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Embracing Stillness: Cultivating Inner Peace in a Busy World

In a world filled with noise and distractions, finding stillness is crucial for our well-being. Embracing stillness allows us to tap into inner peace, overcome challenges, and experience flow. This article explores stillness, its benefits, and practical techniques to incorporate it into our lives.

The Power of Stillness:

Stillness is more than idleness; it is a conscious state of tranquility. By quieting the mind and embracing stillness, we create space for reflection, clarity, and self-awareness. Stillness helps us disconnect from external chaos, connect with ourselves, and find inner peace.

Cultivating Inner Peace:

Prioritize self-care and carve out moments of solitude. Engage in practices like meditation, deep breathing, or mindful walks to anchor yourself in the present moment and cultivate stillness. Embracing stillness reduces stress, enhances emotional well-being, and deepens self-understanding.

Discovering Flow Through Stillness:

Flow is effortless focus and total immersion in an activity. Stillness serves as a gateway to flow by quieting the mind and eliminating distractions. Cultivating stillness unlocks creativity and brings fulfillment as we engage in activities aligned with our passions and skills.

Practical Techniques for Embracing Stillness:

a. Mindful Meditation: Dedicate daily time to mindfulness meditation. Focus on your breath, observe thoughts without judgment, and return to the present moment. This cultivates self-awareness and a centered mindset.

b. Digital Detox: Take regular breaks from technology and create tech-free zones. Disconnecting allows space for stillness and reconnection with the world around you.

c. Nature Immersion: Spend time in nature, whether walking in a park or sitting in peaceful surroundings. Nature calms the mind, fostering stillness and providing a fresh perspective.

Conclusion:

In a fast-paced world, embracing stillness is vital for inner peace and experiencing flow. By incorporating stillness into our lives, we reduce stress, enhance focus, and nurture tranquility. Embrace the power of stillness, embark on a journey of self-discovery, and witness its transformative impact on overall well-being.

Remember, cultivating stillness is a personal journey that requires patience and consistency. Start small, integrate stillness into your routine, and observe the positive effects. Embrace stillness, unlock inner peace, and discover flow amidst the busyness.

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why less is more

According to the theory of Yin and Yang, when you lost something you also gain something, when you gain something you lost something too.

photo by Alex on Unsplash

Once upon a time, there was a rich guy who had a large business and a lot of property. He worried about if his accountant had made mistakes, so even though he was old, he still kept checking the accounts by himself every night. Right next to the wall of his house, there was a poor family. The poor couple worked from dawn to dusk for making tofu for a living. Although life seemed tough to them, the poor couple talked a lot, they made jokes, they laughed and sang every day. Every night, when the poor couple was happy to go to bed, next door the rich man was still diligent for checking his accounts, no matter how exhausted he was.

One night, the rich guy’s wife said: “We are always busy at night for counting money, that’s so boring. Look at the neighbor, their life is tough, but they seem much happier than us.”The rich guy said: “they will stop laughing and singing tomorrow.” then he grabbed a gold ingot and walked out, then threw it to the poor couple’s yard. The poor couple was joking and giggling inside, suddenly they heard “bang”, something almost hit their door. They took the lantern and went out to check.

photo by Vladimir Fedotov on Unsplash

Under the lantern, there was A gold ingot on the ground, they almost stopped breathing, they were so confused, so nervous, so surprised…They picked it up quietly and went inside. They thought it draped from the sky, it’s got to be a gift from God, they can’t let other people know about it, so they hid it under the pillow, but they thought it wasn’t secure, then they hid it in the rice tank, still thought it wasn’t secure. They spent all night thinking and try where to hide it better, but nowhere seemed safe enough, of course, they did not make any tofu that night.

The second day, they started discussing their new future, they wanted to stop making tofu, buy a bigger property, but they were also worried if people noticed that they got money so fast, people may think it was stolen. If nothing will be changed in their life, then what is the reason for “god” giving this gold ingot . . . they were thinking a lot, they got so confused, they stopped joking, laughing and singing, they kept thinking and thinking over and over again, but, they couldn’t find any perfect solutions with the gold ingot.

The third day, the rich guy said to the wife: “see? no singing no joking and no laughing from the neighbor, right?”

background photo by Scott Webb on Unsplash

When we have less stuff, the things we only have will be treasured and valuable. When we have more stuff we never feel enough, then we get confused about what we truly need.

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The Wisdom Of Silence

picture is from Unsplash

A nomad walked into the temple, he saw Bodhisattva was sitting on the lotus platform for worship, he was very envious.

He asked: “Can I change to your position”?

Bodhisattva answered: “Only if you can keep silent, no matter what you see or hear”.

