Category: Life Insights

5 Ways to create Good Karma

In its most basic sense, the Law of Karma in the moral sphere teaches that similar actions will lead to similar results. Let us take an example. If we plant a mango seed, the plant that springs up will be a mango tree, and eventually it will bear a mango fruit. Alternatively, if we plant a Pong Pong seed, the tree that will spring up will be a Pong Pong tree and the fruit a Pong Pong. As one sows, so shall one reap. According to one’s action, so shall be the fruit. Similarly, in the Law of Karma, if we do a wholesome action, eventually we will get a wholesome fruit, and if we do an unwholesome action eventually we will get an unwholesome, painful result. This is what we mean when we say that causes bring about effects that are similar to the causes. 

The law of Karma teaches that responsibility for harmful actions lies with the person who commits them. Karma thus has to do with cause and effect. Every action you take creates the cause for events to happen to you. This means that, every single thing that happens to you – good and bad – is in truth caused by you, yourself, your own actions and your own thoughts. There is no escape from one’s karma. There are many ways to create good karma.

  • ACTIONS REPEATEDLY DONE CREATE POWERFUL KARMA

When the same action is repeated many times, be it good or bad, powerful karma gets created. Actions directed at powerful objects such as one’s parents, one’s spiritual teachers or at monks, nuns or temple priests also create powerful karma. This is true of even the smallest disrespectful act or the smallest virtuous action.

The karmic results of actions done to powerful objects can usually be experienced in this life. Suffering results come from negative actions while favorable results arise from virtuous actions. It thus follows that we should really be very mindful of our actions and the thoughts that accompany our actions, because it is from mindfulness that we can develop habits that lead to actions that create good karma. This is especially important in the present era, a time Hindu masters refer to as the period of the kali yoga when karmic results tend to ripen much faster, usually within this same lifetime.

  • CHANT A MANTRA

Chanting mantras is the easiest way of getting started on the road towards opening new horizons for the mind. To start with, it is a very powerful way to purify the negative karmic imprints we all bring into the world with us. Negative imprints linger on in every one’s consciousness, the mind-stream that we carry from one lifetime to the next. Start with the most famous mantra in the world, the mantra of the Compassionate Buddha:  Om Mani Padme Hum

This is a very popular mantra. It is wonderfully uplifting as it is the mantra of the Buddha of Compassion whom the Chinese know as the Goddess Kuan Yin. Reciting one mala of this mantra 108 times a day will awaken hidden yogic abilities within you. This mantra will calm your fears, soothe your concerns, heal your broken heart and answer all your prayers. Chant this mantra aloud, as you eat, as you bathe, as you make up your face or when you are waiting for someone or for something. You can chant it anytime anywhere. Chant it aloud or silently, inside your head, inside your mind. Asleep. Awake. Let this mantra permeate your being. Do not worry about the pronunciation. What is important is your motivation.

While reciting the mantra try to concentrate on its sound and allow it to penetrate deep within, into your inner consciousness and eventually, into your subconscious mind. Always chant it with the thought of benefiting others. It will not take you long to sense wonderful benefits permeating through your consciousness. In no time at all, you will feel yourself become kinder, more tolerant, and less prone to getting upset.

Many high lamas say that just reciting Om Mani Padme Hum can bring us all to Enlightenment, simple and easy though it is. This mantra is one of the ten most powerful mantras of all time.

  •  MAKE KINDNESS YOUR RELIGION – My religion is kindness

Creating good karma is not about being religious. One need not even be a Buddhist or belong to any religious faith to create good karma. What you do need is to develop a kind attitude towards others. So creating good karma is simply about being kind. Not just for a moment but always, throughout one’s life, in every aspect of our living, in every relationship – in the way we conduct our business, in all our interactions – when you approach everything you do motivated by an attitude of kindness, you are creating a great deal of good karma, the kind that creates the cause for others to be kind to you. It is the surest way of developing a life where aggravations simply dissipate.

  • PRACTICE SPIRITUAL MEDITATION

When you sit down on a cushion with your legs crossed, your spine straight and your eyes slightly closed looking three feet in front of you, the first thing to do is to set your motivation. Tune into your mind and focus on why you are doing the meditation – to develop your mind to benefit all beings. Setting this altruistic motivation establishes the basis of meditation practices. And from then on you can meditate on any subject related to the development of your understanding of life. When you meditate this way lightly reflecting on how precious your life is, how lucky you are to have been born at all, to be alive and to be well … in time you will come to realize just how lucky you really are in just having a human life, having the ability to think, to analyze, to understand and yes, to philosophize. This is how meditation can lead to wisdom realizations and good karma.

