that peace can only be achieved by forcing others to change.

Unfortunately it is inevitable that one on a path of peace will encounter those who don't share the same desire. To this Master Po advices Caine, "Seek a different Path".

There is a story from ancient China that tells of an obstinate donkey that was blocking a busy and narrow lane. Whenever someone approached the donkey, it became unsettled and attempted to kick the passer by. Soon the busy thoroughfare was at a standstill.

At that moment a sage known for his wisdom approached the bustling lane. All the people watched with anticipation, expecting the master to resolve the problem. Yet the great teacher surprised them all by simply opting to take a detour down an alternative lane.

This ancient story is a fine example of avoiding contention by seeking an alternative path. The sage recognised his presence would do nothing but add to the donkey's already very stressed demeanour. However, if the people were to take the master's lead and also seek a different path, the donkey would most likely calm down and easily be led away.

Unfortunately taking a different path isn't always possible and so we hear young Caine ask, "What if at each turn appears those who would be violent and do not love peace?" To this the Shaolin Master responds by telling Caine one must develop compassion and wisdom equally. But how can this help us overcome an aggressive adversary?

Those on the Path are at liberty to defend themselves if no other peaceful way is viable. However, this must always be done without anger or malice. The goal should be to end the conflict and nothing more. In chapter 30 of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu wrote, "Just do what needs to be done. Never take advantage of power."

This advice isn't only intended for martial arts or the battle field. In our day to day lives we often encounter very difficult and aggressive people. Nevertheless the sagely advice of seeking a different path applies as much today as it did in bygone centuries.

Yet sometimes seeking another path isn't always feasible and one has no other choice but to stand their ground and resist. But too often a victim is lured into sinking to the same level as the aggressor and there begins a very dangerous game of tit-for-tat. If the authorities become involved, it will be very difficult for them to distinguish the perpetrator from the victim as both have become equally malevolent.

Most jurisdictions have legislation to protect the rights of the individual and those in the most vulnerable positions. Therefore the best way to resolve a conflict is by always maintaining the highest moral standards and looking to resolve any contention in the most amicable way possible. If this fails you will then be in an excellent position to involve the appropriate authorities to enforce a resolution.

In the meantime there is a basic principle used in the martial art of Kung Fu that can be applied just as well in the modern world of psychological combat. The basis of the Shaolin martial art is to allow your opponent's own actions to bring about there own downfall. Nevertheless, this requires one to use wisdom and compassion.

Wisdom is required for one to be able to stay calm and retain one's benevolent nature. Anger will only serve to cloud one's judgement and may result in actions that weaken one's position in the eyes of an adjudicator.

Compassion is required to prevent one from becoming cruel, revengeful or seeking ascendancy. Malevolence not only weakens one's position in the eyes of others, but will more than likely initiate an escalating cycle of retribution.

Although it may be very difficult initially, only compassion for a former adversary can serve as a good foundation for a path of peace and surely this is our ultimate goal?

Transcendental Meditation Could Help Veterans Administration

Reducing Stress-Related Problems at Military and VA Facilities

The issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has reached public attention in an unexpected way through the revelations that our military medical establishment has failed on major fronts to provide the very best treatment deserved by American servicemen and women returning from conflict.

When wounded military personnel return from battle, they often feel angry and depressed. What are we going to do about them? More keep coming. Do we have any fresh solutions for them after politicians have performed in anger in front of the cameras, and the bureaucratic deck was shuffled and new top brass brought in? Has anyone proposed anything that is scientifically-verified to reduce the stress of our afflicted GIs? (More)

Source: OpEdNews

Daily Inspiration

This is another clip from the very offbeat double episode The Cenotaph. In this scene we see Mr McBurney (Stefan Gierasch) and Caine (David Carradine) kneeling at what appears to be a grave. At the insistence of Mr McBurney we hear Caine recite chapter 25 of the Taoist sacred text, the Tao Te Ching:

Something mysteriously formed
Born before heaven and earth
In the silence and the void
Standing alone and unchanging
Ever present and in motion.
Perhaps it is the mother of ten thousand things.
I do not know its name
But I call it Tao.
For lack of a better word, I call it great.

This version of chapter 25 is from the book published by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English. This translation of the Tao Te Ching is the one used throughout the Kung Fu series.

Other than the Bible, the Tao Te Ching is the world's most translated book. There are more than a hundred versions of the Tao Te Ching available in the English language alone and a steady stream of new versions are constantly being added.

It is believed the Tao Te Ching was written by the Taoist sage Lao Tzu, about the same era that Buddha taught in Northern India. The original Tao Te Ching was written in ancient Chinese ideograms that are no longer in use. Therefore, much of the ancient text is open to interpretation, making all versions of this ancient canon differ to a small degree; depending on the author's language expertise and understanding of the Taoist philosophy. Nevertheless, the fundamental message of each translation essentially remains the same.

These variations in interpretations of the Tao Te Ching may seem disconcerting to those unfamiliar with the Taoist philosophy. In any case Lao Tzu warned that Tao was beyond the description of words. Therefore it is fitting that his work is open to many interpretations; for in this way the intended message may be found somewhere amongst the words and not in the words themselves.

The Tao Te Ching is essentially a book on the workings of Nature and the obtainment of its wisdom. Its purpose is to direct the reader onto the path of non-contention, simplicity and harmony.

Lao Tzu's book is not so much to teach the reader something new, but to rather remind the reader of something they have forgotten. It is to assist the reader recapture the feeling and wonder they had as a child; before the negative influences of society and culture.

Most of us remember how as a child we were often confused by the ways of adults. We often say this is a time of innocence since a child finds it difficult to grasp the concepts of racism, religious hatred, greed, money and sexual innuendo.

We often hear children ask questions like, "Why do people hurt the ones they love? Why does working make people so unhappy? Why don't we feed the people who are starving? Why do people hurt animals? Why can't everyone be friends instead of going to war?" We usually tell our children these things are too complex for a child to understand; but isn't it more a case that we have learnt to unquestionably accept these things?

It is interesting that Albert Einstein claimed he was only able to make huge advances in science because of his child like enquiry. Einstein said that when most of us stopped thinking about things such as the nature of light and gravity, he continued thinking about these things into adulthood. Perhaps there is a lesson here for all of us?

