What The Buddha Might Say To President Obama by Ed and Deb Shapiro

The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows. Buddha

With six months to go before the next election, President Obama has officially launched his campaign. This is an important time for him not to take anything for granted, but also to stay true to his beliefs and ethics.

It is extremely hard to stay balanced during difficult and challenging times, as there are always those who want to bring you down, who disagree, criticize, or act like they know better. It is obvious that it will be a nasty presidential campaign. Both Obama’s religion and his birthplace are constantly questioned yet he holds his head high, speaks calmly and intelligently, and seems to have no malice. His reaction to such dissenters has simply shown his determination to keep going forward. As he said: “What we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people, and do our best to help them find their own grace. That’s what I strive to do, that’s what I pray to do every day.”

When people speak badly about you, you should respond in this way: Keep a steady heart and do not reply with harsh words. Practice letting go of resentment, and accept that another’s hostility is the spur to your understanding. Be kind, adopt a generous standpoint, treat your enemy as a friend, and suffuse your world with affectionate thoughts, far-reaching and widespread, limitless and free from hate. Buddha

The Buddha’s teaching is based on our interdependence and interconnectedness. In a very broad sense, the role of the president is similar — to recognize how we all affect each other, which is our basic interconnectedness. Obama’s recent announcement of his support of gay marriage is an example of this, as it reflects the desire that all beings be treated equally. As Obama said four years ago: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

We are delighted that Obama has recognized gay marriage as a fundamental right, for the soul is neither male nor female, gay or straight. The latest Newsweek features an image of Obama with a rainbow-colored halo above his head. The cover story is: “The First Gay President.” We all breathe the same air, drink the same water, eat, sleep, and want to be happy. Love is not determined by gender. Why should anyone be denied the right to live the life they want, as long as they are not creating suffering for another? When we first met with the Dalai Lama at his residence in northern India we prostrated before him, as is the custom. He quickly lifted us up saying, “We are all equal here.”

But the differences between us can be huge. Although Obama pledged bipartisanship, in the last four years we have seen the worst partisanship ever, with the Republicans determined to say “no” to whatever Obama proposes. To find unity, we have to go beyond those differences; we have to surrender our own needs for the benefit of all. In the process, our enemies can teach us great patience and even compassion!

It is a man’s own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. Buddha

Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. Buddha

There have been some great achievements in the last four years as well as promises that haven’t been kept. But perfection is knowing ones own imperfections, which gives us the ability to get up each time we fall.

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. Buddha

Ed and Deb Shapiro are the authors of BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, with forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman and Winner of the 2010 Nautilus Gold Book Award. Deb is the author of the bestselling book, YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND, winner of the 2007 Visionary Book Award. They are featured bloggers on Oprah.com/spirit, HuffingtonPost.com/Living, and Care2.com. They have 3 meditation CD’s: Metta — Loving Kindness and Forgiveness; Samadhi – Breath Awareness and Insight; and Yoga Nidra – Inner Conscious Relaxation. See: www.EdandDebShapiro.com

 

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Gitmo or Gandhi by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Why Do We Enjoy Making Fun of Others? by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Technorati Tags: appreciation, authenticity, gay, gratitude, inspiration, personal development, politics, self-discovery, Spirituality

READ: Waking Up to the Wonder of Life by Tim Freke

It’s been a very busy time for me recently, because I’ve got a new book coming out called The Mystery Experience. This book was a real labour of love and I can’t tell you how pleased I am with it. In this blog I’d like to share with you the big idea that inspired me to write it, because it’s essentially very simple but it changes everything! Then if you’re intrigued you can download a taster ebook/kindle verison for free on my new website.

I’ve been exploring spirituality since a spontaneous awakening when I was a twelve-year-old boy. This lead me to study and eventually write books about all of the major spiritual traditions of the world. In my latest book I’ve drawn on this perennial wisdom to create a revolutionary new way to awaken, which combines lucid philosophy with simple practises to make the ‘deep awake’ state easily accessible.

Since Ive been sharing my new approach to spirituality with people, I’ve been astonished by what has happened. Nearly everyone who comes to one of my ‘mystery experience’ retreats experiences a profound awakening over the course of just three days. This has convinced me that the ‘deep awake’ state is available to all of us if we approach life with the right understanding and practical tools.

It’s hard to describe the awakened state with words, but I’m going to give it a go. When I immerse myself in the deep awake state there’s an awe-inspiring sense of oneness with the universe. It feels as if I’m dissolving in an ocean of love. The search for meaning is resolved into a wordless understanding, which is so deep it must be felt not thought. There’s the silent certainty that all is well; and such a feeling of relief… like coming home.

