~The Factual Dragnet~©

Photo Credit: Daily Good Practicing Mindfulness Daily 1. Waking Up Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at beings with eyes of compassion. 2. Taking the First Steps of the Day Walking on the Earth is a miracle! Each mindful step reveals the wondrous Dharmakaya. 3. Stepping out of Bed If today I inadvertently step on a small insect, may it not suffer too much. May it be liberated. Homage to the Bodhisattva of the Land of Great Happiness. 4. Opening the Window Opening the window, I look out onto the Dharmakaya. How wondrous is life! Attentive to each moment, my mind is clear like a calm river. 5. Turning on the Water Water comes from high mountain sources. Water runs deep in the Earth. Miraculously, water comes to us and sustains all life. My gratitude is filled to the brim. 6. Washing Your Hands Water flows over these hands. May I use them skillfully to preserve ou...

Written By: Puck Arks of TFD Ponder This: War is NOT the Answer I n order to change the system violence whether it comes in the form of war, terrorism, freedom fighters or the anti-globalization protesters in not the answer. Trying to achieve justice through violence is a contradiction. Violence polarizes positions, entrenches ideologies, maims and kills innocent people, hardens hearts and leaves a select population to have their voices heard. H istory has shown us that violent acts get the most innocent of people killed. It has also shown us that some of the greatest nonviolent acts send the biggest message and ultimately are what end up getting the most justice. When we as individuals stand up for what we believe in and let our peaceful actions speak for us. We are able to gain support because peaceful protests bring in a wide variety of people from all walks of life and all genders bring greater numbers for the greatest good.  T he more we continue...

  Photo Credit: Pinterest.com Written By: Puck Arks of TFD Let’s Be Better Humans I t sounds too good to be true – and yet true indeed it is: we can all help to heal the world! Far more in fact than we may ever have dreamt possible. And one thing is certain: the world needs healing. It doesn’t take a great intellect to see just how troubled this world is. Disease, confusion, war, depression, hate, violence plague nearly every inhabited corner of Earth.      And why?   Because of us human beings. A s we stand witness to the violence and the protests across the world, we are forced to ask: What is the heart of the matter? I’m not sure that anyone has an answer to that question. Until we acknowledge our own culpability, there is little hope for a lasting solution. The change we seek will only come when we see a change of heart in a sufficient number of people to tip the balance toward peace, community, and respect for each oth...

 Photo Credit: Robin Afinowich Written By: Puck Arks A Peaceful Warrior T o become a peaceful warrior one must first fight their own negative tendencies and wrong beliefs. Peaceful warriors are honorable, courageous and compassionate human beings who make a difference by having lived and lived well. However, the toughest battles for a peaceful warrior are internal but once conquered translate into increasing clarity, wisdom, peace, faith, and compassion.  A peaceful warriors main weapon is love L ove is not the overly emotiona l or passionate rapture we see in the movies. Love is the absolute absence of fear. When there is no fear, there is no need to justify or defend our beliefs. I cannot stress enough the need to choose love over fear every step of the way, because that choice alone marks the difference between resisting change (holding on to the past) and embracing what is happening and what is yet to come, while allowing your divine natur...

 Written By: Hugo Omar Aghosta    The Basics of Mindfulness Practice Mindfulness helps us put some space between ourselves and our reactions, breaking down our conditioned responses. Here’s how to tune into mindfulness throughout the day: Set aside some time. You don’t need a meditation cushion or bench, or any sort of special equipment to access your mindfulness skills—but you do need to set aside some time and space. Observe the present moment as it is. The aim of mindfulness is not quieting the mind, or attempting to achieve a state of eternal calm. The goal is simple: we’re aiming to pay attention to the present moment, without judgement. Easier said than done, we know. Let your judgments roll by. When we notice judgements arise during our practice, we can make a mental note of them, and let them pass. Return to observing the present moment as it is. Our minds often get carried away in thought. That’s why mindfulness is th...