Feed your head, read a book. And not just any book. Variety in our diet of food as well as our diet of reading material is essential for all round health of the body and mind. You put in trash, you feel trashy most of the time. Meditation books are a source of nourishment to your mind. Meditation books are usually a collection of the teachings of experienced meditation teachers. The knowledge these meditation experts have gathered over many years of practice in the art is crystallized into meditation books, which allow the sincere seeker to find freedom. The highest goal of anyone should be to live in a state of love, peace and happiness; notwithstanding any other circumstances. By availing yourself of the knowledge within meditation books, you’ll be moving closer to that goal.
The cause of our restlessness and suffering comes from our desires, which in turn are born of predefined expectations. We have been conditioned from the earliest reasoning age to expect and demand certain things and behavior. When this belief system is not reinforced, pain and suffering is the result. In order to free ourselves from this unpleasant disposition, meditation books can show you how to decondition your mind of these false and harmful beliefs.
Z Meditation is a meditation school based in India. They have published a number of meditation books, which go to the root of the problem. The committed and sincere seeker who makes use of one of their meditation books will quickly see the futility in her approach; and may then begin to root them out of her system.
In its most basic form, meditation is the practice of fine-tuning the functioning of your mind in order to achieve a state of awareness characterized by feelings of peace, love and happiness. To live without expectations does not mean to live a carefree life. You will still make continual efforts to meet your set goals. The only difference will be that you will be unperturbed by the outcome. Like the rolling of dice, the outcome is beyond our control. So why bother and fret over what will happen?
An erroneous belief is that meditation involves some mystical practice. If you happen to read meditation books, however, you will find out meditation is a simple way of life that may be adopted by anyone. And this also does not interfere with your religious practice in anyway. Meditation has its roots in the ancient Buddhist religion, as it is with most of the dominant religions. The content of meditation books can, however, not be said to be affiliated to any one religion.
Meditation books from Z Meditation are available at a very reasonable cost from online booksellers such as Amazon. These meditation books are very easy to read and understand. You will begin to notice a remarkable and positive difference within a few days of following through diligently with the prescriptions of the content. And that is the key: Diligence, and a sincere conviction that freedom is your only option.
Lily Candice is regular article writer for Meditation Books at Z Meditation in India
Visit: http://www.tm.org/ On December 7, 2011, Oprah Winfrey was featured in a candid, one-on-one interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz as part of his nationally tele…
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Have you ever wondered why many of the great books of literature such as Siddhartha and Huck Finn are stories about rivers? Or why most of the great cities of the world are situated next to rivers? Have you noticed that the price of a house with a stream running through the property is always more expensive than a house without a stream? Why is that? Are rivers that mystical? Do they manifest a spiritual force that draws our souls to them? Some people think so.
I first became aware of the spiritual power of rivers while traveling through our western states. As I began to explore the wonders of the great State and National parks, the amazing vistas of the Rocky Mountain ranges, the beauty of the deserts, it wasn’t long before my awareness of rivers began to grow. I became aware of how much of the history of our country is oriented around rivers. For example, most of the great wagon trains started west from St. Louis on the Mississippi, the Oregon Trail meandered along the Virgin River, and most of the adventures and journals of Lewis and Clark were stories about rivers.
The more I traveled, the more I tended to orient myself relative to the rivers around me…such as the Colorado River, the Snake River, or the Virgin River. I began to pay attention to whether the near-by rivers were north or south or west of my current position. I searched the maps to see where they began and where they ended. I learned about the history and geology of rivers such as the Columbia and read about the great ice age floods that put walls of ice and water a thousand feet high through the Columbia River Gorge an estimated ten to twelve times. I was amazed to learn that the most recent giant flood happened only 10,000 years ago.
They say the water was not only a thousand feet high, it traveled over 80 to 100 miles an hour through the Gorge! The magic and spirituality of rivers were slowly easing their way into my soul.
Traveling through Salt Lake City recently, I learned how, 15,000 years ago, Bonneville Lake, a deep prehistoric pluvial lake the size of Lake Michigan that covered much of North America’s Great Basin region, suddenly broke through its earthen dam draining it within a few days into the Snake River. Like the great floods of the ice age, the resulting flood of Bonneville Lake also ended up in the Columbia River Gorge. I couldn’t help but wonder how high those flood waters might have been as they too raced through the Gorge…what would it have been like to stand on the cliffs overlooking the Gorge as the thundering floods raced by below.
