Happiness Tree

What is Meditation and Is It For You?

When I was young in the ...well, let's just say sometime in the last century, meditation had a different meaning and perceived purpose. Even though ancient Eastern Meditation traditions, which had been in existence for thousands of years continued to be practiced in Japan and India, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1918-2008) brought to the West a modality called Transcendental Meditation or TM that involved the repeating of sounds and or phrases among other things, inducing a trance and placing one in a sort of Altered State of Consciousness. 

The practice was taught by certified trainers, requiring individuals to undergo a course of study that was set up by and generated profit for Maharishi Yogi. But that is another story. 

Coincidentally, or not, this was also a time when many young people were experimenting with "mind expanding" drugs, like LSD, Psilocybin Mushrooms and Peyote and reported experiencing hallucinations such as being out of the body or having an "Out of Body Experience". Whether intended or not by Maharishi Yogi, Transcendental Meditation became a vehicle to step out of your life, out of your physical body to experience a parallel reality, beyond the material world. 

Sadly, many who used drugs alone or in combination with TM never returned from their "trip" as the drug fueled journey became known. They overdosed or ended up with debilitating brain damage resulting from a lack of oxygen as their tongue slid back into their throat and blocked their airway. 

Eventually, that zeitgeist slowly passed along with the defining events that gave rise to it and the icons of that generation that popularized it. Maharishi died in 2008 and a new form of meditation began to appear in grass roots publications, marketplace posters and radio shows. Zen Meditation. Zen is a style of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty. From China, it spread to Vietnam, Korea and then Japan, where it became known as Japanese Zen. 

Zen Meditation or Zazen

Unlike TM, the intent of Zen is not to leave the body, but rather to be fully contained within it, allowing the consciousness to drop below the level of thought to the more primitive and authentic sensory level. Genuinely experiencing the world in all of its diversity without judgement. Though it is advised that one be guided by an experienced teacher or Sensei to fully understand the practice, it does not require one to join or pay an organization to learn the techniques. 

Zen also encourages the study of Buddhist teachings and and meditation practice, as it applies to the individual, their relationships to each other and the world at large. These are described respectively as Sutras (Teachings) and Sangha (Community).

The use of mind altering drugs is strongly discouraged, as it interferes with one's ability to perceive the world as it is: a critical strategy that puts us in touch with the truth of our life and allows us to make lucid choices that support freedom rather than attachment to people, things or situations. 

Like TM however, traditional Zen meditation does require a commitment of time and effort. One is encouraged to set aside a place in their home where they will construct an alter. The alter can be as simple as a comfortable place to sit, (either on the floor or a chair that promotes good posture), a candle, some incense and an image or statue that reminds us of our connection to "BuddhaNature". Meditation sessions should be practiced at least once daily, preferably in a quiet, clutter free space, apart from distractions. 

This practice comprised a profound part of my life for several years during my thirties. I attended twice weekly Sanghas and practiced at home. Though I always found it difficult to sit still for the required 20-40 minutes, I can say without reservation that the experience, the teachings and the challenge taught me much about myself, the importance of discipline and Self Mastery. 

I do believe that understanding the teachings is an important component in the discovery of your own BuddhaNature. I have a couple of recommendations for how you'll accomplish that.

• The book: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind is a great primer on the philosophy and practice of Zen meditation. It's actually a great read for anyone seeking to separate illusion from reality.

• Also, attending a local "Zendo", if there is one in your area, is a great way to learn how to apply these teaching to your life. If there isn't one, consider starting your own, using the MeetUp.com service, that helps you build and promote a group centered around a particular interest or theme. 

But Is Meditation For You? 

You cannot know whether you have the temperament to sit quietly for an extended period of time. It is far more challenging that you can imagine. And if your life is complicated by kids and crazy schedules, you may find it hard to create the time and space for such an indulgence. But if you can, I encourage you to try. Just making the effort is worthwhile. And give it some time to filter down into your daily life. The results are not immediate. You may begin to notice yourself being less reactive in traffic, work and or relationship situations. You may discover you are more creative in problem solving. You may also notice, as I did, a deep inner artist that is suddenly beckoning to be unleashed. That is the inner YOU waking up, anxious to express the new perceptions and sensations that are now appearing on the horizon of your consciousness. 

You May Already Be Meditating and Not Know It

Though meditation purists and teachers may disagree strongly with me, I have discovered that I can attain many of the same benefits of seated meditation by engaging in activities that also achieve a desired goal. You may find that the activity itself is less important than the intensity of focus you apply to it. This intentional focus is increasingly being referred to by emerging science as Mindfulness. 

At first, this Mindfulness must be intentionally practiced, as you may have previously held the assumption that "multitasking" is the most effective way of living. But thinking about and doing many things at once also undermines a goal we should all have: to do everything as well as possible. By focusing on quality rather than quantity, we may discover peace and insight from even the most mundane of tasks. 

