Well, converted my powerpoint doc to a Google doc - which will give you a URL when you open it, then opened up a New Blog page, clicked on the LINK tab here. That will open a box; on the top line, write what you want the link to say (here, I wrote power point for class), then paste the URL on the secons link. Now to see if that worked.
power point for class
Chris
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Subtle Mind Practice
As many of you may be aware (because I do have a tendency to repeat myself), practices such as this one are not new to me, and it was nice to just relax, chill, and become one with everything for a bit. The other practice - loving-kindness - was about feeling a greater love, and using it to heal ourselves and others. It is the beginning of having an open heart, which is essential for reaching the deeper recesses of our minds, and achieving the flourishing we are after. The loving-kindness is an emotive practice, whereas the subtle mind could be said to be a mental practice. The art of stilling the mind, in order to be able to be absorbed by The All, is a really good practice, and I think more (Westerners) should try it. The Asian cultures of the East have had these types of practices ingrained into their culture and daily lives for so long that I am sure, it is almost automatic. We in the West, having spent much time working on the outer self, through capitalism and religious dogma, could do with learning to understand and use the inner resources we all have. In my life, I use practices such as these all the time now - I didn't so much in my teens and twenties, because I hadn't reached the pinnacle of wisdom that comes with practice, and experience. This practice allows me to remain calm in the storm that is daily living in this world (especially having teenagers in the house!); and even though I have my chronic lower back problem, the pain becomes less of a focus when practicing meditations such as this. As the recording was ending, we were asked to "come back" to our environments, returning to "this world", so to speak. Well, as I have done things like this for a long time - and again, I claim in no way to be some guru or Master - coming back to this environment, I still maintain a modicum of this calmness within me as I wrote my notes.
I wasn't bothered by it, but I find the use of the sounds of ocean waves to be a bit of a cliche'. When we were asked to take the 10 deep breaths, I was on my eighth intake when she began speaking again; I attribute this to my long-time breathing practices, because I take such deep and slow breaths when doing exercises such as these. My focal point was the energy of the breath entering my body through my nose, circulating down the back of my body, and up through the front of my body, to exit from my nose, taking away with it the "old and used" energy/carbon dioxide. About two-thirds of the way through the exercise, my dogs decided to bark like mad; it startled me, but I was able to return to the witnessing and then subtle mind fairly quickly, as I did not lend any energy to the disruption. Does that make sense? Because that's what we are learning to do with the witnessing mind - not lending any energy to the random and ceaseless flow of thoughts we are constantly bombarded with. This "not lending of energy" allows us to have plenty of energy to focus on our breathing, and leaves us calmer and more peaceful, for our delving into our inner peace.
For me to try to describe my personal unity consciousness to others who most likely don't live and think as I do, is kind of a difficult task. When I reach that wonderful place at the center of creation, I am filled with the perfect love that abides there. It has always been my opinion and practice to think of the energy that is our Universe, created all the things that it had created, because of Love. If others want to call that center of the universe God, or Goddess, or Mohammad, or Jesus, or Krishna, or Buddha, or Kwan Yin, or Chaos, that's fine. One's relationship with the Divine is, by it's very nature, meant to be unique - following someone else's Word is to miss out on the power of relating to the Divine on one's own terms. This subtle mind/unity consciousness is what I would wish all humans to reach, because I feel that is what we need to do to evolve into our next step, before we humans kill all that it pure and wholesome, and good, and alive. Namaste'.
Chris
I wasn't bothered by it, but I find the use of the sounds of ocean waves to be a bit of a cliche'. When we were asked to take the 10 deep breaths, I was on my eighth intake when she began speaking again; I attribute this to my long-time breathing practices, because I take such deep and slow breaths when doing exercises such as these. My focal point was the energy of the breath entering my body through my nose, circulating down the back of my body, and up through the front of my body, to exit from my nose, taking away with it the "old and used" energy/carbon dioxide. About two-thirds of the way through the exercise, my dogs decided to bark like mad; it startled me, but I was able to return to the witnessing and then subtle mind fairly quickly, as I did not lend any energy to the disruption. Does that make sense? Because that's what we are learning to do with the witnessing mind - not lending any energy to the random and ceaseless flow of thoughts we are constantly bombarded with. This "not lending of energy" allows us to have plenty of energy to focus on our breathing, and leaves us calmer and more peaceful, for our delving into our inner peace.
