SPIRITUALITY: Blues for Buddha

Blues for Buddha
By Jed McKenna

Being critical of Buddhism is not easy.

Buddhism is the most sympathetic of the great religions, and Buddhists are the perennial good guys of modern spirituality. Beautiful traditions, lovely architecture, inspiring statuary, ancient history, the Dalai Lama - What's not to like?

About Buddhsim is just so ... Nice. No fatwa or jihad took no inquisitions or crusades, no terrorists or pedophiles, just nice people being nice. In fact, Buddhism means kindness. Nice-ism.

At least, should.

Buddha means Awakened One, so Buddhism can be understood Awake-ism. Awakism. It would therefore be natural to think that if you were trying to wake up, then Buddhism, ie, Awakism, would be the place to look.

::: The light Better Over Here

Such thinking, however, reveal a dangerous lack of respect for the opposition. Maya, goddess of delusion, has done its job with supreme mastery since the first spark of self-awareness flickered in some chimp pumpkin, and the idea that the neophyte truth applicant may simply register with the Buddhists, read some books, some hug new concepts and beat her to the floor could be a bit 'naive side.

On the other hand, why not? How'd this get so turned around? It 's just the truth. Should not be the truth, as the simplest thing? If someone wants to find something as ubiquitous as truth be able to do so? And here's this venerable organization supposedly dedicated to that very thing, including the name, so what's the problem?

::: Why does not Buddhism produce Buddhas?

The problem stems from the fact that Buddhists, like everyone else, insist on reconciling the irreconcilable. They not only want to awaken to the truth, but they also want to make sense of the false. Want to have your cake and eat it too, so you end up with nonsensical theories, divergent schools, sagacious doubletalk, and zero Buddha.

Typical of Buddhist insistence on reconciling the irreconcilable is the concept of two truths, a line of two barbed words that do not seem, yet this kind of irrational thinking evil is the heart of the search failed for the truth. We do not want the truth, we want a particular truth, one that does not threaten the ego, which does not exist. We insist on a truth that makes sense in light of what we know, not knowing what we know nothing.

Buddhism is nothing more revealing than the Four Noble Truths which, not being true, are rather dubious nobility. They form the basis of Buddhism, then it is clear from the outset that the Buddhists have whipped up a proprietary version of truth shaped more by market forces Than Any particular concern to consumers less-friendly, albeit true, truth.

Yes, Buddhism may be spiritually filling, even nourishing, but insofar as the truth is concerned, is junkfood. You can eat every day of your life and die just as an alarm clock as the day you joined.

::: Bait & Switch

Buddhism is a classic bait-and-operation switch. We are attracted by light in the window, but when we start steering brings us to the compassion aisle. Buddhists could be honest and change their name to Compassionism, but who wants that?

Here's the problem. They can not sell compassion and not able to provide illumination.

This false advertising is the type of game you play if you want to stay in a successful business where the customer is always wrong. You can exit the business honestly, or thrive by giving people what they want. What they say they want and what they really want, though, are two very different things.

::: Me Me Me

To an outside observer, much of Buddhist knowledge and practice seems focused on spiritual self-improvement. Even this is difficult to speak against ... except in the context of awakening from illusion. Then it is easy.

There is no such thing as true self, so any pursuit geared toward its enlargement, improvement, elevation, raising, evolution, glorification, salvation, etc., is absolute madness. The more so that any effort undertaken merely to increase their happiness or contentment or, I am ashamed to even say, happiness?

Self is ego and ego is the realm of the dreamstate. If you want to get rid of the dreamstate, you must get rid of itself, does not stretch to make it purr or groom for a better future imagined.

::: Maya's House of Enlightenment

The trick of being critical of so esteemed and beloved an institution is not to get dragged into the quagmire of detail and debate. It 'very simple: If Buddhism is about enlightenment, people should always be lit. If it is not lighting, which should change the sign.

Of course, Buddhism is not entirely unique in its survival tactics. This same gulf between promise and performance is in all systems of human spirituality. We're looking into Buddhism because it is there that is more pronounced. No disrespect to the Buddha is intended. If there was a Buddha and was lit, then it's Buddhism that insults his memory, not healthy skepticism. Guilt followed the emperor's naked tailors and toadies, not the guy who merely states the obvious.

Buddhism is by far the highest of belief systems great man. If you want to enjoy the many valuable benefits it has to offer, then I do not pretend to say a word against it. But if you want to escape from the clutches of Maya, then I suggest you look very closely at the serene face on all those golden statues to see if it is not really his.

