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Articles from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock | Selfgrowth.com
- 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: 841(1 vote) - Get a Grip On Yourself! - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockOkay, don't get a grip if you don't want to! You can wait until your life partner leaves you, your career goes down in flames, or your health goes south. But then it might be too late to get a grip; and you might end up going completely bonkers! Things untoward happen to everyone, eventually. ...
Views: 839 - Hard Times on the Horizon? - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockFlorida has been hit hard by the housing downturn. At the peak of the housing frenzy, people from all over the world, legal and illegal, flooded into Florida, fueling the burgeoning job market. Banks doled out cash like drunken sailors to housing contractors and mortgage companies, and ...
Views: 835 - Postmarked - Yesterday - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockDear God, Can you hear me? If you’re busy, I understand, But I just have a little time now. So I was hopin’ you could maybe hear me today. Just a couple loose ends to tidy up, If you can help. I done a few bad things, Won’t have time to make them right now, So I thought maybe you could ...
Views: 831 - Sainthood — The Two Intermediate Steps - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockHave you ever wondered what makes a saint, a saint? We have heard expressions such as, "He has the patience of a saint," but what other qualities do saints have that sets them apart from us normal people, and how have they attained these qualities? Were they just blessed by God because God liked ...
Views: 831 - The Key (A Fairytale) Goodbye, My Son - Chapter 11: (Part 1) - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockConqueror limped stiffly but was always eager to begin a new journey, loving the spontaneity of adventure as much as I did. Occasional wafts of warm air greeted us as we made our way down the mountain persuading me to take off my fur wrap and tie it to the horse. I wasn't sure where we were ...
Views: 830 - How Can I Deepen My Spirituality? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"You learn that if you sit down in the woods and wait, something happens." - Henry David Thoreau. Deepening what you know about your spirituality, and deepening your spirituality per se, are two different things. Deepening what you know about spirituality is relatively easy; just read ...
Views: 829 - The Key (A Fairytale) — Chapter 2: Ariya (Part 5) - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWeeks drifted by with no sign of Ariya, or anybody else for that matter, but the silence was eerie, compelling me to look over my shoulder more often now. I was back where my enemies might find me, and my life was definitely in grave danger. They knew that I was still alive. One morning just ...
Views: 829 - Stress Relief Without Drugs — Walking Meditation - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWalking meditation can be done in many ways and for many purposes, but I have found this technique to be outstanding in relieving stress. It's easy to do, and you should feel a distinct benefit from the first fifteen minutes of trying it. This technique is particularly effective for those who ...
Views: 827 - Meditation Practice and the Chameleon - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"Becoming" is a word used to describe, among other things, striving to attain states of transcendence in meditation practice. We intellectually figure out a goal, and then imagine that we have somehow attained that goal. This is the trick of a clever ego; a chameleon in the ways in which it can ...
Views: 826 - The Key (A Fairytale) — Chapter 5: Fertile Soil (Part 3) - by Submitted on May 23, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"To curb both of your curiosities," he said, "I will briefly mention the roadblocks, but they will be difficult for you to grasp at this stage of your development. At any rate, there are ten roadblocks that prevent you from your key. By overcoming the first three, you will establish Stream ...
Views: 821 - 2012 A.D. - The End? - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockI was talking to some friends the other day who just returned to Florida. They have a home down here as well as one in Philadelphia, and when I asked why they came back so early, they said that they just had to get away from their relatives! They went on to tell me about their daughters tragic ...
Views: 817 - Being in the Right Place at the Right Time - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWe are coming to the end of an era. Beginning 35,000 years ago when we were savages, we have evolved because of numerous shifts in consciousness to where we are now. This present level of consciousness is characterized by a disregard of our planet, a disdain of other's problems, an unhealthy ...
Views: 816(1 vote) - The Key (A Fairytale) - The Final Chapter (Part 6) A Promise To Keep - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockOne evening on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Ayatana, an old man in rags with one eye, leading a lame white horse, came upon an old beggar who lay dying by the side of the road. The old man gently sat the beggar up, and holding him up in his arms, gave him some water. But the beggar could not ...