When I am deep awake the familiar world is transformed into wonderland. My sensual body comes alive. I am amazed by all I see and hear and touch. The mundane becomes magical. It feels as if I am seeing things for the first time. And I am overcome with gratitude for my life.

I want to suggest that this awakened state is available to everyone all of the time. It’s available to you right now. The doorway into the ‘deep awake’ world is wide open, we only need to enter in. And the way to enter is easy. We simply need to remember to wonder. We need to rouse ourselves from the numbness we call ‘normal’ and become conscious of the breathtaking mystery of existence.

If we wonder deeply enough we spontaneously start to awaken. It’s as simple as that. In my new book I take the reader on an extraordinary journey that starts with simple wonder … and leads to the discovery of the ‘deep self’ and the bliss of ‘deep love’. But you don’t need to wait to read the book. You can experiment with wondering deeply right now. You can you enter the mystery of this moment as you are reading this blog:

o Pay attention to how profoundly mysterious it is to be alive.

o Recognize the obvious truth that you truly have no idea what life is.

o Be conscious of this moment with that deep part of you that appreciates music and art … that feels the beat and dances to its rhythm … that finds truth in poetry as well as theory.

o Dive deeply into wonder and the world will start to sparkle.

o There will be an experience of intense gratitude that arises when you see how glorious life really is.

o There will be an experience of immense humility that arises when you see how impossible it is to comprehend such a mystery.

If you wake up to wonder you’ll come to life. Try it out … as an experiment … and let me know what happens. This is the beginning of the journey of awakening. If you want to go further, then check out my new website www.themysteryexperience.com. If you look deeper … you’ll find what you’re longing for.

Deep love

T!M

SEE TIM FREKE LIVE! CLICK FOR MORE INFORMATION

TIM FREKE is a pioneering philosopher and the author of many groundbreaking books, which have been translated into 15 languages. These include How Long Is Now? (LINK: http://www.timothyfreke.com/now.php) Lucid Living (LINK: http://www.timothyfreke.com/lucid.php) and The Jesus Mysteries (LINK: http://www.timothyfreke.com/mysteries.php), which was a ‘Book of the Year’ in the Daily Telegraph and a top 10 bestseller in the UK and USA. His cutting-edge work on Gnosticism and pioneering spiritual philosophy have established his reputation as a scholar and free-thinker. He is often featured in documentaries and interviewed by the global media, such as the BBC and the History Channel. Tim runs ‘mystery experience retreats’ internationally, in which he guides others directly to a spiritually awakened state. He also performs as a ‘stand-up philosopher’ – a concept he developed from the ancient idea of a philosopher as a traveling ‘spiritual entertainer’ who transforms people’s consciousness. Tim lives with his wife and two children in Glastonbury, England. For free videos and talks visit www.timothyfreke.com

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THE POWER OF CONNECTING ‘I’ TO ‘I’ by Tim Freke

I am intrigued by the fact that what I experience depends on my state of consciousness.  Something I play with often is seeing what happens when I connect ‘I’ to ‘I’ with other people in my daily life. This means looking below the superficial appearances of things, so that I’m conscious of my ‘deep self’ within … and then connecting with the deep self in others.

MAKING MISTAKES by Tim Freke

I’m feeling embarrassed because I’ve made a series of silly mistakes.  I run retreats internationally in which people come together to experience a spiritual awakening to oneness and ‘big love’, so I regularly send out emails to tell people about new events. In my last email I managed to get the details wrong, so I sent out an apology and the correction.  Then I realized I’d got other details wrong as well, so I had to send out another email to apologize.

READ: What The Buddha Might Say To Mitt Romney by Ed and Deb Shapiro

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Buddha

One of the truly great things in life is to discover our genuine and authentic self, to dance to the beat of our own drum. And so, conversely, one of the greatest challenges is to know what we think, feel, and believe, for ourselves. It is far easier to agree with others, or be influenced by them to believe as they do, than it is to be firm in our own convictions.

Trying to please others by always agreeing with them, or saying what he thinks they want to hear even if it means constantly contradicting himself, is an obvious trait of Mitt Romney’s. He appears to have no idea what he really thinks, feels, and believes for himself. As a result he is constantly flip-flopping to fit in with current policies. Hence the comparison to Etch-A-Sketch. For instance:

Flip: “I saw my father march with Martin Luther King.” Flop: “I did not see it with my own eyes.”

Flip: “Roe v. Wade has gone too far.” Flop: “I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it.”

