Delicious Roasted Broccoli

I found a recipe online a few weeks ago and loved it so much, that I’ve been making my own variations. The main or side ingredient: Broccoli roasted in the oven. I never thought of roasting broccoli in the oven, but the minced garlic makes it even better! (I apologise for not having pictures of what I made. I will repost this once WordPress starts working properly for me!) On Sunday night, I made roasted broccoli and carrots. Below is the list of ingredients I used:2 very small teaspoons of minced garlic

Vegetable seasoning as desired

1 crown of broccoli

Half small bag of baby carrots (sliced in half)

Extra virgin olive oil

 

In a small mixing bowl, mix vegetables, garlic and seasoning. Add olive oil to lightly coat the vegetables. Mix by hand until vegetables are coated with oil, seasoning and some minced garlic.

Preheat oven to 425F. Add vegetables and cook for between 10 and 15 minutes, until the broccoli is lightly browned. After they’re ready, serve immediately before the cool too quickly. Enjoy!

I love mixing other veggies with the broccoli, like red peppers, red onion, and green beans. Experiment and enjoy!

Buddhism and Your Own Traditions

One of the many admirable aspects of Buddhism is that it can be applied to Buddhist and non-Buddhist traditions and religions. A non-Buddhist can practice meditation without adapting all aspects of Buddhism. I, myself, identify myself as a Buddhist after reading many books, publications and articles and I continue to study it. Although the Dalai Lama advises against people quickly changing religions or “abandoning” the one they grew up with, but in my case I was very lost for a long time. Spirituality was at one time a part of my life, but the everyday stress of life took most of my energy and time. Now that I have found Buddhism offers antidotes and solutions to everyday afflictions, especially mindfulness, I feel I can “take back” the moments in each day.

Meditation is open to everyone.

Now that it is November and Christmas is quickly approaching, I’m reminded of the traditions that I grew up with. My grandparents were from Ukraine and belonged to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. My dad and his brother were raised Orthodox as well. My mum was Roman Catholic, and to make life easier, my family was brought up Roman Catholic – since that was the majority of the community we lived in. The traditions I cherish most were visiting my Ukrainian grandparents for Christmas and Orthodox Easter. These are small traditions I like to continue now as an adult. Although, now I don’t eat meat (other than fish and eggs), I have happy memories as a kid eating kubasa (Ukrainian sausage) and verenyky (perogies – though these ARE vegetarian and so good).

Perogies/varenyky! I’m addicted to them!

My husband was raised Catholic and yes, we do put up a tree around this time of year. It’s tradition we both had in our homes growing up. At Christmas time and Easter time, I like to support the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church and go to the Christmas and Easter Bazaar and buy Ukrainian food and items. I like to give a gift to my husband on January 7^th (Orthodox Christmas) – after December 25 EVERYTHING is on sale here in North America, who wouldn’t want to buy gifts during that time? And I like to wish “Happy New Year” on January 14 (Malanka – Ukrainian Orthodox New Year) and not to forget, the next month for Chinese New Year as well.

Traditions are important.

We all were raised with tradition that our parents were raised with, and their parents as well. Buddhism is eclectic, and has adapted the culture to every country it has come to, but its main principles are the same. By adding Buddhism to these traditions, we can enrich our experience in understanding them and appreciating them for what they are and how they contribute to our lives.

Just because one practices Buddhism and/or mindfulness, doesn’t mean we need to abandon our traditions that we were raised with. As long as they are loving and rejoicing, we should continue our traditions.

Season’s Greetings with metta!

We Are Our Own Greatest Obstacle

Sometimes I want to do things or go places, but I defeat myself before I even try. I think that I do not have time, or that I’m not able or capable of doing something or going somewhere, and from that moment I give up. Do you find yourself doing the same too?

There are some things that we are just not physically able to do or some things that aren’t an option for us. But, when we have the option and are physically or mentally capable to do what we want to do, do we find ourselves making excuses to NOT do those things?

We are our own greatest obstacle. I see it in myself every day. For example, I want to attend a dharma talk in my city. I’ve been interested for several months. However, they are on weeknights usually at 7 pm in the downtown core. Although I work downtown until 5 pm, I find myself wanting to go home after work instead to my dog to take care of him. Is that an excuse or just responsibility? I like to think more that it is responsibility, and honestly as much as one can respect the dharma and its teachers, I do need to take care of those dependent on me, such as my dog.

Another example: I would like to attend a meditation session once a month. But, it is also downtown (about 20 minutes away by car, much longer by bus) but is at 11 am. Now, I could make it, if I took the bus on my own. Sounds reasonable? But, then my self consciousness creeps up and I become shy. Why? Because I’ve never been there. Is it a new experience? It would be. I meditate at home, but the desire to connect to the sangha is an experience we all need to feel once in a while.

Many times we stand in the way of our own deepest desires because we feel we aren’t deserving of them. I still need to learn to break free of my own self-doubts and test new waters. If we stop making excuses, there’s so much we can get done. What’s stopping you?

