How To Handle Today's Disturbing News

Reporters and rescue workers from countries around the world assisting in the Japan rescue efforts, are amazed how calmly the people of Japan are enduring such a horrific crisis.  

They noted there is no looting or blatant displays of public anger like we have seen in other countries struck by earthquakes and disasters, including the US.

Japanese store owners are giving away their supplies.  People are quietly helping one another sharing their last morsels of food with strangers.   

Reporters say it is the culture to not show much emotion. Maybe, but is also  part of their Spiritual practice. Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions. They have been co-existing for several centuries and have even complemented each other to a certain degree. Most Japanese consider themselves Buddhist, Shintoist or both.

About 91 million people in Japan claim to be Buddhist practitioners.

This Sporting the Right Attitude newsletter is based on the 2,500 year old Buddhist practice of Mindfulness, along with Christianity and other ancient religions, including Judaism, and Native American teachings.  All are leading to the one path, discovering your Higher Self. 

We were first introduced to  Mindfulness through our Japanese teacher, Eiko Michi, nearly 30 years ago.  Eiko is a mystic from Japan who was also a former UCLA professor.  We were blessed to know her.  She changed our life and our path.   For decades we have remained in touch with her.  

Unfortunately, the last few days we have been unsuccessfully trying to contact her.  

This is what we learned from Eiko which helps to understand the mindset of how the Japanese are enduring this horrific crisis, and why you won't see blatant displays of uncontrolled emotions.   

Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths:

1. Suffering exists
2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires
3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path is practicing:

 1) right view 2) Right Intention 3) Right Speech 4) Right Action 5) Right Livelihood 6) Right Effort 7) Right Mindfulness 8) Right Concentration.

Mindfulness Practice, a type of meditation, is the way Buddha taught us to live, which is closely aligned to the Christ Mind.  However, Mindfulness which comes from Buddhism, is not a religion.  It is a practice to help us live in the moment.

Mindfulness is increasingly being employed in Western psychology to alleviate a variety of mental and physical conditions, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and in the prevention of relapse in depression and drug addiction.  Pain and cancer clinics around the country are teaching mindfulness as well as in some schools and branches of the military. 

Mindfulness is having less emotional reactivity and more stability of mind.  Not overreacting emotionally brings greater mental clarity, which is healthy,  Having stability of mind makes you better able to cope with any disaster in your life.

YOU TOO Can Practice Mindfulness to Deal and Overcome You Suffering.

As you watch the news of Japan's disasters, or when you are handling disasters and bad news of your own, remember Buddha's teaching.  You don't have to suffer despite the circumstance.

Here is the Mindfulness practice to help you deal with the news in Japan, and in your own life: 

Try to get comfortable as you can in your sitting posture.  If you lie down (not recommended), try not to go to sleep.  You can also do this standing in line at the post office.  Mindfulness can be done anywhere at anytime.

First take a few deep breaths and allow yourself to connect with your body.  Notice how you back feels against the chair.  How do your clothes feel on your body?  How do the soles of your feet feel in your shoes if you are standing?  What does the floor feel like?

Bring your attention to the area of your body that feels uncomfortable.  Usually people feel a clutching or tightening in their body when they are dealing with an unpleasant situation, or hearing bad news.

Explore in your body  where you may feel uncomfortable,  Is it sharp or dull?  Burning? Stabbing?  Is it moving, or does it stay in one place?  How deeply does it go into your body?  Get very curious about the changing set of bodily sensations.

After 30 seconds or so (you can choose any short amount of time), Notice your attitude toward the unpleasant feeling.  Do you hate it, fear it, resent it, blame yourself for it?  Do not judge or criticize your feelings.  Observe and let them go.

Be sure to breathe.  

Thich Nhat Hanh, a world renown Zen Master (we currently study, and attend his retreats), teaches this way of practicing Mindfulness:

"There are three sorts of feelings--pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral.  When we have an unpleasant feeling, we may want to chase it away.  But it is more effective to return to our conscious breathing and just observe it, identifying it silently to ourselves:  "Breathing in, I know there is an unpleasant feeling in me.  Breathing out, I know there is an unpleasant feeling in me."  Calling a feeling by its name, such as "anger," "sorrow," "joy," or "happiness," helps us identify it clearly and recognize it more deeply."

Remember you are simply observing, not trying to change anything.  The first law of Science, is what is observed, changes.  Mindfulness is the act of awareness, which acts like a laser to dissolve any blocks emotionally, mentally,  or physically.  You will notice during this practice, a space between you and the uncomfortable feeling happens.  Suddenly, you won't feel overwhelmed by this emotion.  In this space is where you will find peace, understanding, and clarity.

Make Mindfulness a daily practice to release stress and to help you deal with any and everything in your life.

GIVE TO RED CROSS FOR JAPAN

Coming soon:  "Your Happiness is Within"

You Can Overcome Any Change or Setback

Inside of you is a power house to help you deal with any change or setback in your life. You have already been given an infinite supply of love, health (ability to heal), instincts, mind, and prosperity just waiting for you to tap into.

Have you given your power away saying and thinking, "I am sick," "I am broke," "I am fat," I am lonely," "I am too young," "I don't look good," or "I am old"?

If you are, you are looking away from your true power and gifts. Nothing will change in your life until you recognize that inside of you is all that you need to handle any challenges that you may face.

I am half way through a rigorous docent class at the Los Angeles Zoo, and it is clearer than ever that we all have inside of us the tools to overcome difficulties. The class is one of the most intensive,rewarding programs on many levels. But, extremely difficult since it is science based, and credits for UCLA. I can't believe I got a B- on the midterm. Better than I thought.

At first look at the zoo, it may seem cruel that the animals are captive. However, the zoo is primarily a research and conservation program to save wild life and to preserve their habitants from their biggest enemy. Man.

Our study is on the habits of the wild, and how they have adapted to environments.

As we study these animals, it is incredible to see their built in survival mechanisms and skills. The amazing thing is how they have adapted to changes in the wild over hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of years.

You Are No Different

I have learned that no matter what species we are, we have been given everything inside of us to not only survive but thrive. Humans of course, are of the highest order. 


It doesn't matter if it is a reptile, primate, bird, inspect, or amphibian, every species has been given the tools to find a mate, the ability to heal, instincts to find and capture food, and build or find shelter.

We too have been given those gifts. And, despite any setback or change,we cannot only adapt to any situation, but overcome and thrive with the right attitude. Nature meant for us too to have the perfect mate, abundancy, shelter, and perfect health.

Whether you call it nature, God, Infinite Wisdom, Higher Self, Infinite Intelligence, or Divine Mind, It doesn't matter. That magnificent force inside of you has already provided you with these gifts, but it has also given you a thinking mind on the highest order of any other species on the planet.

The problem is, we allow our minds to be filled with thoughts that are counter productive. We look away from our gifts, instead of thanking our Higher Selves for what we have already been given, and use those gifts wisely and with faith.

Animals don't have that complicated thinking process. They just know what they have, and go after what they want.

The Tiger, my favorite animal, doesn't think "I will never get food again." Even though Tigers only successfully hunt 10 percent of the prey they go after, they keep trying until they succeed. If you look at that magnificent animal, you will notice that the natural beauty is their breath-taking radiant stripes. However, those marking are meant to blend into the environment to help them to hunt.

And so instead of thinking about what you don't have, think about and give thanks for your gifts. Since you are obviously reading this, a magnificent gift you have already been given is your eye sight they you may be taking for granted. It doesn't matter if you don't have 20/20 vision, you can still see, where many can't/ When was the last time that you gave thanks for your eyes?

When you give thanks for what you do have, you attract what you want in your life. Why? Because you will be on a higher vibration. You can't attract wealth thinking about lack. You can't attract health immersed 24/7 thinking of your health challenges.

I once met Norman Cousins, author of "Anatomy of an Illness" when I publicized his TV movie of the same title. The book is a classic on restoring health. Norman said what helped heal him from cancer was when he had comedy movies delivered to his hospital room. He stopped thinking of being sick and filled his heart and mind with laughter. His healing quickly followed.

I also volunteer for a continuing education program to help high-risk pregnant teens, and teen moms learn how to write. "Write Girl."

When I first met these girls, my first impression was, "These girls are too young to have babies." However, as they talked to me about their plans, and how they have adapted to their new way of life. I see how they have accepted the change in life, and they are now focused on providing a better life, by continuing their education and working. These girls are not sad, but instead are focused on using what gifts they have been given. They proudly show me pictures of their babies, and tell me of their dreams and plans to not only survive, but thrive. Do they wish that they didn't get pregnant? I'm sure some do, but the ones that I work with inspire me because they are not looking at their past. They are focused on the here and now, and their dreams.

And so in all forms of life, from the reptiles, insects, primates, and the teen moms, we have all been given gifts to not only adapt to changes and setbacks in our lives. We can use them to become better.

The key is not to dwell in the past. Learn from it. Live in the present moment. Despite your circumstances, you can be like the Phoenix bird and rise from the ashes.

Light and Love,
Janet
see the video below