Tag Archives: reality

Everything is Connected

4 Nov

Because everything is energy, we are all interconnected. This principle is seen in the way our personal energy interacts with the collective energy around us. You may have noticed how being in a room full of happy, positive people can elevate your own mood while being around negativity can drain you. This is the nature of energetic exchange.

The energy you radiate affects not just your own life but also the lives of those around you. By committing to raising your personal vibration, you contribute to the greater good. It’s a powerful reminder that we have the ability to impact the world simply by being mindful of the energy we bring into it.

Understanding that everything is energy shifts the way we approach life. It teaches us that we are creators, shaping our reality through the energy we give and receive. The key to thriving is learning to harness this energy—nurturing the positive, letting go of the negative, and recognizing the beautiful, ever-flowing exchange that connects us all.

The energy of life is the source from which all form and substance is created. We live in a universe of energy – literally and not just metaphorically. We are form- body- and need to follow the need of the body to follow our destiny of living..The energy is available if the conditions of the form are carefully nourished and met.

Dr. Pang Ming

Tags: , , , , ,

Universal Life Principle

4 Nov



The Bauer principle originates from the fact that it transcends the framework of physics, this universal life principle represents a significant advance in our understanding of the structure and nature of the Universe.
This comprehensively life-centered world-view unites our physical, emotional, and intellectual aspects. It is also comprehensive in unifying individual, communal, and cosmic life. It offers an unexpectedly profound scientific basis for a cosmic ecology respecting all life forms, including the Living Universe. It offers new perspectives for our conduct of individual life as well as for good government and developing a healthy civilization.
There is one natural law for all of us to live by, and that is caring and sharing and being responsible for the well-being of all other living things… Having a good relationship with all life is the key to physical, mental, social, and spiritual harmony. This is the way it was meant to be.

Attila Grandpierre

Tags: , , , , , , ,

The cosmos is within us.

4 Nov

“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.” “Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.” “The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.” “For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.” “We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light‐years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. So are our emotions in the presence of great art or music or literature, or acts of exemplary selfless courage such as those of Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.”

― Carl Sagan

Tags: , , , , , ,

I Have Taught No Secrets…Replied the Buddha…

2 Nov

DN16 32. Thus spoke the Venerable Ananda, but the Blessed One answered him, saying: “What more does the community of bhikkhus expect from me, Ananda? I have set forth the Dhamma without making any distinction of esoteric and exoteric doctrine; there is nothing, Ananda, with regard to the teachings that the Tathagata holds to the last with the closed fist of a teacher who keeps some things back. Whosoever may think that it is he who should lead the community of bhikkhus, or that the community depends upon him, it is such a one that would have to give last instructions respecting them. But, Ananda, the Tathagata has no such idea as that it is he who should lead the community of bhikkhus, or that the community depends upon him. So what instructions should he have to give respecting the community of bhikkhus? I have not held anything back. I have explained everything openly. …There are no secrets that only a select few have heard. “I have taught thte Dhamma, Ananada, making no “inner” and “outer”: the Tathagata has no “teacher’s fist” in respect of doctrines”. A famous statement, implying that there is no ‘esoteric’ teaching in Buddhism, at least as originally taught by the Founder….In the same way, monks, there are many more things that I have found out, but not revealed to you. What I have revealed to you is only a little. And why, monks, have I not revealed it?

“Because, monks, it is not related to the goal, it is not fundamental to the holy life, does not conduce to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, tranquillity, higher knowledge, enlightenment or Nibbaana. That is why I have not revealed it. And what, monks, have I revealed?

“What I have revealed is: ‘This is Suffering, this is the Arising of Suffering, this is the Cessation of Suffering, and this is the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering.’ And why, monks, have I revealed it?

“Because this is related to the goal, fundamental to the holy life, conduces to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, tranquillity, higher knowledge, enlightenment and Nibbaana, therefore I have revealed it.

“Therefore, monks, your task is to learn: ‘This is Suffering, this is the Arising of Suffering, this is the Cessation of Suffering, this is the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering.’ That is your task.”

Tags: , , , ,

Gudo Nishijima was a Japanese Zen master and scholar who played a significant role in the development and dissemination of Zen Buddhism in the Western world.

2 Nov

Gudo Nishijima (1919-2014)

Gudo Nishijima was a Japanese Zen master and scholar who played a significant role in the development and dissemination of Zen Buddhism in the Western world. He was a student of the famous Zen master, Kodo Sawaki, and later went on to establish his own Zen organization, the Dogen Sangha. Nishijima is widely recognized for his scholarly and accessible approach to teaching Zen, and for his contributions to the translation and interpretation of the Buddhist canon.


