Tag Archives: nkfshc

Phases of The Moon

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Photo  Wikimedia Commons

In Asian Buddhist countries that follow the lunar calendar, those certain days depending on the phases of the moon are considered to be sacred and holy days. Those days are called Uposatha Observance Days. On Uposatha days we Buddhists practice even more seriously, even more intensely. We try to eat healthier, more mindfully eating and preparing food. We try to practice meditation with more focus, and also do more spiritual reading. We practice giving, and also compassion and selflessness. These moon phase days or ( Uposatha Days) are considered to be sacred because they relate to the Buddhas life achievements which were all on full moon days. The Birth of the Buddha was on a full moon day, his renunciation also took place on a full moon. He achieved Enlightenment on a full moon day, taught his first sermon and also passed away on full moon days. 

Slight is this perfume
of tagara and sandalwood,
best the perfume of the virtuous
blowing even to the devas.
The perfume of flowers does not go against
	the wind,
neither that of sandalwood, jasmine, or tagara:
but the perfume of the virtuous does go
	against the wind.
The good man suffuses all directions,
Sandalwood or tagara,
lotus or the jasmine great —
of these perfumes various,
virtue's perfume is unexcelled.
Buddha

Many Buddhists practitioners visit temples or monasteries on these sacred Uposatha days. They go to practice with the monastics who are also observing Uposatha more intensely, they also go to practice in a monastic way for a day. There are so many healthy benefits of observing sacred or holy days, practicing alone is good as well as practicing with a community. Some people need their space, and others do better and can study better with a community, however you practice though it doesn’t matter so as long as you practice working on the ( Inner Work), this is what’s important. The Buddhist Uposatha days are supposed to bring us peace of mind, joy, happiness, and less stress. I have found that by observing the practices, living more mindfully and eating vegetarian foods, one can achieve a certain inner peace.

Just like in practicing an art form or a skillful craft, practicing peace and compassion also rewards us with peace. When we can take time to focus on what brings us peace, whatever healthy practices we may have, not just Buddhist practices but any practice, we can come closer to that peace we seek in our lives. Turning this practice into a lifestyle practice reminds us to take time to focus on our mental health needs, to eat healthy and to have time to just breathe and relax. Even if someone doesn’t practice the Buddhist traditions, there is still so much beneficial material that can be applied into ones daily life.

Questions to contemplate

  • what hours of the day do I feel most relaxed?
  • What healthy foods do I enjoy eating that leave me feeling healthy and full?
  • How can I create a more relaxing and peaceful environment in my home?
  • What meditation practices bring me peace?
  • How can I practice in a way that liberates me and brings me peace?

You can read more about Buddhist practice here: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/khantipalo/wheel206.html

To read about Uposatha Observance check out this link: https://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/217.htm

May each day be peaceful!

Jarrelle

In Harmony With Oneself

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“If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nations.
When there is order in the nations, there will peace in the world.” 

Confucius

Living in harmony with oneself is a practice, it is a lifestyle and it is a spiritual journey within oneself. It is a journey within the soul and heart, a journey into the entirety of the mind. When we can sit in total silence, witnessing each thought, each breath, breath by breath, present with our hearts beat, we are on the right step to inner peace and harmony. To live in harmony with oneself means to love oneself totally, completely satisfied with oneself, having compassion with oneself including accepting what we see as flaws or imperfections. Existence does not create mistakes, instead it simply creates. We are not flawed, we are alive, living and breathing beings that are all different from each other and yet so similar in many ways.

What does “Just be” mean to you?. I think that this is something we should all ponder in depth. For me, to “Just be” means to stand tall, in total confirmation, embracing yourself as you walk compassionately against the winds of an imperfect and oftentimes harsh world. It means to have such a great strength within yourself, a strength so strong that no matter the outer storms, the inner is peaceful and calm. You have arrived within yourself, you’ve found yourself, and you love yourself. This is what “Just be” means to me, and to live this way brings us harmony within ourselves, within our relationships with others and in our environments.

