TAO of Medicine

Posts Tagged ‘meditation’

Zen From the Little Kid’s Book

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

zen-shorts-by-jon-j-muth

The other night, my 5 year-old son brought his new book “Zen shorts” written by Jon J Muth to me for reading, And the word “zen” just caught my attention, hmmm, Zen for kids?

With the beautiful watercolor images, while I was reading it for my two kids, I have found this also really good to the grown ups, yes I am also touched and felt of “Zen.”

One of the stories told here is actually my favorite among many zen stories simple but quietly striking teaching for your mind deep. I like to enjoy this with you and maybe your little ones.

“The heavy load”, story goes….

Two traveling monks reached a town where there was a young woman waiting to step out of her sedan chair. The rains had made deep puddles and she couldn’t step across without spoiling her silken robes. She stood there, looking very cross and impatient. She was scolding her attendants. They had nowhere to place the packages they held for her, so they couldn’t help her across the puddle.

The younger monk noticed the woman, said nothing, and walked by. The older monk quickly picked her up and put her on his back, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other side. She didn’t thank the older monk, she just shoved him out of the way and departed.

As they continued on their way, the young monk was brooding and preoccupied. After several hours, unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. “That woman back there was very selfish and rude, but you picked her up on your back and carried her! Then she didn’t even thank you!”

“I set the woman down hours ago,” the older monk replied.
“Why are you still carrying her?”

Now the question goes to you all,
“Do you think you have carried it long enough?”

We carry many things, many worries and angers etc…don’t you feel that heavy load still on the body, which creates the enormous amount of the burden physically and emotionally as well? Now take a deep breath and hold a bit and exhale through your mouth with ‘haaa’ sound – with that out-breath, unload all the weights.

The very unique and special power of Zen story is that it gives you continually thinking mind a temporary stop and in turn the space…the emptiness and then every one has a different question and answers rising – there is no one right question nor answer.

Be alert and mindfulness, move and live your breath always…

Love Yourself and Love All

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

 

“I am larger and better than I thought. I did not know I held so much goodness.”

Walt Whitman

Where are you right now? What do you do right now?
Are you happy? or angry?

Before going back home, today, I’d like to share this meditation with the mantras:

May I be filled with lovingkindness.
May I be safe from inner and outer dangers.
May I be well in body and mind.
May I be at ease and happy

This is picked up from one of the jack kornfield’s meditations.
Everyone seems like looking for Love, affection and be loved, and yet doesn’t know much about loving himself or herself. So here this meditation starts all from you and loving and growing yourself to love your beloved friends, families, enemies and animals and all.

Fill yourself with “LOVE.”

When you are with LOVE and in LOVE, You never feel fear or anger.

Below is the direction of Jack Kornfield and I hope you all enjoy this and expand your love.
As you repeat these phrases, picture yourself as you are now, and hold that image in a heart of lovingkindness. Or perhaps you will find it easier to picture yourself as a young and beloved child. Adjust the words and images in any way you wish. Create the exact phrases that best open your heart of kindness. Repeat these phrases over and over again, letting the feelings permeate your body and mind. Practice this meditation for a number of weeks, until the sense of lovingkindness for yourself grows.

If you like his approach of meditation or want to know more about his meditation, pay a visit to his website. http://www.jackkornfield.org/meditations/

Jack Kornfield Sitting Meditation

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

One of the leading Buddhist Teachers in America, Jack Kornfield introduces “Sitting Meditation.”
This is for everyone who wants to live less emotional tide and more peace and joy.
I wish You enjoy and find more balance whatever arise from this chaotic and at times stressful modern world.

Sitting Meditation-Let Your Mind Settle Like A Clear Forest Pool by Jack Kornfied

Sky, Lake and Two Trees

To begin meditation, select a quiet time and place. Be seated on a cushion or chair, taking an erect yet relaxed posture. Let yourself sit upright with the quiet dignity of a king or queen. Close your eyes gently and being by bringing a full, present attention to whatever you feel within you and around you. Let your mind be spacious and your heart be kind and soft.

As you sit, feel the sensations of your body. Then notice what sounds and feelings, thoughts and expectations are present. Allow them all to come and go, to rise and fall like the waves of the ocean. Be aware of the waves and rest seated in the midst of them. Allow yourself to become more and more still.

In the center of all these waves, feel your breathing, your life-breath. Let your attention feel the in-and-out breathing wherever you notice it, as coolness or tingling in the nose or throat, as a rising and falling of your chest or abdomen. Relax and softly rest your attention on each breath, feeling the movement in a steady, easy way. Let the breath breathe itself in any rhythm, long or short, soft or deep. As you feel each breath, concentrate and settle into its movement. Let all other sounds and sensations, thoughts and feelings continue to come and go like waves in the back ground.

After a few breaths, your attention may be carried away by one of the waves of thoughts or memories, by body sensations or sounds. Whenever you notice you have been carried away for a time, acknowledge the wave that has done so by softly giving it a name such as “planning,” “remembering,” “itching,” “restless.” Then let it pass and gently return to the breath. Some waves will take a long time to pass, others will be short. Certain thoughts or feelings will be painful, others will be pleasurable. Whatever they are, let them be.

At some sittings you will be able to return to your breath easily. At other times in your meditation you will be mostly aware of body sensation or of plans or thoughts. Either way is fine. No matter what you experience, be aware of it, let it come and go, and rest at ease in the midst of it all. After you have sat for twenty or thirty minutes in this way, open your eyes and look around you before you get up. Then as you move try to allow the same spirit of awareness to go with you into the activities of your day.

The art of meditation is simple but not always easy. It thrives on practice and a kind and spacious heart. If you do this simple practice of sitting with awareness every day, you will gradually grow in centeredness and understanding.

If you like his approach of teaching meditation and want to know more about his teaching, pay a visit to his website.



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