In many ways children are the ultimate seekers of truth. But unfortunately, as we grow up we begin to accept the things we once found so confronting and push our childhood concerns from our minds.

Studies have shown that children initially become involved in sport for fun and friendship. Yet all too often adults get involved and introduce competitiveness into the game. Before long the fun and laughter is replaced by contention and the burning desire to win. The author George Orwell once said of sport,"...it is war minus the shooting."

Sport is often a child's first indoctrination into the adult world of competition and opposition. A world where self-interest and the success of one's team are considered the utmost importance; weather it be a corporation, religion, race, political party or nation.

Of course there is nothing wrong with success, as long it is not at the expense of others and anything surplus to our needs is shared. However, in our increasingly hostile world success is too often at the detriment of others and the hoarding of material wealth is considered admirable.

To a child not yet coached into this world of winners and losers, the best outcome is when all sides receive equal benefit. This is also the way of the Tao and the intent of the Tao Te Ching is to allow us to rediscover the harmony that is contained within win-win.

Yoga Becoming Popular Among American Athletes

Many American athletes are reportedly adopting yoga practice.

Ray Lewis, famous American football linebacker from Baltimore Ravens, reportedly told the Chicago (USA) media today: "I'm talking about an hour-and-a-half yoga classes at times. And the crazy part about it is, once you actually get into it a good two or three times, you really miss if you don't do it. It stretches you that much.”

Lewis, first linebacker to win Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award on the winning Super Bowl team, has been reportedly doing yoga in the offseason for the past two to three years.

Yoga reportedly makes a great complement to athletic training and various types of athletes are incorporating the practice into their training for bettering sports performance by improving flexibility and functional strength, building muscle energy and stamina, preventing sports injuries, dealing with stress, overcoming back pain, improving breathing and focusing, increasing endurance, etc. (More)

Source: Little About

Daily Inspiration

This scene from "Kung Fu" is from the double final episode of the 1974 season. Called "The Cenotaph", this wacky story would not appear out of place amongst the writings of the ancient Taoist sage Chaung Tzu.

In this scene we see Caine (David Carradine) attempting to explain Tao to the very eccentric Mr McBurney (Stefan Gierasch). Comprehending Tao, even to the most intuitive of us, is an extremely difficult task. These difficulties arise because we are trying to comprehend total cosmic unity, from our position in the illusion of separateness.

We are fortunate that in this clip Caine gives us a major insight into Tao, when he said "I strive for no thing". You may believe this means nothing, but this would be a mistake. He said "no thing" meaning that he is striving for something that is non-material, beyond words and all descriptions.

This "no thing" that Caine is striving for is also referred to as emptiness in the Taoist philosophy. You may recall in "The Tao of Kung Fu #20", Master Po explains the hidden value of emptiness. In my commentary I explained how science has found that at the deepest subatomic level material things are comprised of flashes of energy in vast emptiness.

Theoretical physicists now believe these flashes of energy are vibrations on a membrane that encompasses the entire Universe. Everything in the cosmos is believed to be a vibration on this membrane. This model of the cosmos was developed from superstring theory and is commonly referred to as M theory.

Physicists believed this membrane vibrates through 11 dimensions, 8 of which are unknown and undetectable to our sensory awareness. This may also explain why we can not see everything as one, as this unity occurs in dimensions beyond our regular perception. Amazingly M-theory has revealed everything comes out of emptiness as a pulsation of the same fundamental state.

Our extremely limited sensory awareness also explains why we normally consider outer space as nothing but a vacuum. We know sunlight travels through this emptiness as waves, like ripples in a pond. Nevertheless, seldom does anyone offer an explanation to what it is that is actually rippling in this assumed nothingness. In all probability the medium is being provided by the membrane of M-theory, giving us a new appreciation for the mystery of the "no thing" that is space.

Is M-theory an alternative name for what the ancients called the Tao? Not at all, it is just the tip of an immense iceberg when it comes to understanding the all encompassing totality that is The Way. However, to the pragmatist this is an excellent indication that there is a reality beyond our sensory awareness that is fundamental to all things, just as the ancient Taoists claimed.

Tao is the intuitive wisdom that comes from an indefinable source from within. It is the organic wisdom that is inherent in Nature. Tao is that which enables animals to migrate hundreds of miles without losing their way; it is what synchronizes cooperation between species; and Tao is our innate altruistic behaviour, to name but a few examples.

The Way of the Tao can not be experienced by the calculating mind. Nevertheless, many academics that did their thinking outside the box, such as Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr, became very interested in Asian philosophy as a result of their studies. Bohr, one of the founding fathers of quantum physics, was so taken by the yin-yang and how it paralleled his findings, he used the motif on this coat-of-arms. He also included the words "Opposites are complementary". Now, where have you heard this before?

6 Yoga Tips for Holiday Stress

If you find a bit of an edge creeping in to your holiday buzz, check out these calming exercises from Candace Morano, a New York City-based yoga instructor. No need to do them all at once, try one or two at least to get settled. Yoga medicine is usually like good hair conditioner--a little goes a long way. Of course, also check with your doctor before doing any new exercisey thing. That said, Candace, take it away! (More)

Source: Beliefnet

Daily Inspiration

This short clip was taken from the episode called "The Nature of Evil". This scene takes place in a Shaolin temple in the nineteenth century.

Incidentally, the philosophy followed by the Shaolin is called Ch'an. Most people know Ch'an by its Japanese equivalent Zen. Both Ch'an and Zen were derived from the union of Taoist philosophy and Buddhism in ancient China, about the first century A.D.

Nevertheless, the Taoist philosophy is far more prominent in the Kung Fu TV series than are the Buddhist aspects. The Tao, the Taoist sages and the Tao Te Ching are all frequently mentioned throughout the series. It is for this reason and for the sake of simplicity that I chose to call these clips "The Tao of Kung Fu".