Here are some helpful steps that may guide you to achieving that inner harmony

  • Focus on keeping a balanced and healthy diet, they say that we are what we eat!
  • You are human, allow yourself to learn and be imperfect. Wisdom and harmony comes from accepting our little imperfections.
  • Prioritize self-care by taking care of physical and mental health.
  • Get plenty of sunlight and fresh air in nature
  • Keep a healthy social life, friends are important but so is YOU TIME.
  • Get enough sleep each night, our brains work better with sleep!
  • Get in touch with your inner artist, creativity births happiness and peace.
  • Dont be afraid to buy that bright yellow shirt with polka dots if it calls to you, wear it and rock it! Wearing what we like builds up confidence within ourselves.
  • Set aside time out of each day to practice sitting meditation, this helps us to balance ourselves in life and within our minds.
  • Get plenty of exercise
  • Stay hydrated and lower intoxicants like alcohol, lower caffeine as well. Water is our friend!

When we can live a healthy lifestyle, keep a positive self image and make healthy lifestyle choices we begin to live in harmony. We are more peaceful, less stressed out and quick tempered and able to quickly retreat to that zen space within if life starts to get a little crazy. Challenge yourself to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be, and let your beautiful light shine color and love into this world!.

Jarrelle

The Beauty of Diverse Communities

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The sounds of harps and dulcimers can be heard echoing in the distance. Bright and festive colors adorn banners as a sea of brocade clothing is illuminated by the midday sun. What a beautiful thing it is to hear many languages all spoken at one time, and to see thousands of years old art, music and poetry being performed before our own eyes, it warms the heart and brings us joy. We can not overlook the importance of building a strong foundation for our communities. We can build a strong foundation by first creating more diversity, creating a cultural environment that is all inclusive, and also by educating others about our own cultural identities and ways of expression.

For thousands of years art has been the one thing that brought people together. Regardless of background, location, language etc, our arts have been there evolving alongside us. These arts we hold close to our hearts, because they carry the voices and stories of our ancestors journeys. These poems speak of their lives, these sounds ring the sounds of their dreams and visions, these dances depict many historical events, and to be able to experience the beauty of these arts is absolutely incredible.

“To me, beauty is inclusion– every size, every color– that’s the world I live in.”

Prabal Gurung (Fashion Designer)

Photo by: Wat Promwachirayan

Within our beautifully diverse communities we have created space for everyone to share, express and be who they are. Everyone in our BIPOC AAPI communities has a VOICE, and everyone is valid. We have learned to respect each others differences and we have learned to mix the old and the new, traditional and modern, to create a new path for future generations and for the present moment by sharing and promoting culture and freedom of expression through cultural arts. Historically speaking, this is the greatest movement in our history towards global peace.

Jarrelle Barton

EXPRESSION

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” The way you dress is an expression of your personality.”

~Alessandro Michele ~

Bruce lee

For many BIPOC/ AAPI artists, it may sometimes be challenging to express themselves in a way that is uniquely original, partly due to the fact that society has a so called “standard” way of expression. They may have an idea about what colors they like, what style of shirt and shoe’s, or what brush strokes to use on a painting, what ink with what brush etc, but still maybe they feel something might be blocked or just missing all together. This is when we must look at our world, we must look at our cultures, we must look into our dreams and the stories that our grandparents have told us. Here, in those things, are the colors and textures that can be used to paint your vision, here is the the medium for part of your expression, the other part is you, your life and your experiences. Being brought up in a multi-cultural, or bicultural home is the greatest blessing of all, never forget that. I say it’s the greatest blessing because it not only challenges our minds, but also opens our minds and gives our mind more windows of light to work with. All of these things and more can influence, and also impact our creativeness and our expression.

Ways to express yourself:

  • Writing poetry
  • Working with clay
  • Writing stories
  • Painting
  • Composing your own songs
  • Keeping a journal

When we are able to find that medium in which we can express ourselves through freely, either by painting, writing poetry or stories, or even creating our own original fashion statements, in those moments we have tapped into our potential of unique original expression. For us POC, we may also at times feel ashamed to express ourselves freely, because of how society may label us as POC, or because of the complexities of culture and religion. It can be so challenging to take the courageous step of liberating ourselves through expression, however once we are able to achieve such, all of the nets society has thrown on us will fall away.

