Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts

What the Letter X on Your Palms Reveals about You (Only 3% people in the world have it)

 

Palmistry- What does Letter X symbolize?

Based on the ancient knowledge of palmistry, we know how the palm lines and symbols are associated with our personalities and future prospects in terms of career, life, marriage, money, and health.

Ancient books on palmistry

This popular ancient practice of foretelling the future through the study of the palm has its roots traced back to Indian (Hindu-Vedic) astrology. Based on several scriptures around the world, it's been deduced that several thousand years ago, Hindu sage Valmiki authored a book containing 567 verses.

Origin of palm reading

It is believed that from India, the knowledge and practice of palmistry sprawled across the world, through China, Tibet, Egypt, Persia and to several other countries in Europe.

Greek astrology


It is also said that it was Greece scholar Anaxagoras, who, during his time around the Indian sub-continent learned about Palmistry and later shared the knowledge with Hermes.

Secrets of Alexander The Great


Aristotle found the treatise regarding the matter of palmistry at one of Hermes’ altars, which he then displayed to Alexander the Great. The latter took great interest and began inspecting the character of his officers by evaluating the lines on their palms.

Hearsay

Though there is no affirming evidence of the same, some say that Alexander deeply studied his own palms and strategized his life accordingly; and no one had the markings, lines, and symbols like his palms.

Letter X on palms

Egyptian scholars suggest that Alexander The Great, had this unique marking on his palm, which was rarely found in anyone else in the world. Of late, only 3% of the entire population claimed to have the exact same marking- Letter X.

Research study on palmistry

In order to determine the credibility of this claim the STI University from Moscow, recently conducted a research and revealed a paper on the subject of the letter X on the palms and its potential connection to the destiny of the people who have it.

Sign of a great leader

The University took collected and analyzed the data of over 2 million people, both living and dead; and concluded that people, who had letter X on both palms, were either leaders or highly popular individuals in the society, remembered for great things.

People who have/or had Letter X on their palms

Of the rare individuals, who had this marking, were great Greek Emperor Alexander The Great, President Abraham Lincoln. And, one of these people is still alive and is hard to ignore- Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Legacy

Those who have Letter X in both their palms, go on to be remembered for ages even after their death. And, the ones who have it only in one of their palm go on to be extremely successful and famous individuals.

Personality traits of people with X on their palm

These people have great sixth sense or intuition. The can sense, danger, infidelity, and disloyalty from a hands distance. Over the time they form a special energy cycle around them, which people around them simply cannot intrude.

Trying lying to them, and they’ll unleash the worst ever side of themselves. They might forgive, but they’ll never forget. Nothing or no one can bring them any harm; such is the power of their luck.

These people are sharp, intuitive, have great knowledge and memory of an elephant. They are easy to adapt and make no fuss about arrangements around them.
source:www.usefulinfo.us

Respect and Love Your Parents ( A Short Story Must Read )




After his father’s death, the Son decided to leave his mother at old age home and visited her on and off.

Once he received a call from old age home….Mom very serious ….. please come to visit.

Son went and saw mom very critical, on her dying bed.

He asked: Mom what can I do for you?
Mom replied… “Please install fans in the old age home, there are none…. Also put a fridge for betterment of food because many times I slept without food”.


Son was surprised and asked: mom, while you were here you never complained, now you have few hours left and you are telling me all this, why?

Mom replied…..”it’s OK dear, I’ve managed with the heat, hunger & pain, but when your children will send you here, I am afraid you will not be able to manage!


11 Natural Antibiotics That Kill Bacteria in Your Body

 
Unlike today, in the past people had to rely on the land to provide natural remedies and antibiotics.   Although we cannot help but thank modern medicine for increasing the human lifespan, there is still a place for natural remedies.

As science shows that 1 in 0 people experience side effects that harm the digestive system after taking conventional antibiotics, it is no wonder that natural antibiotics are becoming all the rage these days.


11 Natural Antibiotics That Kill Bacteria in Your Body

1. Garlic and Onion

Both garlic and onion contain anti-cancer, antifungal, and antibacterial properties.  According to the journal publication Pharmacognosy Reviews, “At the time when antibiotics and other pharmacy products did not exist, a bulb of garlic itself represented a whole pharmacy industry due to the broad spectrum of effects.”

