Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Articles from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock | Selfgrowth.com
- How Shall We Choose to Live? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockBusiness ethics are quickly becoming meaningless. As a matter of fact, ethics can actually become roadblocks to maintaining the almighty bottom line. We have seen this lately in the mortgage markets where dishonest loans lined pockets on Wall Street while ruining many common people's lives. ...
Views: 961 - Seven Things That Can Wreck Your Life - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockSex … Money … Power … Fame … Good Looks … Ambition … Success If any of these Seven become tangled up in the Seven Deadly Sins (Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride), look out! Otherwise, they are simply to be enjoyed, but not to bet the farm on - it's only when we begin to ...
Views: 959 - The Key (A Fairytale) - The Final Chapter (Part 5) A Promise To Keep - by Submitted on Aug 29, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockSuddenly, I found myself in a mist, and through the mist, I dimly made out what appeared to be a cave. As I moved closer, my perfected insight revealed exactly what it was – the den of the Great Dragon of Atta. Three of the dragon's guards lie dead and decomposing at the entrance, obviously ...
Views: 959 - Global Swarming - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockGlobal swarming is a phenomenon far more impending than greenhouse gasses; global swarming involves the very fabric of our lives. Therefore, how we handle global swarming will determine the quality of our future here on earth. In the past, we have ignored global swarming as if it doesn't exist, ...
Views: 957 - Whispers of the New Christianity - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThe new Christianity will include unselfish prayer, followed by not worrying whether or not the prayers will be answered. And God will be described as providing our building blocks, but it is up to us after that. And Christians will begin facing and accepting their destiny, and then taking ...
Views: 955 - A Tear Drops - by Submitted on Aug 10, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockShe finds herself at a McDonald's late one night, sipping black coffee from a plastic cup. The place is empty, except for a small night crew, half asleep. She finishes her coffee and looks around, and realizes that no longer is there anywhere to go. She waves to a worker cleaning the floor, ...
Views: 953 - Mother Teresa May Have Gone Through These Seven Stages - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock1. Christian: Orison (Introversion) – Christian meditation and prayer. Conversion: Here a practitioner converts from an external to an internal emphasis, as the search for Truth, or God begins. Practitioner has good intentions, and prays or meditates occasionally. Eastern: Practitioner begins ...
Views: 952 - The Old and New Politics - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockSomething quite dramatic is happening in the political arena - a new vision nothing like the old politics of greed, hatred, and spin. Accustomed as we are to division, bickering, and animosity, this will take some getting used to - and may not happen in this cycle – but it is coming. Voicing ...
Views: 947 - The Kindness That’s Inherently Obama - by Submitted on Apr 11, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockOf all the things in the world that we can think of, kindness is the one that cuts through all barriers. Since Barack Obama has been running for office, people of color have begun feeling good about themselves, and white people have begun feeling good about people of color. Maybe soon, people of ...
Views: 946 - The Key (A Fairytale) - The Final Chapter: A Promise To Keep (Part 1) - by Submitted on Aug 22, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"What is troubling my great king now," Weepasa inquired with a disinterested look on his face, as he carefully peeled a mango. "There are many things I have learned throughout my travels, but some of my questions have never been answered," I complained, "and they are now a constant burden." ...
Views: 943 - Interdependant Origination - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThe Buddha introduced a number of things that are unique to all religions and spirituality. Two of these are The Four Noble Truths and Interdependent Origination. The Buddha claimed that one could not attain enlightenment without understanding both of these intuitively, or with the heart, and ...
Views: 941 - A Different Way to Live - by Submitted on Oct 22, 2009 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThe way that we have been living is called the way of least resistance. This way involves emotionally and logically going after what we believe will make us happy. For the vast majority of us, this usually includes a career, a partner, then a house, cars, furniture, kids, college tuition, ...
Views: 940(2 votes) - Is Your Spiritual Life Working? Seven Areas to Monitor . . . - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThese seven areas are not necessarily the ones we think of or connect to when discussing the spiritual life. They are not only unusual, but authentic measuring sticks if we truly want to determine what progress we have made. Some of the terms may be unfamiliar, but their strangeness doesn't mean ...
