Enlightened Meditation

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Updated: April 15, 2014

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ZENTD1-3Who we are defines what we are.

If we are who we think we are, we will be what we are like what we think we are.

If we are defined by what we are now, we will be limited by the circumstances and conditions that we are facing now.  Thus what we can be will be the limited version of what we are now.

Is that so?

Don’t be confused about Life, especially, about your life.  

When you are 100% awakened to your life, you will have a chance to know what Life is.  Life recommends us Not to judge it But to live it.

Go forward and upward as far as you can and one step further from there.

Lessons from Olaf

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Updated: June 10, 2014

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I watched the movie “Frozen” with my wife the other day.  One of the characters, Olaf the snowman, seemed to have a good message for me.

He wasn’t the main character but I feel that he was the most important one in the story.  From the moment he was created, to the times of danger, and until the very end he was simple and joyful regardless of what was happening.  Other characters were trying with great effort to go somewhere, or achieve something, or find their “true love” but Olaf was effortless while being very active within the drama.

He wasn’t closed out from the story, in fact he participated a great deal in it but it didn’t seem affect his happiness much either way.  He tried very hard to help the others and achieve things but his joy wasn’t dependent on them.

When the hero was hurrying down the mountain on a reindeer with great effort and a very determined face Olaf simply slid down with a smile and got there first.    When someone stuck a carrot too deep into his face in order to give him a nose he was delighted to have such a cute little nose.  When they pulled it out so it could show more he was even more delighted to have such a big nose.  He wore a perpetual smile throughout the movie.

Imagine what life could be like if we were more like Olaf.

Song for the Soul

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Updated: June 10, 2014

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If my efforts for my growth had a theme song it would be “Because We Believe” by Andrea Bocelli.  I listen to this song when I’m in doubt, when I’m doing well, and for no reason at all.  To me this is my personal love song between me and my soul.  When ever I listen to this song I feel my soul getting brighter and energized.

Usually I am trying to identify with my soul on a daily basis, but what can I say I’m not there yet.  On the days when that is more obvious than usual I play this song for my soul and feel like we are buddies helping each other out.  A few months ago I was listening to our song and felt so bright I could barely contain the joy from my chest.  I said to my soul, “We are going to make it!”.  Then as if a ball of light came from my chest shooting to my head with the message, “Definitely, we will!”.  I never had communication with my soul like that before and I was walking on clouds the rest of the day.

This song not only inspires me on a personal level but also gives me the sense that we are all in this together.  The whole of humanity.  It is my feeling when the chorus of the song comes that we are all here to shine together as brightly as we can, and is actually all of our soul’s mission to do so with great love and joy.  This song makes me feel like a little sun walking around and I hope it makes your sun shine too.

 

‘Caryopteris’ as our newest contributor

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Updated: June 10, 2014

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Caryopteris sent BrainHaveFun the email to post.  We welcome him and will enjoy his post.

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Spring for me is the return of daily walks and chance encounters with other walkers, runners, drivers, and spectators.  I used to ignore them all — or try to — till Master Choi encouraged me this year to reach out and engage people I normally would not.

I don’t understand how, but I am being stopped more for directions.  Inexplicably, some drivers are pausing and waving before turning into shopping malls so that I can walk ahead of them.  Today at a gas station I had a lovely talk with the owner of a 1962 Cadillac that had more of its original parts than either of us.

As far as I can tell, there is nothing different about me except for a new willingness to engage people I do not know.  Apparently, willingness is enough!

I wish that were all I have to report.  Unfortunately, pumped full of adrenalin after a Suburban Ussault Vehicle has taken aim at me (it happens once a week in my neighborhood where sidewalks are rare as Mondrian sculptures), I deeply wish Harmony Meditation taught a “Leap Off Road into Rosebush” form in its Tai Chi classes.  I do not yet easily recover my composure (or staunch the bleeding!) when distracted drivers interrupt my moving meditations!

Drop the hurt and dive for Freedom

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Updated: June 10, 2014

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HM_conflict1Many conflicts arise in our lives, and many pass unnoticed because we are so used to them. The built-in operating system of suppression/ release, openness/ closeness, judging good from bad is running in the background without a hitch. There is a time, however, when the conflict becomes so big we are not able to ignore it. Depending on the conflict resolution habits and personality type, some choose to release the stressful energy through blaming and attacking the “enemy”, some choose to ingest it internally, some choose to ignore it. These could all be reasonable responses, however sometimes we need to go deeper and learn from it – what made me react this way? Why couldn’t I contain the stress and resolve it peacefully? How can I avoid repeating this pattern in the future? What made the other person to react to my words/ actions in this fashion?

When we are young, our minds are open and our hearts are big, and we can forgive and let go much easier. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, we don’t have a strong preference of who we are. As we grow older and gain status and comfort, our mental attitudes might change without much recognition from ourselves. It becomes harder to forgive and stay open. We might abandon the process of examining the status quo of our beliefs and our default emotional state.

After gaining a stable social status and a comfortable life, I noticed that my mind shrank significantly. I became judgmental and closed to new people and experiences. I could only be friends with people who had similar background and views. I considered myself a sophisticated modern woman while I was just getting further and further away from myself.

I was not happy at all with that change and searched for answers. Through the practice of Harmony Meditation  I learned how I can stay open in my mind and warm in my heart despite the challenges. It does take courage and willingness to look deeper and see myself without embellishments. A discipline of applying critique to my own self can be excruciating. It is easy to blame the other party and close the subject. With practice, the process of exploring becomes much less traumatic. At times I am able to chuckle at myself – what the heck am I doing? At times I even look forward to receiving a not-so-pleasant feedback from my teacher because I know and trust the process. I know that when I weather the internal storm of a hurt ego with a right attitude, a new beginning will come. And that feels like a miracle – what a great potential each of us hold.

“In our lives we can free ourselves if we realize that we have not one way to choose, not two ways to choose, but we can choose all possible ways.” – Johwa Choi.

In a conflict situation, I try to apply the teaching before plunging the sword of judgment and declaring myself right and the other party wrong. I know the answer is almost never black and white, and there is something to learn for me. By admitting that my worldview can be limited and flawed, I open myself to new possibilities and freedom.