Views: 815 - Christian Meditation — Phase Two - by Submitted on Dec 31, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockContemporary Christians are discovering the deeper aspects of meditation. Previously, many Christians who have experimented with meditation misunderstood the real benefits of meditation by mistakenly believing that meditation is simply a relaxation technique, or a way to think about and worship ...
Views: 814 - The Key (A Fairytale) Only A Mild Interest— Chapter 10: (Part 1) - by Submitted on Jul 05, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockSahmad began the secret instructions, "Close your eye and pay close attention so that you can precisely remember these directions. They are complicated but essential, and any deviation could prove disastrous. And remeber; opening the centers should be done every time you begin your inner work. ...
Views: 813 - The Obama Phenomena - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockCapitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of capital. Our rewards are in direct proportion to our efforts - no free lunch here. If you are energetic and intelligent, connected and educated, you should do fine. If not, you could easily end up living on the streets. This system ...
Views: 810(1 vote) - Why Christians Practice Buddhism - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThomas Merton, famous Catholic monk belonging to the cloistered Trappist tradition (Order of Cistercians of the strict observance), once said that he wanted, "to become as good a Buddhist as I can." Before he converted to Catholicism at age twenty-three, he read about Christian mysticism. He ...
Views: 810 - The Edible Bible - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockYears ago, I thought of manufacturing and selling edible Bibles. The book would be condensed, including only the most frequently quoted scriptures with pages made of a thin, wafer material similar to Catholic Holy Communion hosts. The idea was to cut out your favorite scripture and then eat it, ...
Views: 808 - Understanding Ourselves - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockHow do we go about understanding ourselves? This is a very important question because if we don't understand ourselves, how are we going to change? Do we wait for divine intervention to create our pure hearts, or do we do something proactive? If we are not sure, then why not try both ways and ...
Views: 808 - How To Be A Hero - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWhat are those unique qualities we call bravery; those almost subconscious qualities that we can't readily put our fingers on whenever we see a hero in action but somehow recognize every time someone does something out of the ordinary? It's almost as if what they do is superhuman, yet their ...
Views: 806 - The Key (A Fairytale) Goodbye, My Son - Chapter 11: (Part 3) - by Submitted on Jul 21, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWe walked from village to village for two years, and eventually reached a thriving village at the foot of a high, snow-capped mountain. According to my water-stained map, this village was only a few kilometers from the mysterious cave. I located the village elder and told him of my intentions ...
Views: 806 - The Most Dangerous Relationships – Three Signs - by Submitted on Apr 02, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWhen we fall in love, we are blinded from these three signs. This is Mother Nature's way of making sure that babies happen! After about two years, however, we regain our perspective, and these three signs begin to show up. If you are very aware, you can notice them almost immediately even ...
Views: 806 - Now That She's Gone - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockYou've been with her for many years. You have shared the ups and downs, the tragedies and the triumphs. You became used to each other and shared your dreams, the dreams you both had, with bright eyes and wondrous anticipation when you were young. . . . And then one day, she was gone. Just that ...
Views: 805 - The Key (A Fairytale) — Chapter 3: Broken Wings (Part 1) - by Submitted on Apr 20, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockSeveral weeks after the meeting with Ariya, we were making our way across a meadow when we unexpectedly ran across the most charming yellow cottage one could imagine. Nestled in the wood line behind a gorgeous flower garden with carefully tended vegetable patches on both sides, the cottage ...
Views: 805 - How Psychotherapy Possibly Gets it All Wrong - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockI am not trained in psychology, nor do I completely understand psychological terms. I am strictly speaking in a nonprofessional manner using nonprofessional terms about psychology, and about how I believe psychotherapy fails to address the primary problem regarding the mind. The primary problem, ...
