6 results for tag: Spiritual Discipline
Thich Nhat Hanh Passed To The Next Dimension
There are about two handfuls of people who have shaped the course of my life beyond friends and family. Tich Nhat Hanh was one of them. We can add Martin Luther King Jr., Dalai Lama, Louise Hay, Thomas Merton, Mevlana Julaluddin Rumi, G.I. Gurdjieff, John Lennon , Mikao Usui, Mahatma Gandhi, and my former Teacher and Mentor Rev Betsy Browder. to this list. Today he passed to the next dimension.
He and Louise Hay are where my journey into meditation began in 1990. There were not many books one could find on meditation at the time. Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh and You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay are the two that made the most sense to me. I felt like they were a key to a door that I somehow knew existed without any rhyme or reason to think there was such a door. I do not think I am being theatrical to say they saved my life.
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Is The Spiritual Movement Counter-Productive?
When you think about the current spiritual movement, what image or images come into your mind's eye? Do you think of a specific style or fashion? Who does your mind create as "spiritual"? What do they look and talk like? What color skin or body type do they have? What jargon do they use to let you how "spiritual" they are?
I have been fascinated and at times felt saddened by how spirituality has become more of an industry, than a practice. My Teacher always used to say to me whenever I thought I was becoming "spiritual" that stills sticks with me today, especially in regard to how I market and promote my professionalisms private practice. She would say, "Michael, you need keep your practice in the basement". I knew she was not literally referring to me setting up an office or a place to meditate in the basement, although I have done that before, she meant that I need to stay vigilant about thinking I have arrived and/or I am special. This does not mean I am any less special than anyone else. I am special in my way as you are special in your way, as equals, not more or less special.
The ego is relelentless in its pursuit of creating an illusion in our mind that we "know something" that others do not know, or in more current lingo, that we are "woke".
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... We Can Still Be Crazy – Pema Chodron
... Tich Nhat Hahn Interview with Oprah Winfrey
This is a beautiful Tich Nhat Hahn Interview with Oprah Winfrey. Tich Nhat Hahn is one of the great Teachers of our time. For those who do not know of him, Tich Nhat Hahn has been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Peace and an anti-war activist during the Vietnam War, which is his native land. He has taught many in meditation and mindfulness. He has several monastic communities around the world with the head Temple named Plum Village in Southeast France. Martin Luther King Jr. called Tich That Hahn "an apostle of peace and nonviolence".
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... Obsessions and Compulsions: Zen Buddhism Help or Hurt?
Obsessions and compulsions, we all have them. Does Buddhism help or hurt those trying to learn how to live life without being controlled by their obsessions and compulsions? Zen Buddhism can be a very orderly and defined practice. Zen Buddhism is often regimented, or at least many practitioners and teachers practice that way. Our discussion today is whether Zen Buddhism supports recovery of obsessions and compulsions or the actual obsessions and compulsions themselves? Obsession and compulsions Zen Buddhism have a unique relationship, let's explore together.
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... Spiritual Greed and Gluttony – Dark Night of The Soul
I Remember about a dozen years ago, I was going through a particularly challenging time that felt like a hopeless period In my personal and spiritual development. Among other things, my mentor had suggested I read and meditate on Dark Night Of The Soul by St. John of The Cross. She suggested I pay close attention to the teachings on spiritual greed and gluttony. I immediately became furious at her, but pretended as if I was okay. Of course, she knew better. Like any "good student" who wants to prove to his mentor just how good a student he is, I left her and directly went to buy a copy of the book.
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