In this scene young Caine is distressed about the evil he feels is within himself. The ever knowing and wise Master Po explains to Caine he is merely experiencing another aspect of himself. Master Po explains to Caine that he couldn't feel joy without also having the capacity for despair; and he would have no capacity for good without an equal capacity for evil. Of course this teaching is based on the union of polar opposites represented by the yin-yang motif.

Due to the immense pressures we face during our busy lives, even the most outwardly calm and forgiving of us can experience periods of great anger and hate. While in this intense emotional state we may feel like striking out at those around us and dream up all sorts of diabolical scenarios. Fortunately for the vast majority of us these highly malevolent thoughts are quickly forgotten as our more rational self re-establishes control. Nevertheless on reflection, we may sometimes feel like young Caine and become aware of our own deep seated capacity for malice.

Yet Master Po reminds us this is no cause for shame. As he suggests to Caine, "All that is necessary is that we face it and choose". On further analysis it becomes clear that it is only because we know of both that we can choose altruistic actions over evil intentions. For if we knew only of good and nothing of evil, how could we distinguish one from the other? An inability to differentiate this within oneself could also explain why some people have the ability to act so unscrupulously and yet still claim saintly status.

Young Caine asks his master if one should fear and fight evil? To this Master Po asks, "Shall we fear our own humanity?" The great fictional Shaolin master then reminds us of the futility of fighting this part of ourselves by adding, "Who can defeat himself?"

Of course trying to defeat evil, whether real or imagined, is the cause of most of the conflict in our world today. Although we are quick to judge the actions of others as evil, we are often unable to see the malevolence that resides within ourselves. Yet it is only by accepting this negative aspect of ourselves we are able to see the benevolent side of our adversaries. This is the beginning of genuine compassion and the only way we will ever realise a lasting peace.

From Incarceration to Meditation in Missouri

For 14 years, guru has run alternative program for parolees

It was a routine business conference for the judge: Agendas. Handshakes. Business cards.

But then something kind of mystical happened.

David Mason was approached by a man wearing a crisp suit with a neatly pointed kerchief in his breast pocket. In a measured Indian accent, the man said he, too, was a lawyer and knew all about the judge and his enlightened views on criminal rehabilitation. He wanted to tell him about the power of meditation in prisons.

The man was Farrokh Anklesaria. He was a direct student of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and he'd been sent around the world by him to bring meditation to convicts. He'd been to Switzerland, Senegal, Kenya, Brazil and Sri Lanka. And by a mixture of circumstances -- and perhaps karma -- he had landed in Missouri. (More)

Source: Washington Post

Daily Inspiration

This is another clip from the "Arrogant Dragon" episode of the 1970's television series "Kung Fu". Due to the philosophical content, these temple scenes were written separately from the main story. These scripts were often collaborations between the studio researchers; the series creators Ed Spielman and the late Herman Miller; and the technical and kung fu advisers, David Chow and Kam Yuen.

In this scene we find an adolescent Caine at a loss to understand why Master Kan is feeding and clothing a man who in the past had betrayed the Shaolin order. Master Kan explains he is aware of the man's acts of betrayal, but that he is also aware of the man's cold and hunger.

Master Kan reminds young Caine that if Nature does not distinguish between good and bad, then what right does he? Chapter 79 of the Taoist text the Tao Te Ching explains it this way:

"After a bitter quarrel, some resentment must remain.
What can one do about it?
The sage keeps his half of the bargain, but does not exact his due.
A person of virtue performs his part, but a person without virtue requires others to fulfill their obligations.
A good person never forgets that Nature is always impartial."

Sadly we live in a world where revenge is often confused with justice. Yet most of us understand justice is extremely complex and is best handled with compassion, moderation and humility. On the other hand vengeance comes from an affront to an ego or its values and usually manifests as a frenzied desire for retribution.

Many of us see the logic in Master Kans charity. For Master Kans generosity may rekindle the Nature that had once drawn the man to follow the path. Whereas to ignore the man's hunger and cold would have further increased his bitterness and in his own mind, justified his already malevolent character.

Both Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi believed in nonaggressive means to bring about justice and fundamental change. They understood that using force would always be met with more force; and only peaceful means could bring about a peaceful outcome.

Holding a grudge has been compared to drinking poison in the hope it harms someone else. Anger and hate are extremely toxic emotions that tear at the fiber of our being. Ironically all this negative energy will have little affect on the person at who it is directed; except to further harden their resolve.

Therefore the wisest amongst us say "The best revenge is to live well", and as demonstrated by Master Kan in this video; living well is best achieved by letting go and letting live.

Big Ideas: A Respite From the Electronic Age

Mindfulness, or living in the moment, is bridging the divide between spiritual and academic

Avoid traffic jam on way to work. News says two more Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. Forty-four e-mails in my inbox. Make that "To-go." What was the score in the game? Send text message. The chit-chat is boring. Need to catch my boss's eye. Jessica has to get to dance practice by 5. Is there anything in the fridge for dinner?

We are scrambling fast indeed in this electronic age--of global communication, endless distractions, financial pressures, productivity demands and mounting deadlines.

It has become a source of twisted pride in the beginning of the 21st century to complain to anyone who'll listen about how we are so tremendously "busy."

People feel stressed. Exhausted. Anxious. (More)

Source: Vancouver Sun

Daily Inspiration

This scene from the 'Arrogant Dragon' episode of the 1970's television series 'Kung Fu'; is a personal favourite of mine. I often think of how wonderful it would be to have the guidance of such a charismatic and wise teacher as Master Po. Someone who would gently challenge one's intellect and implant the seeds of wisdom within all he encountered.

In this scene young Caine (Radames Pera) and Master Po (Keye Luke) are ambushed by a thief while on their return journey to the temple. To avoid unnecessarily escalating the situation, Master Po initially cooperates with the thief. However, as the thiefs requests become increasingly unreasonable, Master Po decides to defend his property and we see the robber beat a hasty retreat.

In a world that generally sees force and control as favourable attributes, most of us reason that "turning the other cheek" is not a viable option. Naturally, the best way is to always distance yourself from hostility and avoid situations where conflict is most likely.

