Enhancing The Human Experience with Mark Phillips

Do you ever feel like giving up?  If you do, you're in good company.  I can't think of any successful person who didn't feel like giving up at some point in their lives.

In fact, most of them say they wanted to throw in the towel multiple times on their journey to success.

But they stuck with it.  They dug deeper each time they felt like giving up and eventually they realized their goal.

In an interview with Success Magazine, Sean Stephenson said he wanted to quit so many times as he was working toward his PhD.  But he didn't quit.  Eventually he realized his goal and he was glad he stuck with it.

Before Gal Gadot landed her break-out role as Wonder Woman, she said she was close to giving up on her acting career all together because of the rejections she received.

And, for years Tyler Perry's plays didn't attract an audience, but he never gave up on his dream of writing, producing and starring on stage.  Eventually he realized his dream, and today he's one of the most successful figures in Hollywood.

The list goes on and on.

Because it's so common to have thoughts of giving up on your dream, in this episode I share four of my favorite tools to use when that happens.

These exercises will re-ignite your fire and get you back in the game very quickly.

1 - Remember that it's all in your head

In the game of life it's you vs. you.  The only person standing between the life we have and the life we want is us.  Realizing this is a game changer.

With this in mind, if you give up and turn back now, you'll only find yourself if the exact same situation at some point down the road.  Only next time it'll be that much harder, because you've reinforced your behavior to give up.

Also remember, it's not really about what you're doing anyway.  What your doing is just the vehicle for becoming the best version of yourself.  It's really about what you're becoming in the process.  This is where the real pay-off is.

The only thing we can take with us when we leave this life is the work we've done to develop our souls.  This comes from winning the internal battles with face on a daily basis.

2 - Ensure you're on the right path

Make sure you're pursuing the right goal for you.  In other words, check in with yourself to ensure the goal you have chosen is what's truly in your heart, and not something that you're doing just because your neighbor, your brother, or friend is doing it.

If you've chosen a goal that isn't right for you, there will come a time when you won't have the staying power to keep going no matter what you do.

If you aren't getting something in return from what you're doing, in the form of meaning or satisfaction, there will come a day when you just won't have it in you to do it anymore.

All work is good for the soul.

But, if you have the opportunity to choose work that helps you grow in the ways you came here to grow, then do it.

Another check you can do is to ask yourself if the impetus for the adventure you're on came from your higher self, intuition, or gut feeling?

If so, you're probably on the right path.  Since realizing success in anything takes a lot of time and energy, make sure it's worth investing in.

Instead of asking yourself if you're worthy of your goal, ask if your goal is worthy of you.

Looking at your goal from this perspective can give you a lot of clarity, and help you choose something worth investing in.

3 - Review your why

Why do you want to achieve your goal?  You've got to have a compelling reason for embarking on the adventure in the first place.  If you don't have one, then you might not have the drive to forge on when the going gets tough.

The more compelling your why, the more determined you'll be to realize your goal despite all odds.

It's a good idea to keep a written list of your why's, so you can refer to them when your commitment starts to wane.

This is a really powerful motivation tool.

4 - Renew your vision

One of the best ways to re-energize yourself when you feel like giving up is to take a few minutes, get into a relaxed state, and imagine yourself as already having realized your goal.  Just go there in your mind and hang out for a while.

This exercise is transformative for your spirit.

Manifesting your goal is all about living in the end, and imagining yourself as already having achieved it.  There's no better way to get excited about your goal again.

And there's an added benefit to doing this exercise.  When you put your psychic energy on the outcome you want, you'll be drawn to it.  The Universe will actually assist you in making it happen.

I hope these ideas help you get back in the game when you feel like giving up.  I know they work wonders for me.

Quote of the Week:

It's hard to beat a person who never gives up." ~ Babe Ruth

Resources Mentioned:

Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment, by George Leonard - This book will give you insight into what it takes to achieve mastery in anything.

Awesome Resources Created Just For You:

Just Be It! - Improve your performance and your results in any area of your life quickly and easily!

The Alchemy of Despair - 17 of the most effective techniques I've ever encountered for reclaiming your happiness!

The Magic of Being - Teach your child how to develop their self-image in a fun, entertaining way!

