Talk With Passion

How to Meditate

2005-11-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

By: Steve Taubman

Try this. Close your eyes and try to quiet your mind. Do that now, for just a moment. Then return to the page.

Did you notice that quieting your mind was no easy task? Usually, when I try this, I become anxious and agitated. That happens because, without the practice of dis-identifying ourselves from thought, we believe that we are our mind, so it has ultimate sway over our attention. If you find yourself saying, “I don’t think I’m my mind,” guess who said that? Right, your mind!

Now try this. Close your eyes once again, and place all of your attention not on your thoughts but on the sensations you feel in your body. Perhaps you can rest your attention on the temperature of your hands or on the weight of your legs or on the tension in your face. Be careful not to observe emotions, but rather sensations.

If you notice that you’re feeling sad, for example, go deeper into the inquiry, and study what sadness feels like. Pay no attention to what thoughts are associated with the sadness or to the undesirability of the emotion. Just observe where sadness resides in your body. What, in fact, is sadness? Is it tightness in your face? Heaviness in your throat? Fluttering in your belly? Whatever it is, let it be. It’s entirely OK. Study it as you imagine a scientist would study it. Try to dissect it with your consciousness. Notice how long it lasts and how it dissipates, how it goes away, with no mental effort on your part.

Notice how all sensations in or on your body have this same quality. They arise, remain for a time, and then cease. Be kind to yourself. Whatever you feel is OK. In fact, think of the sensations as fuel for your consciousness. What Ram Dass calls “grist for the mill.” There is no prerequisite to enlightenment. It can’t happen in the future. It can only happen now. As Ram Dass says, “Be here now.”

Twelve steps for a simple meditation practice:

1. Sit comfortably in an upright position with your back straight, arms comfortably in your lap.
2. Keep your eyes and your mouth closed.
3. Take three “cleansing breaths,” forgetting your cares.
4. Commit to using this time for self-inquiry, not thought.
5. Focus on your breath as it enters and leaves your nostrils.
6. Don’t try to change anything you notice. Accept it as it is.
7. Give yourself a brief reminder to maintain perfect awareness and perfect equanimity or acceptance throughout this process.
8. Begin to become aware of the sensations over your body. Move your attention up and down your body, uncritically noticing whatever feelings arise.
9. If you become bored, distracted, frustrated, or overwhelmed, realize that these, too, are just sensations. Observe them as you do all other sensations or thoughts.
10. Practice for at least twenty minutes. Do as much as an hour at a time. It’s best to practice both in the morning and in the evening.
11. Use this same practice any time something upsetting or stressful occurs during your day. Bring your attention, as quickly as possible, into your body and away from your thoughts.
12. Remind yourself that you are not your thoughts; you are not your mind.

Because of the habit of your mind to take over, you’ll believe you have to think about this. You don’t. According to the Third Zen Patriarch,

“Stop talking and thinking, and there’s nothing you can’t know.”

I’ve often found it helpful, when my mind picks up a train of thought that it doesn’t want to let go, to remind myself of Barry Weiss’ words. “Your mind will constantly try to fool you into believing that whatever you’re thinking about right now is vitally important.” Don’t let it fool you!

The practice of observing your sensations will lead you towards liberation. You should commit yourself to at least twenty minutes per day, simply observing your sensation, noticing when your mind tries to take over the show and draw you into a thought loop. Whenever that happens, simply smile at the current habit pattern of your mind and return your attention to your sensation. Notice how it flows and changes. Watch how what started as what some might call bad feelings will often melt into good ones. Begin to recognize how feelings you used to suppress or indulge become like clouds moving across the sky. They come, and they go.

As you practice the art of simple observation, what the Buddha called vipassana meaning wisdom, a very interesting thing will begin to happen to you. As situations arise in your life which used to cause you to react negatively, you’ll find yourself more and more quickly leaving behind the churning of your mind; the part that says, “This shouldn’t be!” and directing your attention with curiosity and wonder at your inner sensations.

