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Death and Honor

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Memorial Day is a day of remembrance and honoring those who lost their lives in the service of their country. Buddhism is a teaching of the universality of death and peace. Zen Buddhism is also a philosophy of peace and honor but has a history based on the bushido code of the samurai who believed we must, “Pray for peace but prepare for war.” So if we follow a Zen Buddhists philosophy we must also remember those who were murdered in the 911 catastrophe as if they to were soldiers. Never forget that we are in a war against terrorist for their archaic radicalism, their murder of innocence, and their repression of women.

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Bushido Meditation.

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All Samurai practiced meditation as part of their code and philosophy. The code of bushido has seven principles to guide a Samurai, the most outstanding being honor.
Though we often live unconsciously, “on automatic pilot,” every one of us can learn to be awake. It just takes practice.

Meditation is about letting in an eternal life force, becoming more aware of the now, clearing your mind, and heightening your awareness of your body. It is not about cutting you off from the world, but opening yourself up to it. Meditation can be done in any position and can be made a part of your life. How hard can it be to just sit and breathe? This is the start of stress release, total self-awareness, and communication with the universe.

Remember there is no form of contemplation that is without ethical values. When your perception has been cleansed and you perceive the world as a jewel you assert all virtues and positively influence everything around you. Satoru

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Mental Strength

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Strength training for the mind. The most important consideration in the beginning of mental strength building through Zen Buddhism is change and attitude. The tendency to modify too much change too fast causes unnecessary setbacks. You must think in positive terms. It takes a minimum of time and continued practice for the mind to acclimate and internalize good strategies, attitudes and changes even if you are practicing every day and doing everything else right.

Attachment to permanence is illusionary, since all life is change.

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Self-improvement.

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It is not our preferences that cause problems but our attachment to them.

We all want to grow and improve our well being and our lives, but few of us want to do the hard work, and have the discipline, that is necessary for us to change and become healthier. You need to commit to following a successful vision and experience what is uncomfortable because that is the only way to self-mastery and self-improvement.

No matter how difficult the past, you can always begin again today.

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Practice

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A musical instrument is best maintained by playing it. The more we exercise our physical, mental and spiritual facilities the less they deteriorate and the stronger we become. Do not merely exist. Train, exert yourself, work, practice, apply, perform, and execute. Use your faculties, your mind, body and soul. Dump the garbage in your mind and burn the fat off your soul.

Make it happen. What is the ocean but a multitude of drops?
Satoru