Undisciplined Emotional Reaction

Every person who allows the undisciplined emotional reaction to temptation is guilty, afraid and easily controlled by those growing sensitivities. Emotional response motivates behavior patterns as a result of external pressures, creating a vicious cycle of feeling and thinking that bypasses reason.
Roy Masters

Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier

Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier

I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed. The Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier

Spiritually Speaking - Power Leak

Spiritually Speaking Power Leak
How much of the following is true?

I think those things that are in italics are key.

Wholeness - healing - balance. Such words are often associated with health, yet often times many seek to heal the body or the mind without delving into the core of their beings. As such, a sense of in-completion and dissatisfaction within your life continues to house a vacant feeling.

Healing the matters of the spirit produces balance in all areas of your life. In the quest for achieving physical and emotional vitality, the importance of its continuance relies on finely blending body, mind and spirit - creating a trinity.

By embarking on a spiritual quest, each individual initiates and stimulates healing in the emotional and mental states. The power of thought and how we view ourselves is a phenomenal force that greatly influences our physical well being. Once we are able to recognize this, we also identify how external circumstances influence our lives and how we award them our personal power. We realize that we have bought into the illusion of others instead of honoring the reality of our inner knowing and intuition that provides powerful guidance creating positive results.

For instance, a few years ago I read about a laboratory study involving rabbits that were fed toxins in order to evaluate how they would react to the poison. One particular group of rabbits remained healthy and active throughout this process, provoking the scientists to discover that the caretaker had bonded with them, lovingly caressing and cuddling them as they ate the toxic food. (My personal opinion: As adults this bonding is not necessary, it in itself in a dependency on external influences.) As a result, further studies were initiated to discover why these particular rabbits did not die. It was discovered by further tests that the nurtured rabbits released a brain chemical that destroyed the toxins negative affects.

The power of love, inner happiness and contentment greatly affects the brain. (My personal opinion: But this idea of having to receive love in order to be healthy is not suppose to be the case with adults. Giving love is what is needed.) More current studies are continually proving the effects that our moods, our attitudes towards life and our emotional states have on our physical bodies. For instance, such studies are proving the power behind positive thinking (My personal opinion: Positive thinking is a waste of time, perceiving things as they truly are is much better.) when healing from illnesses and the increased success rates of alternative therapies and meditation when the person has a positive frame of mind, to mention only a couple.

As such, much like the example of the rabbits, if you eat while you are unhappy or in the company of individuals who you are not particularly fond of, the brain will release chemicals that mirror this, transforming the consumed food into potential toxins. (My personal opinion: If a person is no more than an animal then this is true.) These toxins then begin to affect other areas of your body, often targeting the areas that are more susceptible to illness - the weakened spots.

Personally, I used to experience this as a child whenever I ate a meal with my alcoholic father when he was in an abusive state. My stomach would respond so strongly to my emotional reaction to him that I would become physically ill and was hospitalized frequently due to stomach problems. (My personal opinion: Yes, at the time she was more of an animal, subject to the more primtive areas of her brain.)

As a result, I had unknowingly allowed external influences to seize my personal power and channeled that negative energy into my stomach, creating a bleeding ulcer by the time I reached twenty one. However, beginning in my early adult life, I felt it was my responsibility to regain control of my life and honor my feelings. By delving into the core of my being and healing on a spiritual level, my emotional and physical well being followed suit. Therefore, no more ulcer.

However, there has been the rare occasion since then when my ulcer has threatened to re-emerge. As such, I immediately identify and examine the area of my life where I am allowing my personal power to leak out to others. The response from my stomach in the form of the ulcers memory is my cue to stop all external motion, venture within myself and identify where I am allowing my power to leak in order to remedy the problem.

When we are able to identify the source of the problem on a spiritual level and begin to openly and honestly evaluate it, we are able to recognize where our minds are focusing our energy and our fears. For instance, obsessive worrying will cause the muscles in the shoulders to tighten and, in turn, create headaches at the base of the skull. The old cliche "carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders" is accurate and self-inflicted.

By initiating a soul search, we ponder and discover who we really are, how we really feel about ourselves, others and the world around us. As we begin to realize this truth, we are better able to evaluate and accept ourselves and our experiences, learn from them and steadily evolve into positive, spiritual beings. We begin to heal on a spiritual level first which initiates healing and balance on the emotional and physical levels. Our emotional and physical bodies let us, and others, know what our inner perceptions of ourselves are and if we are granting something or someone fragments of our spirit, our personal power, our energy.

Everything in life is about choice - no matter what the experience provided may be. We can choose to spiral into a negative trench, becoming weapons of destruction, or we can choose to go within, evaluate the lessons and rise above stronger spiritually, emotionally and physically. The choice is ours...

By Sheila Bautz

Source:
http://www.saskworld.com/bodymindspirit/edition3/21_article_bautz_speaking.htm

Now tell me what you think.

Detachment is a state in which...

Detachment

Detachment is a state in which a person overcomes his or her attachment to desire for things, people or concepts of the world and thus attains a heightened perspective. Detachment as release from desire and consequently from suffering is an important principle in the Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Kabbalah.

Contents
1 Types of Detachment
1.1 Christianity
1.2 Hinduism
1.3 Judaism
1.4 Taoism
1.5 Islam
1.6 Jainism
1.7 Buddhism



1. Types of Detachment

1.1 Christianity
Several stories in the New Testament teach the importance of detachment.

The Beatitudes - "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven"
The Widow's Gift - a poor widow gave a humble gift of two coins but was considered to be the most generous gift as it was everything she had.
The Undetached Official - a rich man asked Jesus what else should he do outside not committing adultery, not stealing, not bearing false witness, not defrauding, honoring his father and mother -- to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered by saying: "...sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor..."
The Christian teaching of life after death denotes an important concept where life on earth is temporary and that everything that causes us to be selfish, such as material gain and possessions, are inconsequential.


1.2 Hinduism
The Hindu view of detachment comes from the understanding of the nature of existence and the true ultimate state sought is that of being in the moment. In other words, while one is responsible and active, one does not worry about the past or future. The detachment is towards the result of ones actions rather than towards everything in life.


1.3 Judaism
The Jewish teaching on detachment as mentioned in the Old Testament is: "You shall not covet...anything that is your neighbor's... You shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or anything that is your neighbor's. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".


1.4 Taoism
The Tao Te Ching expressed the concept (in chapter 44) as:

Fame or Self: Which matters more? Self or Wealth: Which is more precious? Gain or Loss: Which is more painful? He who is attached to things will suffer much. He who saves will suffer heavy loss. A contented man is rarely disappointed. He who knows when to stop does not find himself in trouble. He will stay forever safe.

1.5 Islam
Quran teaches the believers to view this world only as a passage, and to love God more than anything in it: 2:165.

Practicing detachment from material wealth is manifested through one of the most important pillars, namely zakat (charity), which is basically a purification attempt.

1.6 Jainism
Detachment is one of the supreme ideals of Jainism, together with non-violence. Non-possession/Non-attachment is one of the Mahavratas, the five great vows Jain monks observe.

1.7 Buddhism
Main article: Nekkhamma
Regarding the concept of detachment, or non-attachment, Buddhist texts in Pali mention Nekkhamma, a word generally translated as "renunciation". This word also conveys more specifically the meaning of "giving up the world and leading a holy life" or "freedom from lust, craving and desires."[3]

The writings of Milarepa, are canonical Mahayana Buddhist texts that emphasize the temporary nature of the physical body and the need for non-attachment.

Detachment is a central concept in Zen Buddhist philosophy. One of the most important technical Chinese terms for detachment is "wu nian" (無念), which literally means "no thought." This does not signify the literal absence of thought, but rather the state of being "unstained" (bu ran 不然) by thought. Therefore, "detachment" is being detached from one's thoughts. It is to separate oneself from one's own thoughts and opinions as to not be harmed mentally and emotionally by them.


Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detachment

Quote from Garrison Keillor

"It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars.”
-Garrison Keillor

King of Mind, Body, and Circumstance by James Allen

King of Mind, Body, and Circumstance
by James Allen

Many of the greatest men through all ages have abandoned riches and adopted poverty to better enable them to accomplish their lofty purposes. Why, then, is poverty regarded as such a terrible evil? Why is it that this poverty, which these great men regard as a blessing, and adopt as a bride, should be looked upon by the bulk of mankind as a scourge and a plague? The answer is plain. In the one case, the poverty is associated with a nobility of mind which not only takes from it all appearance of evil, but which lifts it up and makes it appear good and beautiful, makes it seem more attractive and more to be desired than riches and honor, so much so that, seeing the dignity and happiness of the noble mendicant, thousands imitate him by adopting his mode of life. In the other case, the poverty of our great cities is associated with everything that is mean and repulsive - with swearing, drunkenness, filth, laziness, dishonesty and crime. What, then, is the primary evil: is it poverty, or is it sin? The answer is inevitable - it is sin. Remove sin from poverty, and its sting is gone; it has ceased to be the gigantic evil that it appeared, and can even be turned to good and noble ends. Confucius held up one of his poor disciples, Yen-hwui by name, as an example of lofty virtue to his richer pupils, yet "although he was so poor that he had to live on rice and water, and had no better shelter than a hovel, he uttered no complaint. Where this poverty would have made other men discontented and miserable, he did not allow his equanimity to be disturbed." Poverty cannot undermine a noble character, but it can set it off to better advantage. The virtues of Yen-hwui shone all the brighter for being set in poverty, like resplendent jewels set in a contrasting background.

It is common with social reforms to regard poverty as the cause of the sins with which it is associated; yet the same reformers refer to the immoralities of the rich as being caused by their riches. Where there is a cause its effect will appear and were affluence the cause of immorality, and poverty the cause of degradation, then every rich man would become immoral and every poor man would come to degradation.

An evil-doer will commit evil under any circumstances, whether he be rich or poor, or midway between the two conditions. A right doer will do right howsoever he be placed. Extreme circumstances may help to bring out the evil which is already there awaiting its opportunity, but they cannot cause the evil, cannot create it.

Discontent with one's financial condition is not the same as poverty. Many people regard themselves as poor whose income runs into several hundreds - and in some cases several thousands of pounds a year, combined with light responsibilities. They imagine their affliction to be poverty; their real trouble is covetousness. They are not made unhappy by poverty, but by the thirst for riches. Poverty is more often in the mind than in the purse. So long as a man thirsts for more money he will regard himself as poor, and in that sense he is poor, for covetousness is poverty of mind. A miser may be a millionaire, but he is as poor as when he was penniless.

On the other hand, the trouble with so many who are living in indigence and degradation is that they are satisfied with their condition. To be living in dirt, disorder, laziness, and swinish self-indulgence, reveling in foul thoughts, foul words and unclean surroundings, and to be satisfied with oneself is deplorable. Here again, "poverty" resolves itself into a mental condition, and its solution, as a "problem", is to be looked for in the improvement of the individual from within, rather than of his outward condition. Let a man be made clean and alert within, and he will no longer be content with dirt and degradation without. Having put his mind in order, he will then put his house in order; indeed, both he and others will know that he has put himself right by the fact that he has put his immediate surroundings right. His altered heart shows in his altered life.

There are, of course, those who are neither self-deceived nor self-degraded and yet are poor. Many such are satisfied to remain poor. They are contented, industrious, and happy, and desire nothing else; but those among them who are dissatisfied, and are ambitious for better surroundings and greater scope should, and usually do, use their poverty as a spur to the exercise of their talents and energies. By self-improvement and attention to duty, they can rise into the fuller, more responsible life which they desire.

Devotion to duty is, indeed, not only the way out of that poverty which is regarded as restrictive, it is also the royal road to affluence, influence, and lasting joy, yea, even to perfection itself. When understood in its deepest sense it is seen to be related to all that is best and noblest in life. It includes energy, industry, concentrated attention to the business of one's life, singleness of purpose, courage and faithfulness, determination and self-reliance, and that self-abnegation which is the key to all real greatness. A singularly successful man was once asked, "What is the secret of your success?" and he replied, "Getting up at six o' clock in the morning, and minding my own business." Success, honor and influence always come to him who diligently attends to the business of his life, and religiously avoids interfering with the duties of others.

It may here be urged, and is usually so urged, that the majority of those who are in poverty - for instance, the mill and factory workers - have not the time or opportunity to give themselves to any special work. This is a mistake. Time and opportunity are always at hand, are with everybody at all times. Those of the poor above mentioned, who are content to remain where they are, can always be diligent in their factory labor, and sober and happy in their homes; but those of them who feel that they could better fill another sphere, can prepare for it by educating themselves in their spare time. The hard-worked poor are, above all, the people who need to economize their time and energies; and the youth who wishes to rise out of such poverty, must at the outset put aside the foolish and wasteful indulgences of alcohol, tobacco, sexual vice, late hours at music halls, clubs and gaming parties, and must give his evenings to the improvement of his mind in that course of education which is necessary to his advancement. By this method numbers of the most influential men throughout history - some of them among the greatest - have raised themselves from the commonest poverty; a fact which proves that the time of necessity is the hour of opportunity, and not as is so often imagined and declared, the destruction of opportunity; that the deeper the poverty, the greater is the incentive to action in those who are dissatisfied with themselves, and are bent upon achievement.

Poverty is an evil or it is not, according to the character and the condition of mind of the one that is in poverty. Wealth is an evil or not, in the same manner. Tolstoy chafed under his wealthy circumstances. To him they were a great evil. He longed for poverty as the covetous long for wealth. Vice, however, is always an evil, for it both degrades the individual who commits it, and is a menace to society. A logical and profound study of poverty will always bring us back to the individual, and to the human heart. When our social reformers condemn vice as they now condemn the rich; when they are as eager to abolish wrong-living as they now are to abolish low wages, we may look for a diminution in that form of degraded poverty which is one of the dark spots on our civilization. Before such poverty disappears altogether, the human heart will have undergone, during the process of evolution, a radical change. When that heart is purged from covetousness and selfishness; when drunkenness, impurity, indolence and self-indulgence are driven for ever from the earth, then poverty and riches will be known no more, and every man will perform his duties with a joy so full and deep as is yet (except to the few whose hearts are already pure) unknown to men, and all will eat of the fruit of their labor in sublime self-respect and perfect peace.


Source:
http://jamesallenlibrary.com/man-king-of-mind-body-and-circumstance-poverty.html

All great truth...

“All great truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
- Arthur Schopenhauer