Isn't it time to change the dishonest dating culture? Have we had enough of men and women pretending to be something they're not when dating a new potential partner? Why do honesty and dating concepts rarely intersect? Does anybody really enjoy finding out that eight months later, the person they are dating has nothing to do with the person they first met? Why are we so afraid to show others who we really are? Is it because many of us do not know the answer to the question, Who Am I? What would be your experience with dating if you could just be yourself? What if dating first impressions were an accurate representation of ourselves?...
Plum Village, November 12, 2014
To all Plum Village Practice Centers,
To all Practice Centers and Sanghas World Wide,
To our Dear Beloved Friends,
With a deep mindful breath we announce to the world the news that yesterday, the 11th of November 2014 Thay, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, experienced a severe brain hemorrhage. Thay is receiving 24 hour intensive care from specialist doctors, nurses and from his monastic disciples.
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Reiki has been in my life for so long that it is hard for me to imagine Reiki being something foreign, mystical, or unusual. I first received training in 1995 and have practiced Reiki in some form every day since. Based on that information, you can see how hard it is for me to question; is Reiki science or hype? For me, that would be like questioning if the water is wet or if the night is dark....
Doubt. Just writing the word stirs something inside me. I'm aware of feeling uncomfortable just seeing it, and since I'm using voice recognition software, saying it out loud. Doubt. Where does doubt come from? Are we taught doubt? Is doubt ingrained in our DNA? I wonder how much our life experiences influence the degree of doubt that expresses itself in our minds and bodies.
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Identifying the difference between freedom and lack of self-discipline is an essential teaching on our journey as spiritual beings. Thich Nhat Hanh offers us perspective to help those struggling with this important concern for anyone with or wanting to have a spiritual practice, whether it is meditation, Hatha Yoga, Tai Qi, Qi Gong or any other regular spiritual practice....
Music has been a part of my life since early childhood, like many of us. I remember when my dad used to bring me home 45s of The Beatles, and I was ecstatic. The next stage in my musical connection developed in adolescence through my teen years. Like many teenagers, music was the heart and soul of my life and one of the few places I felt safe and understood. In my late teens, I became a disc jockey, and I have done so at various times throughout my adulthood. When the mess that was my teens and 20s began to shift, music again was at the core of my development and a safe place for me to go when I felt overwhelmed or fearful. Today, I cannot imagine life without music! My relationship with music typically mirrors my relationship with myself. When I first stumbled upon the website of Music and Memory, I was thrilled and almost began to cry watching the video of The Story of Henry. The Music and Memory iPod Project is amazing! I invite you to read some of the content below from their website and view a few of their videos, including the trailer to Alive Inside The Music and Memory Story....
I remember about a dozen years ago, I was going through a particularly challenging time that felt like a hopeless period In my personal and spiritual development. Among other things, my mentor suggested that I read and meditate on Dark Night Of The Soul by
St. John of The Cross. She suggested I pay close attention to the teachings on spiritual greed and gluttony. I immediately became furious at her but pretended as if I was okay. Of course, she knew better. Like any "good student" who wants to prove to his mentor just how good a student he is, I left her and directly went to buy a copy of the book.
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