Awareness ~ Inner Peace

Some pointers from a recent excellent meditation retreat: 

Why practising Awareness can help us find Inner Peace/Joy?

Awareness
helps remind ourselves to relax;
not to be dragged away by situation;
rest there;

Awareness of us living in samsaric cycle
allows us to get on top of the problem to watch it and decide how to get out of it.

Awareness allows us not to accept issues as enemies but instead change of attitude to handle them as friends.

If one has no awareness, one is totally lost.
With knowledge, one sees things more clearly. 
Instead of pushing away sufferings, learn to accept it.

Awareness is removing the dust/mud (emotions/afflictions) that covered the diamond.

Awareness brings one back to the child-like mind (A child visiting Museum without attaching values to the items, just seeing more).

An unpractised mind is like confused state of monkey mind
Practise develops calmness & peace.
With a clear mind, one sees arisen of good & not good thoughts without being affected and will be happier.
If no awareness, one will be unhappy and drag along.
Realisation that craving, desire are causes of confused minds, one can switch off/cut off the causes.
Not be affected by Daily bad happenings.

Rinpoche: We are not happy bec of Monkey mind.
Awareness helps train and gives direction to monkey mind to do something and it can be a tamed elephant with power.

Why need to do practice?
Understand & will do it.

Make friend with Monkey mind!

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The retreat is excellent but once the retreat ended, and back home,
I felt like I am back to my old-self, just like from Pureland environment back to the suffering Samsaric world.
Sigh... need to practice more...

Constant contact with good pure environment is good,
at least it teaches & reminds me on how to handle tomorrow better...
Amituofo...

& this further aspires me next rebirth to be in Amitabha Buddha's Pureland,
to be in Good Pure environment, Good company to practise well enough
before coming back to Samsara with Compassion & Wisdom for "Industrial attachment". :P
Amituofo...
May I gain entry to your University and graduate with flying colours...
Amituofo...

A Treasure for Health

Received an useful email tip on Losing Weight :-)
Let's Try It!!! ;-)
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A Treasure for Health
A Fast and Safe Way to Lose Weight

Many factors can cause a person to become overweight. Over-eating, constipation, inactivity and a multitude of other bodily stressors can contribute to the problem. Many people want to lose weight; however, shedding pounds is really difficult. Because of the substantial number of these people, desirous of shedding excess pounds, many kinds of weight-loss products have appeared on the market and they are nearly as profitable for the manufacturers as cosmetics. However, many weight-loss formulas contain chemicals and produce unpleasant side effects, as many women well know. Some middle-aged men have “beer bellies” and some women have accumulated fat in the abdominal area after having children. They want to get rid of the fat, but for many, exercising at a gym is not always convenient. Now I’ll tell you a secret: Do prostrations every morning for half an hour and your abdominal fat will vanish. For faster, superior results, prostrate for half an hour in the morning and another half-hour in the evening. You’ll be surprised at how rapidly you achieve the desired effect. Maintaining healthful dietary habits and a moderate level of activity are also important factors and including prostration in your daily routine assists in improving overall lifestyle choices by increasing willpower. Prostrating frequently encourages people to assume natural control over their appetite with ease. Clearing Energy Channels and Promoting Blood Circulation Multiplesystems of circulation exist within the body. They include the digestive, vascular and energetic systems. An obstruction to the flow of any circulatory system will result in disease and an acceleration of the aging process. A regular prostration practice promotes smooth circulation, clearing energetic blockages and facilitating physical and emotional balance. There are two major energy channels in the body: the “Ren” and the “Du.” The Ren channel promotes blood circulation and serves as the primary reservoir of yin energy in the body, while Du nourishes life energy and serves as the main keeper of yang energy. When both channels are clear, blood and energy circulate freely in the body. Prostration is also a gentle aerobic exercise that increases oxygen intake and – like any fitness activity – stimulates the production of endorphins, boosting mood and immunity. Optimizing Heart and Brain Function By the time they reach midlife, many people experience a decline in mental acuity. Heart problems, too, become more common in middle age. The proliferation of sedentary jobs in modern life contributes to the fact that a significant segment of the population fails to exercise regularly, resulting in reduced oxygen levels in the heart and brain. Working in an office setting for more than three hours often causes tiredness, as sitting for extended periods of time, even if the brain is active, restricts oxygen flow. A modicum of physical exercise and fresh air breaks are necessary to maintain mental sharpness. Prostration engages the heart and brain, in part by repeatedly altering the body’s position from a typical upright stance to a downward-facing one. This whole body up-and-down motion encourages increased oxygen intake, providing a simple way to keep the cardiovascular and cerebral systems in optimum condition. -- except from "Prostration for Better Living: An Introduction to Practicing Prostration" A good reference on how to do full prostration: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NY6CyyfOUzc  It is recommended to do on yoga mat to protect your knee cap . Enjoy the exercise.   拜佛對健康的好處  http://www.buddha.twmail.cc/2-2/exercise01.htm

Buddha Light

I am certainly not a good living example of a good Buddhist.
Making all the mistakes that could had been avoided if I had been practicing well.
I have non Dharma friends who have more Compassion and Wisdom to handle life better than I do. I salute them.
But if not for the Dharma, I could be worse so I am still grateful to be in touch with it.
Mindfulness, Compassion, Wisdom and Bodhicitta, may you grow in me and all.
Buddha Light, please embrace me and all.


May All Be Well
May All Be Happy...
Amituofo _/|\_