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Japanese gardens are simply marvelous in looks and have a calm relaxing zen appeal to soothe your senses and refresh your mind. These type of gardens are easy to design if you know what you are doing. Here are the 4 easy steps to effortlessly design your own Japanese Garden

1. Adding moss to the entryway and the sideways of your garden creates a zen like retreat. It helps you relax and refresh without having to worry about all the day to day stress.

2. A stone lantern is not only aesthetic in design, but also looks mysterious and intriguing. Giving your garden a warm, exotic look, a lantern is bound to help you create an alluring garden.

3. Container gardens are perfect addition to your garden. E.g a sand garden along with cactus and bonsai makes a perfect zen-appeal to your Japanese garden.

4. A bamboo tea house is a perfect place to contemplate and meditate on when you are stressed and want some timeout from day to day worries.

5. A bamboo water fountain is one of the best ways to add charm and beauty to your Japanese garden. Bamboo fountains give your garden warm natural look and intrigue your guests. They were used in traditional Japanese gardens to create zen-like retreats for monks and gurus.

6. A fish pond with koi fish is a perfect addition to your Japanese garden. Koi fish reflect vibrant colors and add a unique character to your Japanese Garden.

7. Rocks add a texture and variety to your garden like nothing else. Especially rocks made from sunburst cobblestones create rich orange looks when wet. Placing them right next to the bamboo fountain is prefect way to enhance the beauty of your Japanese garden. For green color, you may use Ivy Green rocks.

Integrating these 7 elements will help you create amazing Japanese gardens in no time. Perfect for high-stress jobs like NJ Accountant, Computer Programmer, or a graphic artist, Japanese zen gardens offer a very relaxing retreat from day to day worries and stress.

According to the Bible, Jesus once said, “Apart from Me, there is no other God.” Earlier in history, the young prince Siddharta who became the Buddha, soon after he was born unto this world took seven steps and declared, “Above and beneath the heaven, I am the greatest.” Did these statements come from the mouth of utterly arrogant and egotistical persons or were there other implications? If we were to make the same statement, many would have thought that we are conceited. Those who study the teachings of Buddha would find Buddha’s statement far from being arrogant and likewise the Christian on what Jesus said. In fact it is because of these statements that made the faithful proud.

Most people do not have the courage to stake a claim as the greatest person in the world. During the boxing era of Mohammad Ali, he always said that “He is the greatest and he floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.” Mike Tyson claimed almost the same words and every boxer feared him during his prime. How long can they last to be the greatest? Soon the butterfly will stop flying, the bee stopped stinging and the killer punch gone and replaced by younger boxer who could also float like a butterfly, sting like a bee and give the killer punch. The direction is different from Jesus and Buddha but all claimed to be the greatest for different reasons. One can cause millions of people to bow and kneel down everyday to pray and show respect until today and the other will be forgotten soon.

The statement made by both Buddha and Jesus is a reflection of a person’s great aspiration and sheer resolution. The Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng of Buddhism and Tao was an illiterate wood cutter when he went to seek Tao from the Fifth Patriarch Hong Ren. Although he was an ordinary wood cutter, he experienced immediate realization on hearing a recitation of The Diamond Sutra from someone while cutting firewood and decided to seek the path of enlightenment.

When he sought audience from Hong Ren, the Fifth Patriarch deliberately belittled him upon seeing that he was an ugly, tanned and unrefined barbarian from the south. He pretended to spite Hui Neng in front of all his disciples and said, “You are a barbarian, why are you here?” Hui Neng was not disturbed at all and instead replied, “I am here to seek nothing of irrelevance except the way to Buddhahood.” Such words again sounded rather conceited considering Hui Neng came from a humble and deprived background. This is another example of the behavior of a person with great aspiration in life.

Greatness however does not come from mere words. To achieve greatness, we should firstly seek to understand the direction in life and overcome all stumbling blocks which have been hindering our progress. We might say people like Jesus or Buddha had been endowed with special preconditions to achieve greatness while we have not. Like all other great Saints, we have the same physical attributes, such as a pair of eyes, a mouth, a nose, a pair of hands and feet etc. While Jesus Christ became the King of Kings and Buddha was known as The Enlightened One, what will become of us? Can we achieve something equivalent or the King of Kings or The Enlightened One of the 21st Century! Are there such a possibility and the ways and means to achieve it? Is it possible to have two people who are the best at the same time?

The first message from God (Lao Mu) in the Temple of Tao of Heaven was, “There are billions of ‘Kuan Yin’ (pure divine soul) in Homeland” and my Heavenly Teacher JiGong said, “To become a Buddha is not a dream.” We are all children of God and not only Jesus Christ or Sakyamuni Buddha who came to save the world. Even the demons (or the fallen angels according to Christianity) are also children of God including the animals and suffering souls in Hell. Animals can become Humans and Humans can become animals. If there are no suffering souls and human beings on Earth, there won’t be any Buddhas to descend from Heaven to save the world or any necessity for Jesus Christ to come again as mentioned in the Bible. We all can become the greatest and in the eyes of Heaven we are the greatest. The only difference is who can go back home first.

