Purity of Motivation

Much of society would have you believe that "the end justifies the means" and that putting on an appearance is sufficient. As you grow, however, it becomes increasingly apparent that your motivation behind any undertaking is the most important thing; more important, even, than accomplishing your initial goal. It determines if you achieve peace and happiness as a result of any action you undertake. If you act out of negative motivations, when you achieve your goal it will leave only an emptiness.                                         

You can call yourself a spiritual person, but if your motivation is your own enlightenment and not the enlightenment of all, then you will not achieve your goal. If your motivation is to achieve power and money at the expense of others, you are operating from a belief that there is not enough in the world and you must take from others. You have created your own prison and you will never have enough to be satisfied though to others you may be a rich person. In either of the above cases your actions could have been very similar, but if carried out from a desire to be of service with your talent, the end result would also bring great fulfillment.

Before you take any action, ask yourself why. What is your motivation? If there is a mixed motive or a negative motive, don't do it. Keep your motive pure and allow it to drive your action.

Words on Peace

Peace Pilgrim was a woman who walked accross the country from 1953 to 1981 spreading the message of peace. The following are some of her quotes:

When asked on her willingness to forgive others, Peace Pilgrim replied, "I do not even need to forgive people, for I harbor no animosity. If they do evil things I feel compassion for them because I know they have hurt themselves. I hope they will be sorry, because I want then to be healed."

When asked if love could prevail in this world, Peace Pilgrim answered, "Yes, good will win in this world. The darkness that we see in the world today is due to the disintegration of things which are not good. Only the things which are good can endure. Yes, love will win in this world. Those who are filled with hatred are desperately unhappy and desperately -even though unconsciously- seeking a better way. Only those who are filled with love are serene and at peace."

When asked about hatred and racism she replied, "You can overcome hatred with love. Hate injures the hater, not the hated. Those who practice racism are hurt. Those that are discriminated against have a choice:  They can be hurt by a wrong reaction of bitterness or anger, or they can rise above the situation and be spiritually strengthened."

On love she said, "Never underestimate the power of God's love-it transforms! It reaches the spark of good in the other person and the person is disarmed."

Peace Pilgrim; Her Life and Work in Her Own Words is her autobiography.

5 Element Meditation: Earth Element

According to the ancient Daoists, we are all made up of 5 elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Harmony in life is achieved when we balance these elements.

We focus on increasing our earth element when we want to feel more grounded and centered. The earth element meditation is particularly helpful for those who feel a lack of stability in their lives, feel ungrounded, have trouble making and maintaining supportive relationships with others, want to build self-esteem and feel more secure, and/or want to be more nurturing. Due to the fact that the earth element relates to our spleen and stomach organs, this meditation will also help to strengthen these organs.

Earth Meditation:

The quickest way to strengthen your earth element is to literally get down in the dirt. Garden, play in the mud, or simply put your feet in the soil. Sit comfortably with bare feet on the ground, or even better, your feet on grass or open soil. Close your eyes and keep the image of the earth in your mind or gently focus your gaze on the earth. As you inhale, imagine breathing in light from the earth. As you exhale, imagine exhaling light into the earth.

Feel grounded and steady. Feel nurtured and supported. As you feel these feelings grow inside you, begin to breathe out nurturing and supportive energy. Imagine a warm maternal energy enveloping you, making you feel warm and safe. Open to the positive qualities of the Earth element; practicality, endurance, reliability, patience, the ability to make things grow and flourish, and unfaltering faith.

Finally, simply sit receptive to what the earth has to teach you. Do not judge. Simply allow whatever thoughts and feelings that come up to do so.

You may meditate for as long as you like, but typically between 20min to an hour is ideal.

5 Element Meditation: Fire Element

According to the ancient Daoists, we are made up of the 5 elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Harmony in life is achieved when we balance these elements.

We focus on increasing our fire element when we want to increase our creativity, joy, energy, inspiration, and love. The fire element meditation is particularly helpful for those who feel like they have lost their joy in life, feel their emotions are dulled, need to be more creative and spontaneous, need more humor, and/or want to be more loving and connected. Due to the fact that the fire element relates to our heart and small intestine organs, this meditation will also help to strengthen these organs.

