Answered prayers?...

By Vichara

“Les anges punissent en repondant aux prier.” (The gods / angels punish us by answering our prayers) Whenever we would eat too much as kids my dad would say, “your eyes are much bigger than your belly”. Of course when at that early age we would run to the mirror to see if this was true. Confused we would shake our heads and come back for another scoop of ice cream. We get older, we dream, we wish and pray but much the grander things we desire have replaced the simple request for an extra scoop of ice cream. We believe that obtaining these grander things that it will change our lives, make it better and be the answer to our prayers. So we push and pray and then either out of he universe being exhausted or clicking of the tumblers you get what you prayed for. But wait this is not exactly what you thought it would be. There is suddenly much more to be responsible for, more people to answer and more things to deal with than before. You desire less but it’s too late, this is not just an extra scoop of ice cream. Be careful what you wish for. Unless the resolve is there it will be a burden, not a blessing.

Messages...

By Vichara

The phone rings but you let it go, you’re busy right now. It rings again later but you’re right in the middle of some busy work, let it go to voice mail. Later that evening at home it rings again. You think oh come on, it must be some sales call…you let it go. You finally get a few moments and you pick up all the messages. Waiting for you, they are all the same…beeeep, “hey (put your name here) this is your life here, just calling to say hi, hope you’re doing ok”….beep, “hi (put your name here) your life here again, you might want to call me, you know check in, make sure you’re being cognizant of the world around, love you…beeep, “ok, (put your name here) life here again, you really need to check in with me, there is a great need for you to recognize the “world” out there, we need you…ok, call me…

Figuring "this"...

By Vichara

Like most of you I am too trying to figure all “this” out as well. These moments to sit and try to bring in the reins of my emotions and thoughts until there is a quiet space is a challenge, as it is for all of us. But as I have read, whatever can run, can also stand still. We are all capable of taking hold of life’s remote control and hitting pause…just for a moment. Who knows in that moment you might see someone else in that momemt and through the acknowledgement recognize, like all of us, we are just trying to figure “this” out.

The rest is up to you...

By Vichara

You are given your first breath of life at birth; the rest is up to you. You are given love to pass it along; the rest is up to you. You are given inspiration from teachers and family; the rest is up to you. You see the imbalance and injustices of life; the rest is up to you. You can see the results of compassion; the rest is up to you. You witness the results of hatred, bigotry and conflict; the rest is up to you. You feel the beauty of creating art; the rest is up to you. You fee the unity of friendship and encouragement; the rest is up to you. Your presence here on this earth creates opportunities; the rest is up to you.

Happiness...

By Vichara

If you could be anywhere elsewhere would it be? Possibly what year would it be? Or even what universe? Regardless of where or when it may be I would bet good money that the common element that all of us share is that we want happiness. And I would double down on the bet that it would not be an ephemeral happiness but you all would want a much more longer lasting, deep happiness. We all know from the reminders in this forum that all is impermanent. It is after all, the first of the 4 Noble Truths. But there are ways to be happy but you will not find it in the acquisition of objects or in chemical or alcohol diversions. They after all are all again, impermanent. Unhappiness comes from our desire and craving for things that are well…impermanent. Because when they don’t last, which all things don’t, we are sad. End the unhappiness by eliminating the desires and craving you have for things impermanent and enjoy the moments of happiness as they pass by like clouds. Be “present” with openness for happiness to reach you, be felt by you and pass on its way to be felt by someone else.

The journey...

By Vichara

You can give the world all the answers but they may not still want to listen…or even understand. There have been through time wise women and men who have given mankind some very profound thoughts and ideas. They have given us insights and help establish guideposts to help us better understand life. For me personally these wise people have open portals that opened doorways that lead to paths where I have not only gained insights but also discovered essential truths. Teresa of Avila, Gandhi, Hildegard of Bingen, Blaise Pascal, Krishamurti, Thomas Merton and many others. W

hy not discover a new voice and listen.