As a volunteer host for a summer at Oregon’s Rooster Rock State Park in the scenic Columbia River Gorge I recently had the opportunity to spend time each morning at dawn watching the sun come up over the river. Sunrise in the Gorge was spectacular. As I watched the sun burn the mist off the river each day I would reflect on the well known Buddhist story about the ancient spiritual master who meditated each day on the edge of such a river. One day he was approached by a student who asked him how meditating on the bank of a river could lead to enlightenment.
The master smiled and told the student that sitting on the bank of a river is the same as paying attention to one’s life. Like a river, life simply flows. It can bring us pleasure but if we try to grasp or hang onto the pleasure too hard we will cause ourselves suffering, because like a river, life will eventually take the pleasure away.
Sometimes life will bring things that cause us pain and suffering. If we try to deny them or try to push them away from us, we will only cause ourselves more suffering because we have virtually no power to control what rivers or life choose bring to us. But, just as it did with pleasure, life will eventually take pain and suffering away too.
Sitting with the master on the bank of a river taught the student that both grasping and aversion will ultimately lead to suffering. Life brings all things into our lives and it takes all things away. That is a reality that we cannot avoid. All we can do is sit with what the river of life brings us, and learn the lessons that we are meant to learn. After some time had passed, the student bowed to the teacher and continued on his journey toward enlightenment.
Each morning that summer, I watched things floating on the river…barges, leaves, logs, bugs, dead fish, row boats with determined fishermen. I watched them come toward me…I watched them float on by. It quietly reminded me not to grasp too tightly to those things that bring pleasure, or push too hard against those things that bring pain and suffering. Like the river, life will eventually take them all away. In the meantime, they all have lessons to teach me.
I don’t know if I left the river that summer any more enlightened than when I arrived, but I did find that sitting by the river for a few minutes each morning lightened my day. When it was time to move on, I was aware that my soul would miss watching a new day begin each morning on the river.
Dick is retired from 25 years in private practice as a pastoral psychotherapist, a certified Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, a New York State licensed Mental Health Counselor, Nationally Endorsed for Counseling by the United Methodist Division of Chaplains and the Board of Higher Education, a writer and publisher of the Stonyhill Spiritual Growth Newsletter, and the author of many other articles published on the Stonyhill and other internet websites on the subjects of authentic spiritual growth, The Primitive Ego Theory of Human Development, and the intentional evolution of human consciousness.
Sermon delivered at the Armenian Cilicia Evangelical Church of Pasadena, CA on February 3rd, 2013.
It’s been a long day, maybe things didn’t go as you had planned. You’ve arrived home, thoughts parachuting from every space within your mind, trying to make sense of the day’s events. “Why did it happen to me? How did it happen?”- the questions continue. Yet, through the hours you consume trying to figure it out, you may never arrive at the “real answer”, the spiritual purpose for why you were part of the event.
It’s not a secret that everyone encounters disappointments, challenges or the unexpected. For some, these moments are more frequent than others, not knowing why or the source within that is attracting them. Some will claim the “victim” role, and others will step up and find the “why” turning it into an opportunity for spiritual growth. How is it possible that the same situation can happen to two people and both walk away with a different experience? It’s simple; it’s all in the perspective.
In the spiritual realm, we have come to know that everything happens for a reason. However, before we arrive at this understanding or acceptance, it’s probable that our former years were filled with holding other’s responsible for what we felt. “She made me so mad”, “I cant believe he did that”, “They were so rude, I don’t understand”, at some point we’ve all had these types of thoughts, where we fault others for something that has happened. This perspective places us in the “victim role”, where we allow our emotions to become engaged, get upset and then react; in which case, we may retaliate or just walk away.
As you can see, processing it from this perspective doesn’t facilitate any spiritual growth. You will, without a doubt attract a similar situation again, perhaps with a different individual, until you understand that “he/she/they” specifically were not the focal point of the situation, they were merely a “supporting actor”; a catalyst to bring to light something you needed to observe within yourself.
You are each the “leading actor” within your own life, consciously (sometimes unconsciously) directing your own play.
Every person or event you come in contact with is someone or something you’ve drawn into your earthbound adventure to activate the lessons you came to learn. Common feelings associated with such experiences are anger, worry, fear, jealousy, guilt, and frustration. You see, no one can “make” you feel this way-the way you react and process the event is your choice from the beginning. However, you can become so attached to the emotions you are feeling, due to your prior programming, that you fail to see these as opportunities that you have attracted to observe, learn and resolve what needs to be cleared.
