This Week’s Feature Video
The Life Of The Buddha, BBC 2007 [Video]
A BBC/Discovery Channel co-production, this docu-narrative film describes the life of Siddharta Gautama, the process by which he arrived at the fundamentals of Buddhism and the archaeological findings confirming the traditional accounts of his life. In addition it also gives a glimpse of Buddhism today and features interviews by the Dalai Lama and other notable Buddhists.
Feature Articles:
Qigong: Allowing The Universe To Heal You
The principles for health recovery or maintenance are easy; we simply have to realign our lifestyle with the Universal Laws and the Laws of Nature. No fight is required for healing, no need to conquer illnesses as illnesses can only take place when somehow we obstruct the way of perfect health. Illnesses are in fact outer healthy reactions informing us about inner unhealthy situations. They are some kind of alarms indicating us that something needs some readjustments, and that some un-necessary efforts need to be dropped.
Cleansing the Internal Organs:
There are many reason to clean the internal organs, and both traditions, from India and China respectively, agree that a sluggish immune system, poor digestion caused by overtaxed eliminative organs, and clogged emotions that can reside in the liver, gallbladder, or heart, for example, can impede spiritual progress. There seem to be some subtle differences in the conceptualization of the energy system in both traditions, however, and thereby the means that masters of each path engage in to purify the body, mind and spirit.
The Foundational Skills of Meditation through a Neigong Lens
In this article, Paul refers to “qigong” as practices that generally deal with circulating chi through physical movements or the movement of the mind, dealing with the body, its energy, and physical well-being. The “16 neigong” are the hierarchy of skills drawn from the Taoist science of energy flows, used to systematically upgrade your mind, your body, and energy. Neigong practices span from basic chi and body work to the deeper levels of Taoist Meditation.
Separate & Combine in Qigong, Bagua & Tai Chi
Separate and combine is an ancient Chinese principle for deep learning that has been used for millennia. The principle states that once a basic movement, set or form has been absorbed or established the practitioner seeks to tease out the individual components before moving on to study that movement, set or form as it is practised with all its other components. The ancient Chinese found that this was the most effective and efficient method for learning any new skill and stabilizing it in the body.
Community News & Events:
Nalanda Institute Launches First-Ever Certificate Program in Contemplative Psychotherapy
The Nalanda Institute announced that enrollment is now open for their inaugural Certificate Program in Contemplative Psychotherapy to begin in Fall 2013. The program offers therapists, health workers, coaches, educators and other professionals in the healing arts an opportunity to immerse themselves in the inspiring new field of contemplative neuropsychology.
Chasing The Face of Buddha
CHASING THE FACE OF BUDDHA is a feature length documentary that follows acclaimed master sculptor and Buddhist, SUNTI PICHETCHAIYAKUL, as he takes on one of the greatest and most challenging projects of his career…Sculpting Buddha. In the coming year Sunti will travel across the world on an extraordinary creative journey and research expedition that will conclude with his attempt to sculpt the world’s first hyper-realistic depiction of The Buddha.
Planting Seeds – The Power of Mindfulness [Crowdfunding Opportunity]
“Planting Seeds” The Power of Mindfulness (Working title) is based on the book, Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children,by Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village Community.
The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons
From Taosim expert Ming-Dao Deng comes ‘The Lunar Tao: Meditations in Harmony with the Seasons’. In The Lunar Tao, each day of the Lunar year is represented with a reading meditation, beautiful Chinese illustrations, and interesting facts about the festivals and traditions, providing readers with the context that gives Taoism such depth and resonance.
New Media
Tai Chi – The Perfect Exercise
In our fast-paced, stressful lives, our physical and mental wellbeing often take a backseat to juggling work and family responsibilities. Like yoga, the art of tai chi provides a refuge from our hectic schedules and brings mind and body into harmony, making both stronger. Lauded by publications such as The Harvard Health Review, tai chi is becoming an increasingly popular form of low-impact exercise among all age groups.
The Buddha Walks into a Bar . . .
This isn’t your grandmother’s book on meditation. It’s about integrating that “spiritual practice” thing into a life that includes beer, sex, and a boss who doesn’t understand you.
Tao Te Ching
Renowned translator William Scott Wilson has rendered Lao Tzu’s classic in the most authentic way possible, using both the ancient text and the even older Great Seal script used during Lao Tzu’s time. The result is a new and nuanced translation, accompanied by Chinese ink paintings and ancillary material.
Restoring Your Life Energy
Master Liao explains why protecting our chi is so important, how it gets taxed and damaged in our lives, and—most importantly—how to restore it. He demonstrates exercises and meditations to be done on a daily basis that are easy-to-learn, low-impact, and suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
The Essence of Chi-Gung: A Handbook of Basic Forms for Daily Practice
The Essence of Chi-Gung is an easy-to-use workbook that teaches the fundamentals of chi-gung practice and provides a safe, basic daily regimen that can be adapted for people of all ages and physical abilities.
Hunger Mountain: ‘A Field Guide to Mind and Landscape’
It’s a spiritual ecology that is profoundly ancient and at the same time resoundingly contemporary. Your view of the landscape—and of your place in it—may never be the same.
Health Related News:
“Grey Matters” @ Florence Cellar Conference: Keeping the Aging Mind and Body Healthy
Growing older doesn’t necessitate breaking down physically and growing stagnant mentally—a lesson Case Western Reserve University’s 20th Annual Florence Cellar Conference will drive home next month with a battery of fitness tips and research.
What Role Do Religion and Spirituality Play in Mental Health?
Nearly 80 percent of Americans say they practice some type of religion, while approximately 20 percent, mostly younger people, say they do not, according to a 2012 Pew Research Center study. Whether a person is religious, spiritual or neither, the major influence religion has on American culture will be emphasized over the coming days with religious observances of Passover and Easter.
Learning From Mother Nature About Teaching Our Children: 10 Simple Truths
According to some experts, despite billions of dollars and everyone’s best intentions, education isn’t working well in America. Recently, scientists brought together by The Evolution Institute, explored new solutions from an unusual source: Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Can Outdoor Spaces Counteract Exam Stress?
As college students across the country cram for final exams, higher ed leaders look for inspiration out their windows to help students relax. With the goal of relieving student stress and increasing overall well-being in mind, Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch made improving the public spaces on campus a priority.
A Breakdown of Gluten-Free Eating
In the ever-present search to identify and address bad nutrition habits, gluten-free eating has been receiving a lot of attention. But experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) say it is not to be confused with typical weight loss procedures.
Study Reveals Core Body Temp can be Controlled by the Brain
A team of researchers led by Associate Professor Maria Kozhevnikov from the Department of Psychology at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences showed, for the first time, that it is possible for core body temperature to be controlled by the brain. The scientists found that core body temperature increases can be achieved using certain meditation techniques (g-tummo) which could help in boosting immunity to fight infectious diseases or immunodeficiency.
Moments of Spirituality Can Induce Liberal Attitudes
People become more politically liberal immediately after practising a spiritual exercise such as meditation, researchers at the University of Toronto have found.
Eat to Dream: Study Shows Dietary Nutrients Associated with Certain Sleep Patterns
A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine shows for the first time that certain nutrients may play an underlying role in short and long sleep duration and that people who report eating a large variety of foods – an indicator of an overall healthy diet – had the healthiest sleep patterns.
Five Foods for a Healthier Year
According to Lindsey Lee, R.D., clinical dietitian with EatRight by UAB Weight Management Services, there are numerous often-ignored foods that fit the bill for healthier eating.
Qigong Improves Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy
Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found qigong, an ancient mind-body practice, reduces depressive symptoms and improves quality of life in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer.
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