All posts filed under: buddha

Critical Life Lessons from Watching My Parents Die

December 18, 2016
by Madeline Johnson
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book quotes / buddha / communication / death / dying / relationships / self awareness / self transformation

They’re not dead yet, but they aren’t living either, although they were once a fantastic dynamic duo, living quite a wonderful life, they are now in a highly emotional state trying to navigate a fiercely complex and shifting terrain that is filled with unknowns. Now at 76 my mom has stage four lung cancer and even though she will start a new FDA-approved targeted therapy in less than a week, she is very scared, angry and […]

Instant Karma and A Trip to Paradise

September 24, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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advice / awareness / book quotes / buddha / buddhism / compassion / Creating Habits / daily rituals / enlightenment / how to be / how to live / inspiration / Karma / kindness / learning / life / life advice / Life Hacks / lifelong learning / Lightening Up / live intentionally / Living Intentionally / Living with purpose / Meditation / mental health / mindfullness / mindfulness / mindset / motivation / self actualization / self mastery / self transformation / Success / success tips / thoughts / transformation / zen / zen buddhism

Most of us in the western part of the world believe that karma is a supernatural universal law of justice. He or she did something bad, hurtful, deceitful, etc. well, karma will get them in the end. The reality and truth is, when the eastern sages spoke about karma, they were speaking about selfishness. The word “karma” in Sanskrit means “action” and the Buddha believed in two types of action. Bad selfish action and good […]

Inviting Your Troubles to Tea

September 22, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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advice / awareness / buddha / compassion / Creating Habits / daily rituals / deliberate practice / eating / enlightenment / fear / forgiveness / gratitude / Habits / health / how to be / how to live / inspiration / kindness / learning / life / life advice / Life Hacks / Lifestyle / Lightening Up / live intentionally / Living Intentionally / Medicinal Ta / Meditation / mental health / mental training / mindfulness / mindset / purpose / radical acceptance / self actualization / self mastery / self transformation / self trust / self-help / slowing down / spirituality / Tara Brach / Tea / Thich Nhat Hanh / transformation / zen / zen buddhism

The night before the Buddha attained final enlightenment he had a visit from the demon king Mara. Mara represented all the anger, doubt, fear, striving, craving and greed of the world. He came to tempt the Buddha. Instead of ignoring Mara or driving him away, the Buddha calmly acknowledged his presence, staying “I see you, Mara“ He then invited Mara to tea as an honored guest. It is suggested that we do the same when […]

Lightening Up, Sparking Joy and Creating Love

September 19, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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advice / book quotes / buddha / Creating Love / diet / eating / exercise / findyourpassion / forgiveness / how to be / how to live / inspiration / life advice / Life Hacks / lifelong learning / Lightening Up / live intentionally / mental diet / mental health / mental training / mindfulness / slowing down / Sparking Joy / transformation

As I read many of your blogs I can see that we are on a similar path of questioning our lives, bettering ourselves and pursing our dreams. As I seek to accomplish the same, mine is a three part story and also an endless loop of lightening up, sparking joy and creating love. Creating a life that I love and that inspires the world. Success So Far Some of the less exciting details. In the past year […]

The Greatest Version of You

September 14, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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advice / authentic voice / awareness / book quotes / buddha / enlightenment / mindfulness / zen buddhism

The Highest Version of Myself “When you become too familiar with who you are, you have become in fact a real stranger to yourself.” Quote from – Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom Inspired by a morning meditation question, what does the best version of myself do today? Frames everything I do with gratitude, appreciating my meals, family, work, friends and opportunities to inspire others and connect. Spends time in the company of wise […]

The Secret to a Super Successful Day

September 4, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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advice / appreciation / book quotes / buddha / enlightenment / gratitude / how to be / how to live / inspiration / life / life advice / lifelong learning / live intentionally / Meditation / mindfullness / mindfulness / mindset / minimalism / motivation / poems / Poetry / purpose / radical acceptance / Rumi / Rumi Poems / self actualization / self mastery / self transformation / self trust / self-help / spirituality

This human being is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, Some momentary awareness, Comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all!! Even if they are a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house and empty of its furniture. Still treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, Meet them at the […]

The Miracle of Mindfulness and Mono-Tasking

September 3, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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buddha / findyourpassion / learning / life / life advice / live intentionally / Meditation / mindfullness / mindfulness / minimalism / motivation / Thich Nhat Hanh / zen / zen buddhism

“Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion.” ― Thích Nhất Hạnh Adventure travel isn’t always about riding big waves, biking through forests and ascending new heights — sometimes it’s about wandering inside, to explore the realm of our inner worlds. I’m stoked to be going to Town Hall NYC  to hear one of the […]

Mastering Your Mind with Charlie Bradford Part 4

August 31, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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advice / authentic voice / buddha / enlightenment / findyourpassion / how to live / inspiration / learning / life / life advice / lifelong learning / live intentionally / Meditation / mental health / mental training / mindfullness / mindfulness / mindset / motivation / self actualization / self mastery / self transformation / self trust / self-help / soulful / transformation / zen / zen buddhism

I started this blog to connect with brilliant thinkers and doers like yourself with the intention of making new friends from all around the world. It’s been a little over  a month and I am excited to say, that it’s working. I am inspired by what I am reading and learning from so many of you. I recently discovered, thinker, writer and modern day philosopher,  Charlie Bradford, author of Ensouling Potential. If you haven’t read Charlie’s work, […]

Sensing Awe in the AWEdinary

August 29, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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If you are paying attention you can find truth and inspiration anywhere and everywhere, in the most ordinary things and experiences in life. To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower – Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and eternity in an hour.  ~ William Blake Study – The Complete Poetry & Prose of William Blake What passes for spectacular and awesome in today’s culture is […]

Mastering Your Mind with Charlie Bradford Part 3

August 24, 2015
by Madeline Johnson
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advice / buddha / enlightenment / findyourpassion / gratitude / how to be / how to live / inspiration / learning / life / life advice / lifelong learning / live intentionally / mental diet / mental health / mental training / mindfullness / mindfulness / mindset / minimalism / motivation / philosophy / self actualization / self mastery / self transformation / self trust / self-help / thoughts

  I started this blog to connect with brilliant thinkers and doers like yourself with the intention of making new friends from all around the world. It’s been a little over  a month and I am excited to say, that it’s working. I am inspired by what I am reading and learning from so many of you. I recently discovered, thinker, writer and modern day philosopher,  Charlie Bradford, author of Ensouling Potential. If you haven’t read Charlie’s […]