Showing posts with label Positive Psychology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Positive Psychology. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
AFRICA : Natural and Alternative Therapies
1. UGANDA
Welcome to Meditation and Yoga Retreat at The Uganda Buddhist Center
On November 19-21, 2010
Join us for a special weekend meditation retreat
All beginners and experienced meditators are welcome.
Please come and have a life-changing experience of insight meditation (Vipassana) or simply center yourself !
The day will include basic meditation instructions, Yoga , meditation, Dhamma talks, discussions, and questions and answers session
Accommodation options:
The UBC has very limited accommodation; however, you are advised to choose the accommodation that is suitable for you:
1) Bring your own tent and camp at the Temple for free of charge.
2) Rent a room or dormitory at BANANA VILLAGE. This place offers a range of accommodation ( including bed and breakfast). For the dormitory, the price is US$12 dollars per night, including breakfast .
The Banana Village is 5 kms from the Uganda Buddhist Centre. You can get a taxi to bring you form the Banana Village to the Centre in the morning and evening.
Please DIRECTLY contact the BANANA VILLAGE and arrange your own accommodation that is suitable for you . You may visit their website for more information www.bananavillage-uganda.com
Venue: Uganda Buddhist Centre, Bulega, Garuga, Entebbe, Uganda.
Time: Retreat starts on 5:00 pm on Friday and Ends at 5:00 pm on Sunday.
Cost : FREE !!! The teachings are freely offered , however, you are welcome to support their continuation in any way that you feel comfortable.
Space availability: This retreat will accommodate 30 participants. Please book early to avoid disappointments by sending us an e-mail message . There is still some space left...
Meditation Teacher: Ven. Bhante Buddharakkhita was born in Uganda, Africa. Meditating since 1993, he was ordained as a Theravada Buddhist monk in 2002, in U.S.A .
Founder and President of the Uganda Buddhist Centre, Uganda, he teaches worldwide. He is a Spiritual Director of Flowering Lotus in MS, U.S.A and author of Planting Dhamma Seeds: Emergence of Buddhism on African soil.
Yoga teacher: Dr. Juuko Ndawula , naturopathic doctor ( Founder of IIACM)
For more information please contact: ugandabuddhistcentre@gmail.com
Saturday, January 31, 2009
RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY: MAN'S POSITION AND APPLYING LOGIC OR NONE OF IT
The complex human nature makes it possible for humanity to evolve new ideas, rules, beliefs and cultures. They are constantly formed, adjusted and readjusted to help humanity understand the environment, answer challenging questions and make efforts to adapt amidst confusion, physical and ecological strains.
From further attempts to understand the unknown, hierarchical structures were formed establishing the position of the unknown and humanity. After acknowledging who will need the unlimited respect as unknown or Divinity, man and woman turned to themselves and the environment to begin the process of negotiating each other's position (roles and responsibility) in the hierarchy.
At there level numerous ideas were brought into play and tested against hierarchical order right from the level of the unknown to theirs. Because of the cultural influences and norms a ready mixture was developed to gradually erode origin same-status of natural elements.
In an African situation, man would come first, then woman and the other creations last. It is the kind of arrangement that would later influence decision making and its outcomes in future. Besides cultural or traditional influences, man in some areas must have overpowered woman in intellectual assertions reinforced by physical assaults or fights.
The decisions made answers the questions of who would be accountable to the other and with what roles and responsibilities towards each other and between them and the environment.
This is when the evidence of who appeared to be privileged and oppressed or exploited could emerge. And, of course, the environment would suffer hardest seconded by either woman or man following the queue.
In Africa, where socio-cultural structures tend to force women into slavery, man, in that case would take the privileged position, and oppression become the life of a woman. However, with all justice and rewards favored to fall on the oppressed side, one day, as put forward by Marxists, the oppressed (woman) would be the most privileged, and man; most oppressed.
Personal ego and sensational attributes are most fertile in religion, and so soon penetrate and get strengthened into into it and become part of its structure. As a result, they begin to humanize and localize God through that structure.
And, because of the ego influence, with time it becomes hard to differentiate what is by either man or God. Because of that, religion turns out to be a path through which oppression and exploitation would be expressed.
