Nasreddin (or Nasrudin) is a satirical Sufi figure who is believed to have lived around the 13th century. A contemporary of Rumi; Nasreddin was a populist philosopher and wise man, remembered for his funny stories and anecdotes. Today, I'd like to share with you one of Nasreddin's stories in relation to the wisdom of achieving our true resolutions more effectively by being present.
Following form the last post asking Rumi about time and presence; about living in the now; here are six steps that would help you understand this paradoxical practice a little deeper and at a more practical level. In The Art of Now: Six Step to Living in the Moment Jay Dixit explains mindfulness in a fresh, practical
Rumi Calendar – Response to the January Question I know I have a past and will hopefully have a future, but what does this “living in the now” mean, this being present that all the wisdom masters advise? What is eternity? Is there a beginning, an end?
Today we celebrate the life of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Madiba: 1918-2013) and mourn his passing away. We all somehow identify with the qualities that he embodied and expressed in real life. Because as he said, such qualities are “within the reach of every soul” and “crucial in assessing one’s development as a human being: honesty,
Why being vulnerable is being essentially yourself Nobody likes being vulnerable. Besides our survival instinct to protect ourselves from real dangers, we are also gradually conditioned from infancy to protect ourselves from perceived dangers. At times we can’t help but to contract, panic, freeze, fight, fly in face of no real danger; and this conditioned
“As human beings, we ask, ‘What is the meaning of life?’ From the perspective of the spiritual journey, the answer can only come from where we are. Thus the meaning of life is revealed in the unfolding thread of each person. Because of that, the meaning changes as each of us
Can you truly see what is in front of you? Is seeing really believing? Can you really see other people’s perspectives? Our minds are amazing but in doing what they are designed to do –particularly in today’s busy world saturated with sensory inputs and information overload– they can filter out critical information in favour of speed of processing. This can lead into seeing and believing a distorted version of what is actually out there, sometimes leading to our blockage and stuckness. What is filtered out is mostly that which we are not paying attention to and hence not present to. These stem from many factors such as just the way a “normal” brain works, as well as our personal histories, our future hopes, our beliefs, fears, desires, thoughts, feelings, emotions and many other factors. Learning to see multiple perspectives and shifting our perceptions is very helpful in discovering new directions which may have always been in front of our eyes. It also helps us be less judgemental, less reactionary and more present. Check out these amazing examples of how our brains distort or reconstruct the reality to suit the context.
Source of the new! There surely exists a deeper world. What’s the telling sign you ask? The renewal of the moments, the passing of the old. A new day, a new night; new gardens, new life, every breath brings about fresh insights; newness is richness, joyfulness. Where does the new come from? Where does the
The New Biology – From Victim to Master of Your Health If you feel inadequate in achieving your goals, or feel unhappy about your life, work, relationships or even about your physical health, then it’s time to check your fundamental beliefs and perceptions. Particularly if you know that the unacceptable situation you are in, feels familiar and
Be ‘awake at work’ and uncover what’s best for you Many Australians are not happy with their jobs. According to the ABC Local Radio’s morning show last week, a recent survey about job satisfaction in Australia showed that over 45% of Australians are not quite satisfied with their jobs (20% not happy, 26.8% not sure).
