I have received two blogging nominations for awards this week from two of my fellow bloggers and friends Hari at http://hariqhuang.wordpress.com and Michelle at http://lifeasagarden.wordpress.com . Please check out their blogs because they are both so full of inspiring, wonderful information and energy 🙂
I am as usual very humbled by their kind thoughts and nominations and so appreciative of their support of my blog, however I will accept their nominations in the true spirit they were bestowed on me but gracefully decline to adhere to the nomination process due to the time it takes to complete.
Thank you dear friends, from the bottom of my heart.
The other day I was talking to a business friend about the seeming rise in bullying in the workplace. “Well”, he replied, “it is a dog eat dog environment this business world we are in.” I was quite amused at the expression. Not that I had not heard it before but rather it had taken on new dimension for me and also my surprise that it was somewhat accepted in the workplace as normal everyday practice.
It may well be a dog-eat-dog world but do we have to live like dogs? When we were born we were given the gift of humanity yet somehow we seem hell bent in reversing to animal instincts. It only takes one of us to reclaim our humanity with our potential for a Higher Mind then the dog will eat out of the hand that feeds it and may even recognize its true self in the reflection.
Recently, we were walking close to our home when we came across two dogs viciously fighting and drawing blood one from the other. “Quick” called my wife. “give me the biscuits from the shopping bag Let’s feed them” as she rushed towards them with hands outstretched offering them the biscuits. “This is like dharma food for them”, she smiled. The food of the Bodhi Mind is the only nutrient that can bring us back to humanity.
Mahatma Gandhi said: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But if we live like this we will be a world full of blind and toothless people.” Dog eat dog. If we behave like this we will all eventually become the way we behave – dogs.
Several centuries ago, seven monks were in a cave in a jungle somewhere in Asia, meditating on unconditional love. There was the head monk, his brother and his best friend. The fourth was the head monk’s enemy: they just could not get a long. The fifth monk in the group was a very old monk, so advanced in years that he was expected to die at any time. The sixth monk was sick – so ill in fact that he too could die at any time. And the last monk, the seventh, was the useless monk. He always snored when he was supposed to be meditating; he couldn’t remember his chanting, and if he did he would chant off-key. He couldn’t even keep his robes on properly. But the others tolerated him and thanked him for teaching them patience.
One day a gang of bandits discovered the cave. It was so remote, so well hidden, that they wanted to take it over as their own base, so they decided to kill all the monks. The head monk, fortunately, was a very persuasive speaker. He managed – don’t ask me how – to persuade the gang of bandits to let all the monks go, except one, who would be killed as a warning to the other monks not to let anyone know the location of the cave. That was the best the head monk could do.
The head monk was left alone for a few minutes to make the awful decision of who should be sacrificed so that the others could go free.
When I tell this story in public, I pause here to ask my audience, “Well, who do you think the head monk chose?” It stops some of my audience from going to sleep during my talk, and it wakes up the others who are already asleep. I remind them that there was the head monk, the brother, the best friends, the enemy, the old monk and the sick monk (both close to death), and useless monk. Who do you think he chose?
Some then suggest the enemy….. “No”, I say.
“His brother?”
…….”Wrong.”
The useless monk always gets a mention – how uncharitable we are! Once I have had my bit of fun, I reveal the answer: ……The head monk was unable to choose.
His love for his brother was exactly the same, no more and no less, than his love for his best friend – which was exactly the same as his love for the enemy, for the old monk, the sick monk, and even for the dear old useless monk. He had perfected the meaning of those words: the door of my heart will always be open to you, whatever you do, whoever you are.
The door of the head monk’s heart was wide open to all, with unconditional, non-discriminating, free-flowing love. And most poignantly, his love for others was equal to his love for himself. The door of his heart was open to himself as well. That’s why he couldn’t choose between himself and others.
I remind any Christians in my audience that their books say to “love thy neighbour as thy self”. Not more than yourself and not less than yourself, but equal to yourself. It means to regard others as one would regard oneself, and oneself as one regards others.
Why is it that most in my audience thought that the head monk would choose himself to die? Why is it, in our culture, that we are always sacrificing ourselves for others and this is held to be good? Why is it that we are more demanding, critical and punishing of ourselves than of anyone else? It is for one and the same reason: we have not yet learned how to love ourselves. If you find it difficult to say to another “the door of my heart is open to you, whatever you do”, then that difficulty is trifling compared with the difficulty you will face in saying to yourself, “Me. The one I’ve been so close to for as long as I can remember. Myself. The door of my heart is open to me as well. All of me no matter what I have done. Come in.”
That’s what I mean by loving ourselves: it’s called forgiveness. It is stepping free from the prison of guilt; it is being at peace with oneself. And if you do find the courage to say those words to yourself, honestly, in the privacy of your inner world, then you will rise up, not down, to meet sublime love. One day, we all have to say to ourselves those words, or ones similar, with honesty, not playing games. When we do, it is as if a part of ourselves that had been rejected, living outside in the cold for so long, has now come home, we feel unified, whole, and free to be happy. Only when we love ourselves in such a way can we know what it means to really love another, no more and no less.
