Super Bowl Sunday is such a media event about something that really doesn’t matter in human history or the evolution of consciousness (although the game was fun to watch).  This game and so many other hyped events are interesting but are only really about entertainment and distraction.  Being entertained is part of living in our culture.  Many of us spend lots of money to be entertained.  We also buy the best entertainment equipment as if this is going to make us happy or satisfied with life.  This pursuit of happiness and satisfaction by filling our time with entertainment or buying the right things is looking in the wrong places for what most of us ultimately want.  

Yes home entertainment centers can be a great distraction but it is doubtful anyone has ever found real or lasting happiness from a wide screen TV or a great stereo system.  Going to concerts, movies, plays, opera, symphony, lectures etc. can be enjoyable but most likely these events haven’t really made us truly happy either.

Happiness is an inside experience not an outside event.   If happiness is what we want, we must turn off the distractions of the outside world and instead tune in to who we are, what we think, what gives us meaning, and the workings of our heart.  Looking elsewhere will leave us missing the deeper experiences of real happiness, peace of mind and a life with love.

Distraction is what most of us are good at.  When work isn’t going well or our relationships are not satisfying, we go in search of distractions like: drinking, drugging and partying, making sports matter, 4 wheeling, church, having affairs, eating and other activities so we don’t have to pay attention to the emptiness inside.  

The interesting thing about this distraction mania is that the emptiness inside is more because of the distractions themselves than anything else.  There is nothing boring about tuning inside to find out about our higher nature; making contact with our spiritual Self.  This investigation into who we are is fascinating if we are at all interested in what is possible within us.

Yes go have fun and be entertained but make a commitment to self to spend some quiet time each day.  This silent exploration can be in the form of meditation, mindful practice, a relaxed walk, a radio/music free drive to work or home or any other time set aside to be open to the awareness and inspiration of just being.  
 
Even my dog Pax knows the benefit of quiet contemplation.  He is a great teacher about being present and enjoying the peace and happiness of the moment.

 

Have a good second week of February and be still enough to discover the depth of life awaiting you.  


Peace Letter #39

Dear Mr. President,

It must be fun to watch the Super Bowl in the White House with friends.  Taking a break from the reality of the work of your Presidency is so needed.  It was good to have the Saints win, maybe there is something higher going on.

I wanted to encourage you to again revisit the decision to expand the war in Afghanistan.  This is a huge drain on us financially and emotionally.  We all know and feel that war is not good.  Please do what is right and get us out of there as soon as possible.

You can alter the course of humanity by stopping the use of war as the way to resolve differencies.


Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.

Join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war and the other dysfunctional ways of government at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

I don’t know about you my readers but I find myself stirred up about so many things lately.  With all this mental activity I need to also take my time each day to quiet down and be present.  In the moment, the chaos drops away and I find peace and touch in with my heart and the happiness inside.  The question most on my mind lately is how can each of us bring our peace, compassion and happiness we find within the now, out into the world? 

The world of politics, religion, society, corporate dominance, and war mongering all seem based on the future or the past with no acquaintance with peace, compassion and happiness available in the now.  This lack of present awareness makes the world act chaotic, fearful and angry.  So how do we bring about the consciousness of what is possible in the now into the arena of society’s struggles?

Let’s first shine some light on five culprits of chaos:
1.    Ego-mind – The human ego is the cause of most if not all of human suffering.  The ego-mind can rationalize the most horrific of ideas in order to be in control and in power, to be right and to look good. 
2.    Religiosity – In the name of God there has been endless wars and mistreatment of others.  God has no religion.
3.    Partisan Politics – The Republican Party only cares about being in power, the Democrats try to represent a large diversity and seem unable to work together, and both parties are run by corporate influence instead of what is best for the people.
4.    Profit Seeking At Any Cost – this is the driving force for all corporations with little or no consideration for the planet, the people and future generations.  Greed and hunger for power is making a mess out of so much.
5.    The Use Of Fear To Manipulate – Fear has always been used by the political process and society to get people to fall in line and do what they are told.  Fear is used to rationalize war, to kill healthcare reform, to spend our financial resources on weapons, and so many other major wrong directions in policy.