Flip: “I respect and will protect a woman’s right to choose.” Flop: “I never really called myself pro-choice.”

Flip: “I have a gun of my own. I go hunting myself. I’m a member of the NRA and believe firmly in the right to bear arms.” Flop: Asked by reporters at the gun show whether he personally owned a gun, Romney said he did not.

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. Buddha

Another word for flip flop is confusion. When we are confused we lose sight of what is real or where we are going. This is what can happen when money and power take over and add to the delusion that we are invincible.  The Buddha taught of the dangers of greed, hatred and ignorance, that he called the three poisons. Where greed grabs our desires, hatred abuses our fears, while ignorance clouds our vision.

Greed has many relatives, such as jealousy, ambition, self-centeredness, pride, and grasping, which lead to dissatisfaction, irritation, even depression. The craving to possess generates a fear of not having and limits our generosity. Romney personifies greed, not just in his many houses and cars, but in his desperate desire to win, no matter how.

Hate is destructive, indiscriminate, like a snake it can rise up out of nowhere and attack. When we are fixed in the belief that we are right then anything that questions or threatens that belief becomes the enemy to be done away with. Such hatred becomes its own worst enemy, however, for no matter how much we try to annihilate the hated one the hate remains within us.

Words have power to destroy or heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. Buddha

Where hatred closes our heart, delusion makes us believe there is a permanent, separate and fixed ‘me,’ which means we take ourselves much too seriously; it is the belief that ‘me’ is all-powerful, and the ignorance of our essential connectedness with others.  But when we constantly focus on ourselves we create suffering; such selfishness means there is no room for kindness or compassion.

When we met with the Dalai Lama, he said to us: “We are all equal here.” This is something that Mitt Romney seems to have a real difficulty with, as he continues making insensitive comments such as: “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me,” and how his wife Anne “drives a couple of Cadillacs”. Or, as Arianna Huffington said in her last Sunday Roundup blog: “Mitt Romney once again failed to defuse the dog-on-car-roof controversy, conceding that if given the chance he’d do things differently — not because it was cruel but because of the flak he’s received in the ensuing years.”

Surely it’s time for Mitt to stop trying to be loved and convince everyone he is the man of the people. He comes across as hopelessly awkward when he attempts to put himself in someone else’s shoes or equate himself with their problems, such as saying that he too was unemployed while at the same time having $100 million in the bank. Rather, it’s time for him to discover who he is and what he genuinely believes.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Dalai Lama

Ed and Deb Shapiro are the authors of BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, with forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman and Winner of the 2010 Nautilus Gold Book Award. Deb is the author of the bestselling book, YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND, winner of the 2007 Visionary Book Award. They are featured bloggers on Oprah.com/spirit, HuffingtonPost.com/Living, and Care2.com. They have 3 meditation CD’s: Metta — Loving Kindness and Forgiveness; Samadhi – Breath Awareness and Insight; and Yoga Nidra – Inner Conscious Relaxation. See: www.EdandDebShapiro.com

 

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Compassion The Dalai Lama Way by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Shortly after we were married we went to India and spent our honeymoon in ashrams and monasteries, and then in McCleod Ganj, where the Dalai Lama lives in exile in northern India along with other Tibetan refugees who have escaped Chinese rule in Tibet. Once there we went to the Office of Securities to request a meeting with the Dalai Lama.

What Is Compassion by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Recently, a woman I met told me about her daughter who is living in South America. Her daughter is being threatened by a powerful crime family for setting up a business in their geographic area. The mother said, “I just told her, when the universe knocks you around it’s because you need to be knocked around. It’s to make you stronger for something coming down the road. You have to take it!”

 

Technorati Tags: appreciation, authenticity, gratitude, Happiness, inspiration, personal development, self-discovery, Spirituality

READ: There Is Only Plan A – A Journey Toward Self-Discovery and Renewed Purpose by Klay S. Williams

As children, we were asked, “Who do you want to be when you grow up?” This question conjures up monumental abstracts of people fulfilling wonderful posts in the world without an eraser to correct our explosive dreams. Today, as adults, we stop asking ourselves this question and transition into a life that is safe, predictable, and monotonous, lacking substance even on our best day. Because we are still “growing” as individuals, self-discovery of one’s Plan A is not restricted to our 20s, 30s, 40s, or 50s. However, the importance of this journey lies in the realization that Plan A must take place in order for us to truly experience life. Plan A does not discriminate against age disparities, but does discriminate against inefficient levels of existing. We will never miss our window of opportunity to function at the highest level of our capabilities, as long as we seek out the universal plan that is our individual mission in the world. Ask, receive, and begin in yourself an undeniable path of work that will stretch you beyond your understanding—a movement that will utilize every untapped gift inside of you that you’ve always fantasized expressing, giving you the courage to move beyond structures that have paralyzed your ability to act and a spiritual journey that will invite you to live again.