For me to try to describe my personal unity consciousness to others who most likely don't live and think as I do, is kind of a difficult task. When I reach that wonderful place at the center of creation, I am filled with the perfect love that abides there. It has always been my opinion and practice to think of the energy that is our Universe, created all the things that it had created, because of Love. If others want to call that center of the universe God, or Goddess, or Mohammad, or Jesus, or Krishna, or Buddha, or Kwan Yin, or Chaos, that's fine. One's relationship with the Divine is, by it's very nature, meant to be unique - following someone else's Word is to miss out on the power of relating to the Divine on one's own terms. This subtle mind/unity consciousness is what I would wish all humans to reach, because I feel that is what we need to do to evolve into our next step, before we humans kill all that it pure and wholesome, and good, and alive. Namaste'.
Chris
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Video of biker me at Celebration of Freedon, Mesa, AZ, July 1st 2011
Since Dr. Johnson asked for it, I have found a link to our local Fox affiliate, channel 10 news. This was our Americal Legion Post Riders doing promotion for the Celebration of Freedom, our local Fourth of July shindig. We were interviewed by several other news channels, I just haven't found their videos, but will post them here when I find them. Cheers, and thanks for all your wonderful, inspiring comments. You all are great!
Chris
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/morning_show/corys_corner/Mesas-Celebration-of-Freedom-07012011#.Tg4iaAvpDf0.facebook
Chris
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/morning_show/corys_corner/Mesas-Celebration-of-Freedom-07012011#.Tg4iaAvpDf0.facebook
Friday, July 1, 2011
Loving-kindness exercise
To provide a little set-up for my discussion of the meditation, this morning I was up at 4 am, to get ready to do a photo shoot/interview with several of the local news channels. The American Legion Riders from Mesa Post 26 (that's us!) were asked to participate in a weekend-long Celebration of Freedom, where we will be doing the opening ceremonies (riding our motorcycles in formation with American, military branch, and POW/MIA flags flying. This morning was the kick-off of this celebration, and since we do a lot for veterans and local charities, we were asked to come downtown at 5am this morning (it's now almost 11am, Arizona time). We had a great time talking to news persons, getting interviewed, and riding our bikes for the cameras. I got home about an hour ago, a bit sore from all the sitting, and standing - with my back, I have to change positions quite a bit - and so I thought I would get this assignment done.
I really enjoyed the message of this meditation; while I may seem to many to be a gruff individual, I have a heart of gold, and would do whatever I could to help my fellow human being, if I could. That's exactly what this meditation was all about, and it even included making sure you turned the loving-kindness inward, and recognized yourself as being worthy of receiving this kind of emotion. I did not find it difficult at all to do, perhaps because I am used to these kinds of thoughts and practices, or perhaps because I was already in a "sharing" kind of mood. I would recommend this to pretty much anyone, because being able to feel this great level of emotion for one's self, and for one's fellow humans, is something that we all desperately need to do. It is this kind of emotion that, if practiced daily, leads us to the wisdom that helps us be open to the idea of ending needless suffering, and to bring about human flourishing. Our planet and it's people are on a downward spiral, and we need to encourage this kind of thinking in everyone, and fast. That is another thing I liked about this meditation - you were to send this kind of energy to those you would consider your enemies - they are human, too, and a little less hate makes more room for a little more love. I have always bought into the philosophy, and repeat it constantly to anyone within earshot - you cannot love or hate something in someone else, until you love or hate it in yourself. And if we can bring about a revolution where the hate is dismissed all together, we would be in a fantastic place. I also subscribe to the mantra, "What goes around, comes around"; I also learned from my studies of Wicca, and other pagan, earth-honoring religions who believe that what you do comes back to you threefold. Keeping this in mind makes it a little more difficult to justify doing/thinking negative things, because who wants that to come back to them??
When doing this meditation, I was reminded of a song, from a commercial in the 70's - maybe some of you will remember it - which has a similar sentiment as the meditation: "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony." This further reminded me again of the pagan belief of practicing/worshipping/working with others, "In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust"; these are at the core of who I am, so when doing the exercise, I felt a warming in my chest, and when I took in the suffering of a loved one (my fiance', Becky), I ceased to feel (focus on) my back pain for a few moments. I was smiling a lot, and this continued into the next practice of feeling this loving-kindness for a group of people.
This is what a 'mental workout' is all about, and those who have ever done weight training, or had a specific regimen of exercising, or yoga, or even martial arts, knows that the key to success is practice, practice, practice. Our aim here is a more peaceful coexistence brought about by spending a hour a day meditation, opening ourselves up to this great cosmic energy and love, of which we are a part of. The research backs this up because, while we in the West have focused on the outer world, the sages of the East have been doing this inner world for centuries; they have made the foundation for us to work from. It almost seems unnecessary to point out the benefits of doing this for one's self, because once you have reached a state of calm mind, and have experienced the joy of conversing with your spirit/soul/higher self, you will never want to leave that place and come back here. I am happy I had the chance to take this course, because it is validating for me, in several ways, things I have done for a long time. I am no guru, or sage, (I will take the title Mystic, however!), and I am in now way near to perfect. But I believe in this energy, this integral health, and I wish and want it for all my fellow humans; with it, I think we can bring the Earth and her inhabitants, back on the right track. Namaste'
I really enjoyed the message of this meditation; while I may seem to many to be a gruff individual, I have a heart of gold, and would do whatever I could to help my fellow human being, if I could. That's exactly what this meditation was all about, and it even included making sure you turned the loving-kindness inward, and recognized yourself as being worthy of receiving this kind of emotion. I did not find it difficult at all to do, perhaps because I am used to these kinds of thoughts and practices, or perhaps because I was already in a "sharing" kind of mood. I would recommend this to pretty much anyone, because being able to feel this great level of emotion for one's self, and for one's fellow humans, is something that we all desperately need to do. It is this kind of emotion that, if practiced daily, leads us to the wisdom that helps us be open to the idea of ending needless suffering, and to bring about human flourishing. Our planet and it's people are on a downward spiral, and we need to encourage this kind of thinking in everyone, and fast. That is another thing I liked about this meditation - you were to send this kind of energy to those you would consider your enemies - they are human, too, and a little less hate makes more room for a little more love. I have always bought into the philosophy, and repeat it constantly to anyone within earshot - you cannot love or hate something in someone else, until you love or hate it in yourself. And if we can bring about a revolution where the hate is dismissed all together, we would be in a fantastic place. I also subscribe to the mantra, "What goes around, comes around"; I also learned from my studies of Wicca, and other pagan, earth-honoring religions who believe that what you do comes back to you threefold. Keeping this in mind makes it a little more difficult to justify doing/thinking negative things, because who wants that to come back to them??
When doing this meditation, I was reminded of a song, from a commercial in the 70's - maybe some of you will remember it - which has a similar sentiment as the meditation: "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony." This further reminded me again of the pagan belief of practicing/worshipping/working with others, "In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust"; these are at the core of who I am, so when doing the exercise, I felt a warming in my chest, and when I took in the suffering of a loved one (my fiance', Becky), I ceased to feel (focus on) my back pain for a few moments. I was smiling a lot, and this continued into the next practice of feeling this loving-kindness for a group of people.
This is what a 'mental workout' is all about, and those who have ever done weight training, or had a specific regimen of exercising, or yoga, or even martial arts, knows that the key to success is practice, practice, practice. Our aim here is a more peaceful coexistence brought about by spending a hour a day meditation, opening ourselves up to this great cosmic energy and love, of which we are a part of. The research backs this up because, while we in the West have focused on the outer world, the sages of the East have been doing this inner world for centuries; they have made the foundation for us to work from. It almost seems unnecessary to point out the benefits of doing this for one's self, because once you have reached a state of calm mind, and have experienced the joy of conversing with your spirit/soul/higher self, you will never want to leave that place and come back here. I am happy I had the chance to take this course, because it is validating for me, in several ways, things I have done for a long time. I am no guru, or sage, (I will take the title Mystic, however!), and I am in now way near to perfect. But I believe in this energy, this integral health, and I wish and want it for all my fellow humans; with it, I think we can bring the Earth and her inhabitants, back on the right track. Namaste'
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Currently off posting...
For all my classmates and others following my blog;
I have been finally scheduled for an MRI, due to having two slipped discs in my back. Because this happened in 2005 in Scotland, we have been unable to get hold of the MRI/pain management data from there, so I had to start the whole process all over again. I just finished the physical therapy process, and my doctor put in for me to get an MRI, but there was concern as to whether or not I would get it, because I am on AHCCCS insurance. Well, I had the MRI this morning, and was told it would be 24-48 hours to hear from my doctor about the MRI. Well, my doctor's office call me about two hours later, to schedule an appointment for tomorrow morning!
Now after almost 6 years of this pain, with two hernia operations in the mix (Scotland did an unheard of process hernia op that doctors here had to fix - certainly explained the additional pain I had been having!), there may be hope that something can be done to get me away from having to take handfuls of pills every 6 hours, each day. I am hopeful, and would ask that anyone able would help the Universe bring me the long-time-so-looked-for solution, with prayers, candles, burning sage, or whatever small thing you might do to encourage a good outcome, would be greatly appreciated. Until this is solved, however, I am pretty laid up, not being able to do much since I have recently had a flare-up off bad spasms and severe nerve pain up and down my right side, so my ability to blog may be a bit off schedule. Bear with me, and I am sure all will be well in the end. Namaste'.
P.S. I have really enjoyed reading all of your comments to my blog, and I am glad to be in this class with all of you, too! Cheers, and keep 'em coming!
Chris
I have been finally scheduled for an MRI, due to having two slipped discs in my back. Because this happened in 2005 in Scotland, we have been unable to get hold of the MRI/pain management data from there, so I had to start the whole process all over again. I just finished the physical therapy process, and my doctor put in for me to get an MRI, but there was concern as to whether or not I would get it, because I am on AHCCCS insurance. Well, I had the MRI this morning, and was told it would be 24-48 hours to hear from my doctor about the MRI. Well, my doctor's office call me about two hours later, to schedule an appointment for tomorrow morning!
Now after almost 6 years of this pain, with two hernia operations in the mix (Scotland did an unheard of process hernia op that doctors here had to fix - certainly explained the additional pain I had been having!), there may be hope that something can be done to get me away from having to take handfuls of pills every 6 hours, each day. I am hopeful, and would ask that anyone able would help the Universe bring me the long-time-so-looked-for solution, with prayers, candles, burning sage, or whatever small thing you might do to encourage a good outcome, would be greatly appreciated. Until this is solved, however, I am pretty laid up, not being able to do much since I have recently had a flare-up off bad spasms and severe nerve pain up and down my right side, so my ability to blog may be a bit off schedule. Bear with me, and I am sure all will be well in the end. Namaste'.
P.S. I have really enjoyed reading all of your comments to my blog, and I am glad to be in this class with all of you, too! Cheers, and keep 'em coming!
Chris
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Crime of the Century meditation
OK, I have to admit, I was a little confused by the title of the meditation, and the actual exercise. This guy was running us through a basic chakra meditation, on which I have done extensive studying over the years, compiling many different chakra workings into a little pamphlet. If anything, "The Crime of the Century" is that many people do not know that we are made of 'white light', which, when refracted through a prism, or a crystal, divides itself into the rainbow we see. I followed the meditation with a light-hearted attitude, knowing right off the bat what the guide was doing - I even went and got out my little chakra pamphlet, and followed along with his musings.
As for the assignment on this blog, I have the following answers and ratings:
A - physical well-being - 4; Goal - lose weight, and get slipped discs in back healed. How I will accomplish this - go for walks.
