Journey Down The Eight-Fold Path

First of all, I want to make sure to emphasize that I have not been on this journey for an extremely long period of time. Also, it should be noted that putting the objects of my studies onto text in my own words is primarily a tool that I am using to enhance my own understanding of these teachings, but in sharing my journey through learning, it is my hope that I can be of some assistance to others who are seeking to find their way down the same path that I am currently traveling.

In my previous blog about the Four Noble Truths I briefly mentioned the path that will liberate us from suffering, the Eight Fold Path, and promised to go into this topic in greater detail at a later date. True to my word, here is my next educational entry titled "Journey Down the Eight-Fold Path."

The Path can be divided into three basic divisions. Wisdom, ethical conduct, & concentration. 

• Wisdom

• Right View - Other translations: Perfect/complete vision, right understanding
  

• Right Intention -  Other translations: right thought/attitude/resolve/conception, perfect emotion

• Ethical Conduct

• Right Speech - Other translations: Perfect/whole speech
• Right Action - Other translations: right conduct, integral action
• Right Livelihood -  Or proper livelihood (how you earn a living)

• Concentration

• Right Effort - Other translations: right endeavor/diligence, complete/full effort
• Right Mindfulness - Other translations: right awareness/attention, complete/thorough awareness
• Right Concentration - Other translations: mindfulness, absorption, concentration, meditation.

Lets start from the beginning with Right View. I personally prefer the term right understanding. At the beginning of the path it is necessary to establish an unclouded view of reality. Taking this to heart, I began to think deeply about the impermanence of all worldly things - people, belongings, jobs, relationships, life. I pondered over suffering, and have started to see suffering as something that "just is." The world is what we make it, and so are the situations we are in. Along with studying and incorporating right view into my life I also began to study Karma, which I will also go into at a later date. 

The second stop along The Path is Right Intention. This stop on the path, or step, involves being committed to the ethical improvements of the mind. In order to have the right intention one must act with good will - resisting feelings of aversion and anger, restrain oneself from the pulls of desire. Also it is necessary to abstain from acts that cause harm - cruel/violent/aggressive acts. In place of these feelings we are to develop compassion and love.  Personally, I felt like eating meat would be considered wrong intention, because we do not need to eat meat to survive, and eating meat causes unnecessary suffering and harm to animals. 

Right Speech, the first part of the Path dealing with ethical conduct, is the section that I personally have the hardest time with. I have always been a talker. I talk too much, have the tendency to come off rude, and am constantly "putting my foot in my mouth." Right Speech includes speaking only truth, and abstaining from negative speech about others. Also, when practicing right speech, one must use caution not to speak with harsh words that offend or hurt others, and (my weakness) abstaining from idle chatter. Idle chatter is referred to as meaningless conversation that has no reason or depth. For me, learning to talk only when necessary has been difficult, so I have been telling myself, "Shut up, listen more." Eventually I hope that these ways of speech become natural to me, but in the meantime I am always attempting to be mindful. 

Right Action is categorized as actions carried out by our physical bodies. If we carry out negative, or unwholesome, actions our minds cannot be pure, because our actions have the ability to taint our minds."Wrong Actions" would be killing, harming others - intentionally or unintentionally, stealing - taking what is not given, and sexual misconduct (rape, predatory sexual attitudes, & lust) keeping sexual relationships harmless to others. Right Action is also tied into the Precepts, which is another blog that I will owe in the future.

Having the Right Livelihood means earning your living in a righteous manor. There are four very specific activities that Shakyamuni Buddha mentioned that cause harm, and because of this should be avoided. Dealing with weapons, dealing living beings (slavery, prostitution, and raising animals for slaughter) and selling poisons and intoxicants (alcohol & drugs).

Right Effort, the first section of the path that falls into the category of Concentration, is often seen as a prerequisite for other areas of the path. If you are not willing to make an effort, than nothing else can be achieved. It is important to examine the reasons for your efforts, because misguided efforts are not Right Efforts. Right Effort has four main aspects. Effort to prevent the arising of anger, greed, and ignorance. Effort to rid negative qualities that already exist. The Effort to grow skillful and wholesome qualities such as loving kindness, wisdom, and generosity. Lastly the Effort to cultivate and strengthen the qualities mentioned above that have already arisen. 

