Wandering Sage Wisdom

the mexican fisherman

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:16:00 +0000

A friend of mine sent this story along and I thought I would share it...

The Mexican Fisherman
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “Only a little while.”
The American then asked him why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish. The Mexican replied that he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” asked the Mexican.
The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich; you would make millions!”
“Millions – then what, senor?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

Author Unknown

Chief Arvol Looking Horse on recent "sweat lodge" deaths

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:17:00 +0000

I wanted to address the recent incedents in Sedona, Arizona where 2 people died and a number of others were injured during a sweat lodge, but this post from http://freepeltiernow.blogspot.com really covers it all...

Chief Arvol Looking Horse on recent "sweat lodge" deaths
As Keeper of our Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle, I am concerned for the 2 deaths and illnesses of the many people that participated in a sweat lodge in Sedona, Arizona that brought our sacred rite under fire in the news. I would like to clarify that this lodge and many others, are not our ceremonial way of life, because of the way they are being conducted. My prayers go out for their families and loved ones for their loss.

Our ceremonies are about life and healing, from the time this ancient ceremonial rite was given to our people, never has death been a part of our inikag¹a (life within) when conducted properly. Today the rite is interpreted as a sweat lodge, it is much more then that. So the term does not fit our real meaning of purification.

Inikag'a is the oldest ceremony brought to us by Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit). 19 generations ago, the Lakota/Dakota/Nakota Oyate (people), were given seven sacred rites of healing by a Spirit Woman Pte San Win (White Buffalo Calf Woman). She brought these rites along with our sacred C'anupa (pipe) to our People, when our ancestors were suffering from a difficult time. It was also brought for the future to help us for much more difficult times to come. They were brought to help us stay connected to who we are as a traditional cultural People. The values of conduct are very strict in any of these ceremonies, because we work with spirit. The way the Creator, Wakan Tanka told us; that if we stay humble and sincere, we will keep that connection with the inyan oyate (the stone people), who we call the Grandfathers, to be able to heal our selves and loved ones. We have a "gift" of prayer and healing and have to stay humble with our Unc'i Maka (Grandmother Earth) and with one another. The inikag'a is used in all of the seven sacred rites to prepare and finish the ceremonies, along with the sacred eagle feather. The feather represents the sacred knowledge of our ancestors.

Our First Nations People have to earn the right to pour the mini wic'oni (water of life) upon the inyan oyate (the stone people) in creating Inikag'a - by going on the vision quest for four years and four years Sundance. Then you are put through a ceremony to be painted - to recognize that you have now earned that right to take care of someone's life through purification.

They should also be able to understand our sacred language, to be able to understand the messages from the Grandfathers, because they are ancient, they are our spirit ancestors. They walk and teach the values of our culture; in being humble, wise, caring and compassionate.

What has happened in the news with the make shift sauna called the sweat lodge is not our ceremonial way of life!

When you do ceremony - you can not have money on your mind. We deal with the pure sincere energy to create healing that comes from everyone in that circle of ceremony. The heart and mind must be connected. When you involve money, it changes the energy of healing. The person wants to get what they paid for; the Spirit Grandfathers will not be there, our way of life is now being exploited! You do more damage then good. No mention of monetary energy should exist in healing, not even with a can of love donations. When that energy exists, they will not even come. Only Œafter¹ the ceremony, between the person that is being healed and the Intercessor who has helped connect with the Great Spirit, the energy of money can be given out of appreciation. That exchange of energy is from the heart; it is private and does not involve the Grandfathers! Whatever gift of appreciation the person who received the help, can now give the Intercessor what ever they feel their healing is worth.

In our Prophesy of the White Buffalo Calf Woman, she told us that she would return and stand upon the earth when we are having a hard time. In 1994 this began to happen with the birth of the white buffalo, not only their nation, but many animal nations began to show their sacred color, which is white. She predicted that at this time there would be many changes upon Grandmother Earth. There would be things that we never experienced or heard of before; climate changes, earth changes, diseases, disrespect for life and one another would be shocking and there would be also many false prophets!

My Grandmother that passed the bundle to me said I would be the last Keeper if the Oyate (people) do not straighten up. The assaults upon Grandmother Earth are horrendous, the assaults toward one another was not in our culture, the assaults against our People (Oyate) have been termed as genocide, and now we are experiencing spiritual genocide!

Because of the problems that began to arise with our rebirth of being able to do our ceremonies in the open since the Freedom of Religion Act of 1978, our Elders began talking to me about the abuses they seen in our ceremonial way of life, which was once very strict. After many years of witnessing their warnings, we held a meeting to address this very issue of lack of protocol in our ceremonies. After reaching an agreement of addressing the misconduct of our ceremonies and reminding of the proper protocols, a statement was made in March 2003. Every effort was made to insure our way of life of who we are as traditional cultural People was made, because these ways are for our future and all life upon the Grandmother Earth

(Mitakuye Oyasin All my relations), so that they may have good health. Because these atrocities are being mocked and practiced all over the world, there was even a film we made called 'Spirits for Sale".

The non-native people have a right to seek help from our 'First Nation Intercessors' for good health and well-being, it is up to that Intercessor. That is a privilege for all People that we gift for being able to have good health and understand that their protocol is to have respect and appreciate what we have to share. The First Nations Intercessor has to earn that right to our ceremonial way of life in the ways I have explained.

At this time, I would like to ask all Nations upon Grandmother Earth to please respect our sacred ceremonial way of life and stop the exploitation of our Tunka Oyate (Spiritual Grandfathers).

In a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no beginning!

Namah'u yo (hear my words),

Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle

FRANKINCENSE

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:11:00 +0000

Frankincense is a wonderful meditation tool that can help if you are having difficulty keeping the rampant mind at bay. Using Frankincense deepens your meditative practice and helps you to keep focused.

Frankincense is an ancient tree resin that has been used for centuries in sacred ceremonies, religious rituals, spiritual meditation and holistic medicine. It was in widespread use by the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks and Romans.

Frankincense resin comes from the Boswellia tree which grows in mainly Africa. To collect the sap, the tree bark is cut and the sap is allowed to ooze out of the bark. The sap dries on the tree and is then collected.

As incense, the raw chunks of resin are directly set on a heat source, such as hot coals. Burning Frankincense is believed to affect the crown charka. It helps with meditation by deepening the breath and brining the body and mind into a harmonious state. There is a quality to the scent of burning Frankincense that seems to reach a forgotten corner of the mind. It is an exotic, yet familiar smell that can assist in promoting spiritual focus and creativity.

As a medicinal substance Frankincense was thought to cure vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and tumors. It is also used to treat skin inflammation, headaches and allergies. In China it is used to treat leprosy and gonorrhea. Frankincense is edible and can also help with digestion. Ayurvedic medicine uses Frankincense for treating arthritis.

Edible Frankincense must be pure for internal consumption. It should be translucent without any impurities. It is often chewed like gum, but it is stickier because it is a resin.

Frankincense has also been used in Aromatherapy to relieve anxiety and promote a sense of well-being. It is used to alleviate depression.

Personally, it feels as if burning Frankincense during your day helps to encourage sacredness in your life. Give it a try

In peace,
Aaron

Acknowledging Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:49:00 +0000

We shape ourselves by the thoughts we hold in our minds. The thoughts we dwell on create the reality we live in. Holding negative thoughts shapes our world into something we fear. When we are fearful things we encounter reinforce our negative thoughts. This generates an energy field that surrounds us and encourages unwelcome situations. It is very easy to get caught in a downward spiral.

One of the drawbacks of our highly complex society is that we have become very distracted and oblivious to some of the fundamental aspects of life. We get so attached to our technological innovations that we forget the magical world that exists outside in nature. The busyness of the world fragments our mental process and creates gaps for negative thoughts to take hold.

If we are able to carve out some time to spend in the natural world we give ourselves an opportunity to bring some balance back into our lives. We are living beings on this planet, an integral part of the whole and it is essential that we cultivate this connection. By acknowledging nature we learn to sense the vital spirit that exists within all things and this enables us to restore balance and wellbeing to our lives.

wishing you much peace
Aaron

10 Ways to Increase Your Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:10:00 +0000

10 Ways to Increase Your Stress

1. Become inflexible. Demand that everyone do things your way. Don't listen to other opinions or ideas. Dismiss them as irrelevant.

2. Try to do twice as much as you can actually accomplish. Multi-task your multi-tasking. Fill your schedule and then try to fit in more things.

3. Worry about anything and everything...especially those things over which you have no control. Fret, fume and feel as if the whole world is out to get you.

4. Take things personally. Don't wait for things to bother you. Go out and look for things that will annoy you and let them get under your skin. Any mistake or problem should be taken as a personal insult.