Since you’re learning to experience the temporary nature of your feelings, you’ve nothing to fear and nothing to fix. The problem will take care of itself. In fact, if anything, you’ll appreciate the opportunity to feel the emotion and get in touch with areas of your consciousness in places where you’ve become addicted to certain outcomes. You’ll learn to laugh at yourself and have compassion for both yourself and the people or situations which generated your negativity … all in all, a pretty remarkable benefit for a reasonably meager investment of time.

About the author:
Dr. Steve Taubman is a hypnotist and physician, and the author of UnHypnosis: How to Wake Up, Start Over, and Create the Life You’re Meant to Live. His writings and teachings guide people in the use of tools of transformation, and bring esoteric spiritual principles down to earth. Learn more about UnHypnosis by visiting www.unhypnosis.com.
Article Source: http://www.theezine.net/articles

Whale steak, please..

2005-11-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

Japan is intending to catch and kill 1,000 whales in the sea waters around Antarctica. They try to convince the world that the whales will be used for science research. Excuse me - 1,000 of them? One or two or even 10 is not enough?

I'm sure those poor whales will be rather used at the Tokio or Osaka restaurants and sushi parlors...

Helen

PS. Much better news from America - they won't will dril oil in the Alaska wild refuge area. At least for now; we'll see after next elections...

Terrorism, gangs, corrupted politicians

2005-11-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

There is so much unrest all around the world. As usual, in Iraq, Israel/Palestine and just recently - in Paris, Jordan and even in our country - in Toronto area.

Different motives everywhere, but in facts all boils down to one thing - people are not happy with what the see around. It's tragic that very often young people - youth and even very small children - are being used for political reasons - like in the case of those tragic self-bombings.

I'm afraid that young children are also used as a smoke screen for the Liberal politics. Why our premier went to a dangerous, gang-ruled place in Toronto to announce government program to deal with gangs and exactly at the same time was a shooting at one of the schools? Isn't that suspicious?... Elections must be very close.

Helen

Interesting blog about mesothelioma

2005-11-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma is a rare disease caused as a result of malignant cancerous cells lining the patient's body cavities such as chest, abdominal region or the area surrounding the heart. It is typically associated with exposure to asbestos which has been documented in as many as 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases.

Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 6 months.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is very important to act quickly.

The faster you consult your doctor and get professional care the better your chances will be of dealing with mesothelioma. Three traditional methods are used to fight mesothelioma: surgery, chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy.

You can find a lot of information on mesothelioma sypmptoms and causes, mesothelioma treatment, mesothelioma prevention and winning a mesothelioma litigation at Myths And Truth About Mesothelioma blog.

Stan

Link between mercury and autism suggested

2005-11-03T20:58:00.000-08:00

There is so much talk recently about the avian flu, flu vaccins and how to protect ourselves against the flu and cold.

Scary idea is also being in the news that mercury can have negative impact and even damage the central nervous system. It makes people think twice before getting the flu shot because mercury is being used in flu vaccins.

You can learn more about that by going to the website maintained by The Coalition for SafeMinds (Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders), which is a private nonprofit organization founded to investigate and raise awareness of the risks to infants and children of exposure to mercury from medical products, including thimerosal in vaccines. Safe Minds supports research on the potential harmful effects of mercury and thimerosal.

Helen

What happens when power gets off...

2005-11-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

Power went off this morning in our area. I was going home from the night shift and got stuck in the traffic jam for a while. It got me thinking once again about whether we shouldn't be switching from the posts and wires above the ground to the system with the underground cables?

I know we have a lot of trees, especially here in BC, but we can use them in better way... What we have now is prone to damage whenever stronger winds blow and when that happens we have to set the time on all clocks in the house again (see my post about DST...).

Moreover, do you like those posts? They are not aesthetically pleasing - not at all... Just go to Sidney-by-the-sea. Beautiful sea view distracted by terrible posts and wires. Would it be so expensive to bury the cable underground?

