Online Community

Perphaps the most important tool of our time is the internet. Well, I guess that includes language and electricity too, but lets say the most important INVENTION of our time. That'd definately be the internet.

With the internet, we can meet and connect with all kinds of people. We can form online communities, search for long lost friends, stay in touch - and spread information in no time. This is what makes the internet so special.


In what ways the internet with revolutionize our civilizations across the globe no one is sure yet. One thing we do know, is that it is changing the way we walk and think on this earth faster than anything else ever has.


Here is a list of some online communities I participate in:

www.zaadz.com - Online "Zaangha" for anyone who wants to make a difference in the world, or has a spiritual interent.

www.hipforums.com - Online resource and forums for hippies :D

www.myspace.com - I'm sure you guys know this one. Great tool for networking, meeting long lost friends, and dating 15 year old girls :)

www.cleanvibe.com - Small community of some hipsters, who are into psychedelics, festivals, and alternative community/living. Really awesome guys and gals.

Yama

Yama
is sanskrit.
It refers to self-discipline, restraint, or even morals.

In the Eightfold path of Yoga, Yama is the first step. It literally means to restrain. Every step of yoga is personalized and suited for each individual, but there are five general consistencies associated with Yama in the Eightfold yoga path.


Ahimsa. (.harmlessness.) - The word ahimsa literally mean not to injure or show cruelty to any creature or any person in any way whatsoever. This includes in our actions, words, or thoughts.


Satya. (.truthfulness.) - When someone speaks with honesty, it holds more power than the average person is aware of. It causes a subtle vibration to run through the persons body, and other people notice it. It builds character. When we speak truth, we learn more about ourselves as well.

Asteya. (non-theft) - Steya means "to steal"; asteya is the opposite-to take nothing that does not belong to us. This also means that if we are in a situation where someone entrusts something to us or confides in us, we do not take advantage of him or her.

Brahmacharya - Energy Control. Specifically dealing with sexual energy. Restraining the scattered energy which originates from our Being, and storing it.

Aparigraha. (non-grasping) - Refers to our natural instinct to latch onto, or grasp things that cause of joy. Perphaps the most difficult of all yamas, it suggests that we should sit in our aloneness, our anxiety. Not to find happiness in running away, or tuning out.

Meeting a Buddhist

A few months back, because of physical ailments, and mental and emotional turmoil, I had become very depressed. I got to the point where I was deciding wether or not I wanted to continue going on this life. Sometimes we reach points where we wonder if it is even worth it to continue.
I got the urge to go to Barnes and Nobles, which happens often. Usually, when my intuition kicks into gear like this, its because I'm supposed to learn something, or experience something. So, I went to Barnes and Noble, in the most depressed of moods, and started reading magazines.
I went to the Spiritual magazine section, and started reading books on buddhism. I noticed an asian man, with a shaved head sit down next to me. He seemed to observe me a bit, but kept his distance, and didn't make himself too noticable. After a good 5-10 minutes, I decided to say Hi to him, which seemed the invitation he was waiting for.
He introduced himself, to which I found out he was a Buddhist from Vietnam. He showed me a picture of him with the Dalai Lama, and seemed overly joyed and helping me in my current situation.
I told him I was meditating, and I also explained my worries and fears about my health. Comforting me like no other, he said to relax, take time S-L-O-W-L-Y, and to practice a simple breathing exercise.
He explained that the best place to start, is by asking ourselves "What do we REALLY want in Life?"

The answer, if we search hard enough, is usually along the same lines. To have happiness, the opposite of suffering.

I believe now that any true spiritual path should start with the basic question "What do we want in Life, before we Die". This question, if asked and answered honestly and thoughfully, can easily put us on the path that guides the rest of our lives.

Don't we all just want happiness, in SOME form?
A peace that lasts through difficult and turbulent times?
A peace of mind.
Tranquilty.
Peace.

2012: A Time of Change

Many people have already heard about the prophecies regarding 2012, and usually involve either A) humanity ending, or B) a complete and lasting change to our current condition
There are many different opinions out there, but main theories developed about 2012 have been the consequence of :
1) The Mayan Calender and its end at 2012
2) The Timewave Zero concept by Terrence Mckenna
3) Certain Hindi sects believe 2012 to be the beginning of a Golden Age
4) Certain Spiritual sects believe 2012 to be the Age of Aqaurius
5) Hopi Indians and they're prophecies
6) Mentioned by Tibetans

My Vision of 2012

From my own intuitions, I have had many revelations about the times on earth from now until 2012. Many things have occured to set the stage, including the coming of Jesus 2,000 years ago, creation of the united states, two world wars, tibet (one of the last free and holy countries) invaded in the 40s until present by China, USA's involvement in the middle East, the invention of the internet, to name just a few important events. Some of my intuitions include increased natural disasters, increased disease and emotional turmoil, increased spread of instant communication, globalization, another world war (not like the first 2 though), a spiritual revolution around the globe and a civil war in the united states (not necessarily physical).
From my rational mind, I can also see the events leading up to 2012 as divinely inspired. With the creation of the internet, everything from spread of information, careers, business, social relations and networking, and more has been completely changed and refined. We can also see and prove the ecological changes occuring around the globe, including increased pollution, global warming, destruction of the rainforests and ozone, and contamination of water to name a few.
If one looks hard enough and develops a clear enough perspective, you can easily see that our world is rapidly changing. Things change faster now then they did 20 years ago, 50 years ago, 2,000 years ago, etc. Its as if humanity is now on a fast path, and decisions must be made quickly and consciously to determine how we end up.
One could see devastating and terrible outcomes, or a complete spiritual transformation and uplifting of our entire race.

Hindu's call this the Kali Yuga, The Dark Age. It is said there are four ages, and we are in the end of the last one. Our time is marked by greed, attachment and living for the sake of money, corruption of the religious institutions, increased violence, and misfortune in general among other things.

Some things

I believe exist that can ease the pressures of the times, which is what my whole blog is about.

• Daily Meditation. One can start and easily practice by taking just 15 minutes of time out of the day to sit in one place, without any distractions, and focus on the point between the eyebrows. (or listen to music, or pray to God, there are many ways to just "sit")
• Eating properly. What we eat directly effects our physical, mental, and emotional well being.
• Positive Mental Attitude. Trying to be mindful in general of our mental state. Just reflecting on our attitudes throughout the day. Anger and anxiety drains our energy, causing physical weakness and tiredness. Thoughts of positivity and happiness can increase and generate energy and productivity and good fortune.
• Connecting with others. Its important not to isolate ourselves. But we also need solitary moments as well.
• Spending time outdoors. Its healthier, and improves the mood. Also, its great to spend time in the woods, or hiking, or even camping. It greatly purifies the mind.
  

Kaizen: Constant Refinement

My meditation teacher recently made me aware of the term "Kaizen" which means constant refinement. I find it very interesting, because most of my life I have spent constantly changing, refining, and re-evaluating my physical and mental space.

Kaizen - Dictionary.com's definition:

"	Japanese for continuous and incremental improvement, a business philosophy about working practices and efficiency; improvement in productivity or performance"

To refine means to tweak or alter, in order to clean up or make more efficient.

Refine - Dictionary.com's definition:
"To remove by purifying."


I think its really a profound and important concept to be familiar with. Everything in our life is constantly changing, and if we understand the practice and application of refinement, we can work with the qualities of change to improve the qualities in our lives.

For instance, refinement can involve cleaning a room, or moving furniture or items in a house to make it more accessable or comfortable.



Mental kaizen would be very important as well. Practicing some sort of mental defragging, or meditation to clear the mind and help remove pains, problems, habitual thinking, anxieties, etc.