Here is an inspiring Ted Talk video of Ethan Hawkes sharing his reflections on creativity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRS9Gek4V5Q

I encourage you to be creative, listen to your heart, respect traditional cultures of your own and others, and live each moment as colorfully possible.

Methow Arts

Benefits of Bicultural Meditation and Spiritual Identity

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As meditation becomes a more globally popular way to destress and bring about an inner peace many may be questioning what it means to have a Bicultural perspective on the practice. Let us have a look at the benefits of bicultural meditation and what bicultural meditation actually means. First, what is biculturalism?.

Biculturalism refers to the ability of an individual to successfully navigate and integrate into two different cultures. It can also refer to the coexistence of two different cultures within a society, where individuals from both cultures are able to live and work together while maintaining their own cultural identity. Bicultural individuals are able to understand, appreciate and respect the values, customs, and beliefs of both cultures they are part of, while still maintaining a sense of belonging to each culture. They are able to communicate effectively in both languages and understand the nuances of each culture, which can be a valuable asset in many different settings. Biculturalism can be a result of a variety of factors such as growing up in a family with parents from different cultural backgrounds, living in a country with a dominant culture different from one’s own, or actively seeking to learn about and immerse oneself in another culture.

Bicultural meditation is a universal practice that integrates principles and techniques from two different cultural traditions into one unified meditation practice. This is especially helpful for individuals who come from bicultural backgrounds or those who have a deep appreciation and respect for multiple cultures.

Bicultural meditation can involve combining different meditation techniques, such as mindfulness meditation from the Buddhist tradition and heart centered prayer from the Christian tradition. It can also involve incorporating different cultural symbols, ritual instruments, practices or chants into the meditation practice, such as lighting incense or candles, using specific postures or hand gestures ( mudra ) or chanting in different languages.

Bicultural meditation can offer a variety of benefits for individuals who are seeking to integrate principles and techniques from multiple cultural traditions into their meditation practice. Here are some potential benefits:

  • Increased self-awareness: Bicultural meditation can help individuals gain a deeper understanding of their own cultural identity and how it impacts their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
  • Greater empathy and understanding: By incorporating practices and symbols from different cultures into their meditation practice, individuals can develop a greater appreciation and understanding of other cultures, which can promote empathy and understanding.
  • Enhanced mindfulness: Combining different meditation techniques can help individuals cultivate a more focused and present state of mind, which can promote greater mindfulness and reduce stress and anxiety.
  • Greater spiritual growth: Bicultural meditation can provide a unique opportunity for individuals to explore and deepen their spirituality, drawing on the wisdom and practices of multiple cultural traditions.
  • Improved emotional regulation: By cultivating greater awareness and compassion for oneself and others, individuals may find that they are better able to regulate their emotions and respond more effectively to challenging situations.
  • Greater sense of connectedness: Bicultural meditation can help individuals feel more connected to their cultural heritage while also promoting a sense of connectedness and community with others who share similar values and beliefs.

Bicultural meditation can offer a powerful way to explore and integrate multiple cultural traditions into a meaningful and effective meditation practice, promoting personal growth, cultural understanding, and spiritual development.

Alison Czinkota / Verywell

Spirituality and identity are closely related because they are both fundamental aspects of human experience that help shape our understanding of ourselves, our place in the world, and our relationship with others. Our spirituality can play a significant role in shaping our identity by providing a framework for how we understand and interpret our experiences, emotions, and values.

ANXIETY DISORDERS

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We will all experience anxiety, for example, speaking in front of large groups can make us anxious, however that anxiety can also motivate us to prepare and practice. Driving in heavy traffic is another common source of anxiety, but it helps us stay alert to avoid accidents.

However, when feelings of intense fear and distress become too overwhelming and they prevent us from doing everyday activities, an anxiety disorder may be the cause.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the United States. Over 40 million adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder, and about 7% of children aged 3-17 experience issues with anxiety each year. Most people develop anxiety symptoms before the age of 21. In this article you will learn about anxiety symptoms, types of anxiety, causes of anxiety, diagnosis and treatments for anxiety.

Read more about Anxiety Disorders at: https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders