Mantra-exercise annuls the negative, the selfish, the sinful elements in us, and creates peace, bliss, well-being and success.
Universal religion has no location in time or space. Its area is infinite, like the God it preaches. It is an experience. It is God-consciousness… All religions are challenged today by a common enemy: the rising tide of skepticism and secularism.
Fasting in the monastic community is considered an ascetic practice, a “dhutanga” practice. Dhutanga means “to shake up” or “invigoration”. The Buddha, as is well known, emphasized moderation, the Middle Way that avoids extremes, in all things. Fasting is an additional method that one can take up, with supervision, for a time.
Many teachers will tell you to believe; then they put out your eyes of reason and instruct you to follow only their logic. But I want you to keep your eyes of reason open; in addition, I will open in you another eye, the eye of wisdom.
Those who read books cannot understand the teachings and, what’s more, may even go astray. But those who try to observe the things going on in the mind, and always take that which is true in their own minds as their standard; never get muddled.
When you chant the Name, it actually moves through your whole being - purifying you, bestowing grace, and making you sacred…Chanting breaks down the barriers between you and your own heart.
When we see everything in life as a game, we will be equally joyous when falling as we are when rising. If we can fully understand this – if we can see life as swinging on a swing – we will never fall apart when failure comes our way.
Success should be measured by the yardstick of happiness; by your ability to remain in peaceful harmony with cosmic laws.
Do not take this material world so seriously because it is always changing. Something terrible that you take so seriously today is going to change tomorrow.
Affirm divine calmness and peace, and send out only thoughts of love and goodwill if you want to live in peace and harmony.