Sorry...

By Vichara

Try this exercise…repeat the word “sorry” 25 times without stopping. Finished? I bet half way through the word “sorry” became a jumble of words and syllables and maybe at the end you forgot the word. Without being mindful of our words and action both will lose their meaning and importance. Be cognizant of your words and temper your actions with a mindful heart.

Experts recommend...

By Vichara

4 out of 5 doctors agree, experts say, leading industry officials recommend. There is always some unknown authority guiding our consumer decisions but there is one area that no perceived authority should have dominion over and that is your spiritual domain. There is only one expert – you. And as a guiding mechanism to all of your actions I recommend the new and improved, long lasting and minty fresh Love, Compassion & Patience available everywhere!

STOP!!...

By Vichara

When was the last time you just sat and did nothing? No, I mean really nothing. Just sit, stop the phone, turn the computer screen off, turn the TV off, turn the iPod off and just sit. Feel each breath come in…….then out…..in…..then out. Feel a wave wash down and out of you and your focus becomes soft and relaxing. Oh no! You know what may come next?!...Insight.

Check-up...

By Vichara

The extent of our compassion is measured by the capacity in our hearts to receive love. If the chamber and vessels leading to this area are clogged with prejudices and hatred there will never be an outlet for you to complete the continuum of a fulfilled life. Take stock of your condition, perhaps it is time to clean house a bit.

Limited words...

By Vichara

Imagine you could only speak a limited number of words each day. Once spent there would be no reserve and you would need to be reliant on other means of communication through your eyes and touch. Instead of spending time in harmful and inane conversations why not parse out your words with thought and deliberation. Cultivating careful conversations would result in a more meaningful day. Ok that’s it for me I only have so many other words so…

The empirical proof...

By Vichara

We need empirical proof. As much as we romantize about living or having faith we ultimately need to have empirical proof on many levels. We want to assume and believe that things will be done and entrust others with tasks and responsibilities but because things are interconnected we need proof. On a physical level most of the time the empirical is relatively easy to produce but on the metaphysical level far greater. We need a meal to eat so we gather ingredients, cook them and the meal appears. Try to have a greater understanding and that there is meaning and guidance to “this” all is much more difficult. It is not like you can purchase a GPS unit that leads you to esoteric answers. Of course this presumes you want answers but I would venture a guess you do. So where does this leave us? With need of the empirical – painted in the corner with faith. Consider faith being a boat. You know that by trial and testing that the boat floats…for the most part. So you climb aboard given that understanding as you push off from the dock you ultimately realize that the boa

t is only as sturdy as you build it. You are the draftsman, carpenter and captain and sometimes that is all the empirical proof you will have.

Weakness...

By Vichara

Perhaps within our frailties lies our strength. By acknowledging the weakness we can identify the hidden elements that will bolster our ability to gain more confidence in our actions and reactions. We will be dismissive in what would be perceived as weakness but perhaps it contains a lot more than we think. In nature we often see the animals that could be considered easy prey to the much more aggressive and larger. We are then amazed at the resourcefulness of the smaller beings in their ability to extricate themselves from their precarious situations. In similar ways when you find yourself in a situation that may seem hopeless you draw in and open a portal of information where suddenly the solutions appear. The thing is that it has always been there we just needed to tune in a little bit more to receive it. Don’t be fooled by weakness, there is great lessons and knowledge to be gained.

Question everything...

By Vichara

Question everything. Question what you were just doing and question why you decided to do it that way. Question the way you spoke to that person. Question why you felt how you did when you left the room. This is not to create a self-imposed paranoia state. No, it is to heighten the senses and how we connect to the world every moment. This is not to make you hyper-sensitive and fearful, it is to strip away the thrashing about in how we spend a majority of our day and to rise up through the turbulent waters of maya to a place where we can easily float along aware of everything and yet buoyant

with confidence that all can be resolved with a patient, compassionate heart.