These culprits are all products of not being present to the real peace, compassion and happiness within us.

What are some more expanded ways of seeing ourselves, and the world that will place us more often in the now where we can seek to find real solutions untainted by the past thinking and the future worries? 

Let’s open our minds and hearts to five solutions for sanity:
1.    Wise Mind – Beyond the self of ego is the Self of our higher nature.  This Self is waiting to guide us if we quiet down and are present enough to listen.  The planet needs wise mind not more egos in power.
2.    Spirituality – The Source of all creation is found in the quiet practice of contemplation with an open heart and a receptive mind.  No church or dogma or scripture is needed.
3.     Healthy Political Process – Today what is needed is the elimination of influence money at all levels, real leaders of compassion and wisdom in office, well managed government is necessary, and what is best for all the people has to be the primary concern.
4.    Taking Care Of The People And The Earth – Clean water and air, healthy food, adequate housing, and dynamic education will take care of most of the needs of people and the planet.  We have within us unlimited capacities to create what is needed for the good of all.
5.    Hope And Understanding – The world becomes a safe place when we have hope and seek to understand each other.  Together we all share very similar dreams and desires for a better world for ourselves and those we love.

Please share what culprits and solutions are in your expanding mind.  Within our hearts is an endless capacity for compassion and that compassion is so essential today.



Peace Letter #38

Dear Mr. President,

We need your compassion as a guiding force.  The world is run by the hunger for profits and power with little thought or wisdom about the real needs of most of us.  You have the compassion from working in your earlier years with those in need.  That wisdom and heart is so necessary today. 

Your compassion is needed to end our warring ways, to find the common ground of what is best for all the people, to end the bickering and focus instead on solutions for the many concerns of the working masses.  This is a nation not built on fear but on the right attitude of freedom to fully express our potential in a supportive environment of good government.

Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.

Join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war and the other dysfunctional ways of government at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact


We are judging highly critical machines well conditioned by our families, schools, religions, government and society.  We place everything into the category of “good” or “bad” and actually believe this thinking process.  This judging makes for much human suffering as we push people away, close our minds and hearts, and even start conflicts and wars over the judgment we place on others.  It is time for us all to look at others and ourselves from a different point of view.  That viewpoint is called acceptance.

The Buddha nature is one of acceptance.
 
 

Acceptance is being with who we are free of the need to make ourselves better.  When we are accepting we have no need to change others or the way we are.   All that arises in us is ok, all we feel is ok, all we think is ok.  No one needs to be different than they are when we are accepting.  

Yes we are all imperfect so self-improvement is a desire that comes up in us.  Self-improvement is ok too but driven my non-acceptance it amounts to the judging mind back in control.  So being accepting of who we are is that goal here even if we all desire to explore other expressions of ourselves.

Now the practice:
Take the next few days or week to accept everything you encounter throughout the day.  This means politics, war, rude coworkers, anxiety about the future, anger towards others, spontaneous joy, desire for compassion are all acceptable in others and in you.  The restlessness in the night is acceptable, the growling at traffic is acceptable, the religious ramblings of closed-minded follower are all acceptable.  This practice includes not only fully accepting what is, but also not planning in the next moment to change others or yourself.  Just accepting is all that you are to do.

Let me know what this practice teaches you.  I will share my lessons too.



Peace Letter #37

Dear Mr. President,

Over on my blog we are practicing totally accepting what is within us and around us.  This means freeing ourselves from the need to judge everything as either good or bad.  This practice would be very useful in politics to move from the partisan conflicts that run DC to all of us working together peacefully in search for the solutions to our nation’s and global problems.

War is the ultimate misfire of the judging mind.  All wars come about due to people believing they are good and believing others are bad.  Both good and bad are simply thoughts of the rationalizing mind.  Acceptance is the peacemaker.

Please become the great peacemaker,

Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.

Join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war and the other dysfunctional ways of government at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Today was one intense day at work with so many changes going on, stress over morale, and people calling crying on the phone as their mental health issues are causing them such unrest and anxiety.  Due to budget issues my services are going to be transferred to another part of our program for a while and I look forward to the changes and feel sad about the program that has been put on hold.   I need a great walk tonight after I finish writing this post to sort things out and calm my mind. 

