http://zenfulness.com Mind, Body, and Being Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:38:15 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Popular music isn't known for being a bastion of deep philosophical ponderings.  Despite the image of superficiality and tabloid celebrity behavior, there are still examples of wise words from our musical muses.  Here are a few that I like."Life's a journey, not a destination." - Aerosmith, AmazingWe are only capable ... http://zenfulness.com/2009/07/05/words-from-the-muses/ I have recently come across a couple of writings advocating a more barebones (or more specifically, barefoot) approach to footwear.  The first is an article expaining how running shoes do nothing to reduce injuries; the second is a blog post by lifestyle design experimenter Tim Ferriss about his experience with ... http://zenfulness.com/2009/05/11/set-your-feet-free/ [caption id="attachment_74" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Mind the gap."][/caption] Initially recorded in the days when digital storage was vastly more expensive, this pithy phrase wastes no words in its safety reminder.  In three simple words, the phrase reminds British train passengers to pay attention to the gap between the train and the platform ... http://zenfulness.com/2009/03/07/mind-the-gap/ [caption id="attachment_68" align="alignright" width="199" caption="Gandhi"][/caption] "They say the means are after all just means. I would say means are after all everything. As the means, so the end." -- M.K. Gandhi From time to time, we become so focused on the end goal that we lose sight of the path; the ends ... http://zenfulness.com/2009/02/03/ends-and-means/ [caption id="attachment_47" align="alignleft" width="210" caption="(CC) Creative Commons."][/caption] Growing up in a restaurant family, I've always been surrounded by good food and good cooks.  Even after I left the restaurant life to pursue my education, food has been an important theme in my life.  I've always felt it important to eat well ... http://zenfulness.com/2009/01/24/connection-to-our-food/ [caption id="attachment_29" align="alignnone" width="250" caption="Happy Buddha, Longhua Temple, Shanghai China (CC)."][/caption] The past several months have been an unpleasant blur. I didn't have a terrible car accident, lose my home, or anything most people would consider all that traumatic. The unpleasantness arose from my work. A few months ... http://zenfulness.com/2009/01/07/reflecting-on-the-essence-of-happiness/ Illustration compliments of Lem Fugitt of Robot Dreams In a prior post, I wrote about the value of thinking inside the box. Working from within the box, we can come to recognize the bounds of the box and begin to understand the framework it establishes. It is after coming ... http://zenfulness.com/2008/09/21/mindfulness-inside-out/ We often hear people talking about "thinking outside of the box."  Usually what is meant by this metaphorical box is the boundaries defined by some line of thought.  By exploring new possibilities different from the previous ways of approaching something, whether it be a business or artistic pursuit, we hope ... http://zenfulness.com/2008/09/13/thinking-inside-the-box/ Mindfulness practice can at first seem like an esoteric pursuit. In truth, mindfulness involves little mysticism and has direct tie-ins with the real world. Though usually seen as a tool for Buddhist spiritual practice, mindfulness practice extends beyond the spiritual realm readily maps into experiences in the mundane ... http://zenfulness.com/2008/07/16/by-any-other-name/ I am absolutely convinced that no wealth in the world can help humanity forward, even in the hands of the most devoted worker. The example of great and pure individuals is the only thing that can lead us to noble thoughts and deeds. Money only appeals to selfishness and irresistibly ... http://zenfulness.com/2008/06/11/relativity-of-wealth/