It must be noted that in this clip Master Po neither reacts with anger or cruelty. Nor does he pursue the thief in an attempt to exact retribution. He only uses enough force to end the situation and nothing more. In chapter 67 of the Tao Te Ching, the Taoist Lao Tzu reminds us "When people are gentle, they have no fear of retaliation." (Bahm translation)

Too often people and regularly whole nations respond with force that is beyond what is necessary. We frequently see the defender become an oppressive victor; thus creating a endless cycle of retribution. Think of the numerous brutal tit-for-tat conflicts in the world today, where deep hatred is past down from father to son for generations.

Consequently, the first goal in any conflict must be to resolve it using the minimum of force and resisting the desire for ascendancy. For the greater the humiliation and harm inflicted; the greater the repercussions and the freedoms forgone.

Enrich Psychic Ability Using a Simple Meditation Technique

We are all psychic in one way or another. Yes, you read it right, every person has some psychic ability within them and it is just that the amount of ability or the level of this ability in each person may vary significantly one to another. It's something similar to singing; everyone knows how to sing, but not everyone knows how to sing with perfect tones, pitch, or timing.

A sign of psychic ability can be as simple as having a hunch about something, and eventually it comes true. Strong intuition is connected to psychic abilities, and signs of a psychic ability can come in the most simplest forms. This is why people tend to mislook these and think that these were nothing but coincidences since man is intuitive by nature. But to think of it, your intuition is not always right all the time. This is because your intuitive powers are not yet strong and they need to be enhanced. (More)

Source: Associated Content

Daily Inspiration

This is a clip from the "Uncertain Bondage" episode of the 1970's television series "Kung Fu". In this scene young Caine (Radames Pera) is regretting his foolish pride. Master Kan (Philip Ahn) seeks to comfort Caine by reciting chapter 36 of the Taoist text, the Tao Te Ching:

"That which shrinks must first expand.
That which fails must first be strong.
That which is cast down must first be raised.
Before receiving there must be giving."

This verse reveals that retraction is only possible after expansion. Master Kan uses the words of the sage Lao Tzu to allow young Caine to understand that humility can only come from pride; and wisdom can only come from foolishness.

It may seem ironic that we can only evolve from our failings and ignorance. Yet too often pride is the only barrier between our ego and the lessons that are hidden in our poor judgement. The ancient Taoists recognised the greatest of all wisdom is knowing how truly little we actually know.

We see most institutions deal with pride by enforcing strict and often brutal discipline. However Master Kan understands, "Before receiving there must be giving"; so the Shaolin master bows to his young student. He explains respect is born from the Nature they share and so to honour another is to also honour oneself.

Many of us have high standards of etiquette and politeness that we regularly exchange with others. It isn't necessarily expected of us; nevertheless we expect it from ourselves. It is in this way we are showing a respect for oneself and the Nature we all share.

The master goes on to explain to Caine that each of them has qualities that is lacking in the other. He then advises Caine, "Look beyond the surface. See what is real, in yourself and others." For from a position of absolute humility it is obvious that all the differences are in fact superficial; whereas the Nature we all share is undoubtedly inherent.

Unfortunately and contrary to all the scientific evidence, many of our number are still unaware of the fundamental reality we all share. Yet if any of us was to be placed alone in the hostile environment of an alien planet, this critical interdependence would become immediately apparent and its absence deeply grieved.

Meditation Calms the Mind, Restores the Body, Feeds the Spirit

Every morning, David Hillis of Muskegon starts his day in meditation.

It takes all of 15 minutes. But in that short space of time, Hillis is able to calm his mind, focus his energy and look inward — no matter what is going on around him.

“It grounds me,” he says. “It helps me align myself.”

As one of the practitioners at Angel Reflections Center of Light, Hillis “melds” meditation into his Dolphin Healing Hands massage therapy business.

“I absolutely recommend it,” he says. “Whether you set aside two minutes a day, or an hour, there’s nothing better than meditation.”

Meditation: It calms the mind, restores the body, feeds the spirit. But what is it exactly? In “Webster’s New World College Dictionary,” meditation is defined as “deep continued thought, solemn reflection on sacred matters as a devotional act.”

Kimberly PatrickJane Donnelly, of Spring Lake, uses meditation in her yoga practice.

But Jane Donnelly, a Spring Lake yoga instructor who includes a “touch of meditation” in all her classes, has a different definition of the centuries-old practice where the sacred intersects with silence. (More)

Source: mlive.com

Daily Inspiration

This video is from the "Dream within a Dream" episode, from the 1970's TV series "Kung Fu". Here we see Master Kan (Philip Ahn) and Young Caine (Radames Pera) discuss the Truth that can only be know through personal change.

You may believe you are already open to the Truth, but unfortunately most of us are prevented from obtaining the Truth by our ego. From the perspective of ego everything we encounter is judged from the extremely bias position of self. Therefore everything we hear, see or experience is filtered through the barriers of desire, pride, jealousy, regret, self-centeredness, guilt, resentment, self-importance and superiority; and these are extremely difficult obstacles to surmount.

We witness these egocentric barriers on a daily bases. Many people find it difficult to admit fault even when they are undoubtedly in the wrong. Others can't accept the injustices committed by their own nation, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. Numerous people are unable to see any redeeming qualities of an opponent of any description, whether it be a political group, another nation or a sporting adversary. Many of us lack the humility to accept there are many things beyond our understanding and belligerently dismiss anything that doesn't fit our established paradigms. Finally there are still many of our number that in spite of all the evidence of equality, still harbour sexist, racist and homophobic attitudes. Unless these people are able to change and overcome these most basic of prejudices, the Truth will always be an unattainable goal.

It is only when our ego is no longer the dominate factor in our life that we can embark on a quest to obtain the Truth. However, be warned that the Truth is not always beautiful and comforting. A major part of being a Truth seeker is accepting the Truth regardless of what it is. This means accepting the things you wouldn't ordinarily consider and opening your mind to new, unfamiliar and possibly very confronting concepts.

We find the Truth by developing our knowledge of life and observing the world around us. You may recall in "The Tao of Kung Fu #17", Caine was asked where his knowledge came from. Caine replied, "From my teachers and the days I have lived." Unfortunately we can't all be lucky enough to have Master Kan and Master Po as our teachers. Nevertheless with the advent of the internet we can easily make ourselves acquainted with the greatest interpreters of Nature's wisdom. Many of these great teachers feature predominately on my website and Youtube channel. I hope you find these resources useful.