One such task that puts me "in the zone" is Gardening. I don my work clothes, assemble my tools and immediately begin to feel a oneness with the plants and animals in my midst.

Through my hands, I feel the dirt and the texture of the plants; through my nose, the scents of soil and plant materials wafts into my awareness; the heat of the sun warms my back, as I witness the co-creation of my own biosphere.

I become lost in the process and time becomes irrelevant. I am immersed, I am absorbed, I am experiencing Mindfulness. 

Other activities which give rise to this state of mind for me are abstract painting, woodworking, making jewelry, cooking and yes, writing. Even using words and processing ideas taps into a deeper part of my consciousness and that centers me. Grounds me in my body. Creates a sense of being exactly where I belong. As my Sensei (Teacher) used to say: "In this only Moment".

Each moment becomes a oyster of opportunity. And within that oyster are many pearls that nourish us in subtle, profound and unseen ways. 

A word of warning

If you, are like most of us, you have demons buried deep in your subconscious. Demons from past relationships, disappointments, perceived failures, etc: What we can call collectively, Emotional Pain. When you meditate, you open a door on these long imprisoned feelings and they begin to rise to the surface. This is a good thing! But it may be disquieting and cause you unexpected discomfort in the short term. It's Okay, this is part of the cleansing process. A process that will result in more mental clarity and inner peace. For though you may have believed those feelings and memories to be forgotten forever, they still make an appearance in  your dreams and insidiously effect your perception of and reaction to the outside world. 

Conclusion:

You owe it to yourself to explore the world of Meditation and Mindfulness and discover the activities that put you in the zone. This one effort can profoundly change your life for the better. 

For more information, start by checking out the many resources available from Ticht Naht Hahn

Namaste,

Shane Eric Mathias 

What Are "Alternative Facts"?

A new salvo in the war of words between
Donald Trump, his staff and well…. everyone else. 

You’ve no doubt heard yesterday’s comment by KellyAnne Conway to Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet The Press”, The comment was in response to Todd asking why Sean Spicer was sent to the White House briefing room to meet with the Media (what we used to call “Reporters”), and asked, presumably by the President to float a bold faced lie in response to reports that Trump's inauguration was poorly attended.  “The crowd was the largest ever. Period”. is how Spicer characterized it. Which was of course revealed as false seconds afterward across the globe, with images streaming on Twitter, Facebook and everywhere else, comparing the sea of Humanity attending Obama’s inauguration with the anemic turnout for Trump’s big day. 

Conway defended Spicer's comment by saying it represented "Alternative Facts". And consequently, she revealed that she, her boss and apparently the entire Trump administration are comfortable with projecting a sort of “parallel reality” , as long as the goal of obfuscation, subterfuge and distortion is achieved. 

Is that what we have to look forward to for the next 4 years? If so, we had all better bone-up on the meaning of “The Absolute Truth”  and learn to recognize when stupid, careless or malevolent individuals are trying to pass off some facsimile there of.  

What is the Truth?

Liars, scam artists, people with borderline personality disorders and apparently some politicians will try to convince us that there are various versions of The Truth. So, let’s be clear: The Truth is absolute. There is only One Truth. There may be people’s opinions about what that Truth is, but the fact remains, there are lies, versions, deviations, fictionalized accounts, people’s beliefs and then, there is The Truth. 

Now, the Truth may be revised, when new FACTS are presented, but again, there are FACTS and then there are, the now infamous inversions called, “Alternative Facts”.

Those with a Conservative and or Republican political persuasion will read my words and presume I am only pointing out this incident to further beat down and delegitimize their chosen leader. First of all, nothing I could say or do would further that cause more than Trump’s own words and those of his staff. But no. My intent here is to use this incident to point out that I, like many trusting people of conscience, have been victimized by unscrupulous individuals who operate from one Machiavellian mindset: 

“Whatever it takes to achieve my goals is right and just. My needs and desires exceed those of all others and I will have my way, regardless of who suffers”.

It is just this mindset that has empowered murderers, corporate thieves, terrorists, dictators, rapists, gold diggers, wife beaters and other scum of the Earth to subject their innocent and unfortunate victims to their particular brand of evil. 

I have struggled to understand this departure from civilized behavior and have concluded that those with integrity, compassion and empathy for others will never be able to fully wrap their mind around what makes this sort of creature tick. But I do believe that I have deduced one trait they all share, one unspoken credo that they all live by:

“If you’re stupid enough to fall for this shit, then you deserve to suffer”.