I have blogged some time back that meditation is therapeutic. Check out the post here.

  • CONNECT WITH A SPIRITUAL TEACHER

Start by meditating on your path to ultimate happiness, the kind that is permanent rather than transient. Think through all the things that make you happy and slowly come to the realization that nothing makes us happy forever. All of life is in the nature of impermanence. The pathway to ultimate happiness is elusive and permanent happiness seems so impossible to attain, since in the end we all grow old and die … so unless we are able to grasp new attitudes and perspectives; new ways of rationalizing our existence, how can we find permanent happiness?

To see the light, we need to connect with a spiritual teacher who has affinity with us and who can open our eyes to a greater awareness of our own Buddha nature, our own spirituality, our own continuing consciousness which lives on from life to life. By generating the desire to meet a special teacher who can show us the way to think and meditate correctly, we are creating the cause for just such a sage to manifest in our life. The genuine and heartfelt inner expectation of wanting to connect with a higher spiritual being generates the karma for it to manifest. And then when you are ready, the right teacher for you, will come along. As i have always said: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear”

With Love & Light,

Katherine Goh

Mantras to the 21 Taras

Sound Is Power
I firmly believe that the sound of Mantra can lift the believer towards the higher self. These sound elements of Sanskrit language are permanent entities and are of everlasting significance. In the recitation of Sanskrit Mantras the sound is very important, for it can bring transformation in you while leading you to power and strength.

Healing by Mantropathy
The chanting of Om in Transcendental Meditation has now received widespread recognition. Mantras can be used to treat tension and many other difficult diseases that are yet to come. Mantra can also clear negative energies in a space.

Keep the Faith!
It is important to have complete faith in the recitation of Mantras. It is primarily through faith – aided by strong will – that one achieves one’s goals. A sound body and calm mind are essential for the chanter of Mantras. Once you are free from all worries and have achieved stability in mind and body, you will derive maximum benefit through the recitation of Mantras. You must have a definite object in view and a strong will power to obtain the desired objective, and then direct that will to achieve the goal.

Below repost from http://www.chantamantra.com/index.php/mantra/10-mantras-to-the-21-taras

Recite each mantra three times preceded by

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE …then the mantras as follow:

1. WASHEN KURU SOHA
2. SHANTING KURU SOHA
3. PUSHTING KURU SOHA
4. AYUR JANA HRI DRUM SOHA
5. AKAR SHAY HRI SOHA
6. SAWA TUGUTE TSULU SOHA
7. BADA BOTONG WARANAYA CHO SOHA
8. AHMO KASHA THAM MARAYA HUM PE SOHA
9. NOPA SABA RAKYA PEM SOHA
10. SABAR MARA PAME DAYA HUM PEH SOHA
11. BASUDARI SOHA
12. NAKLAM PUSHTING KURU SOHA
13. PORTAYA BAMI KURU SOHA
14. BANZA MAHA PATAYA BAHMI KURU SOHA
15. SARWA PAH BUM THATA GANA YE SOHA
16. SARWA DHARMA PATE SHODAYA SOHA
17. SARWA TAMBAH NETE RAY SOHA
18. NAGA BIKA SHANTING KURU SOHA
19. MUDZA NAYA SOHA
20. BIZ ARAY SOHA
21. SAWA SIDDHI SOHA

With Love & Light,

Katherine Goh

Inspiration and Affirmation – The Rock aka Batu

INSPIRATION:

Half encrusted in a mossy mound of green, I found the rock that speaks to me and sings. An imperfect stone nested just off the path, Unique in its plainness, it sings in my hand!

The above is about a rock I once found. It was “just off the path” and a truly homely reprehensive of the gem and mineral kingdom. In appearance or perceived value, it would in no way be offered a place among others of high esteem: diamond, marble, granite, or even coal. One would never assume it to have anything to offer, such as the powerful healing qualities of a crystal. But this stone, this lonely outcast, lying forgotten and nearly buried at the side of an obscure path, had a song to sing!

It called to me, “Come here, come here and talk to me, I have something for you.”

I picked it up out of curiosity and wondered at what such an ugly rock could be. As I stood there dumbfounded, it began to sing its song. This would not be a song for the ear, but rather a song for the soul, a song of hope and healing at a time in my life when I desperately needed both.

