Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the entire world, and has been around since 6th century BC. There is no doubt that you have seen the statues of chubby-bellied Buddha. They are everywhere, from cheap shopping mall gift stores to sacred temples, and many people have Buddha statues in their homes, “for good luck.” But is that what Buddha is all about? And just what is Buddhism, anyway? It’s likely that there is much you don’t know about Buddhism, and that much of what you do think you know is an inaccurate spin based on Westernized ideals. Here are five things you didn’t know about Buddhism:
Meditation is one of the most commonly used forms of natural stress relief. The process of emptying your mind and simply focusing on your breathing can can help you rationalize whether or not the stress is justified. In other words, it can open your mind to how little things don’t have to affect you so negatively. If you’ve never tried meditating, the following are just a few of the basics to help get you started. Below you’ll find information on the benefits of meditation, different types and techniques you can try to make your experience more beneficial.
The Benefits of Meditation
Meditation has a number of great health benefits. Not only can meditation help lower your blood pressure and heart rate, but it can also enhance your immune system and reduce PMS symptoms. Of course, health isn’t the only beneficial reason to use meditation. Meditation is also used for psychological and spiritual reasons. Continue reading »
Philosophy is a complex subject. As a matter of fact, even those who are well-acquainted with philosophy can sometimes be hard-pressed to articulate an exact way of defining philosophy. Perhaps the broadest and most general way to describe philosophy would be to say that it is the art of thinking. Of course, there is much more to thinking and thought than can be described in only one book, and those new to philosophy may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of philosophy texts available. If you are interested in learning about philosophy and wondering where to begin, then this list of five awesome books about philosophy for beginners should get you on the right track.
The Beginner’s History of Philosophy by Herbert Ernest Cushman. This book starts at the birth of philosophy and takes the reader through all of the three major periods of philosophy: ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, and modern philosophy. It’s a great starting point for understanding how the collective mindset of man has changed over the ages, and how deeply philosophy is ingrained in culture and society.
A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell. As the title suggests, this book provides a basic overview of Western philosophy’s growth and evolution over history. It contains a thorough analysis of must-know Western philosophical views, such as those of Kant, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Dewey and Nietzsche. Russell was an extremely educated man, with a well-rounded knowledge of everything related to philosophy, and his writing is clear, easy to follow, and never obscure. Continue reading »
Many people who have heard of modern philosophical movements like “The Secret” scoff at the idea that just changing your thinking can change your whole life. What they don’t understand is that the way you think DOES affect your life journey, and in a major way. It’s not a matter of just magically making things happen because you think and believe them to be true; rather, it’s a matter of using your thinking to CREATE positive changes and accomplish the things that are most important to you. How does this work? Here is a guide to changing your mindset to achieve success.
Block out societal pressures. This doesn’t mean you have to go live in a cave somewhere. However, you must learn to focus in on what your inner voice is telling you, and discard societal pressures to live up to material definitions of what is expected of you. YOU know best what is best for you, and you are not a cookie-cutter creation. You are an individual with unique strengths, talents, and potential. Discover them by listening to YOU.
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