And please remember you do not have to be perfect, without fault, to give yourself such love. If you wait for perfection, it never arrives. We must open the door of our heart to ourselves, whatever we have done. Once inside, then we are perfect.
People often ask me what happened to those seven monks when the head monk told the bandits that he was unable to choose.
The story, as I heard it many years ago, didn’t say: it stopped where I have finished. But I know what happened next; I figured out what must have ensued. When the head monk explained to the bandits why he couldn’t choose between himself and another, and described the meaning of love and forgiveness as I have just done for you, then all the bandits were so impressed and inspired that not only did they let the monks live, but they became monks themselves…Well, that’s my ending anyway 🙂
If only I could make a living out of Buddhism, or do I already?
When the Buddha walked the earth many asked him if he were a god. “No”, he replied. “Are you a spirit?” “No”, he replied. “I am Awakened.” Being awakened is the opposite of being asleep. When we are asleep we are in the world of dream and nightmare. One is strange and the other is frightening. Neither of which are real. That is the life that most live on a daily basis. It is a strange world because it rarely conforms to our hopes and desires. Frightening because we are living in fear of violence and losing what “happiness” we think we have. This is a very unsatisfactory way of living and creates huge problems for society. Depression is now one of the world’s major illnesses.
When we are awake we are alive. We are able to see life as a gift. Everyone likes a gift. I have watched many children at Christmas time receive gifts from their parents or relatives with huge smiles on their faces and lots of laughter and joy. Even when we try to be subdued with a:”Oh, really, you shouldn’t have done that” we nonetheless receive the gift with a smile on our face.
Rarely do we see life as a gift. We most often see it as a struggle and as a threat. We fight it – sometimes literally with great violence. We do not see it as a gift because we are asleep. When we are awake we are alive. When we live out our life as a gift to be given we are truly alive and living life to the fullest. That is how life is meant to be lived.
So many people are trying to make a living desiring to earn more and more in the fear that life will not have enough for them. They do not know the secret to true abundance. Abundance comes from our gift. This is the gift of life which is within each and everyone of us. When we find it we become livened and awake. When we find it the universe opens itself us to us.
The gift is within each of us. There is no need to criticize others for your unhappiness or lack of abundance when you already have it within you. It is only ignorance and ego that prevents you from discovering it as it hides under layers of masks.
Our Buddhist practice teaches us how to remove the masks of illusion. It teaches us to take responsibility for our own lives with a new set of skills for skillful living. Many think Buddhism is a religion. It is not. It is a life education that helps us up-skill to live effectively. When we sincerely apply the teaching methods we begin to see results in our life. This Cause and Effect. So why not change career path and make a new living?
The Buddha gave us a valuable teaching to dismantle the masks, wake up out of our sleep and live life. We can indeed make a wonderful living out of Buddhism.
This is a really sad video, brought tears to my eyes within seconds but the message is very strong and very clear and this act was from the heart and brought pure joy to all 🙂
Many people coming to test the waters of Buddhism for the first time often wonder where to start. There are literally hundreds of sutras with each school of Buddhism focusing on specific sutras that are at their foundation.
It is clear that Buddhism is about the issue of suffering and how to overcome it. Suffering takes on many forms from severe pain and illness and death to the petty annoyances that plague us on almost a daily basis. Buddhism teaches us to live a supremely happy and value centred life with the means to end the cycle of birth and death which is suffering.
The sutra of the Eight Awakenings is a very short sutra. In fact many Chinese monks used to learn this one by heart not only because of its brevity but also because it contained within it the essential of Buddhism.
I often call it the Mediators’ Sutra as it is a foundation sutra for all meditation work. It is well worth contemplating these Eight Awakenings carefully examining them in the light of your own life. I have included them here in their entirety.
Buddhist Disciples! At all times, day and night, sincerely recite and bear in mind these eight truths that cause great people to awaken.
The First Awakening:
The world is impermanent. Countries are perilous and fragile. The body is a source of pain, ultimately empty. The five skandhas are not the true self. Life and Death is nothing but a series of transformations—hallucinatory, unreal, uncontrollable. The intellect is a wellspring of turpitude, the body a breeding ground of offenses. Investigate and contemplate these truths. Gradually break free of death and rebirth.
The Second Awakening:
Too much desire brings pain. Death and rebirth are wearisome ordeals, originating from our thoughts of greed and lust. By lessening desires we can realize absolute truth and enjoy peace, freedom, and health in body and mind.
The Third Awakening:
Our minds are never satisfied or content with just enough. The more we obtain, the more we want. Thus we create offenses and perform evil deeds. Bodhisattvas don’t wish to make these mistakes. Instead, they choose to be content. They nurture the Way, living a quiet life in humble surroundings —their sole occupation, cultivating wisdom.