Over time you will develop a disposition where Nature can reveal her lessons to you directly. Simply allow yourself time to watch the world around you without identifying and judgment. Most importantly, allow yourself to experience things as they truly are and not how you wish them to be.

Many people believe the ancient Taoists were opposed to knowledge, citing chapter 48 of the Tao Te Ching, "In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped." However, this simply means those on the path don't acquire knowledge in order to control and manipulate, as is often the goal. Instead knowledge is used to change oneself from within and become one with all things.

Once this has been achieved, the knowledge that got you there is no longer required and can therefore be dropped. The ancient Taoist sage Chuang Tzu explained it this way, "The fish trap exists because of the fish; once you've got the fish, you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit; once you've got the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning; once you've got the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can have a word with him?"

Yoga: A Great Way to Stay Fit and Keep Stress at Bay

Yoga is a discipline of the body and mind that dates back more than 5,000 years. The word yoga means “to join” or “to yoke,” and it brings the mind and body together. Yoga has three components: exercise, breathing, and meditation.

There are over one hundred different schools of yoga, but Hatha yoga, which combines physical movements and postures with breathing techniques, is what most people associate with practicing yoga. According to MedicineNet, Hatha yoga is the most widely practiced yoga in the U.S. With its slow and smooth movements, it is excellent for beginners. It is also a great introduction to yoga as it incorporates many different poses (asanas), as well as breathing techniques and chanting. (More)

Source: My Local Health

Daily Inspiration,

Here we see Master Kan (Philip Ahn) questioning Young Caine (Radames Pera) and Yet-Sen (Raymond Chao) over the fruit taken during a period of fasting. Earlier Master Kan had told the young students that they must not pick the ripe plums in the garden, since to do this would be breaking the law. Young Caine later witnesses Yet-Sen picking the plums, but is left unsure whether he should report the matter to Master Kan. Later Caine finds out that Yet-Sen was feeding the plums to an injured dove.

On hearing what had transpired Master Kan realises that he had done the two students a great disservice. His law has led Caine to unfairly doubt his friend's integrity and had forced Yet-Sen to conceal a good deed. Although Master Kan had made his law with every good intention, the virtue that had been intended had been lost. Therefore the master honours the two students for reminding him of the error of attending only to the letter of the law and not its purpose.

The ancient Taoists did not trust words and often warned of the dangers that resulted from rigidness. The sages advised the Chinese nobility against putting the laws into print, citing this would only cause confusion.

You may find these ideas strange, but think of how often the laws are poorly applied. We have all heard of the occasions where victims are treated like criminals; and the criminals able to escaped justice on a small technicality. These are both examples of where the initial intent of law has been lost. Of course our law makers are endlessly trying to address these inequalities, but this is a never ending process of amendments that only serves to drown the original intent further in complex legal syntax.

Since the dawn of time mankind has desired an infallible code that would bring about an utopian existence. Naturally this desire gave birth to the religious scriptures in which many of our modern laws are derived. Believing them to be the word of God gave these laws authority, making them beyond the questioning of mere mortals. Unfortunately the authors of the scriptures were mortals and they wrote the laws with only specific instances in mind, disregarding the countless variables of Nature. The result of this is we now live in a world where religious fanatics are using the scriptures to justify committing the very evils that these holy doctrines were intended to prevent.

Nevertheless, even in our highly secular culture we still attempt to solve all our social problems by the creation of laws of ever increasing complexity. This is often in the misguided belief that these laws will protect us from the predatory behaviour of others. Yet sociopaths never see the law as a barrier. They usually believe themselves above the law and are confident they can escape prosecution using their charm and intelligence. Sociopaths are more likely to see rules and laws as something to oppress and manipulate the rest of us.

The system of justice the ancient Taoists favoured is the flexibility and innate order of Nature. Called "Li" by the ancients, this is the pattern of intelligence that is beyond the description of words. We can see this indescribable pattern as the markings in jade, the fibre in muscle and the grain in wood. These organic configurations have a very sophisticated order that can't be described or aptly defined. "Li" is usually translated into English as "organic order".

The Taoists believed justice should be dispensed on a case by case basis by people who possess Li. Together with compassion, moderation, humility; these people would have an innate sense of justice beyond what could be defined by our current legal system.

Needless to say our modern judicial system is in some aspects an attempt to emulate "Li". But unfortunately we too often see our courts hamstrung by complex bureaucracy; restricted by inflexible and archaic laws; and their decisions too often criticised by a public who haven't been privy to all the evidence presented.

Creating a Happy Body

"Think of your body as the piano. You are the pianist -- we are the tuners."

Those are the last words you might expect to come out of the mouths of two Olympic weightlifters turned fitness coaches. But Woodside's Aniela and Jerzy Gregorek defy convention in so many aspects of their lives.

After coming to the United States from Poland in 1986 as political refugees during the Solidarity movement, the Gregoreks found work as personal trainers in Los Angeles. In addition to starting and coaching the UCLA weightlifting team and training clients in their own home, they also found time to earn master's of fine arts degrees in creative writing.

In 2003, Aniela and Jerzy moved to their sylvan Woodside home because they thought Northern California would be a better place to raise their daughter, Natalie, who is now 5 years old. (More)

Source: Almanac News

Daily Inspiration

This is another clip from "The Hoots" episode, from the 1970's TV series "Kung Fu". Caine (David Carradine) is disheartened over the hostility he has witnessed in the marketplace. Like most of us, Caine wishes for a world that only knows harmony. Yet Master Po (Keye Luke) explains we can only know peace and harmony because of the existence of conflict and discord. He then recites the words of ancient Taoist master, Lao Tzu:

"In the Universe all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.
All can know good as good only because there is evil.
Therefore having and not having arise together.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
High and low rest upon each other;
Front and back follow one another."

This verse comes from the observations of Nature made in the Taoist sacred text, the Tao Te Ching. The ancient Taoists noticed that everything in Nature has an equal and opposite aspect. They also noticed that mankind could only ever know and experience something by also knowing its opposite aspect. Needless to say this interaction of opposite forces, is what is being symbolized by the well-known Taoist motif, the yin-yang.