The moment I picked up that craggy chunk of Earth, I was introduced to a new life that I had never tasted, and I am savoring it still today, where 14 years later it occupies an honored and sacred place in my home, my room.

“Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet!”

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AFFIRMATION (You may say it out loud)

I look for and easily discover the spark of the Holy Spirit in every living thing I see. My world is alive with wonder!

And so it is, and so I let it be.

With Love & Light,

Katherine Goh QY

Life is like a Game ?

“When we play a game, we tackle tough challenges with more creativity, more determination, more optimism, and we’re more likely to reach out to others for help.” ~ Jane McGonigal

Recently, my husband and i are “addicted” to playing board games. When we were in our teens, we played board games too. But since when we were both into our working lives that we leave no time for board games.  😦

Like most couples and families, there are always plenty of activities that keep us busy. For us, they include work, our adventure activities, sports (wide mix),  and everything else that keeps the engine running and the home in good order.

And that’s why we play games. With so much going on every day, we really need time to connect as a family; as couple and enjoy time together sitting around a table and laughing. So we make the time to pull out a game and have fun.

    

Here’s are my list of TOP 8 reasons of playing board game:

  1. It’s Time Together – Bonding 
  2. Laughter and Fun 
  3. Games reflect our Behaviors
  4. You definitely save $$$ and getting yourselves Entertained
  5. Some games enables us to think strategically and stimulate our minds
  6. Games relaxes our anxiety 
  7. Winning the game releases endorphin which increases self-esteem and makes a person feels good
  8. Board Games are a life time investment. You can play and play again and even pass down to your kids and grandchildren.

Incidentally, i came across a talk given by Jane McGonigal where she gave us an insights of “why playing games can give you 10 extra years of life.” Check out the talk below:-

This science fiction short film, by ERAN MAY-RAZ and DANIEL LAZO, presents implanted augmented-reality technology as it could happen within several years. I really enjoyed the ‘egg game’ scene :) it proves that most of life is just a game, as Jane McGonigal already proclamed in her TED talk about a ‘game that gives you 10 more years of life‘. Maybe your life is without this restart possibility.

August 2012 Connective Goal Setting Session – Love Thyself

Hello Goal-Setters,

This class we have attempted to look deep within ourselves. Most people feel alone at some points in their lives. Some people even have the feeling of abandonment. Perhaps, the feeling of abandoning yourself by yourself? Letting others taking control over you?

Sometimes the feelings are there for reasons that seem obvious and real, for example:

  • the aftermath of a painful break-up of a romantic relationship
  • a chronic health problem that seems to sap our vitality and makes us feel less fun to be with
  • unrequited love or passion, or simply wanting an intimate and sexual relationship and failing to find one
  • “the morning after” meaningless sex that did not deliver the emotions you hoped for
  • the feeling of disillusionment after having shared too much with someone who doesn’t understand
  • simply having no-one to turn to when life gets tough

You could probably add quite a few more situations to this list yourself, because everyone’s experience of feeling alone is slightly different. But – in some ways – this fact holds the key to understanding what causes us to feel alone. And, once we understand such a powerful emotion, it becomes so much easier to learn to fear it less and to recognise that you CAN do something to change your feelings.

I’ve said that there are many reasons for feeling alone, but perhaps there is really only one cause. Loneliness sets in when we cannot – for whatever reason – share our thoughts and feelings with someone whom we trust, and who we know will care. Care enough to listen to what we are saying, even if he or she is busy. Care enough to try to understand what we feel and why. Care enough to empathise rather than merely offer sympathy or condolence, worst off Pity.

Being alone and feeling alone are not the same things; not by a long way. Being alone can, for most of us, be very invigorating, but only for some of the time. For how much of the time varies significantly between people – one woman may think it idyllic to spend two weeks alone on a small Greek island with only a few books for company, another may become bored if she finds herself alone at home for a few hours once the kids are safely dropped off at school.

Most of us can handle some time alone providing that it’s our choice, or a part of our lives we consider “normal”. But very few of us would ever want to feel alone.

Feeling alone is largely created by your own perception of not being “connected” to the people around you.  “Connected” includes mutual trust in a relationship. The great thing about this is that you can influence this perception, and there are some techniques that help you to do so which we have learnt in our class.

