Tag Archives: Meditation

Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Zen

Zen and Breathing. via BalanceInMe.com

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Changing Yourself Through Your Breath

Deep breathing has been used to prepare for meditation since the beginning of human civilization. In the Hindu tradition, this practice was called pranayama and was used by yogis to improve their health and prepare for meditation.

My teacher used to say that “Your breath is your power”. And when you see someone full of energy and vitality, you’re seeing someone who understands the power of deep breathing.

My friend Diana shows you a style of meditation that uses a powerful deep breathing technique on this page (click here to check it out).

When you use a proper breathing technique, it will trigger natural and automatic movements which will relieve the tension that you have accumulated in your body. This will allow you to be far more mindful and will train your body to be effortlessly mindful in day to day life.

That’s why my teacher was right to place so much importance on deep breathing.

And it’s also why you should check out this style of meditation.

Keep meditating!
About me, Love, My Poetry, Poetry, Writing

The Inner Child by Nina Yin

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In a sense I am lost; feeling childlike in constant exploring of earth and oneself. I am, in a sense found; by my morality with love…and with compassion… I find myself restless in time, for time is complex. The mind cannot comprehend time nor comprehend anything in completeness. The Tao of existence unwordable, incomprehensible…

We are not all knowing beings but the fabric of existence has underlying comfort whether it is productive or not. Even terrible mistakes create great lessons. The child knows love most, your inner child craves it.

Life is complex in a mathematical sense but extremely simple in the aspect of conscious thought.

That being all that we have.

I trust this universe more than I trust myself. I say this in a sense that I do not feel in control, but the rain outside my window… it is bringing life to the earth; as is the sun, moon and the stars. Endless bounded in infinity… ; that is something I can trust. Allowing the universe to take control helps me in meditations and allowing what I cannot change.

Simplicity is bliss and sometimes in my childlike absence of self awareness, like when I draw a picture I am not drawing a picture. If I am absent and I perhaps simply am: the picture.

But as my inner child finishes the creation.

I must return to the grounding incomprehensible earth.

Here I am again.

 

-Nina

Buddhism, Love, Poetry, Stories, Zen

Story of Buddha by Nina Yin

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“The importance of oneself.

Should not be important at all.

In essence we are natural.

But natural is not our essence

Until we are enlightened”

-Nina

 

Buddha’s mother couldn’t get pregnant, one night she had a dream, visited by an elephant carrying a lotus, the elephant touched the side of her stomach.

The Queen was pregnant.

After Buddha’s birth he was taken to a guru.

Born into a royal family

Saddat (Buddha)  was to be a ruling king that the world had never seen….or a holy man (The Buddha) said the Guru.

His father tried desperately to hide the truth for many years, wishing he would never see suffering, and forever was to be indulging him in Luxury.

Saddat lived luxurious for many years but needed to find enlightenment, to understand his questions of life not found in self indulgence.

Saddat ran from the castle, his family and wealth.

He shaved his head and lived in homelessness.

-In Buddhism: Peace is found in poverty and without worldly things.-

After countless years of different practices and teachings.

Starving oneself for many years, practicing ancient rituals and studying….

Saddat took up starving oneself, thinking the key to enlightenment was to be without anything human to need nothing…

….he became but a skeleton…

His eyes deep in his skull like a light at a bottom of a dark well.

This was not the way.

Saddat was the most malnourished, deep in this practice.

But one day.

He got up from meditation.

He was given rice porridge by a woman walking by.

The others were shocked and exclaimed “Saddat loves luxury!”

Ashamed of him, but.

Buddha realized

There is good, in our lives, good that we need and is important.

Under a the boddhi tree sat meditating.

The Sun moved through the sky but the shadow of his tree did not move, the tree kept him comfortable,

He touched the ground connected with the universe and unto Buddha he became.

People from all over sought his teachings.

He taught for many more years to his disciples.

Noble truths,

compassion

and the way

enlightenment.

 

“It’s time for me to go”. He exclaimed.

“I will be in Nirvana”.

*Enlightened*, placing his hand to the earth.

leaving his teachings behind.

Forever.

-Nina Yin

 

Buddhism, Photography, Poetry, Zen

Without Fear : Zen Master

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wudang-mountains-complex-1

 


Without Fear

During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived – everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn’t treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger.

“You fool,” he shouted as he reached for his sword, “don’t you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!”

But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved. “And do you realize,” the master replied calmly, “that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?”

“”Happy are those who do not fear death. They know no fear and therefore cannot be controlled.”

– Nina