2. Ginger Root

Ginger can be eaten fresh, dried, or powdered.  You can also take it as an extract, tincture, oil, lozenge, or capsule.   It is a potent antibiotic, pain-reliever, and anti-inflammatory agent, capable of relieving motion sickness and nausea, among other things.

3. Coconut Oil

As a natural antibiotic, coconut oil helps cure candida, warts, inflammation, and coughs.    It is also a potent antifungal, antiviral, and antimicrobial agent which prevents dangerous pathogens from entering the digestive system.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, a potent anti-inflammatory. It helps reduce the symptoms of various conditions, including gout, arthritis, and acne.

5. Honey

Honey contains hydrogen peroxide, which is often used to treat cuts and minor injuries.  Amazingly, studies show that honey kills more than sixty different types of bacteria!

6. Echinacea

Echinacea is a member of the sunflower family and known as one of the best natural antibiotics for cold. It has been scientifically shown that Echinacea supplements reduce the severity of cold symptoms for up to 50%.  Other antibiotic uses include hay fever, ear infections, sinus infections, and athlete`s foot.

7. Thyme

Thyme essential oil is a natural antimicrobial and antiseptic agent which can be used to prevent eczema, acne, and similar skin conditions.  Make sure you combine it with olive or coconut oil prior applying it topically, due to its potency.

8. Cloves

Cloves kill off bacteria, plaque, and gingivitis, which reduces inflammation of the gums and improves oral health.  In one study, a mouth rinse made of tea tree, basis, and clove oil killed more oral bacteria than conventional mouth rinse.

9. Oregano Oil

Oregano oil is a potent antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory agent which treats infections, parasites, and the common cold.  Taking it as a supplement protects the skin from harmful bacteria.

10. Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seeds extract has been long used to treat infections of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to its antibiotic properties, it also increases circulation, reduces joint pain, and protects the skin from UV damage.

11. Goldenseal

Typically used to treat urinary tract infections and bacteria diarrhea, goldenseal is yet another potent antibiotic.  Recent studies show that it can be used to prevent MRSA from damaging tissue too.

Sources:
https://www.powerofpositivity.com/natural-antibiotics-kill-bacteria/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321108.php

11 Little Known Laws of Mindfulness That Will Change the Way You Live Your Life

Ever heard of mindful living? It’s become incredibly popular in recent years thanks to countless scientific research studies showing its benefits.

The truth is, mindfulness practice has been around for centuries thanks to spiritual teacher Gautama Buddha, who founded Buddhism.

The basis of mindfulness is being aware of what’s happening in the present moment without judging it or wishing it were different.

While the practice offers many benefits, you need to consistently keep at it to reap the rewards.

Below we’ll talk about the 11 principles of mindfulness so you can adopt them in your daily life.

1) Your only reality is THIS MOMENT, right here, right now.
This famous quote from Buddha sums up this principle best: “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

The past is an illusion. The future hasn’t arrived. The only thing that’s real is what’s happening right now.

2) A negative thought is harmless unless you believe it.
Thoughts come and go all the time. It’s natural. Suffering occurs when we attach ourselves to our thoughts. The reality is, our thoughts don’t really mean anything and they’re not who we are. When you take a step and observe your thoughts from a distance, you realize that if you’re observing them, then they can’t be you. Eckhart Tolle says it best:

“What a liberation to realize that the “voice in my head” is not who I am. Who am I then? The one who sees that.”

3) You will not be punished for your anger, you will punished by it.
We all get angry from time to time, but acting on this anger rarely results in something positive. It’s easy to get angry, but true courage involves doing something productive about it. When you realize that the present moment is all we have,  you’ll come to understand that life is too short to spend time being upset and angry.

“The best fighter is never angry.”