The Fourth Awakening:
Idleness and self-indulgence are the downfall of people. With unflagging vigor, great people break through their afflictions and baseness. They vanquish and defeat the four kinds of demons, and escape from the prison of the five skandhas.
The Fifth Awakening:
Stupidity and ignorance are the cause of death and rebirth. Bodhisattvas apply themselves and deeply appreciate study and erudition, constantly striving to expand their wisdom and refine their eloquence. Nothing brings them greater joy than teaching and transforming living beings.
The Sixth Awakening:
Suffering in poverty breeds deep resentment. Wealth unfairly distributed creates ill-will and conflict among people. Thus, Bodhisattvas practice giving. They treat friend and foe alike. They do not harbor grudges or despise amoral people.
The Seventh Awakening:
The five desires are a source of offenses and grief. Truly great people, laity included, are not blighted by worldly pleasures. Instead, they aspire to don the three-piece precept robe and the blessing bowl of monastic life. Their ultimate ambition is to leave the home life and to cultivate the Path with impeccable purity. Their virtuous qualities are lofty and sublime; their attitude towards all creatures, kind and compassionate.
The Eighth Awakening:
Like a blazing inferno, birth and death are plagued with suffering and affliction. Therefore, great people resolve to cultivate the Great Vehicle, to rescue all beings, to endure hardship on behalf of others, and to lead everyone to ultimate happiness.
These are the Eight Truths that all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and great people awaken to. Once awakened, they even more energetically continue to cultivate the Path. Steeping themselves in kindness and compassion, they grow in wisdom. They sail the Dharma ship across to Nirvana’s shore, and then return on the sea of birth and death to rescue living beings. They use these Eight Truths to show the proper course for living beings, causing them to recognize the anguish of birth and death. They inspire all to forsake the five desires, and to cultivate their minds in the manner of Sages.
If Buddhist disciples recite this Sutra on the Eight Awakenings, and constantly ponder its meaning, they will certainly eradicate boundless offenses, advance towards Bodhi, and will quickly realize Proper Enlightenment. They will always be free of birth and death, and will abide in eternal bliss.
Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva is a central figure in Chinese Mahayana Buddhism. Her statue often adorns homes and businesses both of Buddhists, Taoists and ordinary folk often in the hope that lighting incense to her and making prostrations will prompt her to grant the requests and prayers of devotees. Her name in Chinese, Guan Shi Yin 觀世音 literally means the one who looks into the sounds of the cries of suffering. At first glance this seems to be grammatical incongruence as it implies a visual response to sound. One normally listens to sound, not look at it. The Chinese word 觀 guan, meaning to look around, look into, also implies a deep looking which examines all aspects of the object being observed. Here, I think, rests the key for us in our imitation of her qualities so often overlooked. It is the quality of deep and compassionate listening. When we listen deeply to another we enable a person to hear the murmur of their own soul and listen them into deeper healing. Herein lays the mystery of Guan Shi Yin.
Once a man came knocking at my door. He was eager to tell me all about his religion and why I should believe and have faith in it. I gently told him I was Buddhist. “So what does that mean exactly”, asked the man. “Tell me about this Buddhism. I mean for you to be saved. . . .” The man continued to passionately expound the benefits of his religion. This went on for some twenty minutes during which I listened carefully. As I was having to attend to other things I indicated that we needed to wind up the conversation. “Oh, but you didn’t tell me about your Buddhism” the man interjected. “I did” came my reply to a very puzzled look. “I listened.”
When we deeply listen to another we enter into their space and create a new space. It is a space of welcome and deep mindfulness to their very being. It is spiritual art and the chief tool for the peacemaker. When we do this we allow the other to place the colours of their words on a canvass so they can begin to see their inner world. If they do not like what they see they have the opportunity to change the story and see new colours, new shapes, new life. They become awakened to their story.
Today we have the opportunity to become the Boddhisattva Guan Shi Yin to others, to our children, to our loved ones, friends, the one we perceive as our enemy. When we deeply listen we plant the seeds of peace and open the way to healing and life.
Pressing the Reset Button. A beautifully written article from a dear blogging friend of mine Sue Dreamwalker.
I do hope you enjoy it as much as I?
Namaste
Mark
Most if not all of us have a TV set, and most people switch on the News.. My own home is no different, but one of the reasons I do not like watching the news is because 99% of the time it only reports Negative News items. These do not get shown once or twice throughout the day, but many times in one news programme as it repeats it over and over , ingraining in us those negative thoughts, which in turn affects our own vibration.
We all fall victim to the pressures our lifestyles demand, as we see the world under population pressures, economical collapse and we all know that our natural resources are running out.
On the surface it would seem the World is falling apart, as yet more troubles are reported in Egypt and yet more peace talks are on the agenda.. Wars and conflicts everywhere we turn. We hear all the time about natural disasters causing havoc, and we are all commenting upon our various weird weather changes as ever increasing storms ravage parts of the world bringing destruction and tragedy.