With metta,

Stress, Worry and Buddha Nature

Worrying does little to resolve problems. It only makes our mental and physical health worsen. I have a tendency to worry a lot sometimes. It becomes like a bad habit and once I start worrying and continue to worry, it becomes a vicious cycle. If there is something that can be done about a situation, then there is no need to worry, right? I meticulously try to plan things out when I worry about things; most of the time it’s about money. Money is the main cause of worry for most people. Money buys us freedom to do things that we want to do and have the things that we want to have, but not having enough or have too many financial obligations creates stress.

To the little beetle on the asian lily, life is so simple and beautiful!

Stress and worry are bad for our hearts, both in a medical and spiritual way. Most of the time there are solutions to our problems, but many times we don’t think there is, mainly because we don’t like the options that are available to us, such as sacrificing lifestyle and comforts or compromising, or simply because we don’t think the solution will yield the best results. But, there are almost always options.

I have been very stressed this past week and making myself sick in the process. Finally, I told myself that I have to break free from stressing myself out. I picked up my copy of Thich Nhat Hanh’s book “Happiness” and started reading it again. It brought me back to the simplicity of being in the moment, reminding me of the benefits of mindfulness and meditation.

thich nhat hanh (Photo credit: tussenpozen)

Finding the time to meditate seems difficult sometimes, but we all have 24 hours every day. However, I sometimes can’t seem to keep my mind still and feel I have to keep it active, or else I feel “guilty” for taking time to not do anything, especially when I’m stressed. But, that is exactly the time when we should meditate! Taking 10 minutes a day won’t take time away from pressing matters. The obligations will still be there waiting, but for 10 minutes they can wait a little longer, and after those 10 minutes, you’ll be able to face them with a better attitude.

We need to stop every day and appreciate beauty around us, or else we will miss it and lose the purpose of our lives: to be happy.

I still need to take things as they come up; rather than worry with anticipation and stress myself out before something has happened. I have had many sleepless nights, and I’m sure my worries have shortened my lifespan ever so slightly. But, I believe that can be reversed.

After a week and a half of stress and worry, I need to return to my Buddha nature. No matter what happens in our lives, in our world, it’s the one place we can always seek refuge in. It’s always inside us, where we can find calmness, peace, simplicity, compassion, kindness and tranquility.

“Even when we have physical hardships, we can be very happy.” – Dalai Lama XIV

Turning A New Leaf – Second Chances

Learning from our mistakes is a part of life.

Everyone makes mistakes. We all have regrets. Sometimes we just didn’t know better.

Everyone needs a second chance. Sometimes things are unforgivable, but most of the time things are forgivable. We need to learn what is done, whether it is to be taken personally or just business. Many times things aren’t meant to be taken personally. We don’t mean to make mistakes; that’s why they’re called “mistakes.”

When we make mistakes, we need to acknowledge them and face them. But, saying that you made a mistake and moving on don’t always work. We need to show that we have learned from it, and make amends to repair any damage done. Sometimes it’s too late, but most of the time something can still be done about it.

Most people are not intentionally hurtful or irresponsible, but we need to be more mindful and from that responsibility for ourselves and others can come from it.

Namaste.

We Are Our Own Karma

Karma means action. Actions have consequences and results. What we have done in the past brings us to what we have in the present and the present will dictate what will happen in the future.

”Fish Karma logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many of us may have regrets of what we have done in the past or what we should have done, but didn’t do. We can speculate what could have been or could have happened, but it wouldn’t have lead us to where we are today.

I have things that I have done in the past that I wish I had done differently, but if I had done things differently I may not have ended up meeting my husband, having the job I have now, and my pug and cats that I love. All that wouldn’t have been possible if I had done things differently 15 years ago. When I think about it, and I had the chance to do things differently, part of me wishes I could, but the rational part of me realizes that everything would be different now if I changed the past.

If we are unhappy with our present situation, the past actions have brought us to where we are today. We can’t change the past, only the present. Sometimes we may feel “stuck” in our present situation, but there is always possibility of change. Sometimes we don’t like the options we have, but we may need to just make a change to create different results. If something is not working for us, then it’s time to change and do something else.

Karma isn’t just a result of past lives; it’s all about the results of our actions – cause and effect. We have always been in charge of our future.

We can make a change today.

namastê ॐ (Photo credit: ianpozzobon)

Namaste.

Impermanence & Memories

Today is the 10 year anniversary since my mum passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 49. Two weeks prior to that, I had just turned 20 years old and was living in Iceland for the past year when I heard the news. Within two days I was on a flight back home.

 

Partial aerial view of Keflavík, Iceland where I lived for over a year. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Like typical families, I argued with my mum constantly and sadly took her for granted. I always thought she would be there for me, through the best and worst times and I felt like I never needed to worry that she wouldn’t be there for me. During the last year of her life, while I lived in Iceland, we communicated by email and sometimes by phone. Our conversions became meaningful and we hardly argued, if I remember correctly, because phone calls were expensive to waste frivolously and it’s hard to get in an argument with a well-intended email.

