Inner Smile on a Cold Day

Yesterday was one of those days, you wake-up completely on the wrong side of the bed. Tripping, spilling, cursing the morning away. I thought for sure it was going to be a horrible day. To boot, I’m late and there is ice all over my car. So, after de-icing the car and cranking up the heat I feel the heat of being late. Not that I was going to get in trouble, I just really hate to be late anywhere. So, there I am in my car, driving through my neighborhood, thinking of nothing but being late and how bad of a morning it was.

Freeze……Can you see how the day is shaping? It’s going to be bad and I’m determined to make it so. Ok Go!

As I get to a corner in my neighborhood I notice my neighbor and her grandchild waiting for the bus. This woman always waves to me and I wave back but it will take a huge undertaking to remove my negative thoughts. And then it happend. Although I might have been 20 degrees and ice everywhere, her Grandchild looked up with that pom on top of her knitted cap and her stripped mittens to “smile and wave” at me. I was stuck in my tracks, unable to move.

The moment of seeing a child smile and wave changed everything. I felt that “Inner Smile” blurb up and fill my body. The last thing to hit was the smile on my face. A simple act of joy and a smile melted me, turned everything around.

I couldn’t stop smiling the whole way to work…..then it cascaded to a spring in my step and my humor…….I felt like bouncing to every meeting.

The “Inner smile”, from Lao Tzu to Buddha, a concept of love from the inside.

What I felt was a massive amount of Qi cultivation at that moment, continuing throughout the day, thinking of my Qigong instructor saying “let a smile float up to your face” only brought more Qi. My practice of “Loving-Kindness” as of late came to mind as well and I was again washed in Qi and calm.

Some call it the Buddha Nature or Loving-Kindness and some call it the “Inner Smile”, I called it unexpected.

This just goes to show how much of a quality day we create by just thinking it as well as the power of a wave and a smile from another being.

For meditation and more articles:

Meditation from Yoga Journal

Metta: The Practice of Loving Kindness by Kris Vockler

Popularity: 22% [?]

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Update “Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project”

Photo Credit

As many of you know we were part of a wonderful project called “Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project“. Created by those wonderfully enlightened folks at [The Middle Way], [Zen-Inspired Self Development], and [UrbanMonk.net]. The project was fantastic and led me to a whole new group of enlightened ones to read and be a part of on this crazy path we each share yet walk alone. To read Beyond Zen’s part of the project, check out this post: A Story of Compassion and Dying.

I want all of our readers to also enjoy some of the great writing from this project; stories of compassion, concepts of compassion from many spiritual themes, and discussions on definition of the word “Compassion”. The list is below, enjoy!

~La Boheme

Entries

Ben Lumley at The New Horizons Project.

Kris Vockler at Beyond Zen.

Corinne Edwards at Personal Growth with Corinne Edwards.

Isabella Mori at Change Therapy.

Paula Kawal at Journey Inward Coaching.

Liara Covert at Dream Builders.

David Bohl at Slow Down Fast.

Deb Estep at Deb_Inside.

Swami Nirmalananda Giri and ReddyK at the Atma Jyoti Blog.

Mary Jaksch at Goodlife Zen.

Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression.

Robin at Reflections on Compassion, posted at Yogini Myspace Blog.

Karen Zara at Abaminds.

Jenny Mannion at Heal Pain Naturally.

Evan Hadkins at WellBeingAndHealth.Net.

Shawn Williamson at do you LIVE or simply EXIST.

Patricia Singleton at Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker.

Alex Blackwell at The Next 45 Years.

Akemi Gaines at Gratitude Magic.

Vitor Bosshard at The Fractal Forest.

CG Walters at Into The Mist.

John Torcello has also contributed an entry by email, I’ve included it in the comments below.

Brightdays at Brighter Days for you and me!

Karen at Loving Awareness.

Krista at Lucid Amphibology.

Karen Lynch at Live The Power.

Andrea Hess at Empowered Soul.

Waters at Waters: The Last Thing I Wanted To Give.

Eric Grey at Deepest Health.

Stephen Hopson at Adversity University.

Em Dy at Pulse: Intention to Treat.

Iain Hamp at Follow Your Passions.

Rahul at Raw Speak.

Stephen Miracle at AltNoise.Net.

Pearl at Interesting Observations.

Mark at My Tropical Escape.

Matthew at Loving Awareness.

Daylle Schwartz at Lessons from a Recovering Doormat.

Charities Link at Charities Link.

Mihaela Lica at Pamil Visions eWritings.

David at Virginia Breeze.

Jerry Summers at Nothing Like Now.

Wishbone at Wishbone.

Arvind Devalia at Make Things Happen.

Samir Bharadwaj at Samir Bharadwaj dot com.

Popularity: 36% [?]

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Bardo, Death, and a Moment of Transition

Often when I tell a story I shy away from those in which I was part of or a party to, to me it smacks of ego-center and self-serving. Yet this story, as it happened to me, was one of great compassion and love for my family. I did nothing but be present and party to something so amazing, I will never forget it.

