Greetings to People

Spreading Kindness One Smile At A Time

We all feel sad or lonely sometimes. Sometimes we show it, other times we do not.

We see lonely people all of the time,  but we just do not know they are lonely. And we too know what it is like to be lonely harboring those feelings of hollowness, uncertainty, and even anxiety. Sometimes people walk with their head down, or eat alone, or sit on a park bench for hours watching others live their lives.

As humans we want to help others because we are compassionate beings. This compassion is a result of millions of years of evolution and is one component that has allowed our societies to form and progress to where they are today. Compassion, security, companionship has allowed us to form these family bonds and close friendships that last for decades.

As a mindful reflection experiment, consider how many times have you heard of news story about someone who has taken their own life and said to yourself that you would have been their friend and listened to them? I am sure you have said this often enough because you are a compassionate human being. You intrinsically want to help relieve the suffering of others in the world.

So, is there a way that you may help? How does this opportunity present itself? 

Believe it or not you have that opportunity every single day. And most likely it will not present itself in such a way as someone yelling at the top of their lungs that they are sad and lonely. So who could that person be then? 

That person who needs your help could easily be the cashier at your local convenience store, the parking lot attendant, your tax preparer, the salesperson at your local department store, or yes, even someone sitting alone on the park bench.

In our busy days too often we avoid any additional involvement and just want to get to our destination with minimal delay or distractions. Why have we become so engrossed with ourselves, pretending to be in some invisible protective bubble? Why is what we are doing any more important than what someone else is where we avoid simple eye contact and a smile?

If we mindfully consider the reality of our actions, what are those few extra seconds or minutes going to achieve? All we have really accomplished was the perpetuated suffering of a human being and the world. Remember we are all suffering in some way and your simple hello, or few second conversation, or even meal with someone may make all the difference to them.

Being mindful is not about us as a solitary, unconnected being. It is about being aware of our connectedness to the universe and that includes other people as well. When someone suffers, we all suffer. And suffering takes away from all the beauty that life has to offer.

Sometimes all it takes is a kind word from one stranger to another to make a world of difference. Small actions such as this really do go a long way. So please, just say hello.

I'd love to hear your comments so please feel free to leave one below.

Wishing you peace and ease,

Vladimir

Blue Lotus Meditation And Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.

Mindfully Eating In The Busy Work Day

Nourishing Your Being With Mindfulness

Many of us may only get a thirty minute lunch break. And depending on where you work even that time may be cut short due to going to the drive thru, walking to a fast food location, or waiting in line. When we do finally get our food we feel rushed to eat only to hurry back to work.

If you are ordering fast food you know as well as I, it is not the best choice for our bodies yet alone for our cognitive abilities.

So how do we approach our mealtimes with the mindfulness it deserves? Remember, nourishing our body is just as important as nourishing our mind. 

In my opinion, the most mindful way is to prepare your food at home, either the night before or in the morning before you leave. Your meal can simply be leftovers of last-night's dinner or something entirely different. It is up to you but the most mindful aspect to consider is the time you will be needing when lunch time comes.

When you prepare a healthy meal at home for the next day you are creating space for you to mindfully enjoy this nutritious meal. Find a quiet location if you can or even a scenic one if possible. Sit comfortably as well and maybe even remove your shoes or outerwear if appropriate.

When you have your plate in front of you do not just dig in, savor it. Observe the food itself, the placement of each portion, the aroma, the colors, and the texture of each portion. How does it make you feel before you even taste it? Remember, being mindful is about observing and acknowledging the present moment. Then take your first bite. 

Observe the taste on your tongue. Observe the texture. Slowly chew your food before you swallow. Know that with each swallow you are nourishing your body as well as your mind. The entire eating ritual is all part of being mindful, of being in the present moment. A lot of care and preparation went into this meal even before you sat down to enjoy it. 

Consider where the vegetables came from before you purchased them. This about the effort that went into making the bread. Where did the seasoning come from? Everything needs water, so consider the care that a farmer went to to be sure that the plants grew healthily so that he may sell them to feed his family too. From the farm, a driver had to haul them to a facility to be carefully sorted and shipped to the appropriate store. And from the store, a worker had to place them on the shelf before you even selected this item.

Many people and events had to come together so that you may enjoy what you are about to consume. And they all worked hard to provide you with the necessary sustenance so you may perform your job as well.

Your workday is all about successfully fulfilling your professional duties, mindfully as well. But your mealtime is about you and mindfully reconnecting with your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. It is not an aspect of the day that deserves to be rushed through. This reconnection helps you focus on the remainder of your professional tasks which helps you continue to support yourself and family.

Please feel free to comment below and tell us how you mindfully enjoy your lunchtime. 

Wishing you peace and ease.

Vladimir

Blue Lotus Meditation And Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.

Mindfulness and Your Mantra

Mantras To Help Guide You Along Your Path

Your mantra.

Do you have one?

Do you need one?

Can you have more than one?

Originally the word mantra comes from Hinduism or Buddhism as a word or sound to aid in concentration during meditation. However in more recent times the term is used to describe a personal saying or slogan such as 'where there is a will, there is a way'. Mantras are designed to be positive, reassuring, guiding, and purposeful in their recitation.

For our purposes either definition is useful since we will use our saying or slogan during our meditations.

In Buddhism there are 108 mantras or prayers and if you count any Buddhist prayer beads, called malas or japa, around the neck you will get 108 beads. Wrist malas typically have some factor of 108.

You may be familiar with the 'om' mantra that is usually depicted in Hinduism and is considered the greatest mantra of all. However, many religions have mantras too, for example, the Hail Mary in Catholicism and the morning prayer of salat al-faj in Islam, both of which are used in much the same way.

When I do my morning meditations I recite 4 or 5 different ones. Each one is a statement on positivity and how I would like to develop myself spiritually and I am more than happy to share three of them with you.

One mantra I recite daily is "Love" and it goes like this: I am love. All of my actions are based on love. Not anger, jealousy, greed, or hatred, but on love. This mantra allows me to be sure that all of my actions are for the benefit of all living beings so that they may have ease of suffering.

Another is, 'Balance': May I maintain my equanimity and that my emotions do not swing too far or too long from center. This mantra recognizes and allows me to have and experience emotions but to not let them stay too long. When emotions stay too long they begin to take you away from the totality of the passing moments.

Finally, 'Speech': When I speak to living beings my words are positive, uplifting, constructive, and truthful. This mantra ensures that I speak purposefully and with positive intent to all living beings. many times in our society people are subjected to a barrage of negativity and it is my intent to counteract this as best I may.

I have been saying these mantras for about a year at the time of this post and it has taken some time for them to take hold into my being and to really became a part of me.

Now I find that in certain situations where I would previously make a hasty or rash decision, this mantra, or one of my others, comes to the forefront of my mind and helps me make a decision based on loving kindness.

Once you decide on a mantra or mantras, yes, you can have more than one, make sure they reflect who you want to be in the future. By reciting your mantra daily you begin to develop the positive, life-changing mindset you seek.

It will not happen overnight or in a week but perhaps in a months time or so you will begin to notice this little voice in your head that sounds like your mantra. Listen to it, it is you starting to reap the change you seek.

Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Wishing you peace and ease,

Vladimir

Blue Lotus Meditation And Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.