Vipassana Meditation

Interesting.

The Buddhists monks at the Vihara taught me Vipassana meditation years ago and I've done weekend retreats observing the 5 precepts , but 10 days seems quite a challenge.

All who attend a Vipassana course must conscientiously undertake the following five precepts for the duration of the course:

1. to abstain from killing any living creature;

2. to abstain from stealing;

3. to abstain from all sexual activity;

4. to abstain from telling lies;

5. to abstain from all intoxicants.

Do I dare? Ten days. The process of self-purification by introspection is certainly never easy. The code of discipline at the centre is strict , but then rewards are great.

" Vipassana is a technique that will eradicate suffering.
It is an art of living that one can use to make positive contributions to society.
It is a method of mental purification which allows one to face life's tensions and problems in a calm, balanced way. "

Dhamma Dipa Vipassana Meditation Centre, UK

Poets

Poets are not those who write poetry,

but all those whose hearts are filled with the sacred spirit of Love.

What if death is like an orgasm ?

What if death is like an orgasm ?
The French call the orgasm " le petit mort " - the little death.
Apparently , the moment of orgasm can be intensified by holding the breath.
People have died while practising and experimenting with this technique.
There's a name for this ... can't remember it right now.
BREATH .. yet another common denominator in life and death.
Breathe life into something
Hold your breath and die.
Breathe in.... and be IN-SPIRED !

Autobiography of a Yogi

Autobiography of a Yogi
When Autobiography of a Yogi first appeared in 1946, it was acclaimed as a landmark work in its field. The New York Times hailed it as "a rare account." Newsweek pronounced it "fascinating." The San Francisco Chronicle declared, "Yogananda presents a convincing case for yoga, and those who 'came to scoff' may remain 'to pray.'" Today it is still one of the most widely read and respected books ever published on the wisdom of the East.

" A book that opens the windows of the mind and spirit ."

What inscription would you like on YOUR tombstone ?

Life and Death,can't have one without the other.

My tombstome inscription would say :

" To be continued ... this is just the beginning.
Emm has gone Home to reflect about what she has done , where she has been and whom she has been with. For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? Now that the earth has claimed my limbs I can truly dance. "

( With love and thanks to Kahlil Gibran for a few of his words.)


Death ? I'm looking forward to it knowing that being born is probably the hardest thing that I've ever done.

Still, while I am here , there's a lot of living to do , so much to experience,and so much to learn.

I do hope that when my time comes to leave, I can do it painlessly and gracefully.

Making a difference

I've been thinking about this all week .................




"The spiritual life is a call to action. But it is a call to ... action without any selfish attachment to the results."

Eknath Easwaran

Many of us feel deeply that we want to make a difference -- we want our lives to mean something in the bigger scheme of life. While this is a noble motive, we might want to explore what lies at its root.

Does the drive to make a difference arise from ego’s need to feel worthy? If my ego is not convinced that I matter, I may want visible proof that I do by making some kind of impact on life.

Soul doesn’t need proof that it’s worthy. Soul thrives in being awake and connected.

Perhaps if we let go of the pressure we feel from our ego’s need to be recognized, we will be more open and able to simply live soulfully. And by doing that, we WILL make a difference!


"A person’s worth is contingent upon who he is, not upon what he does, or how much he has. The worth of a person, or a thing, or an idea, is in being, not in doing, not in having." -- Alice Mary Hilton

What does it mean to "simply live soulfully " ?

EQUINOX 21 March 2006

The EQUINOX is a powerful time for manifesting dreams and visions and to accelerate synchronicity and intuition.

From the pyramids in Egypt and Mexico, to the stone circles in England, to the solar markers in the Native northwest, Equinox is time that was honoured as a powerful and transformative time.

On any given Equinox, we have an incredible opportunity to make a profound difference in our world.

Science is beginning to back these ancient truths with facts! What the mystics have known for eons, science in now confirming; thus bringing into the fold of LIGHT even the most adamant skeptic!

For more go to:
http://www.kachina.net/~alunajoy/solarwave2006.html

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY !

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun's life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

"The Shield" prayer attributed to St. Patrick http://www.gratefulness.org

Money issues

"What Are You Lacking?" "Money cannot fill an empty soul." -- Julia Cameron & Mark Bryan

Where in your life are you experiencing lack?
Are you experiencing a lack of self esteem?
Of humour? Of energy? Of love? Of money and abundance?

Whatever you believe you are missing, it is there to be claimed.
The first step starts with shifting your perspective.
See the glass as half full rather than half empty.
Focus on accepting what you DO have, and more will be attracted to you.
"Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present -- love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure -- the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth."

-- Sarah Ban Breathnach

It's in the stars

Mercury’s retrograde period from March 2-25 will double the length of his transit through the spiritual realms of Pisces.

Practice thinking with your soul.

Notice subtle changes of perception.

Open yourself to new awareness.

Review progress toward your goals and make adjustments if needed.

Mercury rules communication and transportation. Before and during his retrograde period, it’s wise to take care of unfinished business, have your car and computer serviced, double-check on appointments and departure/arrival times, and be patient if things break down anyway.

Supreme artists of life.

DailyOM - Yogis of Tibet: "March 2, 2006

The yogis of Tibet have been called 'supreme artists of life' for their ability to treat every situation like a spiritual endeavor. As we aspire to express the same art of patience, compassion, and peace in our lives, we too can radiate the tranquility, warmth, and joy attributed to these spiritual masters"