4)  Inner peace is knowing how to belong to oneself, without external validation.
Many people are concerned about what other people think of them. But you don’t look to others to find yourself. You are who you are and what others think about you doesn’t make a difference to that. Osho provides some inspirational advice to not care what other people think of you:

“Nobody can say anything about you. Whatsoever people say is about themselves. But you become very shaky, because you are still clinging to a false center. That false center depends on others, so you are always looking to what people are saying about you. And you are always following other people, you are always trying to satisfy them. You are always trying to be respectable, you are always trying to decorate your ego. This is suicidal. Rather than being disturbed by what others say, you should start looking inside yourself…

Whenever you are self-conscious you are simply showing that you are not conscious of the self at all. You don’t know who you are. If you had known, then there would have been no problem— then you are not seeking opinions. Then you are not worried what others say about you— it is irrelevant!

Your very self-consciousness indicates that you have not come home yet.”

5) Everything is created twice, first in your mind and then in your life.
Our brains are powerful instruments and they create the world around us. And the truth is that you won’t act unless your brain knows what you’re doing. So have your plans and goals in place, and then take action.

“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi

6) We ourselves must walk the path.
Life comes with many challenges and adversities for everyone, but the one thing with have control over is how much effort and willpower we put into something. We can’t attach our happiness or success towards outside objects. It all lies within us.


“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” – Buddha

7) To strongly believe in something, and not live it, is dishonest.
Don’t bend to what “society” wants you to be. Don’t change who you are so other people will accept you. It’s important to be authentic and follow your heart. Characterize yourself by your actions and you will never be fooled by other people’s words.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” – Dr. Seuss

8) The right path and the easy path are rarely the same path.
You’ll eventually come to realize that struggle is what makes you grow, and it’s always worth it. While every step may be tough, it will lead you to where you want to go. Just because something seems difficult doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. In fact, it’s all the more reason to chase your goals.

“Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.” – Buddha

9) If you want the benefits of something in life, you have to also want the costs.
So many people ask themselves questions like “what am I passionate about?” to find their purpose in life. However, a better question is “what is worth suffering for?” This will help you find what you truly want to do, and your life will be more fulfilling because of it.

Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.” – Eckhart Tolle

10) Over-committing is the antithesis of living a peaceful, mindful life.
So many of us have a massive to-do lists filled with tasks that we couldn’t possibly finish in one day. We think we have to be busy all the time. However, sometimes it can be more rewarding to focus on one task at a time and mindfully be absorbed by it. We also need time to rest and appreciate the beauty of life.

“You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.” – Steve Maraboli

11) When you try to control too much, you enjoy too little.
As human beings, what is it that’s so alluring about control? We desire the certainty and comfort. The irony is that there is actually no such thing as control. We are never in control. Ever. The sooner we grasp this and learn to go with the flow a little more, the easier life will be.

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” – Chinese Proverb

Source:ideapod.com

40 Ways to Let Go of Anger Right Now

 
“You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger.” ~Buddha

Anger is merciless.

It leaves you feeling torn up inside.

Your head pounds. Your jaw locks. And your muscles scream. Every inch reels in pain with the electric shock that shoots through you.

You can’t eat, or sleep, or function like a rational human being.

You’ve good reason to be afraid of unleashing that screaming monster of rage lurking inside you. You’ll likely lose control, lash out, and retaliate.

Even though you have been wronged, you’ll end up feeling guilty, ashamed, even horrified by your reaction. That’s one more regret your peace of mind wouldn’t stand.

But sometimes the person you’re enraged with is yourself. That’s a doubly painful blow of anger and self-disgust.

Being angry is exhausting . . . and yet you’ve found the energy to keep it alive for months, even years.

I have too. Oh sure.

I devoted the first half of my life to being angry, silently seething, and ever resentful. I’d periodically explode in rage and then be consumed with shame for losing control and screaming words I could never retract.

I lived on nerves that felt like they were constantly fried with 40,000 volts. That was a hideous way to be.

And for the longest time, that burning fury that raged inside me seemed totally justified. All that bitter resentment, well, “what else should I feel?” my thoughts screamed. No chance to be a kid, no carefree years, blissfully unaware of some of the bad things that could happen in life. They were right there, every day. They stole my childhood.

Growing up in an unpredictable, unhappy environment was the pits. I hated it, hated not being able to escape, and hated everyone involved because they were old enough to know better. They denied me my childhood.

My anger was borne out of having had no control of those events; my resentment grew out of a sense of loss. Oh boy, bitterness is so corrosive.

All that anger, all that resentment had to go for me to have any chance of happiness.

So with a newfound rationality, I learned to listen to my angry thoughts. I heard the pain and sadness wrapped in every one. I recognized the self-harm my anger was inflicting. I realized I’d been the one keeping alive those events and people that had hurt me, and I alone had the power to decide their time was over.

And that feels incredible.

I very much want that for you too. To be free. To let go of all that resentment, anger, and rage.

How? With one small anger-conquering action at a time.

40 Ways to Let Go of Anger

1. Look at your rulebook.

If you never explained your rules to the person who angered you, how can you be upset that they broke them? Maybe their rules are different.

2. Use aromatherapy to create a calm environment.
Candles and diffusers alleviate stress and anxiety. Or try a couple of calming drops of essential lavender oil on your pillow.

3. Buy a recordable alarm clock.
Wake up to a soothing self-recorded message. Alternatively, use an app.

4. Recognize that others say and do harsh things out of jealousy.
Change your anger to compassion because they are obviously struggling with their own negative emotions.

5. Personalize a keep-calm mug.
Choose some anger-defeating text for your mug. Use it at work or home.

6. Let your anger fizzle out with a bath-bomb.
Relax in a warm bath as you watch the bath-bomb and your anger fizzle away.

7. Quiet your anger.
If you’re likely to fall into a rage when speaking up, say nothing at all. “Silence is sometimes the best answer.” ~Dalai Lama

8. Visualize your anger as a drop of water.
Close your eyes and see your mind as a crystal-blue ocean of calm. See your anger as a single drop of water falling into your calm ocean, barely causing a ripple before being absorbed.

9. Create a universe of peace in your bedroom.
Make a night sky with luminous stars and planets. Lie on your bed with the lights off, and pick a star to project your anger onto. Now re-focus to see the whole galaxy with your anger as a tiny dot among a universe of peace.

10. Put your anger to bed.
Anxiety and irritability are instigated by lack of sleep. More sleep can be as effective as conscious meditation. “Sleep is the best meditation.” ~Dalai Lama

11. Take responsibility for your anger.
Someone can influence your anger response, but only you control it.

12. See your anger as a boiling kettle.
Flick the switch to off as if you were turning off your anger. Let your temper cool down like the kettle.

13. Look at who you’ve become.
See how letting go will allow you to be true to yourself and finally at peace.

14. Paint an angry mouth on an hourglass egg timer.
Now paint a happy mouth on the other half. Turn your angry mouth upside down and watch the happy mouth fill.

15. Understand that you are only hurting yourself.
“Holding onto anger is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” ~Unknown

16. Recognize their inner angst.
This is the real reason they acted like they did. Heal your anger by setting out to help them feel better about themselves.

17. Blow up a dozen balloons.
Write an angry thought on each one and step on them until they pop, leaving only the shredded remnants of your deflated anger.

18. See your anger as a runaway horse.
Imagine it trying to break out of your “mind paddock.” Rein it in.

19. Use wise words to halt angry words.
In confrontational situations, remember: “Speak in anger and you will have made the best speech you will regret.” ~Dr. Laurence J. Peter

20. Wear a calming color.
Avoid confrontational colors like red and black. Instead wear calming blue or soothing green.

21. Have a calming message engraved on a ring.
Avoid anger by playing with your ring and thinking of those soothing words.

22. Use a mirror for self-reflection.
Look in the mirror and let your anger out. “The more you hide your feelings, the more they show. The more you deny your feelings, the more they grow.” ~Unknown

23. Shred a physical representation of your anger.
Take those hurtful letters, print off those emails, or write out your angry thoughts. Push the pages through a shredder, and reduce your anger to tatters.

24. Record yourself describing your anger.
Capture your angry thoughts on your phone or computer. Listen back to this as if it were a good friend telling you theirs. Offer yourself the empathetic advice you would give a friend.

25. Repeat a happy mantra.
Regain control of your emotions by repeating, “I’m a happy person who does not see the benefit of staying angry.”

26. Choose a positive, healthy outlet.
Use feel-good endorphins to dispel anger by going for a run or singing loudly and dancing energetically.