McKenna, Jed

SPIRITUALITY: Impersonating Jed McKenna

Impersonating Jed McKenna
By Jed McKenna

"Nobody is prophet in his own country.

That line keeps running through my mind as I sit at a lunch with my sister who I have not seen in several years. These days I'm the guy lit, but I'm her only boy boys who could not have eye contact when she wore a bikini.

And 'summer '01 and we're at lunch in Manhattan. Read a preview copy of bloody and had a few months to digest. It 'was very nice of her to read it because it is not really the kind of thing. It is a good citizen, a successful executive, wife, mother, a Republican, tennis nut, Christian-ish, and all-round productive members of society. (He once told me that he was raising his children to be productive members of society and a face so strong that nearly chipped a tooth.) She is a wonderful person, but not a member of the demographic the book speaks.

There is a plate of chilled pasta and a salad in front of me in front of her. We're both drinking iced tea. He runs the creative side of a medium sized advertising agency, I have no doubt she is very good. Is taking time on a tight schedule to have lunch with me. After this I go to the park to lie on the grass and watch people play with their dogs.

Visiting your sister and lunch should not be an ordeal of confusion, but it is. She is really my sister? What does it mean? We share some 'history and acquaintances, such as children and parents. My parents are really my parents? Are genetically related to my body, but the person who lived my childhood is no longer here. I share the past with this person is as real and important to me as if I had read in a brochure.

The problem is that these people, my family are all related to my shell, and I'm not. They are looking outside Jed McKenna and assuming an interior Jed McKenna. I'm in Jed McKenna looking out and I do not remember what he had to do or say. It 's all false. I'm an actor playing a role with which I feel no connection and have no motivation. There can be anything genuine in my relationships with people who have to do with my outer garment. (The whole thing is further entangled with the fact that there is no "I" inhabiting the mine shell, just a fading echo, but let's not go down that road right now.)

Actually, not really confused. I do not have the slightest shred of doubt about who and what they are. The hard thing is that who and what I do is connected to this beautiful, professional-woman eating salad in front of me. In coming to this dinner, I added in a situation where I belong. I am an imposter. I have some residual love for my sister and I would be sad if she died thinking that she was no longer in the world, but the fact is that our previous report no longer exists.

Okay, then why I say this?

Why is what I do. I try to keep this thing for the display and this seems an interesting aspect of the whole deal. How to relate to people who were most important to you before awakening from the dream of the segregated self?

Asks why I'm in town.

"My astrologer told me it was the right time to get away and not try to accomplish something. They said that Rahu and Ketu is not letting me do anything for a while 'anyway ..."

I look up and see that she has stopped chewing in mid bite and looked at me incredulously.

"What?"

"My astrologer ..."

"You're not serious. You have astrologers?"

Oh yeah. I guess that sounds weird. I was vaguely aware that I was trying to be funny by starting a sentence with "My astrologer told me ..." but what is a bit 'funny to me is another world for her. Could also have fun with it.

"I have dozens of astrologers. I can not swing a dead cat without hitting someone who's doing my chart or explaining how will my future, advised me on almost everything."

His expression does not change. "You have astrologers?"

"Lots. Gotta beat 'em off with a stick."

"And say ... you say what the future holds? What should I do? When you should do? What you should avoid? That 's what we are talking about?"

"I guess."

Resumes chewing but wide-eyed gaze remains. There is a chasm in this conversation through which it is useless to try to communicate. She knows I'm in some serious weirdness, but not how much or what kind. I do not have astrologers, of course, but in those days did seem like I was surrounded by students from Eastern and Western astrology who were always very eager to share their readings.

"What are you doing with all this information?"

"I? Nothing. I mean, do not ask for it. Not so I wake up and summon the court astrologers to plan my day."

"Sounds like you do."

"I was speaking lightly.

I'm trying to skip merrily along the surface of this conversation. I do not want to sink into the kind of response that would give a serious student. The truth is that I do not have any mechanism that would allow me to be curious or concerned about the future, but saying that is not for breezy conversation.

"Jesus," he says, shaking his head. "My brother has his own astrologers."

'Well, not really mine.'re Only in the presence, so to speak. "

I'm used to communicate with people who are not awake and not happy. Everything else is talk, talk for the sake of talking, reinforcing the illusion of self. I'm not against it, I do not care to participate. My fault.

