Vegetarian Ideal


Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.
- Albert Einstein

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Divide and Conquer: How the Essence of Mindfulness Parallels the Nuts and Bolts of Science



Google Tech Talk
January 28, 2010

ABSTRACT

Presented by Shinzen Young.

The purpose of this talk is threefold:

(1) to describe how senior adepts use mindfulness to reduce suffering and gain insight into selfhood and emotions.

(2) To point out how the method they use in many ways parallels what scientists do when confronted with a complex and inscrutable system in nature.

(3) To discuss how this fundamental parallelism between the two endeavors can become the basis for a productive collaboration in the future.

Bio: Shinzen Young became fascinated with Asian culture while a teenager in Los Angeles.

Later he enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Buddhist Studies at the University of Wisconsin.

Eventually, he went to Asia and did extensive training in each of the three major Buddhist meditative traditions: Vajrayana, Zen, and Vipassana.

Upon returning to the United States, his intellectual interests shifted to the burgeoning dialogue between Eastern internal science and Western technological science. In recognition of his original contributions to that dialogue, the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology has awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Shinzen's innovative techniques for pain management derived from two sources:  
The first is his personal experience dealing with discomfort during intense periods of meditation in Asia, and during shamanic ceremonies with tribal cultures.

The second is some three decades of experience in coaching people through a wide spectrum of chronic and acute pain challenges. 

Shinzen leads meditation retreats in the mindfulness tradition throughout North America, and has helped establish several centers and programs.




Source:
Divide and Conquer: How the Essence of Mindfulness Parallels the Nuts and Bolts of Science - YouTube






Nicholas Kirsten Honshin Limited Edition Print Collection

 Honshin painting

 Honshin painting

 Honshin painting

 Honshin painting

Honshin painting





Source:
Nicholas Kirsten Honshin Limited Edition Print Collection

 http://www.honshin.com/HonShow04/HonShow04Slides.htm#




Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Gilded Statue of Buddha






 
Gilded Buddha , Thailand  
Source:
(Hereward J Bunch'Hezbunch/flickr.com)

quotes



"What you get by reaching your
destination is not nearly as
important as what you will become
by reaching your destination."
- Zig Ziglar




"Adversity is another way to measure
the greatness of individuals. I never had
a crisis that didn't make me stronger."
- Lou Holtz



I dont believe in quotas. America was founded on a philosophy of individual rights, not group rights.

~ Clarence Thomas














  

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Technology for Mind Management - YouTube


Published on Apr 22, 2012
 
Swami Mukundananda was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on October 12th, 2011 to deliver an enlightening talk on the topic of "Technology for Mind Management". The lecture was followed by Q/A session.
  • Category

  • License - Standard YouTube License



Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Technology for Mind Management - YouTube

 http://youtu.be/izsE5Ty6eCQ



Who is swami Mukundananda?

Answer:
Swami Mukundananda is a highly renowned spiritual teacher, who has dedicated his life for the service God and helping people with their spiritual quest. Swamiji is one of the senior disciples of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, the fifth authentic Jagadguru of this age.

An Engineer from IIT and an MBA from IIM, Swami Mukundananda embarked on his spiritual mission soon after his studies. Well versed with the Vedas, Shastras, Puranas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Geeta, Ramayan and The Bhagwatam, Swamiji has practiced and taught the Philosophy of Divine Love as elucidated by his Guru, Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj for over 22 years in many countries and extensively in India.

Swami Mukundananda is the founder of the acclaimed system of Yog known as, "Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog". Under his guidance, a unique educational program for youngsters called "Bal-Mukund" is also organised in many spiritual centers.

For the last quarter of a century, Shree Swamiji has been traveling far and wide, awakening hundreds of thousands of seekers. Carrying the flame of devotion in his heart, Swami Mukundandanda helps people embrace the path of devotion to God and gain true happiness.

Hearing the profound secrets of the Vedas from him is a rare privilege, for he is able to explain the ancient esoteric knowledge with rigourous scientific logic, in the modern context.