Views: 803 - Ever Wonder What Buddhist Monks are Chanting? - by Submitted on May 31, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockTo give you a tiny sampling, a flavor of what Theravada Buddhist monks chant every morning, following are a few stanzas of the Buddha's exact teachings in his native Pali language (with translations), which have been precisely kept intact by his order of monks for over 2500 years, or since three ...
Views: 802 - The Key (A Fairytale) Goodbye, My Son — Chapter 11: (Part 4) - by Submitted on Jul 26, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockMiraculously, I was still alive when I woke up, having slept well. I lit my lamp to see what the monster was up to, and could see the beast slowly licking some tiger bones. It was carefully watching me out of the corner of its eye, and it was perplexed. Last night brought up things that were ...
Views: 800 - The Key (A Fairytale) Chapter 13 — When The Dust Blows Away? (Part 1) - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWe walked across great plains and countless farm fields framed against pristine days of clear morning skies, yellow-white days and nights filled with endless stars. Eventually the plains gave way to forests, and as we continued our trek, we soon could see the tangled jungle ahead. Before long, ...
Views: 799 - Can We Save Our Democracy? - by Submitted on Oct 22, 2009 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockWe are a democratic people who believe in democracy, which means equality, due process, freedom, privacy, consent and dissent, toleration, and the common good. We believe in it so adamantly that we advocate it for the world. This is because in the past, democracy has worked well for our country. ...
Views: 797 - The Key (A Fairytale) — Chapter 3: Broken Wings (Part 4) - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockConqueror was lying motionless next to the black horse. I saw immediatelty that their injuries would eventually prove fatal, but only after many long days of agony . . . and I could never let that happen. I retrieved the fiance's knife, as the black horse continued to struggle trying to get up ...
Views: 797 - True Seekers That We Are - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockTo most of us, God is an abstract thing, so isn't it curious that we fight over our differences concerning God? Maybe this is because few actually devote their lives to piercing the abstract and coming face-to-face with God. The reason, perhaps, that few search for God is because when they do, ...
Views: 797 - The Key (A Fairytale) - Chapter 4: Nothing Left To Lose (Part 6) - by Submitted on May 14, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockI found the dog lying almost dead near the path. A crossbow arrow, a type not used by the villagers, had silenced him. Somebody was after me, and apparently wanted the bounty all for himself. My instincts told me to slowly back away and move toward the denser part of the forest, but just as I ...
Views: 796 - The Key (A Fairytale) — Chapter 6: Skeletons And Snakes (Part 2) - by Submitted on May 29, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockI walked back to where a John was waiting and told him about the skeleton. He said he was well aware of the tragic situation and then told me the rest of the story. "Soon after the woman died, her body was placed in a sealed box and stored beneath one of the huts to cure, for it would take two ...
Views: 796 - . A Monk's Secret to Sleeping Better - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockAs with all advice, always check with your health care practitioner before embarking on any regimen, especially one that you haven’t tried before. Everybody’s body is different. Having said that, I would like to introduce you to the secrets I discovered about sleep while living as Buddhist monk ...
Views: 795 - Something To Believe In - by Submitted on Jul 23, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockIt's not easy to find something to believe in these days. There is so much information on the internet that whatever we believe in can be very effectively debunked in a heartbeat, leaving us with doubts at best, and at worst; total disbelief. But we can't seem to function as human beings ...
Views: 795 - Why I'm Not Rich - by Submitted on Oct 02, 2007 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThis is the indication I got while watching one of the financial cable channels recently. “Do you have enough money for retirement?” “Are you using your money to its best advantage?” “Don’t be left behind while others are becoming wealthy!” I am certainly not ready for retirement, and what ...
Views: 795 - Make the World Better Place Because You are a Part of it - by Submitted on Jan 09, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockTo make sure that your future beyond this world is going to be the best it can be, make each day a little more meaningful than the last. That's it! Make each day just a little better, just an infinitesimal amount better than the last. "Better" doesn't mean what you do, but what you notice. ...