Then the nomad sat on the lotus platform. Things were not as lovely as he thought. There were messy and noisy all day long, so many prayers and wishes. He struggled to keep the promise to Bodhisattva.

One day, a rich man came in, he said: “Bodhisattva，please give me virtue”.He knelt and got up, his wallet dropped on the floor, but he didn’t know. The nomad who was being “Bodhisattva” just wanted to tell the rich man about that, then he reminded himself of real Bodhisattva’s words. So he kept his mouth shut.

Then, a poor man came in. He said: “Bodhisattva, please let me get some money, my family is dying, We need some cash to see a doctor”.He knelt and got up, he suddenly found the wallet on the floor, he was so happy, he thought it was the manifestation from Bodhisattva. He took the wallet and walked away.

The nomad wanted to tell the poor man it is nothing about Bodhisattva’s manifestation, it is just because a rich man dropped by accident.

In the meantime, a fisherman came in. He asked Bodhisattva to give pleasant weather to keep him safe during fishing. Still, the same as others，knelt and got up. When he was just about to leave, the rich man came back in a hurry and stopped him, the rich man thought the fisherman must be the one who picked up his wallet. Of course, the fisherman had no idea about it, Seeing they spent the time discussing the problem, the nomad could not bear the mess anymore, he said: “stop”! , then he told them the truth about the wallet. 

They found the poor man at the gate of the temple, he hadn’t left yet. So, money was back to the rich man, things cleared, and the fisherman was free to go back to fish.

This mess seemed to be handled well by the nomad, but Bodhisattva said: “just go back to your life, you thought it was impartial that you opened your mouth to tell them the truth, but nobody got the things they wished. If you have kept silent as you promised, the rich man could have got his virtue by his money helping others, the poor man would have saved family’s life and if things were not cleared soon by your mouth, the fisherman could have stuck in the temple more to avoid the bad weather, then he wouldn’t have died.

The nomad was silent then walked out of the temple . . .

quote’s background picture is from Unsplash

Everything happens for a reason, they are under the best arrangements.  Things happen when it meant to happen.Sometimes, all answers can be found in silence.

Humans learn to speak in two years, but take the rest of life to learn when to keep silent.

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The Importance of Patience in Achieving Success

Jack was a farmer living in a small village. He had a small plot of land where he grew crops to feed his family and sell at the local market. One day, Jack decided that he wanted to expand his farm and grow more crops. He went to the market to buy more seeds and found a seller who had the seeds he needed. However, the seller told him that the seeds took six months to grow and produce a harvest.

Impatient, Jack decided to buy seeds from another seller who promised a faster turnaround time. He planted the seeds eagerly and waited for them to grow. After a few weeks, the plants withered and died. Jack realized that he had made a mistake and went back to the first seller to buy the seeds he needed. He understood that he would have to be patient and wait for the harvest.

Over the next six months, Jack tended to his crops carefully, watering them and ensuring that they had enough nutrients. He was patient and did not give up, even when the weather was bad or when the plants seemed to be growing slowly. Finally, after six months, the crops were ready to harvest. Jack was thrilled to see the bountiful harvest and realized that his patience had paid off. He sold the crops at a good price and made a profit, which he used to expand his farm further.

Jack’s experience taught him that patience is an important virtue, especially when it comes to agriculture. Rushing things could lead to mistakes and failure while being patient could result in a bountiful harvest. He learned to trust the process and not to give up even when things seemed tough.

In conclusion, Jack’s story teaches us that patience is a valuable virtue that can lead to success and fulfillment. It reminds us that sometimes, we need to be patient and trust the process to achieve our goals. By cultivating patience in our lives, we can overcome obstacles, achieve our goals, and live a fulfilling life.

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Why Being Positive Is Important

Positivity is a powerful force that can improve our lives in countless ways. A positive mindset can help us become more productive, successful, and fulfilled. we will explore why we need to be positive and how we can cultivate positivity.

Firstly, being positive helps us maintain good mental health. Positive thinking can lead to a more optimistic outlook on life, which helps us cope with stress and adversity. Negative thoughts, on the other hand, can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression. By focusing on positivity, we can build resilience and a more positive attitude.

Secondly, a positive attitude can improve our physical health. When we’re positive, our bodies release endorphins, which reduce stress levels and boost our immune system. In contrast, negative thoughts can increase stress hormone levels, which can have harmful effects on our physical health. Therefore, positivity not only makes us feel better mentally but also helps us maintain good physical health.

Thirdly, positivity can have a significant impact on our relationships. When we’re positive, we tend to be more approachable, and people are more likely to want to be around us. A positive attitude can also help us communicate more effectively with others and resolve conflicts more efficiently. By being positive, we can build stronger and more meaningful relationships

Lastly, it’s essential to surround ourselves with positive people. Spending time with positive and uplifting people can help us adopt their positive mindsets and attitudes. Conversely, spending time with negative people can bring us down and make it harder to maintain a positive mindset.

To cultivate positivity, we can practice gratitude by focusing on the things we’re grateful for, shifting our attention away from negative thoughts and toward the positive things in our lives. We can also engage in activities that make us happy, such as spending time with loved ones, exercising, or pursuing hobbies we enjoy.

Another way to cultivate positivity is to reframe negative thoughts. Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects of a situation, we can try to find the positive aspects and focus on them. For example, if we fail at something, we can focus on what we learned from the experience and how we can improve in the future.

In conclusion, being positive is not just a way of thinking; it’s a way of living that can significantly impact our lives. By focusing on positivity, we can improve our mental and physical health, build stronger relationships, and achieve our goals. By practicing gratitude, reframing negative thoughts, and surrounding ourselves with positive people, we can cultivate a positive mindset and live a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Be Faithful In A Relationship

Once upon a time, there was a man named John who was married to a woman named Mary. John and Mary had been together for many years and had built a happy life together. They had a beautiful home, successful careers, and a loving family. However, despite all of this, John began to feel restless and started to have thoughts of cheating on Mary.

At first, John tried to push these thoughts aside and ignore them. But as time went on, the temptation grew stronger and he found himself starting to act on his desires. He began going out with other women, lying to Mary about where he was going and who he was with. Eventually, Mary found out about John’s infidelity and was devastated.

The revelation of John’s affair tore their marriage apart. Mary felt betrayed and hurt, unable to trust her husband again. John realized too late that his actions had consequences, and that his momentary pleasure was not worth losing the person he loved most in the world.

In the end, John and Mary were able to work through their issues and rebuild their relationship, but it was not easy. John had to work hard to regain Mary’s trust and prove that he was committed to their marriage. Through this experience, John learned that being faithful to the person you love is incredibly important. Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship, and once it is broken, it can be very difficult to repair.

So, the story of John and Mary serves as a reminder that we need to be faithful in our relationships, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is essential for building a strong and healthy partnership.

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Why Trivial Things Are Important

The Zen master had a student who didn’t care about trivial things in life.

One day the master asked the student: Heavy rain or light rain, which one tends to wet people’s clothes? The student answered: of course the heavy rain. But the master said: The truth is the light rain get us wet easier The student asked: Heavy rain comes with a big amount of water, light rain barely has water, how light rain is the one that gets us wet easier?The master answered: because when heavy rain is dropping everyone knows, so who has the umbrella will put it on, and who doesn’t have any rain gear will go find a roof to avoid getting wet. But the light rain is hard to feel, or people feel ok with it, they don’t think this tiny water can get them wet ,but as time goes by, they will be wet without noticing.

Our speech and behavior, such as an expression or an action are like the drizzle. They look small, but if we don’t control them, without alertness and attention, they will hurt other people easily.

background by Anant Jain on Unsplash
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Why We Need To Be Satisfied

photo by Chris MonkII@cr.mok on Unsplash

There was a beggar walking down the street dejectedly. His clothes were so worn that they barely covered his body. His face looked like he has not eaten a full meal in a long time. He was mumbling: why am I so poor? If I can eat a full meal that would be great! If Bodhisattva is supposed to protect people, why don’t you take care of me?”

At this moment, Bodhisattva suddenly appeared in front of him. The beggar rubbed his eyes and recognized that he was Bodhisattva, he knelt on the ground and begged: Dear Bodhisattva! Help me! I’m poor, I have nothing….”

Bodhisattva asked: “ Tell me, what do you want most?”
The beggar already had the wish in mind, he just wanted a full meal, but he suddenly changed his mind, because Bodhisattva was really there with him, he didn’t want to waste the chance, he thought Bodhisattva ccould give him much more than just a meal. So the beggar answered: “ I want gold!
Bodhisattva said: “ok, now take off your clothes and use them to catch the gold, but don’t catch too much, it will rip your clothes and fall, then they will turn to stones. they are only gold when you catch and wrap them in your clothes.”

The beggar was so excited, there was gold dropping like a shower. The beggar caught alot in his clothes and didn’t want to stop. Bodhisattva said: “Be careful, your clothes are almost ripped. ”

The beggar didn’t care about anything Bodhisattva said, he shouted : “more! drop more!”

Suddenly his clothes cracked a big hole and all the gold inside dropped on the ground as tiny pieces of rock.