Worse would be for a criminal mind, if he found his way to the helm of a particular religion, and worse if learned. Being learned yet realistically wrong would instead reinforce the wrong and harden the fellow off.
His or her individual weaknesses easily qualify not to be personal crimes, but for the religion -which he or she heads. And with the unyielding strength attainable from religious beliefs and rituals as highest level reinforcement, it is never easy to claim victory over religious criminals.
The cultural biases could place a woman no where, now, in religious decision making. And the environment, being at the bottom gets hurt the most, since it cannot even raise a voice or scream.
Well, it communicates back to man and woman in non-verbally in form of flooding, diseases and famine, natural resources conflicts etceteras. But, still, sometimes he fails to make sense out the kind of communication.
Interestingly, it is again such afflictions that could strengthens the fellow and sometimes venting his o her bitterness onto the oppressed person. And once resilient, even the most stupid action would mean real in the name of faith or religion for him. Everything would be argued along the unrealistic and wrong actions, then dangerously reflected into actions later on whatever they choose to target.
Sometimes, his or her actions could be so horrible that they overwhelm everyone like selling off all his belongings as sacrifice to total bankruptcy, refusal to seek health care in favor of set faith standards or physically and sexually abusing his following.
His perceived godliness or religiousness, in all such actions, remains his protection. It would be at this level that mental health workers could possibly come in to rescue the fellow, and overwhelmed and confused following.
Interestingly, because of man's high appetite for power, he (or she) has transformed religion into a kind of political institutions or party -with its accompanying power hierarchy. In it, he forms departments like the security one to guard him (or her) and his (or her) amassed wealth, finance department -which he (or she) could be directly under him (or her), elders -who act like his parliament, etceteras.
And because of the economic element that is central in the running of religious affairs, church proprietors exploit the constant demand for religious services to pool as much coins as possible in their safe.
So as the following grows from being poor to beggars due to the high cost of religious services footed everyday (for some sects), they as an institutions are thriving. When local people run out of money, the church would shift from a company tone to an NGO one, so as to attract funding from elsewhere.
The chameleon color change, indeed, can be effective in enabling it survive the pressure of modern times. Time emerges when if man is speaking, “it is God doing speaking,” and the questioning audience believe.
And since whatever one believed worked for him or her regardless of the stimuli source, they automatically find fulfillment from the religious practices or rituals -that could include the sort of Kibwetere phenomenon.
The unemployed, who identified faith-related services as fortune, were and still are quick to take it on as gold to change his or her economic life. No wonder, many kiosk-like churches have sprung-up, and being based on tribe, ancestry, reformed views slightly away from old faiths, on dietary choices, feelings, avenge mission and others -purposed to fish beautiful women later on after being repulsed by them -when he was still poor. And there could be many more bases on which religion could be build -from merely idea formulation, a following, and then money -finding its way onto pioneer's personal account.
On the other hand, spirituality is a system of two opposing forces, one struggling to replace the other like the coup d'etats of west Africa. The invisible system of forces, at ease influence every aspect of human beings in a way that is the evolutionary, intellectual and the unknown (of the future) manned and controlled by the conflicting influences of the system. The unknown, remain a reserve the system, yet continues to nurture and refreshen us.
The surprising influences on humanity in unexplainable manner, prompts humanity to interpret and assign cause or source. They would have numerous labels like God in English, Mukama among Baganda, Kibumba among the Basoga etceteras -to describe the wonderful influences on them.
Similarly, opposing labels would be developed in attempt to understand the source and reduce panic. Such reference could be; Satan or devil in English, curse, witchcraft and every undesirable action or experience etceteras.
Incidentally, where human intelligence, scientific evidence or logic as suggested by Kajabago Ka Rusoke, much, if not all of such questions could be unheard of, as man continuously analyses along the major principle of good and truth, and finds solutions to ever emerging challenges. Consequently, he (or she) would become more confident of himself (or self) and entirely responsible for their future.
Like in democracy, people form sides, other remain confused and other simply look on, and only wait for eventuality than plan and negotiate their ways with the systems. Interesting to note is that the way the system is approached could determines the nature of reciprocated results of that relation (between man or woman and the system -with the natural environment as part of it). In the kind of relationship man and woman seem to take the roles of initiating, constantly maintaining and re-initiating harmonious face of it.
