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Daily Steps To Mindful Living

Spirituality

Monday Meditation: Find Your Authentic Truth

Across the struggles and challenges that we face, it’s easy to fall into feelings of self-blame, guilt, and worthlessness. The narratives we attach ourselves to can often lead us to seeing (and believing) the worst in ourselves. But more often than not, the supposed “truths” we tell ourselves are often not true at all. How, then, do you find your authentic truth? 

To find your authentic truth is to acknowledge the quiet, peaceful spaces in your mind, to let go of any beliefs, grudges, and grief you’ve held on to, and to embrace the light within you. Below is a meditation to help you do that: 

As you sit comfortably on your chair or on your mat, come into the present moment by scanning your body from the top of the head to the tips of your toes. Observe the shape of your body, and pay attention to how the body is feeling today. Notice if you’re holding any tension across the hips or the shoulders. Allow your body to be upright, yet soft and relaxed. 

Then, tune in with your breathing. Are you breathing more from the belly or from the chest? Understand that there is no right or wrong way to breathe. Start by simply allowing your breath to be natural and effortless. When you’re ready, try to breathe more deeply and equally across your belly and your chest. 

Finally, tune in with your mind. Notice any worries, anxieties, and grievances that have taken root or have lingered in your mind. Observe these without judgment. Know that it is simply the ego that holds onto these, that joy and peace are found in the quiet, still spaces in the mind–in between the thoughts. As you recognize this, allow yourself to feel softer and lighter.

As you continue to observe and acknowledge your thoughts, then, start to pay closer attention to those quiet spaces. They exist in between each thought–the small, tiny space that is neither thought nor feeling–just pure being. Recognize that to find your authentic truth is to know that you are pure being. And, once again, allow yourself to feel softer and lighter.

When you’re ready to end your meditation, simply come back to your body and breath. Feel the weight of your lower body against your mat or your chair, start to wiggle your fingers and your toes. Then, open your eyes and feel refreshed and renewed. 

Communicating Peace During COVID-19 [VIDEO]

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.

Why Ikigai Can Be the Secret to a Better Life

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

A Beginner’s Guide to the Religious Symbols of Japan

Japan 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.

Shinto Symbols

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.

Taoist Symbols

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.

Buddhist Symbols

By Shazz, Esteban.barahona (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Japan is also home to its own unique strain of Buddhism, known as Japanese Buddhism. It shares much of its history and symbology with other varieties of Buddhism. As a result, practitioners of one will be familiar with the other. Like the other religions we covered, Buddhism is replete with symbology, so we can only discuss a few here. 

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:

  1. Parasol (chattra) – spiritual power
  2. Golden Fishes (suvarnamatsya) – blessings, good fortune and salvation
  3. Treasure Vase (kalasha) – fecundity, both moral and spiritual
  4. Lotus (padma) – mental purity
  5. Conch Shell (sankha) – Buddha’s teaching’s fame and renown
  6. Endless Knot (shrivasta) -Buddha’s infinite wisdom
  7. Victory Banner (dhvaja) – the victory of the Buddha’s teaching over ignorance
  8. Wheel of Dharma (Dharmachakra) – see above

They come from Indian symbology, and are especially popular in Tibetan Buddhism.

Conclusion

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.