"So, it is obviously a big influence on your students," he says, sipping his iced tea. I mull her statement over and decide that I do not have an answer. I take another bite of pasta, wishing I'd ordered something with meat.

"I mean," he says, "have obviously held in high esteem. This is a great responsibility."

She thought, understandably, she is my sister and we're having a meeting, a nice little catch-up lunch. It 'been thrown a curve with this thing little-brother/spiritual-master and is trying to handle it. Do you think I'm a fraud? Do you think I'm running a game? And you think that deep down I'm still very much her little brother? I do not know and I do not care much. The fact that she is damn light does not mean that you and I can speak, it means you need to know that we can not. She does not seem to be clear on this point. Maybe she thinks the enlightenment thing is just my day job and I can leave that role to be with someone who knows the real me.

"I do not know. I suppose it's a responsibility."

"You do not know? Obviously these people are strongly influenced by you. I do not think it's a great responsibility?"

Shrug. The first thing I said when we got together was that I was not dressed well enough for the restaurant. That statement is so alien to me that I could only shrug. Now it seems that every statement it makes is so alien to me that I can only shrug.

By accepting this lunch engagement, my hope was that I could slip back into my person old enough to manage a civil meal. It 's been too optimistic. I can not represent me and are simply unable to formulate a response to everything he has to say, I forgot my lines. We do not share a common language and there is no way to make them understand that. From his point of view saying perfectly normal, conversational things.

"Yes, I suppose that is a big responsibility," I say, trying to say something that sounds like I'm saying something.

She lowers her voice. "You hear a lot about people in his position taking advantage of that responsibility for disgusting .... I hope you would never do such a thing."

I could just tell her what the preview copy of the book was to tell her that we are no longer related because what they are now not relate. But why say it? To satisfy myself? It would not. About her? It would not.

"You mean sex stuff? Sort of thing?"

"Whatever. Power corrupts. I just hope that you will be careful."

Sweet. Big Sister giving little brother some advice on how to shoulder the burden of power. Being in advertising, maybe you think we have something in common; handle the power to influence people's thoughts. Maybe he thinks we are in the same business, I do not know.

I set my fork and sit down. 'Well, when I walk home, I always carry somebody with a boom-box playing Darth Vader theme music to give a heavy air and threatening to my approach. And I certainly do not dress like this. I, You know, clothes, beads, and I always carry fresh flowers. Just trappings, all very boring, really, but the minions expect it. There was a little resistance at first to have them call me Shri Shri Shri Shri Jed but got the hang of it. And remembering to speak in first person plural and singular, no human can take some 'getting used to, but there are, I mean, uh, me, happy to make this effort. Noblesse and to oblige. "

She stares for a moment, then bursts out laughing. I guess some ice has broken because we are able to continue in a more gentle and friendly, and eventually say goodbye with genuine affection.

I doubt I'll ever see her again, but I'm happy knowing that she is still in the world.

McKenna, Jed

Spiritual Cinema Lighting

Illuminating Cinema
By Jed McKenna

"Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What is known, one can not explain. But you feel it. You have heard all my life. What's something wrong with the world. You do not You know what, but it's there. Like a splinter in your mind - driving you mad. "-Morpheus, The Matrix

This is a list of movie reviews and not complete. It 's just a few notes on some movies I think are relevant to the awakening and why, or who are not and why. With the tools of understanding, bad is often better than good.

main themes represented in this list seem to be these:

- Heresy

- Captive / Captor

- Teacher / Student

- Nature of auto / man.

- The death / rebirth. Cataclysm / epiphany.

- Unreliability of the mind / memories.

The only thing I can recommend for movies and books is to bring the material up to the level where it becomes of value to you. Orwell could have written an anti-communist manifesto, but Nineteen Eighty-Four is much more interesting viewed as the struggle between man and his confinement. Apocalypse Now is about something more than Viet Nam, how to move forward in advertising is more than rampant consumerism, etc.

::: American Beauty

"I feel like I was in a coma for the last twenty years. And I'm just now waking up."

I have included American Beauty mainly for what is wrong. Lester's main death / rebirth transition shows promise, but what does he transition? Back to teenage crap, not forward in every way. A regression based on fear. Stupid car, stupid drugs, stupid vanity, stupid skirt chasing. Not at all redeemed when Lester sees his own folly in late or Sappy / unctuous voice-over guy died.

The movie is slightly redeemed by the presence of almost mystical boy next door and his video of a windblown bag:

"This is the day I realized that there was this entire life behind things, and this incredibly benevolent force that wanted me to know that there was no reason to be afraid, ever."

::: Apocalypse Now

"In a war there are many moments for compassion and tender action. There are many moments for ruthless action - what is often called ruthless - what may in many circumstances be only clarity, seeing Clearly you need to do and do it directly, quickly, awake, looking at her. "

One might think that Apocalypse Now Redux, the director's cut, would be the version to watch, but all the material that was rightly cut from the original has been replaced incorrectly. (Turn up the interesting point that directors and authors often do not understand the questions that are telling tall stories). Stick with the original on both Redux and Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

Apocalypse Now is all about horror. A journey of discovery in heart of darkness, arriving at this horror. What is the horror? How to get there? Why would someone do such a trip? If such a trip? Why or why not?

Note the powerful epiphanies that drive the film. The first letter of murderess home (sell house, sell the car, sell the kids ..."), Dennis Hopper's youthful exuberance, Kurtz's diamond point, "Willard ... was not even in their army more .

::: Being There

"Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ... Spring again."

A good film ruined by a crazy walk-on-water stunt stuck to the end. Without that nonsense the viewer is free to think, decide, to wonder. Instead, the film is fitted with a zipper close with his clever twist just stupid-it-down. Press the stop button when Chauncey is straightening the sapling, before the ruinous denouement, and is a fun, beautiful film.

::: Blade Runner

"I've seen things you people would not believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain. Time to die. "

He was born five minutes ago? Of course not, and you have the memory to prove it. Would you know if they were artificial implants, because, uh ...

::: Cast Away

"I could not even kill myself the way I wanted. I had power over nothing."

If a man screaming on a desert island and there is nobody to hear him, he makes a sound? It is sufficient that he hear himself? What if? What's left when you remove everything?

Self laid bare.

This film poses many intriguing questions about the substance of self, or lack thereof, and includes a very Zen praise.

::: Dead Poets Society

Heresy.

::: Harold and Maude

"Vice, virtue. And 'better not be too moral ... Aim above morality."

American Zen master and disciple.

::: Harvey

"For years I was smart ... I recommend pleasant."

Elwood P. Dowd, wisefool. A sweet representation of a higher order of being misinterpreted as a lower order of being. Man would know more when we saw him?

::: How to get ahead in advertising

"Everything I do now makes perfect sense."

A foiled attempt for freedom. A failed attempt to overthrow Maya. Enjoy the madness of the Epiphany.

::: Joe Versus the Volcano

"Nobody knows anything, Joe. We take this leap, and we'll see. We'll jump, and we'll see. That's life, right?"

Death and rebirth. Unlike American Beauty, this is all moving forward, "away from the things of man."

::: Man in Southeast (Hombre Mirando Al Sudeste)

Watch especially for visual poetry of a man crumbling a human brain in a sink while looking for the soul.

::: The Matrix

"Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born inside a prison that you can not smell, taste or touch. A prison for your mind."

Plato's Cave for the people. How allegorically lucid as Joe vs Vocano, Pleasantville and Star Wars.

::: Monty Python's Life of Brian

"No, no! It 's a sign that, like him, we should not think about the things of the body but the face and head!"

Sacred Cow-tipping at its best.

"Meaning of Life" also belongs on this list.

::: Nineteen Eighty-Four

"If you want a vision of the future, Winston, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever."

This film is unique in that it is as good as the book, which is a very intimate portrait of the captor / captive, Maya / man relationship. Compare this to Moby Dick or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which are books, but superb film useless.

::: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

As with Moby-Dick, Hollywood castrated the book. They stripped of its archetypal dimensions and reduced to a meaningless match between McMurphy and Nurse Ratched piss. Great show, but for meaningful insight, read the book.

::: Pleasantville

"There are some places where the road does not go in circles. There are some places where it continues to move forward."

A cheerful tale of heresy, in which no one is burned at the stake and the new paradigm is eventually embraced by all.

::: The Razor's Edge

"The dead look so terribly dead."

The Razor's Edge is what makes it interesting to see Larry trembling balance on the thin line between what was and what is becoming. He is walking the line between two lives. Version of Bill Murray is a bit 'fuzzy ... stick with Tyrone Power or read the book.

Ramana Maharshi Maugham supposedly used as a model for the holy man of the novel.

::: Star Wars

"The force will be with you forever."

The first, in which Luke makes the transition from flesh to spirit.

The Hero's Journey.

::: The Thin Red Line

"Maybe all men got one big soul everybody a part of all the faces are the same man."

A survey in the sublime spiritual nature of man. More sad / sweet song of a narrative film.

::: The Thirteenth Floor

"So what are you saying? You telling me that there is another world, on top of this?"

Layer after layer. Turtles turtles on top.

::: Vanilla Sky / Abre Los Ojos

"Open your eyes."

If you like Vanilla Sky, check out the original Spanish film Abre Los Ojos (Open Your Eyes). These two films may be the best group for our purposes, the closest to enlightenment allegory.

Of course, the interesting thing about enlightenment is always there, not being there, and that's what these films are about, awakening from a false reality, opening my eyes. Not so much about what is real as what is not.

It 's the story of the journey you take to reach the place where everything, even jumping off a tall building, would be better to live a lie, even a beautiful lie blessed.

Note the presence of the true guru, explaining in clear terms why jump off the building is the best thing to do, and waiting patiently to be made.

::: Waking Life

"They say dreams are real only as long as they last. You could say the same about life?"

Broad philosophical research. Provocative. Funny. Potentially hazardous.

::: Wings of Desire

"When the child was a child, was the time of these questions: Why am I me and why not? Why am I here and why not here? When did time begin and end where space?"

A beautiful, intelligent, challenging film. Can return to the dreamstate awakened? Would want to?

::: Other

Some other films that reward thoughtful viewing are The Wizard of Oz, About Schmidt, What Dreams May Come, Total Recall, every morning of the World (Tous les Matins du Monde), and of course many others.

McKenna, Jed

Worldly Balance

Take a look around, you think that things are balanced in our world?

Equilibrium is now an issue here that I was persecuting the day they are born. Understanding the balance seemed to be very important when it comes to living a happy 'balanced' life here on Earth. He came to my attention that the universe and everything in it is governed by the principle of uniformity between the positive and negative energies. Whether in the realm of spirituality and science, there have been many people over the years who have discussed the concept that all things in nature have a natural inclination to find a balanced state of being.

After each chemical reaction between atoms (which of course all the matter that exists is crazy), protons and electrons to move in a position where their energies are equal. As far as I know all religions and belief systems of humans, which was to find enlightenment or peace you must experience all the sensations and emotions necessary to fully live a full life. This means that you should try both suffering and joy of acquiring knowledge about being really alive. If you run from your feelings, you do not walk the 'middle path' and then you're bound to have an imbalance in terms of acquiring wisdom and happiness.

Let's look at a few events that happen regularly in the life of our Universe. How about the process of a star exploding in space? One might think that this happens is negative, especially if our Sun we're talking about, since that would mean the end of life on our world. But what happens when a star explodes? It is understood that the energy can not be created or destroyed, can only move from one place to another. Therefore, when our Sun explodes, hopefully several billion years from now, the energy will travel in space only conglomerate and converge again to form new stars and the next life. Although the energy of our sun dissipates energy just returned to the general space that is perceived as a balanced equation, the respect is true that the space has evolved from our Sun, first.

What about a romantic relationship? For proper functioning of friendship between two parties, the amount of energy or effort in terms of love and attention must be equal. If the situation is different, a person certainly feel as if they are neglected, or that you are giving too much and feel so depleted. How about a deal? Both companies or individuals must come away from feeling that business have won at least as much value as they have given away.

Now let's look at one of the most difficult situations perceived as balanced: the tragedy. Let's say someone you know and love suddenly dies in a car accident dear. I am very sorry to imagine this scenario, but we must be aware that driving is one of the most dangerous pastimes in contemporary society. First of all there is pain and suffering that comes with the loss of this intimate connection in the physical world. However, experience can also be seen in a positive light for many reasons. We learned so much about life and ourselves from the tragedy. We learn about what we really loved that person, when you look back in retrospect at all the good times you had together. Become stronger people who have passed the period of suffering That way if another crisis comes our way we could also be the only one who can act in that intense moment. We also learn one of the most important rules of our reality here in the universe, that everything (including ourselves) is temporary.

The Universe will always exist, but everything in it is constantly changing. This is another paradox of balance rings true: the existence of temporary to permanent existence. If you look at something long enough, you will see that there are always different ways of perceiving. However, once you've tried or reviewed the item or concept, you will find that the conviction or in front of perspective can also be seen as true. Most likely someone reminds you that you like it or not.