The ancient Chinese masters understood we could only know something if it was contrasted by its opposite. Naturally, we can only see text if the background is a contrasting colour. We are only able to define the warmth of summer if we have experienced the chill of winter. We can only see something as beautiful because of the unattractiveness of something else. We can only know something is big because we know of something smaller to serve as a comparison. We can only know something as benevolent when we have knowledge of evil. In the same way, we can only know peace and harmony because we have experienced conflict and dispute.

Therefore we can not experience anything positive without also having experienced its negative counterpart. How could we know joy without ever experiencing sadness? How could we define success if we had never failed? How could we know we were awake if we had never been asleep? How could we appreciate the value of life if it did not always end in death?

After careful consideration we will soon see that our usual ideas of utopia are really a wish for a long boring existence without variety or surprises. It would be like eating the same food for every meal; having the same weather everyday; or never encountering anything unfamiliar. As Master Po states so elegantly in this video, "Would you make the whole world a temple?"

Meditation Sessions are an Effective Way to Relieve Stress

Feeling stressed out about your final exams? UK’s Wellness Program may have the answer for stressed-out students.
Every Thursday, the Wellness Program offers a free meditation class for students, staff and faculty at the Seaton Center, located next to the Johnson Center. While the session is offered every Thursday, the center stresses that exam time would be a good time for students to learn about meditation.
If you attend, don’t expect fireworks—the Seaton Center isn’t a student section. Meditation is pure silence and focus.
According the Web site BenefitsofMeditation.org, meditation is achieved through deep-breathing, which is a pillar of meditation practices. Muscle fatigue and tension are reduced by increasing the circulation of oxygen to the muscles through breathing. (More)

Source: University of Kentucky Kernel

Daily Inspiration

This is another clip from "The Hoots" episode. Here we see Caine (David Carradine) recalling Master Po's (Keye Luke) rendition of chapter 11 of the Tao Te Ching. This sacred Taoist text reminds us that a cup would have no purpose if it did not have space within itself in which liquid could be contained. A wheel would be useless without the emptiness at its centre in which an axel can be inserted. A room would be unusable without the space created in the walls for a doorway and window. All these features can be thought of as emptiness; yet it is this very space or nothingness that makes the material aspects of these objects useful.

Emptiness is one of the most intriguing concepts in Taoist philosophy and it parallels many of the discoveries made by modern physics. Most of us wouldn't ordinarily give emptiness a second thought, dismissing it as irrelevant and serving no purpose. We generally believe only material things have value. We see space, nothing, silence, non-material, inaction and subtleness as useless. Therefore we live in a world where everything is pushed to capacity, filled beyond what is required and forced until destroyed.

Chapter 11 concludes by telling us to be useful by becoming empty. In common vernacular this simply means not being "full of yourself". It is only when we are free of self-interest that we are truly able to offer an impartial and sympathetic ear. All too often what is past off as benevolence is merely an ego imposing its own arbitrary standards onto others. Genuine compassion can only be achieved by a self empty of ego.

On another level, emptiness is the fundamental ground state of all physical things. We usually assume everything is made of smaller things of ever decreasing size. Our bodies are constructed of cells; the cells are constructed from DNA; the DNA is constructed from molecules; and molecules are constructed from atoms. Atoms are usually thought of as solid spheres; but this is not the case. Atoms are essentially an empty vacuum containing a massive amount of pulsating energy.

Consequently for the most part we are emptiness, as are all material things. This is only difficult to imagine because we are so convincingly deceived by our sensory awareness. If we were able to experience this underlying reality first hand, we would know emptiness unites us all. Naturally this is the purpose of meditation; to see through the illusion of one's sensory awareness and have a firsthand account of emptiness.

Nevertheless we are all able to look out into the night sky on a cloudless evening and see the vast emptiness of space. From this it seems evident that emptiness is the Universe's most dominant feature; yet the significance of this escapes us.

Calming Kids With Yoga

Shshsh … that’s better … Calming kids with yoga


Our children live in a hurry-up world of busy parents, homework, pressure to compete with other children, play stations, games, shops and competitive sports. We usually don’t think of these influences as stressful for our children, but often they are. The bustling pace of our children’s lives can have a profound effect on them—and usually not for the better. Yoga can help counter these pressures. And just like their parents, children today are turning to yoga to help them relax.
When children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation and inner fulfilment and develop better body awareness, self-control, flexibility and coordination, they can navigate life’s challenges with a little more ease.
As a mother of an eight-year-old and a five-year-old, I’ve also seen how children can carry these skills beyond a class and into their daily routines. Lara, my eight-year-old, asked me recently what to do when she gets frustrated, like when she doesn’t understand her new maths homework. (More)

Source: Mayo News

Daily Inspiration

This clip is from an episode that is a personal favourite of mine, "The Hoots". In this scene Caine (David Carradine) is questioning Master Po (Keye Luke) on discipline. Master Po gives the seemingly contradictory advice, "The purpose of discipline is to live more fully, not less." This may seem like an odd response since we usually think of discipline as denial rather than abundance.

Following the Tao is to discover one's true nature. In the Taoist philosophy this is called "p'u". This translates into English as "the uncarved block", such as a block of stone before it has been shaped. This is the process of returning to one's original self, before learnt behaviours and negative social influences. As you may suspect, it is very difficult to abandon long established paradigms. It requires courage and determination to live instinctively and resist the urge to second guess all your actions.

Regrettably we live in a world that widely believes everything should be highly structured and generally sees all chance events as undesirable. Most of us would control the weather if it was within our means. Yet doing so would be forgoing that unexpected change that brings so much pleasure.

It is commonly believed that trusting chance is too risky and success can only be achieved by rigid control. We like to believe despair is simply the result of bad planning and happiness is easily contrived. Yet haven't our greatest pleasures always been a surprise; and our deepest sorrows beyond our control?

Therefore, life is best lived like a forest bird who sings whenever so inclined. This is the serenity that can only be known by living an uncalculated life. A condition where tears and laughter occur spontaneously; and regrets and anxiety have no presence.

