How becoming a Buddhist helped me to love Jesus.
by Writing Our Way Home on Dec 19, 2011
If we can open ourselves to new experience, it will change the whole world for us.
181 views
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Super-Size My Ego with a Side of Spiritual Materialism. ~ Greg Eckard
by elephantjournal.com on Dec 14, 2011
the ego can cleverly twist a well-intentioned desire for a spiritual life to its own ends.
596 views
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The Daily Spiritual Experience.
by Matt Wallace on Dec 11, 2011
In today’s spiritual experience, tales of levitating yogis, mind-altering meditations, and transcendent multi-hour asana practices dominate the scene, leaving many less “accomplished” spiritual seekers in search of the ultimate experience.
882 views
Comments 9
Buddhism in the Barnyard. ~ Hollie Hirst
by elephantjournal.com on Dec 10, 2011
They say we are like the animals we choose…. or more precisely, that we choose animals that are most like us, and that those creatures become more and more like us as time goes on…
89 views
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Buddhist Yoga: Joining with Naturalness, Part VII. ~ Ari Goldfield & Rose Taylor Goldfield
by elephantjournal.com on Dec 7, 2011
In this final piece in a seven-part series on Buddhist Yoga, we will focus on practicing Buddhist Yoga in daily life.
371 views
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Follow Your Heart. ~ Chloe Park
by Chloe Park on Dec 6, 2011
When I say I want to be like Gandhi, I’m serious. It’s not really a joke at all.
357 views
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Notes On Passion, Suffering & Buddhism.
by Brianna Bemel on Dec 6, 2011
A few of us are born with a specific passion and this becomes our life’s calling, but generally speaking, I believe passion is a state of mind. It doesn’t find us, we find it.
It’s like any relationship. Cultivating passion can take work and dedication. It starts off as an interest and as we build upon that interest, slowly over time, it sometimes blossoms into passion. But most of our lives are so fast paced, we hope passion will travel at the same speed to our doorstep. We forget that passion takes time to develop. It takes time to learn how to tap into.
332 views
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Buddhism In One Step: Let Go.
by Chris Lemig on Dec 5, 2011
I’m having kind of a rough morning. Now by rough I don’t mean that I’m being tortured or imprisoned or forced to do things against my will. I’m just having a hard time with me getting out of the way of me. Here’s the context: I’m cleaning out my apartment, getting ready to go on [...]
204 views
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Can Fear Be Good for Your Yoga Practice? Part 1.
by Valerie Carruthers on Nov 30, 2011
Your hand now on the same latitude as your heart, surrendering to that grace-filled moment you can awaken into fearlessness or at least consider the idea of it. Given such portals into ecstatic release and blissful emptying what purpose could fear possibly serve in Yoga practice, other than being something we’d like to stamp paid?
210 views
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A Lesson from Horses & the Process of Cultivating Compassion. ~ Jacey Tramutt
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 30, 2011
Our minds want to judge our experience and ourselves. Becoming curious about what happens if I just allow my truth is the first step. We often find resistance at first — and that’s ok. Just start there and feel the resistance. Life will give us plenty of opportunities to practice every day.
426 views
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Buddhist Yoga: Joining with Naturalness, Part VI. ~ Ari Goldfield & Rose Taylor Goldfield
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 30, 2011
In this sixth of seven pieces on Buddhist Yoga, we will focus on how to skillfully work with sickness on the path of practice. The view of Buddhist Yoga is that sickness is our friend. It can benefit our practice even more than being healthy does.
134 views
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Mindfulness & Jon Kabat-Zinn.
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 29, 2011
There are many different ways to practice mindfulness, but generally, the fundamental idea (regardless of which way you practice) is to focus your attention in one direction. This can be done through focused breathing techniques, repeating a mantra, or observing a certain emotion or body sensation. Instead of letting the mind wander in a million different directions, the objective is to calm the mind enough to be able to fully experience the present moment.
