Whether you are Christian or not, practising or not, this is a time where we can all be reminded of the ideal of loving unconditionally; where we can join in and wish that we too will love a little more unconditionally. Later, news of my first workshop in 2013 - Pt Stephens on the 15th January, but first:
Thought for the day
If you really, truly love someone, you simply wish the best for them, not yourself.
If you're wishing the best for them on the condition that they're making you happy, it's more like a business. That's not the kind of love we should develop for each other. It will hurt someone in the end, always.
Ani Choying Drolma Buddhist nun and musician
Unconditional love is a challenge really. Most love does have an element of a deal about it.
Unconditional love is a challenge really. Most love does have an element of a deal about it.
“I will love you if you do something for me in return".
“I will love you if make me feel good, make me look good, meet my needs, make my dinner”!
Unconditional love is that fierce, uncompromising love that says
“ I will love you whatever”. Love you in the good times, love you in the bad. Love you because I know that inherently you are loveable. Loveable independently of what you do. Loveable because of your own inner, pure nature.
This is another way that the deeper experiences of meditation can help us so much. When we enter into the essence of meditation; when we go beyond the thinking mind and all its vagaries; when we go beyond the thinking mind and experience something of that more basic, pure nature of the mind, we come to know that in our hearts and in the hearts of everyone around us is this intrinsic, pure goodness.
Recognising this, knowing this because we have experienced it as a fact; we know that in their essence everyone is truly loveable. Sure they may stuff up in day-to-day terms, but in their essence, in their heart, they are fundamentally pure and good. It is this knowledge, this experience that enables us to love unconditionally.
So may the true spirit of Christmas touch you and all that you love; and this Christmas, may we all love just a little more unconditionally.
Here then is the present, a delightful poem from one of America’s most loved poets, Mary Oliver.
Mindful
Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for -
to look, to listen,
of light.
It was what I was born for -
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world -
to instruct myself
over and over
inside this soft world -
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,
the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant -
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the very extravagant -
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,
the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help
but grow wise
with such teachings
as these -
the untrimmable light
with such teachings
as these -
the untrimmable light
of the world,
the ocean's shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?
the ocean's shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?
~ Mary Oliver ~
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2. Health, Healing and Wellbeing
My next full day workshop will be at Pt. Stephens on January 15th 2013
Ruth and I will be happy to meet up once again with people we know in the area, as well as make new friends.
Organised by the local Port Stephens Complementary Health Services Association, I will be speaking on the latest research in mind body medicine and self-healing, coupled with my 30 years of experience in this field. These days are always very interactive, with a gentle blend of theory and practise. We will cover how to let go of stress, relax easily and find peace of mind as well as how to
- . Develop and deepen your meditation
- . Clarify a healthy and healing way of eating
- . Discover pathways to emotional health.
There will be good time for questions and discussion.
Venue: Tomaree High School, Salamander Bay
Date: Tuesday, January 15th from 10am (arrive 9.30 am) to 4pm
Cost: $110.00. Early bird, paid by 15th December , Seniors and Concessions $95.00
More details and Bookings: www.healthportstephens.com.au
www.facebook.com/healthportstephens
Email: info@healthportstephens.com.au
Email: info@healthportstephens.com.au
Phone: 02 49 846 400
..and a happy, loving Christmas to you, Ian, Ruth and your family. Thank you for the enduring gift that you offer of your message of healthy, healing lifestyle. Ever so gradually we edge toward understanding its wisdom. An interesting article in November 24 'New Scientist' reports on so-called Mendel Randomisation - research into '...thousands of chemical markers in the "metabolome" - all the chemical intermediates in a metabolic process (in search of how) genetic variants change those, and affect disease (and) which metabolic processes cause disease...to show what parts of our behaviour or environment make us ill'. Lee S.
ReplyDeleteWonderful posting, at their heart Christianity and Buddhism and other faiths all converge.
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