5. Demand perfection from everyone and everything around you. Be sure to expect much more than is possible. Be as miserable as possible when things go wrong.

6. Abandon your sense of humor. Try to treat every matter as the most important thing in the world. Every minor thing should heighten your anger level.

7. Be cynical about the world. Look for events and situations that back up your view. Ignore any good news. Be pessimistic about other people's motives. Be suspicious of everyone.

8. Watch television, especially reality shows. Turn the volume up during commercials. Eat lots of junk food and drink soda.

9. Abandon your ability to change and adapt to the world around you. Be rigid in your body and mind. Don't allow anything to disturb your misery.

10. Hold your breath, don't exercise. Tighten your shoulder muscles and slouch. Frown, scowl and be sure to crease the lines your forehead.

NOTE: Please consult your personal physician before undertaking any stress-increasing activities.

WARNING: Failure to follow these guidelines can result in occasional bouts of peace, harmony and a desire to check out the relaxed breathing and movement of Zen Yoga. www.artofzenyoga.com

Elfeya

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:32:00 +0000

Finally some time to catch up on things.
I wanted to take a moment to introduce someone very special in my life. Elfeya and I met in 1998 when I was living in Australia. Our lives were on different paths at that time and while we ran into each other a number of times while I was living there, we never really had a chance to spend any time together. It wasn't until last year that we truly connected. There comes a time when we meet someone who is just right for us and in Elfeya I have met that girl.

Elfeya and I were married on April 7th in Australia this year. We had a traditional buddhist ceremony in our beachfront apartment on the Gold Coast.
I have been traveling back and forth to Australia for many years and Elfeya was ready to join me in that adventure. We held another wedding ceremony in Vermont on June 7th in the Mystic Glade, the sacred meditation garden that I have been building for many years.

Not long after that my father contracted colon cancer and my mother broke her wrist. Thankfully my Dad's surgery was a success and he is in the recovery process. We decided that we would make our home here in Vermont for the forseeable future and begin to expand our Zen Yoga retreats and programs to further the spirit healing work I have been doing for these many years.

Elfeya is an animal spirit guide counselor and helps facilitate connections to the animal world through lectures, guided meditations, and private consultations. In addition to being a Zen Yoga instructor, she is a natural beauty therapist well versed in herbal medicine and aromatherapy. She leads the Zen Yoga Online Courses for personal development and spiritual deepening. She is a fantastic cook and provides all the meals at the Zen Yoga retreats.

My wife...Elfeya

till next time...wishing you much peace,
Zin

Reconnecting with Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:09:00 +0000

The Zen Yoga Reconnecting with Nature Retreat held the last weekend of July was a wonderful chance to step out of the craziness of the world for a little while and get immersed in the natural world. Even while the rain made things a little soggy the first night, it couldn't dampen experience of stepping out into the natural world and breathing the lifeforce energy. Highlights of the weekend included learning the basic Zen Crane Qigong form, an animal spirit guide talk and meditation, death arrow fire ceremony, and Elfeya's fantastic home cooked meals.

Having such a successful event has really sparked us to organize some new events and update the website. We have added some lessons to the Online Course for Spiritual Deepening and updated the Instructor Training Program.

In addition we have scheduled the Zen Warrior Retreat for September 18-20 just before the Autumn Equinox. We have also scheduled a Pre-Holiday DeStress Retreat for December 4-6.

We are hoping to have the new book...The Zen Anti-Diet, 2nd Edition completed and printed by the end of the year.

More posts coming soon.

wishing you much peace

The time is now

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:02:00 +0000

The selfish, materialistic world that we have been living in is coming apart at the seams. Sadly it is not going to simply fade away in some magical enlightenment where we all realize the wondrous magic and beauty that exists on the Earth. There are just too many people who are firmly entrenched in the materialistic world and wholly unready for any sort of spiritual evolution. We, as a species, have taken more than our share and caused too much destruction. And yet we still continue forward at an ever increasing pace. The consequence of this situation can only be further environmental destruction, social upheaval, and eventually significant, life-threatening chaos.

There are many who say that 2012 will bring the end of the world. These prophecies of doom and gloom are not correct. 2012 will, in fact, usher in a new age of wonder and harmony. It will be a time of raising consciousness to a higher level of vibration. It will be the dawn of a world where peace is a reality and not simply an excuse to make more war.