592 views
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Meditation Tips For Beginners & Those Beginning Again.
by Jennifer Fields on Nov 26, 2011
The loving kindness meditation was just what I needed to jump-start not only my personal meditation time, but it was also a safe, non-threatening way to introduce meditation to many of my yoga students.
3,384 views
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100,000 Aspirations Project, Collecting Positive Intentions. ~ Anna Baldwin
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 23, 2011
100,000 Aspirations is collecting aspirations from people in all communities to be be put in a monument to peace being built in Vermont.
169 views
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Buddhist Yoga: Joining with Naturalness, Part V. ~ Ari Goldfield & Rose Taylor Goldfield
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 23, 2011
In this fifth of seven pieces on Buddhist Yoga, we will focus on Buddhist Yogic Exercise. One of the methods to realize the fruition of Buddhist Yoga is yogic exercise. While there are many forms of yogic exercise, this presentation is based on teachings given by Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. In Khenpo Rinpoche’s system, the actual exercises are best learnt under the direct guidance of an instructor, but the key points on how to work with the body and mind can be applied to all kinds of movement.
162 views
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Our Paths Cross, Granting Passage to Places Otherwise Unreachable. ~ Arno Michaels
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 23, 2011
“I know about hate and violence.” Paul said this after overhearing a conversation about my book. My Life After Hate is a reflective memoir-ish kind of thing about how I came to spend seven years as a white power skinhead and how I thankfully came to my senses.
102 views
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Ten days continuous chanting: What’s the point?
by Writing Our Way Home on Nov 23, 2011
I completely failed to explain the reasons behind this ten day continuous chanting to my mum. And so I may fail here as well. But it feels important to try.
56 views
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Educating for Noble Qualities In Challenging Times. ~ Noel McLellan
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 21, 2011
Our interactions are generally about academic content, and I do my best to help the students learn, but passing on the transmission of trust is the real point.
1,153 views
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Why the Dharma Should Be Sold: Or How to Make a Living Off of Spirituality Without Being Called a Sellout. ~ Keith Martin-Smith
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 21, 2011
The dharma is not sold, it is said, and certainly not sold at handsome profits. My question is: why not?
415 views
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Buddhist Yoga: Joining with Naturalness, Part IV. ~ Ari Goldfield & Rose Taylor Goldfield
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 17, 2011
In this fourth of seven pieces on Buddhist Yoga, we will focus on the third quality cultivated in Buddhist Yoga—the previous two being renunciation and compassionate bochichitta. The third quality of mind that Buddhist yogis and yoginis need is the view of the profound true nature of reality—non-dual awareness.
409 views
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Ordinary Perfection: A Buddhist Approach to Self-acceptance. ~Sister Shamu
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 16, 2011
I have this crazy idea of what perfection is supposed to be like, of what an enlightened person, a spiritual person, an intelligent person is supposed to be like. I don’t measure up. The Buddhists have a teaching about “ordinary perfection.” It is about finding perfection in non-perfection. It is about recognizing that enlightenment, or mature spirituality, looks exactly like your life right now, exactly as it is.
117 views
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Video: Tenzin Palmo Will Blow Your Mind
by Chris Lemig on Nov 15, 2011
Tibetan Buddhist Nun, Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, on the Nature of Mind:
743 views
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Making space for heartwork when it feels impossible
by Writing Our Way Home on Nov 15, 2011
2011 is disappearing like sand through my fingers. So what about the important things? Those things that get pushed out of the way. Writing. Spiritual practice.
121 views
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Do Not Drink the Kombucha: the Watering Down of Wisdom.
by Erica Mather on Nov 13, 2011
It seems these days that everyone who can quote or repackage the wisdom of these true masters fancies themselves one by default.
