"Better to light a candle than curse the darkness." - Chinese Proverb

Here are a few words each one of us need to think and reflect upon,

Do you carry feelings of guilt about something you did–or failed to do–in the past? 

This much is certain: you acted according to your level of consciousness or rather 

unconsciousness at that time. If you had been more aware, more conscious, you 

would have acted differently. 

Guilt is another attempt by the ego to create an identity, a sense of self. To the ego, 

it doesn’t matter whether that self is positive or negative. What you did or failed to 

do was a manifestation of unconsciousness–human unconsciousness. The ego, 

however, personalizes it and says, “I did that,” and so you carry a mental image of 

yourself as “bad." 

Throughout history humans have inflicted countless violent, cruel, and hurtful acts 

on each other, and continue to do so. Are they all to be condemned; are they all 

guilty? Or are those acts simply expressions of unconsciousness, an evolutionary 

stage that we are now growing out of? 

Jesus’ words, “Forgive them for they know not what they do,” also apply to 

yourself. 

- by Eckhart Tolle 

(Stillness Speaks)

From Stillness Speaks - Echart Tolle

Stillness is your essential nature. What is stillness? The inner space or awareness in 
which the words on this page are being perceived and become thoughts. Without 
that awareness, there would be no perception, no thoughts, no world. 
You are that awareness, disguised as a person. 


The equivalent of external noise is the inner noise of thinking. The equivalent of 
external silence is inner stillness. 


Whenever there is some silence around you — listen to it. That means just notice it. 
Pay attention to it. Listening to silence awakens the dimension of stillness within 
yourself, because it is only through stillness that you can be aware of silence. 
See that in the moment of noticing the silence around you, you are not thinking. 
You are aware, but not thinking. 

When you become aware of silence, immediately there is that state of inner still 
alertness. You are present. You have stepped out of thousands of years of collective 
human conditioning. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look at a tree, a flower, a plant. Let your awareness rest upon it. How still they are, 
how deeply rooted in Being. Allow nature to teach you stillness. 

Reiki Healing

Reiki is a healing practice that originated in Japan and means "universal life energy". Reiki healing is based on the idea that there is a universal source of energy that supports the body's innate healing abilities. Practitioners seek to access this energy, allowing it to flow through the body and facilitate healing. 

Reiki practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above the person receiving treatment, with the goal of facilitating the person's own healing response. Reiki is used for relaxation, stress reduction and symptom relief, in efforts to improve overall health and well-being. Reiki is also used to treat people with anxiety, chronic pain and other health conditions. People recovering from surgery or experiencing side effects from cancer treatments have used Reiki as well as people who are dying (and to their families and caregivers) to help impart a sense of peace. 

This ancient art has been in practice since a very long time, the benefits are truly remarkable to experience.

Breathe

Breathe.

Breathing can transform your life.

If you feel stressed out and overwhelmed, breathe. It will calm you and release the tensions.

If you are worried about something coming up, or caught up in something that already happened, breathe. It will bring you back to the present.

If you are discouraged and have forgotten your purpose in life, breathe. It will remind you about how precious life is, and that each breath in this life is a gift you need to appreciate. Make the most of this gift.

If you have too many tasks to do, or are scattered during your workday, breathe. It will help bring you into focus, to concentrate on the most important task you need to be focusing on right now.

If you are spending time with someone you love, breathe. It will allow you to be present with that person, rather than thinking about work or other things you need to do.

If you are exercising, breathe. It will help you enjoy the exercise, and therefore stick with it for longer.

If you are moving too fast, breathe. It will remind you to slow down, and enjoy life more.

So breathe. And enjoy each moment of this life. They’re too fleeting and few to waste.

Tip: Put the word “Breathe” as a screensaver or desktop pic, or put it up as a note on your wall or fridge or on your desk. Then do it every time you see the word.

Mindfulness Gathas: Present Moment, Wonderful Moment – Thich Nhat Hanh

I am currently reading a book by Thich Nhat Hanh. Mindfulness Gathas: Present Moment, Wonderful Moment. Here is a review from Amazon I found aptly says about the book.


Thich Nhat Hanh is simply one of the easiest, most gentle authors on the practical application of eastern thought available today. Present Moment, Wonderful Moment is a delight to read. It is a collection of useful verses to keep us mindful throughout the day, recognizing how easy it is to lose sight of the present moment when the crash of life clamors about us constantly. 


Thich Nhat Hanh uses the technique of memorizing "gathas" for the purpose of focusing the mind on the thing you are doing now rather than on whatever other chatter is going on in the mind. Further, with each verse there is anywhere from a paragraph to a few pages of commentary that give the reader not only insight into the application of the verse, but also insight into the mind and soul of Thich Nhat Hanh. The result is inspirational, soothing, and useful. Of particular importance is the fact that the author, while a monk, is not in the least unaware of the realities of modern life, and included in his verses are ones for talking on the phone, turning on the television, and turning on an electric light. 


Those not familiar with mindfulness practice might wonder at the insignificance of those daily, mundane experiences, but Thich Nhat Hanh helps us to recognize that there is life "spent" in each of those (and countless other) little activities, and without recognizing that life mindfully, it is life wasted. This man has a simple message...live life fully, abundantly, happily and peacefully, with full awareness of that life as you experience it in the moment. This is a book you will refer to often as you practice mindfulness.

Quotes and Proverbs

Emptiness is infact form when we forget the self. There's nothing in the universe *other* than ourself. Nothing to compare, name, or identify. When it's the only thing there is, how can we talk about it??- Taizan Maezumi

If you put your conditioned intellect to rest for a long time, suddenly it will be like the bottom fallin out of a bucket -- then you will naturally be happy and at peace.