The real challenge for all of us is now...right now. We must begin to move towards this reality now. The dramatic changes that are taking place in the world today will only increase as we move closer to the galactic convergence. Those who realize the necessity of making a fundamental shift in both lifestyle and consciousness right now are going to be the ones with the greatest chance of navigating the turbulent times ahead.

return of the sage

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:02:00 +0000

The wandering sage has finally returned from his travels.

It is always good to visit distant places. It gives you a whole new perspective on things. People are basically the same wherever you go. They all have hopes and dreams as well as worries and fears. The problems arise when the worries and fears outweigh the hopes and dreams.

It really feels like all of this financial pandemic crisis stuff causes a lot more stress and tension in people than is necessary. I don’t really get the sense that the mainstream media is helping at all. They seem to revel in sensationalizing all of it which only makes things worse. And while we may supposedly be in a recovery now all of the problems with population, limited resources, peak oil, climate change and economic meltdown are still escalating.

Fortunately, with the arrival of spring (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) there is the feeling of rebirth and a new wellspring of energy that is bubbling up. We need to tap into this energy and make use f it. Too often it can feel like our problems are taking over our life. When we can feel a real connection to the Earth and the energy of the natural world those problems shrink down to a more manageable size.

So, as with many of these posts, I’ll leave you with these simple words…

Remember to Breathe

Keeping Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:46:00 +0000

Well, a month on the beach in Australia has been a wonderful chance to put things in perspective. Zen Yoga is getting a great reception over here.

I think it is very easy to get locked into a worldview when we are going through the same motions day in and day out. Stepping out of the normal everyday pattern forces a shift in perception. Sure the same problems exist, but a change in location or situation provides an opportunity to look at things in a different way.

If you are able to implement a regular practice that allows you to get more closer in touch with your spiritual nature then you can enhance this process even more.

This type of practice is vital during times of uncertainty. The whole world may seem like it is going crazy, but if you can keep your center it is possible to navigate the difficulties without too much problem. Of course there are things that need to be dealt with. However, if you can start with breathing and movement to get the energy in your body flowing, then everything you do will become more effective.

If you already have an effective practice it may be time to take it to a new level by rededicating yourself to mindful awareness and meditation. This allows a much deeper exploration into the real purpose of life.....hint: it is not about getting more STUFF...

Back from Australia on April 15th with lots happening. Check out Eat Smart: The Zen Anti-Diet if you get a chance.

wishing everyone much peace....
Aaron

Mistwalkers - new poetry

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:19:00 +0000

MISTWALKERS

There are those who spend their day

Living in a different way

Apart from all the hectic noise

Away from shows and ads and toys

Away from stores and shops and such

They have enough, they don’t need much

They touch the soul of Mother Earth

They live in peace and joy and mirth

In their hearts no room for fear

Theirs eyes are bright, their thoughts are clear

Each step they take the ground is kissed

These walkers in the sacred mist

-Aaron Hoopes 2009

transformational alignment

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:29:00 +0000

A lot of emphasis has been put on the winter solstice of 2012 as a point of transition, but like the moon that is full three days before and three days after the actual full moon, we have already entered this significant time.

The ancient Vedic texts called this time the Kali Yuga, a time when humanity has reached the depths of selfish materialism. I don't think there is any doubt that we are seeing this unfold before our eyes daily...and yet still most people seem oblivious to the tremendous changes that are taking place.

It has been determined that on the solstice of 2012 the Earth will come into precise alignment with the galactic center. What this means exactly is up for debate. However, one thing that is becoming clear is that there are going to be significant fundamental changes to our lives and the way we live. I'm beginning to look at this time as a moment of opportunity for consicous evolution. It is there waiting for those who are ready for it while everyone else will be caught up in the fear and chaos of the changes.

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we get our own house in order. We need to have our physical body in a healthy state - srtong, flexible and free of chemicals and poisons....and we need our mind calm, clear and able to react to whatever situations we are presented with... Most importantly, we need to open our hearts and reconnect with the Earth. For to long we have taken from her for our selfish needs without acknowledgement of the lifeforce energy she provides us. The Earth will survive for millennia to come, if the human race is to continue to have a purpose on this planet we need to get our act together.

We have passed the time for debate about whether climate change, overpopulation and depleted resources are real problems. If you think that we will soon be returning to unlimited economic growth, rampant expansion and magic technological breakthroughs that will end our dependency on fossil fuel...nevermind.

