|
|
| www.1001TopWords.com |
|
|
How To Live A Life Of No Problems
For most of us our lives are a problem which have to be solved. Everyday we wake up under the burden of new challenges facing us. We seek counselors and all kinds of consultants all in the hope of "figuring out" the best way to deal with the endless choices and complications which arise daily. Our faith is placed in the rational mind, which offers endless strategies for success and for conquering the obstacles we are sure to face. Armed with these strategies and forever seeking more, most of us go through life uncertain, monitoring our progress, blaming ourselves for the failures and wishing we had taken a different road. But this is not the way of Zen. As we learn the essence of Zen practice, our obsession with being in control, and analyzing each detail of our lives, slowly fades. A larger harmony takes its place. As we ease into it, oddly enough we become more aware and able to see what's going on around us. New possibilities then open up. No Problem Zen practice is the way of no problem, of being fully with each step we take, not looking backwards or forward, just being with each step fully, one hundred percent. This is the way of not second guessing ourselves. Rather than make life into a problem, we see it as a wonderful adventure in which we learn, grow and thoroughly enjoy. In order to do this it is necessary to release ourselves and others from demands, images and expectations that have little to do with who we truly are. All experiences are welcomed and fully digested, not judged good or bad. Zen Story - Master Hakuin And The Baby There was a great Zen Master Hakuin who lived in a small hut, doing zazen. He was greatly revered in the village and known as a wise and saintly man.One day a village girl became pregnant. The father of the baby left town and she was alone and frightened. As she did not know what else to do, she told the entire village that Master Hakuin was the father. All the townspeople shocked. They stopped bringing food and offerings. Instead of praising Haikuin now they blamed him. "You are the worst of all beings," they said. "Is that so?" replied Hakuin. The baby was born the the village girl brought the child to Hakuin to be cared for. "This baby is yours," she said."Is that so?" Hakuin said and took the baby gladly. Hakuin cared for the baby lovingly for several years. Then, one day, the father of the baby returned to the villageand wanted to marry the mother and take back the baby. They told everybody the truth about what happened. The people were astonished. They all began to praise Master Hakuin and return to his hut with offerings. "Is that so?" said Master Hakuin. Soon after that the couple returned for the baby. "Is that so?"Master Hakuin murmured and game them their child lovingly. Master Hakuin did not see a problem. He accepted all that life brought him. What seems good turns bad, what seems bad turns good. It is an endless cycle. Separating Good From Bad Part of the natural human condition is to be subject to suffering, pain, loss, anxiety, sorrow as well as times of joy, fulfillment and delight. However, when happiness comes we want to hold onto it, to keep it with us forever. When painful times come we want to push them away, numb ourselves, withdraw. But this is not the way of Zen. From the Zen point of view we must learn how to hold all of life in the palm of our hands.When we judge something as bad, we cut it off and discard it, not fully learning the lesson it has for us. When we reject bitterness in life, we also grow unable to taste that which is sweet. We become one sided and block out much of what life brings. When we call ourselves a failure, we stop ourselves from learning. We label a small part of the experience, unwilling to allow the full meaning of what has to be revealed. However, as we start to live by Zen, rather than reject large parts of our experience, we see whatever happens as our friend.Not only does this bring peace of mind, but step by step we become strong enough to welcome all of life, rather than live in fear. MOMENT BY MOMENT Don't Turn Life Into A Problem Exercise: No Problem Take a problem that troubles you. Discover the 2000 year old Zen secrets for being calm, balanced and positive, no matter what's going on in your life in Living By Zen, by Dr. Brenda Shoshanna, http://www.livingbyzen.com Dr. Shoshanna is a psychologist, speaker, long term Zen practitioner and teacher, relationship expert on http://www.ivillage.com and author of many books including, Zen and the Art of Falling In Love, Zen Miracles (Finding Peace In An Insane World,) and many others. You may contact her at topspeaker@yahoo.com
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Look for the Positives Our lives are overflowing with negative information from the newspapers, magazines, television and radio. Nations are at war, thousands are dying of starvation and hundreds are killed by natural disasters. There is no avoiding or ignoring the facts. We even receive negativity from our own families and friends every single day. Are You Thinking The Right Thoughts? "A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses." ? As A Man Thinketh Eight Simple Anger Management Tips "The other night I ate at a real family restaurant. Every table had an argument going." Really Scary Stuff With the probable exception of some basic instincts ? or motivation toward self-preservation ? we've just flat learned to be afraid of about all the rest of the stuff we're afraid of. I know, the word "about" is a cop-out but I'm using it because