I read this today and enjoyed the message...
Every living system that goes out of balance attempts to right itself. This is true of your blood pressure and your heart rate but also of the rain forest or a population of birds. Pressure on the system from one side–such as lack of food, absence of home ground, or the sudden intrusion of enemies–causes a reaction to shove the system back into balance. Violence is the most extreme response to imbalance.
When people are asked to make moral decisions, it is the emotional center of the brain that increases in activity, instead of the rational centers layered higher up in the cortex. Only after anger emotionally fires us up do we call in the cortex to fashion reasons, including religious reasons.
If you plot revenge against an evildoer, you are harming yourself: Not because the thought may come back to injure you, which is superstition, but because negative thinking reinforces the source of negativity. Darkness adds to darkness. The simple psychological fact is that the mind grows from habit and use, and as long as you habitually use those centers that send out blame, anger, retribution, intolerance, and violence, those centers will be nourished in their growth.
Nurture instead the light that you find inside. Transformation doesn’t come about by being touched with a magic wand. Habit and use apply here too. If you find even the smallest reasons for sending out intentions of love, tolerance, forgiveness, and peace, these centers will grow inside your mind. Spirit counts on this growth.
Adapted from The Deeper Wound: Recovering the Soul from Fear and Suffering, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2001).
Peace and love,
Christine :)
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
I love you and Buddha too :)
In procrastinating for my finals, I stumbled upon a delightful song called "I love You and Buddha Too" by Mason Jennings-check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbSOPuN7OhE
Not only is the music upbeat and catchy, the themes behind the lyrics are excellent. The words so simply and elegantly summarize my feeling about religious differences.
"Oh Jesus, I love you
And I love Buddha too
Ramakrishna, Guru Dev
Tao Te Ching and Mohammed"
I researched some of the religious figures I was unfamiliar with and had some surprising discoveries.
Although I have heard the word 'guru' countless times, I found the definition far different than what I previously conceived. From wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Dev):
"A guru (Sanskrit: गुरु) is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others (teacher)...
Guru is composed of the syllables 'gu' and 'ru', the former signifying 'darkness', and the latter signifying 'the destroyer of that [darkness]', hence a guru is one characterized as someone who dispels spiritual ignorance (darkness), with spiritual illumination (light) -as per Advaya-Tãraka Upanishad (verse 16)"
To save you the time of inquiring after the other mentioned religious elements. Tao Te Ching is an ancient Chinese text written in 6 BC by Laozi, a record keeper from the Zhou Dynasty. The book describes the fundamentals of Taoism; philosophical and religious traditions and concepts that have influenced East Asia for thousands of years. This book is a central part of the Chinese religion and Buddhism as well.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_te_ching)
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is considered a saint from India in the 19th century. He preached the universality of religion, promoting individuality in the seeker's approach to God, contrasting to the religions of the West like Christianity and Judaism that both had exclusionary elements. Ramakrishna appealed to Hindus by activating and demonstrating their values of education and helping the poor; characteristics often just associated with Christians. One of his famous sayings is:
"Every religion is a path to God."
(http://www.om-guru.com/html/saints/ramakrishna.html)
(http://www.cosmicharmony.com/Av/RamaKris/RamaKris.htm)
I am more familiar with Mohammed, Buddha, and Jesus, however, if you are not I encourage you to read up on those important characters as well.
Cheers to Mason Jennings, if only the ignorant could be persuaded with melodies.
Happy studying
-Mikaelyn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbSOPuN7OhE
Not only is the music upbeat and catchy, the themes behind the lyrics are excellent. The words so simply and elegantly summarize my feeling about religious differences.
"Oh Jesus, I love you
And I love Buddha too
Ramakrishna, Guru Dev
Tao Te Ching and Mohammed"
I researched some of the religious figures I was unfamiliar with and had some surprising discoveries.
Although I have heard the word 'guru' countless times, I found the definition far different than what I previously conceived. From wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Dev):
"A guru (Sanskrit: गुरु) is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others (teacher)...
Guru is composed of the syllables 'gu' and 'ru', the former signifying 'darkness', and the latter signifying 'the destroyer of that [darkness]', hence a guru is one characterized as someone who dispels spiritual ignorance (darkness), with spiritual illumination (light) -as per Advaya-Tãraka Upanishad (verse 16)"
To save you the time of inquiring after the other mentioned religious elements. Tao Te Ching is an ancient Chinese text written in 6 BC by Laozi, a record keeper from the Zhou Dynasty. The book describes the fundamentals of Taoism; philosophical and religious traditions and concepts that have influenced East Asia for thousands of years. This book is a central part of the Chinese religion and Buddhism as well.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_te_ching)
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is considered a saint from India in the 19th century. He preached the universality of religion, promoting individuality in the seeker's approach to God, contrasting to the religions of the West like Christianity and Judaism that both had exclusionary elements. Ramakrishna appealed to Hindus by activating and demonstrating their values of education and helping the poor; characteristics often just associated with Christians. One of his famous sayings is:
"Every religion is a path to God."
(http://www.om-guru.com/html/saints/ramakrishna.html)
(http://www.cosmicharmony.com/Av/RamaKris/RamaKris.htm)
I am more familiar with Mohammed, Buddha, and Jesus, however, if you are not I encourage you to read up on those important characters as well.
Cheers to Mason Jennings, if only the ignorant could be persuaded with melodies.
Happy studying
-Mikaelyn
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Taking chances
I just read this quote that I really feel explains a lot about life and all of our anxiety about not knowing where we're headed right now or what decisions to make for our future.
"Because of all the wonderful things life is, safe is not one of them...at the root of any fundamentalism is anxiety- sometimes terror- about the wild and woolly risk of living fully, knowing that difficult things can and will happen."
Maybe we're not meant to feel "safe" where we are...we're meant to take risks and keep pushing forward. Great success comes from great risk, right? When we quit pushing ourselves and we settle for something less than what we're capable of...it seems like that is when we lose our meaning, our dreams, and our true happiness in the process. Because life can be so many wonderful things, but to truly experience them and appreciate them, we have to sacrifice the feeling of being "safe" where we are, we can't stand still. We have to go out there and make our dreams happen.
"Leap and the net will appear."
P.S. The first quote comes from another blog that I've been glancing at here and there- her name is Oriah & she has a lot of good insight and cool ideas. (http://www.oriahsinvitation.blogspot.com/) The post containing this quote is called "The Inner Tyrant"
Chris
"Because of all the wonderful things life is, safe is not one of them...at the root of any fundamentalism is anxiety- sometimes terror- about the wild and woolly risk of living fully, knowing that difficult things can and will happen."
Maybe we're not meant to feel "safe" where we are...we're meant to take risks and keep pushing forward. Great success comes from great risk, right? When we quit pushing ourselves and we settle for something less than what we're capable of...it seems like that is when we lose our meaning, our dreams, and our true happiness in the process. Because life can be so many wonderful things, but to truly experience them and appreciate them, we have to sacrifice the feeling of being "safe" where we are, we can't stand still. We have to go out there and make our dreams happen.
"Leap and the net will appear."
P.S. The first quote comes from another blog that I've been glancing at here and there- her name is Oriah & she has a lot of good insight and cool ideas. (http://www.oriahsinvitation.blogspot.com/) The post containing this quote is called "The Inner Tyrant"
Chris
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
How do I say goodbye?
By: Erica
So I am graduating in less than 2 weeks. I know that I am obviously not the first to graduate but I just don't see where I can go from here. Unlike most people, my "home" with my parents is and has never been a real home to me. When I am in that house/city, I feel worthless and sink back to exactly where I was my whole life until MSU. I have struggled with self-esteem issues my entire life and being at MSU is the only thing that keeps me at a semi-healthy level. I am more terrified at this point in my life than I have ever been. To be honest, I barely made it out of my parent's house the first time. I honestly had given up on myself and thoughts of ever being truly happy and didn't want to continue living. Thoughts of going to college and escaping my hell were the only things that kept me going. Now what? I'm leaving the only place I have ever been happy. I can't even be around my family without feeling alienated instantly because what do you say to the people who you feel have never been there for you and having all this terrible family history that we aren't supposed to talk about and even if we were, the fact that I don't know how I can talk about it. I look at everyone in my family and see the same thing: absolutely no happiness, just trying to make it to the next day. I can't go back there. I don't have the strength to pull myself out of the hole. I honestly am not able to see the value that I bring to anyone's life and constantly doubt myself. Being at MSU has allowed me to feel better about myself but I now realize that maybe its just being here that makes me happy because the second I leave to go home/visit family I lose the little confidence I have in myself. Family is supposed to be your lifeline, your support. What do you do if you feel like you have nothing to say to your family and feel that you don't have anyone to talk to? I am seriously afraid of what might happen after I leave MSU......
So I am graduating in less than 2 weeks. I know that I am obviously not the first to graduate but I just don't see where I can go from here. Unlike most people, my "home" with my parents is and has never been a real home to me. When I am in that house/city, I feel worthless and sink back to exactly where I was my whole life until MSU. I have struggled with self-esteem issues my entire life and being at MSU is the only thing that keeps me at a semi-healthy level. I am more terrified at this point in my life than I have ever been. To be honest, I barely made it out of my parent's house the first time. I honestly had given up on myself and thoughts of ever being truly happy and didn't want to continue living. Thoughts of going to college and escaping my hell were the only things that kept me going. Now what? I'm leaving the only place I have ever been happy. I can't even be around my family without feeling alienated instantly because what do you say to the people who you feel have never been there for you and having all this terrible family history that we aren't supposed to talk about and even if we were, the fact that I don't know how I can talk about it. I look at everyone in my family and see the same thing: absolutely no happiness, just trying to make it to the next day. I can't go back there. I don't have the strength to pull myself out of the hole. I honestly am not able to see the value that I bring to anyone's life and constantly doubt myself. Being at MSU has allowed me to feel better about myself but I now realize that maybe its just being here that makes me happy because the second I leave to go home/visit family I lose the little confidence I have in myself. Family is supposed to be your lifeline, your support. What do you do if you feel like you have nothing to say to your family and feel that you don't have anyone to talk to? I am seriously afraid of what might happen after I leave MSU......