Views: 938 - The Man Who Knew - by Submitted on Feb 26, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThere once was a man who thought that he knew. He thought that he knew about life and the afterlife. One day, he was asked how he knew, and he replied that the knowledge was given to him. Who gave it, he was asked, and he said that it was given through his holy book, and that he was certain that ...
Views: 930 - Five Things That Hold us Back in Life, Love, and the Afterlife - by Submitted on Dec 26, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockOther than outright bad luck and unforeseen circumstances, whenever we fail to reach our goals, it's a good bet that one of these five culprits had a hand in it - 1. Taking our eye off the ball: The easiest way to get sidetracked from our goals is to become distracted by a good time. A "good ...
Views: 923 - Somethin's Gotta Give - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWorking at a third world job and trying to survive in the wealthiest economy in the world just isn't working out. A friend of mine works part-time in a book store, spending the rest of her time living with and helping ill parents who are barely making ends meet because of all the confusion and ...
Views: 922 - Stirring Up Mud - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockConcentration calms the mind, but concentration alone will not grant the freedom we are looking for. Concentration is crucial in establishing the next step, however. Something needs to stir up the calm mind that we have developed similar to stirring up mud on the bottom of a pond so that we ...
Views: 920 - Looking for God's Face - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockIn a bubbling stream, And a lonely wind, That whispers Through an endless night. ************************* In the crying of a baby, And its anxious mother, That whispers 'Till it's light. ************************* At the end of a rainbow, And the start of the journey. And the end of ...
Views: 918 - Death Is The Doorway To Life — Three Ways To Prepare (Part 2 Of 3) - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock2. Living consciously. (From a talk by Ajahn Jagaro, the abbot of Wat Pah Nanachat when Janet and I trained in Thailand as a Buddhist monk and nun in 1981) "Now this (contemplating death) really does free us up, enabling us to live our lives more fully. The contemplation of death, rather than ...
Views: 914 - The Simple Meaning of Life - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThe farmer found the mare lying on her side near the edge of the pasture. She was lying peacefully, almost as if sleeping; only occasionally raising her head to look back at where her first-born was soon to meet this wondrous world. It was as if she had done this many times, and perhaps she had, ...
Views: 914 - Freedom Is What We Already Are - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWhen we strive to be free, when we try to release ourselves from the burdens that we have laid upon ourselves, we miss the point: we are already free. We simply forget that we are free. We forget by becoming bogged down in our difficulties, by pitting ourselves against others, and fighting for ...
Views: 912 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 13 — When The Dust Blows Away? (Part 5) - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"Everybody knows that you are here," he said, putting up a good front. "Killing me will do you no good." Expressing no emotion, I calmly asked, "Why would I want to kill you?" "You know why. You are a threat to the king and I know that you are here," he haughtily replied. "But I am the ...
Views: 910 - Our Basic Problem - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThis is an article about the root problem that forms the basis of our many problems, from the shooter who randomly kills on campus, to the worry that plagues us daily; to the restlessness we feel when we are bored. This problem is seldom explained adequately. Tragedies are usually explained by ...
Views: 905 - Eight Simple, Interactive Activities Toward Union With God. - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockSt. John of the Cross claimed that all the pleasures of the world are as crumbs from the table of God. Hmm, saints must be experiencing something pretty outstanding! Actually, meeting God, face-to-face in this very lifetime, no differently than the prophets of old did, is not only possible but ...
Views: 903 - Sell That SUV? - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWhat exactly are we supposed to do? We hear about change all the time, but instead of motivating us to do something, our politicians only know how to complain - with few real solutions. I'm afraid that it is up to us to make the moves, not our politicians. But make what moves? This is where we ...
Views: 903 - Who Wants To Be A Coward? - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockNo one wants to be a coward, so if we know what it takes to be a coward, perhaps we can avoid becoming one! When we read books or articles on how we can improve, or self-help books that tell us how we can help ourselves, we are in a twilight zone of assumptions and speculation. To get real, ...