Helen

Student loans forgiven - for BC nurses

2005-11-01T09:55:00.000-08:00

New nurses in BC are getting their student loans forgiven - another good initiative by the BC government.

Who is eligible? Students graduating from accredited schools as nurse practitioners if they agree to work in a publicly funded facility in an area of the province that is currently underserved. They are now eligible to have their B.C. student loans forgiven over three years. But they have to choose to practise in rural and remote areas of the province.

And who are "nurse practitioners"?

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with the education and skills to provide a broad range of health-care services, such as diagnosing, prescribing, ordering diagnostic tests and managing common acute conditions and chronic illnesses.

Similar student loan forgiveness program is already available to nurses and now nurse practitioners also will have student loan forgiveness program.

The loan forgiveness program for nurses was announced in August 2000 - for graduates from accredited schools in nursing (including licensed practical nursing), but also for students of medical, midwifery and pharmacy schools, who began their programs on or after Aug. 1, 2000. Their B.C. student loan debts will be reduced by 33 per cent for each of the three years they work in an underserved community. In December 2004, the program was expanded to include graduates from speech language pathology, occupational therapy, audiology and physiotherapy, who, if working with children in underserved communities, would be eligible.

More information on the loan forgiveness program for nurses in British Columbia.

Helen

Firefighters' cancer risk recognized by BC government

2005-11-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

It doesn't happen too often that any government gets praised for what they are doing, but today I want to notice a good initiative by the British Columbia government with regards to compensation for firefighters for certain kinds of cancer they got at work.

BC's Labour Ministry introduced legislation that recognizes a number of cancers as occupational disease associated with long-term employment as a firefighter. Here are those cancers:

primary site brain cancer,
primary site bladder cancer,
primary site kidney cancer,
primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma,
primary site ureter cancer,
primary site colorectal cancer and
primary leukemia.

It is nice to see that one of the most respected by the public professions gets adequate treatment by the government. Well, maybe the government wants to show the teachers who is their favourite. On the other hand, the Professional Fire Fighters’ Association is not as powerful as the teachers' union and it's a big public relations gain for them...

Firefighters are very important in the province of BC where they have to protect not only the communities, but also - especially in summer - have often fight forest fires.

This initaitive has important implications for the professional firefighters because it means that the risk of cancer was recognized as one of the hazards of their job and from now on, the onus will be on WorkSafeBC (the Workers’ Compensation Board) or the employer to bring forward proof to establish why an injured worker should not be eligible for compensation rather than placing the burden of proof on a sick firefighter. This is much better solution for the firefighters going through cancer they acquired as the result of fighting the fires.

It can be expected that the provincial government will introduce similar legislation to protect other sectors of the work force - for those got seriously sick at work, who got not only cancer, but many other serious professional diseases. For example, health sector workers need similar protection as firefighters...

Helen

Have you been harassed or bullied at your work place?

2005-10-31T12:32:00.000-08:00

I bet that more than 50% of people would say yes. Unfortunately, that is very often caused by the managers, bosses, etc. The worst kind of bulling by a manager is to me to be refused a day off for important family reasons (even without pay).

I know of a case when the manager didn’t allow an employee to take a day off so he could see his dying mother. Desperate, he called in sick the next day and went to hospital to see his mother, but when he came, she had already passed away.

A friend of mine asked for a day off to be with her daughter who was undergoing a difficult surgery. She was told that she has to come to work because her daughter is old enough to be on her own. My friend suffered a stroke because of such cruel treatment by the manager. She can’t work now and is on a long-term leave from her work.

There are many cases like those described above, but most often those harassed in this way don’t want or don’t even have enough strength to talk about it.

Why such cruelty is happening, why do we treat each other in such terrible way?

If you’ve heard about similar cases or experienced that kind of bullying and harassment by your manager, please share it here.

Helen

Daylight Saving Time - what savings?