What makes you happy?
This is in response to Chris's previous post. I have spent a great deal of time this semester examining myself, who I am and where I want to go in life. One of the significant challenges I have found is incorporating everything for which I am passionate. I love being and working outdoors. I also greatly desire and feel morally obligated to help people. I could easily work as a divemaster in many locations around the world. However, I feel a life of this nature would be very self-centered as the motivation to be a divemaster is personal pleasure. Whereas if I work in a hospital or abroad with the World Health Organization, although I am sure these positions would also be rewarding and enjoyable, the primary motivation would be to help others.
In an interview yesterday, I was asked: what most makes you happy?
I was actually excited to provide my answer when I found myself lost for words. At the time the only thing that came to mind was helping people. Helping others brings me a lot of happiness whether providing a listening ear to a friend or caring for a patient in the hospital. I find caring for others to be extremely rewarding. This was a motivational factor for becoming a RA and pursuing a nursing career.
What else though? What on a day to day basis makes me happy?
Trying new things or visiting new places. Feeling challenged. Being outside. Engaging in meaningful conversations. Doing physical labor with my hands. Those things make me feel alive.
The scale of things doesn't matter either, as I have found satisfaction on a variety of levels. What I have come to discover is that a regular, daily stream of little things almost makes up for the lack of constant immersion. I may not be little in a foreign country and culture but I find immense joy in cooking a foreign recipe or conversing with someone different from I.
How do I combine those things that make me most happy into a job and a lifestyle? I don't want my job to be "work" I want it to be apart of who I am. I never want to dread getting up for work in the morning.
One of other greatest challenges I face daily, and I feel like Chris discussed this, is learning to be happy where you are. It is easy to get caught up in future plans, and envision life after you graduate or after med school or after you get a job. There are always going to be things in your life that you would rather change and there will always be something that you are striving to reach or achieve. The best way I have found to combat this thinking is self-awareness. When I find myself unhappily longing for something more or better or different, I try to thoroughly think through the issue and why I feel that way, then examine possible solutions and either do something or find other positive things to focus on. Certainly easier said then done. For example, I cannot wait to travel and live abroad and nurse people back to health in the African bush. However, that is currently unrealistic. I do not have the experience or resources but look at what I do have. I am about to graduate from a good university with a good degree. I am more fortunate then hundreds of millions around the world. I have a world of possibility. Yes, perhaps I cannot work for the United Nations now but I can start my career in a good hospital and perform very rewarding work.
You are in control of your future and your happiness. If you are not happy, discover what does and do that.
As cliche as this sounds, you can always sing in your head as I have come to do:
"Don't worry about a thing, cause every little gonna be alright"
In an interview yesterday, I was asked: what most makes you happy?
I was actually excited to provide my answer when I found myself lost for words. At the time the only thing that came to mind was helping people. Helping others brings me a lot of happiness whether providing a listening ear to a friend or caring for a patient in the hospital. I find caring for others to be extremely rewarding. This was a motivational factor for becoming a RA and pursuing a nursing career.
What else though? What on a day to day basis makes me happy?
Trying new things or visiting new places. Feeling challenged. Being outside. Engaging in meaningful conversations. Doing physical labor with my hands. Those things make me feel alive.
The scale of things doesn't matter either, as I have found satisfaction on a variety of levels. What I have come to discover is that a regular, daily stream of little things almost makes up for the lack of constant immersion. I may not be little in a foreign country and culture but I find immense joy in cooking a foreign recipe or conversing with someone different from I.
How do I combine those things that make me most happy into a job and a lifestyle? I don't want my job to be "work" I want it to be apart of who I am. I never want to dread getting up for work in the morning.
One of other greatest challenges I face daily, and I feel like Chris discussed this, is learning to be happy where you are. It is easy to get caught up in future plans, and envision life after you graduate or after med school or after you get a job. There are always going to be things in your life that you would rather change and there will always be something that you are striving to reach or achieve. The best way I have found to combat this thinking is self-awareness. When I find myself unhappily longing for something more or better or different, I try to thoroughly think through the issue and why I feel that way, then examine possible solutions and either do something or find other positive things to focus on. Certainly easier said then done. For example, I cannot wait to travel and live abroad and nurse people back to health in the African bush. However, that is currently unrealistic. I do not have the experience or resources but look at what I do have. I am about to graduate from a good university with a good degree. I am more fortunate then hundreds of millions around the world. I have a world of possibility. Yes, perhaps I cannot work for the United Nations now but I can start my career in a good hospital and perform very rewarding work.
You are in control of your future and your happiness. If you are not happy, discover what does and do that.
As cliche as this sounds, you can always sing in your head as I have come to do:
"Don't worry about a thing, cause every little gonna be alright"
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