Working with those who are suffering is so draining sometimes that I leave spent.  Moving outdoors by walking, running, riding my bike or hiking re-energizes me.  What works for you when you feel stressed out? 

Signs that you are stressed:
•    You are eating to sooth your unsettled state
•    You feel restless and find it hard to fall asleep
•    You feel impatient towards those you love
•    You feel irritable often
•    You are low in energy or often tired
•    You lack motivation
•    You feel stuck or out of balance
•    You isolate and avoid others
•    You drink too much to cope
•    You feel closed down in your heart
•    You feel rigid in your thinking
•    You feel your emotions near the surface and you push them away

If any of these fit for you, it is time to chill.  Over the next couple of weeks I will share with you ways to chill and not get shrill. 

Today’s chill pill is a 5-Count Breath.  It goes like this:

Breathe in slowly to the count of 5 hold your breath to the count of 2 then slowly exhale to the count of 5 and hold for 2.  Do this for 10 cycles and then if it feels good and time permits you can do 10 more cycles. 

Now you are relaxed and ready for whatever life presents. 

Inner peace begins in the quiet space between the breaths.  


When I moved into my new neighborhood a few months ago I didn't think about how much different it would be to go for a walk.  At my old place it was flat and in a short walk I was in green space and enjoyed the quiet of my late evening walks.  Walking from my home now is either up or down and green space is a longer walk away.  Now at night I walk in quiet neighborhoods and there is some exercise involved in moving up hill towards the open space with some really nice views.  All of this is about getting out and walking, which to me is a wonderful way to leave work behind and to clear my thoughts.   
 
Most times when my mind isn't too busy my walks are meditative.  I enjoy a quiet walk in which my mind slows down and my breath moves more into the forefront of my awareness.  Thich Nhat Hahn writes beautifully about walking meditation in a little book called, The Long Road Turns to Joy: A Guide to Walking Meditation.  It is available at Amazon.com

Sometimes my walks will be full of ideas and inspiration for things I am working on or new opportunities.  My ideas walks are usually very energetic and I come home feeling alive and ready to move into action.  Often the topic for this blog comes to me as I wander the hills here where I live.
 
Other times my walks are a break from my daily workouts.  The walks are always uphill and get my heart going.  On a cold morning or evening this time of year, I get to dress warm, pump my heart up and take in the wonderful views like the foothills of the Rockies which you see in this picture. 

Walking is wired to make you and I feel good.  With these days of fast doings there is very little time for slow beings.   Let me state that in another way because I think there is an important point here.  In the times we live there is so much emphasis on going fast, from fast foods to fast driving.  This emphasis has our bodies riding around and making little contact with the natural world around us.  If our feet rarely touch the ground in any meaningful way like going for a walk, we don’t feel grounded.  Feeling grounded is essential to offset the busy mind and the dizzy emotions.

Walking naturally slows us down and gets us back into our bodies.  This slowing down, brings us more easily into a mindful state which as you know from this blog is a way to be in the world that can bring us real happiness and peace of mind.  




Peace Letter #36

Dear Mr. President,

I am so glad you are going to talk to the Democrats too in the question and answer format.  They need guidance beyond the blindness of the influence money and the people pleasing egos.  It is time to get to work, drop the posturing and everyone get involved in finding solutions to what ails our nation.

You have the daunting task of guiding these elected representatives and the people of this nation forward in ways that go beyond partisanship and dogmatic obstructionism.  The best way is to keep it simple.  Focus on jobs worth having, affordable housing, reasonable healthcare for all, greening of America, and the end to war. 

We the people are not served by an agenda run by fear, by anti-government sentiment, by corporate dominance and by the religious righteous.  This change of culture is not simple but also needs to become part of the dialogue of change. 

Wow that is a huge undertaking.  Yes it can be done by opening one mind and one heart at a time. 

You and the rest of us have to be the change we wish to see in the world,

Joseph Bernard, Ph.D.

Join me and send President Obama emails of support and encourage the end of war and the other dysfunctional ways of government at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact