- 3 Skills that Can Save a Teen's Life
So we have a problem: The peers are teenagers themselves and as mixed up as our kids – how can they not be? The problems they are facing take a lifetime of experience to understand, and our teenagers are barely babies when thrown out into the world, expected to fend for themselves, while parents work 60 hour weeks to support them. Even if parents were familiar with the skills that would help their kids survive this most crucial period of their lives, what parent has time to teach them?Suicide, sex, and drugs are dangers for teens. Homemade abortions, risky behavior, unrealistic expectations of life, and many other perilous things can make a teen’s life not only stressful and unmanageable, but short as well. Teens simply don’t have the necessary skills to face these serious difficulties, or the inclination to take advice from parents. They rely almost exclusively on peers. - A Different Slant On Raising Kids
We must be as kind to ourselves as we are to our children. We always treat others as we treat ourselves, so our relationships with our children indicate how we relate to ourselves. - A Magic Bullet For Stress
The destructive things we do, we seem to do all the time, repeatedly and unconsciously. Tension and stress build when we are impatient, such as waiting for a red light, waiting in line, waiting for our computer to load! Our breathing becomes shallow, our shoulders tense, our eyes tight, and our minds become frustrated and angry – the perfect time to begin using your Magic Bullet! In no time, you will be using it all day long, and not only will your stress be reduced, but your entire life and how you experience it will change. - A Problem With Goals
We may spend one percent of our time in creating a goal and ninety-nine percent of our time trying to achieve that goal, which is ninety-nine percent of uncreative activity. - Addicted Kids
CNN reports that twenty-five percent of college kids are addicted to either alcohol or drugs. What are we doing to our kids? And it's not "them" - the drug dealers or seedy, single-parent friends - that are the cause. Just look in the mirror - Anger Mismanagement
Anger is the crux of it, and by an objective observation of the raw fear that precedes anger, you leave yourself no choice but to surrender to what you are about to become. No excuses. An angry person is a very fearful person, and that’s okay. We are all fearful at times; we just react differently. - Attraction - Be Careful!
Research has revealed that the part of our brain that is stimulated when we are in love is not the emotional centers as once thought, but the part of the brain that controls physical lust. In other words, being in love has everything to do with sex and little to do with love. - Be True to Yourself
Being true to yourself involves tremendous courage. If you lack that courage, you fake it. You fake it when you fool yourself into believing in something simply because it makes you feel good, or makes you feel secure, or real, and this is part of the ignorant bliss you surround yourself with when you are not true to yourself. - Dropouts, Like Us
I was talking with a teacher, down here in Florida today. She was lamenting about kids having little interest in school, and that half her kids were dropping out. We talked about solutions, but curiously, the more we got into it, the more we could see that there are no solutions within the context of normal parameters. - Ego Unveiled
It's quite an illusion, a very clever deception, the fundamental trick of my mind that builds a self or an "I" thought. - Facing the Dragon of Self
Suddenly, I found myself in a mist, and through the mist I dimly made out what appeared to be a cave. As I moved closer, my perfected insight revealed exactly what it was – the den of the Great Dragon of Self. - Finding Your Teacher
Our experience of life is more precious than anything, and the thought of suspending that experience is unthinkable. But pure awareness is void of thought, void of consciousness, void of experience . . . and void of an experiencer. Nothing can be said about pure awareness; nothing in the world could come close to its ecstasy, or bring about the changes that occur in people who cross its threshold. We have finally arrived at that place we had never left, and only dreamed that we had. - Fooling Ourselves
Have you ever noticed how we fool ourselves? It's quite an amazing thing. We think, "Boy, If I can only achieve this or get that, then I'll be set," but we are never quite set. Even if we are fortunate enough to achieve it all, it is never enough, and we remain unhappy in our relentless pursuit of success. We think that our beliefs or ideals have insured us happiness, but when we look at the realities of life, this is but an illusion. - Getting Real
It is possible that this fundamental misunderstanding could be the basis of much of our anger and resentment as we strive for the impossible. - Happiness, the Carrot
Happiness is the carrot that hangs just in front of our noses, but whenever we take a step toward it, the carrot moves as well . . . - How Do You See God?
How we envision God determines the depth of our Spiritual understanding. - How Not to Meditate
Simple instructions. - Keeping It Together
Relationships are complex things. Each person is a complex individual, and a mixture of the two can at times become incendiary. There is a solution, however, to insuring that a relationship will last, and that solution is so simple that I wonder why it isn’t mentioned more often. - Letter to God
Rock: Is there any possibility of humanity going beyond its opinions and beliefs, or are we destined to fight with each other endlessly? If God commanded you to come up with something that would satisfy all beliefs, yet enlighten all minds, what would you suggest? - Live for Today
"If we can just suffer through all the inequities of this life on earth, we will be rewarded in heaven, but only if we are good and don't cause problems here."(Hmm, sounds like something right out of a predatory employer's handbook!) - Love Your Neighbor – Can We?
But where are the instructions on how to do this daunting task; love our neighbors? The commandment doesn't help, it's like saying to a child, "Be good!" - Manage It? Why Not End It?
When we deny anger, we aren’t being true to ourselves. We are still animals, in many ways (look at the sex act!), and one them is our fight or flight reaction. - Meditation -- Mental Practice
A simple, straightforward practice that can take you to Samadhi. - Meditation and Living in the World
How far can I get in my meditation practice while continuing to live in a busy world? This is a question often asked, and the answer is . . . it depends. - Meditation in a Nutshell
A simplified explanation of meditations deeper aspects - Meditation's Ground Zero – Lak Tam
Lak Tam; a mysterious term used by the most advanced meditation teachers deep in the forests of Thailand. - No Soul?
After the shock that we don't exist eternally in the form of a wispy soul wears off, we come down to earth, where we belong. We become responsible and sensitive to what we do and how it affects others. We-actually become happy! We become happy in helping others and not worrying about ourselves. Happy. A strange word, yes? But it's true. Strange but true. - Our Real Addiction
Our real addiction forms the foundation of all others. If we can solve this fundamental one, the others dissolve along with it. - Positive Attitude
A positive attitude is a complex mental state displaying certainty. The question is; can we develop certainty if our beliefs, feelings, and values are based on a world that's changing constantly, a world that is not fundamentally under our control? That's where we find ourselves – in existence – where everything changes. - Positive Thinking? No Such Thing
May I take you one step above all of this? Any thinking that works toward a goal, any goal, is never positive thinking. - Real Motivation
Real motivation is special kind of passion, so strong that we will literally give up everything. - Seeds of Stress
If we are to relieve our stress once and for all, we must know for sure. And the only way to know for sure is to plainly see the false. Within the false images of life we create is the seeds of stress, and only when we can see clearly is the stress ended. - Stirring up Mud (Part 1)
Something needs to stir up the calm mind that we have developed, similar to stirring up mud on the bottom of a pond so that we don't become confused and believe that the mud is no longer there. - Stirring Up Mud - Part 2
Our body is reminiscent of a comfortable house built near a raging river where we must live, knowing well enough that a flood could wash it away at any moment. It would be foolish not to consider escape routes when living in a house threatened with disaster, because when the time comes to leave, how would we be ready to get out in time? Therefore, since we can't rely on our impermanent body, shouldn't we invest in something we can trust, something that will be there for us when our body fails, which is not long from now, as it's beginning to rain and the water is rising. - The Answer to Global Warming
Big changes are coming, and they could begin now, with each of us. The individual creates society, and the society we have created is driven by greed and the bottom line. Oil is the most dangerous, and the only way to combat these dangers is to turn our backs on them. Here is how to do that without sacrificing anything. - The End of the World
The end of the world is coming. Scientists say that the sun will flare out in the future and envelope our entire solar system and all of its planets, burning them to a crisp! This sort of thing is happening now in other parts of our universe, so it’s not unusual, and the earth is not unique. - The Heart of the Problem (Part 1)
Life can be a beautiful thing, but if we don't understand life, we might end up fighting it. More often than not, it's you and I against the world. - The Heart of the Problem - Part 2
There is only one thing that can help us in this area of serious inquiry, an inquiry that could turn our lives around 180 degrees, and that one thing is deep reflection in the absence of thought, in the absence of our self or "I" thought, and where the beauty of the world and the beauty of life reveals itself. Where conflict is ended and fear dissolved. - The Hidden Power Of Compromise
Desire is good; yes? If greed is good, according to Wall Street and Michael Douglas, then desire must be good as well. Desire, greed avarice, hatred – maybe they are all good in this era of the ends justifying the means regardless of what those means are. What harm can come from sticking to our guns and digging in our heels and never compromising? Never say that you are sorry, right? Or say that you are wrong. It shows weakness. - The Monk Diet
This one is unique! And one of the few free ones that really works, and might even change your entire life! - The Most Important Thing to Look for in a Relationship
Good looking, intelligent, personable, self-assured, these are important, but if the most important thing is missing, the relationship could be doomed. Approximately 50% of marriages fail, and the number of failed relationships, although unknown, eclipses that figure for sure. - The Real Secret
We just don't yet understand the secret, because the secret is only available to those that stop running from it- - The Role of a Meditator in the World
A meditator, a true meditator, has no role to play regarding the world. None whatsoever. What a meditator must do is discover the truth about herself, himself, and that is the extent of it. This is a very self-enclosed, seemingly selfish endeavor. - The Story of a Tree
Life's passages are beautifully reflected in this innocent, poignant story of a little tree. - The Zen Master And A Troubled Man
I made my way back toward the monastery and noticed a middle-aged man waiting near the entrance; he had his hands clasped, indicating that he would like to speak with me. When I walked over to where he was waiting, he said, "Thank you for a moment of your time. I must make a difficult decision and was hoping you could help." - The Zen Master and the Cat
He took some ashes from an incense burner next to his seat and put them in the palm of his hand. Then, with eyes twinkling, blew them away, holding up an empty palm. He again looked into each student's eyes and smiled broadly, and when his eyes reached mine, I was surprised to find tears welling up for no particular reason. - Three Reasons We are Unhappy
We put on a good face and insist we are happy, but in those private moments, when we are honest with ourselves, we aren't happy. We can't even sleep! Nights are not easy for us, because then we are alone with our "me's". - Three Stages
Awareness is always there. It is eternal. It never began and will never cease; it is the basis of all existence and never dies. Unlike consciousness, which requires change in order to manifest, awareness requires no change. Awareness is unchanging. Awareness is what we thirst for; that undying, unborn, unformed, eternal realty that we inherently are. - Time
Managing our time in everyday life is not rocket science; it's a matter of priorities. We can read endless books about it. But here we are invited to consider time itself, and the manager of time, so that we have a slant on life that few have, and perhaps we will take a step or two toward freedom from time. - True Meditation
Dwelling in the Ultimate or simply "being" defines meditation in its purest form, an integral part of spirituality. This true meditation, in turn, leads to a radical personal transformation called enlightenment. Until our spiritual institutions embrace this aspiration of fundamentally changing ourselves, things are not likely to change in a self-centered world, a world that remains violent even after thousands of years of culture. - Understanding Grief
These times of grief are when profound questions should come up in our hearts, questions that we shouldn't run out and get answered by this person or that book too quickly. These are questions that we should gulp down deep inside and allow to simmer for awhile so that we can really feel the suffering that all humanity goes through. - Understanding Success
Too often, however, our successes run through our fingers like water, regardless of how tight we cling to them, and soon we find ourselves unsuccessful once more. - Wanting Bugs (Part 1)
Fear not; The Wanting Bug Articles are a welcome departure from this penchant for seriousness, yet without compromising the great teachings regarding desire. The articles are complete, accommodating, and even better; they change lives. Actually, they go further than changing lives, they changes destinies! - Wanting Bugs (Part 2)
When we satisfy our Wanting Bugs, They makes babies. But it feels good when we satisfy our wanting bugs, so good, in fact, that baby Wanting Bugs don’t seem to be any problem at all . . . at least not right away. - Wanting Bugs (Part 3)
Wanting Bugs have many legs, some have a many as a hundred! They love to feel stuff, and they have many eyes as well, all looking for something to do. They love smelling roasting peanuts, and eating donuts while listening to cool music - and listening to compliments! And they're forever thinking and dreaming about stuff. Where would we be without our Wanting Bugs, even though they never give us any peace? - Wanting Bugs (Part 4)
If we get rid of some of our cute Wanting Bugs, (actually, if you look closely at them, they are not so cute, and have very sharp little teeth), then, we actually turn into good people — humble, honest and truthful in every way — then our Wanting Bugs are not happy campers! If we don’t "want" things, how will our Wanting Bugs ever piggyback their way into heaven with us, so that they can drag us back down to earth, or other unmentionable places? - Wanting Bugs (Part 5)
If enough people and their greedy Bugs get together to gain as much power and wealth as they can regardless of the consequences to the rest of us and to the earth, and regardless of what others think about them, then the world will be just an awful place to live! And might even burn up! - Wanting Bugs (Part 6)
Sometimes we have Devious Wanting Bugs. These are the worst kind, because they know that everything changes. Knowing this, they keep their slaves on their toes by constantly changing their circumstances. Like a large boat that creates a great wake in its path. These unfortunate slaves who are cursed with these kinds of devious Bugs must never stop moving, for if they do, the wake of the big waves they are making will drown them. - Wanting Bugs (Part 7)
Boy are we ever stuck now! We have to get everything we want all the time! And, oh no - we are ambitious, driven, jealous, competitive, and we surely don't like anyone who has more than we do!. It can be such a confusing situation. Our poor little minds can't keep up with the hordes of Wanting Bugs that bother us all the time! - Wanting Bugs (Part 8)
Sometimes I dream of a secret key that opens a treasure chest of light, a magical light that frees me from not only my Wanting Bugs, but from all the things that I want to hide from. - Warrior (Part 1)
An evolution is stirring. People are beginning to break free. To understand this evolution, we must look at what we were before the evolution began, before we made a radical decision to think for ourselves. Thinking for ourselves requires us to become warriors . . . To become aware of where we were before we began this evolution, we must look closely at our comfort zones; God, country and family, those cherished values so key to our security. - Warrior (Part 2)
What is love? Is love what we feel when we are attracted to someone or something? New studies have shown that the part of the human brain that becomes stimulated when someone is in love is not the emotional centers at all, but the primal centers that control physical desires. Is love nothing more than animal lust, which turns into possessiveness, control - a business relationship involving anger, suspicion, guilt, and apprehension? - Warrior (Part 3)
Spiritual warriors are the future, and the future will be light years from what we consider religion to be today - When It's Not Working
We know when it's not working; it's like a slap in the face. We thought it was working, but then something happens to remind us that we haven't fundamentally changed at all, and we find ourselves back at square one after all these years. - Why All This? Why Not Nothing?
The classic question, and one that should be answered directly. Here is the answer . . . - Why Do We Want to Be Creative?
The first and most important question to ask ourselves is why we want to be creative. If our answer is not profound, then our chances of becoming truly creative are slim. - Why It's Best to Live Alone
When it's important to be by ourselves. - Why Should I Change?
Conflict results when we consider our particular conventional realities to be undeniable truths, then, the obvious consequence of this conflict is disdain toward those who believe in conventions other than ours. This is an illusion, because no conventional reality is truth; no conventional reality is perfect for all people at all times – all things are in flux. - You Can't Truly Love Another Until You Truly Love Yourself (What Does That Mean?)
When we look inside ourselves, we see a mess. If we don't see a mess, then we are more than likely crazy! There are those who think they are perfect (look out for them!), but usually we will admit that we are a jumble of competing desires.
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