Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Happiness Never Decreases By Being Shared

My niece and nephew, who REALLY know how to make a person feel looooooved... 

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
- Lord Buddha

Have you shared your happiness today? Have you let the joy in your heart reach out and put a smile on someone's face? It's so easy with a gesture or a word to change the energy in a room, to change the direction of someone's day. Energy and enthusiasm are even more contagious then lethargy and apathy. Every time we use our own positive energy to influence the life of just one person, for just one moment, we bring a little bit of light and healing into the world. Imagine if we all did this all the time! Our planet would shine like a star.
Even  when we don't feel too bright and shiny we can do this by "practicing the opposite." In yoga it's sometimes referred to as "bhavana" or cultivation of a certain state of mind. In the Western vernacular sometimes we call it "fake it 'till you make it." If you feel sad or out of sorts, don't deny your feelings, but put a little energy (or a lot!) into practicing the opposite and you will feel a shift inside. Share this will another person and your happiness will increase and increase and...

Friday, February 26, 2010

The universe is a vessel full to the brim with wisdom and beauty


r u m i
9" x 10", Mixed Media
--- L I S A   D I E T R I C H



Know, O my son, that each thing in the universe is a vessel full to the brim with wisdom and beauty. It is a drop from the river of His Beauty...It is a hidden treasure because of its fullness. It has exploded and made the earth more brilliant than the skies. It has sprung up and make the earth like a sultan wearing a robe of satin.
- Rumi

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

God is Awake

Found this quote today...

Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. When you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
–Victor Hugo

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Seize This Moment for Change

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

- Andy Warhol

It's easy to fall into the trap of waiting for change. Waiting for things to get better, waiting for someone or something to make us happier, thinner, richer, more positive...insert your *wish* here ______.

But the truth is if you want something to change you've got to change it yourself.

This is good news because THAT is an empowering thought and as you all know, 
"you are what you think."
The other good news is that it starts NOW in this present moment because that is all there really is. 

So, whatever it is you want to change forget "seize the day" and seize this very moment my friends. 
Be that change NOW!


Sat Nam 
( Kundalini yoga mantra meaning "Truth is my Identity"...and it's yours too by the way:-)

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Lao Tzu on True Wisdom




This quote really caught my eye:

"Those who know others are intelligent; those who know themselves are truly wise . Those who master others are strong; those who master themselves have true power." 

-Lao-Tzu

I notice a lot how much time I spend thinking about other people.

Often, this is in seemingly good ways. I think about troubles in their lives and how I can help. I think it is important that we reach out and try to help each other, I mean, what else are we here for really? But, it is also important to honor people's ability to struggle with and solve their own problems on their journey through life. And it is important to make sure that our "helpful impulses" stay pure and don't become another way to criticize, judge and attempt to control others.

As the quote points out "self mastery" is the greatest power any of us can achieve and it is perhaps in our own self development that we help the rest of our world most of all.