If the intentions in the kind of relationship are for good, then they would be relating with a specific set representing goodness or God. And, in turn, such goodness would be felt and attitude developed towards fulfillment of the good goal in his or her life. The magic word here is merely to “believe” -regardless of the situation at hand.
Several studies have found a strong influence between positive spirituality and well-being. Even that is still functional in religious practices, though and could have similar influences to the well-being of people.
For example, with Islam, after going through the practice of washing different parts of the body, they experience a feeling of holiness -a quality that allows members to experience God's mercy and blessing or goodness of nature. It eventually comes along with tremendous emotional and mental relief.
The sustained goodness, in turn, helps the body's immune system to grow stronger and entire being to get nourished with good decision making and actions towards self and others. It, then, would be about how one invests his or her thoughts -whether for goodness or evil to create different desired or undesired outcomes.
The summary of ever investing one's thoughts for the evil is fear, poor physical health, pressure, lost self-esteem and confidence discords, escalating risky behaviors along with related hazards, social structural breakdown due to violence -among others.
Indeed, it could be the beginning of anything bad. Interesting, too, is that to cross over best life or vice-versa, or reset to horrible situation, as well, could be a matter of democracy (choice). However, to change oneself for the better would require support of people of the promising character to reinforce the one being nurtured in by goodness spiritual system set.
In creating a better path or worse one, the being would be obliged to initiate link with the goodness system set -through realization of the best path, acknowledgment it, taking responsibility, talking the walk (along with constant self-reassurance, self-trust, self-believe and self-determination).
But even without person initiative, there would be compelling, yet competitive forces of both goodness or positive spirituality system set and negative spirituality system set. And many fall victims of the unworthy choice, regardless of their educational status or social and economic worthiness.
The problem with Kajabago's logic application to religious teachings is that soon or later believers would digress from experiencing goodness spirituality system or God to begin localizing such super powers as their own or even misrepresent them -through horrendous behaviors.
Kajabago's presentation too could still reincarnate religious capitalist and exploitation, which he was trying to caution against. It, therefore, would seem like one must know when to apply logic and when to surrender it. There must be a specific scale on which to weigh the logic as well. It, for example, could be best if the local conclusions considered the elements of truth and good.
For reflections about the goodness of nature or God, one must surrender potentially destructive aspects like negative and incompatible logic that could block one's bid to create a healthy working relationship with goodness spirituality system set.
It would require total concentration to spontaneously believe in the goodness spirituality system set trust the relationship with it, allow experience what would be desired in that relationship, subject the experience to one's feelings, and then acknowledge the new feelings as the desired to follow. Instantly or gradually, one would experience positive feeling and attitude that later get enhances with consistent actions.
But where the rituals contradict the expectation of goodness and truth we all yearn for, then logic as put forward by Kajabago could immediately apply to avoid undesirable events like being physically or sexually abused or involving murders of people, and many other practices that may be illogical. What Kajabago did not say was the space and time -to cock and apply logic. He was right, though in that regard.
Waiswa Jacob
Situation Health Analyst
P.O. BOX 8885
KAMPALA-UGANDA
Tel. +256774336277 or 0754890614
DECISION MAKING AND SITUATION HEALTH MANAGEMENT -DISHMA
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com
From further attempts to understand the unknown, hierarchical structures were formed establishing the position of the unknown and humanity. After acknowledging who will need the unlimited respect as unknown or Divinity, man and woman turned to themselves and the environment to begin the process of negotiating each other's position (roles and responsibility) in the hierarchy.
At there level numerous ideas were brought into play and tested against hierarchical order right from the level of the unknown to theirs. Because of the cultural influences and norms a ready mixture was developed to gradually erode origin same-status of natural elements.
In an African situation, man would come first, then woman and the other creations last. It is the kind of arrangement that would later influence decision making and its outcomes in future. Besides cultural or traditional influences, man in some areas must have overpowered woman in intellectual assertions reinforced by physical assaults or fights.
The decisions made answers the questions of who would be accountable to the other and with what roles and responsibilities towards each other and between them and the environment.