Plan A is the discovery, recognition, and acceptance of one’s calling and purpose in life. It’s the sustaining measures of the journey that you will embark upon in hopes of conquering your dream. It’s the lived experience and specialness that are your task and mission while here on earth. While the stories, thoughts, and explanations that you will bear witness to are a part of my personal experience, it is my belief that there is a universal experience that is common when seeking to obtain your own Plan A. The philosophy of Plan A operates under a specific formula, which serves as a pilot for guidance, realization, cultivation, lived experience, and release.

Plan A Formula

God
We ask how we may be of service to God/the Universe and humanity



Vision
God then gives us a vision or discovery of our Plan A



Belief
It is then imperative that we offer the vibration of belief and faith to support our Plan A



Hard Work
Perseverance and hard work then carry us through the often-tumultuous journey of resistance toward fulfilling our Plan A



Surrender
After doing everything humanly possible to accomplish our goal, we must surrender our dream and trust in a higher power to realize our Plan A
Plan A simply asks the question, “Does my life reflect who I was called to be?” from an interior and exterior point of reference. Am I offering my very best person to the world, to my area of work, and—most importantly—to myself? There is an unexplainable feeling that you will experience by submitting to the energy that the Universe offers. Perfection is not required in order to live a life powered by Plan A. The only requirement of Plan A is complete trust in an unfamiliar route you may never have traveled before, but wholly believe in. After discovering your Plan A, life will appear to start again. New senses will arise and different states of being will exist. You will look back at your old life and wonder, “Who in the world was that?”

Unbeknownst to us, Plan A has always been working in our lives, but has required us to recognize its call, understand its meaning, and make peace with the gift that is bestowed to each of us. Understanding our Plan As might come to us through unconventional mediums, as you will discover through my experience. However, sometimes the key that unlocks a world of difference and meaning could literally be right in front of us, but goes without acknowledgment. There are no coincidences in life, and as soon as we acknowledge this understanding, the more alert our senses will become and the more we will take advantage of being present in the moment. The call of Plan A would be easier for us to recognize and obtain if we give ourselves permission to slow down and take each second, minute, and hour as a precious gift. Our lives will become more defined and we will no longer dance in the waves of life by ourselves; we will receive a partner who will confidently take our hand—leading and guiding, until it’s our turn to make the next move.

Responding to our Plan As is the greatest gift of gratitude we could give to God, the Universe for giving us life and unique special talents. Not acting upon our individual modes of purpose inevitably robs the world of the natural progression towards a balanced level of enlightenment, peace, and collective harmony.

Klay S. Williams is the author of There Is Only Plan A—A Journey Toward Self-Discovery and Renewed Purpose, and co-owner of Harrison Williams, a lifestyle consulting firm based in New York City (www.harrisonwilliams.com). Klay conducts personal client sessions, workshops, seminars and lectures nationally. Through his leadership and unique philosophy of “There Is Only Plan A,” Klay has unlocked a singular powerhouse where individuals can learn how to live their complete and best life. Read more about Klay’s book at:
www.barnesandnobles.com  www.amazon.com  www.smashwords.com

 

Connect with Klay on your favorite social media:
www.twitter.com/PlanAwithKlay
www.facebook.com/PlanAwithKlay

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The Point of Authentic Inquiry by Gangaji

There is a point that appears in a lifetime, regardless of chronological age, when healthy, true doubt appears. We doubt what we have been taught, and we doubt what others insist we must believe. This is the point at which true spiritual inquiry can begin.

Letting go of old structures by Tony Samara

“In the world today people are saying to themselves, that we have had enough of the old paradigms and the old systems and we want to change.  We don’t know what we want to change, we don’t know how to change but we want to change and that clarity creates a power that has a very real and powerful effect in the world.  It changes what most people thought a few years ago was quite impossible to change and that is not even through conscious spiritual work, that is just through the intention being so strong that it changes and pushes away the old paradigms so that there is the possibility and the space that allows the birth of something new.

 

 

 

READ: Are You Addicted to Struggle? by Mike Robbins

During a session I was having with my new coach last week it became clear to me that I’ve been addicted to struggle for much of my life. While I wasn’t super excited to admit this, it has actually been quite liberating to address my struggle addiction directly and to see how it impacts just about every aspect of my life and work. How about you… are you addicted to (or at least very familiar with) struggling in your own life?

