The Daily Mind
Daily Steps To Mindful Living
Some of the wisest mindfulness teachers are offering guidance and help during these difficult times.
One such master, Rupert Spira, teacher of the “direct path“, the neoadvaita method, spiritual self enquiry and the essence of non-duality, recently took questions from Daily Minders:
For more information, and to follow Rupert, please subscribe to his YouTube channel.
In Japan, Okinawa is known as “The Land of the Immortals” due to its high volume of people who live to be over 100 years old. Most of Okinawa’s population functions independently into their late 90s.
A reason for this feat could be the prefecture’s adherence to ikigai – or a Japanese philosophy that roughly translates to “life’s purpose.” Ikigai (pronounced EE-key-guy) originated in Okinawa, and the centuries-old practice is still widely used there today. Our Ikigai is what gets us out of bed in the morning, or our purpose and motivation for living a full life. [Read more…] about Why Ikigai Can Be the Secret to a Better Life
Starting your own blog where you will write about philosophies of how the world works, about religion, about spiritual travels, and much more, can be extraordinarily rewarding. In this way, you can easily send your message to masses of people, to create communities around you and your ideas, and finally, to get paid for doing a work that you love.
[Read more…] about Tips for Creating a Spiritual Blog That Truly InspiresJapan is a universally reverent country, with a deep religious history and a long tradition of respect for gods and men alike. You’ll find a rich tapestry of religious traditions including Shintoism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism alongside smaller folk religious traditions. This rich tapestry of spirituality is expressed through a broad vocabulary of religious symbols found on every island in the nation.
This ancient religion believes in spirits of good and evil which permeate all things, with a rich gallery of good and bad spirits that permeate the life of the religion’s followers. There are a few key Japanese religious symbols which appear in religious documents and Japanese culture.
The maneki-neko, or literally “beckoning cat,” is the always-waving cat you’ll often see in Chinatowns throughout the West. This symbol of Shintoism holds a barrel-shaped object under its paw, which it waves up and down, beckoning the viewer near. The maneki-neko is believed to attract good luck, and its lineage is one of the reasons cats enjoy such a positive relationship with Japanese culture.
The torii gate is a well-recognized symbol of Japan throughout the West. This unique architectural structure is believed to mark the boundary between the finite world of human cares and infinite realm of the spirit world. Shinto shrines can be easily identified by the torii gates at their entrance, but these gates also sometimes mark Japanese Buddhist temples.
Omamori are religious amulets sold at Shinto shrines which are believed to provide the bearer with luck and divine protection. While omamori were once made of wood or paper, modern amulets are usually small items carried inside a brocade bag which might contain a prayer or invocation. Travelers often give them as gifts. Their sale supports the Shinto temples they’re sold at.
Taoism, also known as Daoism, is a religious philosophy based on living in harmony with the desires and patterns of the natural world. Followers strive to adhere to the Tao (or “way” in English) which is understood to be the source and pattern of everything that exists. Taoism does share its philosophical underpinnings with Confucianism. However, it does not share Confucianism’s emphasis a rigid social order and strict religious rituals.
Most notable among Taoist symbols is the yin-yang, which might be the best known religious symbol in the world. The yin-yang represents how apparently contradictory forces like chaos and order, day and night or life and death are truly part of an indivisible whole. This principle underlies many Asian philosophies, medicine and martial arts practices.
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is a book of divination used in the practice of Taoism. Practitioners seek moral guidance by concentrating on a question, then throwing vegetable stalks or coins and consulting a list of hexagrams to interpret the result of these apparently random throws. The meaning associated with these hexagrams, or kua, is found in the I Ching and can be interpreted as an answer to the practitioner’s question. The circular I Ching coins themselves are a powerful symbol of the religion. They feature a peculiar square hole in the center of each coin.
The Wheel of Dharma (Dharmachakra) represents the cyclical nature of death and rebirth (samsara) found in Buddhism. The Wheel is one of the most important symbols in the religion’s lexicon. The eight spokes on the wheel symbolize the Nobel Eightfold Path that the Buddha elucidated in his teachings, as well as Buddha turning the Wheel of Truth and Law. Further symbolism can be drawn from the structure of the wheel. The hub symbolizes moral discipline, the spokes represent wisdom and the rim represents training in concentration. Each of the three must be present to make a functioning wheel.
Buddhism also refers to the Eight Auspicious Symbols frequently. They include the following:
They come from Indian symbology, and are especially popular in Tibetan Buddhism.
The religions of Japan are rich in symbolism. As a result, it’s hopeless to attempt to cover them all in one short article. But hopefully this will provide an intriguing, if brief, introduction into one of the world richest spiritual regions.
With an estimated 4,200 religions in existence today, it’s understandable why many people are confused about religion and spirituality. While some consider one to be different from the other, the others believe they are just one and the same.
By definition, religion refers to one’s belief in God or gods. It can also mean a system of belief or worship that involves a code of ethics. It involves believing in a set of beliefs or rituals that enable an individual to develop a positive relationship with God. [Read more…] about Is There a Difference Between Religion and Spirituality?
A lot of rituals and traditions from Eastern cultures are designed to help humans achieve a state of peace and awareness in the present moment. This state is familiarly known as Zen or a Zen state of mind. It may seem like an easy thing to do – to be peaceful in the present moment, regardless of the situation – but it can be very challenging.
This is why a lot of rituals and traditions are there to help. These rituals are very common and easy to follow. Behind the simple rituals, however, there are enlightenments waiting to be discovered. [Read more…] about Three Simple Ways to Achieve a Zen State of Mind
