Speaking Tree
Actors good meditators
Actors, like meditators, can easily detach from their roles, understanding that their performance is not their true identity. The article mentions insights from Zen Manifesto and Bliss, courtesy of Osho Times International.
An embodied mindfulness
'Clearing the mind via the vibrancy of the body's sensations, and moving with a quality of presence instead of watching the clock, or your walking app, give you a sense of integration and embodiment. It's a great way to get through the day, almost as if you were on a retreat.'
Our vasanas demystified
Vasanas, subtle impressions from Upanishads and Bhagwad Gita, shape desires and destiny per Chandogya Upanishad's karma cycle.
Laughter, the best medicine
Laughing has multiple physical and psychological benefits, releasing stress, fostering bonding and friendship. It also has a therapeutic value, especially when one can laugh at oneself, cleansing the soul and leading to emotional rejuvenation.
Servant leadership
A servant-leader, who makes service a top priority, automatically embodies all the required qualities that we look for in a leader. In other words, service attitude is the thread that runs through all the effective and virtuous leadership qualities.
Crossing the ocean of life
We need to experience for ourselves the treasures that lie within. As we meditate, our soul connects with the love and light of God and is nourished, giving it strength.
Winning and losing
The article discusses the concepts of winning and losing in life, highlighting the transient nature of victory and defeat. It emphasizes the duality of success and failure, and the ego's attachment to winning. Swami Vivekananda's perspective on giving and receiving is also mentioned.
Protect the environment
The drawbacks of a polluted environment include a decline in the pure, cool qualities of the oceans and lakes, leading to the creatures dwelling in those places being disturbed.
The three minds
There are three types of minds: the carrying mind, universal mind, and joyful mind. The carrying mind operates within time and space, laden with our samskaras and causing anxiety and conflict. In contrast, the universal mind transcends duality, representing oneness and peace. Derived from the universal mind, the joyful mind embodies bliss and compassion. While the carrying mind is necessary for survival, striving towards the universal mind fosters inner peace and happiness. Understanding and transcending the carrying mind are essential for achieving the joyous mind.
The Court of Conscience
The court of conscience supersedes all other courts, as it is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong, guiding individuals to make ethical decisions and holding them accountable.
Unknown Terrain
Poet Robert Frost wrote, 'The woods are lovely, dark and deep/ But I have promises to keep/ And miles to go before I sleep....' To some others, however, forests are scary places, so dark and deep and not-so-lovely. Fear of the unknown takes over, for forests are mysterious wonderlands or nightmares, depending on whose perspective it is. Forests are pregnant with as much or more life below the ground as there is above. And what if one gets lost?
Pleasure and pain
The article delves into the subjective nature of pleasure and pain, attributing them to the mind. It also commemorates the centenary of Swami Sivananda's sannyasa diksha on June 1, 2024.
Secret path to serenity
True happiness stems from inner harmony, not external circumstances. Happiness is not in fulfilling desires but in liberation from them.
Grief and beyond
Losing a loved one is a reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing it daily. Often, we delay personal matters like spending time with loved ones due to busy schedules and work pressures. Grief helps us find a solution and cope with sorrow. However, tragedies remind us of the irreversible nature of time and remind us to treat each day as precious.
Finding wholeness
In the Bhagwad Gita, Krishn proclaims, 'Mamavartma eva anuvartante partha sarvashaha' -- everyone is seeking me. When Krishn speaks of 'me', he is not referring to his physical form but to the universal Self, which is whole and complete. It refers to a state of consciousness that is liberating. Krishn says that everybody is seeking him; they are seeking completeness, whether they know it or not.
Witnessing The Mind
We are always engrossed in activities, but the essential nature of the mind is to be detached. The temperament of this mind is such that no matter how hard we try to bind it to this world, it refuses to be bound. It remains dispassionate.