Views: 902 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 14 — Seven Days (Part 3) - by Submitted on Aug 19, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWhen I entered Weepasa's room the next morning, he asked me to sit down and immediately began talking about insight, "Insight results from a concentrated mind that is aware of everything it comes in contact with, but it clings to nothing. Insight is not a focused concentration centered the ...
Views: 900 - A Step beyond Positive Thinking - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockA positive attitude is a great benefit. With a positive outlook, we can psychologically reap the advantages of happiness without relying on necessarily positive results. Even if things fall apart, our positive outlook regarding how good things will be in the future keeps us satisfied. For ...
Views: 893 - The Key (A Fairytale) - Chapter 3: Broken Wings (Part 2) - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThe next morning I discovered a dull ax behind the cottage that I sharpened to a razor's edge. I thought that cutting a few days' supply of firewood and stacking it neatly along the fence to repay the maiden for her thoughtfulness would be a good idea. I must admit; I was quite taken with the ...
Views: 886 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 14 - Seven Days (Part 2) - by Submitted on Aug 17, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockFinally, I knew that I couldn't jump and reluctantly made my way back to the old man's room and stood there in front of everybody, pathetically defeated. Weepasa laughed heartily, "Well, you actually do have some wisdom to go along with your tiny bit of compassion. Good! You cannot train with ...
Views: 886 - Loving And Hating - by Submitted on Sep 18, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockDo you love and hate? If you do, then you are very normal. If you just hated, or only loved, there would be consistency, but when you do both, the mind finds itself in conflict all the time, and this produces stress. So if you want to find the underlying cause of your stress, look no further ...
Views: 880 - Uncovering The Illusive Ego - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockI am Buddhist, and while practicing meditation, I detected thoughts blossoming, one after the other, in a corner of my mind. Each one initially appeared as a single frame but quickly developed into a storyline, a dramatic movie. It might begin with a picture of myself sitting cross-legged and ...
Views: 878 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 13 — When The Dust Blows Away? (Part 2) - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThe routine in the community was delightful, and I immediately felt comfortable with these men and their shaved heads. Conqueror roamed freely among the key seekers who took an immediate liking to the crippled, old horse, spoiling him with rice and honey cakes they saved from their meals, which ...
Views: 877 - How Do You Escape? - by Submitted on Aug 23, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockIf we don't like our job, our house, or if we are generally unhappy about our position in life, we naturally try to change our circumstances. When we are uncomfortable with any situation, we instinctively attempt to escape from it. We might feel angry inside, or frustrated thinking that ...
Views: 875 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 14 — Seven Days (Part 4) - by Submitted on Aug 21, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"There is only one way that my training can be taken to heart," Weepasa warned, "and that is if mindfulness is uninterrupted each wakeful moment of each day. Do you understand what I have just said? Each wakeful moment of the day! Initially you will feel lost and confused because when your mind ...
Views: 871 - Meditation: The Interesting Quirks of Access Samadhi - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockAccess Samadhi is a stage of meditation where interesting things can happen. It is the active gateway to fixed Samadhi. The danger with access Samadhi is that a meditator can become so engrossed with the unusual aspects of access Samadhi that they lose interest in going further. The ...
Views: 869 - Being Born Again is a Good Beginning! - by Submitted on Jan 03, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockBeing born again is a great start, but if you are finally ready to complete this "work in progress," here are seven areas to monitor: · Is there any lingering ill-will toward others that may not agree with you? · Are you self-righteous? (I'm right; you're wrong!) · ...
Views: 864 - The Key (A Fairytale) - The Final Chapter (Part 2) A Promise To Keep - by Submitted on Aug 24, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"Trying to change this ‘I thought' requires trying to change something very ingrained," cautioned Weepasa. "It involves the destruction of ‘ourselves' because this ‘I', this ‘Me' is mixed up with our every thought and emotion. We can never put aside this ‘I' thought ...