Right Mindfulness comes from a the ability to see things as they really are. When one achieves Right Mindfulness one is able to observe our thoughts and control the way we interpret them, almost as if from an exterior point of view. Four foundations for mindfulness laid out by Buddha were: mindfulness of body, mindfulness of feelings/sensations (attractions, dislikes, or neutral), mindfulness of mind/mental processes (state of mind), and mindfulness of mental objects or qualities. 

The finally we come to Right Concentration. Concentration is defined, in this context, as one pointedness of mind. Single focus on wholesome thoughts and actions. In Buddhism, meditation is the vehicle for achieving this. 

Words Spilling onto Virtual Paper

Pretty words on paper. Ideas dancing and swirling in my mind like music. The melody working itself out on my keyboard, my fingers keeping time, clicking away each key stroke its own unique pitch.

Typing is like therapy. Watching the words appear on the page, one letter at a time, as if a magical force is transferring the ideas in my head onto the screen.

I can blog from almost anywhere, always free to plunge, deeply, into the seductions of the written word. 

The internet really is wondrous creation. It tempts and entices, providing endless possibilities for the acquisition of knowledge. With only a few swirls and clicks anyone can virtually navigate and address the globe. 

It becomes my my lover. It calls to me, offering endless knowledge. Page after page, vigorously searching, I become a seeker on an endless quest always craving more.

Free thinking

I have always been a learner and a thinker, searching for knowledge, spending countless hours of my childhood with my nose buried in an encyclopedia. 

"Little Me" - the young me, in my earliest years, just out of diapers - loved the word "why". I asked this question constantly, even when being told what to do by my mother and other adults.

This was not a term intended to imply disrespect, although it was often taken that way. I would have always been happy to comply with the requests of my elders, but it has never been in my nature to follow blindly. 

Although the desire to know the meaning behind actions caused me a great deal of trouble growing up, this inquisitive nature has served me well as an adult. 

I still prefer to make decisions and choices with as much information as possible, because even a very small piece of information can sometimes completely change the required that is required.

At my very heart, "Now Me" is not a great deal changed from who Little Me was. Yes, I have evolved and grown in many ways, but when you strip away the illusions that  modern American society provided as I grew up, I am still an eager mind seeking growth and knowledge.

Now Me is still asking Little Me's favorite question - "Why?"

Adopting a New Way of Life Through the Four Noble Truths

Traditional texts say that Siddhartha reached enlightenment in a mere six years at the age of thirty five. With the intent o freeing humanity from suffering, the Buddha or enlightened one, spent the rest of his life spreading the knowledge that he had gained.

The Buddha gave instructions in his teachings, often called the Middle Way or the Dhamma, for ending our worldly suffering. Two core teachings that were  given early in Buddhist history are the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path

Once I had made a conscious decision to incorporate Buddhist teachings in my day to day life - though I feel as if I would have been brought to this path some day no matter what - I started with these building blocks, these most basic teachings.

The Four Noble - Truths

1. The truth of suffering (dukkha)
2. The truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya)
3. The truth of the end of suffering (nirhodha)
4. The truth of the path that frees us from suffering (magga)

At a glance, this fist teaching can seem dark. "Suffering, suffering, and more suffering." I feel like there is a lot that the English language is not doing justice to in this very basic translation.

The First Truth - Suffering

Life has suffering. Every human being goes through suffering - Sickness, getting old, death, fear, frustration, sorrow, loneliness, and anger.  This cannot be argued.

The Second Truth- Cause of Suffering

Suffering is caused by things we can control - ego, expectations, cravings. If we can change the things that we want - desire - so that we no longer desire so much than we can escape the cause of suffering.

The Third Truth - End Of Suffering

Finally some good news. Are you ready for it? Suffering can be overcome and we all have the ability to reach true happiness. Give up useless cravings and live life one day at a time. Do not live in the past, or worry over a preconceived imaginary future.

