Before we dive into our latest topic I wanted to mention that I uploaded a meditation to Instagram and Facebook. It only lasts 2 minutes and walks us through grounding through the Heart Chakra. Please try it out and feel free to share with friends as the technique is very simple.
I am enrolled in an online class at Columbia University called The Indian & Tibetan River of Buddhism. Signed up when quarantine began and I am glad I did. The class is taught by Dr Robert Thurman - one of the founders of Tibet House in NYC and Uma's dad. I am enjoying it. We are only on the second week but I wanted to share it now as you will still be able to sign up.
So far we have covered the history of Buddhism: what society, culture and government were like 2600 years ago and why the Buddha's approach to happiness, compassion and freedom from the hierarchy of caste systems was appealing to so many. It also feels like a lot of the concepts are relevant today, especially the study of the nature of reality and how we can find happiness.
The class looks at the concepts of Dharma (as far as I can tell, a search for truth), the Eightfold Path and how these lay the groundwork for enlightenment through meditation. If I understood correctly, to become enlightened is to have your human mind grow to the point where it becomes obvious that we are interconnected and that personal gain is an illusion. When someone else hurts or is in pain, a part of us is in pain and doesn't know it.
Before we are aligned with the collective's happiness as a win-win scenario, we have to work on our inner selves and find our own happiness - which isn’t necessarily dependent on external factors. It also helps to have an understanding of what it means for everyone to win.
This made me think about why it is important to heal ourselves, working through feelings of anger, doubt or unhappiness - and to express those feelings by journaling or other means, rather than suppressing them. To quote Professor Thurman:
"Only a self-fulfilled truly happy person can embrace the happiness of others as his or her own heart-felt goal"
Buddhism also emphasizes love, compassion and impartiality - though it is not selfish to want to be happy, as I once had to remind myself. Please join me in meditating on health and happiness. Start by grounding yourself so that it is easier to relax (Details Here).
Reiki hugs,
Regina
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