B - spiritual well-being - 8; Goal - return to practices that I have ignored. This will be done by continuing to live my beliefs, and do more of it.
C - psychological well-being - 7; Goal - to release old patterns, and embrace new ones. I will do this by allowing myself to accept a loving partner, and not be afraid that my past relationships will be a template for this one.
I have always been a very spiritual person, and I practice psychology all the time; talking with friends and family, helping them to see the reasons behind their actions, and helping them realize they have great potentials that they aren't tapping into. I also "people watch" every chance I get. I don't know why, I just love imagining who they are, what their lives are like, and what they are thinking. My mind is aware that there is more to this "reality" than meets the eye; I'd like to think that I am very aware of my spirit, and I listen to it's voice. I have developed a strong intuition, and this helps me in dealing with day-to-day life, as well as extraordinary situations. Yes, I give knowing winks to little children, I talk to plants, animals, and my relations who have passed on - who knows where wisdom will come from! I hope that others who have done this exercise will come away from it with the knowledge that we are indeed, white light refracted in this mortal flesh.
As for the assignment on this blog, I have the following answers and ratings:
A - physical well-being - 4; Goal - lose weight, and get slipped discs in back healed. How I will accomplish this - go for walks.
B - spiritual well-being - 8; Goal - return to practices that I have ignored. This will be done by continuing to live my beliefs, and do more of it.
C - psychological well-being - 7; Goal - to release old patterns, and embrace new ones. I will do this by allowing myself to accept a loving partner, and not be afraid that my past relationships will be a template for this one.
I have always been a very spiritual person, and I practice psychology all the time; talking with friends and family, helping them to see the reasons behind their actions, and helping them realize they have great potentials that they aren't tapping into. I also "people watch" every chance I get. I don't know why, I just love imagining who they are, what their lives are like, and what they are thinking. My mind is aware that there is more to this "reality" than meets the eye; I'd like to think that I am very aware of my spirit, and I listen to it's voice. I have developed a strong intuition, and this helps me in dealing with day-to-day life, as well as extraordinary situations. Yes, I give knowing winks to little children, I talk to plants, animals, and my relations who have passed on - who knows where wisdom will come from! I hope that others who have done this exercise will come away from it with the knowledge that we are indeed, white light refracted in this mortal flesh.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Relaxation practice
The timing of this assignment couldn't have been better for me. I had just spent four hours in the Arizona sun (about 105-107 degrees), with my son, helping a friend of ours work on his girlfriend's car. We didn't get it back to running properly, and were all flushed and sore and tired - although we had made sure to be drinking the water and some Gatorade, of course. We were frustrated that the work we had done did not fix the problem, and our friend decided to knock off for the day, and try again early tomorrow, since the noon sun was up, and it was just too hot to be out working on the car, on the hot concrete, with hot tools. We said goodbye to my friend, and came home; my son jumped in the shower, and I got the grease off of my hands, and grabbed a cold drink, and set down at the computer to check into school.
I listened to the relaxation exercise, performing all that the voice told me, and did indeed, find my arms and hands heavier, and definitely more relaxed. When the session was over, I brought this relaxed energy here, and began to blog about the experience. I have done guided meditations before, both as the leader, and as a practitioner. I really think the universe saw that I was tense, because, as I said, the timing of this was perfect. Now, I am relaxed and energized, and after checking all of my schoolwork, I will be going for a nice swim in the pool. Here's hoping everyone had a great experience with this assignment. Cheers!
I listened to the relaxation exercise, performing all that the voice told me, and did indeed, find my arms and hands heavier, and definitely more relaxed. When the session was over, I brought this relaxed energy here, and began to blog about the experience. I have done guided meditations before, both as the leader, and as a practitioner. I really think the universe saw that I was tense, because, as I said, the timing of this was perfect. Now, I am relaxed and energized, and after checking all of my schoolwork, I will be going for a nice swim in the pool. Here's hoping everyone had a great experience with this assignment. Cheers!
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