Toxic Living
Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Buddhist
monk, activist and writer, talks about "mindful
consumption." What is mindful consumption?
Nhat Hanh's use of the phrase, "mindful consumption,"
has its roots in the Buddhist Fifth Precept. Here is part of that
precept:
"Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I
am committed to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for
myself, my family, and my society by practising mindful eating,
drinking, and consuming. I am committed to ingest only items that
preserve peace, well-being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness,
and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and
society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant
or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as
certain TV programs, magazines, books, films, and
conversations."
That may seem a bit strict for non-Buddhists. But I found it
interesting the precept classifies as "toxic" things we
don't normally associate with that word. Things like "TV
programs, magazines, books, films, and conversations."
Here's Chief Joseph.
Chief
Joseph
John chose an appropriate title for our article today. Your world
some days seems to be overflowing with toxic stuff. In our view,
among the most toxic of all available to you today are
those things mentioned in the Buddhist Fifth Precept: "TV
programs, magazines, books, films, and conversations."
With your modern technology you have so much information -- often
too much -- literally at your fingertips. We realize, as John said,
you don't normally consider information, no matter what the medium,
as toxic or poisonous.
Yet, for example, if you have the habit of immersing yourselves
in hours of TV-watching every day or most days, you're most likely
finding yourselves sad, upset, depressed, etc. There is so much
"bad" news out there, so much emphasis on the drama and
trauma running rampant in your world today.
We are not criticizing the mainstream media for focusing on
negative news. After all, that's what sells, and they're in the
business of making money.
But if you participate too much in the negativity, such as
negative "TV programs, magazines, books, films, and
conversations," it will drag you down. It's unavoidable, for
what you focus on mostly multiplies in your experience. As we just
said, the end result is you feeling sad, upset, depressed.
The negativity, friends, is toxic to your minds, your hearts,
your spirits. Ultimately it can and does negatively affect your
physical bodies. It can sicken you and even end up in physical
death.
Now we know none of you consciously choose to live the grim
scenario we just painted. But you do often choose it by default. It
can sicken not only your physical bodies, but also your
relationships with other humans. The poison just spreads and
spreads.
So what can you, one individual standing alone, do about this? A
lot!
We urge all of you reading this to remember you are divine beings
temporarily in human form. You may have forgotten it, but you do
know it or you would not be reading this to begin with.
When you are aligned with your higher selves -- your souls --
your lives become more joyful, more peaceful, more abundant, more
loving.
In making a conscious choice to think only positive thoughts, to
read only uplifting books, to have only loving conversations, to
watch only inspiring TV programs or movies, you will be creating a
more joyful life for yourselves.
But, just as importantly, you will be uplifting and inspiring
your brothers and sisters, especially those mired in the toxicity
and negativity.
A positive loving thought is far more powerful than a negative
hateful thought. The vibrations are at opposite ends of the energy
spectrum.
So each of you, as one person standing alone, have the power to
uplift those who've become susceptible, usually through their own
neglect, to all the negativity your world is seeing at the moment.
So we urge you to make a conscious choice to maintain healthy
habits in every area of your lives. The positive powerful vibrations
you will radiate will ripple out to the ends of the universe, if you
will.
Every loving thought you hold contributes to the healing of the
world. Every hateful thought you hold contributes to the wounding of
the world.
You are that powerful. Use your power wisely.
=============================================================
This
Week's
Newsletter Reflection Questions
News Updates
1) Chief Joseph
& John Cali at Crimson Circle's Midsummer Conference
-- we now have audio
CDs and MP3
Files available of Joseph's and John's presentation on
July 17, 2009.
2) We're now doing regular
podcasts with Chief Joseph. You can now download them free.
This
article was originally published here
Give
us your opinion of this article
More
of our articles
Email
John |
Our home page
Want
a private talk with Chief Joseph?
