A Wonderful New Beginning

01 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

New BeginningNever forget, that making a decision is only the beginning, and not the end of a process. In many ways starting something is the easiest part, seeing things through to their conclusion takes far more determination, effort and patience as well as wisdom, courage and compassion.

Whilst many opportunities need courage to grasp, rarely is it that courage that sees them through to the end. Sometimes it means relinquishing control into someone else’s hands which can prove to be quite a frightening prospect.

Having determination, and the patience to allow others to realise that your chosen path is the right way to proceed is never an easy thing to accomplish. But the alternative is to reverse the decision, fail in the quest, and be prepared to stomach the bitter taste of defeat. That path can only lead to more pain and heartache, be resolute and see it through.

Nobody ever received kudos for starting something, only to quit half way to their goal. So once you have started something, have the courage and determination to see it through to its satisfactory conclusion, you will feel all the better for it.

You Have Control

08 Jan 2014 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

You Have ControlWhen bad things happen to us, events that we can’t explain, there is a tendency to blame fate, bad luck or coincidence. It is perhaps more comfortable to believe that when something goes wrong, we are at the beck and call of forces unknown and unseen.

The fact of the matter is, that all of us are in the position we find ourselves because of the effects of all the causes we have made in this, and previous lives. In one way this can be quite scary, because it puts the onus of responsibility on our shoulders.

On the other hand, it is very empowering to know that we have complete control of our own destiny and that we are not simply the plaything of these unknown forces.

Having said all this, it is important to remember that Karma is not some form of punishment or reward, because, although it’s sometimes difficult to see, there really is no such thing as good or bad Karma just the results of good or bad causes.

So work hard to make good causes and enjoy the results. Your Karma is made to measure, it fits you like a glove, and because of that, you have the ultimate control over your own destiny.

Remember To Breathe

07 Oct 2013 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , , ,

BreatheThere will be people reading this, who remember me saying to them, in times of stress, ‘just remember to breathe’. It’s good advice, stopping breathing has been scientifically proven to be bad for us. But seriously, it is all too easy to forget to breathe properly.

When I’m out riding (and I can hear the groans from here) I can actually slow my heart rate at will by moderating my breathing. When you are working at, or close to, your maximum it is easy to start panting. Short sharp breaths into the top of your lungs are rather inefficient.

The trick is to be mindful of this, to slow your breathing, but to take deep full breaths and allow the oxygen to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Your body will have more oxygen at its disposal, your heart will recognise this and will slow accordingly and this is a much more efficient state in which to continue.

I found this poem while I was browsing the subject …

Breathe

If you feel overwhelmed, breathe. It will calm you and release the tensions.

If you are worried about something coming up, or caught up in something that already happened, breathe. It will bring you back to the present.

If you are moving too fast, breathe. It will remind you to slow down, and enjoy life more.

Breathe, and enjoy each moment of this life. They’re too fleeting and few to waste.

~ Leo Babauta

Being mindful of our thoughts or, in this case, our bodies and their processes is an important part of the Buddhist practice. If we are to control our emotions, restrain our darker thoughts, or even supress a propensity to hyper-ventilate, we must be mindful.

Creating some form of trigger, by which we force ourselves to look at our behaviour, will allow us to have more control. How we create that trigger is an individual choice, but it could be visual, audible or simply mental. Whatever you choose, stick with it, you will be rewarded in the fullness of time.

New Beginnings?

06 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

The Right PathNever forget that making a decision is the beginning, and not the end of a process. In many ways starting something is the easiest part, seeing things through to their conclusion takes far more effort and patience as well as wisdom, courage and compassion.

Whilst many opportunities need courage to grasp, rarely is it that courage that sees them through to the end. Sometimes it means relinquishing control into someone else’s hands which can be quite a frightening prospect.

Having determination, and the patience to allow others to realise that your chosen path is the right way to proceed is never an easy thing to accomplish. But the alternative is to reverse the decision, fail in the quest, and be prepared to stomach the bitter taste of defeat. That path can only lead to more pain and heartache, be resolute and see it through.

Nobody ever received kudos for starting something, only to quit half way to their goal.

W, C & C

01 Nov 2011 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

George PapandreouAfter all the negotiation of last week, of the leaders of the Euro zone countries, putting together a bail out (or is it bale out) plan for Greece, it was unbelievable that the Greek Prime Minister announced a potentially deal breaking referendum.

One of Uncle Ken’s favourite quotes is “A great inner revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of an entire society and, further, will cause a change in the destiny of humankind.” Well I’m not sure that George Papandreou has actually had an inner revolution, or that the change in destiny is quite that envisaged by Ken’s quotation, but it is frightening that just one man’s decision can wipe billions off the world’s stock markets at a single stroke.

George Papandreou has, without doubt, courage in abundance. I do however fear that it is not matched by equal measures of wisdom or compassion. I fear that his decision was taken for personal reasons, in an attempt to bolster his flagging political popularity, rather than as an attempt to secure a deal of control, over their financial destiny, for the Greek people.

From the newsreel footage from across Europe today. It is clear that Minister Papandreou has done immeasurable damage to his popularity amongst his peers, though for him, that may be an inconsequential aside. I hope that the Greek people see the bigger picture, realise that Europe is trying to help them out of a state of bankruptcy, but that hope may just be pie in the sky. Time will tell whether they grasp the chance to control their own futures at the expense of the rest of the world.