Santa rocks! Who loves us more than Santa? Who do we love more in return? Yet Santa is not just a jolly old guy in a red outfit. A true Yogi is someone who embodies love, generosity and great wisdom, and Santa is a remarkable example of such qualities, which we may all want to emulate:
1. He makes us do good and feel good. Now that's a big one, as many of us often act selfishly and badly.
2. He gives, endlessly, to everyone, all over the world, without discrimination, all at pretty much the same time. This indicates a truly generous heart, one that takes great joy in giving, without needing to receive.
3. Yet he does not give blindly. Rather he judges what is the most appropriate gift for each. This shows great discernment, as giving needs wisdom in order to be of most benefit.
4. He encourages rituals and invokes magic in every child's life: letter writing, stocking filling, decorations, parades, milk and cookies. Ritual is an essential part of honoring that which is greater than us, and magic is the beauty of the unknown.
5. He listens to our pleas and requests and reads our letters. Meaning that he takes the time to hear us and pays attention, which we could all do a lot more of.
6. He has great psychic powers: he flies in the sky with reindeer, descends chimneys without getting covered in soot, goes by many names and forms, and is extraordinarily elusive. Has anyone actually ever seen him?
7. He knows where we live. In other words, he is inside every one of us.
8. Most importantly, he lifts our spirits at the darkest time, bringing us laughter and joy, which is undoubtedly the greatest gift of all.
Through giving to others, a la Santa, we get away from selfishness and neediness, and in the process see our own self-centeredness in greater perspective. It connects us to the basic goodness within us, a quality of kindness that is easy to lose touch with. Giving--whether a smile, our time, a listening ear, food or material gifts--is profoundly joyful, both to the one who is receiving and the one who is giving. The essence of this is an open heart, a free mind, and a blissful spirit.
If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. Bob Hope
True generosity is giving without any thought of getting or receiving; it is unconditional, unattached, free to land wherever it will. Through giving and sharing in this way, we soon find that we do not lose anything; we do not have any less. Rather, we gain so much.
We were doing a booksigning at a bookstore in California and had arrived early so as to avoid the rush-hour traffic. As Deb talked with the bookshop owner, Ed chatted to a customer in the store, a man who was training to be a Zen priest. Then we left to get something to eat at a Chinese restaurant across the street. As we were eating, the man Ed had been talking to came in, nodded to us, then walked to the back of the restaurant. A while later he came back. As he passed our table he stopped and simply said, "Your dinner is paid for." Then he left. We were stunned by such a kind and generous act, and the warm memory of it has stayed with us.
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Winston Churchill
Is there a Santa in your heart? Do you have any great Santa stories? What does generosity mean to you? Do comment below. You can receive notice of our blogs every Tuesday by checking Become a Fan at the top.
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Ed and Deb Shapiro's new book, BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman, with contributors such as Marianne Williamson, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Ellen Burstyn, Michael Beckwith, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jane Fonda, Jack Kornfield, Byron Katie, Dean Ornish, Seane Corn, Dan Millman, Ed Begley Jr. and others is published by Sterling Ethos. Deb is the author of the award-winning book YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND. Ed and Deb are the authors of over 15 books, and lead meditation retreats and workshops. Enjoy their 3 meditation CD's: Metta - Loving kindness and Forgiveness; Samadhi - Breath Awareness and Insight; and Yoga Nidra - Inner Conscious Relaxation, available on their website: www.EdandDebShapiro.com
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Happy holidays to everyone.
I have a Santa (well, Mrs. Santa) story to share, also, if you're so inclined. It's on my blog...
http://www.leannejohnsonlevine.blogspot.com/
Warmest wishes to you both and keep spreading the good cheer!
I chose you as my HuffPost's Pick
Love your Mrs Santa attire .. spot on photo
http://www.leannejohnsonlevine.blogspot.com/
You are a jewel... a treasure
BE THE CHANGE - MEDITATE
Ed
The first step in dealing with our mind is to know our present state of mind and to acknowledge that state of mind it is in. If we are restless then we acknowledge that and then bring it back to focus on the breath. If our thoughts are wandering away then we acknowledge that and again bring the focus back.
In doing so, we awaken from the state of delusion. When we are not meditating then we should be focused on our present task we are doing. For example if we are slicing a cucumber with a sharp knife and if the mind wanders elsewhere then we should immediately bring it back to focus on what we are doing. When we are driving, our focus should be on the road otherwise we might end up knocking a dustbin and crashing into a tree!
When you are annoyed, acknowledge the state of mind and focus on your breath. Move away from the state of anger. To realize the state of mind is in delusion and moving out of it is call awaken. Awaken to danger.
a man tilling the field,
a lark singing above it.
Dealing with our mind.
Simply be an observer to any unpleasant thoughts that come into mind. At the end of the day just find time and space and sit down relaxed with your eyes closed. Stop discriminating thinking and instead recognize any thoughts that appear through your feelings, note whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. Just let the thought arise if it is negative and observe it together with the unpleasant feelings but don't engage it. Just be an observer staying with these thoughts. You will find the thought or consciousness will rise, peak and fade away. The trapped energies are actually being released and dissipate away. I don't know if you can call it meditation. People have a wide range of definitions for meditation. It also works for stress, depression and migraine. Don't recycle those thoughts.
If a disturbing thought keeps on repeating itself then it is worthwhile to investigate it. The next step to develop is insight. Look for the cause of our suffering within the context of the Buddha Dharma.
After sometime observing our thoughts our mind will have clarity.
this plum-tree at the gate.
The Buddha's Eightfold Noble Path actually prevent fresh negative karmic . Right Understanding; Right Thoughts; Right Speech; Right Livelihood; Right Action; Right Effort; Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.
If you read up on these Noble Paths you will find that the Buddha's Teachings is actually not a religion. It is a way of life that uses common sense to guide our body, mind and actions. How many times did our wrong speech caused enmity and hurt others? Right Mindfulness teaches us to guard our six senses like a boat with six holes that need to be plugged to prevent our untoward reaction to external and internal phenomenon.
Phew! This will be the second last long winded message I share with HuffPo readers.
Thanks again Ed & Deb for allowing me to post these messages.
Holiday Hugs
for our Yogini Tara
The answer to the post: Of course Santa is a yogi! He is about love and giving, which quintessentially he practices. If we can bring cultivate even 1 of the 8 points that you have listed out, this will be a peaceful and generous place.
Namaste.
I posted you as my HuffPost Pick
Blessed are your words may they bear fruit
BE THE CHANGE - MEDITATE
Ed
If you Meditate it will appear on your tree.
and if you Meditate longer it will become the star on top!
BE THE CHANGE - MEDITATE
Ed
Even in our fairy tales we can associate with an all knowing, et....qualities and conceive of stockings being stuffed with material gifts, yet not a God who gives us peace in our souls every walking and breathing moment of our life.
Food for thought:)
I enjoyed this: it deserves
This is a great blog and kind of makes me laugh. Its funny how you could substitute God for Santa in all those statements and people would have a cow.
Food for thought:)
Enjoy the journey,
Ed
Swami Satchidananda is the perfect Yogi Santa
Your comment is a delight ... may we all feel the Peace Love and Light of Satchidananda and Satyananda
BE THE CHANGE - MEDITATE
Ed
Merry Christmas & a Better Economy Next Year.
Don't forget to get your children to get gifts for the homeless, orphans and the old folks homes. Donate generously to those who could not afford. If you know a friend or family whose bread winner have been laid off do invite them for Christmas dinner. Their children probably need cheering up so don't forget to lavish them with presents.
May all people be cared for
Ed
Thanks to your ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT blog today...... I've just decided to take on a new identity...SANTA!
And , Oh My ...what a glorious feeling!!!
Happy Holiday, Everyday...
.Love, Love, Love!
cause you LIGHT up to world!
Joyful Blessings,
Ed
So Santa really is real! I knew it. Generosity lives.
I like the idea of cultivating generosity so that it infects all of us. Just imagine. We live in a generous world. We give generously. Material stuff maybe. But more so, our willingness to look for and find the best in each other. We are warm hearted when we go out into the world, at work, with our neighbours, with the passing person in the street, fellow drivers in heavy traffic; in the bus queue, anywhere. I think we were made to be generous but somewhere along the way, we lost the knack.
Be the change - generosity is a good one to go for!
Lovely post. Made me feel warm and smiley inside. Thank you!
With love,
Anne
You comment is what the world needs to hear
We need more Anne Naylor's in the world
You are my HuffPost Pick
May all people open their heart and see the beauty .. the peace and the love within
BE THE CHANGE - MEDITATE
Ed
Yoga is just one way of looking at universal truths.
Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com
Thanks for this
http://yogademystified.com/
Yes Yoga is one way ... and Yoga is seeing life as it is with new eyes
BE THE CHANGE - MEDITATE
Ed
You got it
imagine having a nose so bright
But you have a heart so bright
BE THE CHANGE - MEDITATE
Ed