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Full Moon Wisdom | |
A scientist can tell us all we want to know about the color, weight, size and life cycle of a mango.... But without tasting it, do we really understand its nature? |
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| Dear Michael, | 
In our culture, we are taught to over-analyze everything. We prize intellect above all other means of obtaining information, and as a result we often lose connection with our inherent, natural source of knowledge. This imbalance compels us to go crazy trying to "figure out" how to live, when the reality is that not everything can be understood with the intellect. One can't possibly do enough research and collect enough information to solve all of life's problems by rational means.
When we realize that we can't control everything with our intellect, we become filled with fear. The problem is that in our society, we are overly dependent on factual knowledge to the point that we don't consider the importance of developing the skills we need to navigate the uncertainty that is so inevitably a part of life. Ironically, those skills are something we're born with - we only need to listen to them.
Our instincts are our natural tools for understanding the world; they are how we are hard-wired for survival. Indeed, surviving is not contingent on technology; humans didn't survive for thousands of years because we knew calculus, had batteries, could drill for oil or perform an operation. We survived by listening to our instincts. If we get back in touch with our instincts and feelings, we will find we have much less to fear.
Feel well,
Michael
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Consider This...Skillful Reflection |
The enlightened state of perceptual knowledge that Buddhists describe as "knowing which is also a seeing" is achieved only by stripping down to our barest essence and getting rid of all the junk cluttering our mind and affecting our decisions. When we are able to do so, we can listen to our instincts, get out of our heads and begin to truly live. We are finally able to navigate life with a clear mind and the genuine value of all of our senses. This is what I believe "common sense" refers to.
 The wisdom here is that we need information but we also need to remain attuned to our environment in every sense of the word to make the decisions necessary to be successful and live well. Within this construct is the knowing that helps us to see things for what they are, unencumbered by our preconceived ideas, thoughts and beliefs or those thrust upon on us by society. Indeed, a scientist can tell us all we want to know about the color, weight, size and life cycle of a mango. But without tasting it, do we really understand its nature?
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Advice from the Skillful Doctor | 
Question: My doctor says my cholesterol is high, but I'm afraid to go down the path of taking a statin medication, and I'm very stressed about this whole situation. What do you think I should do?
Answer: Without knowing your situation in more detail, I can't necessarily second guess your doctor. However, what I can say is it's important for you to put your question in the right perspective.
One who cultivates mindfulness and adopts this holistic view would not, for example, simply exercise to look good, get their heart rate up or lower their blood sugar levels. Taken alone, these are reasonable goals, but they are also narrow, prescriptive and calculated measurements of health. Perhaps, it is more skillful to move, lose weight or lower your LDL cholesterol because they bring you closer to a flow state and support health in a richer, more "holistic" sense. Living in a flow state means that you are using many more aspects of your mind-body-spirit complex than you would by intellect alone and, as a result, you will achieve a more complete and balanced state of existence. For me, that's the point and the essential goal.
Therefore, it is important to broaden your perspective when you contemplate your situation. Do not set up your day with exercise, adequate rest and a proper diet because they stave off disease, or make you look and feel better. Similarly, taking a medication or following any other "prescription" should be placed in the same context and one must go beyond the simple "solutions" of medications to achieve the desired results. It is best that whatever your decide that you incorporate these elements into your day because they help put you in a rhythm, the cycle of which is supported by nature. This is skillful living and it generally feels better and is a lot more fun.
Tell us about how you've taken a holistic view of your health or submit your own question HERE. |
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Announcements | The next three episodes of The Skillful Living Room Radio Show will be available here the day after they air. You can, of course, listen live, by tuning into the "listen live" link at Business Talk Radio. The show airs every Saturday at 12 Noon EST.
- On June 26th, Diane Ingram will visit to talk about Second Chances: how to find meaningful work.
- On July 3rd, Dr. Laurie Nadel will visit The Skillful Living Room to discuss optimizing performance, accelerating healing, managing stress, and solving problems.
 If you have been thinking about undertaking a true "cleanse" or detox, a green juice fast along with a comprehensive protocol developed by one of the leading experts in the field can be an extremely valuable experience. On Monday July 12th, - Friday July 16th, SunRaven will be holding a 4 day abbreviated juice fast. This modified fast is shorter and less intense than the week-long fast, so it's ideal for people who have never done a fast before or people who don't have time for the full week fast. The SunRaven Group Juice Fast is unique in that it offers the support from a group of participants who share this interest and live in the same community. If you are interested please contact us at: juicefast@sunraven.org
 The next SunRaven Book Club meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 15 th at 7:30pm. We will be discussing Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion by Pema Chödrön, a prolific writer widely known for her down-to-earth interpretations of Tibetan Buddhism for Western audiences. In this book, she offers readers wise insights into living in the present moment, staying with our thoughts, lightening up and accepting the uncertainty that is simply a part of life.
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FINALLY! A MeaningFULL Action for the Full Moon |
I close today's letter with this MeaningFull Action for the full moon:
 You can't understand everything with the intellect, so stop trying. Get outside and connect with nature. Spend more time with your family. Mend relationships with a long lost relative or friend. Read some good books. Ignore the words of leaders who are misleading you. In short, try to get good information and put yourself in a place where you can effectively connect to your instincts. Feel confident that the path you have chosen is credible.
Michael Finkelstein
SunRaven |
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 The Next Installment: New Moon, July 11, 2010
The Summer Moon |
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