This is when the evidence of who appeared to be privileged and oppressed or exploited could emerge. And, of course, the environment would suffer hardest seconded by either woman or man following the queue.
In Africa, where socio-cultural structures tend to force women into slavery, man, in that case would take the privileged position, and oppression become the life of a woman. However, with all justice and rewards favored to fall on the oppressed side, one day, as put forward by Marxists, the oppressed (woman) would be the most privileged, and man; most oppressed.
Personal ego and sensational attributes are most fertile in religion, and so soon penetrate and get strengthened into into it and become part of its structure. As a result, they begin to humanize and localize God through that structure.
And, because of the ego influence, with time it becomes hard to differentiate what is by either man or God. Because of that, religion turns out to be a path through which oppression and exploitation would be expressed.
Worse would be for a criminal mind, if he found his way to the helm of a particular religion, and worse if learned. Being learned yet realistically wrong would instead reinforce the wrong and harden the fellow off.
His or her individual weaknesses easily qualify not to be personal crimes, but for the religion -which he or she heads. And with the unyielding strength attainable from religious beliefs and rituals as highest level reinforcement, it is never easy to claim victory over religious criminals.
The cultural biases could place a woman no where, now, in religious decision making. And the environment, being at the bottom gets hurt the most, since it cannot even raise a voice or scream.
Well, it communicates back to man and woman in non-verbally in form of flooding, diseases and famine, natural resources conflicts etceteras. But, still, sometimes he fails to make sense out the kind of communication.
Interestingly, it is again such afflictions that could strengthens the fellow and sometimes venting his o her bitterness onto the oppressed person. And once resilient, even the most stupid action would mean real in the name of faith or religion for him. Everything would be argued along the unrealistic and wrong actions, then dangerously reflected into actions later on whatever they choose to target.
Sometimes, his or her actions could be so horrible that they overwhelm everyone like selling off all his belongings as sacrifice to total bankruptcy, refusal to seek health care in favor of set faith standards or physically and sexually abusing his following.
His perceived godliness or religiousness, in all such actions, remains his protection. It would be at this level that mental health workers could possibly come in to rescue the fellow, and overwhelmed and confused following.
Interestingly, because of man's high appetite for power, he (or she) has transformed religion into a kind of political institutions or party -with its accompanying power hierarchy. In it, he forms departments like the security one to guard him (or her) and his (or her) amassed wealth, finance department -which he (or she) could be directly under him (or her), elders -who act like his parliament, etceteras.
And because of the economic element that is central in the running of religious affairs, church proprietors exploit the constant demand for religious services to pool as much coins as possible in their safe.
So as the following grows from being poor to beggars due to the high cost of religious services footed everyday (for some sects), they as an institutions are thriving. When local people run out of money, the church would shift from a company tone to an NGO one, so as to attract funding from elsewhere.
The chameleon color change, indeed, can be effective in enabling it survive the pressure of modern times. Time emerges when if man is speaking, “it is God doing speaking,” and the questioning audience believe.
And since whatever one believed worked for him or her regardless of the stimuli source, they automatically find fulfillment from the religious practices or rituals -that could include the sort of Kibwetere phenomenon.
The unemployed, who identified faith-related services as fortune, were and still are quick to take it on as gold to change his or her economic life. No wonder, many kiosk-like churches have sprung-up, and being based on tribe, ancestry, reformed views slightly away from old faiths, on dietary choices, feelings, avenge mission and others -purposed to fish beautiful women later on after being repulsed by them -when he was still poor. And there could be many more bases on which religion could be build -from merely idea formulation, a following, and then money -finding its way onto pioneer's personal account.
On the other hand, spirituality is a system of two opposing forces, one struggling to replace the other like the coup d'etats of west Africa. The invisible system of forces, at ease influence every aspect of human beings in a way that is the evolutionary, intellectual and the unknown (of the future) manned and controlled by the conflicting influences of the system. The unknown, remain a reserve the system, yet continues to nurture and refreshen us.
The surprising influences on humanity in unexplainable manner, prompts humanity to interpret and assign cause or source. They would have numerous labels like God in English, Mukama among Baganda, Kibumba among the Basoga etceteras -to describe the wonderful influences on them.
