Quotes of my pick

Keep FIt. Stay Fit. Breathe

Be Clear. Be True. Be Open. 

________ is a habit.

Everything has an expiry date. Food, things, concepts, me, you. Everything expires.

Everything needs maintenance. Environment, physical strength, health wellbeing, mental fitness, spiritual awareness, virtues, ideas, talent, relationship, career, title, status, things, materials. Everything in life if maintained well, will work with, for us. 

Live purposefully because nothing is guaranteed.

If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another - Tenzin Gyato

Developing inner values is much like physical exercise. The more we train our abilities, the stronger they become. The difference is that, unlike the body, when it comes to training the mind, there is no limit to how far we can go." ~ Dalai Lama

The artist need not know very much; best of all let him work instinctively and paint as naturally as he breathes or walks. ~ Emil Nolde

Do you have a good spirit? Be Kind ~ Atisha

What am I manifesting today?

Shift.

Exhale, extend the exhalation more and more ... let go.

Smile like a millionaire - Paramahansa Yogananda ^_^

Be Prepared for the beautiful storms.

---

♡

Stay Steady ~ Dr Venky 

Fitness is long term. Daily.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

~ Mark Twain

A ship in harbor is safe — but that is not what ships are built for ~ John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic, 1928

You never enjoy the world aright, till the sea itself floweth in your veins, till you are clothed with the heavens and crowned with the stars ~ Thomas Traherne

Life always bursts the boundaries of formulas ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Nothing in life is guaranteed. 

Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them - Albert Einstein

There is no instinct like that of the heart ~ Lord Byron

Set no boundaries.  them.

Entertain and be entertained.

Keep Fit! Stay Fit! Breathe!

"My philosophy in life is simple: If doing something makes you worried, then it must be a wrong thing. If it makes you happy, then you must have done the right thing. What others say is not important.” ~ Taiwan, Ms Chen Shu-chu, Heroes of Philanthropy 2010 by Forbes, Readers Digests Asian of the Year Award by TIme for her kind kind heart.

Make everything in life yummy! 好吃! 好吃!

Swim like a baby ~ 游泳是涼爽!

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes ~ Marcel Proust (French Novelist)

My mother was the making of me. She was so true and so sure of me, I felt that I had someone to live for ~ someone I must not disappoint. The memory of my mother will always be a blessing to me ~ Thomas A Edison

Heart Sutra

Sanskrit text of the Heart Sūtra, in the Siddhaṃ script. Replica of a palm-leaf manuscript dated to 609 CE.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_Sutra

~~~~~~~~~~~


The mantra of the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (Heart Sutra) is
Tadyatha Om Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha!

~~~~~~~~~~~

HEART SUTRA
The Exalted One, the Lady of Conquest, the Sutra on the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom

The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom

In Sanskrit: Bhagavati prajnaparamitahrdaya
In Tibetan: Bcom Idan 'das ma shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa'I snying po
In English: The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom, the Bhagavati

Thus have I once heard:

The Blessed One was staying in Rajagrha at Vulture Peak along with a great community of monks and great community of bodhisattvas, and at that time, the Blessed One fully entered the meditative concentration on the varieties of phenomena called the Appearance of the Profound. At that very time as well, holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being, beheld the practice itself of the profound perfection of wisdom, and he even saw the five aggregates as empty of inherent nature. Thereupon, through the Buddha's inspiration, the venerable Sariputra spoke to holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being, and said, "Any noble son who wishes to engage in the practice of the profound perfection of wisdom should train in what way?"

When this had been said, holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being, spoke to venerable Sariputra and said, "Sariputra, any noble sons or daughters who wish to practice the perfection of wisdom should see this way: they should see insightfully, correctly, and repeatedly that even the five aggregates are empty of inherent nature. Form is empty, emptiness is form, Emptiness is not other than form, form is also not other than emptiness. Likewise, sensation, discrimination, conditioning, and awareness are empty. In this way, Sariputra, all things are emptiness; they are without defining characteristics; they are not born, they do not cease, they are not defiled, they are not undefiled. They have no increase, they have no decrease.