Connect with me

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

How to review the show on iTunes - If you enjoy the podcast, it would be awesome if you'd take a minute and write a review on iTunes.  To do that, just launch the iTunes podcast app on your computer or phone.  Search for Enhancing The Human Experience.  Select the album art for the show.  Then select ratings and reviews.  Then write your review.  Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it!

All the best - health, wealth, and success!

Mark

Do you ever feel like giving up?  If you do, you're in good company.  I can't think of any successful person who didn't feel like giving up at some point in their lives.

In fact, most of them say they wanted to throw in the towel multiple times on their journey to success.

But they stuck with it.  They dug deeper each time they felt like giving up and eventually they realized their goal.

In an interview with Success Magazine, Sean Stephenson said he wanted to quit so many times as he was working toward his PhD.  But he didn't quit.  Eventually he realized his goal and he was glad he stuck with it.

Before Gal Gadot landed her break-out role as Wonder Woman, she said she was close to giving up on her acting career all together because of the rejections she received.

And, for years Tyler Perry's plays didn't attract an audience, but he never gave up on his dream of writing, producing and starring on stage.  Eventually he realized his dream, and today he's one of the most successful figures in Hollywood.

The list goes on and on.

Because it's so common to have thoughts of giving up on your dream, in this episode I share four of my favorite tools to use when that happens.

These exercises will re-ignite your fire and get you back in the game very quickly.

1 - Remember that it's all in your head

In the game of life it's you vs. you.  The only person standing between the life we have and the life we want is us.  Realizing this is a game changer.

With this in mind, if you give up and turn back now, you'll only find yourself if the exact same situation at some point down the road.  Only next time it'll be that much harder, because you've reinforced your behavior to give up.

Also remember, it's not really about what you're doing anyway.  What your doing is just the vehicle for becoming the best version of yourself.  It's really about what you're becoming in the process.  This is where the real pay-off is.

The only thing we can take with us when we leave this life is the work we've done to develop our souls.  This comes from winning the internal battles with face on a daily basis.

2 - Ensure you're on the right path

Make sure you're pursuing the right goal for you.  In other words, check in with yourself to ensure the goal you have chosen is what's truly in your heart, and not something that you're doing just because your neighbor, your brother, or friend is doing it.

If you've chosen a goal that isn't right for you, there will come a time when you won't have the staying power to keep going no matter what you do.

If you aren't getting something in return from what you're doing, in the form of meaning or satisfaction, there will come a day when you just won't have it in you to do it anymore.

All work is good for the soul.

But, if you have the opportunity to choose work that helps you grow in the ways you came here to grow, then do it.

Another check you can do is to ask yourself if the impetus for the adventure you're on came from your higher self, intuition, or gut feeling?

If so, you're probably on the right path.  Since realizing success in anything takes a lot of time and energy, make sure it's worth investing in.

Instead of asking yourself if you're worthy of your goal, ask if your goal is worthy of you.

Looking at your goal from this perspective can give you a lot of clarity, and help you choose something worth investing in.

3 - Review your why

Why do you want to achieve your goal?  You've got to have a compelling reason for embarking on the adventure in the first place.  If you don't have one, then you might not have the drive to forge on when the going gets tough.

The more compelling your why,

Do you have a project you'd like to get done by the end of the year?  I do.  And because of this, I feel that now is a great time to remind ourselves of Parkinson’s Law.  With one month left in 2017, now is the time to pull out all the stops so we can finish the biggest projects on our to-do list by year-end.

Parkinson’s Law states that; work expands to fill the time available for its completion.

Sound familiar?  I don't know about you, but I know all too well just how true this law is.  I also know how detrimental being ignorant of this law can be to my productivity.

If you happen to be a recovering perfectionist like I am, this law is a God-send.  Because, like anything else in life, being aware of it is the first step in improving.

When we wake up to the fact that having more time will never make our project more perfect, we drop the charade and get down to business.

Being aware of the law, and applying it in an advantageous way works magic.  It can seriously help us complete even the most complicated projects.

So how do we apply Parkinson's Law?

By being unrealistic and unreasonable with ourselves.

This is the simple truth.

If work expands to fill the time available for its completion, we need to set unrealistic and unreasonable deadlines for ourselves.  This is using Parkinson's Law to our advantage.

In my own case, I've had book two, in The Magic of Being series on my plate for over a year now.  Completing this book is probably my most important project right now.  I'd love to have it done by year end.  And, thanks to Parkinson's Law, I will.

Yesterday, with Parkinson's Law at the forefront of my mind, I sat down at my computer and worked on the final layout with the unrealistic and unreasonable goal of completing it by the end of the day.  And guess what?  At the end of the day I was 95% finished with this project.

For a project I've had on my plate for over a year, this is a huge win.

So I ask you, what project would you like to complete by year-end?

And, how unreasonable and unrealistic can you be with yourself?

Good luck and best wishes for a speedy project completion!

Quote of the Week:

Delay is the deadliest form of denial." ~ C. Northcote Parkinson

Resources Mentioned:

None this week.

Awesome Resources Created Just For You:

Just Be It! - Improve your performance and your results in any area of your life quickly and easily!

The Alchemy of Despair - 17 of the most effective techniques I've ever encountered for reclaiming your happiness!

The Magic of Being - Teach your child how to develop their self-image in a fun, entertaining way!

Connect with me

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

How to review the show on iTunes - If you enjoy the podcast, it would be awesome if you'd take a minute and write a review on iTunes.  To do that, just launch the iTunes podcast app on your computer or phone.  Search for Enhancing The Human Experience.  Select the album art for the show.  Then select ratings and reviews.  Then write your review.  Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it!

All the best - health, wealth, and success!

Mark

Do you have a project you'd like to get done by the end of the year?  I do.  And because of this, I feel that now is a great time to remind ourselves of Parkinson’s Law.  With one month left in 2017, now is the time to pull out all the stops so we can finish the biggest projects on our to-do list by year-end.

Parkinson’s Law states that; work expands to fill the time available for its completion.

Sound familiar?  I don't know about you, but I know all too well just how true this law is.  I also know how detrimental being ignorant of this law can be to my productivity.

If you happen to be a recovering perfectionist like I am, this law is a God-send.  Because, like anything else in life, being aware of it is the first step in improving.

When we wake up to the fact that having more time will never make our project more perfect, we drop the charade and get down to business.

Being aware of the law, and applying it in an advantageous way works magic.  It can seriously help us complete even the most complicated projects.

So how do we apply Parkinson's Law?

By being unrealistic and unreasonable with ourselves.

This is the simple truth.

If work expands to fill the time available for its completion, we need to set unrealistic and unreasonable deadlines for ourselves.  This is using Parkinson's Law to our advantage.

In my own case, I've had book two, in The Magic of Being series on my plate for over a year now.  Completing this book is probably my most important project right now.  I'd love to have it done by year end.  And, thanks to Parkinson's Law, I will.

Yesterday, with Parkinson's Law at the forefront of my mind, I sat down at my computer and worked on the final layout with the unrealistic and unreasonable goal of completing it by the end of the day.  And guess what?  At the end of the day I was 95% finished with this project.

For a project I've had on my plate for over a year, this is a huge win.

So I ask you, what project would you like to complete by year-end?

And, how unreasonable and unrealistic can you be with yourself?

Good luck and best wishes for a speedy project completion!

Quote of the Week:

Delay is the deadliest form of denial." ~ C. Northcote Parkinson

Resources Mentioned:

None this week.

Awesome Resources Created Just For You:

Just Be It! - Improve your performance and your results in any area of your life quickly and easily!

The Alchemy of Despair - 17 of the most effective techniques I've ever encountered for reclaiming your happiness!

The Magic of Being - Teach your child how to develop their self-image in a fun, entertaining way!

Connect with me

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

How to review the show on iTunes - If you enjoy the podcast, it would be awesome if you'd take a minute and write a review on iTunes.  To do that, just launch the iTunes podcast app on your computer or phone.  Search for Enhancing The Human Experience.  Select the album art for the show.  Then select ratings and reviews.  Then write your review.  Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it!

All the best - health, wealth, and success!

Mark

My guest this week is Tracy L’Herisson.  I recently met Tracy at a Transcendental Meditation group meditation.  During the event, we all shared a little about ourselves, and a few people shared some of the benefits they have realized from learning and practicing Transcendental Meditation.

When Tracy introduced herself, she said something that really stuck me.  She said that learning Transcendental Meditation, and attending Maharishi University of Management (formerly MIU) was, the best education she's ever had.

