Tag: wisdom

Keeping Our Minds Supple

by 8hummingbirdway

I’m posting this message from a daily inspiration email I receive because it aligns with my heart and soul.

(See below to explore or subscribe to DailyOM Inspiration.)

Being open-minded means that we are willing to question everything, including those things we take for granted.

A lot of people feel threatened when they are questioned about their cherished beliefs or their perception of reality. Yet questioning is what keeps our minds supple and strong. Simply settling on one way of seeing things and refusing to be open to other possibilities makes the mind rigid and generally creates a restrictive and uncomfortable atmosphere. We all know someone who refuses to budge on one or more issues, and we may have our own sacred cows that could use a little prodding. Being open-minded means that we are willing to question everything, including those things we take for granted.

A willingness to question everything, even things we are sure we are right about, can shake us out of complacency and reinvigorate our minds, opening us up to understanding people and perspectives that were once alien to us. This alone is a good reason to remain inquisitive, no matter how much experience we have or how old we get. In the Zen tradition, this willingness to question is known as beginner’s mind, and it has a way of generating possibilities we couldn’t have seen from the point of view of knowing something with certainty. The willingness to question everything doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t believe in anything at all, and it doesn’t mean we have to question every single thing in the world every minute of the day. It just means that we are humble enough to acknowledge how little we actually know about the mysterious universe we call home.

Nearly every revolutionary change in the history of human progress came about because someone questioned some time-honored belief or tradition, and in doing so, it revealed a new truth, a new way of doing things, or a new standard for ethical and moral behavior. A commitment to staying open and inquisitive in our own individual lives can lead us to new personal revolutions and truths — truths that we will hopefully, for the sake of our growth, remain open to questioning.

I hope to keep my mind supple and to be open to questioning and changing my beliefs and perspectives. I have recently experienced a fair amount of “rewiring” regarding relationships, the nature of love, the nature of reality, and more. I find I sometimes have to be figuratively “hit over the head” by reality multiple times to budge about some things I think I know.

Its my plan to remain open to new perspectives and information – not always easy!

DailyOM Inspiration website https://www.dailyom.com/inspiration/

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Should Public School Offer More?

by 8hummingbirdway

The dream I had recently about the special course for 10 year old girls has brought me to thinking about what might be lacking in our existing education system. There is SO much in life that I was unequipped to navigate with grace or wisdom when I left home.

Ideally, all the life skills we need would be learned in the home, but who tells their children about the demands and expectations of parenthood – the challenges, disciplinary options, the importance of honoring the child, of listening to them? Some of these things are taught by example. But this depends on the family. Even the specific stages that children go through would be extremely helpful for future parents to understand.

What other things are important for young adults to know?

How about going on mock interviews, learning to present themselves well, and be educated about workplace expectations and dynamics? (Be on time, be presentable, use good manners, clean up after yourself.)

Should children be taught in school about what it takes to live in partnership? Some of some basics about living with one’s chosen partner – blessings, pitfalls and all? How to communicate and navigate interpersonal challenges. (Treat your partner with kindness and carry your own weight.)

Not specific religious teachings, but …something of ethics, honesty, integrity and the skills of personal sacrifice. What it means to be the best kind of human, how to walk in personal balance, and what it means to honor others.

What if young adults were provided techniques that assist one to find inner peace – or even taught the concept of inner peace.

How fruitful would it be to have class discussions about the elements of a rewarding life – and versions of what that might be?

The differences between males and females were very confusing to me for many years. Should all children learn about the differences between the male and female of our species?

What kind of a world would we be creating if we provided this kind of knowledge in a neutral and informational way, facilitating open discussion?

I understand parents wanting to teach their own children values and I totally support that. I homeschooled my younger children for 4 years and I know the commitment, devotion, time and love that goes into it, as well as the valuable family time gained.

Interest, involvement and teachings from one’s parents is a blessing

However, in many families, public school is responsible for providing knowledge. If parents can’t read, their children are taught to read in school. If parents are uncomfortable with numbers, their children gain at least a rudimentary knowledge of the basics in school. What other information and training should be provided for a productive and satisfying life?

I consider it of a matter of great importance what children are taught. They will be the parents and neighbors and citizens and leaders of our future. They will create a future that is beyond what we can imagine. I believe we should give them all the tools we can.

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Personal Expansion and Movement

by 8hummingbirdway

I know the reason things have improved in my relationship with my son. It’s because I recognized, trusted, and acted on the guidance that showed up for me.

It was initially the love from another mother/child bond that I observed – and actually felt – that reminded me I need to support my son, my adult child.

I then shared that experience and my personal challenges/feelings with a particular friend and she had another offering for me. She suggested that I write a few sentences daily – bringing my positive relationship with my son forth …by envisioning and expressing it as an extension of my support for him. My task was to feel the  bond, the love – as I wrote a few sentences – and finding deep gratitude for the change before it even occurred.

The warm and connected response from my son was discernible almost immediately.

He called more often. 

There was ease between us.

The synchronicity of this physical dimension is real.

The answers show up for all of us.

We CAN open ourselves to the information around us – and respond as guided.

Even if it feels strange. Even if we carry doubt or uncertainty.

This is how I’ve come to live my life, to simply accept and follow the wisdom that is evident in each moment of need or uncertainty. And to give thanks.

I feel a little like a crazy person writing this, but my life truly unfolds in this way. Infinitely more so if I allow the available wisdom to guide me.

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Kiss the Moment

by 8hummingbirdway

A friend sent me a post from Frank Ostaseski which brought forth delight. He writes about how he introduced the topic of mindfulness to several classes of 8th graders in a Catholic school. The title of his post is “Kiss the Moment” and here is an excerpt …

“Today, I would like to teach you how to kiss really well.” The normally apathetic eighth-graders lifted their heads and their eyes got wide as saucers. The teacher in the back of the room looked a bit alarmed and began to clear his throat to get my attention.

I continued, “When you’re kissing somebody you want to be there for the experience. You don’t want the other person looking out the window. You don’t want to be checking your phone for texts.”

“A kiss is an intimate act. At its best, it engages all of your senses. You want to be able to see, hear, smell, taste and touch in ways that are vivid, fresh and alive. Ideally you want to feel your heart fully and observe your mind with curiosity. It’s unlikely you will be able to open to these experiences if you haven’t cultivated the habit of attention. We have to learn to kiss the moment.”

For continued delight, read the entire post at the link below:

Frank Ostaseski’s primary mission is related to death and dying. If you seek support and wisdom in this realm, you may want to review some of his other writings through this link as well.

Frank Ostaseski

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Sri Pune speaks

by 8hummingbirdway

A friend of mine has begun to channel. She is a soft spoken and humble woman. Her name is Norlen. Five frequencies named Sri Pune (pronounced “Shree Punay”) offer messages of love and wisdom daily. Here is a message from August 8, 2023:

Yellow Light Frequency

There is a development in the structure of light at this time. This development delivers a frequency which contributes to humanity’s rays of light consciousness.  We seek to develop these rays of frequency in order to connect the heart to the mind. Heart consciousness must prevail.

There is a wonderful establishment of light. It is called the embellishment of the yellow structure of humanity. This structure is a frequency of golden yellow light. This golden yellow light brings rays of sunlight which absorbs into the body. This frequency establishes a foundation for the body to adjust to the new frequencies. We would like to establish the connection with the yellow frequencies of light. There exists a level of discernment which plays upon the humanity’s consciousness at this time. Humanity is at the beginning levels of acceptance of reality as it exists now. This present moment returns to our consciousness. We usher in the consciousness of the present moment. Reality consists of 7 thought processes. These 7 thought processes contains information for the evolvement of the soul. Returning to the beginning. What is the beginning of time? Time is an illusion. Time is a thought. Where is the beginning of thought? Where is the beginning of thought when there is only this present moment? This is the conundrum. How can we explain the beginning of thought when there is no beginning and there is no end? We have our work cut out for us today. Expand on the idea that the present moment contains many layers. These layers wrap around each other. This connection with each other relays information consistently with each other. This allows each present moment to gather information from the past and the future. How then can there be a beginning? We would like to explain that the beginning is a representation of the past. This past representation allows for a beginning place in a NOW moment. We allow the circumstances of enlightenment to take place at this time of the NOW moment. As the NOW moment is enlightenment. We would like to explain the circumstances of reality and how it exists on this plane of illusionment. There is a separation from humanity’s consciousness; there is a division of the mind and the heart. The mind and the heart must collaborate. When the heart is disconnected from the mind, illusion results. In order to reconnect the mind to the heart. The mind must relinquish control to the heart. The heart knows all truth. Allow the heart to rule.

This transcription is from before Norlen was videoing the sessions.

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