Chu The Cud

Many of our societal traditions and influences that once held high esteem have lost their grip on our new reality as more and more information floods through our minds and consciousness. Religion and politics being the most influential over the decades have come under a great amount of scrutiny and many people are now lost, overwhelmed and disoriented on a sense of identity and direction. Many of these people look to and turn to the medical, therapeutic and pharmaceutical industries to bring about happiness and stability only to find themselves lost, bewildered and now addicted to the synthetic chemicals.

Breathe in Zen.

Shut down the minutia and breathe deep. Fill your lungs with breathe. Exhale and listen to your breath living Zen.

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes the practice of meditation and mindfulness to develop insight and wisdom. Mahayana Buddhism, “Great Vehicle or Great Path” originated in India around the 1st century CE “Current Era” and spread to China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other countries, where it became a major cultural and spiritual influence.

Mahayana emphasis is less on nirvana and more on knowledge or wisdom, the mastery of which constitutes awakening and attaining enlightenment.

The goal of Zen practice is to cultivate a state of inner peace and clarity, and to develop insight into the nature of reality.

Breathing zen is applying Zen principles and teachings to everyday life. Incorporating it into life until it becomes second nature to you. Its teachings emphasize the importance of meditation, mindfulness, and direct experience of reality over relying on words and concepts.

Breathing zen involves being fully present and aware in each moment, cultivating a deep sense of inner peace, and developing a compassionate and non-judgmental attitude towards oneself and others. It involves living with intention and purpose, embracing impermanence and letting go of attachment, and approaching life with an open and curious mind.

Some practices that can help cultivate a living zen mindset include daily meditation, mindfulness exercises, focusing on the breath, and bringing awareness to everyday activities such as eating, walking, and interacting with others. Engaging in creative pursuits, spending time in nature, and practicing gratitude can also help cultivate a sense of inner peace and mindfulness.

Breathing zen is not just about individual spiritual development, but also about embodying the principles of compassion, wisdom, and interconnectedness in our interactions with others and the world around us. It is a way of living that seeks to cultivate inner peace, wisdom, and compassion in ourselves and others, and to contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious world.

At the core of Zen practice is zazen, or seated meditation, which involves sitting in a specific posture, usually lotus position and focusing on the breath or a mantra to cultivate a state of deep concentration and awareness. Zen also places great emphasis on the direct experience of reality, without relying on concepts or theories.

Zen teachings emphasize the importance of living in the present moment, cultivating a non-judgmental attitude, and developing a compassionate and ethical approach to life. Zen philosophy also emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things, and the impermanence of all phenomena.

Breathe with Zen.

c 2023 Chu The Cud

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Integrity and empathy are two important qualities that can contribute to personal and professional success, as well as positive relationships with others.

The first of these, Integrity refers to being honest, ethical, and consistent in your actions and behavior. It involves having a strong sense of morality, and doing the right thing even when it’s difficult or inconvenient. Integrity is important because it builds trust and credibility, and it allows you to maintain a sense of self-respect and pride.

The opposite of integrity is dishonesty, hypocrisy and corruption just to name a few.

Empathy, on the other hand, refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It involves being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, and to respond in a compassionate and supportive way. Empathy is important because it helps you build positive relationships with others, and it allows you to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts. Empathy gives one the option to gain knowledge and become a better person.

Acknowledging empathy in yourself helps in the ability to comprehend someone else’s perspective and what they might be thinking and feeling. It can go beyond simply understanding others and sharing their feelings: it actually can move us to take action, to help however we can. You start to understand their pain. You can imagine yourself in their situation. It could also be a calling of sorts to a path previously oblivious to one.

It also can bring about perspective and stimulate, giving you cause to be thankful that your own situation in life isn’t that bad or actually bad at all.

However, unlocking your ability to be empathetic, doesn’t mean you allow others to take advantage of your compassion for those in need. Analysis and evaluation of each situation is necessary. Also, one bad situation shouldn’t make you easily apathetic to another.

Together, integrity and empathy can create a powerful combination. When you have integrity, you earn the trust and respect of others, which makes it easier for them to open up to you and share their feelings. When you have empathy, you are able to connect with others on an emotional level, which can help you understand their perspectives and respond in a compassionate and supportive way.

By combining integrity and empathy, you can create a positive and authentic presence that others will be drawn to. You will be seen as someone who is honest, trustworthy, and caring, which can help you build strong and lasting relationships both personally and professionally.

c 2023 Chu The Cud

All Rights Reserved

Resistance in life can come in many forms, including procrastination, self-doubt, fear, and negative self-talk.

Identify the source of resistance: Before you can overcome resistance, you need to understand where it’s coming from. Take some time to reflect on what’s causing your resistance and write it down.

Take action: One of the best ways to overcome resistance is to take action. Break down your goals into smaller, manageable tasks, and focus on completing them one at a time.

Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself when you encounter resistance. Don’t beat yourself up if you fall off track or make a mistake. Instead, use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Stay focused on your why: Remind yourself of the reasons why you started pursuing your goal in the first place. This can help you stay motivated and focused when resistance tries to pull you off track.

Surround yourself with positive influences: Surround yourself with people who support your goals and can help you stay motivated. Seek out positive affirmations, books, or podcasts that inspire you and keep you focused on your goals.

Celebrate small wins: Celebrate every small win along the way. This will help you stay motivated and build momentum towards your larger goal.

Remember, overcoming resistance takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself and keep working at it, and you will eventually develop the habits and mindset needed to avoid resistance in your life.

Being resilience can help in your ability to overcome resistance.

Resilience is the ability to adapt and recover from adversity, stress, or traumatic experiences. It refers to the capacity of an individual, organization, or community to bounce back from challenging situations, learn from them, and continue to function effectively.

Resilience can manifest in various ways, such as emotional resilience, psychological resilience, physical resilience, and social resilience.

Emotional resilience refers to the ability to handle and manage intense emotions, psychological resilience involves the ability to cope with stress and trauma, physical resilience refers to the ability to maintain good physical health, and social resilience refers to the ability to maintain healthy relationships and social connections.

Some factors that contribute to resilience include having a supportive network of friends, having a positive outlook of life, having a sense of purpose or meaning, being able to adapt to change, a sense of humor and having effective coping strategies. Building resilience can be beneficial in many areas of life, including personal relationships, career success, and overall well-being.

Every buy a musical instrument after being inspired by watching or listening to a musician, then practice for a week and life happens and you don’t pick up that instrument again. Make practice therapy and you will get better everyday.

Wanting to have a kids but keep putting it off until that right time? There is no such thing. Time is neither right or wrong. It is what it is.

Making excuses for why we aren’t working on achievement of our goals is just an excuse, not a viable, rational explanation.

Each one of us has limited time before we expire. What if you were given the day you cease to exist. Would you change they way you live? Would you finally do what you always wanted to do?

We are brainwashed daily with what we should do by our surrounding forces. We have become indispensable in our indentured servitude of survival. We fill our unhappiness with gizmos and gadgets. We fill our time looking at screens while life goes on around us. We’ll do it tomorrow.

Resistance is just an excuse holding us back from living our life to our fullest and doing what makes us truly happy.

That’s resistance.

c 2023 Chu The Cud

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It seems in today’s recent tribal culture, tolerance has become disjointed with tolerance.

In a country as diverse as, These United States of America many wrap themselves in tolerance but don’t comprehend the essence of the word.

Tolerance is the ability to accept and endure something that is different or disagreeable without reacting negatively. It is a valuable trait that helps individuals navigate diverse situations and communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.

Tolerance should not be mistaken for passivity or acceptance of harmful or abusive behavior. While it is important to be open-minded and accepting of others, individuals should also be able to recognize and assert their boundaries when necessary.

When we push our beliefs on others, we are not demonstrating tolerance, but rather attempting to impose our own beliefs onto them. This can lead to feelings of resentment, conflict, and division, and can create barriers to effective communication and understanding.

In order to practice tolerance, it is important to approach others with an open mind and a willingness to listen to their perspectives. This means being respectful and considerate of their beliefs and opinions, even if we don’t share them.

Instead of pushing our own beliefs onto others, we can engage in constructive dialogue and seek to understand their point of view. By doing so, we can foster a sense of mutual respect and appreciation for diversity, which is at the heart of tolerance.

c 2023 Chu The Cud

All Rights Reserved