Holistic Feathers

The practice of Loving Kindness was first taught by Buddha as an antidote to fear. He sent a group of monks to meditate in a forest that was inhabited by tree spirits. The spirits resented the presence of the monks and tried to drive them away by appearing as horrible visions. The monks were terrified and ran back to Buddha, begging him to send them to a different forest. He said; ‘I am going to send you back to the forest, but I will provide you with the only protection you need.’ He then gave the first teaching on metta, loving-kindness. When the monks returned to the forest and practiced loving-kindness, the tree spirits were so moved by the loving energy that filled the forest that they resolved to care for and serve the monks in whatever way they could.” -Sogyal Rinpoche

All the great spiritual traditions emphasize the need for compassion and unconditional love. Buddhists call this “boddichitta”–the awakened heart–which is the aspiration for others to be happy and free from suffering. It is the essence of enlightenment, the heart of enlightened activity. True compassion is called the “wish-fulfilling jewel” because it has the power to give each person precisely what he or she most needs to release suffering and be happy. But how can you cultivate it? Here are some traditional methods for practicing loving kindness:

Develop an attitude of equanimity. Practice going beyond your fixed ideas of friends and enemies. The idea is to develop a sense of spaciousness, letting go of rigid ideas. Over the years, anyone who has once been an enemy may now have turned into a friend, and vice-versa. Everything is impermanent and constantly changing. Step back and observe the dance of life with detachment. This lays the ground for the practice of loving kindness.

Reflect on the kindness of others. This will help you see the positive side of any situation, regardless of how difficult. Contemplate what other people have done for you in both large and small ways. Focus on a specific friend or family member, and remember all the good they have done. You might want to begin by remembering the love and devotion of your mother or father or grandparents, and then move on to everyone you know. If you are open to the idea of reincarnation, consider that anyone could have been your mother, father, sister or brother in a previous life, so reflect on how they might have nurtured and supported you.

Remember an experience of love that someone gave you. Reflect on how it really moved you. Remember vividly that feeling of love and let it arise again in your heart, filling you with gratitude. Let your heart open and allow your love to flow out to others. See yourself unsealing a spring of love within you that flows out to friends, family, neighbors, all those you like, all those you dislike, to every person around the world, and to all sentient beings. Let your love deepen and become boundless.

Repay the kindness of others. Take the perspective that many, many people (as well as many plants, animals, etc.) have helped you. Everyone you meet may have helped you in some way, directly or indirectly. Every encounter becomes an opportunity to repay someone’s kindness. This attitude can change your life. Traditionally, it’s called “the great activity” because it is so vast that it’s difficult to imagine.

Contemplate the positive qualities of others. If you care for someone, you naturally see their delightful qualities and usually ignore their negative qualities. Extend this perspective to everyone, one person at a time. Generate loving kindness towards each person and the wish for him or her to be happy. This can help transform negative emotions such as anger or jealousy.

Consider others the same as yourself. Reflect on another person, not in their role as a relative or friend, but simply as another “you”, with the same feelings as you–the same desire for happiness, the same fear of suffering. This will give you greater insight into how to truly help someone. It will also aid in opening up your relationships and giving them deeper meaning.

Meditate on compassion. Contemplate on both the essence and expression of compassion. Reflect on the benefits of compassion and the effects of its opposite. See compassion as empathy, based on understanding the universal nature of suffering. Each of us suffers when our ego is self-centered and grasping. Offer a blessing of kindness to all who suffer, helping them transform their pain, and awaken to the boundless love that dwells within their own heart.

Loving-kindness meditation can be brought in to support the practice of ‘bare attention’ to help keep the mind open and sweet. It provides the essential balance to support your insight meditation practice.

It is a fact of life that many people are troubled by difficult emotional states in the pressured societies we live in, but do little in terms of developing skills to deal with them. Yet even when the mind goes sour it is within most people’s capacity to arouse positive feelings to sweeten it. Loving-kindness is a meditation practice taught by the Buddha to develop the mental habit of selfless or altruistic love. In the Dhammapada can be found the saying: “Hatred cannot coexist with loving-kindness, and dissipates if supplanted with thoughts based on loving-kindness.”

Loving-kindness is a meditation practice, which brings about positive attitudinal changes as it systematically develops the quality of ‘loving-acceptance’. It acts, as it were, as a form of self-psychotherapy, a way of healing the troubled mind to free it from its pain and confusion. Of all Buddhist meditations, loving-kindness has the immediate benefit of sweetening and changing old habituated negative patterns of mind.