The Fourth Truth - The Path

The Eightfold Path, which I mentioned earlier, is the path that has the ability to free us from suffering.

Please "stay tuned" for my next entry on the Eightfold Path.

Journey into Buddhism

Turning to Buddhism, for me, has been a very natural transition. As facts started to present themselves to me, through research and digging, I have begun to feel at home. The teachings correspond with beliefs that have been deep within me in my earliest stages of life.

Embarking down on this path has been  natural to me, as if I am called into it, or born into it. Finding my way home, and becoming aware of my true self. 

Studying the Buddha's teachings has lead me to truly examined myself, on a very deep personal level. In the cultivation of this knowledge I have proceeded in traveling down the path in the direction of an awakening.

This is not at all to say that I have been "fully awakened" but rather my eyes are in the process of being opened. Realizations have arisen in me, and I am aware that, that for along time, I was a in incomplete human being - shallow and distracted by illusions.

I never thought that I would ever become a "religious" person, even though I grew up attending regular church services. I was never able to think theistically. As a young person, I tried for years to get behind the all knowing, and punishing being that commanded obedience, for fear of the eternal  damnation that was reserved for the nonbelievers.

Even at a young age, I remember questioning the things that we were told in church, and feeling as if there was something wrong with me due to my inability to blindly follow what could not be proven to my young mind.
Eventually, in my teenage years, finding the act tiresome, I gave up the façade, much to my mothers dismay. My lack of religion and openness about the, unjustified, bitterness that I had for the Christian church put an immense strain on my relationship with my mother, who expected me to continue attending regular services.

I was stupid, and prideful. A teenage rebelling, but my dislike for church was not just something I used to irritate my mother. Deep down, everything about church made me uncomfortable.


Mind you that this is, in no way, a reflection of my current feelings about the church or Christianity. Through my own journey, into Buddhist teachings, I have learned a great respect, and even a fondness for true followers of Christ.

These teachings are still not for me, but they do not have to be. There are many paths to salvation, and I do not believe that any one path is better than any other. We are blessed with a planet filled with many cultures and religions, and each person's own religion is their own salvation.

Any religion that teaches the values of honesty, love, compassion, and  kindness is a benefit to the world and its people.The Dali Lama, when asked about his own religion, does not claim to be a Buddhist. Instead he has been quoted as saying, "my religion is kindness."

This journey is endless, as I am always growing, and learning. Following the path, picking up lessons, like stones, along the way.

Once filed with a deep darkness, and hatred, I am now transcending my old ways. That void - an enormous, dark, hole - is now gone, and I have filled it with the one and only thing that could ever be big enough to fill such a space - love.

Food Inc. Full Movie

Watch Food Inc online for free here.

AcroYoga Still Makes Me Smile

 

It is very important to take time out of our busy lives to do the things that make us smile... and AcroYoga still makes me smile. I need  to make more time to do this, because it brings me true joy.

 

 

 

 

 

Just for fun - my latest Acro video...unfortunately, I have not been practicing, so I am VERY shaky, but the scenery was perfect, and my old Acro partner, Tyrone Chuang, just happened to be present, so we went for it.

Change the World

I don't know if I can change the world, but I feel like if there is the possibility that something that I could do might make things just a tiny bit better for even ONE person its worth a try.

The internet is an AMAZING tool. With only a few keystrokes, you can reach the WORLD. This tool is a gift that is often misused because we fail to see and appreciate its full potential.

Twenty-six percent of consumers are digital omnivores (own a laptop, smartphone and  tablet).
 It is estimated that 80% of people have access to the internet either at work or at home, meaning that only 20% percent of the entire United States' population does not have regular internet access.  This is an AMAZING fact. We have been granted an amazing gift!

There are many different reasons that people may decide to log on.The internet can be used to increase productivity, cultivate knowledge, communicate, or it may be used for sheer entertainment.  