2005-10-30T21:28:00.000-08:00

I must admit that I don't like that I had to change all the clocks at my home again today. And I don't like doing it twice a year as the part of British Columbia I live in observes the Daylight Saving Time (DST). With the electronics taking control over us, whether we want it or not, every home appliance comes now with a clock and almost none of them updates automatically (only those in the computers do).

Twice a year - in April and October - I have to change 2-3 clocks in every room - in some rooms even more.

I've heard many senior citizens complaining about this time changing process as a huge nuisance. Every time they have to ask somebody to do that for them.

I also have two issues with these alleged - in my opinion - savings.

1/ has anybody done any research to find out if there are any real savings in hydro use - both by public and the industry? Any other savings?
2/ if there are any savings, has there been any negative impact of that time change measured and researched, taking for example the objections mentioned above?

But I have one more important concern about the DST. It has to do with our children. Because of the DST they are losing one full hour of daylight time - time during which they could stay outside, enjoy fresh air and sun, play games, etc. Instead of that they have to stay inside and do what - lay on the couch, watch TV, etc.

For me, that whole DST is totally unnecessary and the kids are losing most.

If it were up to me, I would never vote for DST - too annoying and I don't see any real savings.

Interesting article on history and use of the DST was published by Infoplease. Its author, John Gettings writes that some important parts of the world don't participate in the DST idea - e.g., Hawaii and Arizona in USA, Saskatchewan in Canada, whole Japan, China and most of Australia.

Do we really have to? What do you think? Is DST used in your area? How do you like it?

Helen

Social worker, not parents decides if 13-year old will have abortion

2005-10-30T15:26:00.000-08:00

If you are a parent of a teenage girl, did you know that the girls - starting from ages 12-13 are being told that if they ever happen to become pregnant, all they have to do is to come to the school's social worker for help.

What kind of help is being offered? Well, girls are being told that if they want it, arrangement for abortion will be made by the social worker and nobody will know about it... Nobody means you - the parents of a girl who became pregnant - will not be notified and will not be involved in such fundamental family affair.

Social worker will never inform you that your child is pregnant as the school wants to maintain confidentility - but only between them and your child. If your child doesn't tell you, she simply may one day go to the abortion clinic instead of going to school. She will lose her first child and you will lose your grandchild. And you may not even know about it... Is your girl ready to make such important decision alone - without your input and understanding of your child's needs (especially emotional, but not only)? I don't think so.

Ask you girl, especially when she starts the high school if she was told that she and other girls don't have to tell their parents if they become pregnant. I bet that the majority of parents don't have any idea that our "wonderful" law system alows girls decide alone about abortion despite being so underage...

Obviously our young teenage girls need parents for everything else - to provide them with food, clothes, etc. But when it comes to such important decision in their lives (because they may not have children anymore because of abortion) - they are pressured to be left alone by the system of unscrupulous school-level administrators and social workers.

I don't think they are old enough to fully understand the repercussions of going through abortion. Such decision - to kill own baby - is traumatic even for much mature woman, but here we're talking about very young girls. Will they ever be able to laugh and have any happiness after that? How can be deprived of opportunity to share with their parents their mistakes, or more importantly - pain and confusion? I know enough social workers to doubt that they can be more helpful than parents. And hiding everything from the parents is to me just below any low and law.

I know that in communist countries the government was trying to get full control over the citizens by distroying the family and family values. Is Canada heading in the same direction?

We don't let our children drive a car when they are under 16 and they can drive alone when they are 19. How can we let a girl to have an abortion and decide about it by herself only - when she is 13 and doesn't understand what she's going through?

We have to do something about it. Remember, our children will have to one day start taking care about us - when we become old enough not to be able to care for ourselves. If we teach them that it is so easy - like simply talko to a social worker and have an abortion without even telling the parents - what can we expect in the future?

Please talk to your young girl what are they being told about that at her school, although in many cases they were simply advised not to be open with the parents. Let me know in the comments if you are as disappointed by the school system as I am with regards to this important issue.