To feel great, this is the advice from my Heavenly Teacher JiGong, “Within the universe, heaven is great, yet the Self-Nature (Inner Being) is even greater. Do utilize fully your Inner Being to accomplish the Three Immortals: build Virtues, build Words and build Merits - to assist heaven-and-earth in their task of transforming and nurturing the living things.”

Build Virtues means to correct oneself and be a perfect person. Build Words means to pass on the right teachings in writings. Build Merits means to make contributions. Contributions can be in the form of giving monetary support, spreading the teachings of Tao and general help in the propagation of Tao.

To be the greatest is not important in life. To come to the understanding that why are we here and the purpose of human existence is more important. The great matter of human existence is that we must realize the value and the meaning of life. Life is to seek a permanent home to go to. Life can be long or short. As long as there is birth, there is death. He has his fate; you have your destiny. In order to put an end to the causes and consequences (one’s karmic debts), one must make contributions and build one’s virtues. Live naturally and easily. Life is bitter, but it is sweet too.

Author: T.A Chew

T.A Chew in his younger days tried to imitate his hero, the famous Chinese actor “Bruce Lee” because he was the greatest in the movies of Chinese martial art. He trained his “Kungfu” and Korean “Tang Su Do” daily using the same fighting sound as his hero. When his hero died and forgotten, his interest also died and forgotten very quickly together with them. Life is impermanent. Website: http://www.white-sun.com

I love to watch people at airports, malls and even
at our church. I wonder, what got them here? What
attracted those two people to be together at this
time? What makes that one tick or that one over
there work so hard? And sadly, I wonder where has
all the laughter gone?

Studies show that children laugh approximately 400
times per day while adults laugh as little as 15
times a day. Studies also show that laughter helps
lower blood pressure, strengthens immune systems,
and helps lower stress hormones. There are no
known studies of negative side effects to
laughter. No wonder we have a health crisis on our
hands. But, my question is, “What does it do to
the Spirit?”

I may be wrong here in my observation, but it
seems that Christians are the unhappiest of them
all. Mad at God, life and the dog it seems. At
the very least are not accustomed to wearing a
smile. Dave Stone talked last week in his sermon
that based upon what we are taught about eternity
and what it will bring us, believers should be the
happiest people on earth. Can you remember the
last time you laughed so hard your stomach ached
and you just couldn’t stop? Can you remember when
you even laughed at all?

I consider myself to be a happier person than
most. I have endured many hardships in life
whether of my own demise or just life. I chose to
pull myself each time back up from the gutter.
Mostly, because God has blessed me with a gift of
encouragement, discernment and the ability to
motive myself and others. Here are five
suggestions I have for making your life filled
with more laughter and happiness in a negative
world.

Watching TV less or not at all. TV is a
meaningless habit of filling your brain with tons
of negative information. Read a book or start a
“creative” hobby instead.
Be very selective on who you spend quality time
with outside your family. Whether you realize it
or not certain people can bring you down, we do
become like those we hang around. Join an ABF
class or an activity at the center.
Force yourself to get out of your boat of daily
habits. We tend to go to work the same way, eat
the same foods, park in the same parking lot at
church, and sit in the same section to. Try new
things you’ll be surprised how it will affect you.

Have a career not a job. Do something you love to
do in life for money. You may say, this is not my
choice or easier said than done, but I disagree. I
get paid a good living motivating people to
exercise. How silly is that? I created my career
for me, you can to. I laugh everyday going to work
because I love what I do so much. You can start
today by asking God for help.

The last one, yet most important of them all that
will bring more peace and laughter to your life
is; Turn the “control” of your daily life over to
Jesus Christ. We put all the pressures of life on
ourselves and for what. Jesus died for us and bore
all our burdens. As believers we should be the
happiest people on earth. We don’t have much time
down here left make the best of it. Jesus Christ
wants us to be happy and have laughter in our
hearts. Studies will also show you that people
live longer and healthier with great attitudes so
remember, “He who laughs…….lasts!”

Father,
Thank you so much for bearing all of our burdens
for us by your death on the Cross. Help us father
to be happier people. Encourage us to spend our
time and efforts wisely and enjoyably while we are
on this earth. Also Father we pray that you will
give us peace and happiness during this up-coming
holiday season. We pray this in your will and
name. Amen

Greg Ryan is a best selling author of the Changing from the INSIDE OUT series. A powerful five step plan to better your life, get healthier, and have more energy! For FREE mini Course click here! http://www.resolutions.bz

Some people who have experienced the death of a loved one seek the help of a psychic medium to re-establish contact with that person, who is believed to be in the world of spirits. Psychic Mediums are people who claim to have superhuman powers they use to help ease the pain of those who are grieving for someone who has passed into the spirit world. They achieve this by proving that their loved free from pain and wish to communicate with the people they left behind on earth.

