Showing posts with label meditative. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meditative. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Quiet Respite - Empty Your Mind

Zen Meditation video by TheWisdomWarrior.com

When life has over taken and is controlling you, step back... breathe... watch, listen and allow this lovely quieting video to bring a space of quiet respite. A place to regroup, center, quiet and empty the mind. Enjoy the peace.

~Bonnee

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Ignite Thy Passion

ignite thy passion-greg spalenka

Ignite thy Passion by Greg Spalenka, computer enhanced mixed media.

Wow! This image describes so well the feeling one gets when touched by Spirit. A quiet explosion of bliss, passion and love... heart opening and expanding. A gentle whisper and caress. Just purchased his 2009 calendar called 'Divine Nature' it's filled with spectacular images. Beautiful work!

Greg says, "I found through serious meditation that there was a space within a space of hallowed peace, filled with love and wisdom. Inside this sacred place reality took on a new form. Ideas flowed like water. Problems met solutions. Worlds passed before my mind's eye filled with saints, kindred spirits, and multi colored beings."

gregspalenka Greg Spalenka, born March 13, 1958  Arcadia, California. He is a graduate of the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena CA.  You can see more of Greg's wonderful images on his website at: www.spalenka.com. Enjoy!

~Bonnee

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Quan Yin - Goddess of Mercy and Compassion

Quan Yin, Guan Yin or Kannon Quan Yin is the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion in Buddhism. She is known as Kannon in Japanese, Guan Yin in Chinese, Chenrezig in Tibetan and Avalokiteśvara in Sanskrit. Avalokiteśvara and Chenrezig are usually depicted as a male or androgynous, while Quan Yin, Kannon and Guan Yin are female.  Illustration left is Kannon.

Guan Yin (觀音, pinyin guānyīn, Wade-Giles: kuan-yin) is an exact translation of Avalokitasvara (अवलोकितेश्वर, Sanskrit). The prefix ava = down; lokita = to notice, behold, observe and svara = sound, noise or sound perceiver. Literally “he who perceives sound (or hears the cries of sentient beings who need help)."  From Tibetan Chenrezig translates as chen = eye; re = continuityAvalokiteśvara and zig = to look. From this one can derive the meaning "he who always looks upon all beings (with the eye of compassion). Illustration right is Avalokiteśvara.

According to legend, Quan Yin was born into this world as Miao  Shan, the daughter of a king of the Chou Dynasty (1050-256 B.C.). Another legend says, in a previous time a devoted, compassionate monk became a Bodhisattva, who later became Avalokiteśvara. Most of the Buddhas and Boddhisattvas have a living breathing man or woman associated with them. This shows humanities ability to become enlightened with dedicated practice.

In the Buddhist teachings, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva postponed his own Buddhahood and vowed to end suffering by listening to and assisting every sentient being to attain enlightenment.Chenrezi

Lama Jigme a Tibetan Buddhist monk explains, "No matter how you address the Buddha of Compassion (by which name), the Buddha of Compassion is still the Buddha of Compassion." He says about the mantra, "Chenrezig’s Six-syllable mantra, Om  Ma-ni  Pad-me  Hum, is the compassionate wisdom of all the Buddhas manifested as sound." Illustration right is Chenrezig.

Bokar Rinpoche writes, "Every person whose heart is moved by love and compassion, who deeply and sincerely acts for the benefit of others without concern for fame, profit, social position, or recognition expresses the activity of Chenrezig."

Duane, Reiki Teacher says "I’ve always found the theory that Quan Yin, Mother Mary, Isis, Avalokiteśvara, Kannon and even Ha Hai-i Wuhti of Hopi Indian lore (amongst many others) are all actually one and the same… manifesting at different times, to different cultures in an attempt to bolster the belief that love and compassion are amongst the stronger powers known to man to be quite fascinating."

Interesting indeed... let's take that a step further... ultimately we are all One. This implies that you and I are One, as well you and Quan Yin are One. And Quan Yin and I are One... as she and every sentient being are One. We humans just don't recognize this. We have forgotten and see ourselves as separate from everything and everyone. Isolated and alone... we suffer. This is an illusion! We simply have forgotten our connectedness and our own Sacredness.

A few Souls incarnate with full remembrance. Some of them we recognize and call 'Buddhas, Avatars, Saints or Messengers of God'. They are us... walking, breathing, talking reminders who impart knowledge. They show us 'Who We Truly Are'. But we only see their Specialness or Godliness, put them on pedestals and end up worshiping them. We create entire religions full of dogmas based on their messages. We think so little of ourselves that we couldn't possibly be 'THAT'. So we worship it, rather then remembering, emulating and becoming 'THAT' ourselves.

Even if we have the understanding we are 'THAT', we still don't fully believe. For if we did... when we do... we will walk not only in the footsteps of the Great Masters... we will be the One's creating the footsteps. All we have to do is set aside our beliefs, forget all we have learned, feel our connectedness and just be... in this moment.

We are all Love and Compassion in beautiful diversity. If we all walked this, imagine the wondrous, magical things we'd create together. Reiki helps us remember, builds our compassion and love, and reconnects us to the Gift of Spirit. Thanks Usui Sensei for this great gift!

~Bonnee

This blog post was inspired by 'Reiki Sense of Compassion' by Duane Flowers

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Illuminated Chakras

Beautifully animated and produced. This work of art leads one on a journey of awakening through the chakra and energy system.

The segment shown is the 7th or crown chakra. It it part of a 28 minute video called 'The Illuminated Chakras' produced by Anodea Judith and animated by Alex Wayne. Won best animation at the 2004 New York Independent Film Festival. Spectacular!Hope you enjoy the journey.

~Bonnee

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Fundamental Beingness

© 2008 Bonnee Klein Gilligan., All Rights Reserved

Peaceful, Meditative, Buddhic, Enlightenment.

Fundamental Beingness represents our Buddha nature. The state we can attain thru Spiritual practices.

Pastel drawing with computer enhancement. Spectral Light - Trefoil Series.  I did the original 9" x 12" drawing in 1998, then in 2007 scanned and enhanced it in Photoshop. Prints are available at my Spirit Art gallery.

~Bonnee