Looking for optimism in today’s world

I happened to notice the web site called Optimism Apps today – I thinks from a first look it is for a mood chart and meant for people searching for optimism, wanting to feel optimistic.

This is a facinating subject to me and I check in on the this topic now and then. I know I am one of the lucky ones to feel this innately, and benefit from kindnesses given me by parents and friends.

I noticed a blog called “The Spirit Age: Stumbling Mindfully Through the Modern Age” and the writer covers the Dalai Lama’s optimism despite so much suffering for Tibetans in the past 50 years. Read his blog to see an interesting post and the essence of what I was searching for.

Compassion is traveling into your neighborhood

The Dalai Lama’s continuous travel around the world to talk about compassion is amazing. The awareness he has generated permeates so much in our Western world today, and it is growing. This is not specifically about continuting a Tibetan view but more about infusing the generic concepts of Buddhism into everyday culture and practices.

You can follow the Dalai Lama on Facebook. He says this week: “When we wish and seek to help others, our attitude is more positive and relationships become easier. We are less afraid and have less anxiety. Otherwise we remain shy and hesitant, and feel the need to take a thousand precautions before we approach people. When our intentions are good, we have greater self-confidence and are stronger. This is how we learn to understand how precious and valuable kindness is.”

Also note, “It is clear that inner peace is the principal cause of happiness. We can observe this in our daily lives. On days when we are calm and happy, even if difficulties arise or we fall victim to a mishap, we take it well, it doesn’t bother us unduly. But on days when we feel sad or have lost our usual calmness, the least little annoyance will take on enormous proportions and be deeply upsetting to us.”

The Dalai Lama visits: a time for reflection

This coming week is a special one – the Dalai Lama will be in Atlanta at Emory for a few days, and many monks, lamas, and other Buddhist scholars will be here for

Tibetan Buddhist monks create a mandala

a conference. I am looking forward to participating and volunteering with Drepung Loseling Monastery, Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Practice and Culture, where I study Buddhism.

On Sunday, the Dalai Lama will lead “Teaching to the Buddhist Community: The Nature and Practice of Compassion.” His Holiness will explain the nature of compassion and the practices for cultivating it as understood in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition—something to which His Holiness has dedicated his entire life.

The conference descriptions says: Having established itself and laid down roots outside of traditionally Tibetan Buddhist areas through the efforts of many teachers, and particularly His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the time has come for teachers and students of Tibetan Buddhism to consider its future direction, with an eye to ensuring that the tradition continues to grow as a beneficial force for the peace, well-being and happiness of humanity.

Coinciding with the three-day visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Emory University, this conference will bring together the preeminent leaders, teachers, scholars, translators, supporters, and students of Tibetan Buddhism from both traditionally Tibetan Buddhist areas and western countries to engage in substantive discussion about the current state of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world and how best to move forward collectively.

Finding wisdom on the BlogHer web site

Credit: University of Queensland

I spent the 4th of July relaxing and ferrying my running family members to and from the Peachtree Road Race – and then of course, breakfast at Landmark intown for the usual feast. I was thinking about how fortunate I am that my choices to live in a positive way are working for me.

Today I am looking at ways others create a happy space, and a good place to visit is the BlogHer [Life Well Said] web site. You can find bloggers here covering the waterfront of ideas for this.

I found a blog by Mata H. in “Moms & Family” that I like, so I am excerpting here and sending you to her full blog for more.

“Appreciate what you do have. If you’ve been hot and heavy on the road to having it all, you may have neglected to appreciate what you do have.

Try to find things/obligations/time-eaters that you can jettison.

Let go of the fantasy that “having it all” is a possible thing.

Look in your life for those relationships and experiences that bring you the most joy or satisfaction. Try to have more of them.”

More.

Following the life of Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh

One of the most impressive persons in the world today is Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese-born Buddhist monk now living in France at Plum Village. Tap into his ideas via Facebook, if you are using this site.

According to his web site, Thich Nhat Hanh is not only a monk, but also a poet, a scholar, and a peace activist. He founded the Van Hanh Buddhist University in Saigon and the School for Youths of Social Services in Vietnam. When not travelling the world to teach “The Art of Mindful Living”, he teaches, writes, and gardens in Plum Village, France, a Buddhist monastery for monks and nuns and a mindfulness practice center for lay people.”

This description on the web site does not do justice to how important he is to the Buddhist world, and it is better said at Shambala Sun in this month’s issue, but you will have to buy the publication because only a short interview is available on the web site.

