mindfulness — Make Space for What Matters

Home Retreat Rituals

“Suppose you are offered a cup of tea, very fragrant, very good tea. If your mind is distracted, you cannot really enjoy the tea. You have to be mindful of the tea, you have to be concentrated on it, so the tea can reveal its fragrance and wonder to you.“ These are the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Zen master, poet and peace activist, revered around the world for his pioneering teachings on Mindfulness. His words also hold true for life. Life becomes full and beautiful only if we learn to slow down and live mindfully. Otherwise, life can’t reveal its fragrance and beauty to us.

Just Like Me.

j u s t l i k e m e | “If we learn to relate to others from the perspective of our shared humanity, we could extend our empathetic concern to strangers and even those whom we find difficult to relate to. Buddhist – derived compassion meditations use phrases such as “Just like me, others too wish to attain happiness and overcome suffering” constantly, almost in the fashion of a mantra: ”just like me, just like me…” Plus, as a consequence of relating to others through our common humanity, we are graced with no end of opportunities to get out of our own head, a key both to compassion and to our personal happiness, as we have seen. “ – Thupten Jinpa .

Being, ConnectedDeniz GunizFebruary 26, 2020meditation, mindfulness, compassion, self compassion, Thupten Jinpa, interconnectedness, connectionComment

Note to Self: The Room, Empty and Full.

“I opened my eyes. The first light of dawn was filtering through the curtains. Without any thought, I felt, I knew, that there is infinitely more to light than we realize. That soft luminosity filtering through the curtains was love itself. Tears came into my eyes. I got up and walked around the room. I recognized the room, and yet I knew that I had never truly seen it before. Everything was fresh and pristine, as if it had just come into existence. I picked up things, a pencil, an empty bottle, marveling at the beauty and aliveness of it all.” – Eckhart Tolle

Eight Pieces of Brocade

With a 15-Minute exercise routine, you can maintain good health, fight disease, and enhance the quality of your life.

I’ve come across this fantastic set of energy, breathing and stretching exercises, so-called “8 Brocades”, also known as “Ba Duan Jin” in Chinese, as part of the Tai Qi and Qigong class I’ve attended in New York.

After a quick research, I’ve found out that “Ba Duan Jin”, developed 1000 years ago by Marshal Yueh Fei, was an ancient Chinese exercise and fitness practice for improving healing, vitality, and longevity. According to historical writings, Yue Fei entered the army at 9 years old and rapidly rose within the ranks and by 26, he was a general. He developed Eight Brocades to support his warriors’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance.

Making Space

Creative, BeingDeniz GunizJanuary 23, 2019make space, fulfillment, mediation, mindfulness, slow living, breathing, minimal, minimalism, creativity, creative, poetryComment

Take a moment and...

Beginner's Mind

Take a moment and...

As part of my quest to have a better and deeper understanding about the meditation practice and apply it to my daily life, I mostly try to reach out as much sources as possible. This is because I believe every time I come across a new material that catches my attention, whether it be a book, article, video, or podcast, I either learn something new or gain a new perspective.

Being, WellDeniz GunizOctober 23, 2018meditation, present moment, awareness, mindfulness, creativityComment

Take a moment and...

"This is described very clearly in a famous Buddhist fable. An aged Chinese monk, despairing at never having reached enlightenment, asks permission to go to an isolated cave to make one final attempt at realization. Taking his robes, his begging bowl, and a few possessions, he heads out on foot into the mountains.

Being, Editor's ChoiceDeniz GunizFebruary 28, 2018mindfulness, meditation, silent meditation, silence, sitting meditationComment

Take a moment and...

"There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says,“Morning, boys, how's the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes,“What the hell is water?” "

Take a moment and...

....Pause! "In an age of distraction, nothing could feel more luxurious than...

Caring Cabbage

...Tender melodies of the song performed by Hugh Coltman was rising from an Iphone in the tiny kitchen of my temporary apartment; so tiny that you can listen the song from the bathroom.

Open Mind

Lambertville. This well-preserved, quiet, historical NJ town surrounded by various antique stores, old-time barber shops, landmark buildings, and even

WellDeniz GunizAugust 4, 2017wellness, body mind, counter clockwise, open mind, mindfulnessComment

Bean in the Moment!

I am a big fan of David Lynch and I deeply respect him as a writer and director. Even though he has not been doing much in recent years...

Transplants

Who would know? Well, we certainly wouldn’t! I mean if someone would have told us that we were going to move to where we are living now, we’d probably say “yeah right!”.

Make Space for What Matters.