About Bliss

 

The poster says:  Bliss lies in balance.  — Buddha Groove

************************

In my Qi Gong class the other day, several of us had a discussion about what bliss is… a concept, a state of being, a type of energy, or even something that is drug induced.  We did not arrive at a conclusion and agreed that each of us had a  different experience of bliss.  The writing below summarizes bliss in a wonderful way.

***********************************************

                             The Ultimate Bliss

Blissful is solitude  for one who’s content,      who has heard the Dhamma,      who sees.  Blissful is non-affliction  with regard for the world,      restraint for living beings.  Blissful is dispassion  with regard for the world,      the overcoming of sensuality.  But the subduing of the conceit 'I am'—     That is truly      the ultimate bliss.

- Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, "Do Nothing"

******************************

May you find bliss in your life.

Blessings,

Judy

Living With Grace

The person who is a master in the art of living makes little distinction between their work and their play, their labor and their leisure, their mind and their body, their education and their recreation, their love and their religion.  They hardly know which is which. They simply pursue their vision of excellence and grace in whatever they do, leaving others to decide whether they are working or playing. To them, they are always doing both.  ~~~ from Zen Buddhism

This passage on grace really zinged through me as we are halfway through July.  It seems that many things that I go to do or try to do are minefields of issues or tasks that have to be done before I can actually do what it is I wanted to enjoy.  I was not feeling the flow of things.  I was not moving with grace.  I had to figure out my block, in me, and release it.  It is a work in progress.

Moving through this month, and through life, try to remember that you can be graceful in what ever you do.  It is born in us.  We forget it, and then forget how to be graceful.  

May your life flow with ease. 

Blessings,

Judy

Run The Dishwasher Twice

 

Picture from Cnet.com article

Sometimes, when you read the news or magazines, you have an “Eureka” moment. That happened to me earlier this week when I read the headline below.  Check out the article.  Remember, over time, links can change so this link may not work forever.

Woman shares her therapist's incredibly helpful mental health hack: 'Run the dishwasher twice'

https://apple.news/AOn5CzxmSQ5OCzvIXHlSq7w

Why was this a startling moment for me?  When I read the article, I realized that so many people are living by arbitrary rules imposed on us by others.  Our conditioning to these rules makes it almost impossible for us to over throw the rules.

In this example, a lady struggling with every day tasks was overwhelmed by having to basically wash her dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.  Her therapist’s solution was easy, wash the dishes twice!

I started thinking about some of the arbitrary rules that I have shattered in my life over time.  Many of you will have the same experience.  A rule may have worked at some point but it does not work now.  Let the rule go!

Blessings,

Judy

Being a Kickass Woman

The poster says:

THE KICKASS WOMAN’S MANIFESTO FOR SPARKLICIOUS LIVING

I AM STRONG - I have walked through hell and kept walking.  I know my weaknesses.

I AM WORTHY - It took me a long time to believe that.  I’ve worked through my “Unworthiness”.

I AM BEAUTIFUL - And no one needs to convince me of that anymore.  I have dropped the illusion of not enough.

I AM (IM) PERFECT - I have imperfections but that doesn’t make me imperfect.  I am PERFECT as I am.

I AM ME - I thought that I was lost and alone, but now I realize that I was always with me.

*********************

The last four months have been a challenging one for me.  I have had some health challenges that have slowed me down and depleted my energy.  We are enjoying time with friends and family as much as we can.

Spirit, as you know, always sends you things to put your life into perspective.  The poster in the above picture helped me to put things into something that I understood: I am the perfect person to be doing what I am doing right now.  The Universe/Creator made me strong and intelligent so that I could deal with the things that were being rained upon me.  And, I am doing what I need to do.

I know that all of mankind is at a time of making decisions about dealing with family issues and with friend relationships.  I know that many seniors will leave the planet and that we must be prepared for that.  I know too, that we will be besieged with currents of energy that play our bodies out.

With all of this, I feel quite happy to move forward into the fall.  It is a perfect time for change.

Blessings,

Judy

Grizzly Bear’s Message

When an animal speaks to me continuously through dreams, waves at me from pictures in a magazine, or even comes up in regular conversation, I know that I need to pay attention to what message is coming through.

Adult Grizzly

Picture from www.weforanimals.com

 

 

 

Sometimes, however, getting a message is like picking up a lot of static on your favourite radio station.  And, I was getting lots of static.  I could see Grizzly, and could not hear her.  I was getting frustrated!

Grizzly cub from  

www.weforanimals.com

 

 

 

Then, I was walking out in the provincial park.  Even though it is only the end of January, I began to think about bears.   As soon as I had this thought, the next thought flowed – Grizzly Bears are having their cubs about this time.  Where did that thought come from? I was startled!

                  

Mother Grizzly with her cub – picture from Wikipedia from Wikimedia Commons 

To get in touch with the feeling around the thought, I began to do a deep meditative breathing.  My dog looked at me, wondering what was amiss.  And gradually, a message came. Grizzly Bear said:

This is the time of hibernation.  During this time, many changes take place in bears.  The female give birth to their young, usually from two to four cubs. It is a time of introspection. For bears, the long sleep lets us walk with The Mother Of Us All without the constraints of the physical.  We learn from her, and apply the lessons when we wake up.  Bears have been shy.  We are now moving back to that place where we see humans as equals, and we will walk in the same places that they do. 

There are many humans who are undergoing the same change that we are experiencing.  However, these humans do not sleep the required time to germinate something new.  They do not empty out their systems to give the body rest.  I say this to you – this is a time of giving birth to new ideas, projects, and new ways of living.  Listen to that inner voice. Sleep when you need to, and disregard the chatter of the masses.

Bears are solitary by choice so that we can move as we need to. We also can think, play, eat, and sleep when we need to.  We are not governed by what others want to do or by any control.  Will you let your self be so free as to walk away from those things in life that control you?

Many blessings,

Judy 

Remembrance Day November 11 2023

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada.  Today, I remember my great grandfather on my mother’s side, my grandfathers on both my mother’s and my father’s side, numerous great uncles, uncles, and cousins. Most of them are no longer here.  Most of them have fought several wars.  Some of them are now retired, and still doing what they can for others.

I am thankful that my Ancestors were very brave and that they had a strong sense of right, of truth, and a belief that no one man, no one country, and no one religion should rule the world.  I am thankful that they fought for what they believed in. Their actions have been a shiny example for me, of standing on one’s truth.  

I am thankful, too, for all the women in my family, who supported the men, and who acted as machinists, nurses, labourers,  and who made do with what was available.  These women taught me about necessity living. 

I am aware that the peace that I have in my life is because all of you stood for what you believed in.  Thank – you.

May all of you know that you are honoured and loved through time. 

Blessings,

Judy