I'm not really sure where this next mega-fear comes from. Maybe it's an instinct thing, too. I dunno? Courtesy In The Workplace -- Can You Say, Thank You? Thank you is such a beautiful phrase. When you say, thank you, it makes a world of difference. Recent research suggests that discourtesy in the workplace is rapidly becoming an increasing dilemma for businesses and organizations. Workplace incivility is growing, including an increase in bad manners, rudeness, coarseness, vulgarity, and a lack of respect. Develop Yourself - The Power Within Living without limits. Living your life to the fullest. Living with happiness. Living your dreams. Living free from fear and worry. You have the power to live your life any way you want. Positive Self-Talk One of the most powerful influences on your attitude and personality is what you say to yourself. It is not what happens to you, but how you respond internally to what happens to you, that determines your thoughts, feelings, and your actions. By controlling your inner dialogue, or your "self talk," you can begin to assert control over every part of your life. All My Needs, Desires, and Goals are Met -- INSTANTANEOUSLY I get emails and questions from people all the time who are frustrated because they have read all types of self-help books, attended all types of motivational seminars, received personal coaching and yet, they still are unable to live the life that they dream of living. Your Mental Attitude is The Key! As a being of thought, your dominant mental attitude will determine your condition in life. It will also be the gauge of your knowledge and the measures of your attainment. The so-called limitations of your nature are the boundary lines of your thoughts; they are self-erected fences, and can be drawn to a narrower circle, extended to a wider, or be allowed to remain. You are the thinker of your thoughts and as such you are the maker of yourself and condition. Thought is causal and creative, and appears in your character and life in the form of results. There are no accidents in your life. Both its harmonies and antagonisms are the responsive echoes of your thoughts. A man thinks, and his life appears. Attitude = Altitude, Its Really Up To You! Quote of the week: You Have All The Resources You Need You already have all the resources you need to accomplish all the things you want to achieve. Sound too good to be true, doesn't it? Fact is, it is true. You do have all the resources you need. All of them. The questions are: Ditch Lack of Confidence and Unlock Full Potential Being the next Carmen Electra or Paris Hilton might or might not appeal to all you, but there are things that do appeal to you, and you don't do them. Enlarge Your Vision Millions struggle through life barely earning enough to survive. Many are trapped in a job they hate, but are making just enough that they think they can't afford to start at the bottom in something else. They go through the motions at work, spend a frustrating time stuck in traffic getting home, and are too exhausted to have a pleasant conversation with their family. Self-Confidence Secrets: Measure Your Successes Would you like to be confident in the things you do? Most people would. The problem is that many people aren't sure how. They think it is some mystical trait that some people seem to have and others don't. Actually, being confident in yourself and your ability to achieve your goals is a skill that can be learned. To Compete or Co-create? - That is the Question! As a financial economist my motivation has long been to understand a simple academic koan: "why is there scarcity in an abundant world?" A koan is a question in the history and lore of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, to which the answer is inaccessible to rational understanding, yet may with great effort be obtained through accessing our higher collective mind. The motivational force driving my financial studies and research rests in the little known fact that the planet earth and this universe have such great abundance that no living being need lack anything! Change Your Head Position For A Flood Of Positive Energy! Have you ever considered that you may be subconsciously sabotaging and inhibiting your own potential positive emotions through the position of your head and the manner in which you breathe? Taking Responsibility for Yourself This week I happened to catch a few minutes of a popular talk show on television, and the topic was confessions. A young man was confessing to his girlfriend of 5 years that he had cheated on her with her best friend. Not too unusual these days I guess. But what he said next floored me. "It was an accident. One thing led to another and before I knew it, we were having sex." Changing Stumbling Blocks To Stepping Stones? "The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is how you use them." - Unknown Oh for a Really Good Day! What's wrong with me? When I'm sick I get grumpy and irritable. When I'm criticised I become defensive. When people interrupt me I become impatient. I get angry at injustice. Waiting in lines, and bureaucratic runarounds make me feel I'm wasting my life. Power of Positive Beliefs I am an educator as well as a coach and am interested in what it is that brings out the best in the people with whom I work. Over the last few years I have read a great deal of research on the power of beliefs. I am convinced that it is essential that I hold, and communicate to my students or clients that I believe in their ability to learn, to heal, and to grow.
|
| © Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |
