In an earlier post, I referenced four basic world views from Joanna Macy’s World as Lover, World as Self. They were The World as Battlefield, The World as Trap, The World as Lover and The World as Self. Each of us perceives the world through the prism of our own conditioning. Depending on where we find ourselves in our lives, we may move  back and forth through any and all of these world views. What if we could let go of our conditioning — if only for a moment — and see the world just as it is. Is it possible to take off the glasses of our conditioning and see the true reality unburdened by the emotional baggage we carry with us throughout our lives?

This question emerges from within all of the earth’s great spiritual traditions. Of course we might also ponder that great philosopher Peggy Lee, when she asked, “Is that all there is?” We are constantly searching for meaning and fulfillment in our lives, whether we acknowledge it or not. In the Zen tradition, teachers pose many questions to their students.

If you are wrestling with Peggy’s question or any other, for that matter, you may want to attend a lecture by my teacher, Janet Jiryu Abels, on “What is Zen?” To be sure, the word “zen” is attached to everything from golf to interior design to yoga. For all I know there may well be a Nose-Picker’s Guide to Zen Enlightenment.  This event focuses on the real deal. A true teacher,  Janet will  manifest the nature of Zen practice in her lecture and provide an orientation to zazen, the core discipline of that practice. “What is Zen?” will be offered at 7:00 pm Thursday, March 25th at the Chatham Village Clubhouse on Mt. Washington. To register or for more information, please contact me here or visit www.plumblossomzendo.org.

“The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them” — Stephen King

The news of the devastation in Haiti saturates our print and electronic media. The immensity of nature’s destruction in this poor country at once fascinates and appalls us. Fortunately it also draws forth our compassion. Above all, what is needed is our action. 

The effort of  the world’s relief organizations, medical assistance and relief workers has been stymied by the descruction of what little infrastructure Haiti had to begin with. Some of the barriers, however, have been overcome and food, medicine and other resources are getting through.  Much more is needed.

Not many of us can go to the source and help. However, we can choose to donate what we can to aid those who have suffered and lost so much. Here is a partial listing of organizations that are providing aid:

• Action Against Hunger 877-777-1420
• American Friends Service Committee 215-241-7000
• American Red Cross 800-733-2767
• Care 800-521-2273
• American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee 212-687-6200
• Catholic Relief Services 800-736-3467
• Doctors Without Borders 888-392-0392
• Oxfam America 800-776-9326

A far more complete listing can be found on today’s New York Times online edition.

When we give, we touch the lives of others. When we reflect deeply on the suffering of others, we give energy to the source of our love and compassion. We intuitively understand we are one with all sentient beings. Please give.

I’ve been suggesting you explore various body practices that allow the egoic mind to still while the body shares a wisdom that goes beyond intellectual understanding. In one previous post, I suggested you try a very simple breath meditation. Today I want to discuss focusing, a way of coming home to yourself.

Focusing was originally developed by Eugene Gendlin at the University of Chicago. On one level, focusing helps people resolve human conflicts and get in touch with their own inner direction. On a deeper level, focusing becomes a form of spiritual meditation that helps people discover their own form of self-transcendence.

Focusing is best practiced initially with a partner who has been trained in the focusing process. The subject sits in a comfortable chair with her eyes closed. The partner becomes a mirror for the subject engaged with focusing. Focusing sessions generally last for 20 - 25 minutes. Each session begins with the subject choosing some “thing” that is preventing him/her from feeling “really free, alive and at the top of your game.” If nothing jumps to mind, the subject is encouraged to take an inventory and then choose the topic or issue that is most prominent. It’s interesting to note that the subject does not have to reveal the theme, topic or issue.

The partner initiates the focusing dynamic by asking where and how the subject feels the topic in her body. The subject responds in various possible ways: “I feel a tightening in my stomach.” “My throat feels dry.” “I feel a warmth around my heart.” The partner asks if the subject wishes to “stay with” the sensation, perhaps putting her hand over the part of the body where the sensation is being experienced. Throughout the session, the subject is always free to opt out (”I don’t want to stay with this.”) at any point. The overwhelming majority of subjects opt to stay with the topic.

The session continues as the “felt sense” moves throughout the body, emerging as a physical sensation, a visualization, a thought, a memory. The subject tells her partner how the topic feels and the partner repeats her exact words back to her, asking for further clarification if she has not given the exact words as voiced by the subject. At some point, the subject decides that there is nothing more to be explored and that it’s a good time to stop.

At this point, the partner asks the subject to trace her steps from the time she first took up the issue to when she decided to stop. The subject complies. Often, but not always, the subject experiences a felt shift within the body. Someone who complained of pain or discomfort, for example, might find that the pain has decreased or stopped entirely. If the subject had been diagnosed with chronic pain and felt herself a victim or punished by God for some sin, perhaps she might still feel some pain but with the sense of victimhood now taken away.

No amount of description can truly capture the body wisdom of the focusing process. It can only be appreciated by experiencing it for one’s self. Feel free to contact me if you would like to experience the power of focusing.

Eastern wisdom highlights the power of breathing for physical and emotional well being.  Eastern martial arts masters focus on abdominal breathing as a way to focus energy in the lower adominal region known variously as the tanden or hara. Many forms of meditation focus on the breath. Some traditions encourage the practitioner to manipulate the breath in some way. Other traditions simply ask the meditator to “be with” the breath.

With the frenetic pace and chaos of modern life, more and more people are turning to meditation in an effort to bring more peace and tranquility into their lives. In my work as a chaplain and a career coach, I frequently teach hospice volunteers and career clients a very simple form of breath meditation. It does not require any special posture. They may choose to use a round cushion, a bench or a chair.

Space does not allow for comprehensive discussion, but here are a few basic points to keep in mind:

• Select a place in your home where you will be undisturbed.
• Select a time where you can spend at least 10 minutes alone. You may choose early morning before you begin your daily routine, or in the evening after dinner or before bedtime. Try to maintain a consistent schedule.
• Use a timer of some sort so you will not have to look at your watch or clock.
• Sit erect yet relaxed; tuck your chin in and lengthen the back; let your eyes fall naturally toward the floor or a wall at a 45 degree angle.
• Place your hands, palm down, on your thighs.
• Place your attention on a space about three fingers below your navel; picture a balloon within your lower abdomen.
• With each inhalation, allow the balloon to fill with air; with each exhalation, allow the balloon to deflate.
• Concentrate completely on your breath.
• Whenever you notice a thought or feeling has captured your attention, let it go and bring yourself back to your breath, your posture, the present moment.

I’d like you to conduct a two month experiment. Try this simple practice for 60 days. Try to meditate at least 5 days each week. Important note: Do not expect to “gain” anything from this simple practice. Just do it!

At the end of your experiment, email me and give me your reactions.

Most of us are ruled most of the time by the thoughts and feelings generated by the egoic mind. This, of course, is but a small part of our total being, but the messages it sends out tend to dominate our perceptions and shape our actions, unless we find ways to reduce their impact. In Zen, there is a saying, “The body becomes enlightened and the mind follows.” Yet we seldom truly listen to our bodies and the wisdom they can offer us. In subsequent posts, we’ll explore some approaches to accessing the wisdom of the body to empower you in your search for fulfillment and abundance in your life.

My friend and marketing guru, Stephen L. Eckert, is holding a dynamic webinar, “How Much Marketing Do We Need?”  on Monday, January 11th at 1:00 pm. It’s crammed packed with important information such as:

• How to unpack your go-to-market strategy and  connect the dots to make your  marketing more effective
• How to track and measure how much marketing your organization needs to meet its goals

For more information or to register visit: genius@geniusmarketing.com. Check out Steve’s website: www.geniusmarketing.com.  And, for those job seekers who want the real skinny on how to market themselves during this Great Recession, pick up your copy of Steve’s special report, available only through www.pittsburghcareercoach.com. You’ll be glad you did!

As individuals each of us seek fulfillment and abundance in our lives. As we look back on the past decade, 9/11, the invasions of Irag and Afghanistan, and the near implosion of our entire financial system have shattered American complacency. Our confidence in our national security, financial future and our hegemony in global affairs has been challenged as never before.