To sign off, here are some quotes to sweeten our life:

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. – Buddha

“If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.” – Barbara De Angelis 

“To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance”– Oscar Wilde 

With Love & Light

Katherine Goh

July 2012 Connective Goal Setting Session – Spiritual Love

Hello Friends,

Love is the motivation behind many of our dreams, actions and thoughts. People move across the country, quit jobs, stay in unhealthy situations, all because they want love and they think their actions will increase it. Yet we often have a lot of rules and ideas about love that stop us from feeling love for ourselves and others.

 

One way to expand your capacity for real love in your life is to look at your inner rules honestly. We have discussed on inner rules in our class.

 

You go for the source of it and you realize its source can never be outside you, that it MUST BE revealed from within. This may sound strange, but part of you knows how to find and access love in your heart. Part of you knows intuitively what these next sentences means:
You travel nowhere to get more spiritual love. Nowhere —-> NOW HERE. There is nowhere to go but here in your heart.

 

Please continue to work on your Love Meditation for alignment and clearing your energies bodies that are not helping you on Love.

 

See you all next class in August 2012.

 

Here are some videos clips to work on your alignment.
Abraham-Hicks (Finding a Soul Mate)

ABRAHAM HICKS Creating A Lover

With Love & Light,

Katherine Goh

Science Vs Meditation – Is there a Connection?

As more and more research emerges on the importance of meditation for healing, I encourage everyone interested in natural health and wellness to engage in this simple yet meaningful practice of relaxation and regeneration. My own personal meditation sabbatical has been profound for me, and as this process winds down, it is my deepest desire to share what I have learned during this time with anyone seeking deep healing and rejuvenation.

Regardless of your age, health, or belief system, simple regular meditation practice can benefit you on all levels. As more and more doctors and health practitioners are recommending this ancient, time-tested practice, meditation is on its way to holding a well-deserved reputation as a simple, yet powerful and safe modality for supporting health and preventing illness. 

After listening to Kelly McGonigal’s talk, I have no doubt that meditation is therapeutic. I am CERTAIN. In my years of healing career, i have shared this techniques with my patients, many of whom are cancer-related and or stress, depression-sufferings individuals. 

It seemed that we are able to go into an alternate default mode which does not engage our evaluation system, (in other words our experiential system is decoupled from our evaluation system) which helps us to function more effectively. We become more mindful, and suffer less.

The Talk describe  that the neuroscience of meditation can help us understand how practice shapes the mind, and offers fresh insight into concepts like mindfulness and suffering.

Waking Up is Not Enough

I was listening to a preview clip by Rinzai Zen patriarchs Jun Po Roshi and Doshin Roshi with Keith Martin-Smith while i was browsing in the net one day. In the discussion, Rinzai Zen patriarchs Jun Po Roshi and Doshin Roshi discuss why meditation and spiritual insight alone cannot transform ourselves or the world. From an Integral point of view, simply “Waking Up” isn’t enough. We are also being called to” Grow Up” (mature emotionally and psychologically), “Clean Up” (engage in shadow work), and “Show Up” (embody our insight in our daily lives).

This is much akin to “Awareness”, “Growth”,”Clean Up our baggage” and “Take Action” which i have shared in our sessions. A different words but may have the same meanings.

Pure Awareness is definitely not enough. I totally agree with the two masters –  Rinzai Zen patriarchs Jun Po Roshi and Doshin Rosh. Awareness is only the first step to enlightenment. But what’s the point with just awareness and not doing anything? Therefore, we must Learn, Adjust and Grow in our daily lives. Didn’t we mention before, if you stopped learning, you stopped living?

As we grow, we learn. Simultaneously, we must also clean up our baggage – those stuffs that do not serve us well. Holding onto baggage (attachments) will only hinders our learning journey. But we must acknowledge that these “baggage” were there for a purpose – to let us learn something. Once we learnt the lessons, we must let it go and “housekeeping” our shadow work.

Lastly, Take Action. Apply what we have learnt in our life. Embody these learning in our daily living.

May Enlightenment be with us. Namaste Om.

“From this point of view, Enlightenment is essentially two embodied realizations. First, Enlightenment is the direct realization of your Bud — the naked pure consciousness found deep within your ordinary mind. We call this realization wisdom. And second, Enlightenment is the realization of the fearless heart found in the profound depth of this wisdom. We call this realization compassion. But please be aware: Enlightenment is also the philosophical and emotional re-indoctrination and reformation following this discovery. To accomplish this philosophical and emotional maturity we offer Mondo Zen. Zen Enlightenment is the marriage of this wisdom realization and the unconditional love realization—all embodied in our daily lives.” –Jun Po Kelly Roshi