 I was fortunate enough to be exposed to computers from a young age.  My grandfather was an architect and, as far back as my memory reaches, my grandparents always had a computer in their home. I, fondly, remember the days of DOSS,and the emergence of the groundbreaking Windows OS.  
When I was younger my grandparents bought me lots of computer games, but all of the games, that I can remember, had educational value. I also remember spending hours upon hours "painting" in M.S. Paintbrush, and allowing my imagination to run wild.

Today, the video games that children play do not seem to have nearly as much educational value. I believe them be addicting, especially for young minds, and many experts agree that violent video games such as Halo and Grand Theft Auto carry the potential to adversely effect learning and behavior.

Only in my most recent adult years, am I truly beginning to understand the full potential of the internet, and more specifically social media.

It is estimated that more than half of the worlds population uses social media, and 1.11 billion people are currently signed up to use Facebook. Twitter currently has 554,750,000 users. As of January 2013, LinkedIn reached 200 million members, Pinterestis only 3 years old and already has 48.7 million users.

Imagine the reach one person could have if they utilize ALL of these, and other various FREE social networking giants.

What if ONE person was to REALLY uses all of these sites to deploy positive messages to the world?

How many people could that one person reach? What if everybody that that first person reached decided to reach out to their own networks, and the chain continued down the line, reaching more and more people?

I don't know if I can change the world, but if something I share can make ONE person's life just a LITTLE bit better, than all of my time and social media posts are more than worth it.


I have started an experiment - an event on Facebook. On it I have shared the one of the most AMAZING passages that I have EVER found on the internet. I am hoping that my "Facebook friends" will share it with their friends, and by the end of the year, I will be able to see how far this event has spread.

The event page is called "Be The Change We Wish To See In The World." 

I don't know how many people I will be able to reach with this event page. I may not reach many people, but ever single person counts and everybody I reach is equally important.

It takes lots of people to change the world... but LOTS of people ARE on the internet. Please share.

 

A Journey into Living Pure in a Toxic World

     We live in a toxic world. 

     The realization of this fact might be frightening to you, but it doesn't have to be. We can learn to live our lives free of contamination. We can make the choice not to allow poisonous substances into our bodies, and homes. We CAN protect ourselves and our families from toxins.

     There is a LOT of talk on the internet about organic foods, GMO's, and fluoridated water.  It’s very likely that you have heard of at least one, or not all of these issues, but unfortunately, food and items that we directly put into our bodies are not the only sources of contamination that we face these days.

     Say you already read labels on your food products, and you have taken the time to educate yourself about how misleading descriptions about product contents can be. You already know of the hidden dangers lurking inside boxes of highly processed foods, and that some food products contain chemicals that are known to cause cancer and other diseases.

     How is this happening? Why are these companies allowed to create dangerous food products? These days everybody is on the lookout for the best bargain. Companies make money off of selling massive quantities of cheap foods that is low in nutrition and quality. We are stuck in a cycle of quantity over quality.

      I often hear the excuse, "organic food is too expensive." Sure you might pay a little more per pound for organic food than conventional food, but it’s time we change the way we value our food. As I stroll down the aisles of my local grocery store I do not price my food pound for pound, I price my food based on nutritional content.

     In America, we pride ourselves on being full, but nutrition is often an afterthought. When you buy organic foods, you get more nutrition, and are avoiding a multitude health risks. Eating healthy may seem more expensive, but in the long run an organic diet, free from toxins and filled with lots of nutrient rich organic fruits and veggies, can prevent a slew of diseases.

     A heart attack can easily cost $30,000 - $450,000 for a single procedure. The average cost of a 30 day cancer prescription drug treatment is close to $2,000, but newer cancer drugs can squeeze $10,000 a month from your pocket. For a patient without insurance, diabetes can cost close to $1,000 a month. The worst part is that these health problems are food related, and avoidable.

     By simply eating an organic, mostly plant based, diet all of the health risks above can be avoided. When you eat organic foods you are not getting pesticides, GMO's, antibiotics, rBST hormones, or artificial sweeteners, and you are dodging a HUGE bullet - the direct assault of chemicals on your body from the inside out.