"Therefore, Sariputra, in emptiness there is no form, no sensation, no discrimination, no conditioning, and no awareness. There is no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind. There is no form, no sound, no smell, no taste, no texture, no phenomenon. There is no eye-element and so on up to no mind-element and also up to no element of mental awareness. There is no ignorance and no elimination of ignorance and so on up to no aging and death and no elimination of aging and death. Likewise, there is no suffering, origin, cessation, or path; there is no wisdom, no attainment, and even no non-attainment.

"Therefore, Sariputra, since the bodhisattvas have no obtainments, they abide relying on the perfection of wisdom. Having no defilements in their minds, they have no fear, and passing completely beyond error, they reach nirvana. Likewise, all the Buddhas abiding in the three times clearly and completely awaken to unexcelled, authentic, and complete awakening in dependence upon the perfection of wisdom.

"Therefore, one should know that the mantra of the perfection of wisdom - the mantra of great knowledge, the precious mantra, the unexcelled mantra, the mantra equal to the unequalled, the mantra that quells all suffering - is true because it is not deceptive. The mantra of the perfection of wisdom is proclaimed:

tadyatha - gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha!

Sariputra, a bodhisattva, a great being, should train in the profound perfection of wisdom in that way."

Thereupon, the Blessed One arose for that meditative concentration, and he commended holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being. "Excellent!" he said. "Excellent! Excellent! Noble child, it is just so. Noble child, it is just so. One should practice the profound perfection of wisdom in the manner that you have revealed - the Tathagatas rejoice!" This is what the Blessed One said.

Thereupon, the venerable Sariputra, the holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being, and that entire assembly along with the world of gods, humans, asuras, and gandharvas, all rejoiced and highly praised what the Blessed One had said.

source: http://www.lamrim.com/hhdl/heartsutra.html


...

The 6 Perfections

Bodhisattvas (enlightened beings who strive to lessen the suffering of all sentient beings) practice the six perfections. 

The Six Perfections:
(1) Generosity - Giving without seeking reward
(2) Virtue - Eliminating self-centeredness and not harming others
(3) Patience - Being tolerant and forgiving of self and others
(4) Effort - Practicing Buddhist principles despite adversity
(5) Meditation - Stabilizing and calming the mind
(6) Wisdom - Living in accordance with the true nature of things

Prayers for the Sick and Deceased

http://www.angelfire.com/yt/fairtibet/

I was at a funeral once - for a young lady who had committed suicide at 17. In my bag, was a Prayer Book for her. It's titled Prayers for the Sick and Deceased. It contains a series - from Motivation, Prayers, Mantras and lastly, to Dedication.

This is written accordance to the Mahayana Buddhist practice.
Compiled by Amitabha Buddhist Centre (fpmtabc.org)