We take that article as an example. I could see it as something very relevant and important. I could believe that it is a good representation of my views on reality and be happy that I was given the opportunity to share with any of my brothers want to read my ideas. However, others may perceive this article as a total life time, a jet of hot air by some nobody who thinks he knows something. The funny thing is that this person may also be the voice of my shadow on the side that lives inside. This is what I mean by balance is everywhere.

Worldly Balance

Take a look around, you think that things are balanced in our world?

Equilibrium is now an issue here that I was persecuting the day they are born. Understanding the balance seemed to be very important when it comes to living a happy 'balanced' life here on Earth. He came to my attention that the universe and everything in it is governed by the principle of uniformity between the positive and negative energies. Whether in the realm of spirituality and science, there have been many people over the years who have discussed the concept that all things in nature have a natural inclination to find a balanced state of being.

After each chemical reaction between atoms (which of course all the matter that exists is crazy), protons and electrons to move in a position where their energies are equal. As far as I know all religions and belief systems of humans, which was to find enlightenment or peace you must experience all the sensations and emotions necessary to fully live a full life. This means that you should try both suffering and joy of acquiring knowledge about being really alive. If you run from your feelings, you do not walk the 'middle path' and then you're bound to have an imbalance in terms of acquiring wisdom and happiness.

Let's look at a few events that happen regularly in the life of our Universe. How about the process of a star exploding in space? One might think that this happens is negative, especially if our Sun we're talking about, since that would mean the end of life on our world. But what happens when a star explodes? It is understood that the energy can not be created or destroyed, can only move from one place to another. Therefore, when our Sun explodes, hopefully several billion years from now, the energy will travel in space only conglomerate and converge again to form new stars and the next life. Although the energy of our sun dissipates energy just returned to the general space that is perceived as a balanced equation, the respect is true that the space has evolved from our Sun, first.

What about a romantic relationship? For proper functioning of friendship between two parties, the amount of energy or effort in terms of love and attention must be equal. If the situation is different, a person certainly feel as if they are neglected, or that you are giving too much and feel so depleted. How about a deal? Both companies or individuals must come away from feeling that business have won at least as much value as they have given away.

Now let's look at one of the most difficult situations perceived as balanced: the tragedy. Let's say someone you know and love suddenly dies in a car accident dear. I am very sorry to imagine this scenario, but we must be aware that driving is one of the most dangerous pastimes in contemporary society. First of all there is pain and suffering that comes with the loss of this intimate connection in the physical world. However, experience can also be seen in a positive light for many reasons. We learned so much about life and ourselves from the tragedy. We learn about what we really loved that person, when you look back in retrospect at all the good times you had together. Become stronger people who have passed the period of suffering That way if another crisis comes our way we could also be the only one who can act in that intense moment. We also learn one of the most important rules of our reality here in the universe, that everything (including ourselves) is temporary.

The Universe will always exist, but everything in it is constantly changing. This is another paradox of balance rings true: the existence of temporary to permanent existence. If you look at something long enough, you will see that there are always different ways of perceiving. However, once you've tried or reviewed the item or concept, you will find that the conviction or in front of perspective can also be seen as true. Most likely someone reminds you that you like it or not.

We take that article as an example. I could see it as something very relevant and important. I could believe that it is a good representation of my views on reality and be happy that I was given the opportunity to share with any of my brothers want to read my ideas. However, others may perceive this article as a total life time, a jet of hot air by some nobody who thinks he knows something. The funny thing is that this person may also be the voice of my shadow on the side that lives inside. This is what I mean by balance is everywhere.

Real solutions to Combat Shyness

Most people experience some degree of shyness from time to time in certain situations. In fact, only 7% of the population claims to have never feel so. For the rest of us, shyness can range from being an occasional minor inconvenience, to be a big problem.

Some people, however, are suffering from some degree of shyness so severe that it is almost disabling. This type of acute shyness is not only very painful to live, but can have devastating effects on a person's social life, happiness, and career development.

Severe shyness is a complex mixture of biology, education, traumatic experiences, and negative self-talk. severe shyness can co-exist with other debilitating psychological conditions such as low self-esteem, perfectionism, depression and anxiety.

Extreme shyness can take many forms, and may present differently in different people. Some people have problems so be very large gatherings, but feel comfortable in small groups. Some shy people only feel acute discomfort with people who have just met, while others are never comfortable around people, even those who have known a long time.