As I’ve thought about it more over this past week, I realize that I have some real resistance to allowing things to come easy and that my attachment to struggling runs deep within me (as it does for so many people I know and work with). Here are some of the main “reasons” I’ve used and beliefs I’ve held for many years to justify my own struggling:

If I don’t have to struggle for something, it doesn’t really mean all that much
If things come easy to me, other people will get jealous, won’t like me, and/or won’t respect me
It’s not fair for things to be easy for me (i.e. I have to struggle) – especially with so many people having such a hard time these days
I actually get off on struggling and suffering – I’m quite familiar with it and I’ve used it as motivation to change and “succeed” for much of my life
My ability to work hard, overcome adversity, and rise above challenges are all things my ego uses to feel superior to others
If I don’t struggle for something, when it happens I won’t feel like I deserve it
Struggling allows me to avoid taking responsibility for certain aspects of my life and keeps me “focused” so I get to avoid uncomfortable feelings, situations, and circumstances I don’t really want to deal with
Can you relate to any of these? Maybe you have others as well.

Getting in touch with some of these reasons and beliefs has been both painful and eye opening at the same time. As I think, talk, and write about them – I realize how ridiculous some of them are and how much of my life’s energy I’ve been giving away to them in the process.

It’s almost like I’m walking around worried that someone’s going to say me, “Mike, you have it so easy,” and I’m preparing my defensive responses, “Oh yeah, well let me tell you how hard I work, how challenging things have been for me, and how much stuff I’ve had to overcome along the way.” What’s up with this? It’s like I’m preparing for a fight that doesn’t even exist. Do you ever do that?

While working hard, overcoming challenges and adversity, and being passionately committed to important and complex things in our lives aren’t inherently bad – resisting ease and being attached to struggle causes me and so many of us a great deal of stress, worry, and pain. And, in many cases this difficulty is totally self-induced and unnecessary.

What if we allowed things to be easier? What if we started to speak about and own the aspects of our lives that are actually easy to us and started to expect things to get even easier? What if we let go of our attachment (or addiction, as it were) to struggle? Easy doesn’t mean lazy – that we aren’t willing to work in a passionate way, or that we expect a “free ride” – it means that we’re willing to have things work out, trust that all is well, and allow life to flow in a positive and elegant way for us.

Our desire and ability to embrace ease in our life isn’t selfish, arrogant, or unrealistic – it’s profoundly optimistic (in an authentic way) and can actually enhance our ability to impact others. The more energy and attention we place on surviving, getting by, or even “striving” for success – the less available we are to give, serve, and make a difference for other people. Although it may seem counter-intuitive to us, letting go of our addiction to struggle is one of the best ways we can show up for those around us – both by our example and with our freed up positive energy.

My coach suggested that I start wearing a “struggle patch,” like a nicotine patch that people wear in their process of breaking an addiction to smoking. While at first it seemed a little ridiculous, I actually took her up on the suggestion and put on a band aid as a representation of my “struggle patch.” I’m allowing the band aid to represent my own commitment to break this addiction and it actually has been altering my perception of myself and my life. Feel free to use this technique yourself!

As Richard Bach famously stated, “Argue for your limitations and they’re yours.” What if we stopped arguing on behalf of how “hard” things are, and started to allow our life to be filled with more peace and ease, instead of perpetuating the struggle? While the idea of things authentically being easy may not be, ironically, the easiest thing for you to embrace – I challenge you (as I challenge myself) to take this on in your life and become more comfortable with it… maybe it will actually be easier than you think!

Are you addicted to struggling? How does this manifest in your life? What can you do to let go of struggle and allow things to be easier? Share your thoughts, ideas, insights, actions, and more.

Mike Robbins is a sought-after motivational keynote speaker, coach, and the bestselling author of Focus on the Good Stuff (Wiley) and Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken (Wiley). More info – www.Mike-Robbins.com

 

 

 

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Something extraordinary happened at Candlestick Park in San Francisco two Saturdays ago, January 14th.  Sure it was an amazing ending to an NFL playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints (which the Niners won in dramatic fashion, making all of us fans here in the Bay Area very happy); but the monumental win wasn’t was made it so remarkable to me.

ENERGETIC REBIRTH By Cynthia James

We are living in accelerated times. Everyone is moving fast. The level of information that is bombarding us is staggering. My clients consistently talk about feeling over-amped and overwhelmed. As I began to think about these facts, it came to me that it is time that we consider “energetic rebirth”. That means that we are called to inventory how many places are draining our energy and find new ways to become vital.

 

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