Are you depressed yet? Have you switched off already from listening to me go on and on??
That’s why I reach for the remote and press the Off button to news, Not that I am not insensitive to the plight of the world, but because I choose not to dwell in the negative flow which bombards our homes hourly as we absorb and listen to the ever constant flow of tales of woe. When I know many Positives in fact far more are happening everywhere in every moment..
Every period in history when you look back has allowed us to alter our ways and change.. Many periods saw civil wars, plagues, world wars, and natural disasters on a scale that altered the weather patterns that brought about mini ice-ages .. Because we have achieved heights in technology does not mean we are super human beings immune to changes . Our world and the Universe runs in cycles, its constantly changing and so are we…
We are now nearly towards another end of a cycle during which our planets and our Earth change position in space . The Moon for example in its last cycle drew ever closer in orbit around us. Changes are also taking place in relationship to the Sun, as science is intent on watching what happens as solar flares erupt . All of which are having effects upon our planet which will ultimately lead to our weather and effect how we grow our own food, as places become dryer and others become wetter.
It’s not by chance in my opinion that the monetary collapsing of systems is also under threat. It doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to understand that we cannot live on credit. And all these number crunching figures are generated by computer with no real monetary value behind them.. So would it really make a difference if the world debt slate was wiped clean? One has to ask oneself just where and who are reaping in the rewards of global finance, when countries and states collapse and go bankrupt.
We have based our modern day lives on competing with each other , Bigger Profits, Under cutting, We only think “ What’s in it for us”, “ What can we get out of it” We have to be Winners or Losers… But what happened to equality, or sharing? Why cannot the Haves give more to the have nots?
My feelings are that we are each of us through our various experiences being given opportunities to alter our set ways.
We can if we want, choose to Press the Reset Button of our lives
People are now seeing this way of living cannot carry on. People are standing up for the Freedom and rights.. Woman’s rights are at long last being addressed and exposed as the Feminine Energies are released again as more corruption and injustices are revealed.. The Male energies which have dominated are now fighting back for survival as the Feminine cycle is about to come into its own.
We are becoming more health conscious, people are beginning to adapt and alter their life styles instinctively wanting simpler lives as interest again is being shown in growing our own food. Even schools now are teaching infants and encouraging and embracing nature within their curriculum. We are at last beginning to see how important recycling is and conserving energy.
We each of us have an opportunity to look at our choices and ask ourselves some serious questions.
What effects are my choices having on the world?
I keep saying it, WE are not separate, thinking we are alone, what affects one, affects another.
We have to understand everything is connected to everything else. One TV programme I do like watching is BBC 2 ‘A Night with the Stars’ Back in one episode Physicist Brian Cox shows us a diamond and explained that when rubbed, it shifted the atoms within it into different energy levels. He said
“ Every Atom in the Universe shifts as the diamond heats up’ so in fact every time an atom’s energy level changes and that happens all the time. ALL the atoms in the Universe change energy levels.. We are all connected via the Universal Laws. Bringing home to us the law of Cause and Effect.
Interconnectivity Brian Cox.. Video just One and a Half minutes long folks!
What effect are our choices having, and how can we help heal the world?
Instead of those thoughts of “ What’s in it for me”, How about Resetting your thoughts to “ What can I contribute to it”. When we help someone else we help ourselves.
We all need to look at our life styles and we each have to take a deep look in the mirror.
Don’t wait for tomorrow or for someone else to change..
BE the Change
When we give out, so too do we receive.
The Indigenous Peoples have long known we are all one… They have long known how to balance within Nature. Now it’s time to once again Honour each other, We may not be able to change how another thinks or acts.. But it’s time to Honour ourselves and learn to Reset our own Lives to live less separately but more interconnectively as we bring our communities to be more caring and united in their common goals of sharing with each other to sustainable projects that help bring us together, not drive us apart.
If you can’t stand beside a friendless man
your meditation is nothing.
If you can’t listen to pain and terror then
your meditation is nothing.
If you can’t befriend the insane and share from their bowl
your meditation is nothing.
If you cannot take the gun gently from the hand of the murderer
and embrace him in his horror then your meditation is nothing.
If you cannot see the beauty and life in the one without limbs then
your meditation is nothing.
If you cannot sit beside the aged in their loneliness then
your meditation is nothing.
If you can’t embrace your own pain and shout “Yes!” to Life then
your meditation is nothing.
If you can surrender all that you are, all that you have,
if you can embrace life without wanting it or wanting to change it,
if you can hear the sounds of pain and joy and know they come from the same source,
if you can sit in the fire, rain, snow, sun and in surrender open your heart
to the purity of love then your meditation is the supreme gift of the Manu Pearl, the light of the Pure Land.
If you can meditate the Nothing knowing your meditation is nothing then
all serenity and bliss radiates like perfume from the Lotus.