Your own E-Ticket...

By Vichara

Prisoners of time, we are all subject to and part of this brother/sisterhood. Bound by the minutes, the seconds, and the sands as they trickle down from an unseen personal timepiece. Our existence here on this plane is subject to some mystical biological clock that we have no chance of seeing or knowing. While pondering this may induce some hyperventilation to some let us use this as a striking point and reinvent our days for a change. When the alarm rouses us from our slumbering state envision that moment in your mind’s eye as a ticket for today’s ride. This is your own personal ticket purchased by your own thoughts and intent subject to the fine print on the back. Don’t bother turning it over to read, everyone has the same terms and conditions. Keep a good heart, good thoughts, good speech, good actions and good intent and the ride will be good.

Fear and more fear...

By Vichara

Perhaps you may feel like an island of sanity sometimes when some around you and the world behaves in an irrational and self-centered manner. You are not alone. The revving and screeching tires of that car cutting you off today, the pompous self-entitlement look that someone may give you, some erratic irrational act that has you shaking your head. All of it based in fear. Fear that they have of not being noticed, fear that they didn’t deserve things in life, fear no one cares for them and numerous shades of fear. We all have fears in one way or another as the world spins in unpleasant and unpredictable ways. The antidote lies in first recognizing this fact and not over reacting when you witness acts of fear and using patience and compassion with yourself and others to help disperse the fear.

Understanding...

By Vichara

Spiritual understanding is neither exclusive nor allusive. Each one of us can attain sufficient understanding in order to gain some solace and refuge from the perceived storms that swarm around our daily lives. It can be attained but as with every task it takes patience, work and a resolute nature that the destination is not just for a select few but for anyone who seeks understanding…anyone

Stop...

By Vichara

We have a tendency to keep rushing forward in the belief that what we are looking for is in front of us. Perhaps we need to stop and allow what we have been searching for catch up to us.

Changing the landscape...

By Vichara

We are all grasping for straws of humanity in a desperate need to make some sense of lives that sometimes intersect with such indifference it leaves us little strength and resolve to move forward. And even if we close our eyes to the events around us we will still see images with eyelids closed. We need to change our vision, change what is out there and what is inside our hearts as well. Easier said then, as most would say right now, but there are ways. As I have stated in other times it will not be in grandiose actions that will necessarily make the difference in the world around us. It will be in the small gestures initiated with the heart that will have the most effect. Try to do something very small for someone else today to try to change the human landscape. Not with your wallet but with your heart.

Measurements of love...

By Vichara

Is there a measuring device that will give you a tangible measurement of how much you love another individual? A system of weights and measures where you could place the degree of affection a on balanced instrument and it would detail back the proof of how much? When you tell a loved one how much you love them is there a degree in the pitch and timbre that assures them how much you do? What degree of conviction will ensure that the strength of your love is felt and understood? Perhaps the only way that can be achieved is a unified consistency regardless of incidents and circumstances. We all know that there will be times when things happen that will make you and others question the degrees of love but all of those are temporary. When it comes down to it I guess the only way to measure love is knowing that you can. Great gestures of love are obvious but even what may be perceived as a small gesture can turn the world of one heart.

And over here is...

By Vichara

You can’t argue with the Past, it’s just the way it is with everyone. The Past thinks it knows everything and will border on being truly rude to make that point. Sometimes the Past is even smug and will take every chance it can get to bring up things that you want to forget and that were painful. Oh there can be moments when the Past will allow some good things to slip past the radar but this is only at the insistence of the Future. Even though the Future may seem docile it can be confused and even antagonistic. The Future just can’t help itself because the ground is constantly changing below its feet. Over in the window seat in the cafĂ© observing this ping-pong match of energies is the Present. Yes there is a serene nature the Present has and you find yourself gravitating to it for some reason. It knows that the Past exists and that the Future will be soon but for right now it is quite content to be full engaged in what is going on right now