4,302 views
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Dharma talk: How to dodge your ego
by Writing Our Way Home on Nov 10, 2011
After the service, Kaspa told me I’d got everything right, apart from the terrible faux pas of walking down the centre of the material in front of the shrine. This is reserved for EMPERORS ONLY. Talk about giving myself a promotion…
77 views
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Buddhist Yoga: Joining with Naturalness, Part III. ~ Ari Goldfield & Rose Taylor Goldfield
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 9, 2011
In this third of seven pieces on Buddhist Yoga, we will focus on the second of the qualities that are foundational aspects of Buddhist Yoga—the first being renunciation and the third being the profound view. The second quality cultivated by practitioners of Buddhist Yoga is bodhichitta,[1] the motivation to attain buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.
420 views
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Waking Up From the American Dream: Buddhist Reflections on the Occupy Wall Street Movement. ~ Madrone Phoenix
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 9, 2011
If I can’t dance to it, it’s not my revolution.” ~ Emma Goldman
294 views
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Your Life Is Not a Highway.
by Kate Bartolotta on Nov 9, 2011
Your life is not a highway with every turn clearly marked, speed limits posted and billboards telling you what’s ahead.
Your life is a long and winding road with unexpected delights that make the bumps tolerable.
321 views
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The Many Gifts of Cancer (What Your Doctor Won’t Tell You).
by Jessica Stone Baker on Nov 9, 2011
“You know, we all get gifts from going through cancer. Cancer is different from other illnesses.” Excuses, go away. Welcome, Enlightenment.
2,186 views
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elephant’s Best of the Week.
by elephantjournal.com on Nov 3, 2011
Want more? Subscribe to our free, weekly Best of the Week newsletter. Booming—and, broke. I interviewed John Friend, the famous yoga teacher, last night. For three hours. It was his first response to some recent…developments in his Anusara yoga community that pertain directly, and in a fascinating manner, to our mission: being a sane, fun, [...]
396 views
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Buddhist Yoga: Joining with Naturalness, Part II. ~ Ari Goldfield & Rose Taylor Goldfield
by elephantjournal.com on Oct 31, 2011
“Renunciation” can be a frightening word. In order to practice Buddhist Yoga, are we being told that we must renounce the people we love, the activities we enjoy, our work – our life as we have lived it?
503 views
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Buddhist Weddings.
by Linda Lewis on Oct 26, 2011
And then, as still continues, the couple would make six offerings symbolic of the paramitas or transcendent virtues: generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, meditation and prajna or insight—which included a hearty sense of humor. These were the guidelines for marriage.
1,043 views
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Is this image offensive to you? Think different = Do different.
by Mathew Gerson on Oct 19, 2011
How do I change my own narrative about those millions of “others” that I will never meet?
344 views
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How To Get Through The Darkest Times.
by Chris Lemig on Oct 19, 2011
We can’t have any delusions about this. We will have to work at it. And I mean really hard.
498 views
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Anger on Main Street: Revelations of the Occupy Moment. ~ Neil W. McKinlay
by elephantjournal.com on Oct 17, 2011
Much of the media seems confused by this. “There are no leaders,” more than one report has complained. “There are no demands, no agenda.” However, there is something that links the diverse numbers who have assembled a piecemeal movement, first on Wall Street and now in cities across North America. They are all, every one of them, angry.
117 views
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A Buddhist teacher at Occupy Wall Street: “Cool Revolution.”
by Waylon Lewis on Oct 13, 2011
“They are not worthy of your hate. They are luckier now, unluckier in long-run.”
2,347 views
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Becoming the Mountain: The Mountain Origins of Yoga, Part II.
by John Allen Gibel on Oct 11, 2011
As the milieu of contemporary yoga has becoming increasingly dominated by professionalized, manage-your-personal-brand pseudoentrepreneurial economicism, it is perhaps time that we revisit the religious concept of Dana, or making offerings.
454 views
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Engaging with life’s juiciness: a mindful writing practice
by Writing Our Way Home on Oct 9, 2011
Paying attention is very difficult.
Our minds are often scattered. We go through lists of things-to-be-done. We have a million and one worries.