Nothing and all are one in Joy.
I found this image really fascinating and it got me thinking about Karma again. We often forget the old saying ‘What goes around, comes around’ or ‘Karma’ as it is better known in the east. We carry on with our busy daily lives, constantly pushing forward; our days and nights tracked by the clock, no time to think, no time to eat, no time for exercise, no time for anyone or anything else except for our need to succeed.
We trudge along day in day out forgetting about others as we push headlong towards the life of greatness that we all believe we need. I’m sure you also see this going on either with yourself or by people around and close to you….
But for what?
What is important to you?… take a few moments to think what is really important to you and your life, is it achieving the highest grade possible at school or university, getting the perfect job,earning as much money as possible each month, having the biggest office, the biggest house, the fantastic car, affording to dine at the finest restaurants, buy the fanciest of clothes, take the perfect vacation…or is it your life…your health….your family…your loved ones…your friends…..?
When was the last time you actually did some good? when did you last volunteer your services for free, when did you last hold a child with physical or mental needs, go to a hospice and sit with the patients, knock on an elderly neighbours door and see if they need anything, give up your seat on a train or bus for someone in more need of it than you….
When was the last time you did some good?
Take a few moments to think about Karma, ‘What goes around, comes around’…..
Living your life to the full does not mean reaching the highest place in school or business, it is not measured in how much money you have in the bank or how many precious things you possess….Living your life to the full is also about giving, giving a few moments from your busy day to someone or something else in need.
Were in the year of our Lord 2013 (that’s 2,013 years since the death of Christ) a time in which all time relates, give or take a few years due to local cultures and religious beliefs such as the Mayan calendar and the Nongli Calendar etc..
and our world is still surrounded by War, Famine, Racial conflicts, Political Conflicts, Religious conflicts,territorial conflicts, extreme poverty, homelessness, Greed, Disease, Genocide, Environmental catastrophes one after another, pollution on land and sea, ego and money driven companies raping and pillaging what ever they can through their business ventures and driving down their costs through the exploitation of their employees and their suppliers which in turn puts many small companies out of business and places many poorly paid employees either out of work or on benefits which are then paid for by our taxation, which then in turn helps these huge corporations make even higher annual profits and allows their CEO’s and top executives to have even higher salaries, bonuses and gain even more power in this world!
Why oh why do we find it so hard to come together as human beings? We are after all; all connected, we are all related, we are brothers and sisters of this world, we have unfortunately just forgotten these facts! We are so caught up and too busy with our own lives, our own thoughts, our own desires and pushing forward for our own benefit that we forget that we are one and we were meant to work together for the greater good of all!
Together we can make a difference to our world, we can help raise awareness to the problems in our local area, to our local region, to our country and to other countries throughout the world. We can come together to form peace, we can come together to eradicate poverty and make sure everyone in this world has the basic necessities of life; safety, food and shelter, we can come together for the benefit of humanity and clean up our planet so we have a safe and healthy environment for future generations to survive and to live in…We can make a change! but in order to make this change we MUST come together, we must forget the past, we must transgress over politics and religions and come together as human beings. This transformation can start with one voice, one voice becomes two, two voices become three and so on and with compassion and love in our hearts we can make change.
The basic necessities of life being Safety, shelter and food should be easy enough to do, if we can come together and force the powers at be in each country to stop all their BS (Bull S**t), stop wasting our money on their own political and personal power games and on their mansions, multiple holiday homes, fancy cars and yachts and start paying back to humanity for all they have in their lives. If each of them gave only 1% of their annual income or accumulated wealth, we could radically change this world, we could end starvation and start to bring about real change.
I’m not an activist by any means, I am a really peaceful, spiritual person who dearly cares for this world and for all humanity. I would like to see change happening during my lifetime and really see the start of something special, the change towards compassionate living and love towards all our global brothers and sisters.
One day and one person at a time and we can change this world 🙂
At the start of each day after waking up I always look up at the sky from my bedroom window and give my silent thanks to the world for what I have in my life, I bless my family, friends, business and clients I then go through to my kitchen and make smoothies for my wife and I, I wonder through to my home office and check my emails whilst drinking my delicious and very healthy smoothie. After checking emails I then meditate for about 10 minutes, I concentrate on my breath, focus my mind and think of what are my most important tasks that need to be completed today, I also take time to think about what I did yesterday, what decisions I made, were they in my best interest, what good did I do for my family, my friends and my business and what good did I do for humanity at large, I.e did I smile at people on the street, did I give a helping hand to anyone, did i provide encouragement or counselling to anyone…Did I make a difference to anyone’s life!
At the end of my session this morning I thought…What if I was given Carte Blanche, What if I had the money and the power to make a change to this world…What would I do and Would I be Up to the Job?
I’m sure these very questions have popped up in your minds too, so what would you do and do you think you would be up for the job?
I would be interested in your thoughts and areas that you would target first.