These concepts are often hard to swallow at first, because it challenges you to take responsibility for something that needs to be acknowledged and resolved within you. Being able to face yourself and your shortcomings is a very humbling experience and by far the most enlightening for personal growth.
For example, let’s say a friend has said or done something and without intention of course, that action has stirred up a negative reaction within you. Your first impulse might be to think that perhaps he/she isn’t your friend at all anymore. If you left it like that, you may lose a wonderful relationship over a personal chance for self-improvement. Letting your emotions subside, you realize that what was said, actually triggered a deep-rooted feeling of personal insecurity; perhaps it hit a self-esteem issue stemming from a childhood where there was a lack of parental support. You then realize that instead of being angry with your friend, you can now find gratitude in the experience for allowing you to address a part of you that needs healing.
Life challenges us in many ways, daily and moment to moment. It’s all in how you see these opportunities that you witness the spiritual insight to be gained and processed. First, you must become consciously aware of how physical events trigger specific mental and emotional responses within you. Then allow yourself to disconnect emotionally from the situation to understand the “why”, the “what” and so on, of how you attracted this experience to fully understand why it manifested altogether.
After practicing this observation frequently, chances are you begin to notice a pattern of situations or experiences you to tend to draw. This feedback is invaluable to your spiritual growth and transformation. Remember that despite what we often consider the trials and tribulations of life, in actuality these are gifts from the Universe to improve, refine and allow us to live our life in better alignment with our spirit.
The classroom of life can deliver some unique ways of teaching through earthly endeavors. Looking back, it appears I unconsciously chose to sit in the front row. There have been times when I loved the one-on-one challenges the Universe presented….and there are other times I wanted to make a bee-line for the door and skip school altogether.
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Michael Jackson’s stage presence was undoubtedly incomparable. He performed with an energy and a divine ambiance that was clearly not of this world. No one else in our lifetime, will ever come close to the magnanimous and influential powerhouse that was…Michael Jackson. But I now ponder, were we just too enamored with the performer and his image, to realize the profoundness of the spiritual and life lessons he was teaching us all along – contained in the lyrics of his songs?
Michael Jackson’s passion, purpose and message was for peace, harmony, and equality in the world. He longed for simple experiences that we, today, continue to take for granted. He wanted normality. He wanted to be accepted as he was. Most importantly, he wanted to experience a childhood. Was his behavior as a “childlike man” a bit strange for some? Yes….Maybe. However, if you have never experienced NOT having a childhood, you have no grounds for judgment. According to the Bible Scriptures – Luke 18: 16-17 states “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
He said in an interview once, “If you really want to know about me, listen to the lyrics in my song – Have You Seen My Childhood.” The Lyrics are as follow: “Have You Seen My Childhood? I’m searching for the world that I come from. Cause I’ve been looking around, in the lost and found of my heart. No one understands me, They view it as such strange eccentricities…Cause I keep kidding around. Like a child, but pardon me…People say I’m not okay, Cause I love such elementary things…It’s been my fate to compensate, for the Childhood I’ve never known…Before you judge me, try hard to love me.”
Michael Jackson suffered greatly internally.
The only place he felt free was on stage. When he performed he was “being” and in alignment with his divine purpose. He knew he wasn’t being judged by his fans…we loved and still love him. He utilized his God-given talents and abilities with every fiber and cell in his body. He poured his heart and soul into each performance, with fans at every corner and stretch of the world receiving him. Michael Jackson sincerely loved us. He suffered even more at the condemnation and crude perceptions of those who have no conscience. Those individuals who use such cowardly covers stating: “I’m Just A Reporter Reporting The News,” or “I Just Want To Sell My Tabloids.” These vicious people sought fame and fortune, out of their own envious ways, destroying those to whom the stories are written about. They are so blinded by having the “exclusive story” that they are not stopping to even think about the detrimental effects of their actions. Over the years, they devastatingly touched the soul of one of God’s Angels. This, along with his personal issues, had kept Michael Jackson in constant emotional pain, mental pain and lifelong turmoil for most of his life.