236 views
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We are the 100%: A Mindful Response to #OccupyWallStreet
by Ari Setsudo Pliskin on Oct 6, 2011
I find inspiration in my Zen Peacemakers training and also from yoga activist Michael Franti, who visited Occupy Wall Street this week. When I encountered Franti through his documentary I Know I’m Not Alone and his appearance at the Wanderlust Festival in VT, I sensed that he was a fellow peacemaker. Below, I quote the words of ZP founder Zen Master Bernie Glassman, from the peacemaker manual Bearing Witness, co-written by Zen Master Eve Marko and also words from the video (also below) of Franti’s Wall Street visit.
1,967 views
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Horizon Milk & Silk Soy: 20 Reasons to Ride the White Wave into Dean Foods Green. ~ Tara DeAngelis
by elephantjournal.com on Oct 6, 2011
As a reader of elephant journal, it is likely you have purchased Horizon Organic Milk, or Silk soy milk recently. Who knew they were owned by the same company, White Wave, who is now owned by Dean Foods? I sure didn’t.Even though food companies like Dean Foods are acquiring companies demonstrating Right-Livelihood, like White Wave, it is still disturbing that the industry is moving closer and closer to being monopolized.The loss of integrity in the organic food industry, along with Monsanto’s rising is a eminent crisis that will affect our generation very soon.
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The most important thing in Buddhism—more important than Enlightenment.
by Waylon Lewis on Oct 2, 2011
“We do not slight the idea of enlightenment, but the most important thing is this moment not some day in the future. We have to make our effort in this moment This is the most important thing for our practice.” ~ Shunryu Suzuki ~ More Suzuki Roshi here. Video of Suzuki Roshi, here.
1,710 views
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How to find happiness, wealth & fame in 3 easy steps (not)
by Writing Our Way Home on Sep 29, 2011
I want you to be happy. I want to give you three easy steps that will change your life forever.
I also know that these steps do not exist.
Or, they do, but….
990 views
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A Yogic View of Depression: Alternative Thoughts about an Epidemic. ~ Ram Giri
by elephantjournal.com on Sep 26, 2011
Most of them live in the richest countries in the world where, one would think, people have less reason to be depressed. In the US alone over 27 million people are on antidepressant drugs, more than 10% of the population. What’s going on?
1,375 views
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All That We Need We Already Have.
by Valerie Vendrame on Sep 19, 2011
Playfully loving each moment without the preoccupation of anything other than the present. We are love, peace and joy. These aren’t emotions. They are aspects that define our being. There is nothing more we need. We already have everything. But our mind often makes too much noise for us to notice.
342 views
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Samadhi Pants – The Flower Sermon
by Joseph Boquiren on Sep 19, 2011
This week’s strip is based upon passages in the Shobogenzo by Dogen.
374 views
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270-Degrees: Getting Stuck in Transformational Process.
by Erica Mather on Aug 29, 2011
We all will find ourselves at different degrees on Master Sahn’s circle. We may be in different stages of development simultaneously: 0 degrees in relationships, 180 in work, for example. We may add a third dimension to this model, and spiral upward, grappling with the same issues again and again, but with added wisdom and insight as we repeatedly traverse the circle.
2,202 views
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The Rogue Yogis & Buddhists: The 6th Dalai Lama—Poet, Drinker & Womanizer. ~ Sarah E. Truman
by elephantjournal.com on Aug 17, 2011
They preferred their all-too-human 6th Dalai Lama and I don’t blame them. I find it a lot easier to identify with humans than well-edited semi-gods…
1,430 views
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Death, yoga & getting naked.
by Temple Symonds on Aug 17, 2011
My story is sad in parts. It is uncomfortable in others, it is unbelievable once in a while, and it is the fiber of who I am.
978 views
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Are you on your mission from god?
by Aminda R. Courtwright on Aug 16, 2011
What do you have in your life that drives you? How does it feel to do what you do everyday, is it your passion? joy? does it serve the world?
666 views
Comments 4
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s Initial Tonglen & Funeral Instructions.
by Linda Lewis on Aug 4, 2011
Rinpoche encouraged us to release any attachment we might have for the young man and to let him go, rather than to pull him back down with our clinging.
631 views
Comments 2
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