If you agree with me that there may be even a little veracity in that statement, then you have a responsibility to yourself and loved ones to be on the lookout for these imposters, obfuscators, liars and manipulators. They are all around you, not just in our political system, but lurking behind a telephone, making unsolicited calls; coming to your door, using this or that excuse to gain your confidence; on the used car lot; in the courtroom; on television; radio, as well as everywhere on the internet. You must be on the lookout for these predators, just as the Gazelle must constantly be wary of the lion or hyena.

So to conclude: When you hear anyone, especially someone who presumes to lead others, allow a phrase like “Alternative Facts” to fall nonchalantly from their lips, rest assured, there will be other half truths, outright lies and deceptions to come. 

"When we turn our back on the enemy, that is when we are most likely to we feel the cold thrust of the knife".

-Shane Eric Mathias

 

The Sad Facts About the Pursuit of Happiness

Fact: Most people cannot say that lead happy lives.

Though they may find happiness in fleeting moments, their relationships, work and personal lives leave them feeling empty.

Fact: Much of the well-intended research and content on happiness doesn’t help.

Because it relies too heavily on platitudes, koans, and nebulous spiritualisms. These lead one to believe they are, for whatever reason, incapable of unwrapping some thinly veiled, secret knowledge. Eventually frustrated, they turn away and stop seeking, stop listening. Perhaps resigning themselves to the nihilistic message: “Life is hard and then you die”. 

Why is this?

Because the entire concept of happiness has been distorted: Confused with states of mind like nirvana, elation, bliss, etc. And while a happy life certainly sets the stage for these fleeting emotional experiences, the expectation that anyone can render themselves completely immune from the difficulties of modern life causes humanity to seek solace in all kinds of destructive behaviors like: experimentation with drugs; meaningless sex with multiple partners; spending sprees that run up the credit card balance; addiction to foods; dangerous adrenaline producing activities like street racing, skydiving, rock climbing and so on. Activities that eventually may lead the participants farther from their ultimate goal. 

That is not to say that all fun is bad. Certainly not. But fun that carries with it a high degree of risk, tempts fate and threatens to destroy any chance of a life balance that might actually set the stage for happiness to thrive. 

Chasing that perpetual high as if we could actually catch it is like trying to run toward the horizon. The closer you get, the more it retreats from you.

How should we view happiness to bring it into greater alignment with reality?

Step out of our lives to take a broader view of the human condition. Our parents, teachers, mentors and counselors bored us to death by admonishing us to reflect on how many other people are so much worse off then ourselves. And though this can easily be written off as a pointless intellectual exercise, it is actually useful to consider the many millions of other innocent men, women and children without a place to call home, without healthy food or clean water, without basic sanitation or freedom from violence. 

Losing perspective of this robs us of a basic fact: 

That it is truly difficult to find happiness when we are hungry, thirsty, have no shelter, or ability to bathe ourselves. And yet, happiness survives.

Even among the most oppressed, when their basic human needs have been denied, happiness can still be experienced through the miracle of cold water, to quench the thirst, a safe, warm place to sleep, a nutritious meal with friends and family or a cease fire that raises a hope of peace. 

Yet, for you, here at home, dealing with life in the fast lane, reflecting on others' misfortunes seems of little comfort when you lose a job, when a primary relationship fails or suddenly ends, when your health takes a turn for the worse, when unexpected expenses threaten to impact you financially. These do indeed lead to real emotional trauma. 

Until you translate these abstract concept into action, move the set point at which you choose to be happy.

When you assume that food, shelter, water and safety are guaranteed and a matter of entitlement, these things no longer bring happiness. Therefore, we unwittingly place our set point beyond those basic needs. “Yes, I am safe, warm and healthy, so what? I don’t have ______________ “ (fill in the blank). We are unable to recognize all the we DO have and find gratitude in that.

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Regardless of your political view of the refugee crisis now playing out on the world stage, refugees are forced to leave their homes, families, language, cultures, foods, memories, everything that has made them who they are. They are forced to start over, forced to learn a new language, to get used to new customs and foods, forced to find new housing, to learn how to drive or how to use the bus. So many things that we take for granted they must struggle and fight to attain, while coping with the emotions of being displaced, pushed out, reliving the horror of loved ones who disappeared or were lost to violence. And yet, they go to school, they learn the language, they find work and often start businesses. And yes, they somehow, once again, find happiness. 

Now let’s look at your situation: 

You say you’re unlucky: You have a bed, food in the refrigerator, a place to bathe and hopefully your health. These are not small things. In the overall human experience, these account for 99% of our needs. And you are lucky to have them.

You say you’re misunderstood: We are all misunderstood. No one can truly know us except ourselves. Seek not to receive understanding and compassion from others, seek it instead from within. The most you can do is deal fairly with others, honestly. Speak your desires and intentions clearly and the rest is beyond your control. Your happiness arises in this area from knowing that you have integrity. That you have treated others as you would wish to be treated. 

