Sunday, October 2, 2011

Spirit Muse Sunday GETTING HOOKED and LOOKING DEEPER + A NEW GIVE AWAY



Spirit Muse
Thumbnail for version as of 01:46, 21 March 2008



Two Wonderful Teachers


1.
PEMA CHODRON
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n

'Shenpa'

A central theme of Pema Chödrön's teachings is the Tibetan word shenpa, or how we get hooked.  Somebody says a mean word to you
and then something in you tightens — that's the shenpa.
Then it starts to spiral into low self-esteem, or blaming them,
or anger at them, denigrating yourself. And maybe if you have strong addictions, you just go right for your addiction to cover over the bad feeling that arose when that person said that mean word to you.
This is a mean word that gets you, hooks you.
Another mean word may not affect you
but we're talking about where it touches that sore place
that's a shenpa.
Someone criticizes you — they criticize your work, they criticize your appearance, they criticize your child
and, shenpa, almost co-arising, manifests

'Freedom'
Talk 3 from
The Doorway to Freedom
Berkeley, CA 2003.
By giving your full attention to what it feels like to be hooked
and to relax there-- with kindness and gentleness and wisdom --
you can train in interrupting the momentum of shenpa
and the reactivity which follows
 

Meditation
 Working with shenpa (getting hooked) in meditation practice,and relaxing with positive groundlessness
From
Choosing a Fresh Alternative
Rhinebeck, NY 2004

Her Tapes, Books and CD's
Here
www.pemachodrontapes.com.

This Is The Book

 where I first encountered her
When Things Fall Apart
Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Element Books, 1996
ISBN 1-570-62969-2


NEW GIVE AWAY

A copy of this book to be awarded to one of the respondents
who comments on this post.  It will be a random
(out of the hat) drawing of names,
announced in the Spirit Muse post of Sunday October 30th
in commemoration of the death of a dear friend of mine 
(kindly post by noon Saturday the 29th)


 
2.
ROBINA COURTIN 

Mind Matters
Google Tech Talks
October 3, 2008
'Be Your Own Therapist'

We spend our lives being seduced by the outside world,
believing without question that happiness and suffering
come from out there.
In reality, Buddhist teachings explain that they come
from the way we perceive and interpret things,
not the things themselves.
This deeply held misconception is at the root of our dissatisfaction, self-doubt, anger, depression, anxiety, and the rest.
But our minds can change.
By becoming deeply familiar with the workings of our own cognitive processes through introspection and learning to deconstruct them
We can loosen the grip of these neuroses and grow our marvelous potential for contentment, clarity, and courage,
which are at the core of our being.
Venerable Robina CourtinA Tibetan Buddhist nun for 30 years, beloved teacher and power-house personality is Executive Director of Liberation Prison Project,
based in San Francisco. (LiberationPrisonProject.org)
A lifeline for people with nothing and no one, since 1996
Liberation Prison Project has supported the spiritual practice of over 15,000 prisoners, mainly in the US and Australia.
These days, the project spends $50,000 every month,
nearly half of it on salaries and benefits for a fulltime staff of ten
(eight in the US and two in Australia, including three former prisoners), supported by a team of 150+ volunteers worldwide.
She travels the world, teaching and raising funds, touching countless hearts and minds with her down-to-earth, no-nonsense packaging of the Buddha's teachings, often filled with tasty stories from her own real-life struggles, attachments and relationships.
She is able to put across to her students in and out of prison
that change is possible; everyone can learn to develop their qualities,
to be joyful in the face of difficulties,
even on death row.

(Note from me-There is a fleeting reference to Sarah Palin, but it is not in a political cintext and does not, I think, represent anything but what it refers to -- 'being authentic' -- so, don't get stuck on it.  The whole of the teaching is valuable and true in my opinion.  She is a dynamic teacher)

61 MINUTES




8 comments:

deanna7trees said...

this interests me very much. I will have to listen to it all.

deanna7trees said...

excellent videos. I got involved in this way of thinking about 40 years ago, although I am not a Buddhist. It certainly has had a positive impact on my life but I am still a work in progress.

nandas said...

thank you for the pema chodron videos. it was good for me to listen again. i am looking forward to the next one when i have the hour to listen. thank you... you have so many good good posts. i even like how you do them in advance. its a model that i may be able to adopt. i can never seem to stay on top of posting on a regular basis. thank you again.

Nancy said...

I have watched part of the 'Be Your Own Therapist' video so far and find it truly interesting. Your posts are always so full! Thank you,
Nancy

Ms. said...

Dear Deanna, Nandas and Nancy--The wise ones are endlessly generous--I can not help but share, so full of gratitude am I.

Discovery Cloth said...

As I am faced with health issues, I found your blog tonight and this giveaway so absolutely appropriate. A message from the Universe. Cant wait to read more of your posts. Thank you for this amazing opportunity.
Namaste

Sandy

Ms. said...

Dear Sandy
Welcome to my blog and to the Give Away-I just read some of your blog posts (but I ought to be asleep (soon)--they are wonderful. Hope your health improves soon. keep your spirits level and I will be thinking of you.

*jean* said...

i am praticing that very idea right now with my teenage son...to stay in the light and not be so reactive...i used to be so cool...what happened? lol...i am trying to look at his face, take a deep deep breath and listen before i speak...it is easier said than done...thank you for the chance to receive...hope you have a great weekend and thanks so much for your encouraging words left on my blog..xo