Fire Meditation:

Sit comfortably in front of a candle flame, or even better, a wood fire. Close your eyes and keep the image of the flame in your mind or gently focus your gaze on the flame. As you inhale, imagine breathing in light from the flame. As you exhale, imagine exhaling light into the flame.

Feel sparks of creativity and joy emanating from your body. Feel a deep sense of love filling your heart and shining outward to connect with everyone and everything around. Feel the divine beauty. Feel the sense of opening up, of freely connecting with yourself, others, and spirit. Open to the positive qualities of the Fire element: love, empathy, beauty, humor, spontaneity, fun, and inspiration.

Finally, simply sit receptive to what the flame has to teach you. Do not judge. Simply allow whatever thoughts and feelings that come up to do so.

You may meditate as long as you like, but typically between 20 min to an hour is ideal.

5 Element Meditation: Wood Element

According to the ancient Daoists, we are all made of 5 elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Harmony in life is achieved when we balance these elements.

We focus on increasing our wood element when we want to expand, grow, accomplish goals, and strengthen our personal boundaries. The wood element meditation is particularly helpful for those who feel like they are lacking initiative and drive, are having trouble sticking to their goals and following through, need to be more assertive and stand up for themselves, and/or want to be more generous. Due to the fact that the wood element relates to our liver and gallbladder organs, this meditation will also help to detoxify these organs.

Any tree, large or small, will do, but certain types of trees can be more effective for certain problems. For example, pine trees are particularly healing for our emotions. The redwoods have a calming energy and can be used  when someone really needs to build a sense of self and personal boundaries, to clear emotional pain when boundaries have been crossed in the past, and want to really expand into their full potential.

Wood Meditation:

Simply sit comfortably by a tree. (Always ask permission first to work with the tree.) Close your eyes and keep the image of the tree in your mind or gently focus your gaze on the tree. As you inhale, imagine breathing in light from the tree. As you exhale, imagine exhaling light into the tree.

Feel your roots going deep into the earth. Feel yourself expanding indefinitely up into the sky. Feel the cool water circulating in your body; calming and freeing you. Feel the sense of expansion, of being so full that you give freely without expecting anything in return. Open to the positive qualities of the wood element; generosity, expansion, and boundless freedom.

Finally, simply sit receptive to what the tree has to teach you. Do not judge. Simply allow whatever thoughts and feelings that come up to do so. End with a feeling of gratitude: for the tree, for the experience, for what you learned, etc.

Just Breathe

Mastering the Square Breath

The breath can be used to increase our strength, to relax into a stretch, to wake us up, or to calm and center us for meditation. The great Sufi master, Hidyat Inayat Khan said, "If there could be any definition of concentration, it would only be the following:  synchronized interaction between thought and breath."

To master your breath is to master your mind.

The following is a simple breathing technique called the square breath as described by Khan but used in many disciplines. According to Khan, the square breath is used when "one wishes to be in an absolutely balaced condition...and everything surrounding one will become harmonious and peaceful."

It is called a square breath because equal time is spent on the inhale, exhale, and holds between breathes. For example, inhale for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, exhale for a count of 4, and hold for a count of 4. You can use any count you feel comfortable with.

To focus your intention further you can inhale from one nostril and exhale through the other. Inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left is helpful if you are looking for inspiration or an answer to a problem. Inhaling through the left nostril and exhaling through the right is appropriate when you want to focus your mind on taking action or on manifesting something.

The discipline of the repetition and the regularity of the breath is what will calm your mind and strengthen your willpower.

When you breathe, focus on what you want. You can imagine an obstacle and then surrender it to the power of your breath.

If things are chaotic and you can't focus, simply imagine inhaling light and exhaling light. Feel yourself taking the power back from the external happenings and placing it in the power of your breath.

For more on Khan's breathing techniques read "Sufi Teachings; Lectures from Lake O'Hara"