You say things are hopeless: Life is unpredictable and is full of surprises. I have read about and experienced being at an extremely low point in life when serendipitously, the arrival of a new idea, a chance opportunity or an unexpected meeting turned everything around. Hope is a faith in the energetic productivity of life. Look around you. Everywhere you see life emerging and thriving. Yes, there is poverty and despair, but there is also cooperation and creation happening everywhere in the cosmos. Your responsibility is to remain open to that inevitability. If you see life as a wave, dipping and rising, ebbing and flowing, then you know there will be low and high points. You must accept that as a reality of life and not place a value judgement on it. Good, bad, right, wrong, etc. 

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If we were to say that dark is bad and light is good, then we would curse the night sky. But it is precisely because of that darkness that we can see the light emanating from stars light years away. 

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So to conclude: Happiness does not arise from the sum total of things that are happening to you, but rather from who you are, what you choose to believe and what you make happen. Happiness also arises from laying down a firm, integrated foundation. By that I mean consuming in moderation; keeping emotions in check; getting plenty of rest; evaluating, pruning or nourishing our relationships to others; keeping our channels open for knowledge and wisdom to stream in; cleaning, organizing and maintaining our personal space. And most of all, not undervaluing, but rather having gratitude for the simple, yet fundamental building blocks of human life: health, food and shelter. When all else seems against us, we can still find happiness in the knowledge that we will ride out this storm and turn it into and opportunity to prepare ourselves for the moment when Nature’s cycles will inevitably carry us aloft again. 

-Shane Eric Mathias

 

Be Kind to Your Future Self

If you've read my book or various articles I've written on habits that lead to a happy, successful life, you'll find organization and predictability as recurring themes that set the stage for mental and physical well being and therefore, a firm foundation from which happiness can grow.

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But how do we create this firm foundation for ourselves when the world around us is indeed, so unpredictable?

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While it is true, there are some aspects of human life that are beyond our control, most respond quite well to our intervention. That is, if we learn and employ habits that demonstrate compassion and respect for our "Future Self".

By using the term "Future Self" I want to get you thinking about how actions you take in the moment might affect you either positively or negatively later in the day or even later in life.

We may not be aware of it, but much of our day is mindlessly spent in self-sabotaging activities that undermine our future safety, success and happiness. Here are some examples:

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• Stretching an extension cord from a wall to a space heater that spans a traffic area in your home. thoughtlessly setting yourself up for a future accident.

Solution: Plan a route for the cord that will heat the desired space, while remaining safely tucked under furniture or adjacent to baseboards. 

• Going on a spending spree for gifts or personal items and thoughtlessly placing those purchases on a credit card. Only later, when the bill comes, does the reality of that indiscretion hit home, knocking your budget for rent, food and other expenses out of whack. 

Solution: Plan ahead for needed or desired items by placing a few dollars a week into reserve. For an example, start in June, socking away money for Christmas gifts. 

• Letting laundry, dishes and clutter pile up in bedrooms, hallways and the garage. Convinced you lack the time to clean and put things away in a timely manner, you spend mental energy attempting to ignore the accumulating mess. You're eventually forced to deal with the piles when friends or family call to request an impromptu visit. 

Solution: Wash dishes immediately after meals, rather than...well, whenever. Keep bathroom counter tops clean and organized; spend 1 minute cleaning the bathtub ring after a soak; schedule and set aside time to deal with bills and other documents at least once a week, keeping files up to date and desks clear of clutter. 

• You feel disliked or misunderstood by family, friends and associates. Isolated and alone, increasingly unable to relate to those in your midst. As you review the past year, you recall being angry and unrestrained in your dealings with others. You've come to the realization that your frustration and dissatisfaction with life has caused you to lash out and drive important people away from you.

Solution: Review and eliminate business and or personal relationships that have been counter-productive. Recognize and work to shore up those which have served you well. Work to resolve any petty disagreements and focus on what will be important going forward. Stay in touch periodically by phone or email for no particular reason, reach out, letting loved ones know you care. Temporarily sacrifice some discretionary spending and work to clear up those outstanding debts, 

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Conclusion: Our lives, like our cars, homes and pets, require ongoing maintenance. By attending to these various aspects of our lives, we are in essence extending compassion to ourselves in the future, as well as the present.

Conversely, by ignoring or deferring tasks until "later", we force ourselves to cope with an even bigger problem when it is much less convenient. 

It can sometimes seem as if life is overly complex and unmanageable, but in reality, we have much more control over how our daily lives play out than we often assume.

By developing good "organizational hygiene" we ensure that our lives hum along like a well-tuned engine.

When we no longer have to waste our energy dealing with emergencies, those personal resources can be spent on creative, fun and spontaneous activities that contribute to a happier life. 

-Shane Eric Mathias