Galactic Alignment: The Transformation of Consciousness

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:07:00 +0000

Galactic Alignment: The Transformation of Consciousness According to Mayan, Egyptian, and Vedic Traditions by John Major Jenkins

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Another step along a journey that is leading towards something quite profound. This is a book for people already familiar with the subject matter. It is a very detailed look at the evolution of consciousness that we are undergoing as we move towards 2012.
Popular culture portrays 2012 as an disaster movie. Instead, John Major Jenkins puts forth the concept that we are at an epic moment of transformation. Those who are realizing that the selfish, materialistic world we have been living in is coming to an end are the ones who are going to have the best chance to navigate the coming changes.
Something we all need to consider as we get closer and closer to 2012.

Mind-Body Connection

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:51:00 +0000

The more we train our body the stronger and healthier it becomes. In the same manner, the more we train our mind the calmer and clearer it becomes. This practice is like sharpening the blade of a sword. The healthier the body and the calmer the mind the better we are able to focus more completely on the task at hand.

Training the body is a physical challenge. Whether it is zen yoga, tai chi, marital arts, tennis, golf swimming or whatever...it is about moving the body and flowing with energy. However training the mind is a much greater challenge. There are many distractions. The practice of meditation needs to be an integral part of life even when we feel that it is not doing anything for us. The subtle changes that occur over time through the regular study of meditation are invaluable. While we may understand the concept of meditation intellectually, putting aside time to practice is often difficult. Nevertheless, the clarity of thought that meditation provides is something vital to our training that we should not be without. It brings us to a moment of zen, being fully alive in the present moment.

When we exist fully in the present moment we embody our true self. Like moving in stereo, the body and mind become a single flowing entity. By following the same rhythm, each compliments the other. We are able to react without thought or hesitation. Our reactions are perfectly appropriate depending on the situation, neither too strong nor too weak.

This is the true meaning of body and mind connection.

Living on a Changing Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:35:00 +0000

Did you ever have a thought deep in the back of your mind that there just might, possibly be a better way of living than the way that is forced upon us by the hectic, stress-filled technological society in which we live today? Alan Watts, the renowned Zen scholar, called that thought hintegedanke, which is a German word describing something just at the edge of consciousness. It is a hint of something greater, of some special connection we have with the world around us. For most, that feeling stays in the shadows of the mind as we drink our double lattés, drive our SUVs, and live our lives between the increasingly strident commercials which bombard us day and night and hope that the financial and economic disaster somehow misses us.

What might this hintegedanke be trying to tell us?
Might it be offering to show us another way?
Might it be trying to remind us of something we have long forgotten?
Might it be presenting us with a different path to walk?

I believe that we have forgotten some very important knowledge over the past five-thousand years, knowledge we were not supposed to forget. And now we find we are on the verge of collectively destroying ourselves…again.

Millennia ago, in the vague myths of the antediluvian world, the Earth was different. People were different. They lived in harmony with the world around them, connected to it.

The Mayan calendar points to the winter solstice on December 21st 2012 as the end date of a great age. It is vital that we begin to expand our awareness and pay attention to the bigger picture.

In order to survive on this changing Earth we need be able to change with it.

It starts with an awareness of the self and the world around us. Selfishness, greed and insincerity are no longer of any value to us. We must now find a purpose that is about more than personal gain.

Are you ready?

Happy, Healthy & Peaceful Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:23:00 +0000

Well, another holiday season is upon us...yet this one seems different somehow. Obviously there are a lot of things happening in this world that are having significant impact on many people.

Usually we want to think of the holidays as a time of joy and happiness, however, more often than not the holidays can stir up quite a lot of stress. Combine this with a general uncertainty about the future and we can find ourselves a little overwhelmed.

Fortunately, just as it feels as if things are unravelling, there is also something quite amazing taking place. We are beginning to sense a shift in consciousness. No longer are the old patterns working for us and many people are starting to look for answers deeper within.

Obviously this is a long process, but there can be no doubt that things are accelerating.

It would serve all of us this holiday season to try to be a little more forgiving and humble in our thoughts and actions. We always have a choice as to how we react in any given situation. Everyone has felt the energy change when an angry person walks into a room. Everyone gets a little on edge. Remember…this dynamic works both ways. If we can find a calm center within ourselves, then we give others a reference point to find calmness within their own selves. The holidays really need to be about cultivating peace and harmony in the world. Finding faults in others or laying blame for things elsewhere simply creates friction and unease.

Like dropping a pebble into a pool of water and watching the ripples spread out, we determine the ripples we send to the people around us. Let it then be positive and loving.

