Lance - Homage to Kurt Deitrick Photography: 051713
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Beauty: 051713
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AOM Meditations: Quotes from Mindfulness in Plain English
-quotes from my favorite book on the subject of Meditation-
~*~
Mindfulness is an impartial watchfulness. It does not take sides. It does not get hung up in what is perceived. It just perceives. Mindfulness does not get infatuated with the good mental states. It does not try to sidestep the bad mental states. There is no clinging to the pleasant, no fleeing from the unpleasant. Mindfulness sees all experiences as equal, all thoughts as equal, all feelings as equal. Nothing is suppressed. Nothing is repressed. Mindfulness does not play favorites.
~*~
Don't cling to anything and don't reject anything. Let come what comes, and accommodate yourself to that, whatever it is. If good mental images arise, that is fine. If bad mental images arise, that is fine, too. Look on all of it as equal, and make yourself comfortable with whatever happens. Don't fight with what you experience, just observe it all mindfully.
~*~
Mindfulness is present time awareness. It takes place in the here and now. It is the observance of what is happening right now, in the present moment. It stays forever in the present, surging perpetually on the crest of the ongoing wave of passing time. If you are remembering your second-grade teacher, that is memory. When you then become aware that you are remembering your second-grade teacher, that is mindfulness. If you then conceptualize the process and say to yourself, "Oh, I am remembering", that is thinking.
~*~
Mindfulness gives you time. Time gives you choices. Choices, skillfully made, lead to freedom. You don't have to be swept away by your feeling. You can respond with wisdom and kindness rather than habit and re-activity.
~*~
Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. You may not be perfect, but you are all you've got to work with. The process of becoming who you will be begins first with the total acceptance of who you are.
~ Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
from his book, Mindfulness in Plain English
You can read and download the book for free
from this website: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html
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MUSIC: "A Beautiful Day" by Schiller featuring Isgaard
Another Gorgeous Song and Video
From Schiller
The lead actor is soooo handsome - WOOF!
The lead actor is soooo handsome - WOOF!
You may recognize the melody that
The soprano is singing,
"Un bel di vedremo"
from Puccini's Madame Butterfly
Here is the English translation
of the German sentence spoken near the beginning
"A beautiful day
Once it ends
Nothing remains the way it was"
Schiller featuring Isgaard
"A Beautiful Day"
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Hey Sweetie! 051713
Hey Sweetie,
Happy FRIDAY!!!!
Today:
International Day Against Homophobia,
held on May 17 every year,
is a rallying event offering an opportunity for
people to get together and reach out to one another.
Why May 17th?
May 17th is a symbolic day for the homosexual community.
Long considered to be an illness,
homosexuality was removed from the list
of mental illnesses on May 17, 1990 by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
For more information, visit the website
~*~
As usual
I am taking Friday night away from blogging
So no posts on Saturday
My plan is to resume Sunday.
I wish you a lovely day
And a Fabulous Weekend.
Have Fun and Be Safe
Hope to see you Sunday!
Peace and Love,
AOM
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Parting Shot: 051913
HAPPY MASTURBATION MONTH!
Woooooooo Weeeeeeeeeee
Cream Delight!
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Booty: 051913
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Beautiful Penis: 051913
Beautiful Penis
Arise and Cum unto Me
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Kamron: 051913
WOOF!!!!!
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Beauty: 051913
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AOM Meditations: More Like a Zen Monk 051913
12 Essential Rules to Live More Like a Zen Monk
Post written by Leo Babauta.
(Source)
“We have more possibilities available
in each moment than we realize.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh
in each moment than we realize.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh
I’m not a Zen monk, nor will I ever become one. However, I find great inspiration in the way they try to live their lives: the simplicity of their lives, the concentration and mindfulness of every activity, the calm and peace they find in their days.
You probably don’t want to become a Zen monk either, but you can live your life in a more Zen-like manner by following a few simple rules.
Why live more like a Zen monk? Because who among us can’t use a little more concentration, tranquility, and mindfulness in our lives? Because Zen monks for hundreds of years have devoted their lives to being present in everything they do, to being dedicated and to serving others. Because it serves as an example for our lives, and whether we ever really reach that ideal is not the point.
One of my favorite Zen monks, Thich Nhat Hanh, simplified the rules in just a few words: “Smile, breathe and go slowly.” It doesn’t get any better than that.
However, for those who would like a little more detail, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve discovered to work very well in my experiments with Zen-like living. I am no Zen master … I am not even a Zen Buddhist. However, I’ve found that there are certain principles that can be applied to any life, no matter what your religious beliefs or what your standard of living.
“Zen is not some kind of excitement,
but concentration on our usual everyday routine.”
- Shunryu Suzuki
1. Do one thing at a time. This rule (and some of the others that follow) will be familiar to long-time Zen Habits readers. It’s part of my philosophy, and it’s also a part of the life of a Zen monk: single-task, don’t multi-task. When you’re pouring water, just pour water. When you’re eating, just eat. When you’re bathing, just bathe. Don’t try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing. Zen proverb: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”
2. Do it slowly and deliberately. You can do one task at a time, but also rush that task. Instead, take your time, and move slowly. Make your actions deliberate, not rushed and random. It takes practice, but it helps you focus on the task.
3. Do it completely. Put your mind completely on the task. Don’t move on to the next task until you’re finished. If, for some reason, you have no choice but to move on to something else, try to at least put away the unfinished task and clean up after yourself. If you prepare a sandwich, don’t start eating it until you’ve put away the stuff you used to prepare it, wiped down the counter, and washed the dishes used for preparation. Then you’re done with that task, and can focus more completely on the next task.
4. Do less. A Zen monk doesn’t lead a lazy life: he wakes early and has a day filled with work. However, he doesn’t have an unending task list either — there are certain things he’s going to do today, and no more. If you do less, you can do those things more slowly, more completely and with more concentration. If you fill your day with tasks, you will be rushing from one thing to the next without stopping to think about what you do.
5. Put space between things. Related to the “Do less” rule, but it’s a way of managing your schedule so that you always have time to complete each task. Don’t schedule things close together — instead, leave room between things on your schedule. That gives you a more relaxed schedule, and leaves space in case one task takes longer than you planned.
6. Develop rituals. Zen monks have rituals for many things they do, from eating to cleaning to meditation. Ritual gives something a sense of importance — if it’s important enough to have a ritual, it’s important enough to be given your entire attention, and to be done slowly and correctly. You don’t have to learn the Zen monk rituals — you can create your own, for the preparation of food, for eating, for cleaning, for what you do before you start your work, for what you do when you wake up and before you go to bed, for what you do just before exercise. Anything you want, really.
7. Designate time for certain things. There are certain times in the day of a Zen monk designated for certain activities. A time for for bathing, a time for work, a time for cleaning, a time for eating. This ensures that those things get done regularly. You can designate time for your own activities, whether that be work or cleaning or exercise or quiet contemplation. If it’s important enough to do regularly, consider designating a time for it.
1. Devote time to sitting. In the life of a Zen monk, sitting meditation (zazen) is one of the most important parts of his day. Each day, there is time designated just for sitting. This meditation is really practice for learning to be present. You can devote time for sitting meditation, or do what I do: I use running as a way to practice being in the moment. You could use any activity in the same way, as long as you do it regularly and practice being present.
2. Smile and serve others. Zen monks spend part of their day in service to others, whether that be other monks in the monastery or people on the outside world. It teaches them humility, and ensures that their lives are not just selfish, but devoted to others. If you’re a parent, it’s likely you already spend at least some time in service to others in your household, and non-parents may already do this too. Similarly, smiling and being kind to others can be a great way to improve the lives of those around you. Also consider volunteering for charity work.
3. Make cleaning and cooking become meditation. Aside from the zazen mentioned above, cooking and cleaning are two of the most exalted parts of a Zen monk’s day. They are both great ways to practice mindfulness, and can be great rituals performed each day. If cooking and cleaning seem like boring chores to you, try doing them as a form of meditation. Put your entire mind into those tasks, concentrate, and do them slowly and completely. It could change your entire day (as well as leave you with a cleaner house).
4. Think about what is necessary. There is little in a Zen monk’s life that isn’t necessary. He doesn’t have a closet full of shoes, or the latest in trendy clothes. He doesn’t have a refrigerator and cabinets full of junk food. He doesn’t have the latest gadgets, cars, televisions, or iPod. He has basic clothing, basic shelter, basic utensils, basic tools, and the most basic food (they eat simple, vegetarian meals consisting usually of rice, miso soup, vegetables, and pickled vegetables). Now, I’m not saying you should live exactly like a Zen monk — I certainly don’t. But it does serve as a reminder that there is much in our lives that aren’t necessary, and it can be useful to give some thought about what we really need, and whether it is important to have all the stuff we have that’s not necessary.
5. Live simply. The corollary of Rule 11 is that if something isn’t necessary, you can probably live without it. And so to live simply is to rid your life of as many of the unnecessary and unessential things as you can, to make room for the essential. Now, what is essential will be different to each person. For me, my family, my writing, my running and my reading are essential. To others, yoga and spending time with close friends might be essential. For others it will be nursing and volunteering and going to church and collecting comic books. There is no law saying what should be essential for you — but you should consider what is most important to your life, and make room for that by eliminating the other less essential things in your life.
“Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water.
After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.”
- Wu Li
- Wu Li
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Art of Vladimir Kush Set to the Music by Schiller
The Exquisite Metaphorical Realism of
Vladimir Kush
Set to the Beautiful music of
Schiller featuring Sarah Brightman
"I've Seen It All"
~*~
You can see more of Vladimir Kush's art
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Hey Sweetie! 051913
Hey Sweetie,
Happy Sunday to You and Yours!
I've been busy cleaning house this weekend
I set up a small water fountain in my computer room
I set up an altar to the Sacredness of Life
Around my computer area
And I've been Walking and Meditating
It has been a productive and fun weekend
Has been updated
With the exquisite art of
Vladimir Kush
There is a lovely slideshow
Set to music in today's Music Post
You can visit AOM Gallery
By clicking the box on the sidebar
I hope you have a very lovely day.
Peace and Love,
AOM
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Gorgeous Guys Gorgeously EnGorged Snack Pack: 052013
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AOM Meditations: from The Tao of Pooh
from the Tao of Pooh
by Benjamin Hoff
You can read the book online
~*~
"Say, Pooh, why aren't you busy?" I said.
"Because it's a nice day," said Pooh.
"But you could be doing
something Important," I said.
"I am," said Pooh.
"Oh? Doing what?"
"Listening,"he said.
"Listening to what?"
"To the birds. And that squirrel over there."
"What are they saying?" I asked.
"That it's a nice day," said Pooh.
"But you know that already," I said.
"Yes, but it's always good to hear that
somebody else thinks so, too," he said.
~*~
And so like Pooh,
Rather than blogging a lot today,
I'm going to enjoy the nice day
~AOM
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Hey Sweetie! 052013
Hey Sweetie,
This week
Well, I don't exactly know how to explain it
Blogging takes a lot of time and energy
and
My Spirit wants some more free time to dabble
More time to think about things
Other than blogging
Of course I do think about lots of things
But I just need more time to wander freely
At first I thought of taking the week off
But then I thought perhaps
If I just pull back a bit
And only posted one of two posts each day this week
That would give me the time I need and
Still be here for you
So I'm going to try it out and see how it goes
I've fixed a Snack Pack for you today
I hope you will enjoy it.
While I am posting less this week
This might be a good time for you
To go back and visit older posts
You have not seen yet.
I hope you have a very lovely day.
Peace and Love,
AOM
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Kyle Hayward from Bel Ami: 052113
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AOM Meditations: 052113
Throughout my life
I've collected rocks from
All the different places I've been.
I now have these rocks
Set around my computer area.
They form part of my altar
To the Sacredness of Life.
The other night as I lay in bed,
My thoughts turned to these rocks;
How they sit so patiently,
Peacefully,
Silently,
Mindfully.
Not distracted by all the activity
That goes on around them.
They just sit.
It occurred to me that this was a lesson
They were teaching me.
Now, as I sit in meditation,
I remember the rocks -
And sit as they do
~AOM
~*~
My thoughts and prayers
Go out to all those affected
By the tornadoes in Oklahoma
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Hey Sweetie: SNACK PACK WEEK 052113
Hey Sweetie,
I am continuing this week
Posting less
I think I will call weeks like this
SNACK PACK WEEKS
: )
Normally I post eight separate posts each day
This week I am taking it easy
And only posting a few posts each day
I hope you have a very lovely day.
Peace and Love,
AOM
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Sensuals: SNACK PACK WEEK
Just a snack pack to keep you going
While I take time to pursue other things.
I usually post around midnight
And view my posts several times.
It is then - and only then -
That I catch my mistakes.
(strange, I know - it's just part of being me)
Yesterday, I left two embarrassing
Spelling mistakes
Because I pre-posted and went to bed
Without rereading
OUCH!
Thankfully, a Friend of AOM
Emailed me and told me about them.
Thank you very much, for the help.
I am pre-posting this post so
I hope I don't leave mistakes today.
Have a lovely day, my friends.
Peace and Love,
AOM
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More Pages to Explore .....