Lyrics from his song “Tabloid Junkie” can best describe how he felt: “Speculate to break the one you hate. Circulate the lie you confiscate. Assassinate and mutilate. As the hounding media in hysteria, Who’s the next for you to resurrect…It’s slander. With the words you use. You’re a parasite in black and white. Do anything for news. And you don’t go and buy it. To read it sanctifies it.”
Michael Jackson did not allow the public scrutiny to keep him from entertaining his fans. He remained persistent in his message and mission of bringing love unto the world, with such lyrics from his song “Another Part of Me” – “We’re sending out, A major love, And this is our message to you. The planets are lining up, We’re bringing brighter days. They’re all in line, Waiting for you. Can’t you see…..You’re just Another Part of Me.”
We are all a part of each other. When you tear one down, we all suffer. Including those who are responsible for the act itself; they just don’t know it yet. When one is in turmoil, we all are. When one is crying out for help, we need to answer. Michael Jackson cried and cried and cried. Not with tears streaming down his face; but rather with all the ways he changed the look of his appearance. The way we truly feel on the inside, will definitely reflect those same feelings on the outside. I think that because his childhood was so tumultuous, he maybe set out to take away any signs of how he looked. As this would be a permanent constant reminder. The public also contributed with negative reports of his prominent “African American” features and so on and so forth. What he didn’t understand, I believe, was that his fans never complained. We loved Michael Jackson just as he was. I think he expected that changing his appearance on the outside, would also create new emotional and mental feelings for him on the inside. If you haven’t learned anything from the Spiritual Teachings of the Divine Spirit that was and is Michael Jackson…..let’s remember this Scripture from Matthew 7:2 – “Others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.”
Michael Jackson has served his purpose, has carried out his mission, and has delivered his message. He has entered the gates of heaven where he’s entertaining God and his fellow Angels. Now he can finally rest in the comfort and peace of his true father’s arms, as he now knows and feels acceptance. He can now be that “child” without judgment. And most of all….he has heard those approving words from his true father in heaven….”My Child…..Yours Is Indeed A Job Well Done!”
In Conclusion…….Lyrics To Michael Jackson’s Song: “Gone Too Soon.”
Like A Comet, Blazing Cross The Evening Sky…Gone Too Soon.
Like A Rainbow, Fading In The Twinkling of an Eye……Gone Too Soon.
Shiny and Sparkly, and Splendidly Bright.
Here One Day…..Gone One Night.
Like A Castle, Built Upon A Sandy Beach……Gone Too Soon.
Like A Perfect Flower, That Is Beyond Your Reach…Gone Too Soon.
Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day….Gone One Night.
Like A Sunset, Dying With The Rising of The Moon
Gone Too Soon.
Gone Too Soon.
http://bit.ly/148LeLk The New Masters Of Spirituality: Lessons From New Leaders In The Spiritual Movement, Spiritual Guidance, Spiritual Journey – By Terri M… Video Rating: 0 / 5
Have you ever wondered why one of your business programs takes off like wildfire, while another one falls flat? Why some partnerships flourish, and others fizzle? How do you get yourself and your small business aligned and “in the flow”?
The answers lie in the connections between money, marketing and spirituality. Following are the seven lessons I’ve identified in my own journey as a passion-based small business owner and coach – that I’m now pleased to share with you:
1. Know that money, marketing and spirituality all follow each other. I think of these three key areas as moving, flowing, constantly changing “balls of energy.” It’s almost like they each have their own circulating vortexes of energy. The key is to get them moving and flowing in the same direction – this is the “sweet spot” you’re aiming for. When they’re not in alignment, your energy is constricted, and you feel bottlenecked.
With spirituality, I’m talking about owning your own joy – knowing what your joy is, and how you uniquely bring it to the world. When you’re aligned on that level, that’s when you can get that marketing energetic ball rolling – you can authentically share your spirit with the world in a public way that’s packaged and branded perfectly for you. This authentic and joy-based marketing strategy is powerfully enrolling.
When it comes to the money energy ball, this is an area that seems to trip up a lot of small business owners, especially women. When we’re in a business that’s very passion-oriented, we’re excited to help our clients transform their lives or businesses. But your money energy will get constricted – until you claim the money, feel confident in charging for the transformation you provide or the value you create in bettering someone’s life.
And then you want to allow the money to come in.
2. Your spirit and your small business speak to you – but are you listening? Stop and create time in your day to listen. You can do this by journaling, meditating, getting away from your computer for a mind-clearing walk – anything that allows you to think about your business from a broader perspective. What are your clients saying that they’re not really saying? What needs are unspoken? What is your business telling you about your product or service offerings?