The book was compiled for the purpose of providing the members and friends of the person who is sick or deceased a means to emotionally and spiritually help the person who is undergoing great pain and suffering. They can be done in sequence as a set or just focusing on a specific prayer recited many times over.

~~~~~~~~~~~

MOTIVATION

I am doing this practice to create the cause of attaining enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings, to free from all their sufferings and the causes of suffering, and to lead them to the perfect state of Buddhahood.

"In particular, this is to help ___, and all other beings who are are presently suffering from sickness. May they quickly recover from their sickness, and live a long life. In this and all future lifetimes, may they be free from suffering, may they always be under the care and guidance of the Gurus and Triple Gem, and may their always be peaceful, positive and filled with pure devotion to the Gurus and Triple Gem."

for the deceased...

"In particular, this is to help the deceased ___ achieve a good rebirth, as a human being with all the perfect conditions to practice the Dharma, or in Amitabha's pure land."

PRELIMINARY PRAYERS

Taking Refuge and Generating Bodhichitta

I go for refuge until I am enlightened

To the Buddha, the Dharma and the Supreme Assembly.

By my practice of giving and other perfections,

May I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings. (3x)

The Four Immeasurables

May all sentient beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.

May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the causes of sufferings.

May all sentient beings be inseparable form the happiness that is free from suffering.

May all sentient beings abide in equanimity, free from attachment for friends and hatred for enemies.

Special Altruistic Intention

Especially for the sake of all mother sentient beings, I must quickly and more quickly - in this very life - attain the precious state of complete and perfect Buddhahood. Therefore, I shall practice the profound path of guru-deity yoga.

Seven Limb Prayer

Reverently, I prostrate with my body, speech and mind;

I present clouds of every type of offering, actual and imagined;

I declare all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time

And rejoice in the merit of all holy and ordinary beings.

Please remain until the end of cyclic existence

And turn the wheel of Dharma of livings beings.

I dedicate my own merits and those of all others to the great enlightenment.

MANTRAS

Mantras are powerful syllables, holy words or phrases that helps to keep the mind focus and protected. It is believed to help maintaining a strong spiritual connection (alike planting a seed until the time is ripen). Mantras are usually visualized and recited in Sanskrit and are employed when meditating, rotating a prayer wheel and circumambulating a stupa. They are usually recited with a mala, usually beginning with 1 cycle (108 beads in 1 mala) to 10 cycles to 100 cycles and more.

Well, I personally find that the least it does is helps my mind keep away from generating defilements and afflictions through body, speech and mind actions. I also believe that it can shift the minds level of consciousness. ; ) And of course it stirs the mind away from idleness too.

OM MANI PADME HUM

The mantras below are in short form:

Mantra of All Buddhas: om ah hum

Avalokiteshvara's (Chenresig's) Mantra: om mani padme hum

Perfection of Wisdom Mantra: tayata gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi soha

Medicine Buddha's Mantra: tayata om bhekandzyai bhekandzyai maha bhekandzyai bhekandzyai randza samungate soha

Green Tara's Mantra: om tare tuttare ture soha

Vajrasattva's Mantra: om vajrasattva hum

Wisdom Manjushri Mantra: om ah ra pa ca na dhih (om arat padza nadi)

Padmasambhava's Mantra: om ah hum vajra guru padma siddhi hum

Buddha's Mantra: tayata om muni muni maha muniye soha

Prostration Mantra:om namo manjushriye namo sushriye namo uttama shriye soha

DEDICATION PRAYERS

Due to this merit, may ___ be completely be free of all sufferings and quickly recover from illnesses. May all their wishes be fulfilled in accordance to the Dharma, and may they meet virtuous Mahayana spiritual master and practise the Dharma for the benefit of all.

Due to this merit, may the decesed, especially ___ not be born in the lower realms but immediately attain a perfect human rebirth or be born  directly in Amitabha's Pure Land.

GENERAL DEDICATION PRAYERS.

1. Due to the merits of these virtuous actions

May we quickly attain the state of Guru-Buddha,

And lead all living beings, without exception,

Into that enlightened state.

2. May the supreme jewel bodhichitta

That has not arisen, arise and growl

And may that which has arisen not diminish

But increase more and more.

3. Just as the brave Manjushri and Samantabhadra, too,

Realized things as they are,

We, too, dedicate all these merits in the best way,