     If you are planning on making just one change this year, I beg you to go organic - eat organic foods. Going organic has made a tremendous difference in my life, my energy level, and my general health.

     If you are already eating organic foods, then consider looking into the chemicals in your cosmetics, hair care products, body soaps, and household cleaners. Since these items are part of unregulated industries, and are not intended for human consumption, these chemicals are very often dangerous.

     We apply chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and sulfates to our bodies on a daily basis. These poisons easily soak into our skin and begin pumping though our bodies. We eat food off of counter tops that have been wiped down with chemicals known to cause damage to our kidneys.

     Most dish soaps are made with petroleum based ingredients. Just one bottle of dish detergent can contain a list of cancer inducing agents that are left behind and then transferred onto our food.

     If we find a bad smell in a room, rather than opening a window, we fill the air in our homes with formaldehyde – a well-known carcinogen, found in most air fresheners.

     There are many all natural and organic cosmetics, soaps, and hair care products available on the internet and in retail stores. You can even find online tutorials with detailed instructions on how to affordable make your own products.

    There is no reason for us to waste our hard earned dollars buying toxic chemicals to "disinfect" our homes when a quick online search can reveal a long list of safe and affordable alternatives.

    As our world becomes more and more aware of these problems the number of safe natural products continues to rise. I really love the natural cleaning products that I can easily acquire from my local grocery store. Brands like Mrs. Meyers and Seventh Generation are becoming widely available.

    It has been my personal experience that natural cleaning solutions tend to clean even better than their cheaper, dangerous, counterparts. It makes me wonder how we were tricked into buying low quality, hazardous products, in the first place.

     I have made the switch, and I am never looking back. The choice wasn't that hard for me to make… Stay healthy, or live sick?

     

Style Undefined

I started with a basic Vinasa flow DVD. Now I flow freestyle. My Asana varies from day to day depending on my mood. Sometimes its fast, and energetic, and other days its slow and relaxing. I let my body tell me what it needs. I have very little classroom time, so my yoga is not included by any particular style. I don't see anything wrong with that.

Austin, Texas has a very large, and fast growing yoga community.  Driving up and down the streets of Austin Texas - "the big city" - one finds a very large variety of yoga studios. 

So many studios, so many different forms of yoga, the choices can be overwhelming to somebody who is trying to choose a class for the first time. 

We, in the western culture, seem to be obsessed with branding, and putting labels on things. We dwell over making names for ourselves, and strive to prove to those around us that we are unique, or gifted one way or another, but in the end all these efforts at differentiation are essentially meaningless, because deep down we are all the same. 

We are all unique, every single one of us is unique by nature. We are all gifted, we have skills that we excel at, and everybody excels at something different, but in the end we all have the potential to be great at one thing or another. 

All of the qualities that make us seemingly different, when looked at on a deeper level, actually tie us all together, and at the heart of it all, we are all the same. Everything comes down to perception.  No one man, is any better than any other, because we are all, essentially the same, just formed out of different sets of circumstances. 

The same is true with yoga. All the studios, all the varieties, how can any one studio claim that their way is better than the studio up the road? Better is the wrong word, in most cases. Different is much more accurate. Different, yet similar. 

Generally, yoga is thought to have six main branches. Six is a small number, when you consider that there are more than seven billion people in the world. 

I propose that yoga is one thing, a union, that can be achieved in many ways. If you were to invite the entire world to one destination, all seven billion people, not everybody would arrive at the same time.  Its also reasonable to believe that they would  not all journey through the same path.

I believe that there are many roads to enlightenment, perhaps even as many roads as there are people, and that no one person's road is any better than anybody else's. 

My yoga is my road, and its mine alone. Though others may influence the choices that I make along the way, ultimately I am responsible for the journey, and the directions and paths that I take on the way to my final destination. 

My Asana practice, is as unique as my journey. It is alive, breathing, moving, growing, and evolving. It changes from day to day, depending on my physical and mental health, and is as undefined as I am. Really, "it" is me. It is an expression of me, it becomes me, and it shapes me. I grow through my practice, and every day I witness my practice growing. There is a union.