Namaste _/\_
Do you, like me suffer from chronic back pain? Maybe its from a old sporting injury, work related injury from lifting incorrectly or from just sitting too long at your desk and using a computer?
Back pain is annoying, its painful, it comes at the perfect time to stop us enjoying our life’s and it can be very time consuming and expensive to manage and to treat. So, it’s about time we did something about it!
I’m probably one of the worst offenders, I spend far too much time each day; sitting at my desk and using my computer, which for the majority of the time is sitting at the wrong level (ergonomically) for me to sit in a healthy posture. I tend to look down at my screen instead of up, my fingers rarely leave the keyboard and as my typing skills are not as per the perfect typist (I.e using three or four fingers at most, instead of all 10) which leads to strains in my fingers and of course can lead to the potential of Carpal Tunnel in my wrists.
What is low back pain?
“Low back pain” which can be acute or chronic, is literally pain or discomfort of the lower lumbar region of the back. Acute back pain usually follows some kind of injury, often related to everyday activities such as housework, gardening, a sports-related injury or an automobile accident. Back pain that lasts for more than three months is classified as chronic.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are often described as muscle aches but can include shooting or stabbing pain, limited flexibility and range of motion, or an inability to stand straight.
What are the causes?
Most cases of low back pain are due to strain on the bones, muscles, and ligaments of the spine. In some cases, however, low back pain can be due to such serious conditions as cancer or structural problems of the spine, which can cause nerve damage. Occasionally, lower back pain is due to a “slipped disk” (also called a herniated disk), in which one of the disks of cartilage that separates the vertebrae in the spine bulges out of place and presses on nerves. Often, a disk “slips” as a result of twisting while lifting, but the cause may not be identifiable.
Simple preventive steps can help eliminate recurring back pain resulting from improper body mechanics or from other causes of back problems that don’t stem from injuries.
Exercises that tone the back and maintaining proper posture are especially helpful. In addition, anyone with a tendency to develop back pain should learn to lift objects properly:
• Bend your knees and squat to pick up an object
• Keep your back straight
• Hold the object close to your body
• Avoid twisting
Choosing ergonomic furniture and tools at home and at work can also help avoid strains on the back.
What is the conventional treatment?
Most acute back pain will resolve on its own within two weeks without medical intervention. Whether lower back pain is acute or chronic, most cases are initially treated with over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce discomfort and with anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation. Sometimes, prescription drugs may be recommended for pain relief and to allow quality sleep. Cold and hot compresses may help reduce pain and inflammation and allow greater mobility, although they have not been scientifically proven to quickly resolve low back injury. Bed rest is recommended for only 1-2 days at most, and patients are advised to resume their normal activities as soon as possible. Massage therapy can be very useful in cases of acute muscle spasm causing back pain and problems with flexibility. Exercise may be the best way to speed recovery and strengthen back and abdominal muscles. Physical therapy may be recommended for more severe strains. In the most serious cases that don’t respond to other forms of treatment, and that involve compromised structures in the spine, surgery may be recommended to relieve pain caused by back problems or serious musculoskeletal injuries.
• Practice a relaxation technique daily: Options include mindfulness meditation (proven to ease chronic back pain), breath work, progressive muscle relaxation and hypnotherapy.
• Try Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong, the stretches and slow movements can reduce muscle tension, strengthen the back and promote flexibility.
• Electrical stimulation: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) delivers low level electrical pulses to the lower back (you can get a portable device for home use). Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) works the same way but delivers the pulses via needles inserted into the back rather than electrodes used with TENS.
• Exercise: Both aerobic and strength training exercises can help. Aerobic exercise includes walking, swimming or cycling, all of which can help strengthen the back. Aerobic exercise also burns calories and helps you lose any excess weight that may contribute to your back problem. In addition, perform strength training exercises at least twice a week to tone and firm the abdominal, leg and buttock muscles that help to support the back. Seek out proper instruction before embarking on a strength training program; using either free weights or weight machines improperly can defeat the purpose. Make sure you do some stretching or yoga for flexibility.
• Chiropractic care may be of benefit in the treatment of back and neck pain. Many chiropractors use a kind of manipulation called “dynamic thrust”: a low speed, high force movement often accompanied by a popping or cracking sound. Others use a low-force, high-speed method, known as the Activator method (incorporating a tension spring and plunger tool) that may be a better choice for older patients who could be injured by dynamic thrust.
• Acupuncture. Studies indicate that acupuncture can help to relieve several kinds of pain, including low back pain.
I have personally been going through many weeks of intensive treatments for my chronic back pain, I have had scans and MRI’s, X-Rays and all the normal forms of medical diagnostics, and the consensus is I have a disk that likes to pop out from time to time, I guess to keep me mindful that it is still there and still important as a member of by spine ☺ When this disk pops out it usually manages to trap a nerve while its out of alignment from my other disk’s, this then causes shooting pains down my back and leg, often stopping my completely, immobilizing me and causing me severe pain.