However, instead of drawing together as a people, as a nation, we have become increasingly fragmented. We have become a country at war with itself, with liberals pitted against conservatives, with “true believers” in each camp outing one another as heretics. To be sure, democracy is built on the assumption that there will be diverse views of governance, of domestic and foreign policy. Democracy is demonstrably inefficient. Our political system manifests the sharp divisions within our populace. However, in decades past, our political leaders were able, often after bitter debate,  to bridge their views and cobble together legislative compromises that moved the country forward.

No longer. The reality of “bi-partisanship” has been consigned to the scrap heap of history. We have become so polarized as a people that we can no longer engage in civil discourse much less serious discussion of the fundamental and over-arching problems that face us as a nation. And our political leaders have so embraced the philosophies of the idealogues among us that our political system is at a standstill. There are no serious calls for coming together, for compromise, only finger pointing and denunciaton. In the meantime, the core issues of health care, education, national security, climate change and poverty are at best being addressed with band aids instead of meaningful action.

Politicians reflect what they think are the beliefs and values of their constituencies. We may grumble and curse ”those politicians” in Harrisburg and Washington. But the real answer lies within ourselves. Are we willing as individuals to reach out to those with beliefs different that ours? Are we ready to really listen to what “they” have to say? Can we truly bring rationality and reason into our private and public dialogues. This is our greatest national challenge.

For 2010 I have produced a very special program for those of you who are furloughed, employed but looking for a better job or burned out with your  present job.  I have created a powerful e_Seminar designed to dramatically shorten the time you spend finding the right job with the right organization. The cost of the seminar is within the budget of virtually everyone and I am including three free bonus reports that provide proven strategies for launching an all out job search campaign. You know I don’t blow my own horn. But I simply must share my excitement about this new product development. However, I won’t give you any more information here.

For the full story, don’t walk, but run to check out my new website: www.findthatjobfast.com. If you are really serious about landing that job in 2010, you simply cannot pass up this offer.  And don’t keep the secret to yourself; tell your friends, relatives, business associates —  anyone you know who wants to further their career, about this amazing opportunity.

As always, I look forward to your comments and feedback.

As 2010 approaches we revive our national pastime of identifying  our New Year’s resolutions. Some forge ahead and succeed in making their resolutions a reality. Others find themselves in February or March with their resolutions set aside and forgotten. In my past life, before dirt, I was a planner for nonprofit organizations. I loved putting plans together for my employer as well as personal action plans that grew out of my annual resolutions. On a professional level, I was generally successful (a good thing, since my performance warranted a continuation of my salary). On a personal level, however, I was far less successful. It was very discouraging.

I think I now have a much clearer idea of why I abandoned my earlier resolutions. Looking back, it seems there were a number of reasons. Too often, I indulged myself in wishful thinking. I lacked a strong vision based on a thorough understanding of my strengths, limitations, what was in my control and what was not.  Too often I was too ambitious, perhaps even grandiose. In other words my resolutions were not realistic.

Too often my plans reflected my impatience for success. I was determined to leap over large buildings in a single bound  instead of identifying and then executing the small steps which, when completed, would slowly build a foundation for long term success. I was obsessed with goals rather than the process of attaining those goals. My impatience undermined my resolutions.

I was too fixated on perfect execution. A wise mentor of mine once told me, “Set stretch goals, but be satisfied with attaining 80 percent of them.”  The best baseball players seldom hit more than 33 percent of the balls thrown to them. Striving for perfection destroys our self-confidence and is corrosive to our self-esteem.

So if you want to create positive change in your life during 2010, consider these simple suggestions:

• Create an exciting yet realistic vision of your resolution. Visualize the end result and its benefits.
• Focus on process; identify and complete the small, attainable steps that lead to long term success.
• Cultivate patience.
• Let go of perfectionism; take satisfaction in realizing 80 percent of your objectivves.

Contact me and let me know how you’re doing! I welcome my relationships with each of you.