What color is your Depression? Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness Meditation

Therapy Depression has color. Change the color and you can heal your depression.


When we experience depression we often describe it with phrases like: "I'm in a black mood", or "It smothers me like a heavy blanket", or "Its like being in a thick fog", or "I feel like I'm wading through treacle."

These and similar descriptions provide interesting clues about the nature of emotions like depression, anxiety or fear: Emotions have a structure, and that structure is encoded in imagery and physical sensations. Why is this important? Well, quite simply because when we uncover the structure of an emotion, we then have something tangible to which we can relate to and work with. Emotions like depression are typically very amorphous, like a swirling fog, they have no handles that we can grab hold of and work with. This is why depression is often accompanied by feelings of helplessness and despair, because we cannot even see the thing that is controlling us. We become victims of our emotions. How can you change something that has no form? (More)

Source: Psychology Today

Daily Inspiration

In this clip from "The Soldier" episode, Caine is testing his agility and courage in front of an audience of students. However, Master Kan (Philip Ahn) sees Caine's activities as nothing but reckless egotism.

I guess we are all guilty of playing to the gallery from time to time. It may seem pointless to be skilful or knowledgeable if it doesn't result in recognition. But why is the admiration of others so essential? Why do we feel worthless unless we have the praise of others?

Yet, most of us avoid people that we suspect have a narcissistic disposition. These people are often boasting of their achievements and importance in an effort to obtain admiration. They may also become emotionally volatile if the approval they seek isn't forthcoming. Their ego is effectively enslaved by the opinions of others. Consequently their sense of self-worth varies wildly, often making any interactions with them very unpleasant.

The ancient Taoist master Lao Tzu, deliberated on egotism in the 'Tao Te Ching'. From chapter 24 of this Taoist sacred text:

"People who make a show are not wise.
Those who are self-righteous will not be respected.
Those who boast achieve very little and don't endure.
Behaving in this way will not bring happiness.
People are despised for there pride and admired for their humility."

From this verse we can see that a rampant ego distances us from the Tao and the people around us. Therefore a follower of the Tao pursues skill and wisdom, but remains unpretentious. She knows contentment can only come from within. Furthermore, living without either the desire for approval or the fear of rejection, she is truly free.

To Relieve Stress, Schools in Tough Neighborhoods Turn to Yoga

Luis Gutierrez is sounding like a human kazoo, demonstrating what he calls the "evilbuster breath." As the speaker's hands tent his nose and he exhales in a loud hum, few of the two dozen freshmen at Overfelt High in San Jose are smirking or rolling their eyes.

After the students try this newest yoga technique and report vibrations in their noses, throats and brains, Gutierrez explains the breathing will help calm their nerves. Use this in many situations, he advises, including the times when teachers suddenly call on you in class. (More)

Source: Mercury News

Daily Inspiration

In this clip from the episode "The Brujo", Caine meets a Christian priest. Father Salazer (Julio Medina) is surprised to hear Caine is also a priest and asks him what he worships. Caine gives the simple yet profound answer "Life".

We often take the process of life for granted, but can there really be anything above this phenomenon? Why do so many of us search for something beyond Nature's most magnificent achievement?

Taoism is the belief life is a direct manifestation of the ultimate and there is nothing beyond this. All things, including oneself, are an aspect of the total unity called the Tao. The Tao is beyond all sensory awareness and words, yet the wisdom of the Tao is intuitively available to everyone.

This is a very unfamiliar paradigm for Westerners, who have unshakable faith in their sensory awareness. It is probably for this reason Western culture perpetuates a view that everything is isolated and the only thing common to everything is a personal God.

A world of isolation is considered an illusion in Taoism, although an extremely convincing one. To put the Taoist concept of absolute unity into context, rather than "Love your neighbour"; a Taoist believes that at a level beyond normal perception, you are your neighbour. This may seem unbelievable, but this parallels the findings of modern science.

From Lotus Pose to Hanging 10

Yoga isn't the only way to seek enlightenment on a Brazilian retreat

Like many people, I'm sometimes torn between dharma and maya, the pleasures of the spirit and those of the flesh. So after finishing a large, stressful work project, I dreamed up a restorative vacation to blend the two.

The idea: For 10 days I'd practice yoga and learn to surf in the far south of Brazil. First yoga for a little nirvana, then surfing lessons for earthly thrills.

But I was in for a surprise when I arrived at the Enchanted Mountain yoga center near Garopaba, Brazil. I'd expected something like the Retreat and Renewal weekend I'd done at the Kripalu yoga institute in western Massachusetts, with its "easy yoga" classes and bubbling hot tubs. What I found instead was an exacting, ashram-style daily routine. (More)

Source: Washington Post

Daily Inspiration

In this clip from the episode called "The Brujo", young Caine is perplexed over the death of a boy who died after being cursed by a sorcerer. Master Po explains that an undiscerning mind sometimes gives life no choice but to fly away.

Chapter 50 of the Taoist sacred text the 'Tao Te Ching' affirms 'He who knows how to live has no place for death to enter'. From this verse we can see that a love of life is pivotal in retaining it. A genuine gratitude for existence and an ability to stay light hearted, even in adversity are very favourable traits for longevity.

We may find it laughable that a curse could bring about harm. Nevertheless, many outwardly intelligent people fear the wrath of unsubstantiated myths and dogma. Ironically, the stress that results from these beliefs may compromise health, opening us up to the very illnesses and misfortune we fear.

In this regard we should all heed the words of Master Po and learn from those who have succumb to stress. Undoubtedly the best way to overcome misinformation, manipulation and illogical fears is by developing a very discerning mind. The required knowledge to develop this can be obtained intuitively from Nature and from the teachings of her greatest devotees. The great teachers of Nature's virtues include Einstein, Buddha, Lao Tzu, David Suzuki, Alan Watts, John Hagelin, Fritjof Capra, Deng Ming-Dao, Benjamin Hoff, The Dalai Lama, Deepak Chopra, Thich Nhat Hahn and Chuang Tzu to name just a few.