Now, I don't know about you, but when I hear someone say something like that, I am very interested in learning more.

So, after the event, I went up and introduced myself.  We talked briefly about her experiences there, and I invited her to share them on the show.  I was happy when she said she would.

The knowledge that Tracy share's in this episode is so important to realizing more happiness and success in our lives.  I hope you enjoy the interview.  I certainly did.

Show Notes

Tracy is a fifth generation Idahoan.

She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Utah in Ecology and Botany (go Utes!).

While she was attending the University of Utah, she became interested in enhancing her ability to focus and deepening her spiritual connection to her higher self, who's presence she had felt since she was a young child.

She was introduced to Transcendental Meditation and learned the technique during her last year of study.

The TM practice made such an impression on her that she then went on to study at Maharishi University of Management (MUM), formerly MIU, in Fairfield, Ohio.

MUM is a unique university that is centered around consciousness-based education.

At MUM, all students and faculty practice TM twice a day.

Tracy went on to take advanced training to become a Siddha, and traveled around the world with hundreds and sometimes thousands of other Siddha's to perform their programs to change the collective consciousness in the areas they visited.

When this program ended, she returned to Idaho and studied the art of placement, commonly known as Feng Shui.

She enjoyed running her own Feng Shui consulting business for seven years, giving group presentations and private consultations in and round the Treasure Valley.

Quote of the Week:

What Maharishi had told us was that, in past civilizations, where consciousness was higher, that there weren't TM teachers.  The mother would just whisper the mantra to her child.  That it was just a known way of living in society.  That the child just needed a vehicle to transcend daily life.  To go in, to touch on their higher consciousness, release stress and come out refreshed.  More open in the heart.  More flexible in the mind." ~ Tracy L'Herisson, recalling what Maharishi said about the TM practice

Resources Mentioned:

tm.org - Transcendental Meditation website

Awesome Resources Created Just For You:

Just Be It! - Improve your performance and your results in any area of your life quickly and easily!

The Alchemy of Despair - 17 of the most effective techniques I've ever encountered for reclaiming your happiness!

The Magic of Being - Teach your child how to develop their self-image in a fun, entertaining way!

Connect with me

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

How to review the show on iTunes - If you enjoy the podcast, it would be awesome if you'd take a minute and write a review on iTunes.  To do that, just launch the iTunes podcast app on your computer or phone.  Search for Enhancing The Human Experience.  Select the album art for the show.  Then select ratings and reviews.  Then write your review.  Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it!

All the best - health, wealth, and success!

Mark

My guest this week is Tracy L’Herisson.  I recently met Tracy at a Transcendental Meditation group meditation.  During the event, we all shared a little about ourselves, and a few people shared some of the benefits they have realized from learning and practicing Transcendental Meditation.

When Tracy introduced herself, she said something that really stuck me.  She said that learning Transcendental Meditation, and attending Maharishi University of Management (formerly MIU) was, the best education she's ever had.

Now, I don't know about you, but when I hear someone say something like that, I am very interested in learning more.

So, after the event, I went up and introduced myself.  We talked briefly about her experiences there, and I invited her to share them on the show.  I was happy when she said she would.

The knowledge that Tracy share's in this episode is so important to realizing more happiness and success in our lives.  I hope you enjoy the interview.  I certainly did.

Show Notes

Tracy is a fifth generation Idahoan.

She holds a B.S. degree from the University of Utah in Ecology and Botany (go Utes!).

While she was attending the University of Utah, she became interested in enhancing her ability to focus and deepening her spiritual connection to her higher self, who's presence she had felt since she was a young child.

She was introduced to Transcendental Meditation and learned the technique during her last year of study.

The TM practice made such an impression on her that she then went on to study at Maharishi University of Management (MUM), formerly MIU, in Fairfield, Ohio.

MUM is a unique university that is centered around consciousness-based education.

At MUM, all students and faculty practice TM twice a day.

Tracy went on to take advanced training to become a Siddha, and traveled around the world with hundreds and sometimes thousands of other Siddha's to perform their programs to change the collective consciousness in the areas they visited.

When this program ended, she returned to Idaho and studied the art of placement, commonly known as Feng Shui.

She enjoyed running her own Feng Shui consulting business for seven years, giving group presentations and private consultations in and round the Treasure Valley.

Quote of the Week:

What Maharishi had told us was that, in past civilizations, where consciousness was higher, that there weren't TM teachers.  The mother would just whisper the mantra to her child.  That it was just a known way of living in society.  That the child just needed a vehicle to transcend daily life.  To go in, to touch on their higher consciousness, release stress and come out refreshed.  More open in the heart.  More flexible in the mind." ~ Tracy L'Herisson, recalling what Maharishi said about the TM practice

Resources Mentioned:

tm.org - Transcendental Meditation website

Awesome Resources Created Just For You:

Just Be It! - Improve your performance and your results in any area of your life quickly and easily!

The Alchemy of Despair - 17 of the most effective techniques I've ever encountered for reclaiming your happiness!

The Magic of Being - Teach your child how to develop their self-image in a fun, entertaining way!

Connect with me

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

How to review the show on iTunes - If you enjoy the podcast, it would be awesome if you'd take a minute and write a review on iTunes.  To do that, just launch the iTunes podcast app on your computer or phone.  Search for Enhancing The Human Experience.  Select the album art for the show.  Then select ratings and reviews.  Then write your review.  Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it!

All the best - health, wealth,

If there ever was a universal success mantra for us human beings, it would certainly be:

"Get out of your own way."

Due to the nature of mind, we face a challenge every day.

That challenge being, let go of old ways of being and doing, and embrace new ways.

Sounds pretty simple on paper, but as you and I both know, it's anything but simple in practice.

It takes a daily commitment to show up, face ourselves, and be brutally honest about how we may be sabotaging out own efforts.

The underlying problem is that we typically cling so tightly to our past story and our conditioned thinking that it often becomes an impediment to us manifesting new (and better) experiences into our lives.

So the practice is to continually shed out-dated beliefs, judgments, criticism, and ideas that no longer serve us (if they ever really did), and embrace new ideas.

Ideas that move us more into alignment with our desired outcome.

In other words, to get out of our own way.

As with any type of personal growth, the first step is awareness of what we need to let go of, and/or change about ourselves.

With this in mind, I find the following questions to be helpful in identifying the ways we may be getting in our own way as we move toward more success in business or in life.

How am I impeding the flow of source energy here?

How can I improve this system or process, and make it better, easier, or more effective?

How can I improve myself, and make my own actions more effective and efficient?

What new ways of thinking can I adopt to put myself in alignment with my desired outcome?

Is there a better overall approach I can take here to get the results I want?

Being inspired vs. Forcing things

At the end of the day, it really comes down to allowing ourselves to be inspired vs forcing things.

It's about allowing ourselves to be an open channel for ideas from the other side, and then working on them without entertaining the self-critical voice of our old conditioning trying to derail us.

Quote of the Week:

Life wants you to win...please get out of your own way." ~ Robin Sharma

Resources Mentioned:

None this week.

Awesome Resources Created Just For You:

Just Be It! - Improve your performance and your results in any area of your life quickly and easily!

The Alchemy of Despair - 17 of the most effective techniques I've ever encountered for reclaiming your happiness!

The Magic of Being - Teach your child how to develop their self-image in a fun, entertaining way!

Connect with me

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

How to review the show on iTunes - If you enjoy the podcast, it would be awesome if you'd take a minute and write a review on iTunes.  To do that, just launch the iTunes podcast app on your computer or phone.  Search for Enhancing The Human Experience.  Select the album art for the show.  Then select ratings and reviews.  Then write your review.  Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it!

All the best - health, wealth, and success!

Mark

If there ever was a universal success mantra for us human beings, it would certainly be:

"Get out of your own way."

Due to the nature of mind, we face a challenge every day.

That challenge being, let go of old ways of being and doing, and embrace new ways.

Sounds pretty simple on paper, but as you and I both know, it's anything but simple in practice.

It takes a daily commitment to show up, face ourselves, and be brutally honest about how we may be sabotaging out own efforts.

The underlying problem is that we typically cling so tightly to our past story and our conditioned thinking that it often becomes an impediment to us manifesting new (and better) experiences into our lives.

So the practice is to continually shed out-dated beliefs, judgments, criticism, and ideas that no longer serve us (if they ever really did), and embrace new ideas.

