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Prayer for these times of the Coronavirus

Grace of Heaven and Earth,
Grace of Parents,
Grace of Fellow Beings,
Grace of Laws,

Oh, Dharmakaya Buddha, Fourfold Grace!

May we take refuge in Dharma and be filled with compassion and wisdom.

May we transform delusion into wisdom, greed into generosity, resentment into gratitude, discord into harmony, and hatred into compassion.

In this outbreak of pandemic disease, may all nations work together and benefit mutually.

May the strong help the weak, and may the weak learn from the strong.

May all those who are sick with the virus be healed.

May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.

May we be free from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.

May those who have died from the virus be at rest.

May the families of those who are sick or have died be protected from illness and despair.

 

Dharmakaya Buddha fourfold grace,

Please watch over and protect those who put themselves at risk in the process to care for sick patients.

May the leaders of all nations have the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks.

May all people in the world learn a great lesson from this global pandemic, and overcome this disaster skillfully with a calm mind of great reflection and awakened spirit.

This we pray with our whole hearts.

~ Won Dharma Center

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LEAP YEAR (THE HEART OF THE MATTER) February 29th, 2020

Julius Caesar created “leap year” in 45BC as a way to balance out the calendar inconsistencies. Many people believe that February 29th holds significant spiritual powers. 29 breaks down to 11 (2+9) in numerology. In spiritual communities this is a number of awakening and spiritual enlightenment. Two is the number related to pursuing your soul purpose .When 11 (29th) and 2 (February) come together their energy forms to create a powerful time for love, healing and teaching.

Numerologist also believe that since since February 29th is rare, it causes a ripple effect within us which creates an opportunity for us to (leap) forward in this moment in time and “play catch up in our own lives”.

February 29th may feel just like an extra day . However, if we ponder the other events that occur in February we can use this extra day to tap into a new energy that can enhance our commitments. February is “American Heart Month” It is a month to raise awareness about heart health and to encourage those around us to prevent heart disease. Thus the 29th can serve as an extra portal of awareness about heart health. Here we have an extra reminder to stick to our plant based diet, exercise and stress reduction routines.

Let us not forget Valentine’s Day – Valentine is a given name derived from the Roman family named Valentinus which means “ strong and healthy.” Commercially we celebrate romantic love on this holiday. The true essence of love also means loving and caring for others as well as ourselves. We are reminded of Loving Kindness or Metta. The practice of Metta originally is derived from Buddhism (loving kindness, benevolence, friendliness, amity, good will and active interest in others).

Metta meditation is a practice of directing loving-kindness, well wishes and compassion towards oneself then to other people. Here is an example from Jack Kornfield:

– May I be filled with loving kindness
– May I be safe from inner and outer danger
– May I be well in body and mind
– May I be at ease and happy

So this year we have an extra day to wish loving kindness to ourselves and especially to all of the people in the world who are suffering so much.

A yoga class on February 29th may focus on opening the heart chakra. There are various poses and guided meditation practices that can be offered. The heart Chakra or anahata is the fourth chakra and in Sanskrit means “unstuck, unhurt and unbeaten”. A meditation on this chakra can bring balance, calmness and serenity.

In terms of astrology, a leap day falls in the sign of Pisces. The energy of Pisces is about connecting with our deeper consciousness, emotions and spirituality. The essence of a yoga practice is the same.

Wishing everyone a Happy Leap Year. May the extra vibrations and energy of the day encourage you to protect your health and your heart.

-May we all be filled with loving kindness
-May we all be safe from inner and outer danger
-May we all be well in body and mind
-May we all be at ease and happy

Reference: The Spiritual Significance of a Leap Day by Tanaaz
Photo by Sam Brown

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A Blessing for you

“May penetrating light dispel the darkness of ignorance.

Let all Karma be resolved

and the mind flower bloom in eternal Spring”

– Dai Hi Shu dedication

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The Beauty of Winter

Now that Winter is upon us, I wanted to share two of my photographs that show the stunning beauty that Winter can offer.