Similarly, opposing labels would be developed in attempt to understand the source and reduce panic. Such reference could be; Satan or devil in English, curse, witchcraft and every undesirable action or experience etceteras.
Incidentally, where human intelligence, scientific evidence or logic as suggested by Kajabago Ka Rusoke, much, if not all of such questions could be unheard of, as man continuously analyses along the major principle of good and truth, and finds solutions to ever emerging challenges. Consequently, he (or she) would become more confident of himself (or self) and entirely responsible for their future.
Like in democracy, people form sides, other remain confused and other simply look on, and only wait for eventuality than plan and negotiate their ways with the systems. Interesting to note is that the way the system is approached could determines the nature of reciprocated results of that relation (between man or woman and the system -with the natural environment as part of it). In the kind of relationship man and woman seem to take the roles of initiating, constantly maintaining and re-initiating harmonious face of it.
If the intentions in the kind of relationship are for good, then they would be relating with a specific set representing goodness or God. And, in turn, such goodness would be felt and attitude developed towards fulfillment of the good goal in his or her life. The magic word here is merely to “believe” -regardless of the situation at hand.
Several studies have found a strong influence between positive spirituality and well-being. Even that is still functional in religious practices, though and could have similar influences to the well-being of people.
For example, with Islam, after going through the practice of washing different parts of the body, they experience a feeling of holiness -a quality that allows members to experience God's mercy and blessing or goodness of nature. It eventually comes along with tremendous emotional and mental relief.
The sustained goodness, in turn, helps the body's immune system to grow stronger and entire being to get nourished with good decision making and actions towards self and others. It, then, would be about how one invests his or her thoughts -whether for goodness or evil to create different desired or undesired outcomes.
The summary of ever investing one's thoughts for the evil is fear, poor physical health, pressure, lost self-esteem and confidence discords, escalating risky behaviors along with related hazards, social structural breakdown due to violence -among others.
Indeed, it could be the beginning of anything bad. Interesting, too, is that to cross over best life or vice-versa, or reset to horrible situation, as well, could be a matter of democracy (choice). However, to change oneself for the better would require support of people of the promising character to reinforce the one being nurtured in by goodness spiritual system set.
In creating a better path or worse one, the being would be obliged to initiate link with the goodness system set -through realization of the best path, acknowledgment it, taking responsibility, talking the walk (along with constant self-reassurance, self-trust, self-believe and self-determination).
But even without person initiative, there would be compelling, yet competitive forces of both goodness or positive spirituality system set and negative spirituality system set. And many fall victims of the unworthy choice, regardless of their educational status or social and economic worthiness.
The problem with Kajabago's logic application to religious teachings is that soon or later believers would digress from experiencing goodness spirituality system or God to begin localizing such super powers as their own or even misrepresent them -through horrendous behaviors.
Kajabago's presentation too could still reincarnate religious capitalist and exploitation, which he was trying to caution against. It, therefore, would seem like one must know when to apply logic and when to surrender it. There must be a specific scale on which to weigh the logic as well. It, for example, could be best if the local conclusions considered the elements of truth and good.
For reflections about the goodness of nature or God, one must surrender potentially destructive aspects like negative and incompatible logic that could block one's bid to create a healthy working relationship with goodness spirituality system set.
It would require total concentration to spontaneously believe in the goodness spirituality system set trust the relationship with it, allow experience what would be desired in that relationship, subject the experience to one's feelings, and then acknowledge the new feelings as the desired to follow. Instantly or gradually, one would experience positive feeling and attitude that later get enhances with consistent actions.
But where the rituals contradict the expectation of goodness and truth we all yearn for, then logic as put forward by Kajabago could immediately apply to avoid undesirable events like being physically or sexually abused or involving murders of people, and many other practices that may be illogical. What Kajabago did not say was the space and time -to cock and apply logic. He was right, though in that regard.
Waiswa Jacob
Situation Health Analyst
P.O. BOX 8885
KAMPALA-UGANDA
Tel. +256774336277 or 0754890614
DECISION MAKING AND SITUATION HEALTH MANAGEMENT -DISHMA
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com
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