Here are some random thoughts from this recent podcast by Jonathan Foust:
– It’s not the strongest or quickest who survive – it’s those that adjust quickest to change.
– Ask yourself questions as your mind will answer. ‘How can this be an opportunity for waking up? How can I grow from this?’
– “Rain” practice – recognize, allow, investigate and nurture.
– 70% of better healers have a positive attitude- taking responsibility, staying determined and having desire, connected socially and visualization of healing and expectation of full recovery.
– Kintsugi is from 16th century Japan and uses tree sap with gold to celebrate breaks to make them art. Breaks are stronger.
– Psychic wounds could make us wiser and more compassionate than before. Bring our wounds to the fore.
– Three things to think of:
1. Bring relaxation for more flow and less tension. Chi and spirit.
2. Turn towards what’s there rather than turning away. Coming into intimate contact. Connecting the dots. Where the attention goes, the energy goes.
3. Explore wholeness. Bring empathy. Explore visualization. Bathe area with warm healing colors.
– What is “Reiki”? It’s about universal life force. Infinite possibilities. Orthodox and reformed schools of thought. Different levels for teachers. Quantum healing.
– How do you move beyond being a “doer” in life to be a recipient? Slow brain waves and relax. Breathe or visualization. And then use focus. Pay attention on purpose. Whatever fires together, wires together.
Here are some thoughts made in this podcast from Jonathan Foust about four suttas / sutras allegedly spoken by Buddha for those bodyistrahas whose goal is to wake up in life (heart and mind):
1. Cultivating aspiration for awakening for as long as you live (AFGO – opportunities to learn about reality) – whatever arises, use as an opportunity to awaken
2. Cultivating spiritual friends for as long as you live – company is stronger than willpower. They can be hard to find and may be the most important thing. Not a ‘nice to,’ it’s a ‘need to.’ Our culture is designed to have you look for happiness in all the wrong ways. Very difficult to practice on your own. You need sangha.
3. Practice patience, openness and kindness for as long as you live – stay present without demonizing the enemy as a way to create community. Points the way out of self-absorption. One of the best ways to break out of depression is to be of service to others. It’s really for yourself. Lubricating your system to wake up and being fully alive. Your cup will overflow. It’s hard as you may get compassion fatigue.
4. Spending some time dwelling in the wilderness – synonym for meditation. Wilderness of the mind. What is 40 days and nights in the desert for you? So you can regain balance by becoming fully present. The power of being in nature. The power of animals who live in an alpha state, which rubs off.
Here are some thoughts made in this podcast from Jonathan Foust about becoming happier:
– Choose what you already have.
– What’s between you and being happy? Connecting to your true nature.
– Cultivating beginner’s mind. Infinite possibilities. Experience each moment fresh.
– Being caught in the state of wanting more. The hungry ghost where you’re never happy. We’re all afflicted with this to some degree.
– Desire and happiness are diametrically opposed. If we let go of desire, you become happy.
– When you begin to cultivate non-judging awareness, you become more aware of what’s between you and being happy.
– Using these five elements from Martin Seligman’s book about psychology (perma) to determine where you might level up to break a cycle and become happier:
- Positive emotional – feeling good
- Engagement – how much do you feel absorbed in activities
- Relationships – authentically connected with people around you
- Meaning – purposeful existence
- Achievement – sense of accomplishment