Photos by Franny Alexander

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A Solstice Meditation

I follow many other yoga practitioners, and wanted to share this lovely meditation that I received from Heart Space Yoga:
Good morning. As I write this, the sky is a light pinkish purple with the sun rise. This soft hue is reflected on a blanket of crystal white sparkles. A beautiful start to this day.
What do you think? In all the busy-ness, hustle and holiday preparations, can you take time today (even just a short while) just for you, to sit, reflect, release, and open?
Today is the sacred Winter Solstice -and the sky just keeps growing more beautiful by the way! Today marks the deep pause at the end of the Earth’s exhale. Winter Solstice is an opening or portal into deep space. It is timeless, motionless, limitless, Stillness. A space that contains all possibilities.
You are that space of infinite awareness. Take some time today to embrace the emptiness. Find yourself a warm quiet space, sit comfortably, and press PAUSE.
SOLSTICE MEDITATION
  • Sit tall in your spine, close your eyes, and relax.
  • Turn to your breath.
  • Watch and feel the movement of the breath within your body with no effort or judgement.
  • Understand that YOU are the one watching your breath.
  • YOU are the SPACE that contains the breath and all movement of Shakti
  • YOU are the SPACE that HOLDS all movement of your mind.
  • Watch the moving, turning, thoughts as you continue to know and remember you are the Space, and the one who is watching.
  • Allow yourself to melt into that openness, release form. In a way, we allow for death, to pass through us. Recognize this release as a natural part of the infinite cycle.
In meditation, we merge with Pure Awareness. We practice letting go of the personal grip, the struggle of personal identity. As humans with minds, we naturally become attached to the movement of life, and individual waves of expression. This is what we call the “ego” aspect of who we are. Not to be seen as a problem, but there is so much MORE.
In order to grow and expand the beauty of our lives, it is necessary to LET GO.
Release allows for rebirth.
Exhale serves the inhale.
Death serves Life.
Winter Solstice is a perfect time to let it dissolve.
After your meditation, take a few moments to reflect in this drawing end of another decade. Look back, 10 years ago:
What was your biggest challenge back then?
How did you feel about who you were?
What has come, and what has passed?
What have you learned? What do you know now?
For example, there were times in these past 10 years I lost confidence in who I am and what I offer. The deeper I doubted, the more miserable I felt. I finally recognized this pattern of Self Sabotage. After some journaling and close inspection (Self study “Svadyaya”), I realized what I was doing, and how I was feeling was NOT the highest TRUTH of who I am.
As soon as I really felt this, and decided to shift my thinking, EVERYTHING turned around. I LEARNED that lesson!
Does this mean I won’t ever doubt or lose belief in who I am? I wish! These patterns are usually very deeply ingrained in our emotional landscape. Which means they usually re-surface.
BUT, I know I have “seen”, and learned the lesson behind this one. So, I now can recognize it when it comes up, and do my best to NOT INDULGE MYSELF in this pattern again. There is no need. It’s cycle has come into fullness, now I can “opt out”, and LET IT GO.
This is where prayer, and Mantra become so helpful. As we redirect our minds to the infinite, the attachment to the wounds and scars of past begin to release. We can effectively “untie the knots” that block the flow of Love and greater possibility.
Today we honor the letting go. When we empty out, we effectively make way and create the space for the next building cycle.
The silence and darkness, allow us to see the source and spark of our innermost light. Feel it’s warm glow illuminate you. As you bask in that light, allow your deeper hearts desire to emerge. This is the longest night of the year. In this darkness, there is nourishment.
Here, in this fertile dream space, plant the seeds of your True intention.
Dare to ask yourself, how you want to feel and who you want to be in this new year.
We are continuously evolving as individuals and as a species. Even in our set backs, we cannot help but evolve. One step at a time, with clear intention we make change. Set your aim high in your true worthiness. Work for the benefit of ALL. Receive the gift of your own Divine creativity and take joy in your creations!
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi
PEACE….PEACE….PEACE
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“What does it mean to be human in an age of intelligent machines?”

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our
power to choose the response. In our response lies our growth and
freedom” ~ Victor E. Frankl
“The most important thing is to remember the most important thing.” ~ Zen saying

Talk by Rev. Grace Song at the Won Dharma
Center (July 28, 2019)

Rev. Grace Song began her talk by asking, “What does it mean to be human in an age of intelligent machines and how can we avoid being dominated by these machines?”. Won Buddhism can suggest the answers.

The practice serves as a guide so that we can live our lives to the fullest in a changing environment. Machines do not have a mind. Machines cannot show compassion. They cannot love.

Won Buddhism teaches us how to use our minds well in our changing times. We learn that our practice is not separated from daily life and daily life is not separate from our practice. With mind training we learn how to make choices with sound thought. We reflect inward with our thoughts initially. Then, sound thoughts can manifest in our actions to help others. Continue reading ““What does it mean to be human in an age of intelligent machines?””

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Yoga for Summer

Summer is a time of light and warmth.  Cultivate opposite environment on inside of the body – cool and calm.

Pitta is the dosha of summer – driven by solar force (high energy, heat) so we can balance pitta energy – create lunar current within the body – by choosing foods and activities that are cooling.

Cooling yoga poses

  • Moon salutation
  • Bridge with a yoga block
  • Legs up the wall
  • Supported shoulder stand
  • Forward folds-seating-wide leg
  • Floor twists

Continue reading “Yoga for Summer”

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Calming the Winds of Vata

Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. It was developed more than 3000 years ago in India and is the sister science of Yoga. It is a system that aims to create equilibrium in the body by balancing our three body types, qualities or doshas.

The doshas are derived from the five elements and are in combination as follows:
Vata- Ether (Space) and Air
Pitta- Fire and Water
Kapha- Earth and Water. Continue reading “Calming the Winds of Vata”

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