To put it into its context, Loving-kindness is the first of a series of meditations that produce four qualities of love: Friendliness (metta), Compassion (karuna), Appreciative Joy (mudita) and Equanimity (upekkha). The quality of ‘friendliness’ is expressed as warmth that reaches out and embraces others. When loving-kindness practice matures it naturally overflows into compassion, as one empathises with other people’s difficulties; on the other hand one needs to be wary of pity, as its near enemy, as it merely mimics the quality of concern without empathy. The positive expression of empathy is an appreciation of other people’s good qualities or good fortune, or appreciative joy, rather than feelings of jealousy towards them. This series of meditations comes to maturity as ‘on-looking equanimity’. This ‘engaged equanimity’ must be cultivated within the context of this series of meditations, or there is a risk of it manifesting as its near enemy, indifference or aloofness. So, ultimat ely you remain kindly disposed and caring toward everybody with an equal spread of loving feelings and acceptance in all situations and relationships.

How to do it . . .

The practice always begins with developing a loving acceptance of yourself. If resistance is experienced then it indicates that feelings of unworthiness are present. No matter, this means there is work to be done, as the practice itself is designed to overcome any feelings of self-doubt or negativity. Then you are ready to systematically develop loving-kindness towards others.

Four Types of Persons to develop loving-kindness towards:
* a respected, beloved person – such as a spiritual teacher;
* a dearly beloved – which could be a close family member or friend;
* a neutral person – somebody you know, but have no special feelings towards, e.g.: a person who serves you in a shop;
* a hostile person – someone you are currently having difficulty with.

Starting with yourself, then systematically sending loving-kindness from person to person in the above order will have the effect of breaking down the barriers between the four types of people and yourself. This will have the effect of breaking down the divisions within your own mind, the source of much of the conflict we experience. If you are practicing intensively, just a word of caution, it is best if you choose a member of the same sex or, if you have a sexual bias to your own sex, a person of the opposite sex. This is because of the risk that the near enemy of loving-kindness, lust, can be aroused. Try different people to practice on, as some people do not easily fit into the above categories, but do try to keep to the prescribed order.

Ways of arousing feelings of loving-kindness:

1. Visualization – Bring up a mental picture. See yourself or the person the feeling is directed at smiling back at you or just being joyous.

2. By reflection – Reflect on the positive qualities of a person and the acts of kindness they have done. And to yourself, making an affirmation, a positive statement about yourself, using your own words.

3. Auditory – This is the simplest way but probably the most effective. Repeat an internalized mantra or phrase such as ‘loving-kindness’.

The visualizations, reflections and the repetition of loving-kindness are devices to help you arouse positive feelings of loving-kindness. You can use all of them or one that works best for you. When the positive feeling arise, switch from the devices to the feeling, as it is the feeling that is the primary focus. Keep the mind fixed on the feeling, if it strays bring it back to the device, or if the feelings weaken or are lost then return to the device, i.e. use the visualisation to bring back or strengthen the feeling.

The second stage is Directional Pervasion where you systematically project the aroused feeling of loving-kindness to all points of the compass: north, south, east and west, up and down, and all around. This directional pervasion will be enhanced by bringing to mind loving friends and like-minded communities you know in the cities, towns and countries around the world.

Non-specific Pervasion tends to spontaneously happen as the practice matures. It is not discriminating. It has no specific object and involves just naturally radiating feelings of universal love. When it arises the practice has then come to maturity in that it has changed particular, preferential love, which is an attached love, to an all-embracing unconditional love!

Loving-kindness is a heart meditation and should not to be seen as just a formal sitting practice removed from everyday life. So take your good vibes outside into the streets, at home, at work and into your relationships. Applying the practice to daily life is a matter of directing a friendly attitude and having openness toward everybody you relate to, without discrimination.

There are as many different ways of doing it as there are levels of intensity in the practice. This introduction is intended to help you familiarize yourself with the basic technique, so that you can become established in the practice before going on, if you wish, to the deeper, systematic practice – to the level of meditative absorption.

May you be happy hearted!

(c) Enlightenment Chapel, Inc.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EnlightenmentChapel/

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Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.

We ask ourselves …
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.

It is not just in some; it is in everyone.

And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

~ From ‘A return to love’ by Marianne Williamson

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May I know peace
in the sacred space of my body.

May I find awe
in its tapestry of cells,
towers of bones,
and rivers of fluids.

May I behold treasure
in each tessellated organ-
and cradle my heart and liver
as nurslings.

May I walk, stretch,
and choose food that has been
nourished by light and earth
to imbue each limb
with power.

May I treat this body as a guest-
here to visit briefly
considering its needs first …
taking it where it wants to go
even if I’d rather watch Oprah.

May I see aging as a perfect progression
of journey
and float on its current,
exalting its wrinkles
bowing down
before its eyes that don’t focus
like they used to.

May I gather up false notions of aging
and blow them from my palm,
as chaff,
into the wind
knowing …
all is well.