Views: 863 - Going Around In Circles - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockJanet and I were taking our three-mile walk around the neighborhood this morning when we met another couple walking in the opposite direction. The woman smiled and said in passing, "Ever feel that youre going around in circles?" I looked back over my shoulder and quipped, "That's life!" Then I ...
Views: 862 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 13 - When The Dust Blows Away? (Part 4) - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockI threw myself into my practice of investigation, and did exactly as Weeja instructed, alternating between the Calms and Investigation for the next two months, but I was having problems. I investigated my body and mind tirelessly by observing the various contacts with my senses, then I watched ...
Views: 859 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 13 — When The Dust Blows Away? (Part 3) - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWeeja apparently felt that he was making a crucial point as he repeated it to make certain we understood: " Contact is that instant when a sound touches my ear or a sight touches my eye. This contact lasts but an instant because right after the moment of contact, a feeling arises; desire, ...
Views: 858 - Help Change the World — Change Your Socks! - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockI know; it's your day off, so you drag yourself out of bed and throw on the same clothes you wore yesterday. What the heck, you'll be working around the house all day anyway, why even take a shower, you can take a shower and change clothes later. You grab some coffee, stumble into the media ...
Views: 857 - The Key (A Fairytale) Goodbye, My Son — Chapter 11: (Part 5) - by Submitted on Jul 29, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockAt that exact moment, a young couple from the village was coincidently walking down the path with some food they had prepared for me. When they saw me emerge from the cave with this creature from hell, they were understandably horrified and dove into the bushes, as they had never seen such a ...
Views: 857 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 14 — Seven Days (Part 1) - by Submitted on Aug 15, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockConqueror, my mystical horse, was not getting any younger. He had lived well beyond a normal lifespan and I wondered how many trips he could still make. Was that old, robed man, who brought an enchanted colt to the Kingdom of Ayatana those many years ago, the sorcerer? Of course, he was, and he ...
Views: 854 - Crumbs From God’s Table - by Submitted on Jan 31, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockEndless enticements overwhelm us. They make their way into to every nook and cranny of our lives - but their allure is waning. No matter how good it gets; it's only so much, and only now are we beginning to wake up to what St. John of the Cross knew; that true happiness can only be found within, ...
Views: 853 - The Key (A Fairytale) — Chapter 2: Ariya (Part 4) - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockA few weeks passed by with no further sign of Ariya, as I continued this strange quest for a mystical key. I didn't know where I was going, or perhaps I did. At any rate, one morning while I was wading through a flooded area after a heavy thunderstorm, I found myself sinking. The more I ...
Views: 852 - Seven Indicators That Your Life is about to Take a Turn - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockYour plan C has replaced your plan B. It's just not working out the way you had planned. Even when it does work out the way you plan, it still doesn't work out . . . somehow. Asking yourself, "Is this all there is?" This is a definite, clear signal that you've tried about everything that ...
Views: 851(1 vote) - The Key (A Fairytale) - The Final Chapter (Part 4) A Promise To Keep - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockI resignedly went back to my training, somewhat relieved, but in my heart, I knew this whole episode with Weepasa was simply my mind trying to squirm out of the inevitable – the constant mindfulness he insisted would be required. In time, I was able to see that these questions were not ...
Views: 850 - The Key (A Fairytale) — Chapter 1: One More Journey (Part 2) - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockMy father timidly put his hand on my shoulder. "I am sorry that I have not been able to make you happy, Son. I have tried. Lord I have tried." He looked into my eyes searching for some kind of recognition, but I gave him none. "It's just that since your mother died," he continued, "I have been ...
Views: 850 - The Key (A Fairytale) - The Final Chapter (Part 3) A Promise To Keep - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"What now, my ‘king,'" he greeted me sarcastically, his face expressing his obvious exasperation. "I have been experiencing unusual wisdom, and wondered what I should do?" "The wisdom you have experienced and are now telling me about is dead and gone. Do you see that? The truth can only ...
Views: 849