I try not to agitate it, I take things as easy as possible, I don’t lift heavy objects, I always bend my knees and squat properly to lift anything even the lightest and easiest of objects, I exercise as often as my back allows, Qigong and Yoga are my personal favorite forms of exercise and I meditate and use my own forms of personal healing including self-hypnosis and visualization techniques.
I also have deep nerve massages twice per week followed by acupuncture with TENS then Cupping.
Cupping therapy is an ancient Chinese form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin; practitioners believe this mobilizes blood flow in order to promote healing. Suction is created using heat (fire) or mechanical devices (hand or electrical pumps). There is reason to believe the practice dates from as early as 3000 B.C.; the earliest record of cupping is in the Ebers Papyru, one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, describes in 1550 B.C. Egyptians used cupping. Archaeologists have found evidence in China of cupping dating back to 1000 B.C. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates (c. 400 B.C.) used cupping for internal disease and structural problems. This method in multiple forms spread into medicine throughout Asian and European civilizations.
Yesterday afternoon, I met with a Qigong Master, we met in a local park and I meditated while he manipulated my Qi (energy) to my lower back, I focused my internal Qi with his and the combination of the two energy forces worked in harmony together to reduce my pain to the point where it disappeared completely, I was totally relaxed, there was no tension in my body, I was stress free and my own body took control over the healing process, after my session in the park, I was able to walk freely and in fact walked home which is about four miles from the park ☺
I guess, alternative therapies and treatments are certainly a part of my life and they could also offer you some relief from your pain too.
Take care.
Namaste
Mark
If I could have a second sitting I would choose the following:-
1. Winston Churchill
2. Deepak Chopra
3. Carl Jung
4. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
5. Henri Cartier Bresson
6. Oprah
7. Confucius
This is so difficult as there are so many influential people in my life or have touched my life in some way, actually, I would also love the chance to have my Mum and Dad back with me and sit either side of me, also my wife and four children, so thats another table of 8 including me, my closest of friends and other family members, all of which inspire me …the list goes on and on 🙂
Dream More. It’s great to dream, to visualize what we would like in our lives, its also nice to visit beautiful safe places in our dreams, our ideal world. etc.
Complain Less. Oh Yes, I fully agree with this one, but our Ego’s will argue against this point well! Be happy, Be Positive, Be Grateful and Give Thanks.
Listen More. Empathy is all about listening, my father told me when I was a young boy. ‘You have two ears and one mouth, use them in those proportions’!..Listen with the intent to understand, and your empathy will grow to your benefit.
Talk Less. Ah, this is an interesting one, ‘Talk is Cheep’ as the old saying goes!. Only talk when you have something useful to offer..Listen, think, then talk.
Love More. When Love is in your heart, you will be happy, give Love and you will receive Love….Simple as that .
Argue Less. Something that we often learn later in life! We go through our lives arguing about things of little importance and loose so much time in the process.
Hope More. Hope for the future, Hope for a better world, hope for peace…But action speaks too, so put some action behind your hope and it / they may come true.
Fear Less. This is an interesting one, Fear is often controlling our future, holding us back from a better, happier way of life, Fear can be overcome, one step at a time, put fear behind you for what it is…NOTHING! And it has no place in our lives.
Relax More. Give yourself some quiet time, meditate, have happy thoughts, be a child again and enjoy that moment in your life..and please do it as often as possible.
Worry Less. Worry get’s you nowhere, Worrying accomplishes absolutely nothing, worrying is destructive and can make us physically sick, the time we waste on worry, can never be reclaimed.
Believe More. Have trust and believe in yourself, push away your fears and doubts, celebrate yourself.. You can do it; you can achieve it, You Can, You Can, You Can.
Doubt Less. Doubt like Worry gets us nowhere, you need to make a decision when doubt comes knocking, don’t just sit there and worry.. Make a decision, trust your intuition and seek advice from your heart.
Play More. Get out and enjoy your life, celebrate your life with your family and friends, it’s never too late to play, play is not just for children, have some fun, bring some joy and happiness into your day and smile J
Work Less. We all have to work, well, the majority of us anyway! What I mean by ‘Work Less’; is, don’t become a slave to your work, take as much time out as you can to live your life, try to find sometime to stop working and see your life and give thanks for what you have in your life right now and don’t waste your time working for what you don’t have in your life; because when you achieve that thing in your life you will just want more…and on and on it goes!
The love and deep compassion residing in our heart is a sign of us being at one with our God, it matters not which God we believe in because we all have our own faith and beliefs. When we are tuned into this love, we are at one with the universe and at one with all that is. We feel compassion, we feel love and we are guided by the grace of God.
To be in the heart is to be free of the everyday traumas that our lives bring to us. Love gives us freedom, it brings us joy and happiness, it is our destiny and our home.
