The Infinite Sound of the Gong: Part II
Tuesday, 27th October 2009
FreeGongButton.com is simply that, a FREE digital gong that you can play with a digital mallet. Just click on the mallet to sound the gong…
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The Infinite Sound of the Gong: Part I
The Infinite Sound of the Gong
Tuesday, 6th October 2009
To Westerners, gongs are those exotic, ancient instruments originating from the Far East that have been adapted to the symphony orchestra (and Rock bands) in Western culture.
Gongs can be traced as far back as two thousand years to the ancient lands of Northern India and The Himalayas. Read more
Following The Beat of a Different Drummer
Monday, 27th July 2009
The reality is… You have to accept yourself first, and not depend on others accepting you, nor wait for their approval. You have to follow your own inner compass.
Don’t have an inner compass? Read more
Ways To Improve the Soul
Tuesday, 3rd February 2009
Recently, I’ve been contemplating ways to cultivate the soul. That deeper, inner dimension of yourself, which can be a way to gain more depth of awareness and understanding.
Many times, it can be easy to get caught up in what many perceive as “the rat race”. And it’s true. People are so entrenched in the day-to-day acts of survival, they find themselve reacting to things by fighting back:
- 1. Fighting our way through traffic
- 2. Working hard at our jobs.
- 3. Working hard to keep our jobs.
- 4. Having to deal with people we don’t get along with.
It’s tough to find the time to tune into the depths of our soul.
Well, there are many definitions for “the soul”. And some people don’t believe in a soul per se, or an afterlife, but we tend to say things like, “he’s got soul” or popular phrases like the title of the book “chicken soul for the soul”.
I myself, feel a deeper part of me during reflection and meditation, during moments of clarity and zen.
It is important (in order to survive too) to tap into that deeper side of yourself. And you might not think of it as a “soul” per se…. but I’m sure most people will agree with me that there is a deeper side to ourselves that requires further study and exploration.
So, if we are to get the most out of life at this deeper level, what can we do to improve our “selves”, because after all, it’s all about experiencing life to the fullest and with true meaning and deep understanding.
What can we do to improve our lives that doesn’t include material wealth or personal fame?
One thing I’ve discovered in life, and you see it all around… is simply to find a soulmate. Then, to start raising children of your own. Well, parenting can be a tough challenge, but raising a family is a very moving experience. Being a parent (especially a stay-at-home Mom or Dad) is very noble job. One learns to become more understanding, compassionate, caring, responsible, and learns a sense of pride and humility all at the same time.
Surely, parenting and raising a family is such a major step in anyone’s life. From personal experience, the moment I became a father for the first time in my life… I literally felt my life change (miraculously and wonderfully).
But you don’t have to be a parent to improve on your soul.
Discovering beauty through photography, and capturing moments of Zen, is another way to explore the depths of your soul.
Of course, reading texts of ancient wisdom… learning the texts of the holy men… studying Zen. Are ways to learn, or un-learn…
The great composer Beethoven frequently took walks through the fields and forests, remarking that it was a means to gain inspiration for new works.
Playing a musical instrument can definitely improve the soul. Tapping into the sonic ethereal sounds of musical tones. Instead of concentration on just being able to play a piece of music correctly, but to delve into the nature of that music, to try and understand the meanings between the notes…
…well, for musicians, this can be a lifetime study, but being in the Zen of things, at whatever one is good at, is a means to continually improve on the soul.
Interactions with people, at a more deeper spiritual level are ways to improve the soul.
And, fine tuning the mind through meditation and prayer… taking a day off from eating and to fast, is a way to improve the soul.
The more I ponder over this, the more I feel that devout contemplation and devoted study in the pursuit of wisdom, is the way to the soul. We don’t have to be gurus or buddhist monks… we don’t have to sacrifice our current life in order to lead a more spiritually devoted life. Unless, of course you one day find yourself contemplating that thought.
But, we can all focus on tapping into that deeper sense of ourselves. And, in a way, this in turn can improve the world that surrounds us…
5 Great Articles on Improving Your Life in ‘09
Friday, 16th January 2009
If You Have It All Dialed In… well then, you don’t need to read this. Hehe… So just slap the guy seated in the lotus position contemplating his navel!
. . . .
But, I thought I would take the time to share some links that I’m sure you’ll find helpful (and quite inspirational) for getting you started in the New Year. Read more
Happiness Can Be Found Within The Moment
Tuesday, 6th January 2009
More Zen Practice, Arranging My Food in a Visually Appealing Sense of Oneness… to be continued…
I was reading a post by Leo Babauta of the highly popular blog, ZenHabits.
He has all sorts of great advice and tips for improving productivity, living simply, and achieving personal goals. It’s actually a great blog to read right now since many of us are making all sorts of plans and setting goals for the new year.
It’s great to work off of that kind of inspiration and motivation to succeed and be happy. But sometimes I’m a skeptical realist because life in general is going to hand you lemons when you least expect it.
In his post, The Single Secret to Making 2009 Your Best Year Ever, he says…
Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here, right now.
And, I can definitely see the wisdom in that saying. Many times we are expecting some sort of gratification from someone, or something… whether it’s a big win by our favorite football team, or wanting to buy that next greatest gaming console, or just wanting to be financially independent, free from debt with time and money to travel.
Many times we are driven and strive to be happy through material means, whether it’s through fame and fortune, or by achieving all of our dreams and goals. But, true happiness CAN be found within the moment. Though we often miss it because we are dwelling on the past with regrets, or we worry about the future because of hard times.
I truly believe that “enlightenment” or some sense of “an enlightened state of being” CAN be found by focusing on living within each moment. I practice yoga and meditation almost daily, and I have experienced times when I thought I felt greatly at peace and enlightened.
But, what if you are handed lemons in life? And from my experience it’s going to happen whether we want it or not, and it will put a big damper on our hopes and goals, and will cause major setbacks in our life’s plans.
I don’t want to rain on everyone’s parade here, but the very first thing the Buddha said, (since we’re on the subject of enlightenment and Zen), is that…
Life is Suffering…
And last year I personally felt a LOT of that. A lot of pain…
So, how would we find enlightenment and happiness when faced with extraordinarily difficult times?
Last year I was a caregiver for my father-in-law who was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer. It was devastating to the entire family and I personally felt daily exhaustion and stress, and facing the realities that a family member was dying.
A Few Questions…
How do we find happiness and enlightenment when our loved ones are suffering so greatly?
How do we find happiness and enlightenment when we find ourselves out of a job?
As I continue through life, I see that the journey is a series of peaks and valleys.
How we survive those peaks and valleys will determine how we in turn cope and handle the life we live.
My goal is to always live within the moment, to appreciate all the blessings that I’ve been given, and to learn, thrive and survive…
But life will always hand you lemons. How we handle that will be the real key to achieving an enlightened state of being.
So, the big question is…
How do you cope with life when life hands you lemons? What is your key to happiness amidst economic turmoil, loss of a job, or the loss of a loved one?
Mutual Love
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