Garden Tips: Create a Meditation Garden to Get Away, Nourish the Soul

During the hectic times that make up the end of the year, a meditation garden offers a refuge from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Such gardens can be incorporated into traditional landscapes or designed to be completely separate. All that’s needed is a plan.

Meditation gardens provide a place for relaxation, rejuvenation and contemplation. They generally are subtly beautiful, private and designed with the individual in mind. The design and installation can even be an exercise in meditation.

There are only a few elements considered important in meditation gardens. There should be visual elements of green plants, a path (even a short one will work to provide a sense of a getaway), comfortable seating, a water feature, and inspirational art, natural features or flowers. (More)

Source: TC Palm

Daily Inspiration

This clip is from the last episode of the first season premiering in 1973. Entitled "Ancient Warrior", the episode tells the story of an elderly Native American who is the last of his tribe. Knowing that he is soon to die, Ancient Warrior (Chief Dan George) asks Caine to assist him locate his ancestral burial ground. Unfortunately, his sacred ground is now in a town where Ancient Warrior's tribe fought many fierce battles.

Although Ancient Warrior has forgiven the town's people for the genocide of his tribe; many of the town's people are unable to forgive him and forbid his burial. Nevertheless, after much protracted debate, Ancient Warrior is granted permission. Yet he declines. He tells Caine he does not want to be buried in a place where there is so much hatred.

Caine is deeply moved by the ailing chief's strength to forgive his enemies. Although by a different name, it is evident Ancient Warrior is a follower of Tao, as is anyone who follows the virtuous ways of Nature.

While cremating Ancient Warrior, Caine recalls the words of Master Kan (Philip Ahn). Master Kan explains how a physical love in life elevates to spiritual unification in death. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows that their thoughts and dreams are regularly occupied by their deceased beloved.

Caine then asks Master Kan if this level of connection is dependant on duration. To this Master Kan replies,"Our soul does not keep time; it merely records growth." Most of us have encountered someone who has profoundly influenced us. Our time in their presence may have been brief and yet their inspiration is eternal.

Four Myths About Mindfulness Meditation

Discover the 4 myths of resisting mindfulness meditation.

The majority of my clients resist mindfulness meditation at first, although the time commitment is small and the payoff is enormous. One insisted that it wasn’t necessary and that she didn’t have enough time in her day to devote to a regular practice. Then she went through the loss of a parent, and had such trouble coping that she couldn’t even drag herself out of bed. After missing work ten days straight, she called me for my advice. I told her to mindfully meditate while in bed. Terrified and bewildered, my client did and, in a few days, found that she could face going to work again. After that, whenever she was in an overwhelming state of grief or so distracted that she couldn't focus, she would close her door, tell her assistant to hold all her calls and do a five minute meditation. Slowly, her grief lessened.


Typically, those who resist meditation are buying in to one of the following four common myths that create resistance to regular mindfulness meditation practice. (More)

Source: Psychology Today

Daily Inspiration

This clip is from the episode called 'The Stone'. The scene opens with Master Po and Grasshopper in friendly combat. However, young Caine is angry, unfocused and is easily defeated by the blind Shaolin master.

Like young Caine, many of us go through life grumpy and anxious. All too often our minds are reliving failures of the past or worrying over an unknowable future. In this frame of mind we become rigid and out of harmony with our surroundings. Skilfulness can only be achieved through flexibility, spontaneity and being fully present in the "eternal now".

Master Po discovers Grasshopper is concerned that he is a coward. In the context of the yin-yang, Master Po explains: "What is cowardice, but the body's wisdom of its weakness. What is bravery, but the body's wisdom of its strength. The coward and the hero march together within every man. So to call one man a coward and another brave merely serves to indicate the possibilities of achieving the opposite."

Meditation Also Known as, How to Quiet 'Monkey Mind'

You have to finish a lab report by 9 a.m., spend the afternoon conveying your intellect and outstanding attention to detail in internship cover letters, rush to practice at 4 p.m. and scarf down dinner in time to make it to the 7 p.m. Habitat meeting. Oh and did I mention the three classes that are wedged in there also? You're stressed, to say the least. Well, meditation could be just the remedy your frazzled mind is begging for.

Meditation is an ancient Buddhist practice that utilizes a focus on breathing to eliminate conscious thought and calm the mind. For many people, the word 'meditation' evokes an image of a bearded man sitting cross-legged at the entrance to a cave or the foot of a mountain, but the reality is that it can be practiced by anyone, in any setting, from a dorm room floor to the dentist's chair. (More)

Source: Wheaton Wire

Daily Inspiration

In this scene, Caine is explaining to Martin (Wendell Burton) the subtleties of meditation. Caine explains that he is able to hit a target by considering himself, the bow, the arrow and the target as one action in Nature. This is an archery technique commonly practiced in Zen. (Zen is the union of Buddhism and Taoism.)

We often consider meditation as some type of mysterious process, but this really isn't the case. Meditation is simply anytime one becomes distracted from their usual thinking of time and self. Everyone has experienced this phenomena, but since it is extremely subtle, it is most often disregarded. Think of the last time you were surprised at how 'time flew'; or when you were so engaged in something, that you were unaware of anything else.

Caine meditates using archery. However fishing, reading, knitting, writing, solving puzzles, playing music or any other activity you find enjoyable can be just as effective as a meditation.

We often emerge from meditation feeling refreshed. This is because in this time we have briefly transcended our ego and have become an action of Nature. Again, this feeling of harmony is extremely subtle and often goes unnoticed. It is often only after we have evaluated the experience that we understand and appreciate the value of the meditative state.

Students Turn to Meditation For End of Semester Stress-Relief

The end of the semester is here and many students are consumed by final exams and research papers. Some are turning to meditation for the supportive community and outlet it provides to relieve the stress and anxiety.

“Meditation helps you to focus on your inner life with your outer life, making it come together. It also can generate a sense of peace and connection with the Divine or with God,” said Ginny Murphy, a Mills College alumna and the off-campus adviser for the Workers of Faith club. “It generally reduces stress because you can sit in the knowledge of who you are and the knowledge of the Divine. It helps you gain a better prospective of life’s daily tasks and who you are as a person.” (More)

Source: The Mills College Campanil