- Yaunwu

This sounds an extraordinary statement to make, but in fact all truth is very ordinary. It is peoples' fantasies of what is true that is so extraordinary. That that we were born and that we face eternal extinction after death is an extraordinary fantasy.

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.
- Helen Keller
- Osho
- Dogen Zenji

If you are in the future, then ego seems to be very substantial. If you are in the present the ego is a mirage, it starts disappearing.

Not to study the Buddha way is to fall into the realm of shameless and erroneous ways. All preceding and succeeding Buddhas always practice the Buddha way.

know Benefits and History of Tai Chi – An ancient Chinese Martial and Meditation Art.

300 years back in china, Tai chi took place birth in the village Chenjiagou located on the Yellow River in the peaceful countryside of Northern China.

300 years back in china, Tai chi took place birth in the village Chenjiagou located on the Yellow River in the peaceful countryside of Northern China.

One claims it was first developed by a solitary person, Chang San-Feng, who lived 600 years ago on the Wu-Tang Mountain in China.

The other maintained that Chen Wang-Ting was the founder and creator of the Chen Tai Chi Family.

Chen Wangting (1600-1680), a ninth-generation descendant of the Chen family, put together his vast knowledge of martial arts, traditional Chinese medical theory and classical Tao Te Ching philosophy to create T'ai Chi.

Wudang Mountain is where Chang San Feng lived in the 13th century, a mystical mountain recently made famous by the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In his time Chang San Feng was mostly famous as a spiritual sage

The Emperor of China sent 30,000 men to build a temple on Wudang Mountain, just to curry favor with him. Refusing to appear at the Imperial court, Chang San Feng instead disappeared at age 95 into the wild Wudang Mountains.

He then, according to written records, re-appeared regularly for hundreds of years afterward to teach people the secrets of the Tao.

This reappearing act is how he got a reputation for being a "Tao immortal". Chen style T'ai Chi is the original T'ai Chi from which all the other T'ai Chi styles were developed (Yang, Wu, Sun, etc).

Tai Chi also has, particularly amongst eastern practitioners, a long connection with the I Ching a Chinese system of divination.

There are associations between the 8 basic I Ching trigrams plus the five elements of Chinese alchemy (metal, wood, fire, water and earth) with the thirteen basic postures of Tai Chi created by Chang San-feng.

There are also other associations with the full 64 trigrams of the I Ching and other movements in the Tai Chi form.

When someone learns this art for the health and healing it is called as T'ai Chi;
And when someone learns this art for self defense T’ai Chi becomes T'ai Chi Ch'uan.
What does Tai Chi Chuan mean?

The words can be translated as Tai - supreme, Chi - ultimate, Chuan - boxing.
Tai chi can be practiced by anyone regardless of age or gender.

What does Tai Chi symbol represent?
The Tai Chi symbol consists of two fishes, one white and one black, which are called 'Yin Yang fishes' in Tai Chi.

The white represents Yang and the black represents Yin, in which one fish's head links to the tail of another, and both fishes try to overtake each other, which forms a lively picture.
The Yin Yang Unity: the symbol is a circular unified body, in which both fishes are mutually dependent. One will not exist without another.

The tai chi symbol represents the interaction of Yin and Yang. The Chinese character for Yin is the dark side of the hill and for Yang the sunny side of the hill.

The Tai Chi symbol shows each of them with a seed of the other within it, to illustrate how, for example, day turns into night and night turns into day.

Regular practice of Tai chi increases the energy levels of person as well as helps to stay strong and healthy.

To do tai chi, you perform a series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.
Currently there are five main recognized styles of Tai Chi in China:
Chen, Yang, Sun, Li, and Wu.

Chen is the original from which developed the Yang style and from that Wu. Further derivations from these styles are the Hao and Zhaobao etc.

A tiny force can move mountains: T'ai Chi is based on that principle

Tai Chi can be done anywhere and everywhere:

* Before, after work, at lunchtime at work or at home

* Can be done in confine areas

* Suitable for anyone at all ages

* Do regularly to maximize benefits

Principles of Tai chi
1. Take it easy – one should not force, forcing is opposite to Tai chi principles
2. Tai chi is spiritual teaching
3. Tai chi is form of meditation
4. Tai chi is system of healing naturally
5. Tai chi is system of self defence
6. Be Simple – Be natural, Relax (loosen) the waist. - Changes in full and empty all come from the waist
7. Balance movements – Tai chi is about balancing moves
8. Move the all body – Tai chi is like dance, every movement involves whole body, when one part moves each part moves , when still every body part is still
9. Be focused Be rooted – Always feel that firmly planted in the ground
10. Slowing down – To get all the benefits of Tai chi one has to slow down ,the ultimate principle of Tai chi
11. Think in curves – All movement in Tai chi are curved and circular
12. Sink Lower - Energy should flow from earth into body, helps to get below the opponents energy centre
13. Stay Balanced – Good balance physical as well as mental is essential in Tai chi also
14. Go with the flow – the movements should be always slow and soft like one is on wheels
15. The aim of Tai-Chi as a martial art is to stop violence

Following are the 22 Benefits of Tai chi practice –1. Strengthens the immune system
2. Stabilizes blood pressure
3. help to digest food
4. Increases stamina
5. makes the person strong in mind as well as body
6. increases sexual endurance
7. improves blood circulation
8. Relieves stress
9. Delays aging
10. increased bone density
11. increased strength and range of motion of joints
12. greater leg strength
13. Reducing falls in older adults
14. Improving cardiovascular fitness in older adult
15. Tai Chi relieves pain and disability among people with arthritis
16. reduces coronary heart disease
17. Enhanced sleep
18. Greater awareness, calmness, and overall sense of well being
19. Diabetes
20. Parkinson’s disease
21. Asthma
22. Post Traumatic Stress