My dear friend Pedro and I were discussing the marvels of cultivating appreciation for experiencing life with the quality of "as it is". As my practice unfolds there seems to be less a compulsive need for pushing and pulling, of grasping and averting. Displacing much of this pushing and pulling is a profound sense of trust; and in that trust, a clarity in awareness that brings a degree of contentment that seems ineffable. These two quotes came up in our conversation. I wanted to share them and wish you all profound and unconditioned happiness... "As it is, we are merely bolting our lives—gulping down undigested experiences as fast as we can stuff them in—because awareness of our own existence is so superficial and so narrow that nothing seems to us more boring than simple being. If I ask you what you did, saw, heard, smelled, touched and tasted yesterday, I am likely to get nothing more than the thin, sketchy outline of the few things that you noticed, and of those only what you thought worth remembering. Is it surprising that an existence so experienced seems so empty and bare that its hunger for an infinite future is insatiable? But suppose you could answer, “It would take me forever to tell you, and I am much too interested in what’s happening now.” How is it possible that a being with such sensitive jewels as the eyes, such enchanted musical instruments as the ears, and such a fabulous arabesque of nerves as the brain can experience itself as anything less than a god? And, when you consider that this incalculably subtle organism is inseparable from the still more marvelous patterns of its environment—from the minutest electrical designs to the whole company of the galaxies—how is it conceivable that this incarnation of all eternity can be bored with being?” Alan Watts, On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are "Even the most exalted states and most exceptional spiritual accomplishments are unimportant if we cannot be happy in the most basic and ordinary ways, if we cannot touch one another and the life we have been given with our hearts." - Jack Kornfield, A Path With Heart http://ift.tt/13prCVk
These are great. Gentleman Scholar made these amusing animations called The Trials and Tribulations of Being a Skeleton and it shows how daily life--like sports and gravity and puberty and first days--for a skeleton isn't a lot of fun. Watch them, they're quick and easily digestible and easy to laugh at. http://gizmo.do/EhjowWf
Virgin Galactic is reporting that there has been an "in-flight anomaly" aboard SpaceShip Two. There are unconfirmed reports that one of the two pilots is dead. http://gizmo.do/6IJzlbo
Trust us. http://bzfd.it/1zgJWgs
It may seem harmless, perfectly acceptable even, considering that the "R-word" is in the dictionary and even once was used to describe a medical condition. But, really, is it? To clear up any remaining confusion, the Military Special ... http://ift.tt/1023QfG
Relax, everything fits perfectly now. http://bzfd.it/1rEwx9e
The sun yet to rise and already I miss you. Hurry now your warmth. http://ift.tt/1tUVWlF
Getting braces for crooked teeth is one of our society's accepted forms of self torture for the sake of vanity. It's completely painful and done in a terribly awkward stage in life but it's worth it in the end, not just for the sight of straight teeth but for the pure functionality of improving the bite (or so they say). Here's the entire process. http://gizmo.do/P4t1n8n
Everybody know what the best thing about the end of the year. It's easy. No, it's not Christmas presents. Or seeing family over the holidays. The best thing about the end of the year is National Geographic's Photo Contest. It's a tradition where we get to see just how awesome the world around us is. http://gizmo.do/4u4PEAx
Can you get through this post without laughing out loud? http://ift.tt/1zAFYAk
I want my mommy. http://ift.tt/1xpTsth
The day you reflect carefully and realize that nothing you are seeking is actually outside, it will blow your mind and heart wide open. The only thing left is to have a good laugh. http://ift.tt/1rzlZZK
Whose job is it to love you, understand you, appreciate you? Your's of course. When you finally realize this, you set us all free. Thank-you so much! http://ift.tt/12yxD1v
Stop pretending that you're not it. http://ift.tt/1tsmtoV
If this video doesn't make you think twice about using your cell phone, nothing will. http://ift.tt/1rZ77mE
When The Dj Drops Your Jam... Aw YIS http://ift.tt/1sFxrpt
When you're working hard to change a habit, develop a skill, or achieve a personal goal, it's hard not to compare yourself to others. Doing so can bring you down or breed hateful thoughts, however, so you're better off comparing yourself to someone you know you've surpassed: the old you. http://lifehac.kr/tBmDy2R
Though weary of feet and exhausted of this soul, I’ll follow you still. http://ift.tt/1omcqBY
From my point of view all things originate with the mind. The quality of our actions depends on our motivation. A real appreciation of humanity, compassion, and love are crucial to this. Whether we work in science, agriculture, or politics, if we’re good hearted about it, our contribution will be positive. http://ift.tt/1y9SimK
Share this article Forgiveness and the Awakened SoulPosted March 26, 2012 Question: I’d like to know about forgiveness as a bridge between the separate self and the awakened soul.Ram Dass: That’s a nice way of phrasing the question. It’s a step on a ladder that goes from dualism into non-dua… http://goo.gl/R1iQov
Be yourself. Free yourself. http://ift.tt/1y8Jbmi