Using perfect logic, and a simple approach, Swamiji offers new ways of understanding and applying the knowledge of the scriptures in our daily lives. The hallmark of his lectures is the ease with which he dispels various myths and misnomers associated with the various paths of God-realization.

The discourses offered by Swamiji are specially designed for those people who have unanswered questions about spirituality, and are looking for satisfactory answers. 
Some of the questions addressed in his lectures are:

  • What is the goal of life?
  • We are all searching for happiness, yet we remain discontented. Why?
  • What is the nature of God? Why is He beyond our intellect, mind and senses?
  • What is the Grace of God? How is it attained?
  • What is sharanagati or surrender to God?
  • Why do we experience lust, anger, greed, envy, illusion etc.? How can they be conquered?
  • The Vedas mention three paths to God-realization: karm, gyan and bhakti. What is the difference between them? Who is qualified for which path?
  • Do all paths of karm, gyan and bhakti lead to the same goal or different goals?
  • Is it possible to attain God even while staying in household life? What is the karm yog of the Bhagavad Gita?
  • What is Divine love and how is it different from worldly love?
  • How can one establish a personal relationship with God?
  • What is the basis for choosing one's worshipped form of God?
  • What do the scriptures say about the need for a Spiritual Master? How do we recognize a genuine Guru?
  • What is meditation? How and when should Sadhana (devotional practice) be done ?

Singing and chanting the glories of the Lord is one of the main highlights of the programs conducted by Swamiji. He chants the sweetest bhajans that inspire devotional love, and elevate the consciousness to subliminal heights.

Shree Swamiji's has a God-gifted ability to keep all kinds of audiences enthralled and entertained through wisdom filled anecdotes, humorous stories and irrefutable logic. He has inspired innumerable people, of all ages, towards the path of God Realization, the world over. Swamiji's warmth and humility touch all those who have the fortune to have his association. In fact, his very presence radiates Grace and Bliss.



Monday, January 28, 2013

The Siddha Yoga Path


Welcome to the Siddha Yoga Path

The Siddha Yoga Path


Siddha Yoga is a spiritual path of discipline, of mastering the mind and senses with teachings and practices. It is also a path imbued with grace. 

Siddha Yoga practice and study is guided by meditation master and teacher Gurumayi Chidvilasananda

Gurumayi, the spiritual head of the Siddha Yoga path, teaches students to live in the awareness of the inner Self so that they can transform themselves as well as the world in which they live.

The Siddha Yoga path was founded by Gurumayi's predecessor and Guru,
Swami Muktananda, affectionately known as Baba. Swami Muktananda's emblematic teaching is:

 “Meditate on your own Self. Worship your Self. Respect your Self. God dwells within you as you.”
Siddha Yoga practice begins with spiritual initiation, shaktipat diksha. Through the Siddha Yoga master's grace and the student's own steady effort, students realize the divinity within themselves and in the world around them.

The Siddha Yoga path is accessible, engaging, and directly applicable to the challenges and opportunities of modern life. 

Through study and application, students integrate the Siddha Yoga teachings and spiritual practices into the fabric of daily life.

Siddha Yoga philanthropic expressions, created by Gurumayi, include The PRASAD Project and the Muktabodha Indological Research Institute.

The PRASAD Project provides health, education and sustainable development programs for children, families, and communities in need. 

The Muktabodha Indological Research Institute preserves the Indian scriptures and ancient Vedic traditions.

The SYDA Foundation is the organization that protects, preserves and facilitates the dissemination of the Siddha Yoga teachings.



 Source:
Welcome to the Siddha Yoga Path

 http://www.siddhayoga.org


Swami Mukundananda Leads the “The Path to God Realization” | Indo American News




Swami Mukundananda Leads the “The Path to God Realization”




HOUSTON: Swami Mukundananda, a well renowned saint from Vrindavan, U.P, India makes a much awaited return to Texas as part of his enlightening tour across USA. He has pioneered the ground breaking, “Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog” – a holistic system of Yoga that incorporates physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual health of humankind.