To do your most effective listening, I strongly encourage you to use a coach or mastermind group — sometimes you’re too close to it, it’s too personal. Plus, the reasons behind your energy constriction aren’t always what you think they are! Having outside perspectives and people to ask you tough questions are invaluable in getting to the root of it.
3. Everything you do in your passion-based small business involves a spiritual exchange of energies. There are things on the visible level – like your emails, meeting a client for lunch, writing your newsletter, all of your marketing and communications. With each of these, you’re exchanging ideas, inspiration and especially energy, because your energy is attached to everything you do. The same goes for the invisible level – where even if somebody can’t see you, they can feel your vibration and intention through your written word (such as through your website or a newsletter).
Believe me, you’ll know when your message and marketing are powerfully aligned with your confidence – because everything just gets easier. The barriers seem to collapse in front of you, because you’re spiritually aligned with your purpose, your marketing is clear, and you’re open to the abundance. Now let it flow!
4. It’s a law of nature: we are here to expand. Just as nature is always changing and evolving as the seasons pass – and we ourselves are changing as our cells replenish themselves – so it goes with your business. This is especially true for entrepreneurs — you’re always at the leading edge of expansion, putting yourself out there for the world to see.
When one of my coaching clients feels that something isn’t working, I ask them to notice how they shifted to this new leading edge, and look at it again. It could be that your natural expansion needs to happen in one of these three key areas (money, marketing or spirituality). If you can identify it and clear it up, you’ll have that crystal clear, clean energy – and your clients will respond to that.
5. Be aware of the abundance around you. Tap into your gratitude on a daily basis, make a list of the signs of abundance and prosperity you see – because they are everywhere. This practice of always looking for evidence of our abundant world actually feeds your energy, helps you find that alignment.
Again, I highly recommend using a coach or mastermind group for this. As I look back over the last couple of years, I’ve seen how these resources have played a huge role in my success. They are the proverbial “mirror” you need to hold up to your life and your business, so you can see things for what they really are.
6. Dare to connect to that “knowing place” inside of you. I believe that everyone has a place that absolutely knows what you’re here to do in this world, that knows when you’re in the right place, going in the right direction. You have to dare to show up and say, “Yes, I know. I’m tired of my own story of saying I don’t deserve it. Yes, I do know.” Listen to your body. Your body talks to you. When you are in your joy, which is being on purpose, your body sends you signals: tingling, giggling, smiling, feeling your heart open, a tug in your solar plexus to move forward or holding your posture taller, are all examples. Slow down and listen to your body talk. Then, you can bring your brilliance forth into the world, to make it a better place by serving your clients well.
7. The universe likes focus & flow. In my experience, I’ve seen how everything just seems to come easier when there is a good balance between the masculine “focus” and the more feminine “flow.” (In fact, this is reflected in my company name, “Joyful Business”: joyful represents flow, and business stands for the focus we need.) When I first started out, I was really more about the joy – but what I found was that there is a place for persistence, focus, discipline and systems. Systems actually allow you to express your joy more often, with more abandon!
I recommend that you look for the one client, one program, one marketing strategy and focus, focus, focus on it – get that one thing up and going and work on making it really successful. The flow that comes from that focus will actually lead to more success!
Are your marketing, money and spirituality aligned, and moving in the same direction? What will you do today to tune in and listen to your business, and to your spirit within? What does today’s gratitude list look like for you?
Laura Howard West is a certified professional coach, writer, speaker and the President and Chief Creative Officer of The Center for Joyful Business. She is the creator of The Joyful Business Guide, a business attraction system blending law of attraction principles with smart business designed for solo-entrepreneurs and business owners.
Spiritual Lessons
Spiritual Growth – Spiritual Lessons – The Third Eye
Spiritual Knowledge, Techniques And Training To Strengthen Your Own Intuition. Exercises You Can Use To Get A Greater Understanding Of Yourself, Mother Earth, The Universe And A Lot More! These Lessons Fits Any Age, Thoughts And Beliefs. Made By Abthir Spiritual Growth – Spiritual Lessons – The Third Eye
Brandon Pope has spent more than 20 years of his career providing financial advice for some of the nations wealthiest individuals, families, trusts, estates,… Video Rating: 5 / 5