Coming back home was hard because this time I knew my mum wouldn’t be there waiting for me.

After studying some of the dharma over the past year, it becomes truth about impermanence when you experience it for yourself. Sometimes we welcome impermanence to put an end to things we don’t like, and other times we hate it for putting an end to the things we love.

 

Buddha taught about impermanence and death. It’s never easy to acknowledge, but we have to accept it, but not forget the memories. (Photo credit: PhotoSolutions)

Upon realizing what is impermanent, we should take the time to appreciate what we have before it is gone. We need to make time for the people that matter most in our lives, because we never know how much time there will be.

Plan for the future, but appreciate today.

I can’t change the arguments I had with my mum or words I wish I could have or should have said when I had the chance, but I have many memories to keep.

If I could say something to my mum today it would be, “Thank you; and I love you.”

In Memory, my Mum – 1953 – 2002

Namaste.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving dinner traditionally usually consists of turkey, but I have left it off my plate for two years. But, we can all start new traditions along with the old.

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. Many people celebrate over the weekend, and for most people, the Monday is a holiday. I visited my dad and his wife, and my brother, my aunt and uncle also. We all had dinner at a Greek restaurant on the Saturday evening after a short visit at the cemetery where my mum is rested.The cemetery is a little on the outskirts of town down a long two lane country road, that leads to the freeway. One our way to the cemetery we saw a fire truck and a volunteer fire truck pass by us. We continued on our way to the cemetery, laid silk flowers and paid our respects to my mum. On our way back to my dad’s house, we took a different way to get onto the freeway to shorten our travel time. However, the entrance to the freeway was blocked by emergency vehicles and everyone had to turn around and go a different way. There was a minivan burned and smashed from an accident, but we couldn’t see the other vehicle that may have hit it.

It was a sad sight to see and to think that on this holiday weekend, there are many traffic accidents. We don’t know if any was hurt or killed from that accident we saw, but it made me think of impermanence once again. My husband said he thought that could have been us in that accident if my brother hadn’t left 20 minutes later when he came to pick us up to go to the cemetery. If we were 20 minutes earlier that may have been us.

After just visiting a cemetery and then seeing that someone was in an accident just a short while away from the cemetery and not too far from my dad’s house, shows that impermanence and uncertainty are very near.

Today I meditated on what I am thankful for:

–          A home

–          My family

–          My husband

–          My pug, cats and rabbit

–          My job

–          My car

–          Food when I am hungry and drink when I am thirsty

–          My relative good health

Reflecting that if our needs are met, then anything else we want is excess. It is OK to want things, but to think that excessive things fulfill our desires, will only leave us wanting more. If we are thankful for what we have, rather than wanting what we don’t have, we can maybe find some happiness and joy with what we have, rather than sadness in what we don’t have.

Whatever day it is near you, let’s be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Pug!

We’re Not As Independent As We May Think

Buddha (Photo credit: eschipul)

Sometimes we think that we are completely independent and that we don’t need anyone. We may live by ourselves, provide for ourselves, and take care of ourselves on our own. But even if you don’t “need” anyone, we must realise that we didn’t get to where we are today if it weren’t for people we have known and for some that we have never even met.

Before we were born, we needed doctors, friends, and family to care for our mothers until we were born. Then we needed to be taken care of as infants and toddlers to become children. Then as we become teenagers, we began to develop a sense of individuality and then think that we don’t need anyone in order to establish our “independence.”

Even if we find our “independence,” we are never entirely independent. Everything we own, everything we eat, is the labour of other people. Even if we create things, the materials that are made to create other things are from the labour of people or the dependence on nature.

The food you ate today was grown and prepared by different people. The computer you work on, the car or bus you rode on today, the shoes you wear, the clothes you wear were all manufactured by many different people. When we are sick, we go to doctors or the hospital and get treatment and medicine. If we have a job, our employer provides us money for doing work, which helps pay bills for services that companies provide us. Just think of your home. Your shelter was built from the hard work of many people.

We are all connected by many commonalities – one is our humanness and the other is our interdependence. However small we may think our contribution to society is we are nonetheless all connected.

The next time we think that we don’t need anyone to help us or to take care of us, we can think how many people have helped us in the past and who will continue to help us in the future, whether they know it or not.

It’s quite humbling.

With metta,

Happy Birthday Gandhi!

Mohandas K. Gandhi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today would have been Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s 143rd birthday.

A humble man from India who endured hardship, yet maintained true to the idea of ahimsa (non-violence). Many people have aversions and jokes about lawyers, but Gandhi was a lawyer that any of us would want in his or her defense team.

We must continue to remember his message, his actions, his words and live the them.

If you get the chance this week, watch the movie “Gandhi” starring Ben Kingsley. It’ll definitely be on my playlist this week.

It’s the Mahatma’s birthday today!

Happy Birthday Mohandas Gandhi!

With metta!