Psychiatrists and psychologists use the term "social anxiety disorder (SAD)" to describe extremely debilitating shyness. There is complete agreement as to whether severe, disabling social anxiety disorder is simply a more severe type of shyness, or is another type of disorder altogether.

Some very shy people can overcome their fears by learning social skills and practicing them frequently in social situations. Many also be useful to gain some measure of control over their reactions to physical discomfort such as sweating and trembling, using special relaxation techniques and biofeedback training.

Many very shy people deal with their extreme anxiety by simply avoiding social situations that might trigger their discomfort. This may mean lower invitations to parties and other social events, crossing the street in order to avoid running into someone they know, and also lowering the promotions in the workplace.

Although avoiding the feared situation may seem to the shy person like the perfect solution, actually makes the problem worse in the long run. Every time a shy person chooses to avoid social interaction, reinforces that fear in his mind what to do with other people. Choosing the short-term benefit to avoid anxious feelings, he reinforces the power that holds her fear of him

Psychologists who specialize in treating shyness disorders have discovered that avoiding social situations can actually worsen the problem. Many psychologists who treat people aflicted shyness recommends a program of repeated and gradually increase exposure to the feared situation, combined with helping the client learn new ways of thinking.

Various psychological therapies have been used to treat extreme shyness, most of them with little success. The most successful approaches use some variation of cognitive therapy or behavioral therapy, or both, in combination with graduated and increasing exposure to the feared situation.

In cognitive therapy, the patient is taught to notice the thought that while he thinks is in the feared situation. The client learns to challenge his thoughts to see if they fit reality. If these thoughts do not correspond to reality, the client is taught to substitute more realistic thoughts in their place.

behavioral therapy aims to change the behavior of the client using a program of positive reinforcement of desired behavior and negative reinforcement of unwanted behavior.

Both cognitive therapy and behavior therapy focus on teaching the client to deal with situations and symptoms in the present. No form of therapy explores situations in the distant past reviews. Those forms of psychotherapy trying to deal with shyness by delving into the past reviews have not been shown to be effective. techniques of cognitive therapy.

There are many books that can teach the reader to effectively use the techniques of cognitive therapy for both depression and loneliness. If your case is not particularly severe, you can often learn enough from reading a book and do the exercises recommended to significantly alleviate the symptoms of shyness or depression. Dr. David Burns, a pioneer in cognitive therapy lead to a wider audience, has written several useful books and workbooks for the general public, including "Intimate Connections" and "Feeling Good - New Mood Therapy.

Over the past decade, researchers have found that some antidepressants, particularly the so-called SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) may also be very useful in the treatment of extreme shyness. One of these SSRI, Paxil, was the first to receive approval by the FDA as an effective treatment for social anxiety. In fact, ads for Paxil as a treatment for social anxiety have been marketed directly to the public, not just doctors. Other anti-depressant in the SSRI group are also believed to help revive the social anxiety.

The drug treatment for shyness really work? Some very socially anxious people have tried everything that regular psychotherapy has to offer including cognitive therapy, yet continue to suffer the debilitating symptoms of shyness until they try SSRI drugs. In some cases, improved sociability after taking SSRI drugs can be swift and profound. This class of drugs seems to help the socially anxious person turn down the excessive volume of their inner thoughts subjective.

Love Letter

For my heart everdearest fickle-minded,

You have found it difficult to move forward but still managed. Congratulations for this! It was a long process and I know there were times when we wanted to give up but you can not, I know who did! There were moments when the pain ran so deep that all he wanted was to end your life, but instead of the feared and the wrong thing, you cry yourself to sleep only to wish that you would wake up feeling the excruciating pain no more. There were days when you feel all trashed and your life seems meaningless, but it may seem impossible, and would be so difficult, it was assumed anyway.

Now every tear drop fell, each poem was written, and every song sung. Memories are all that stands between you and your heart. Remember yesterday, which will take place within you. Memories now has its own grave in the fibers of your soul. Remember that once in a while you persecute.

And now as the door closed and windows open. Tell me, are you ready to start another story? Are you ready to get out and swim in the sea of uncertainty, again? Are you ready to fly and fall? Are you willing to take the rollercoaster ride again? Are you ready to experience pleasure and pain that love and despise at the same time more?!

Hmm ... I don 'think ... So do not fall ... Not now ... not yet! Please, please ...

-You 're the owner of fickle mind