Helen

Best place to live or a third-world country?

2005-10-30T14:31:00.000-08:00

Recent developments at one of the Indian reserves in Northern Ontario have once again shown how hypocrytical our federal government is.

With big brass and broo-haha the government is trying to pretend that we are a modern and generous state helping other countries by sending them our troops to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Rwanda and other places. We spend on that millions of dollars while here in our country there is a significant part of the population - namely the native people - who live in extreme poverty, stricken by diseases, alcoholism, drug problems and very high unemployment.

For two years the problems of the Cree of Kashechewan reserve were practicaly ignored - the government did nothing - other than proclaiming boiling water advisory - to improve their living conditions and stop contamination of water and to make it drinkable. It was a terrible, terrible shame that so many people had suffer so much while the government boasts budget surplus. But even more annoying thing is to hear about the lavish life style enjoyed by politicians like Dingwall or - unforgettable former Governor General (she enjoyed caviar and wine at taxpayers' expense while people of Kashechewan didn't have water to drink!).

Not so long ago - before Chretien came to power - Canada was considered to be the best place to live. Now we don't even make it to the first 10, mainly because of the living conditions at the reserves and the quality of health care.

But that's a different story. Do you think we can be again the leader of the world? We should have elections soon. Will we use our democratic system to make a change for better? Or will we vote in again the same corrupted pack of Liberals... Shouldn't we give the other party a chance to make again Canada the best country to live in?

Stan

Can we have Disneyland or at least Tatralandia in Canada?

2005-10-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

I'm just wondering if you've ever thought about why it is so difficult in Canada to find a place where the whole family could have fun. Of course, some people go to a camping place, to a hockey or ball game, to the movies or to a fair.

But it really isn't easy to find something like Disneyland or Disney World, which are co-called "theme parks" where you could spend a couple days with your family.

Is Canada so poor that it can't afford having a theme park where the whole family - from toddlers to centenarians could simply have fun and spend quality time together (sorry for this term, used so often for simple going out to the movies or a ball game or even watching a rented movie and eating pop corn...).

I think it isn't question of money, but rather of having big ideas, courage and imagination, which may be lacking here in this great country, while other countries are doing much more. For example, Disneyland is now not only in Anaheim and Florida, but also in Paris, France, in Japan and in Hong Kong.

My family and I love the time we spent in Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It really is the happiest place on the Earth and every Canadian child would benefit from going there, meeting Disney characters and riding fantastic attractions - it's an experience you'll never forget.

However, just recently - while surfing the Net - I've found another such place -- but surprisingly in one of the least developed countries in Europe, namely Slovakia...

I'm sure you'll be completely amazed - just as I was - when you will go there. This place is the Tatra Mountains - amazing, beautiful, exceptionally beautiful place (but don't we have such places in Canada too?). It is called Tatralandia. Well, the Slovaks weren't too creative with the name, but instead they were incredibly thoutful in designing the whole complex. It consists of the following major areas, each with different facilities, activities and unique atmosphere:

- Holiday Village Tatralandia
- Aquapark Tatralandia
- Tatra-Therm-Vital

Let's just talk a bit about Aquapark. They have there 21 water slides and tube tracks of different shapes and length. Examples: FREE FALL - the steepest tube in Slovakia - more than 35 m long free falls in open tube; DOUBLE FALL - 40 m long adrenaline-filled tube with two waves; ANAKONDA - the longest tube in Slovakia - 146 m long, with a possibility of riding on inflatable wheels; BLACK HOLE - 1100 m long ride in complete darkness; KAMIKADZE - straight ride in a closed tube. ALL-YEAR-ROUND TUBES: ROCKET - opened tube with possibility of riding on inflatable wheels and falling into thermal pool; SNAKE - double-colored tube with possibility of riding water bob-sleigh and falling into thermal pool; VOLCANO - open all year long; you can fell the power of thermal water flowing from depth earth. WATER SLIDES: TRIPLE SPLASH - 40 m triple-track slide; NIAGARA - 30 m long triple-track slide with a possibility of riding water bob-sleigh headfirst. CHILDREN´S TUBES AND SLIDES: LITTLE NIAGARA - unique triple-track slide for the youngest in the pool with 21 attractions; AMAZONIA - original tube within interactive castle in the children´s pool.