Gogo Nishijima’s Quotes

  1. “The true purpose of life is to awaken to the reality of the present moment.”
  2. “We must live our lives with the intention of becoming a source of inspiration and encouragement for others.”
  3. “The mind is like a wild horse that needs to be tamed through meditation and mindfulness.”
  4. “We are all interconnected and part of a greater whole. Our actions and thoughts affect not only ourselves but also those around us.”
  5. “The only way to truly understand something is to experience it for yourself.”
  6. “Happiness is not something that can be pursued or attained. It is a byproduct of living a meaningful and fulfilling life.”
  7. “The key to a fulfilling life is to find and pursue your unique purpose and calling.”
  8. “The most important thing in life is to cultivate a strong and resilient mind.”
  9. “The purpose of Zen practice is not to achieve enlightenment, but to live in a state of continuous awakening.”
  10. “We must learn to let go of our attachments and desires in order to find true freedom and happiness.”
  11. “The ultimate goal of Zen is to become a fully integrated and awakened human being.”
  12. “The present moment is all we have. The past is gone, and the future is uncertain.”
  13. “The true meaning of life can only be discovered through introspection and self-reflection.”
  14. “True happiness comes from within and cannot be found in external circumstances or material possessions.”
  15. “Our thoughts and emotions are like clouds in the sky. They come and go, but the sky remains unchanged.”
  16. “The practice of Zen is not about escaping from the world, but about fully engaging with it and finding meaning in every moment.”
  17. “The most important thing in life is to be true to yourself and follow your own path.”
  18. “Meditation is a way to quiet the mind and connect with the present moment.”
  19. “The practice of Zen is not about perfection, but about progress and continual improvement.”
  20. “The true nature of reality can only be understood through direct experience.”
  21. “The most powerful force in the universe is love.”
  22. “We must learn to embrace and accept all aspects of ourselves, including our flaws and imperfections.”
  23. “The purpose of life is to learn and grow, both as individuals and as a society.”
  24. “The ultimate goal of Zen is to become a compassionate and empathetic human being.”
  25. “The most important thing in life is to live with integrity and follow your own moral compass.”

Tags: , ,

Anatta: Nothing lives on its own, all are interdependent.

2 Nov



Anatta: Nothing lives on its own, all are interdependent. We are alive not only due to our parents, air, food, water, but the entire ecosystem we live in. Dependent Origination recognizes that everything, including the psychophysical compound that we call individual, exists only in relation to other beings and things and undergoes constant changes responding and reacting to them. There is a plural causality of all things whereby each thing arises in relation to all others, and can therefore be said to be conditioned by all others. There are vast numbers of influences that affect us constantly- some help us thrive, others not. We cannot remain the same for two moments. We are like a flame. Whatever is subject to origination is also subject to cessation. Every form has the cycle of existence- to begin, age, to become disordered, and eventually cease to exist. That which carries on after death is our life elements and trends. There is nothing that can be called a permanent “I”. The identities of ‘I’, “me” and “mine” are illusions that we construct with our minds


Rodger R Ricketts,2022. All rights reserved

Tags: , , , , ,

God is No-thing: The Apophatic Assertion- Revised.Chapter 9 Apophatic and Cataphatic Meditations

31 Oct

Copyright is claimed by Rodger R Ricketts, Psy.D. All rights reserved, Fair use is granted, 2022 by Amazon KDP.

In this chapter, we reviewed several Apophatic methods to access the Oneness or No-Thing. They all begin with the incorporation of virtue, compassion/kindness and wisdom to oneself and others into everyday life. By giving up the cravings and obsession with sense gratifications, anger/resentments and egotistic selfishness based on a dualistic worldview, one’s life is unfolded by a degree of true peace of mind created by a virtuous mind and action: at this point, one is ready to move to the higher levels through meditation/prayer.

The Buddha’s pure experience unveiled for him the delusion of the cognitively based complementary relationship of the dualistic subjective/objective world. The supreme non- dualistic apprehension of existence is accomplished by consistently bending one’s awareness to the natural and higher, purer states of mind. Release from the lower to higher states is accomplished by silencing the separation created by dualism and the subject/other split. Therefore, the prescription is to do nothing, relax, be alert and allegorically let the mind, be like ‘the lotus flower blossom’, rise above the ‘muddy paddy field’ of worldly obsessions. The final stage of meditation is reached by becoming aware of and letting go of everything that alienates us away from being present in the All. When that happens, we understand and empathically feel that everything is inter-being, interconnected and all living Beings are Family of the Universe or Divine. The realm of pure experience is not an ontological category, but the ordinary world of phenomena experienced directly, with no intervening conceptualization.