Ideas that move us more into alignment with our desired outcome.

In other words, to get out of our own way.

As with any type of personal growth, the first step is awareness of what we need to let go of, and/or change about ourselves.

With this in mind, I find the following questions to be helpful in identifying the ways we may be getting in our own way as we move toward more success in business or in life.

How am I impeding the flow of source energy here?

How can I improve this system or process, and make it better, easier, or more effective?

How can I improve myself, and make my own actions more effective and efficient?

What new ways of thinking can I adopt to put myself in alignment with my desired outcome?

Is there a better overall approach I can take here to get the results I want?

Being inspired vs. Forcing things

At the end of the day, it really comes down to allowing ourselves to be inspired vs forcing things.

It's about allowing ourselves to be an open channel for ideas from the other side, and then working on them without entertaining the self-critical voice of our old conditioning trying to derail us.

Quote of the Week:

Life wants you to win...please get out of your own way." ~ Robin Sharma

Resources Mentioned:

None this week.

Awesome Resources Created Just For You:

Just Be It! - Improve your performance and your results in any area of your life quickly and easily!

The Alchemy of Despair - 17 of the most effective techniques I've ever encountered for reclaiming your happiness!

The Magic of Being - Teach your child how to develop their self-image in a fun, entertaining way!

Connect with me

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

How to review the show on iTunes - If you enjoy the podcast, it would be awesome if you'd take a minute and write a review on iTunes.  To do that, just launch the iTunes podcast app on your computer or phone.  Search for Enhancing The Human Experience.  Select the album art for the show.  Then select ratings and reviews.  Then write your review.  Thank you in advance, I really appreciate it!

All the best - health, wealth, and success!

Mark

AlejAndro Anastasio knows how to do a pilgrimage.  He recently returned from China and Tibet, where he spent five weeks serving others, touring the area, and spending time with shaolin monks.

I recently sat down with him and he shared his experience.  In addition to discussing the trip, he shared some deep level knowledge about the history of Buddhism and the martial arts.  You see, AlejAndro isn't your typical tourist.  He's a Dzogchen Vajrayana Buddhist practitioner.  He also holds black belts in three martial arts.  And, if that weren't enough, he has a deep affinity for Zen (or Chan, as they call it in China).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bodhicitta, here's a definition:

"Bodhicitta is a mind (including thought, action, feeling and speech) totally dedicated to others and to achieving full enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings as fully as possible." Source

Show Notes

The primary purpose of AlejAndro's trip, was to serve as part of a medical mission at the request of one of the members of his sangha.

The group traveled to Tibet, and to the community where his teacher, Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, was raised, to administer medical assistance to the people who live there.

This is the group’s third year travelling to Tibet as part of the One Path USA medical support mission.

Near the village is the picturesque Dzogchen monastery.

The village is very third world, without indoor running water.

Some of the supplies they distributed while they were there included reading glasses and sunglasses, which the villagers need to help them avoid over-exposure to the sun at the high altitude.

Despite not having access to a lot of medical care, the people are generally healthy, and very happy and grateful for the mission workers to be there.

His primary role on this mission was geku (one who keep's order and acts as security).

After serving the medical mission, he traveled to the Shaolin Temple.

AlejAndro has a very deep connection with and an affinity for Huike, Bodhidharma’s disciple who chopped off his left hand in a demonstration of his dedication to Bodhidharma.

Near the Shaolin Temple is the cave Bodhidharma lived in for 9 years.  Legend has it that Bodhidharma burned two holes into the wall of that cave from staring at it during meditation.

AlejAndro climbed the 1000 steps to visit the cave, "[He] got a powerful vibe out of Bodhidharma’s cave.”

“Bodhidharma is a genesis of martial arts.” AlejAndro says.  He brought the movements of Kung Fu to the area.

Bodhidharma is 28th in the lineage to Buddha.

“Most people don’t realize that Kung Fu is based in Buddhism.” AlejAndro says.

The Martial arts and Buddhism go hand in hand.

The martial arts are really about self-discipline and self-discovery.

“For me it’s a true mecca [The Shaolin Temple], not only from a martial art perspective, from a Buddhist perspective.” said Alejandro.

