A student of mine came to class late. She had a note from her counselor. She is trying to be a good person but regularly gets off track. She smelled of tobacco smoke. I thanked her for attending my class this day and suggested she should not be a smoker. The response was at the core of flawed thinking. She said, ” I’m a gown ass woman, I can do what I want.” As I have learned with age, the body and spirit are one and separate at the same time. Youthful people, in general, are very social but they do not recognize nor understand the collective spirit. Each of us shares the burden and success of each individual. We share health and sickness. We share the good feeling and the pain.
I am reminded of a paragraph from the book No Mud, No Lotus by Thich Nhat Hahn (the Vietnamese Buddhist monk). “There are many people who have enormous suffering, overwhelming suffering, and they don’t know how to end this suffering. For many people, this suffering starts at a very young age. Why don’t schools teach us how to manage to suffer? If your suffering is so great, you can’t concentrate, you can’t study, and you can’t focus. The suffering of each of us affects others. The more we can teach each other about the art of suffering well, the less suffering there will be in the world overall and the more happiness.”
I want to tell you that this is starting to happen in public schools, some courses include mindfulness in their curriculum. This action is a result of the stress and suffering from the pandemic. That is a good action to come out of the isolation period.
THE SRING BREAK
My favorite beach and just off my favorite beach
My, always essential, spring break had me on the Gulf of California, in the Guaymas/San Carlos area of Mexico. I went on a boat fishing for a lunchtime meal. I went snorkeling in Aquarium Bay, and hiking to a secluded lagoon. birding at a protected estuary, swimming at Dolphin Beach, and sitting on the beach at a fishing village. I ate loads of fish meals as it is a commercial fishing area. This spring break was a renewal of my spirit and I am re-energizing.
After eating my way through this area of Mexico, I am now trying to clean up my dietary habits. My friend and I are in the middle of a 10-day vegan immersion program from Plant Pure Communities. We are doing well in their program. I think I will keep to this for my health and longevity. There is a new movie from the Campbell Clan, From Food to Freedom, https://plantpurecommunities.org/ Watch for free.
I started “no meat” in Mexico. Yes, this is a delicious veggie sandwich; 900 miles south of the border.
Buddhist monk says these 5 morning routines will help you start your day better
Nick Keomahaavong, a Theravada Buddhist monk has a routine he says will help us have a little stillness and mind power in our day.
- Make your bed: it will start your day with a positive habit and help organize your mind.
- Chanting and Meditation: all the thoughts and stories we allow in our brain can be release to start clean.
- Do an act of generosity: these is to release one from greed and set one on a positive path.
- Do chores: paying attention to tasks at grounds one in the earth and helps cultivate mindfulness practice.
- Limit your dinner: the best way to prepare for the morning is to start the day before.
In the Spirit, Be Healthy, Coach Brown
HEALTHY AT 120 