Finally, as philosopher, educator and writer, Martin Buber wrote in ‘I and Thou’,

“Now from my own unforgettable experience I know well that there is a state in which the bonds of the personal nature of life seem to have fallen away from us and we experience an undivided unity…. I can elicit from those experiences only that in them I reached a non-differentiable unity of myself without form or content. I may call this an original pre-biographical unity and suppose that it is hidden unchanged beneath all biographical change, all development and complication of the soul.”

Tags: , , , , , , ,

What is Non-Duality? Experiences That Shatter the Illusion of Separation

31 Oct

Ever feel like you’re separate from the world, like a lone wolf? What if that feeling was just a trick of the mind? Non-duality suggests everything is connected, all part of one big, amazing reality. This article will dive into experiences that show you this truth.

The Core Understanding of Non-Duality

Non-duality means “not two.” It’s a concept that flies in the face of how we normally think. Usually, we see things as “this” or “that,” “me” or “you.” This is dualistic thinking. Non-duality, on the other hand, says all these separate things are actually one. It has roots in many spiritual paths, each with its own way of expressing this deep unity.

Beyond the Illusion of Separateness

Our minds are amazing, but they can also trick us. They create stories, build beliefs, and condition us to see the world in a certain way. This can lead to the illusion of separation. We start believing we’re isolated individuals, cut off from everything else. This belief causes suffering. It limits what we think is possible.

Think of the ocean. Waves look like separate things. But they’re all made of the same water. They rise and fall. Yet, they always come back to the ocean. We are all like waves, unique expressions of one ocean.

The Oneness of All Things

If non-duality is true, then everything is connected. This changes how we see everything. Our relationships become deeper. Our actions have more meaning. The world feels different. It feels alive and interconnected.

Try this: Pay attention to your breath. Notice how it connects you to the air around you. That air came from somewhere. Maybe a tree. Maybe an ocean. You are connected to all of that.

Common Experiences That Hint at Non-Duality

Certain experiences give us glimpses of non-duality. They aren’t the goal, but they point to a deeper truth. Keep an open mind.

Peak Experiences and Flow States

Have you ever felt pure joy? Or been so focused on something that time disappeared? These are peak experiences and flow states. In these moments, the sense of self fades. You become one with the experience.

Profound Connection and Empathy

Ever felt deeply connected to someone? Maybe you felt their pain as if it was your own? That’s empathy. It reveals the unity of consciousness. We are all connected on a deeper level.

Try loving-kindness meditation. Send feelings of compassion and kindness to yourself, then to others. Even those you dislike. See your heart start to open.

Practices That Facilitate the Realization of Non-Duality

Certain practices help us quiet the mind. They dissolve the ego. They show us the non-dual nature of reality.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Meditation helps quiet the mind. Mindfulness helps us pay attention. Both help us experience the present. We can see things without judgment or interpretation.

Sit comfortably. Focus on your breath. When thoughts arise, just notice them. Let them go. Keep bringing your attention back to your breath.

Self-Inquiry

Self-inquiry is about asking, “Who am I?” Keep asking this question. Don’t try to answer with your mind. Let the question sink in. See what happens. It might dissolve the sense of a separate self.

Contemplation on Nature

Spend time in nature. Look at the trees, the sky, the water. Notice how everything is connected. Everything relies on everything else. This can reveal the unity of life.

Overcoming Challenges on the Path to Non-Duality

The path to non-duality isn’t always easy. Doubts and fears come up. Resistance arises.

The Role of the Ego

The ego wants to be in control. It wants to protect itself. Non-duality threatens the ego. The ego will resist.

Learn to recognize your ego’s patterns. Understand what motivates it. Don’t fight it. Just observe it.

Accepting the Unknown

You must surrender to the unknown. You have to accept that you don’t know everything. Clinging to beliefs will hold you back.

Living a Non-Dual Life: Implications and Applications

Realizing non-duality changes how we live. It affects everything.

Compassion and Ethical Action

When you see your connection to others, compassion arises. Ethical action becomes natural. You want to help everyone, because helping them, you are helping yourself.

Letting Go of Attachment

Non-duality helps us let go of attachment. We see that everything is impermanent. Nothing lasts forever. This frees us from suffering.

Conclusion

Non-duality is a transformative experience. It shows us that everything is connected. It’s not a belief, but a direct experience of reality. Keep exploring this path. You may find that the separation you felt was never real.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Every Moment Existence is Transformed…

15 Oct

Tags: , , ,

I am Saddened…

15 Oct

Tags: , , , , ,

← Older Entries