27. Express your anger to a friend.
A supportive environment can be hugely beneficial in getting your emotions out safely.

28. Use a self-hypnosis video.
Hypnosis can help you get your anger under control. Alternatively, try a registered hypnotherapist.

29. Shift your perspective.
If you cannot change the events that have made you angry, change your perspective for the sake of your peace of mind.

30. Take a soothing shower.
Wash away your anger with calming ylang ylang or chamomile shower gel.

31. Personify your anger.
Imagine it as a fiery-tempered troll in your path. Push it away.

32. Remind yourself that you have a choice.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response.” ~Viktor E. Frankl. Decide that your response will not be anger.

33. Keep this quote on you at all times:
“He who angers you, conquers you.” ~Elizabeth Kenny. Repeat it to yourself when you feel anger rising, or pull it out and read if possible.

34. Take a step back.
In a confrontational situation, physically take a step back.

35. Be honest with yourself.
What are you achieving by holding on to anger? Is it a case of injured pride that you would really love to swap for forgiveness?

36. Picture angry thoughts as bitter, poisonous seeds.
Stop these from taking root in your mind. Instead, raise a happy, forgiving “mind garden” by populating your thoughts with anger-defeating quotes.

 37. Plant a garden of compassion.
Take the idea above a step further with a flower border or window box. For your own well-being, plant a flower for anyone who has angered you to signify your wish to forgive them.

38. Weed out your anger.
When you tend your Garden of Compassion, picture each weed you root out as further uprooting your anger.

39. Seek help to defeat your anger.
If you feel stuck in a cycle of resentment and anger, consider taking a course.

40. Laugh at your anger.
“People are too serious. All the time, too serious.” ~Dalai Lama. Anger is sometimes just injured self-pride. It’s not easy, but try not taking yourself so seriously.
source:tinybuddha.com

The Powerful Chinese Meditation Of Silent Illumination

 
Silent Illumination

Silent illumination is a Buddhist practice that can be traced back not only to Huineng (638–713), the sixth patriarch of Chan, and other Chinese masters but also to the early teachings of the Buddha. In the Chan tradition, silent illumination is referred to as mozhao, from the Chinese characters mo (silent) and zhao (illumination).

Silent illumination is the simultaneous practice of stillness and clarity, or quiescence and luminosity. It is similar to the practice of shamatha and vipashyana, as long as we don’t consider these sequential to each other, first practising shamatha and then practicing vipashyana. In silence there is illumination; in stillness, clarity is ever present.

We Are Already Enlightened

The Chan tradition does not usually refer to steps or stages. Its central teaching is that we are intrinsically awake; our mind is originally without abiding, fixations, and vexations, and its nature is without divisions and stages. This is the basis of the Chan view of sudden enlightenment. If our mind’s nature were not already free, that would imply we could become enlightened only after we practiced, which is not so. If it’s possible to gain enlightenment, then it’s possible to lose it as well.


Consider a room, which is naturally spacious. However we organize the furniture in the room will not affect its intrinsic spaciousness. We can put up walls to divide the room, but they are temporary. And whether we leave the room clean or cluttered and messy, it won’t affect its natural spaciousness. Mind is also intrinsically spacious. Although we can get caught up in our desires and aversions, our true nature is not affected by those vexations. We are inherently free.

In the Chan tradition, therefore, practice is not about producing enlightenment. You might wonder, “Then what am I doing here, practic­ing?” Because practice does help clean up the “furniture” in the “room.” By not attaching to your thoughts, you remove the furniture, so to speak. And once your mind is clean, instead of fixating on the chairs, tables, and so on, you see its spaciousness. Then you can let the furniture be or rearrange it any way you want—not for yourself, but for the benefit of others in the room.

The ultimate way to practice silent illumina­tion is to sit without dependence on your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind. You sit with­out abiding anywhere, fabricating anything, or falling into a stupor. You neither enter into meditative absorption nor give rise to scattered thoughts. In this very moment, mind just is— wakeful and still, clear and without delusion. However, for many practitioners, such a standard can prove too high.