I wish you happiness, health and peace for this holiday season

…and as always…

Remember to Breathe!

Aaron Hoopes

http://www.artofzenyoga.com/

The next Zen Yoga Online Course will begin January 15th.

Start from Zero

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:33:00 +0000

A fit, healthy body and a calm, clear mind lay the fertile ground for our spiritual nature to grow and develop --zin

One of the biggest hurdles we face when making life changes in body fitness is starting from a negative.

The first step is to approve of the body you have right at this moment - NOT the body you want, NOT the body you are going to have in six months after you work out, NOT the body you had last year or ten years ago, but the body you have right NOW.

Oh no!...you say...OH YES!...that body with the belly that pops over the belt buckle or the thighs that rub together, or with the yellow stained teeth, or whatever you think is wrong with you.

Regardless of all the faults, real or imagined, it is the only body you have.
And here you are...alive.

If you have to live with it, you might as well come to terms with it instead of fighting it.

Acceptance of that fact is like opening a door to a new world.

Imagine a line of numbers

-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Zero is the center point..the place to begin so you can go up into positive numbers.

Instead, if you begin with a negative number, you spend all of your time trying to get to zero, so you can begin.

Your body…right now…exactly as it is….is zero.
From zero...go up.

How strong, how fit, how healthy you are is how strong, fit and healthy you are.

Start from there.

Everyone can do some sort of breath and movement practice in order to start the process of getting the body feeling better.

http://www.artofzenyoga.com/

Remember...

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:13:00 +0000

We are certainly beginning to see the scope of the changes that are ahead of us. The next few years are going to challenge us beyond anything we can imagine. It is at times like this that it is best to go back to the basics. Often when it feels like things are spinning out of our control it helps to practice that which grounds and empowers us. Breathing is such a practice. Taking a deep breath when we are stressed or worried is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. It boosts oxygen levels, opens constricted energy pathways and provides more oxygen to our brains.

There is an old adage that says:
If the only tool you have is a hammer, all of your problems begin to look like nails...

If we realize that deep breathing is also a tool it becomes available to us when we need it. And we can start to look at our problems differently.

There are going to be plenty more challenges ahead of us in the days, weeks and months to come. When things start to get a bit crazy please Remember to Breathe!

wishing you much peace,
Aaron Hoopes

www.artofzenyoga.com

The Zen Anti-Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:24:00 +0000

Aaron Hoopes and Zen Yoga are happy to announce the publication of the new ebook

Eat Smart: The Zen Anti-Diet

This little book is a daring approach to eating and losing weight, except that it is not a diet book. Instead, it is an application in the context of Zen about healthy food and eating habits that should be part of everyone’s life. It provides anyone the framework for achieving their ideal weight.Eat Smart starts with the basic proposition that most of the diets we are bombarded with daily on television, in books and other media just don’t work! They just don’t. And the dieters who appear to benefit generally gain all the lost weight right back.

The Zen Anti-Diet is a practice of learning to be mindful of what you are putting into your body and allowing your body to reach a natural state of peace and contentment.Fundamental point of this book is about Zen and becoming attuned to the present moment. Practicing the Zen Anti-Diet is a recipe for happiness, health and long life.

Aaron Hoopes’ book Eat Smart is a holistic approach to eating which follows the precepts of Zen in its emphasis on experiencing the present moment and on connecting with the core of one’s being.Starting at the most basic levels, Mr. Hoopes counsels a slowing down of the food consumption process and underlines the importance of water in the human circulatory system. He suggests maintaining a peaceful and happy environment for eating and urges you to pay attention to the usually unheralded nutritional value of chewing longer. He also recommends you try to avoid achieving sensations of fullness by being mindful of the timing and the size of your meals.

Perhaps one of the most important aspects of the book is to refrain from consuming the many additives, chemicals and poisons found in processed foods.Hoopes provides a number of exercises to help imprint the Zen Anti-Diet concept in your mind and offers tools to enhance the beneficial habits of food consumption.

ORDER NOW!

Chasing Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:21:00 +0000

We seem to be chasing happiness. Modern life tends to be barely controlled hysteria as everyone is hurrying towards the future. We believe that if we acquire the newest fashion or buy the latest CD it will give us the happiness we are seeking. It is like a new, modern disease “I’ll be happy when…” We take holidays in search of happiness only to find ourselves worrying about all the stuff we left behind. Happiness always seems just around the corner, if we can just get there.
The truth is that this is an illusion. There is no happiness but in the present moment. Seeking happiness is like a dog chasing its own tail. Around and around we go, never quite reaching our goal. Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. It is the experience of living every moment with full awareness and awe at the beauty and grace of life. Happiness is not next week.
It is now.