A first-grade teacher, Ms. Brooks, was having trouble with one of her students. The teacher asked, "Harry, what's your problem?" Harry answered, "I'm too smart for the 1st grade. My sister is in the 3rd grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the 3rd grade too!" Ms. Brooks had had enough. She took Harry to the principal's office. While Harry waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the principal what the situation was. The principal told Ms. Brooks he would give the boy a test. If he failed to answer any of his questions he was to go back to the 1st grade and behave. She agreed. Harry was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he agreed to take the test. Principal: "What is 3 x 3?" Harry: "9." Principal: "What is 6 x 6?" Harry: "36." And so it went with every question the principal thought a 3rd grader should know. The principal looks at Ms. Brooks and tells her, "I think Harry can go to the 3rd grade" Ms. Brooks says to the principal, "Let me ask him some questions." The principal and Harry both agreed. Ms. Brooks asks, "What does a cow have four of that I have only two of?" Harry, after a moment: "Legs." Ms. Brooks: "What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?" The principal wondered why would she ask such a question! Harry replied: "Pockets." Ms. Brooks: "What does a dog do that a man steps into?" Harry: "Pants." Ms. Brooks: What starts with a C, ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious and contains thin, whitish liquid?" Harry: "Coconut." The principal sat forward with his mouth hanging open. Ms. Brooks: "What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky?" The principal's eyes opened really wide and before he could stop the answer, Harry replied, "Bubble gum." Ms. Brooks: "What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting down and a dog does on three legs?" Harry: "Shake hands." The principal was trembling. Ms. Brooks: "What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' that means a lot of heat and excitement?" Harry: "Firetruck." The principal breathed a sigh of relief and told the teacher, "Put Harry in the fifth-grade, I got the last seven questions wrong. http://ift.tt/1y41RDD
"He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever." "He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever." - Chinese Proverb http://buff.ly/1FcUQ8i http://ift.tt/1ujhiUK
The Dartz Prombron Black Shark is the latest crazy creation from the Russian tuners with a bullet-resistant body and military tech. Latest Mercedes-based Dartz comes with armor plating, available retina scanner http://buff.ly/1uhc2Rw http://ift.tt/1wRbV1u
ThinkGeek creates unique products that stimulate the imagination. Shop for apparel, home and office, gadgets, collectibles, and more. Free shipping available! Stand with ThinkGeek Against Bullying! http://buff.ly/1uclIgh http://ift.tt/1F8cnyG
Official video for OK Go's "This Too Shall Pass" off album "Of the Blue Colour of the Sky". The video was filmed live and features the Notre Dame marching ba... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJKythlXAIY
The trick is how to treat how awesome you two will look. http://bzfd.it/1xQwkoP
http://trib.al/b4tug0c
ESA's Optical Ground Station took this extraordinary video of the International Space Station on October 8 as it was being illuminated by a 3.6-Watt 532-nm green laser. The video was taken at 7 frames per second, but the final effects is amazing. It's incredible to see it moving like that. http://gizmo.do/JHry9xw
The Buddhist Notion of Love. http://ift.tt/1F14uei
Found this precious girl at Liberty Park tonight. No collar and her nails were ridiculously long before I cut them. So long, she was walking funny and I think in pain :/ Does anyone recognize her? I can't keep her and I don't know if the rescue organization I work for has room for her, so I might be looking for a home for her, unless we find her owner of course. Whoever takes her would have to take her to the vet for shots and a full check-up. I'm not sure if she's been spayed either. http://ift.tt/11qmqPY
SONiC Session with Pixies in the Booster Juice Listener Lounge (October 6th, 2014) Camera and Edited by Rick Lee Engineered by Layne Mitchell and Pete Ng http://ift.tt/1sPxAIA
Happiness does not depend on what u have or who you are. It solely relies on what u think. ~Buddha http://ift.tt/1wJIyy8
No word on how much this Firebird cost to build, nit it had to be WAY more than the selling price. http://ift.tt/11kdPyd
Anybody want to hear my Ebola joke? Eh, never mind... you probably won't get it. http://ift.tt/1pa8EGF
After an already rough morning, Dropbox is now facing something far more menacing. After first surfacing Reddit, several Pastebin files have been found to contain hundreds of Dropbox users' usernames and passwords—and the anonymous poster claims that there are millions more to come. http://gizmo.do/Mbus7HH
This is not a hoax, folks. Scientists out of the University of Exeter believe that smelling farts actually prevents cancer, among other diseases. Bill is a pretty fart smeller too! ;D http://ift.tt/1rf2yXU
Can we kill the dread and replace it now with hope? Can we start again? http://ift.tt/1D7NCk3
"Find a place where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain." Joseph Campbell, from A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living http://ift.tt/1v4Q5JD
Judgements of the mind keep peace away from the heart. http://ift.tt/1wtCPfH
Share this article The Entrance to OnenessPosted April 3, 2013 Imagine feeling more love from someone than you have ever known. You’re being loved even more than your mother loved you when you were an infant, more than you were ever loved by your father, your child, or your most intimate lov… http://goo.gl/mwD8yd
Movie adaptations in theaters this year. http://ift.tt/1sEpHWn
The attacker got more than he bargained for when he tried to grab this martial-arts-trained teenager. http://ift.tt/1rZgfeu
Healing yourself is the ultimate environmental activism. It is a political act. It is an expression of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satya (truthfulness) and Living this now and now and now... http://ift.tt/1s6fTm7
If you're going to have a rule for happiness, make it this: 'Nothing has to happen for me to feel good! I feel good because I'm alive! Life is a gift, and I revel in it.' http://ift.tt/1ylIIQF
Here's a photo of the Sun looking like a Jack O'Lantern taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on October 8, 2014, a blend of two light wavelengths (171 and 193 angstrom.) http://gizmo.do/QRjHRGB
Tucked away in a Variety article about Billy Crystal joining the Henson Company's production of Which Witch? — which, you know, whatever — comes the much more interesting news that a sequel to 1986's Labyrinth is in the works (along with the previously rumored Dark Crystal 2 and Fraggle Rock movies)… http://ift.tt/1q85nYy
Exploration of the Planet Mars - missions, videos, images and information The next best thing to going there, for now. http://ift.tt/1EzvuRZ
Yes, you read that correctly. http://ift.tt/1rYztAL
If you’ve been pretending, fitting in with those around you, maybe now is the time to to change that, to un-become who you are and embrace your... http://ow.ly/CmEz5
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