Three Stages of Silent Illumination

The practice of silent illumination taught by Master Sheng Yen can roughly be divided into three stages: concentrated mind, unified mind, and no-mind. Within each stage are infinite depths. You need not go through all the stages, nor are they necessarily sequential.

CONCENTRATED MIND

The first stage of practice is learning to sit in an contrived way, not trying to get this or get rid of that. You just sit with clarity and simplicity in the moment. In Chinese, this is called zhiguan dazuo, which means “just mind yourself sitting.”

To just sit is to be aware that you are sitting. When you’re sitting, can you feel the presence of your whole body—its posture, weight, and other sensations? “Just sitting” means, at the very least, you know clearly that the whole body is there. It doesn’t mean minding any particular part of your body—just your legs, arms, or pos­ture—or feeling every sensation of the body. The idea is to be aware of the general totality of your sitting experience. The body is sitting; you know this. This means your mind is sitting, too. So the body and mind are together as you’re sitting. If you don’t know you’re sitting, then you’re not following the method.

This method is subtle; it’s not like counting breaths from one to ten, which is very concrete. But that doesn’t mean there is nothing to do. There is definitely something to do: Sit!

This method does not involve contemplating, observing thoughts, or continually scanning the body. Instead, it involves minding the act of sit­ting, staying with that reality from moment to moment to moment. When you mind your sit­ting, your body and mind are naturally together. You don’t watch the body or imagine it, as if you’re looking in from the outside, which is some kind of mental construct.

When you practice single-mindedly and intensely, with no gaps, for half an hour, your body might become drenched in sweat. But this traditional, tense way of practicing the method is not suitable for most present-day practitioners because so many are already stressed out in daily life. (Another limitation of the tense way is that it cannot be sustained for a long period of time, half an hour to an hour at most.) So it’s generally advisable to practice the method in a relaxed way, while continuing to be fully aware that you’re sitting.

Getting to know and learning to relax your body can free you from habitual tendencies and negative emotions. You may notice that when wandering thoughts arise, some parts of your body tense up. The same is true for deep-seated emotions, which are lodged in particular places of the body. Often, people live their lives in such a way that their bodies and minds are split; they do one thing with their bodies while their minds are elsewhere. Practising this first stage helps body and mind be more unified.

When you are wakeful and clear in each moment and not caught up with wandering thoughts, they subside of their own accord. They subside because your discriminating mind, which is tied to self-grasping, lessens. Your discrimi­nating mind lessens because you’re aware of the totality of the body as you are sitting. Without wandering thoughts, you are not grasping at this and that, nor attracted to or repulsed by particu­lar sensations. The concentration developed in the first stage of silent illumination is not a one-pointed focus of mind but an open, natural, and clear presence. It is concentration accompanied by wisdom.

UNIFIED MIND

When your discriminating mind diminishes, your narrow sense of self diminishes as well. Your field of awareness—which is at first the totality of the body—naturally opens up to include the external environment. Inside and outside become one. In the beginning, you may still notice that a sound is coming from a certain direction or that your mind follows distinct events within the environment, such as someone moving. But as you continue, these distinctions fade. You are aware of events around you, but they do not leave traces. You no longer feel that the environment is out there and you are in here. The environment poses no opposition or burden. It just is. If you are sitting, then the environment is you, sitting. If you have left your seat and are walking about, then the environment is still you, in all of your actions. This experience, the second stage of silent illumination, is called the oneness of self and others.

Can you still hear sounds? Yes. Can you get up to have a drink of water or urinate? Of course. Is there mentation? Yes. You have thoughts as you need them to respond to the world, but they are not self-referential. Compassion naturally arises when it is needed; it has nothing to do with emotion. There is an intimacy with everything around you that is beyond words and descriptions. When you urinate, the body, urine, and toilet are not separate. Indeed, you all have a wonderful dialogue!

In this stage, you see clearly what needs to be done. You see how to respond, but without any reference point or opposition. If you hear a bird, you are a bird. When you interact with a person, your mind is not stirred. You see things as one; they are part of you, and you are part of them. It’s not that you think, “They are part of me and I’m really big! I include the whole world!” Nor is it that you dissolve into the external environment, not knowing who you are anymore. It is just that the sense of self-reference is diminished and the burdens of normal vexations have temporarily vanished.