A good summary can be found on Wikipeidia. “He traveled to the U.S. to study at Princeton University, and later to lecture at Cornell University and Columbia University. His focus at the time, was to urge the U.S. government to withdraw from Vietnam. He urged Martin Luther King, Jr. to publicly oppose the Vietnam War; King nominated Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize in January 1967.  He created the (non-Zen) Order of Interbeing in 1966, establishing monastic and practice centers around the world. In 1973, the Vietnamese government denied Nhat Hanh permission to return to Vietnam and he went into exile in France. From 1976-1977 he led efforts to rescue Vietnamese boat people in the Gulf of Siam. Nhat Hanh has become an important influence in the development of Western Buddhism.  His teachings and practices aim to appeal to people from various religious, spiritual, and political backgrounds, intending to offer mindfulness practices for more Western sensibilities.”

ABC Diane Sawyer showcases optimism

I like to watch evening network news and always turn to Diane Sawyer on ABC World News, one of the best journalists and anchors ever. She has the whole package, but her delivery is both serious and compassionate, her best qualities.

The world

On this program you will find the most uplifting stories – especially via Person of the Week – so I am linking there in keeping with my view of optimism for today’s world.

Another place to see stories of inspiration is the American Heart program – it reminds you of how good people can be to each other.

World Cup and soccer players’ patience

Soccer ball

I have been watching a lot of soccer this week with the World Cup games.

Watching the players patiently apply their skills, forward thinking, but applying an amazing moment to moment concentration makes me think about some of the practice in Buddhist meditation where essentially a person is patiently concentrating and staying in the moment.

Wikipedia says patience “the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast.”

“In Buddhism, patience is one of the “perfections” that a bodhisattva trains in and practices to realize perfect enlightenment. In both Hinduism and Buddhism there is a particular emphasis on meditation, aspects of which lead to a natural state of mindfulness that is conducive to patient, effective and well-organised thought.”

So, I am enjoying watching the practive of patience of the World Cup players [of course you also see the frustrations some players will experience] as they work to achieve their goals.

Life with the glass half full

I like to find ways to practice optimism and happened across this cool web site called SuccessConciousness.com.

On a web site page devoted to the power of a positive attitude, Remez Sasson provides good words for applying a positive approach including: constructive thinking, creative thinking and expecting success. Visit this page for more ideas.

Lotus flower

Sasson says, … inner work, concentration, meditation and spiritual growth, as well as self-improvement and creative visualization can be practiced everywhere, not only in secluded and quiet places.” No doubt this fits into the practice of Buddhism and other approaches to compassion in the world.

You can find a lot out there about thinking positively, so find something you can connect with and go for it!

Asserting yourself: criticism vs positivity

It is interesting to look at management styles and see what gains the most respect. A lot of time and money is spent on figuring this out.

Smiling is good for you!

In a new blog by Russell Bishop on Huffington Post, he asks “Do you have the ability to look at a situation and instead see what’s wrong with it? Perhaps you have the ability to look at something and see how it could be improved? Same ability, really. If you have the ability to perceive what’s wrong or to identify what would make something better, then you may possess the ability some would call “discernment.” … Do you find yourself in rather frequent bouts of criticism? Do you criticize how others think?

Check out his ideas.

Travels of the Dalai Lama for the greater good

I take a look at the Dalai Lama‘s activities now and then, and I am amazed at his schedule and his energy for talking about Buddhism’s role in the world.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Regarding his visit to Japan this week he said,  “Japanese Buddhist practitioners should engage in dialogues with scientists to explore areas where science and religion can find a common ground in understanding universal values like compassion and kindness. In the last few years, secular dialogues between Tibetan Buddhists and Western scientists have attracted attention to the role of meditation in creating balance between mind and body.”

His approach to understanding in the world in a simple message, “Whatever the position or the identity, whether he is a king or some President, a business man or a beggar, we all have same mental disposition. Happiness that we derive from money and material goods are of temporary nature, we should seek for a lasting happiness which is comes from our inner value. This ultimate source of happiness based on satisfaction and inner value is the basis for a happy life. This promotion of inner value is of utmost importance in order to be happy.”

The work the Dalai Lama with The Mind-Life Institute is amazing. And his connection to Emory University via multiple channels such as the Emory-Tibet Partnership provides opportunities to better understand the importance of compassion in our world. Looking at the intersection of Buddhism and science is at the forefront of this relationship.

Emory’s web says, “By accepting this invitation, Emory has embarked on an historic initiative to expand the horizons of knowledge for Tibetan monks and nuns. The vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is not only to give Tibetan monastics new tools for understanding the world, but also to give those monastics tools to contribute to the effort of translating time-tested Buddhist contemplative knowledge in a practical way that can help relieve suffering around the world.”