Views: 790 - The Key (A Fairytale) Blue Shadows - Chapter 8: (Part 1) - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThis group of men had become my family, and leaving them was difficult. I went through the motions of following the schedule for the next few days, but halfheartedly, faced with the reality of striking out on my own again with Conqueror, my solitary companion, and once more following a restless ...
Views: 789 - The Key (A Fairytale) - Chapter 7: A Step Above Oblivion (Part 4) - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThis I didn't want to hear. But knowing that it was best to follow a John's advice, I made my way to the cliff and carefully peered over the edge staying as far back as I could. There, one hundred feet below were teeth-like jagged rocks that would impale anyone unfortunate enough to fall from ...
Views: 787 - The Key (A Fairytale) Blue Shadows — Chapter 8: (Part 2) - by Submitted on Jun 17, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"Surface happiness comes and goes," A John continued, "no different than breathing in and breathing out. We cannot breathe in always, we must eventually breathe out. The deeper happiness, however, is constant. If we are continuously lost in the surface happiness, and the temporary pleasure it ...
Views: 787 - Don’t Let Your Children Grow Up To Be Hippies! - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThey knew how to chord a guitar, how to live together, how to relax, and how to live on a shoestring (and off Mom and Dad mostly!) And they didn't know about money or power – that would have been way too square! Hippies were a brief respite on this road of life, one of those strange eras that ...
Views: 783 - The Key (A Fairytale) Only A Mild Interest— Chapter 10: (Part 2) - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockSahmad dispatched one of his attendants to summon a physician, while another stayed behind as an interpreter. Sahmad then instructed me to lie down, and he lit two large cones of incense, carefully placing them on my bare chest. He told me to concentrate on the pain that would soon come, as the ...
Views: 783 - Meditating in 1997 Thailand - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockMeditating in 1997 Thailand Janet and I couldn’t stay at Bhavana as a married couple, so a kind nun at the Bhavana Society referred Janet to a friend of hers; a Buddhist nun living in Thailand, thinking that Janet might be interested in going back to Southeast Asia. When Janet got in touch ...
Views: 779 - The Weight of the World - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockIt can really get heavy at times. I was recently corresponding with a good friend of mine who mentioned that he didn’t think that he was capable of developing a calm mind in such a chaotic world, which might be a common problem for a lot of us. With stress levels at an all time high, a ...
Views: 779 - The Secret to Winning Every Religious Argument! - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThe important thing is to never lose a religious argument, and this article will tell you exactly how to do that - beginning with the first rule: Don't make the usual mistakes! The usual mistakes include circling arguments. You will be challenged on circling arguments every time because they are ...
Views: 778 - The Key (A Fairytale) — Chapter 3: Broken Wings (Part 5) - by Submitted on Apr 28, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond Rock"What do you mean, ‘mistaken identity?' Was Maradin lying about who she was?" "In an indirect way, yes, she was lying without knowing it. You see; it was not Maradin that you were in love with; the real object of your affection was something deep inside of her cleverly disguised as Maradin. ...
Views: 777 - The Last Five Steps Of Sainthood - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockThe first five steps of sainthood spelled out in my previous two articles on the subject are not too difficult to understand. These last five, however, can be challenging, especially to common, non-saintly folks like us who might not have personal, deep discussions with God to fall back on! ...
Views: 777 - A Flower - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockHave you ever considered the flower? It doesn’t live long, but while it does, it displays itself so beautifully. It doesn’t concern itself with tomorrow, or yesterday; only this one precious moment is important as it unfolds its petals. It positions itself so that it doesn’t crowd the other ...
Views: 776 - Looking in All the Wrong Places - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2008 from E. (anagarika eddie) Raymond RockJust about everything we actively do is on the conscious level. While this is happening on the surface, our body and all its organs are subconsciously being given instructions and messages so that they can function. Not only the body, but the mind is working subconsciously as well, as it filters ...
Views: 776(1 vote)