A medium is a person who uses his or her psychic abilities to communicate with people in the spirit world. They are called mediums because they are the means of contact between the recipient and the spirit. The underlying purpose behind their profession is threefold. They seek to prove the existence of life after death. Mediums also wish to console and advise others as well asfurther develop their own spirituality.

Psychic predictions and phenomena can be traced back throughout history. The early demonstrations of medium ship were very physical, like table rapping and table tilting. Over the years, these declined in popularity to be replaced by the type of medium we witness today.

Mediums may have a number of skills, though most have specialties. Most mediums work by seeing pictures in their mind. This image allows them to describe a person in spirit and is known as clairvoyance or “clear seeing.” Mediums use their psychic vision, either within the mind or objectively, as if the spirit were present in person. Clairaudience or clear hearing, where the medium hears the spirit either subjectively or objectively, is also popular amongst mediums. Spirit communicators are able to send feelings, known as clairsentience, to the medium. This is particularly useful if they are trying to indicate what ailment caused them to pass over. They may for example, send a mild pain to the heart of the medium. The medium would then be able to tell the client how their loved one died.

Although mediums are able to look into future events, offer some advise and help establish communication with loved ones, they do not tell a person what to do. The work of a psychic is to help their clients take direction and control of their situations.

Many who seek to become enlightened or to have a spiritual experience resort to meditation as a vehicle.

Meditation is often used to still the mind and attain the deeper level of awareness that is obfuscated by the ever present flow of thoughts and feelings that are part of the so called ego.

To achieve significant states of spiritual enlightenment via this route however often takes intense practice and unwavering determination. These are barriers that many choose not to overcome.

The question is: “Is there a better, more effective way?”

Well some spiritual teachers might argue that the enlightenment is in the effort made to achieve it and hence the long-term practice is an essential component.

I however don’t accept that.

In fact it is my view that:

a) True enlightenment occurs when you attain enlightenment.

b) There is a more effective and quicker way to achieve it.

c) This path requires simply a desire for it and a desire to remain honest with one’s self through out.

d) The spiritual connection that many are seeking can be attained by “dismantling” and “releasing” what many call the ego or personality from the person’s energy field altogether.

e) Such a release is possible with a modality called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) (MRP).

f) The process is rapid, cumulative and powerful.

g) Enlightenment is experienced as a rapidly unfolding process accompanied with all of the following: feelings of lightness, radiance, buoyancy, inner peace, great confidence, great resilience, inner knowing, enhanced intuitive abilities, energy,
expansiveness, empowerment, connection to one’s own truth, love for self and others, a deep connection with the planet, other species and the universe and more.

To learn or experience MRP kindly visit the web link below.

Dr. Nick Arrizza is trained in Chemical Engineering, Business Management & Leadership, Medicine and Psychiatry. He is an Energy Psychiatrist, Healer, Key Note Speaker,Editor of a New Ezine Called “Spirituality And Science” (which is requesting high quality article submissions) Author of “Esteem for the Self: A Manual for Personal Transformation” (available in ebook format on his web site), Stress Management Coach, Peak Performance Coach & Energy Medicine Researcher, Specializes in Life and Executive Performance Coaching, is the Developer of a powerful new tool called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) that helps build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being by helping to permanently release negative beliefs, emotions, perceptions and memories. He holds live workshops, international telephone coaching sessions and international teleconference workshops on Physical. Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Well Being.

Business URL #1: http://www.telecoaching4u.com

Personal URL: http://www.telecoaching4u.com/Spirituality_And_Science.htm

“Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens” (Song of Solomon 2:2).

The lily is beautiful, simple, pure and fragrant; the thorn is unsightly, sharp and barren. The world is divided between the lilies and the thorns; the believers and unbelievers, the regenerates and degenerates, the constructs and destructs. We ask ourselves which are we, lilies or thorns? Are we clothed with the graces of His Holy Spirit, the ornaments of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23) or are we bound in a corset of the disgraces of the unholy spirit?

We are advised: “Do not be afraid, though briars and thorns are all around you…” (Ezekiel 2:6b). Certainly Jesus was surrounded by thorns and was even crowned with them: “They…twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him” (Mark 15:17). The prophet Micah laments, “The best of them (us!) is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge” (Micah 7:4). We all crown Jesus time and again with bristles and barbs, sins that crucify Him again and again because He loves us so.

The lily and the thorn grow and thrive in the same soil. “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). God’s generosity seems unfair, but only God knows when a thorn can convert into a fair flower. It may take more sunshine from those who profess to receive Light from the Son.

The lily stays soft and pure; the thorn becomes hard and causes pain. There is that inside each of us which causes us to react to the outside elements differently. What a beautiful lesson for us. God’s grace dignifies us that we may flourish as the lily rather than make thorns of our surroundings because we lack decency and graciousness. “I will be like…dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily” (Hosea 14:5). The dew of God’s love makes us gentle and beautiful and fruitful lilies in His valley.