Not far after my Grandfather passed away, the wife of one of his brother’s also passed away. Her husband had passed on some years before and she lived the rest of her life without him. I am very fond of that side of my family, although my father and my immediate family are not blood relation, you would never have guessed it. My Father and I are direct blood relations to this family in every spiritual sense of the word.

My Mother called to tell me that my great Aunt was passing, in hospice and not expected to live much longer. I remember thinking to myself; “It’s ok, I can go see her at 2PM tomorrow”. Why 2PM? I’m not sure but I knew that I had the time and that was the perfect time. So the next day at 2PM I went to the hospice center to visit. When I arrived I found my family all huddled around her in various states of shock, fear, sadness, love, kindness, and compassion. I was immedately welcomed and took a place in a chair next to my cousins.

As is customary in our culture, we all sat around and told stories of this woman, remembering the past and enjoying each other; laughing and crying together. As I sat there I thought to myself; “What can I do right now? What should I do? What is appropriate?” In studying Buddhism for years I wasn’t sure how to behave in front of my family at this moment, if I said anything, would it come out lost on a crowd who didn’t study Buddhism as I did or would my words we welcome?

After some time, a little voice in my head said, go see her, put your hands on her. This didn’t bother me either as I had been studying Reiki for years and placing my hands on an other to ease pain and suffering is a pleasure. I asked; “Do you all mind if I hold her hand”? Of course my family was like, “Please, get up here and join us”. So I did, I placed my hand in hers and joined the stories around her bed and tried to project energy and compassion onto this woman who was about to pass. The moment was very enjoyable as when I joined the group the stories seemed to flow and become more intensified.

Some more time went by and another voice in my head said to place a hand on her chest and one on the crown of her head. It felt so natural to do this, it felt like home to be in the energy field of not only my great Aunt but my family. It felt like being home, truly a good feeling.

What I felt was truly amazing, I could feel my great Aunt in the throws of her last few moments on earth. It was at this moment that I knew why I was to be there at 2PM, it was truly her last hour. With my hands placed on her head and chest I could feel her energy slowly untangling and lifting away. The next vision in my mind was of her husband and my Grandfather who appeared to be waiting for her to arrive. Right then, at that moment, I knew it was time for her to pass.

I told my family; “Come everyone, join around, put your hands on her, you can feel her; she’s here and she feels good”. Slowly each person in the room, about 15, got up and joined the rest of us around this woman and placed their hands on her feet, legs, hands, chest, head and stomach. I felt as if I wasn’t myself, like the sound of my voice wasn’t mine, I was elsewhere. Then I said to every one in the room; “Hold great thoughts of compassion and love for her, she is leaving now, she needs to know it’s ok and she is loved and love is waiting for her when she untangles from this life”, everyone did that, the room got silent.

In that moment when the room became silent, everyone could feel her. As soon as the last person put their hands on her, the room got very quiet yet very loud with love for what felt like forever but surely was just a few seconds. She passed on in that moment, the second the last person joined, she left. In that moment, what Tibetan Buddhists call Bardo, we all experienced that time in between when one life ends and another begins. The moment didn’t last forever and one everyone realized what had just happened, the tears began to fall. They were tears of joy for the ending of this life and the joining of pure love on the other side, where her husband and my Grandfather waited to welcome her and bring her into everything.

I didn’t do anything other than just be there, I could not have been more grateful to have done so in that moment. I can only hope when I pass from this life I can be in the presence of those who have witnessed my life and help me pass as we did for her.

In Tibetan Buddhism there are 6 levels of Bardo; This Life, Meditation, Dream, Dying, Dharmata, and Existence. They are the fragmented in between states, the gap between the ego and the self and the gap between the self and the next.

Popularity: 19% [?]

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Popularity of Manifesting With Elephants

By far the post on Manifesting With Elephants has been the most popular as of late on Beyond Zen. Since that post I myself see the little guys everywhere from my dreams to stickers on a car. Is the message that I need to be more like Elephant or that I am like Elephant and I need to embrace it? Which got me to thinking, if I use the meditation with elephants to remove the barriers to see why I am seeing the elephants, will I then know why I’m seeing them? Right…sorry….on with the post.Since it’s been so popular I thought I’d post what have found out since digging up details of Elephants as guides and such, so here goes:

According to many books and websites the Elephant as a totem indicates strength, luck and wisdom. Apparently the Hindu God Shiva had the Elephant as a totem animal and where Shiva & Parvati produced a son, he came out as the Elephant headed Ganesha.

One of the coolest facts I’ve found on elephants is their intense and close knit family dynamic, even showing tears when a family member dies. Along with this, they are one of the longer living animals in the kingdom and have increadible senses for their size.The virtues an Elephant as a Totem has is: strength, wisdom, good fortune, power, sexual prowess (sweet!), moderation, eternity, responsibility, right emotion (ahhh, maybe I need to call on Elephant to determine if the emotion I’m feeling is right or even mine?), champion of injustice, ancient wisdom, respect for others, strengthened memory, long-life, increased sensitivity to others feelings (oh great), intelligence, loyalty, affection, passion, family values and happy family.

From www.linsdomain.com:

Before the power of Ganesha

 

All barriers and obstacles are removed.

 

Through the wisdom of Ganesha

 

I draw confidence and new opportunities.

 

Under the love of Ganesha

 

I learn and grow stronger in all ways.

From Ted Andrews’ “Animal Speak”:

“Those who have the elephant as a totem will usually find themselves in a position where the opportunity to reestablish family and societal ideas will occur. Mutual care of the young, respect for the elderly and the sick, being strong in your own self - these are the foundations of a great person or society. If the elephant has come to you, you will have the opportunity to work toward establishing this within your own life or the lives of others. If the elephant has come to you prepare to draw upon the most ancient wisdom and power. You will have an opportunity to either help yourself or others reclaim your most primordial royalty.”

What else can I do but just enjoy the fact that I am seeing elephant everywhere?

Popularity: 17% [?]

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Awakening the Heart

The pic above is of a lotus flower, a sacred and meaningful flower to Buddhists and other Eastern Philosophies. The reference to the lotus flower is a wonderful icon that describes the path we take to become enlightened. A lotus flower is the icon of purification of the body, the speech, and the mind; blossoming of insight into the true reality and then into liberation. The lotus makes reference to the path; growing from the mud (otherwise known as samsara), climbing through the muddy water to appear clean on the surface of the water (purification) as a bud, then moving to flower (enlightenment). It’s a wonderful thought, practice that leads to rising from the mud and into the light with purity. You have to give it to us Buddhists for great imagery. Although I think the Hindus have it on us.

Through all this talk of desire and feeling desire and working with desire and transforming desire, I forgot to do one important thing and that’s practice loving-kindness towards myself, metta. So I picked up a book by Thick Nhat Hanh called True Love; A Practice for Awakening the Heart. Less metta and more how to have an open heart for those we love. Without self-love one is not able to give present love to their family.

The book was great, I really enjoyed reading it. From it I took some good mantra’s or thoughts:

The Four Aspects of Love

• Maitri - loving-kindess, ability to bring joy and happiness to the one you love, training to do so is to practice deep looking toward the person you love. Understanding this person is love and without understanding love is not possible.
• Karuna - compassion, not just the desire to ease pain in another but the ability to do so. Deep looking to understand the suffering in another so that you can help the change. Meditation is key as it is the looking into the nature of things.
• Mudita - if there is no joy in love, it is not true love, suffering all the time (in yourself or causing it) this is not love, but the opposite.
• Upeksha - equanimity or freedom, when you love you bring freedom to the person you love, loving in such a way as the other person you love feels free; “Dear one, do you have enough space in you heart and all around you?”

Love for self can be applied accordingly, the same concepts can be applied to the ego-self relationship. Loving another is the fertile ground of study and understanding we Buddhists crave.

Popularity: 17% [?]

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Ego, Human, Moment of Connection

We humans are an interesting lot, there is a raw and knowing inside that is guided, ruled, and directed by that all interesting ego. We repel feelings of connection as much as we repel that moment of nothing in our meditation. Fears of letting go, fears of feeling that nothing, all fueled by the ego and it’s desire to control and grasp. That which the ego hates most are the moments we should relish.

Reading Epstein’s Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart has given me some new insight, which is comforting. With desire or any other clinging aspect, this story struck a chord in me.

That would be the story of a woman who’s child had just died and she relentlessly held the child in her arms, crying to the villager’s to heal the dead child. She clung to him as she went from house to house until she encountered a person who said the Buddha was in town and to go to him for healing. She found the Buddha and asked him to heal her child. Buddha told the woman to find a handful of mustard seeds from a house that had not been touched by death and he would heal her child.

The woman clung to her child and went from house to house looking for mustard seeds from a house that death had not touched. After a long search in not being able to find such a house the woman laid her child to rest in the woods and went to the Buddha to tell him she could not find such a house. She learned the impermanence of life and that all beings experienced the same thing, clinging to say she was the only one became a non-issue.

Reminds me of what my Dharma teacher would say about desire, “Oh, I’m sure you are the only one troubled by this concept”. Or something like that. I will have to post the whole story, it’s great.

A monk named Ma-tsu sat diligently in meditation when his master came to him and asked; “Virtuous one, for what purpose are you sitting in meditation?”. Ma-tsu replied, “I wish to become a Buddha”. The Master picked up a rock and began rubbing it, the monk ask “what are you doing?”. “I am polishing this stone to make a mirror” said the Master but Ma-tsu asked, “How can you make a mirror by polishing a stone?” And the Master replied; “How can you make a Buddha by practicing meditation?”

Taking the obsessive mind and replacing it with a subtle version that must surrender, releasing into terror and fear as well as delight.

This is what I feel, this is a good thing.

One more concept struck me today as I’ve always pondered love and relationships. According to Epstein, “The major obstacle to love, I have found is a premature walling off of the personality that results in a falseness or in-authenticity that other people can feel. Love after all, requires a person to be open and vulnerable, able to tolerate and enjoy the crossing ego boundaries that occurs naturally under the spell of passion.”

Oh the ego is a crazy little bugger.

Popularity: 23% [?]

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