There are progressively deeper states of this second stage. When you enter a state in which the environment is you sitting, the environment may become infinite and boundless, bringing about a state of oneness with the universe. The whole world is your body sitting there. Time passes quickly and space is limitless. You are not caught up in the particulars of the environ­ment. There is just openness of mind, clarity, and a sense of the infinite. This is not yet the realiza­tion of no-self; it is the experience of great self.

At this point, three subtler experiences may occur, all related to the sense of great self. The first is infinite light. The light is you, and you experience a sense of oneness, infinity, and clarity.

The second experience is infinite sound. This is not the sound of cars, dogs, or something simi­lar. Nor is it like music or anything else you have ever heard. It is a primordial, elemental sound that is one with the experience of vastness. It is harmonious in all places, without reference or attribution.

The third experience is voidness. But this is not the emptiness of self-nature or of no-self that would constitute enlightenment. This is a spacious voidness in which there is nothing but the pure vastness of space. Although you do not experience a sense of self, a subtle form of self and object still exists.

These progressively deeper states are all related to samadhi states. When you emerge from them, you must try not to think about them anymore because they are quite alluring. Say to yourself, “This state is ordinary; it’s not it.” Otherwise, it will lead to another form of attachment.

StillnessYou might be in the initial phase of the second stage of silent illumination for a few minutes or a few months. During this time, nothing obstructs you—when you are sitting, you feel the environ­ment is you, sitting; when you are walking about, you feel connected with the environment. In the later phase of the second stage, you may even think you are enlightened because the deeper levels of oneness are so profound. Practitioners sometimes think they have suddenly become smarter or understood all the scriptures.

All these states of clarity are wonderful; they give you a strong conviction in the usefulness of buddhadharma and the possibility of a state free from vexations. However, they still do not repre­sent the clarity of the third stage—the realization of silent illumination. Become attached to any of these states and you will be further from them. All of them must be let go.

NO-SELF, NO-MIND

The clarity of the second stage is like looking through a spotless window. You can see through it very well, almost as if the window were not there, but it is there. In the second stage, the self lies dormant but subtle self-grasping is present. In other words, seeing through a window, even a very clean one, is not the same as seeing through no window at all. Seeing through no window is one way of describing the state of enlighten­ment, which is the third stage. In utter clarity, the mind is unmoving. Why? Because there is no self-referential mind.

The third stage of silent illumination is the realization of quiescence and wakefulness, still­ness and awareness, samadhi and prajna, all of which are different ways to describe mind’s natural state. Experiencing it for the first time is like suddenly dropping a thousand pounds from your shoulders—the heavy burdens of self-attachment, vexations, and habitual tendencies. Prior to that, you may not know exactly what self-attachment or vexations are. But once you are free from them, you clearly recognize them.

Self-attachment, vexations, and habitual ten­dencies run deep. So practitioners must work hard to experience enlightenment again and again until they can simply rest in mind’s natural state. The key is to practice diligently but seek no results.

By practicing in this way, our life gradually becomes completely integrated with wisdom and compassion, and even traces of “enlighten­ment” vanish. We are able to offer ourselves to everyone, like a lighthouse, helping all those who come our way, responding to their needs with­out contrivance. This is the perfection of silent illumination.

You might ask, “I’ve been practicing for ten years now—exactly when is this going to hap­pen to me?” The difference between delusion and enlightenment is only a moment away. In an instant, you can be free from the constructs of your identity and see through the veil of your fabrications.

Remember that practice is much more than following a particular method or going through stages on a path. Practice is life and all of its “furniture.” Practice helps us see the room and not attach to the furniture. Enlightenment is not something special—it is the natural freedom of this moment, here and now, unstained by our fabrications.

Written By ~ Guo Gu

Guo Gu (Jimmy Yu) received inka from the late Chan Master Sheng Yen in 1995 and served as his assistant and translator until Sheng Yen’s death in 2009. He is the Sheng Yen Assistant Professor of Chinese Buddhism at Florida State University and the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Group. His new ebook is The Essence of Chan.

Original article @ Lions Roar 
source:www.thewayofmeditation.com

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