Most of the attractions in Aquapark Tatralandia are in operation all year round. For example, six pools (out of nine) are in operation. Out of these six pools, four are relaxation pools and two other pools contain attractions – two of them are under roof, with the water temperature from 36 to 38 °C. Also, four indoor tubes (out of 21 tubes and slides) are in operation all year round - „Snake“ and „Rocket“ with the landing right into thermal pool and a possibility of riding on pads or inflatable wheels, the last two are "OKEY No Limits" and "Volcano".

Sounds and looks great, isn't it? Would you be glad to have something like that in your community? In your province at least?

There is much more there in Tatralandia... Let's visit now Holiday Village:

For example, Central Park is the place where you can find all kinds of sports grounds (tennis courts, volleyball, bowling, chess and more). Children's World offers magic amotsphere evoked by fairy-tale houses, playgrounds, climbing frames and swings. Indian Settlement is the area where "white men" can smoke a pipe, sit in a big comfortable tepee. Fisherman's Cave is great for fishing fans. At Scout Camp children can try various sports activities... Craftsman's Yard is a settlement designed to show the craft and the tools of carpenters, shingle-makers, potters, blacksmiths, shoemakers as well as medicine men, bakers, basket makers. Have fun by trying to become one of them. There is also Romantic Garden - you'll be charmed by romantic colours on the facades of apartments, by open fireplace. The wooden garden house provides relaxing atmosphere to be remembered for years to come.

At the Vintners you will find yourself in another world. This special character of the settlement is created by imaginative paintings on the facades of the bungalows. At the Farmyard yard you will meet many of your favourite animals.

Western City offers excellent program in genuine atmosphere of the Wild West, where you will not just have a ball, but you will test your knowledge in unusual competitive events, such as: horseback riding, electric bull riding, panning for gold, cracking the whip and shooting with bow. An evening program may include gunfights between outlaws and lawmen, demonstrations of horsemanship for movies and stunt-men purposes, country ball, fashion parade and fireworks and pyrotechnic effects.

But there is still much more going on there, because we've not talked yet about Tatra-Therm-Vital, which is a unique combination of 16 steam, water and massage baths, saunas, etc. They activate all human senses by bringing enjoyment from water (hydro-therapy), uplifting fragrances (aroma-therapy), music (musico-therapy) and warmth.

Massages, relaxation zone with a bar, children corner, vital world Tatra-Therm-Vital, and winter sauna centre with cooling right outdoors are open all the year round. Animation programmes also take place in Tatralandia all the year round, and the atmosphere will be completed by pleasant music, karaoke, competitions and many surprises.

As you see Tatralandia is a fantastic place where all of your family members could have great time by participating in sport, entertainment, relaxation and even healing programs. Have you ever thought why we don't have anything like that in Canada? Because nobody ever thought about it, never imagined that? Or because we don't care - the simpler the better?

If you like what you've just saw at the Tatralandia example, would you be interested in doing something to change that? Isn't it high time to change the way we relax, have family time, spend our holidays? To have them more colourful, funnier and healthier?

Why do spend money on "shooting galleries" and similar initiatives and don't have money for good-quality family recreation? Is it better to spend money on those few who don't intend to recover or on a project like Tatralandia - promoting healthy lifestyle and entertainment. If Canada can't learn how to create such facilities from the USA, maybe we have to learn from somebody else - like Slovakia. In fact, it would make perfect sense because that country - like our - takes pride in their natural beauty. But the contrast between our countries is that they do a lot to utilize that beauty and they benefit from it handsomely.

Can we built one or two Tatralandia-like resorts in Canada. What do you think?

Helen