Booking AlejAndro:

AlejAndro is a professional speaker who has spoken in seven different countries.  He was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, and he has delivered two TEDx talks.

Additionally, he has traveled across the United States engaging and empowering youth at the middle-school, high-school, and college levels.

Booking AlejAndro to speak at your company, organization, or school is easy.   Simply connect with him via e-mail, or his social media accounts below.

AlejAndro's e-mail is: [email protected]

Follow AlejAndro

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

Quote of the Week:

In essence, this whole thing is a giant pilgrimage.  It's all about service.  As a Buddhist, I'm going to support my teacher's activities.  I'm going to help people, service people, practice bodhicitta, try to diminish people's suffering and be the condition of their happiness and help them in as many ways as I can." ~ AlejAndro Anastasio, speaking about his trip

Resources Mentioned:

Boise Dharma Center - AlejAndro teaches at the Boise Dharma Center.

Awesome Resources Created Just For You:

Just Be It! - Improve your performance and your results in any area of your life quickly and easily!

The Alchemy of Despair - 17 of the most effective techniques I've ever encountered for reclaiming your happiness!

The Magic of Being - Teach your child how to develop their self-image in a fun, entertaining way!

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All the best - health, wealth, and success!

Mark

AlejAndro Anastasio knows how to do a pilgrimage.  He recently returned from China and Tibet, where he spent five weeks serving others, touring the area, and spending time with shaolin monks.

I recently sat down with him and he shared his experience.  In addition to discussing the trip, he shared some deep level knowledge about the history of Buddhism and the martial arts.  You see, AlejAndro isn't your typical tourist.  He's a Dzogchen Vajrayana Buddhist practitioner.  He also holds black belts in three martial arts.  And, if that weren't enough, he has a deep affinity for Zen (or Chan, as they call it in China).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bodhicitta, here's a definition:

"Bodhicitta is a mind (including thought, action, feeling and speech) totally dedicated to others and to achieving full enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings as fully as possible." Source

Show Notes

The primary purpose of AlejAndro's trip, was to serve as part of a medical mission at the request of one of the members of his sangha.

The group traveled to Tibet, and to the community where his teacher, Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, was raised, to administer medical assistance to the people who live there.

This is the group’s third year travelling to Tibet as part of the One Path USA medical support mission.

Near the village is the picturesque Dzogchen monastery.

The village is very third world, without indoor running water.

Some of the supplies they distributed while they were there included reading glasses and sunglasses, which the villagers need to help them avoid over-exposure to the sun at the high altitude.

Despite not having access to a lot of medical care, the people are generally healthy, and very happy and grateful for the mission workers to be there.

His primary role on this mission was geku (one who keep's order and acts as security).

After serving the medical mission, he traveled to the Shaolin Temple.

AlejAndro has a very deep connection with and an affinity for Huike, Bodhidharma’s disciple who chopped off his left hand in a demonstration of his dedication to Bodhidharma.

Near the Shaolin Temple is the cave Bodhidharma lived in for 9 years.  Legend has it that Bodhidharma burned two holes into the wall of that cave from staring at it during meditation.

AlejAndro climbed the 1000 steps to visit the cave, "[He] got a powerful vibe out of Bodhidharma’s cave.”

“Bodhidharma is a genesis of martial arts.” AlejAndro says.  He brought the movements of Kung Fu to the area.

Bodhidharma is 28th in the lineage to Buddha.

“Most people don’t realize that Kung Fu is based in Buddhism.” AlejAndro says.

The Martial arts and Buddhism go hand in hand.

The martial arts are really about self-discipline and self-discovery.

“For me it’s a true mecca [The Shaolin Temple], not only from a martial art perspective, from a Buddhist perspective.” said Alejandro.

Booking AlejAndro:

AlejAndro is a professional speaker who has spoken in seven different countries.  He was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, and he has delivered two TEDx talks.

Additionally, he has traveled across the United States engaging and empowering youth at the middle-school, high-school, and college levels.

Booking AlejAndro to speak at your company, organization, or school is easy.   Simply connect with him via e-mail, or his social media accounts below.

AlejAndro's e-mail is: [email protected]

Follow AlejAndro

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Quote of the Week:

In essence, this whole thing is a giant pilgrimage.  It's all about service.  As a Buddhist,