The freedom that love brings to us reigns in the heart of many, as the community of life comes together in the oneness of all. To feel the breath of life in every moment and to live the essence of ‘now’ is to live within the heart and shine from the soul.
We are all blessed in the same way despite our differences in colour, creed or religious belief, we awake each day to the rising of the sun, the sound of the dawn chorus, the freshness of a beautiful new day, the gift of the sun rising in the sky and the gentle warmth that it brings to the dawn of our day.
Quiet your mind and allow it to be guided by your heart, be aware of who you are, your surroundings, your breath, feel the Qi energy flowing throughout your body, the pulse from our heart the gentle sounds in your ears, be at one with your mind, body and soul, give yourself praise, give yourself unconditional love and truly care about your own wellbeing and happiness. Follow your intuition, bring your mind to the ‘Now’ take a brief moment to be thankful for your new day, for the gift of love, for your happiness and give thanks to everyone that is special to you, your friends, family and loved ones, give your thanks with passion and seek guidance from the source of your inner love. Listen for its advice as it speaks to you through the darkness of night and the cold rain swept days. Seek out your inner child and listen to your emotions as they speak to you and teach you what is real and what is illusion. The heart will feel for you, the soul will know and the body will do.
Learn to live your life in a balanced way where your mind, body and soul are as one and in perfect harmony and flow as is ‘Ying and Yang’. Balance; like ‘Ying and Yang’ is critical for your wellbeing and your bodily and spiritual health, take your time to be at one with your health, allow it to talk to you to tell you where problems lie and how to address the weaknesses.
Give your love freely each day, Love thy neighbor, love thy spouse, love thy friend and love thyself. By living life in a loving way each day, it brings us joy, happiness and more love in return. ‘Karma at its very best’.
The recipe for happiness and a joyful, compassionate life are based upon living our lives in unison with others, keep truth, honesty, compassion for others and love in everything your do and you will always be blessed in return. Leave your doubts and fear behind you and reach for the stars.
Enjoy the journey of life, it is special, it is yours and yours alone, only you can make it a success. Live it well my friends.
As an energy healer, I am often approached by people looking for a cure to their illnesses and physical ailments. Most have already been to see countless medical doctors to no avail. Naturally, the doctors think in terms of curing the symptoms of a disease through medical procedures and drugs. But it’s equally important to look deeper into the patient to search for the underlying emotional cause, the root of the problem. And even with the best that both traditional and alternative medical systems have to offer, many times no cure is forthcoming.
What is crucial to understand is that “curing” and “healing” are not the same thing. Western medicine focuses on curing – that is, ridding the body of the disease or ailment and returning it to the state it was in before it became ill. Healing involves putting the body in a state better than it was before it was ill, because the origins of the problem that caused the illness have been addressed. Healing deals with so much more than just physical ailments; it encompasses your soul, your spirit, your mind and your body.
Everyone has something in need of healing, whether it is your physical health, your weight, your finances, your relationships, or your overall life balance. No one has everything perfect at the same time all the time, so we are all in need of healing. It is easy when a person is sick to focus solely on fixing their physical body and to ignore their mental, emotional and spiritual health when perhaps that is exactly where the key to healing lies.
You can treat a frequent headache with Advil or Tylenol and the headache will go away. For the moment, the headache is considered “cured.” However, if the stress causing the headache continues and no efforts are made to heal, chances are the headache will reoccur, perhaps even get worse, or the problem could show up in another physical ailment, like high blood pressure. This might be a good time to look into healing and examine closer what is causing the stress in the first place. What steps can be taken to remove this stress or alleviate it from your life so that your body does not respond to it with headaches? The path to healing may involve adding meditation to your life, taking more breaks at work, changing your schedule, eliminating some people from your life, finding more time to be outside in fresh air with nature, taking a warm bath – there are endless opportunities to explore healing methods and there may be more than one method that works well to reduce your stress. The good news is that once the stress is eliminated, then the headaches would be truly cured and healed.
So getting to the root of what is causing the symptoms and pain is what healing is all about. It is a process that is often lengthy and difficult. No one said healing your life would be simple, but it is possible. Traditional western doctors can be our partners in healing. There is much to be applauded by today’s medical advances and modern medicine can do much good for your body. When we are empowered at the soul level as well, however, we can learn to join forces with western medicine in helping to heal ourselves. And that is where the ultimate cure to your mind, body, and soul lies.
About Deborah King:
Deborah King is a Master healer and teacher whose New York Times best-seller, Be Your Own Shaman: Heal Yourself and Others with 21st Century Energy Medicine (Hay House 2011) takes you on a one-of-a-kind journey into the powerful esoteric world of healing.
Deborah travels worldwide, helping thousands of people transform their lives through her experiential workshops. Her online training program, 21st Century Energy Medicine, attracts those who want to become healers for themselves or others. She also hosts a popular weekly Hay House radio show.
Connect with Deborah at http://www.deborahkingcenter.com
Endless Light and Love 