May I trust my body’s Creator
and know that he who mixed the elixirs
from which it was formed
created it
with a lifetime guarantee.

May I fall to my knees in honor of this sacred home of Spirit
never perceiving one cubic centimeter
as anything
but perfect …

This temple
of God
come to Earth.

(c) Tammy Burns

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Ginger is a calming and soothing flavour with a touch of a bite to it that helps to keep you alert and calm. Ginger is commonly used to help an upset stomach, motion or travel sickness or general low-grade fevers. It is also excellent for nausea and for warming you up when you feel cold. Ginger is reputed to help ward off colds or improve your recovery time.

Ginger is a popular addition to energy drinks with good reason. But you can get the energy and health benefits of ginger tea without purchasing these expensive and sugar laden drinks.

One of the main benefits of the herbal ginger remedy is its ability to stimulate the circulatory system. The herb also helps in bringing an increased flow of blood to the surface of the skin; this singular property makes the ginger a very important herbal remedy for the treatment of conditions such as chilblains and to treat impaired circulation along the hands and feet of patients. The herb also effectively helps in controlling elevated or high blood pressure as it directly affects the circulation of blood.

Following is a brief review of ginger’s health benefits and uses as understood today:

Nausea – it is often used to ease nausea during traveling or early pregnancy as well as that due to other causes. The anti-nausea and anti-vomiting qualities of ginger appear to surpass that of drug therapies (e.g., Dramamine) used for the same purpose.

Digestion – it has the ability to calm the stomach, promote the flow of bile, and improve the appetite.

Abdominal Cramps – it can relieve this symptom, often quicker than any other herbal medicine.

Motion-Sickness – the travel industry is using ginger more and more to combat nausea caused by motion-sickness. Drink a cup of ginger tea (see below) or injest 1/4 teaspoon of powdered or 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ginger before a car or boat trip, ideally every 15 minutes for an hour before you travel. Repeat during your travels at the first sign of motion-sickness.

Some studies have shown ginger to perform better than a placebo but not quite as effective as some prescribed medicications. However, ginger does not cause the common side effects of these medications: dry mouth and drowsiness.

Ginger has also been used in aromatherapy. An oil present in Ginger has a spicy, woody scent that aids in relaxation and stress release. When you make Ginger tea this oil infuses the tea with the aroma which in turn helps you relax and relieve stress as you sit back and enjoy your cup of tea.

Ginger tea has been used as a remedy against flu and colds for centuries, both in India and China, as well as other countries in the east. According to Chinese culture, its powerful yang energy is what warms the lungs and stomach. Ginger tea has been used in China for 2,500 years to treat sore throat, nasal congestion, and sinus pain.

Double-blind studies have found ginger to be effective in decreasing symptoms of motion sickness, particularly seasickness. More specifically, intake of ginger has been shown to decrease feelings of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and the production of cold sweats. One study even found ginger to be more effective than Dramamine, a drug that is often used to treat symptoms of motion sickness.

(c) Peter Hutch
www.ayushveda.com

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If you are having trouble letting go, then this video is simply perfect for you … enjoy!

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(NaturalNews) Beware, readers, when you see articles in the mainstream media claiming that a retrovirus causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The stories quote new research published in the journal Science which claims that this virus — known as XMRV — was found in 67% of CFS sufferers but only 4% of the general population. From there, the media leaps to the wild conclusion that CFS is caused by this virus.

What you need to know is that this disinformation is laying the groundwork for a future CFS vaccine that will be pushed on the population in much the same way as HPV vaccines are now. The first step in getting the public to accept yet another vaccine is to brainwash people into thinking that yet another disease is caused by a virus. From there, it’s only a matter of time before drug companies start talking about offering “treatment” in the form of a vaccine.

This is a play-by-play mirror image of the fraudulent push behind HPV vaccines. First, drug companies funded studies to “prove” that cervical cancer was caused by a virus (it actually isn’t). From there, they pushed their vaccine, claiming it “saves lives” by preventing cervical cancer. Of course, we now know the cervical cancer vaccine is a pharmaceutical hoax. Even one of its own top researchers recently declared that HPV vaccines are “ineffective.” (http://www.naturalnews.com/027196_c…)

So why is the XMRV virus found in more CFS sufferers than the general population? It’s simple: People with CFS have compromised immune systems, and in this state of weakened immunity, they are unable to rid their bodies of not just XMRV, but many other viruses as well. The presence of this virus is a symptom of the disease, not the cause.

Every viral announcement is a covert push for a future vaccine
For their own protection, it’s important that health consumers learn to recognize these hidden vaccine agendas when they see them. Every announcement about a virus causing some particular disease is actually a covert push for a future vaccine. That’s why drug companies are busily funding all kinds of research that hopes to find (or fabricate) a viral cause for almost every major disease.

