Enlightened Living

It appears that some of my blolleagues have been motivated to ask our readers for thoughts and ideas on subjects they'd like to see addressed here...

Mind is the place where our "me-ness" lives. We are, quite literally, our own creation, and the source of that creation is our attachments and habits of mind. It is moving past these attachments and ways of thinking that bring us true freedom and lead to a connection with our divine and authentic nature.

We strengthen the body to still the mind -- and we still the mind so as to free the spirit. The power of this intention is often lost in the pseudo-spiritual gesturing that has regrettably become the hallmark of ‘New Age' teaching.

Impermanence is something that we rarely think about; confronting impermanence is, in fact, something that we typically avoid. It is often only in the wake of some tragedy that we are forced to confront it at all.  Change is not only necessary, it is inevitable. With this in hand, we can then develop a sense of equanimity and balance -- first in our daily lives, then within the scope of our larger experience.

National Public Radio aired a segment on its May 6th 2008 broadcast of All Things Considered reporting that a major talking point at the American Psychiatric Association's 2008 National conference, going on now in Washington DC, is the over-diagnosis of Bi-Polar Disorder (BPD).

One of the great secrets of life is that ‘it's not all about you.' When we interact with others, we tend to see ourselves as the cause of their reactions and emotions. The folly of this perspective is that, in truth, we are responsible only for ourselves, and our own feelings. We are not responsible for the feelings of others (although we are responsible to them), and we cannot, nor do we, cause those feelings to emerge.

Researchers in cognitive science at Stanford University have demonstrated that multi-tasking is a myth.  While the brain processes milions of bits of information a second, the mind can only process one thing at a time.  If you can only do one thing at a time, why not give that thing your complete and undivided attention.  Chop wood, carry water....

The issue at hand is not teaching kids, or even adults, about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. It is more about the underlying issue of teaching good decision making, and building strong character in the process.

From a Buddhist perspective, addiction might be considered the archetype of attachment. Addiction is, in fact, a collection of attachments. It is attachment to fear, attachment to loss, and attachment to longing, emptiness, and a lack of a sense of purpose.

On the face of it, running at a charging hell-hound doesn't seem like the best choice. But, if you think about it, it is the only choice. Would you rather be mauled from behind, or be mauled while quite literally putting your best foot forward?