The highly educated spiritual leader’s teaching is scientifically explained as “the spiritual art of managing the mind”. He brings a powerful combination of yoga, meditation and spiritual wellness to the fore through a series of discourses and practical training sessions.

Swamiji teaches the true philosophy of God realization by practice of sincere devotion as per the Vedas, Upanishads and other sacred texts. In order to achieve this goal, a healthy body and mind is absolutely essential. His programs imbibe the age old traditions of Yoga, Meditation & Pranayam to purify the body, and Divine knowledge to cleanse the mind, leading to the true upliftment of the soul.

Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog has organized a series of Yoga, Meditation, and spiritual discourses in more than 27 cities across USA this summer. Led by Swami Mukundananda, these programs kicked off in April 2011 at Irving, TX and have enthralled audiences all over the country. After a whirlwind tour of 13 states, Swamiji will be in Sugar Land and Houston in late August for his hugely popular series of Yoga, Meditation and lecture programs.

Speaking at the hugely successful program in California this summer, Laura Fine remarks, “Swami Mukundananda is continually inspiring. I love the yoga as it takes me deep inward and prepares my body to be able to relax into a devotional stillness where I can focus deeply inward and absorb the chanting and philosophy that follows. I can’t wait to return for more.”

Swami Mukundananda’s sessions have drawn ever increasing crowds year after year. The list of cities he has visited has steadily increased from 10 in 2009 to over 25 in 2011. Swamiji has also pioneered a special educational program for children, Bal-Mukund, aimed at developing moral and spiritual values in youngsters. The program helps nurture a child’s personality by strengthening their basic character and providing a stronger platform to face the challenges of the modern world.

His awe inspiring talk on “Wellness for Life” at Oracle HQ in Redwood Shores in late April 2011 was an instant hit with the audience, who learnt about new ways of understanding the quest for happiness in an increasingly stress filled environment. Not to be left out, it was Google’s turn to invite Swamiji at their Headquarters in CA in May 2011 to hear his masterly lecture.

During his tour of USA in 2010, Swamiji was the guest speaker at the prestigious Princeton University, New Jersey, Kellogg’s School of Management, IL, University of Illinois, Chicago and Northeastern Illinois University.

What has inspired and impressed people across the table is his simple but highly effective logical explanation about human values and their inner quest for happiness. People have been touched by his very presence and his scholarly wisdom. His humble and approachable nature has appealed to people from all walks of life.

Kelly Carrasquillo, (CT) says, “Brought to tears when witnessing the devotion and harmony Swamiji brought out in everyone. Regardless of religious background Swamiji’s lectures got to the core principle of each faith.”

Uplifting! Excellent! is what people who have been touched by the words of wisdom and the personality of Swami Mukundananda have been saying. In every city of his visit, a week-long program with Yoga sessions in the mornings and/or evenings is organized. The first part of the session focuses on Yoga & Meditation. The second session focuses on devotional chantings and spiritual discourses to purify the mind.

Swamiji was recently invited to the Hindsdale Community Center, IL for a workshop on “Stress Management in the 21st Century”. A huge hit with the audience for the highly practical techniques to counter mental stress, the participants were highly appreciative of the values and the learning they were exposed to in such a short timeframe.

Swami Mukundananda’s programs in Sugar Land and Houston, TX start on the 21st of Aug and will run till the 1st of Sep, 2011. The program will include yoga, meditation, spiritual discourses and chantings. Program admission is free. Program details can be viewed at: http://jkyog.org/event_tx.html

His East Coast, West Coast and Central Tour was a huge success followed by a spiritual retreat in Fresno, CA on Memorial Day weekend, and in Danbury, CT during the 1st week of July. The testimonials of attendees showed how the 2 day retreat changed their lives and they will continue to attend it every year. Many are now planning to attend the final retreat at Trinity, TX on Labor Day weekend.

Many participants and devotees feel enlivened by Swamiji’s life transforming techniques. Swamiji has made a tremendous impact on thousands of people who came to see and hear him speak at the various venues across the country.