Creating Reality

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:06:00 +0000

A wave is not separate from the ocean. Every wave on the ocean is the whole ocean. Yet as an individual wave it displays its own uniqueness. In the same manner each of us is an individual, yet we are a part of something much greater. We are part of the whole of creation. Most of us feel our individuality strongly. The idea of a web of life turns that feeling inside out. It is a feeling in which we, as individuals, are connected and a part of everything else there is.

In other words, the fundamental reality of the self is not only something inside the skin but it is everything outside the skin as well. We are simply part of the whole of existence as, in the same way, is the ocean wave. At this moment, in this present reality, we are a playing a particular role but that personality is superficial because the real self is actually all that there is. When we realize that our individuality is superficial, then there is nothing to oppose us in seeking self-realization within the framework of all existence. When there is no opposition, there is nothing to fight against and we can begin to make progress.

It is important to believe that we create our own reality. For good or for bad, the thoughts that you have influence the events that take place in your life. How often do you hear people say “just my luck” or something equally negative when unfortunate circumstances arise? Whether you believe you can do something or whether you believe you can’t, you are absolutely correct. It all begins with your belief. When you begin to believe in positive things, positive things start to happen. The thoughts that you generate in your mind have a tangible effect on the world around you. When you are sure that your thoughts can change your life, then your life begins to change. You can live in a garden of beautiful flowers or you can live in a garbage dump.

The choice is yours and begins with your attitude towards yourself. Happiness creates happiness in the world, just as misery creates more misery. If you make a conscious effort to tap into the energy of the universe and send it in positive directions, you open yourself to positive change and the energy of the universe will be able to flow in that direction. If you cultivate the negative aspects of life, that negative energy will grow in intensity around you.

in peace,

Aaron

Connection To Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:36:00 +0000

Book Recommendation - The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature by Stephen Buhner

I wanted to share this book. The Secret Teachings of Plants is a book that does much more than remind us of the importance of Nature in our lives. It provides simple skills to help us make a much deeper connection to the natural world and bring our lives back into balance. Too often we get so caught up in the busyness of the human world that we become numb to ourselves. It is at times like this when we need a sage like Stephen Buhner to guide us back to the wisdom the other living beings of this planet have for us.

The book is based on a wonderfully insightful concept of the “intelligence of the heart.” Recent discoveries in neuroscience have proven that more than 50% of the heart is comprised of neural cells. It is from our hearts that we process our energetic connection to everything we come in contact with. The problem is that we have cut ourselves off from this connection by allowing ourselves to be caught up in our rational, analytical minds.

Buhner explains that the knowledge of plant medicines that ancient and indigenous peoples have, comes, not through trial and error experimentation, but is directly transmitted from the plants themselves. And while this may seem like a stretch to the rational, analytical mind caught up in the post-industrial, television-based world, deep within all of us this truth awaits rediscovery.

The first part of the book contains scientific explanations and linear analysis. The second part is a stream of consciousness, full of quotes and practices for enhancing our relationship with plants. When I first started the book I loved the first part and was a bit skeptical of the 2nd half. But once I began reading that part, I realized that the first half was merely setting the stage and the second part is where the real understanding lies.

The consciousness of plants may be vastly different from our understanding of consciousness. Interacting with plants is not simply about talking to them. It is much more about opening the lines of communication with them on an energetic level and sharing our lifeforce. By opening our hearts and experiencing nature in its fullness we can begin to realize this connection.

Personally, as part of my Zen Yoga training, I have been cultivating my relationship with plants for many years, yet while reading this book I found my experience reaching a deeper level of understanding, to the point of profound wonder at this world we live in. See for yourself….read the book.

in peace,

Aaron

The Essence of Quality

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:30:00 +0000

The attitude we take towards any task or undertaking reflects on how we view our self. The completed task is the outward reflection of what is going on within. A task done with quality and completeness suggests a quality and completeness inside our being. A task half-finished or done sloppily reflects sloppiness within us. The actual importance of the task is irrelevant with regard to the quality and completeness with which we undertake it. Whether we are doing life-saving surgery, writing a book, washing a car, or tying our shoes, we need to focus all of our attention and concentration on that action. In effect, we want to enter into the essence of it.

Entering into the essence of something means becoming one with the action we are performing. In Japan there is a word shoshin which means “beginner’s mind.” As a beginner, the first time you do something you have to concentrate on it in order to do it correctly, but as you become adept at it you soon stop paying attention to the doing of it. The idea of shoshin is to retain the mindfulness of the beginner even as the task becomes routine. In this manner you are able to enter into the essence of what you are doing and that makes all the difference. Doing anything without entering into its essence is pointless and empty. However, the more fully you enter into something, keeping mindful of it, the more point or meaning it has and the more alive you feel by doing it.

Musicians, dancers, or artists who are able to enter into the essence of their art, become their art - they transcend the doing and are just being. By entering into the essence of your daily tasks you can begin to wake up to the great secret of life – living. The quality of living that results from entering into the essence of everyday life is profound. But only by actually being mindful of what we are doing can we experience it.

In Zen Yoga training we seek to cultivate this practice through simple breathing and movement exercises which help to circulate the energy through the meridians of the body. Just as with tai chi and qigong, Zen Yoga is a spiritual discipline that brings an awareness of the self.

wishing you much peace...

Aaron

I will have some photos of the Zen Warrior Training Retreat up soon...

Miracle

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:59:00 +0000

We certainly are living in times of dramatic change. And it would seem that there is much more to come. Part of the problem stems from the fact that we are always trying to change things to serve our purposes. Genetic food modifications, chemical preservatives, clear cutting of old-growth forests, diverting rivers for irrigation are all examples of humans trying to control the natural way of the world. But the simple truth is that the world is not something to be controlled or put in order. We are the one’s that must harmonize with it. Fighting against the natural flow of things is what has led us to the predicaments we are facing. We have lost our connection to the energy of the world. The plants and animals have become resources to be exploited and used as we march along a path that has only one inevitable outcome. The current structure is unsustainable.
It will take a miracle to turn things around…
If you want to see the miracle…
Be the miracle.

We are the one’s we have been waiting for.

Slow Down

noreply@blogger.com (Aaron Hoopes) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:46:00 +0000

Many of us living modern society live life at a frenetic pace. The measured lifestyle and close contact with nature that characterizes more traditional societies is being lost. People today gobble up experiences, swallow them whole, and then stuff more in. As these undigested experiences accumulate, existence becomes more superficial. Watching television has become a substitute for real experience and even that rarely holds our attention for long –we click to the next channel. Vicariously living through the stimulus overload of television has dulled the senses to the magic of real life. The rapid pace of technological advances creates a sense of urgency while the high-speed transfer of data through the internet and telephone systems brings an immediacy to everything. When we finally do go out and do something, we often feel driven by an urge to get through it as fast as possible. There is a compulsion for instant satisfaction, a pervasive “been there, done that” attitude. Completion has become the goal. Actually experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells has become secondary to the result. All of this leaves people with little time for themselves, or more exactly, for discovering the self.

Things such as fast food, newsbreaks, email and text messaging all contribute to this to a sense of urgency. We cannot escape it. We only slow down to pay attention when something we think extraordinary appears, and even then it rarely holds our attention for very long. Eventually we hurry on to something we think is more important. But when we get there we rush through that as well, since we feel compelled to get to the next experience and the next after that. Our attention span has been narrowed drastically, laying a deadly trap, because we begin to sacrifice the present to the future – which never comes. Unless we are able to fully experience the present, the future is merely an illusion. Without fully living in the present, we will never know just who we are. We will only continue to chase things into the future in the vain hope something will finally satisfy us.

This trap was set long ago by our parents and our schooling and our culture. The striving toward an undefined goal – success – always lies in the future and calls for planning. Thus, when we actually do reach some sort of success, it turns out not to be as satisfying as we thought it would be and we get caught up in planning for the next success. For vast numbers of people the future never arrives while, at the same time, they take little notice or enjoyment in what they have accomplished in the present. In the end, however, it is in the present, not the future, that life is deeply experienced and where one discovers one’s true self.

Of course there are things we all need to do to secure our future, but if we sacrifice the present for some obscure future success, chances are that when we get there we will still be no closer to what we are searching for. If we can slow the pace at which we live and enjoy what we are doing in the present, then no matter what the future brings we will be prepared to experience it fully. We need to bring a sense of peace to daily life by becoming aware of time, of the need to slow down.

By slowing the pace of life and quieting the noise of the world, we can let a little more peace and serenity into our lives.