Cultivate Today

"Today I will help someone to establish the temple of devotion within his own soul so that God may dwell there forever as kindness and understanding. 

Every day I will endeavor to establish a new temple of Self‑ realization in the soil of new friendship." 

--Paramhansa Yogananda

 "Cultivate the consciousness that the Divine Spirit is your own Father and is the owner of the whole universe, along with all of its abundance. 

You, as His beloved child, have the absolute right to possess anything, even as He does. 

Never beg or pray for anything, but hold the thought that you have everything already, and that all you have to do is to seize it with the infinite, natural confidence of a child of God. 

Don’t be a beggar! Realize that you are the child of the Emperor of the Universe." 

--Paramhansa Yogananda

August Blue Moon 2013

Greetings Fellow Journeyers!

Today I posted a brief program on our BlogTalkRadio channel for our community Sanctuary Center Within. You may find that program and listen on the module on the right side.

In today's program I discussed the Full Moon that we are entering this month of August which is actually considered to be a Blue Moon. A Blue Moon is a rare occasion only happening when two full moons happen in one month.

We must remember that a month is not truly calculated by the current modern calculations. A true lunar month is within the 28 day lunar cycle one new moon to next.  Somehow, I am not an astronomer/astrologer, we have two full moons within this cycle for the Leo/Aquarius month.

The first Full Moon was on July 22nd and then the second Full Moon is today August 20th.

Please make use of the Full Moon energies that surround you. Coming into the fullness of you. Complete energy into what ever project or endeavor you have going on.

Emotional balance as the lunar energies return to normal.

If you are having difficulty feeling those balanced emotions there are techniques that can help to bring more emotional balance to your life.

Meditation is one such method. And of course Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing is another.

I also mentioned fasting from technology such as computers, cellphones, News media and even but especially social media. A six hour, 12 hour or 24 hour fast would be beneficial.

Getting out into nature is another way.

One item I so apologetically forgot to mention is the Kuan Yin Oracle pulled today.

#82 The Water Lily and The Fire

The scorching heat of a forest fire.

Through a happy chance, the lily survives the blaze.
It is not only spared from the flames,
but new leaves and tendrils sprout on each stem.

 FULL MOON: Yang in Action

Everything grows, matures and ripens, vigorous and effective. Unfold and complete your plans and watch them bear fruit. .....

What is this telling us?

We have reached this Blue Moon with a maturity and fullness in our plans. It is time to let go and watch our endeavors take form. Such as a parent lets go of her child and sees that child step into adulthood.  In my own life this applies as my eldest steps into his first year of college. My youngest steps into his first year of preschool and so on.

Where have you reached maturity in your life?  What trial or situation have you survived and grown?

Acknowledge that situation and give thanks for being delivered to the other side.

What project have you completed or are nearing completion?  When it is time you must step back and release.

You are renewed.

Keep Going!!

Brightest Blessings.

Smile

http://www.hdwallpapersplus.com/smile-pictures.html

Breathe. Breathe Deep and Smile. Maybe you do not feel like it but seriously a smile...a simple smile does so much to transform the direction of the moment. 

Give it a try. Just let go.

Beginning to Cultivate

"Ignorance and obscurity have accumulated in us, turning our minds into thousand year old toilets. The greed, hatred and ignorance in them are foul. Beginning to cultivate is like opening this toilet and exposing it to the sun and wind. At the start, it is foul, but eventually the smell will naturally disperse. Do not wish for the toilet to be clean at the very beginning."  Chan Master Sheng Yen

Want to be happy?

Let us examine some widespread beliefs, which many of us have accepted, that are first line barriers to emotional freedom.

Evaluate your stand on these.

Have you bought the idea that happiness and bliss are the ultimate goals of everyday life? If you have, you will continue seeking superficial pleasures, all short-lived and incomplete. 

I believe the soul's goal is to evolve to the highest level, spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and physically-this requires the full development of one's mystical nature. 

Happiness and bliss should not be the goal.
These will come anyway as a result of successful evolution.

Valerie Hunt, Infinite Mind

Medicine Buddha Mantra

Amida Butsu & Bodhisattva

Below is from a couple of months ago as we were going through the book MAHAYANA BUDDHISM by Beatrice Suzuki wife of D.T. Suzuki.

This paper was written very informally (as all of mine usually are) and straight from deep heart felt sentiments.

The topic is AMIDA BUDDHA & BODHISATTVA

We all have the Bodhi seed within us. Each one of us is Buddha. Therefore I see Amida
Buddha as Me. I have within me the Eternal Light and Infinite Life. There is nothing outside
of myself to trust in. We are all ONE. 

I am a member of the Buddha family and because I AM  it is my duty to conquer sin (that
which keeps me separated from knowing who I am) and fear (as a mother I have all sorts of fears I am dealing with in learning to let go of my children and allow them to experience their being) and work for the good of others.   

When I work for the good of others I am less likely to dwell on the perception of my own so
called suffering. Keep my eye on the prize. The prize: Awakening. 

A few years ago I heard a friend say that he took the Boddhisattva vow to awaken and
dedicate his life to helping others awaken. He said that a Boddhisattva was one who would
forego breaking free from Samsara until every sentient being was awakened. 

I remember my immediate response to what he was saying was that of revulsion. I thought
to myself….there is NO way I want to stick around this place; I want to awaken and NOT
come back here never ever again. 

Well, to be honest there is a part of me that finds that appeal but on the other hand there is
a part of me that sees the benefit in helping others to awaken. We are all in this together
and that is a fact.  

When I was a young child my earliest memories of my thoughts are that I
felt that we were all connected. I knew that my family was my family but somehow I knew
that the so called strangers walking down the street were somehow connected to me as
well.  

So, defer to the Child Me and I think of the Bodhisattva vow as an ideal to put into
practice in my daily life. It is not just for the benefit of the world but also for my benefit as
well.  

We are all One. 

CAPPING PHRASE: Remember the Bodhisattva vows.
CODE PHRASE: We are in this together