Swami Mukundananda received his degrees in Engineering and Management from two world famous institutes in India- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Management (IIM) respectively. However, the call of God was so strong that a short while after landing a top corporate job, he renounced his professional career to take sanyas, in the quest for God-realization. Since the last two decades, Swamiji has been travelling far and wide in various states of India and also in Nepal, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, USA, and Europe, awakening hundreds of thousands of seekers.

About Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog (JKY)

JKY is a non-profit organization dedicated to the spiritual, mental and physical wellness of Humankind, through true Yoga and Spirituality.

For more information, visit http://www.jkyog.org/




Source:

Swami Mukundananda Leads the “The Path to God Realization” | Indo American News

http://www.indoamerican-news.com/archives/3411





Sharon Salzberg on Loving Kindness.mov - YouTube


Uploaded on Dec 12, 2011
 

Sharon Salzberg from the 'Wisdom of Awareness' Retreat with Sogyal Rinpoche and Tsoknyi Rinpoche, June 2011 (Garrison Institute, New York), she talks about the importance of a loving attitude in our modern society.






Sharon Salzberg on Loving Kindness.mov - YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQSWsOORBFY


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Invisible Indians: Federal Court grants rights to Métis, non-status Indians



“ The growing and dying of the moon reminds us of our ignorance which comes and goes—but when the moon is full it is as if the Great Spirit were upon the whole world. ” 

—Black Elk, Oglala Sioux





Federal Court grants rights to Métis, non-status Indians

Off-reserve aboriginal people are 'Indians' and entitled to same constitutional rights

The federal government has lost the latest battle in a 13-year legal fight over its responsibilities to Métis and non-status Indians.

On Tuesday, the Federal Court ruled that 200,000 Métis and 400,000 non-status Indians in Canada are indeed "Indians" under the Constitution Act, and fall under federal jurisdiction.
The decision helps to more clearly outline Ottawa's responsibilities toward the two aboriginal groups.

"The recognition of Métis and non-status Indian as Indians under section 91(24) should accord a further level of respect and reconciliation by removing the constitutional uncertainty surrounding these groups," Federal Court Judge Michael Phelan writes.




Invisible Indian




source:
Federal Court grants rights to Métis, non-status Indians - Politics - CBC News

 http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/01/08/pol-cp-metis-indians-federal-court-challenge.html




Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Brian Greene and Lawrence Krauss - The great String Theory debate - YouTube





Brian Greene and Lawrence Krauss - The great String Theory debate - YouTube



Brian Greene: Making sense of string theory - YouTube


 Uploaded on Apr 23, 2008

 
http://www.ted.com In clear, nontechnical language, string theorist Brian Greene explains how our understanding of the universe has evolved from Einstein's notions of gravity and space-time to superstring theory, where minuscule strands of energy vibrating in 11 dimensions create every particle and force in the universe.
(This mind-bending theory may soon be put to the test at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva).




Source:
Brian Greene: Making sense of string theory - YouTube

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtdE662eY_M





Monday, January 7, 2013

A Japanese Proverb for the New Year

 


The Japanese have a proverb: 
"rainen no koto o ieba, oni ga warau" -- 
"when we say next year, the devil laughs." 


It’s an exhortation to have one’s priorities straight—to not put off things that are really important. 



One way to measure the importance of something is how deep, how powerful, and how universally applicable that thing is. By this metric, our mindfulness practice deserves more priority than it often gets. 


The New Year is an opportunity for renewed practice. 








 Source:
Shinzen's Blog: A Japanese Proverb for the New Year

 http://shinzenyoung.blogspot.ca/2012/12/a-japanese-proverb-for-new-year.html



Sunday, January 6, 2013

The Moth Presents Elna Baker: Yes Means Yes?


Uploaded on Oct 21, 2011

 
A young woman recounts the difficulty of being a Mormon in New York City.

Elna Baker is a writer and comedian, whose book The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance was published by Penguin in 2009. She currently resides in New York.




Source:
The Moth Presents Elna Baker: Yes Means Yes? - YouTube

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0uL_CKL9wg