You’ll see, on a regular basis, increasingly frequent news stories claiming researchers have “discovered” the virus that causes cancer, or diabetes, or Alzheimer’s disease or even strokes. And then, months or years later you’ll see the FDA approving some new vaccine designed to “prevent” that disease or disorder. Before long, that vaccine will be added to an ever-growing list of other vaccines already being forced onto the population, and the whole thing will be framed in the language of “public health.”

This is Big Pharma’s disease mongering engine hard at work. This is how they game the system and fool the masses. First, they blame a virus for a disease, then they push a vaccine as “treatment.” But it’s all based on junk science. There is no virus that causes CFS or even cervical cancer. In fact, it’s scientifically and medically inaccurate to say there’s even a virus that causes the common cold. People are exposed to these viruses all the time and they don’t catch the cold. Only a person with a compromised immune system (lacking vitamin D, usually, and suffering from chronic stress) winds up showing symptoms of the cold.

The fall of the Germ Theory
The Germ Theory of disease is outmoded. Today, we know that the terrain matters more than the germ. In other words, it’s what’s happening with your own health that really determines whether you get the disease or not. The viruses are present all the time, just waiting for an opportunity for a weakened immune system to give them an opening. That’s why halting such infections has more to do with boosting and protecting immune system health than eradicating the virus.

Read more about this in an amazing book called Good-Bye Germ Theory by Dr. William Trebing. You’ll find it at Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Good-Bye-Germ…).

Vaccines, of course, are based entirely on the mythology of the germ theory, a framework of belief usually credited to Louis Pasteur (1822 – 1895), from whom the term “pasteurization” is derived. But Pasteur missed the bigger picture. His friend and colleague Claude Bernard (1813 – 1878) was actually more correct when he explained that it was the internal condition of the body that determined whether disease appeared rather than the mere presence of germs. An imbalance in the body’s natural state creates a vulnerability that gets exploited by an opportunistic microbe. But without the imbalance in the body, the microbes may still be present but incapable of causing problems.

A French-American microbiologist named Rene Dubos (1901-1982) agreed with the “terrain theory” of disease, stating: “Most microbial diseases are caused by organisms present in the body of a normal individual. They become the cause of disease when a disturbance arises which upsets the equilibrium of the body.”

To stay in business, the pharmaceutical industry must oppose the “terrain theory” of disease and push the germ theory at all costs: The entire vaccine industry depends on it. The idea is also quite seductive to many patients because it allows them to cast off any responsibility for their own health condition and blame a virus instead of their own dietary and exercise habits, for example. It’s also an explanation favored by many conventional doctors because it allows them to simply prescribe a vaccine or an antibiotic instead of engaging in the far more detailed task of teaching patients how to make healthier lifestyle choices.

To this day, by the way, the pharmaceutical industry continues to try to find a microbiological cause for cancer. The whole point of this is to develop an “anti-cancer vaccine” and promote it as a cancer cure.

But the germ theory doesn’t explain cancer… or CFS or any other degenerative disease. And those who promote the germ theory for such conditions are unwittingly playing right into the hands of the pharmaceutical industry.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.reuters.com/article/late…

(c) Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor – published Thursday, October 15, 2009

(Full story and links available at Natural News)

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With all of the press abuzz with news that Vitamin D may help us to combat swine flu this winter, here is an interesting (short) article I recently discovered on Vitamin D assisting with breast health …

* * * *

Experts already believe Vitamin D protects against breast cancer and in some forms may even be used to shrink existing tumors. According to recent research from Stanford University, optimal amounts of sunlight exposure may reduce your risk of advanced breast cancer by as much as 50 percent. Sunlight may not be enough to make all the Vitamin D you need (you have to be in the noonday sun without sunscreen, with 40% of the body exposed, and not wash with soap for 48 hours). Most people don’t do this.

Best bet is to spend some time in the sun and to take Vitamin D too. The vitamin alone is not a substitute for sun exposure, but few modern people get enough Vitamin D from either source to supply all of our needs.

Vitamin D blood levels above 52 ng/ml are associated with 83% reductions in breast cancer. A study that raised blood levels of Hydroxy D from 20 to 40 is associated with 35% lower relapse rates of all cancers combined. The recommended 200-400 iu of Vitamin D in a multi-vitamin is based on preventing rickets only. Cancers, Diabetes, MS, fractures and heart attacks require much higher levels of Vitamin D for prevention. To get your blood levels above 50 ng/ml you probably need 5000 to 10,000 iu/day. You can go much higher but it is a good idea to get tested if you go above 25,000 iu.

For more on the subject of Breast health and alternative care go to …. www.acupuncturebrooklyn.com/articles-by-karen-vaughan/breast-health
(c) Karen Vaughan

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