That we may follow their perfect example.

12. In order to follow the excellent examples set by the wisdom of the bodhisattva Manjushri and the always sublime Samantabhadra, we dedicate all virtues to their peerless ideals.

13. All conquerors passed into three times have praised as supreme this peerless dedication. Therefore, we also surrender all roots of our activities to be sublime goals of bodhisattva.

Experience with Compassion

Live with Compassion

Work with Compassion

Die with Compassion

Meditate with Compassion

Enjoy with Compassion

When problems come, experience them with Compassion

- by Amithabha Buddhist Centre http://www.fpmtabc.org/

Heartful music

Below, a list of beautiful heartful music to warm our hearts  ; )

Ani Choying teaching the OM MANI PADME HUM mantra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILFgoExfegQ&feature=related  



Ani Choying is a singing nun with a blessed voice - http://www.choying.com/ 


Tara Mantra - Ani Choying Drolma - tune in version




Ani Choying Drolma - Namo Ratna Traya - Munich 07



Ani Choying Drolma - CHÖ - Munich 08





Ani Choying Drolma - life - Padmakara - Basel Juli 2005

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9mEu2pkhoc&a=GxdCwVVULXeQvjc1Nj2qEkU0WlJUvSGn&playnext=1 


Vajra Guru 7 line Prayer




om mani padme hum

Green Tara Mantra (108 Repetitions)

Green Tara Mantra: Throat Chanting




Medicine Buddha Mantra by Khenpo Pema Chopel Rinpoche



Manjushri Mantra Om Ah Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih



Buddhist Chant - Heart Sutra (Sanskrit) by Imee Ooi



Imee Ooi - The Chant Of Metta - English subtitled version



Buddhist song 嗡嘛呢叭弥弘 Om Mani PadMe Hum



Buddhist Chant - Heart Sutra (Mandarin) by Imee Ooi



oh mani padme hum



Chants of TIbet - Om Mani Padme Hum

Cucumber, Beet & Shiitake

Yay, this week is my cucumber, beetroot + shiitake mushroom week ^_^

CUCUMBERS

reference: http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/benefits-of-cucumber-1678.html
• good for skin: helps reduce heat and inflammation (external) 

• good for skin: diuretic, cooling and cleansing property (internal)

• a relief from heartburn, acid stomach, gastritis and even ulcer.

• eyepad: reduces tired eyes from puffiness, swelling (external).

• it's juice: helps eczema, arthritis and gout.

• beneficial for those suffering from lung, stomach and chest problems.

• it's potassium: helps with high and low blood pressure.

• Erepsin in cucumber: an enzyme that helps in protein digestion.

• it's juice: promotes hair growth, especially when it is added to the juice of carrot, lettuce and spinach.

• it's juice + carrot juice: good for rheumatic conditions caused by excessive uric acid in the body.

• helps with teeth & gums diseases, especially in cases of pyorrhea.

• prevents splitting of nails of the fingers and toes.

• containts healing properties in relation to diseases of the kidney, urinary bladder, liver and pancreas.

• raw/juiced: beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. 
(Cucumber, radish and bitter gourd are beneficial in diabetes.)

BEETROOT  

reference: http://www.elements4health.com/the-bloody-beet.html  

• Cleansing agent for liver, spleen, kidney, gall bladder

• Lowers Blood Pressure

• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

• Healthy Liver Function

• Cancer Prevention

• Purifies Blood

* Not for those with Kidney Stones

Benefits and Features of Beetroot. source from: http://fruitsnvegetables.com/beetroot.html 

• Beetroot provides a good source of anthocyanadins, a natural antioxidant that contributes to its deep red colour

• Extract is a natural source of vitamins and minerals

• Beetroot is used traditionally as a blood building food

• Beetroot may aid the natural process of elimination and support detoxification processes

• Beetroot has liver, spleen, gall bladder and kidney cleansing properties

• Beetroot is particularly rich in Vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus and iron

• Each capsule provides approximately 1-2mg of elemental iron

• The iron contained in beetroot is organic and non-irritating and will not cause constipation

• Beetroot is useful in acidosis due to it being rich in alkaline elements

• Vacuum packed to enhance stability and shelf life

• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans

SHIITAKE

reference: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=122

• boosts immune function 

• supports cardiovascular health

• lowers the risk of - or treating - cancer

• prevention of heart disease 

• antioxidant

• AIDS

• treats nutritional deficiencies and liver ailments

* not for those with gout or kidney stones 

During the Ming Dynasty, it's taken as a remedy for upper respiratory diseases, poor blood circulation, liver trouble, exhaustion and weakness, and to boost qi, or life energy. It was also believed to prevent premature aging.  source from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiitake