LIVING MINDFULLY WITH HIV

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2009-06-27T11:50:00.001-04:00

Thich Nhat Hanh on Mindfulness

2007-10-06T18:51:00.000-04:00

The 15th Edition of The International Carnival Of Pozitivities

2007-09-10T12:12:00.000-04:00

It is a great Joy to be Hosting the International Carnival Of Positivities again.
The HIVHSN Hosted the ICP in June at the HIV HEALTH AND SUPPORT NETWORK COMMUNITY NEWS BLOG. It is now my pleasure to host the ICP at The Newest HIVHSN project Living Mindfully with HIV. This New Blog is Dedicated to Helping those that are HIV positive manage their lives, their health and the stress that goes along with A Positive diagnosis in a way that allows them to be present Mind, body and spirit.

If you are interested in being a part of the ICP send your submissions in for the 16th edition of the ICP which will be Hosted at Ogre's Politics and Views. If you are Interested in hosting the ICP Visit the ICP homepage for the schedule of upcoming ICP editions.

Now I Am proud to present ICP 2.3. I hope that You enjoy this edition and please feel free to leave comments on the blogs to let people know that you read their work.

M.C.M. Lokman Hossain presents Guest Writer: M. C. M. Lokman Hossain of Bangladesh posted at 2sides2ron.

"Gender inequality or Unequal power in sexual relations leads to the sexual double standard which has alarming implications for both men and women’s ability to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV."

"Traditionally the family system of Bangladesh is male dominated society and violence against girls and women remains a problem. In societies where girls and women are not empowered to develop life skills, such as problem solving, decision making and critical thinking, they lack self-efficacy and are much more at risk to acquiring HIV."

James Wortz presents AIDS Walk Michigan – Lansing/East Lansing 2007 posted at HIV HEALTH AND SUPPORT NETWORK COMMUNITTY NEWS.

"AIDS Walk Michigan is a non-profit organization which began in 1998 to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS and to raise money for local AIDS Service Organizations in 7 participating Michigan communities. This special collaboration is unique in the United States, featuring 7 AIDS Walks in 7 cities, all under one-umbrella organization, AIDS Walk Michigan."

Joe Wright, MD presents HIV meets diabetes meets HIV posted at hemodynamics.

"In the early 1990s, I never believed it would happen. But in mid-February 2007, I heard a cardiologist talking about the cardiovascular effects of HIV, who then put his talk in context by casually saying, “Even so, I’d choose to have HIV over having diabetes.” The doctors-in-training listening nodded in agreement. They probably didn’t remember that people used to talk about comparing HIV to diabetes like it was an impossible dream."

Mohammad Khairul Alam presents Combating HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh: Guest writer Mohammad Khairul Alam posted at 2sides2ron.

"The problem of Female Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) in Bangladesh exists for more than two decade. There are larger numbers of CSWs is operating all over the country, Bangladesh, significantly increases the risk of bridging the high risk groups and moving infection into the general population. Men who frequently visit commercial sex areas and have sex with CSWs and also with their monogamous wives, function as a bridging population and significantly aid the confluence of HIV/STDs into the innocent healthy population."

Tampafilmfan presents local film hope+:surviving the sentence of hiv/aids posted at Tampa Film Fan

"I’m pleased to announce that HOPE+ : Surviving The Sentence of HIV /
AIDS has just scored its first festival acceptance and award. One for
one… woo hoo!The film won Best Documentary Short at the Independents’ Film Festival."

Richard Harris presents Rick's Place: I, TOO 1990 posted at Rick's Place.

"I, too, will embrace life as I have learned from those who died that this is the place I belong and the purpose I serve—for now."

Rob Sands presents South African AIDS Plan In Question posted at 365gay.com.

"Speaking for the first time since she was fired late Wednesday, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge said she was ousted for attending an AIDS conference in Spain without permission from President Thabo Mbeki and for making comments that contradicted the minister of health."

Also Rob Sands presents Transsexual With HIV Dies In Custody posted at 365gay.com.

"What happened here is simply an outrage," Roman Silberfeld, the family's attorney, told the Times."This is someone who never should have been permitted to get to this state of decline when relatively simple meds, if available and properly administered, would have avoided this tragedy."

Angelique Kidjo presents "Gimme Shelter" featuring Angelique Kidjo and Joss Stone posted at Angelique Kidjo Myspace Music .

" Darfur and AIDS are two separate but overlapping issues. Before we can really address AIDS in Africa, we have to tackle the tougher issues of genocide, war, sanitation, clean water and famine. As we need a holistic approach to HIV health, so do we need a holistic approach to AIDS relief. "

Nalaka Gunawardene presents Making fun of HIV: Welcome to the Scenarios from Africa posted at Moving Images, Moving People!.

"These three stories are part of Scenarios from Africa — a highly successful and popular pan-African initiative to use moving images to get young people talking and acting on HIV/AIDS. The decade-long project has been carried out with and for young people, with community mobilisation, education and media elements."

Trevor presents Open wide...? posted at 1234Men.

"When was the last time you used a condom for oral sex? While most guys are comfortable pulling out a condom for anal sex, when it comes to sucking or being sucked, raw is usually the go. So how safe is unprotected oral sex?"

Andrea Lynch presents Sexual Moralizing Spreads AIDS posted at RHRealityCheck.org blogs.

"Helen Epstein, scientist-turned-journalist and author of The Invisible Cure: Africa, the West and the Fight against AIDS, has a sharp new article in the Guardian titled "There is no room for sexual morality in an honest conversation about Aids." It's an important message from someone who has focused many of her writings on HIV on the issue of fidelity, and it does an excellent job of unpacking the risks associated with a morality-based approach to fidelity promotion-particularly for women."

Uniting the World Against AIDS presents How to act around a person with AIDS posted at Uniting the World Against AIDS.

"While we should be aware of some basic health issues and special sensitivities people with Aids might have,there is no need to learn any special new kind of behavior to use with them.You only need to treat them with the same respect and humanity with which,ideally,we treat everyone.There are,however,a few wrong assumptions many of us make about what to say or do around people with Aids that can lead to thoughtless and mistaken characterizations and prejudgment.What then,is the best way to reach out to people living with Aids?The following suggestions should help you a great deal."

Giles Crouch presents HIV Education Another Fractured Approach posted at Slimconomy.

"My view on this, watching what has happened over the past few years, is that the methodology of Africa and developing nations, is, arguably, more effective. It speaks at a community level and brings family (and there is a greater sense of the family unit in developing nations) and neighbours together to gain acceptance - peer sharing and education.

The Western approach has been well intentioned, but has resulted in doing little to change cultural behaviours and in many ways due to political and religious interference, made the situation much worse."

Ron Hudson presents Presenting Jeannette Lozano's Los Momentos del Agua/The Movements of Water Bilingual Edition with Illustrations by Victor Ramírez posted at 2sides2ron.

"Early this year, I agreed to volunteer to improve my Spanish language skills by translating a book of poetry for Mexican poeta Jeannette Lozano with illustrations by Chilean artist Victor Ramírez.

To thank me for my efforts, Ms. Lozano has given me 50 copies of this beautiful work of poetic and visual art for charitable purposes."

barakattv presents YouTube - Seen and Heard - HIV/Aids in an Arab culture posted at YouTube.

eutube presents YouTube - AIDS remember me? posted at YouTube.

"To learn what the EU is doing in other health areas go to EUtube."

Ron Hudson presents Journeying Toward Awareness posted at 2sides2ron.

"You can not live with HIV/AIDS for 22 years without at least flirting with some aspect of spirituality. I have learned to love myself as a part of all creation and refuse to accept the dogma of religious organizations that would have me excluded from the divine. I simply do not believe they are correct. My soul is good and my actions are not worthy of eternal condemnation simply for who I am and how I express my love. I am, for the most part, at peace with myself and do not judge myself based on what Alexis de Tocqueville identified in America as “the tyranny of opinion”.

Dr. Dave Wessner presents The AIDS Pandemic - Your Thoughts posted at The AIDS Pandemic.

"Last week, I was invited to speak about this blog and podcast at the annual meeting of the American Society for Virology in Corvallis Oregon. Based on questions and comments I received, I’d like to try something a little different with this installment. I’d like to ask for your opinion of this project."

Brian D. Morgan presents blog.myspace.com/avoc posted at Stop AIDS.

"My name is Brian D. Morgan and on December 4, 1998 I received some of the most devastating news that would change my life forever.I WAS HIV+! I was paralyzed by those words as they came from my doctors mouth. This is something that happens to other people not ME! I felt for sure that this was all a big mistake or just a very bad dream. Then reality set in and I knew now that I had to take on the biggest challenge of my life whether I was ready or not!"

Stephanie presents Homeless Youth on Fire - Invisible and At Risk posted at AIDS Action Committee's Blog.

"Shunned by a society that has no system of social support in place for them, kids are being placed in danger. My generation is in danger. These people, by virtue of being homeless, are three times more likely to have any type of chronic disease, including HIV/AIDS, than are those who are not homeless."

Arohanui presents Feel free to send your friends here! posted at Arohanui.

"Just wanted to share a few blogs with everyone...If you've written something that you would like to share with the Arohanui community, please post the link here...or send me the url and I will link it. "

Farid de la Ossa presents Farid de la Ossa Returns: Blooming T-Cells posted at 2sides2ron.

"Farid de la Ossa, an HIV+ artist from Colombia has returned this month to present his piece entitled "Blooming TCells"."

Bill Urell presents 7 Great Tips To Help You In Early Drug Addiction Recovery +podcast posted at Addiction Recovery Basics.

"There is probably nothing more dismal to a recovering drug addict then the fact that they are going through a process which seems like it takes forever! If you have just gotten out of an addiction treatment center or other drug and alcohol rehab center, chances are that you experienced one-on-one counseling, group therapy, as well as a variety of other experiences. Those are the experiences, though, that you should continue throughout your addiction and addiction recovery process."

Mindfulness Meditation Study

2007-09-01T04:13:00.000-04:00

Can mindfulness meditation or education slow the progression of HIV?

Reply to: comm-409356546@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-08-29, 4:49PM PDT

Can mindfulness meditation or education slow the progression of HIV? You can help us find out! You must be HIV-positive and not on meds. Participants receive a free, 8 week meditation or HIV-education course. You will receive compensation for five clinic visits over one year.

Classes start soon--Please call us today at 415-353-9744, or see our website for more information (www.stayingwellstudy.org). The Staying Well Study is a research project of the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.

Location: Mt. Zion Hospital
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

What is minfulness and how does it work with HIV

2007-08-24T12:24:00.000-04:00

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware no matter what it is that you are doing. Pretty simple huh? It is!

Granted this is the most simplified version that I could give you to start with but it is the essence of mindfulness. The Idea of mindfulness is that we become conscious. Instead of Living our lives on auto pilot and never fully being present in our actions or inactions we Try to develop a connection between our thoughts and our actions.

You may say to yourself "I am already aware of my actions. I am aware of everything that I do."
and this may be true to some degree. My question to you is "Are you completely present during your actions.?" Awareness only means that you are making a record of what you are doing.
Mindfulness is being actively present and aware. Participating fully in life.

"Awareness cannot be practiced. There has been some confusion between awareness and mindfulness. They are related, but distinct. Sati, or mindfulness, implies there is action of the mind. We purposely set ourselves to pay attention to our minds. We exert effort. Awareness is different. Awareness is devoid of any action. The mind simply "awares." There is no action here, only a collected and spontaneous awareness that just "sees." Here, mindfulness is the cause, and awareness is the effect. You cannot practice or train the effect. You can only practice something that will cause it. We have to start with mindfulness so that awareness may arise in us.

- Thynn Thynn, in Living Meditation, Living Insight
from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book"

The Questions you may be asking is "How does this relate to living HIV?" and "Will this improve my life?" I will try and answer those two questions briefly.

How does living mindfully relate to HIV? Living with HIV is a day to day management of your health. Mindfulness will help you to know and understand the stress and the difficulties involved with Managing HIV. Mindfulness isn`t about escaping into meditation. Mindfulness is about becoming aware of everything that is going on in your mind, body and spirit. The goal is to connect the three so that you can function in the present as a whole person.

Mindfulness is not about controlling your mind and emotions. Mindfulness is about knowing how and what you feel, what you are thinking, and being truthful with yourself about your thoughts and feelings. The results are that the more honest you are with yourself the more control you find you have over your thoughts and feelings.

In the body mindfulness is about knowing what is going on with the body. It is about knowing the needs and the limitations of the body. There is no judgment in mindfulness only the ability
to allow yourself to experience and become consciously aware of what is going on in our body.

With this awareness eventually comes a sense of peace. You no longer fight with yourself. You live presently in the moment. Mindfulness eventually gives you a feeling of being connected with your life and your actions. Mindfulness eventually helps mend the rift that was caused between the mind and the body when you were diagnosed.

Accepting submissions for edition 15 of the ICP to be hosted at Living Mindfully with HIV

2007-08-10T13:48:00.000-04:00

In September The HIVHSN will be hosting the ICP at Living mindfully with HIV

Dear Friends of the International Carnival of Pozitivities (ICP):

The 14th edition of the ICP is now available at Straight, Not Narrow. This edition includes original artwork from an HIV+ Colombian man, an original Spanish-language poem with translation by Mexican poet Jeannette Clariond, a video blog from the American comic ANT at his ANT Colony and a spoken-word video from my friend and 1 Giant Leap collaborator Rich Ferguson of Los Angeles, CA. Other posts address recognizing alcoholism within the HIV/AIDS community, as well as other thought-provoking articles about living with HIV/AIDS. We have a number of returning contributors as well as new participants. Please take a few minutes to visit and bookmark this edition so that you can enjoy it at your leisure over the next month.

Please visit the ICP homepage to learn more about this project and how you can contribute. We are now accepting submissions for edition 15 to be hosted at Living Mindfully with HIV. Please consider contributing your original artwork, poetry, news, personal accounts, short stories, and video or music files for the next edition. The more of you who actively submit your articles, the more I will be able to identify and solicit new participants for this project.

I hope that you will join the growing community of contributors and hosts for this important international forum for genuine voices of AIDS and allies. Please note that we are still seeking a host for our November, 2007 edition and for all editions beyond December, 2007. If you are interested in hosting the ICP, please email me and I will make the process for you as painless as possible. Return hosts are welcome!

If you have a blog, please feel free to post a notice about the availability of this edition. Also, please share this email with your friends. We need to involve as many people as possible. I really appreciate all of the links that you have added for the ICP in your blog sidebars and would encourage any of you who have not yet done so to consider adding a permanent link to the ICP to your blog.

TO BE ADDED OR REMOVED FROM THE ICP MAILING LIST

If you would like to be added to or removed from the ICP mailing list, please email me with either the word REMOVE or SUBSCRIBE in the subject line of the email and I will ensure that your desires are followed. This email list is confidential and will not be shared with anyone. All correspondence is handled using blind copy so that your identity will be protected.

Peace to you and yours.

Safe Journeys!

Ron Hudson

2sides2ron
Poundcake Love
The International Carnival of Pozitivities (ICP)

Waking Up In The Morning

2007-07-13T23:05:00.001-04:00

Waking Up In The Morning

Waking up this morning I smile
knowing there are 24 brand new hours before me.
I vow to live fully in each moment,
and look at beings with eyes of compassion.

As we wake up in the morning and open our eyes we may like to recite the above gatha. We can start our day with the happiness of a smile and the aspiration to dedicate ourselves to the path of love and understanding. We are aware that today is a fresh, new day, and we have 24 precious hours to live.

Let us try to get up from bed right away after following three deep breaths to bring ourselves into mindfulness. Let us not delay our waking. We may like to sit up and gently massage our head, neck, shoulders, and arms to get your blood circulating. We might like to do a few stretches to loosen our joints and wake up our body. Drinking a cup of warm water is also good for our system first thing in the morning.

Let us wash up or do what we need to before heading towards the meditation hall. Allow ourselves enough time so we will not have to rush. Enjoy the dark morning sky. Many stars are twinkling and greeting us. Take deep breaths and enjoy the cool, fresh air. As we walk slowly towards the hall, let the morning fill our being, awakening our body and mind to the joy of a new day.

Psycho-endocrine-immune response to mindfulness-based stress reduction in HIV-infected individuals

2007-07-12T17:55:00.000-04:00

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Psycho-endocrine-immune response to mindfulness-based stress reduction in HIV-infected individuals

Stress may hasten HIV disease progression by compromising immune response and increasing viral replication. Conversely, stress reduction may buffer effects of stress on HIV disease. This study determined the effects of an 8-week, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on perceived stress, mood, stress hormones, immune function, and health in HIV infected subjects. A synthesized conceptual framework of psychoneuroimmunology and a transactional model of stress guided the study. A quasi-experimental, repeated-measures, control group design was utilized. Subjects were non-randomly assigned to intervention or control group, and data were collected at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks (immediately post-intervention), and 3 months post-intervention. At 8-weeks the MSBR group showed significant increases (p<0.05;>

Mindful Eating

2007-06-25T16:54:00.000-04:00

Mindful Eating

by Thich Nhat Hanh
Unified Buddhist Church

Mindful eating is very pleasant. We sit beautifully. We are aware of the people that are sitting around us. We are aware of the food on our plates. This is a deep practice. Each morsel of food is an ambassador from the cosmos. When we pick up a piece of a vegetable, we look at it for half a second. We look mindfully to really recognize the piece of food, the piece of carrot or string bean. We should know that this is a piece of carrot or a string bean. We identify it with our mindfulness: "I know this is a piece of carrot. This is a piece of string bean." It only takes a fraction of a second.

When we are mindful, we recognize what we are picking up. When we put it into our mouth, we know what we are putting into our mouth. When we chew it, we know what we are chewing. It's very simple.

Some of us, while looking at a piece of carrot, can see the whole cosmos in it, can see the sunshine in it, can see the earth in it. It has come from the whole cosmos for our nourishment.

You may like to smile to it before you put it in your mouth. When you chew it, you are aware that you are chewing a piece of carrot. Don't put anything else into your mouth, like your projects, your worries, your fear, just put the carrot in.

And when you chew, chew only the carrot, not your projects or your ideas. You are capable of living in the present moment, in the here and the now. It is simple, but you need some training to just enjoy the piece of carrot. This is a miracle.

I often teach "orange meditation" to my students. We spend time sitting together, each enjoying an orange. Placing the orange on the palm of our hand, we look at it while breathing in and out, so that the orange becomes a reality. If we are not here, totally present, the orange isn't here either.

There are some people who eat an orange but don't really eat it. They eat their sorrow, fear, anger, past, and future. They are not really present, with body and mind united.

When you practice mindful breathing, you become truly present. If you are here, life is also here. The orange is the ambassador of life. When you look at the orange, you discover that it is nothing less than fruit growing, turning yellow, becoming orange, the acid becoming sugar. The orange tree took time to create this masterpiece.

When you are truly here, contemplating the orange, breathing and smiling, the orange becomes a miracle. It is enough to bring you a lot of happiness. You peel the orange, smell it, take a section, and put it in your mouth mindfully, fully aware of the juice on your tongue. This is eating an orange in mindfulness. It makes the miracle of life possible. It makes joy possible.

The other miracle is the Sangha, the community in which everyone is practicing in the same way. The woman sitting next to me is also practicing mindfulness while eating her breakfast. How wonderful! She is touching the food with mindfulness. She is enjoying every morsel of her breakfast, like me. We are brother and sister on the path of practice. From time to time we look at each other and smile. It is the smile of awareness. It proves that we are happy, that we are alive. It is not a diplomatic smile. It is a smile born from the ground of enlightenment, of happiness.

That smile has the power to heal. It can heal you and your friend. When you smile like that, the woman next to you will smile back. Before that, maybe her smile was not completely ripe. It was ninety percent ripe. If you offer her your mindful smile, you will give her the energy to smile one hundred percent.

When she is smiling, healing begins to take place in her. You are very important for her transformation and healing. That is why the presence of brothers and sisters in the practice is so important. This is also why we don't talk during breakfast. If we talk about the weather or the political situation in the Middle East, we can never say enough.

We need the silence to enjoy our own presence and the presence of our Dharma brothers and sisters. This kind of silence is very alive, powerful, nourishing, and transforming. It is not oppressive or sad. Together we can create this kind of noble silence.

Sometimes it is described as "thundering silence" because it is so powerful.

Eating Together Mindfully

2007-06-25T16:41:00.000-04:00

Eating Together Mindfully

Eating a meal together is a meditative practice. We should try to offer our presence for every meal. As we serve our food we can already begin practicing. Serving ourselves, we realize that many elements, such as the rain, sunshine, earth, air and love, have all come together to form this wonderful meal. In fact, through this food we see that the entire universe is supporting our existence.

We are aware of the whole sangha as we serve ourselves and we should take an amount of food that is good for us. Before eating, the bell will be invited for three sounds and we can enjoy breathing in and out while practicing the five contemplations.

1. This food is a gift of the whole universe,the earth, the sky and much mindful work.
2. May we eat in mindfulness so as to be worthy of it.
3. May we transform our unskillful states of mind and learn to eat in moderation.
4. May we take only foods that nourish us and prevent illness.
5. May we accept this food to realize the path of understanding and love.

We should take our time as we eat, chewing each mouthful at least 30 times, until the food becomes liquefied. This aids the digestive process. Let us enjoy every morsel of our food and the presence of the dharma brothers and sisters around us. Let us establish ourselves in the present moment, eating in such a way that solidity, joy and peace be possible during the time of eating.

Eating in silence, the food becomes real with our mindfulness and we are fully aware of its nourishment. In order to deepen our practice of mindful eating and support the peaceful atmosphere, we remain seated during this silent period. After twenty minutes of silent eating, two sounds of the bell will be invited. We may then start a mindful conversation with our friend or begin to get up from the table.

Upon finishing our meal, we take a few moments to notice that we have finished, our bowl is now empty and our hunger is satisfied. Gratitude fills us as we realize how fortunate we are to have had this nourishing food to eat, supporting us on the path of love and understanding.

The body as Mindfulness Practice

2007-06-25T16:34:00.000-04:00

Yoga Sun salutaion

The Body as Practice

Taking care of our body is an important practice. We need our body to be healthy in order for us to practice. Mindful Movements and Deep Relaxation can support our health and happiness in the practice, and keep us in touch with our body.

Each day we practice the 10 Mindful Movements, which is an opportunity for us to unite our mind and body. We enjoy opening our body, stretching up to the sky and releasing down to touch the ground. We do every exercise with the awareness of our breathing and of our action. We find a sense of balance and flexibility in our own body and mind. We practice in a relaxed way, not straining to gain anything.

Practicing Deep Relaxation as a community, led by an experienced practitioner, creates a wonderful energy of peace and harmony. It is a practice of totally letting go and returning back to take care of our body and mind. We use the breath as our anchor to help us. Our breath is also like a wave, gently rocking us into a deep peace. In this state of rest, our body and mind can release their burdens. A lot of healing happens just by letting go and sinking into this state of total relaxation. After practicing Deep Relaxation, led by a sister or brother in the practice, we may use these techniques anytime we need to rest.

Practicing Mindful Movements and Deep Relaxation allows us to listen deeply to our bodies. We learn to be gentle with ourselves and to give ourselves space to understand and to grow. Practicing in this way, our body becomes our friend and not a burden on our practice. Compassion towards ourselves will penetrate into our interactions with others. How we walk, move, sit, stand, and hold our body are reflections of our states of mind. When we move with ease others around us will also feel light and relaxed in our presence

Beginning Anew

2007-06-25T16:26:00.000-04:00

Beginning Anew

To begin anew is to look deeply and honestly at ourselves, our past actions, speech and thoughts and to create a fresh beginning within ourselves and in our relationships with others. At the practice center we practice Beginning Anew as a community every two weeks and individually as often as we like.

We practice Beginning Anew to clear our mind and keep our practice fresh. When a difficulty arises in our relationships with fellow practitioners and one of us feels resentment or hurt, we know it is time to Begin Anew. The following is a description of the four-part process of Beginning Anew as used in a formal setting. One person speaks at a time and is not interrupted during his or her turn. The other practitioners practice deep listening and following their breath

1) Flower watering - This is a chance to share our appreciation for the other person. We may mention specific instances that the other person said or did something that we had admired. This is an opportunity to shine light on the other’s strengths and contributions to the sangha and to encourage the growth of his or her positive qualities.

2) Sharing regrets - We may mention any unskillfulness in our actions, speech or thoughts that we have not yet had an opportunity to apologize for.

3) Expressing a hurt - We may share how we felt hurt by an interaction with another practitioner, due to his or her actions, speech or thoughts. (To express a hurt we should first water the other person’s flower by sharing two positive qualities that we have trully observed in him or her. Expressing a hurt is often performed one on one with another practitioner rather than in the group setting. You may ask for a third party that you both trust and respect to be present, if desired.)

4) Sharing a long-term difficulty & asking for support- At times we each have difficulties and pain arise from our past that surface in the present. When we share an issue that we are dealing with we can let the people around us understand us better and offer the support that we really need.

The practice of Beginning Anew helps us develop our kind speech and compassionate listening. Begin Anew is a practice of recognition and appreciation of the positive elements within our Sangha. For instance, we may notice that our roommate is generous in sharing her insights, and another friend is caring towards plants.

Recognizing others positive traits allows us to see our own good qualities as well.
Along with these good traits, we each have areas of weakness, such as talking out of our anger or being caught in our misperceptions. When we practice “flower watering” we support the development of good qualities in each other and at the same time we help to weaken the difficulties in the other person. As in a garden, when we “water the flowers” of loving kindness and compassion in each other, we also take energy away from the weeds of anger, jealousy and misperception.

We can practice Beginning Anew everyday by expressing our appreciation for our fellow practitioners and apologizing right away when we do or say something that hurts them. We can politely let others know when we have been hurt as well. The health and happiness of the whole community depends on the harmony, peace and joy that exists between every member in the Sangha.

Mindful Breathing

2007-06-25T16:19:00.000-04:00

Mindful Breathing

Our breathing is a stable solid ground that we can take refuge in. Regardless of our internal weather- our thoughts, emotions and perceptions- our breathing is always with us like a faithful friend. Whenever we feel carried away, or sunken in a deep emotion, or scattered in worries and projects, we return to our breathing to collect and anchor our mind.

We feel the flow of air coming in and going out of our nose. We feel how light and natural, how calm and peaceful our breathing functions. At any time, while we are walking, gardening, or typing, we can return to this peaceful source of life.

We may like to recite:

“Breathing in I know that I am breathing in.
Breathing out I know that I am breathing out.”

We do not need to control our breath. Feel the breath as it actually is. It may be long or short, deep or shallow. With our awareness it will naturally become slower and deeper. Conscious breathing is the key to uniting body and mind and bringing the energy of mindfulness into each moment of our life.

Five Mindfulness Trainings

2007-06-25T16:07:00.000-04:00

Five Mindfulness Trainings

The Five Mindfulness Trainings were developed during the time of the Buddha to be the foundation of practice for the entire practice community, including monastic and lay members. The basis for the trainings is mindfulness.

All Sangha members and guests are requested to observe these trainings to support our practice of mindfulness and living harmoniously together. No smoking, no drinking and no sexual misconduct constitute part of the Five Mindfulness Trainings to be observed at a practice center.

The Five Mindfulness Trainings protect our freedom and make life beautiful. As guidelines for our daily lives they are the basis of happiness for individuals, couples, families and society.

___________________________________

The First Training:

Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking and in my way of life.

The Second Training:

Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression, I vow to cultivate loving kindness and learn ways to work for the well-being of people, animals, plants and minerals. I vow to practice generosity by sharing my time, energy, and material resources with those in real need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. I will respect the property of others, but I will prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other species on earth.

The Third Training:

Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I vow to cultivate responsibility and learn ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families and society. I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without love and a long-term commitment. To preserve the happiness of myself and others, I am determined to respect my commitments and the commitments of others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct.

The Fourth Training:

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I vow to cultivate loving speech and deep listening in order to bring joy and happiness to others and relieve others of suffering. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I vow to learn to speak truthfully, with words that inspire self-confidence, joy and hope. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to criticize or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will refrain from uttering words that can cause division or discord; or words that can cause the family or the community to break. I will make all efforts to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

The Fifth Training:

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I vow to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking and consuming. I vow to ingest only items that preserve peace, well being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs, magazines, books, films and conversations. I am aware that to damage my body and my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my parents, my society and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self transformation and the transformation of society.

Staying Well: A Clinical Trial of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Education Groups for HIV

2007-06-25T11:51:00.000-04:00

Staying Well Project

Are you HIV + but not taking meds? Free meditation-based stress management or education sessions!

We are seeking HIV+ participants for a UCSF research study on the effects of meditation-based stress management and education on physical health and well-being.

Requirements for participation:

not taking HIV medications
CD4 count >250
viral load >100
18+ years old
study staff will review other criteria with you

http://www.stayingwellstudy.org/

The mindfulness training of the Order of Interbeing.

2007-06-24T13:41:00.000-04:00

These are the mindfulness trainings for interbeing.
I will, After a little more thought, add a little bit on how I believe
that some of these relate to living with HIV.

The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings of the Order of Interbeing

The First Mindfulness Training: Openness

Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance,
I am determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine,
theory or ideology, even Buddhist ones.
Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help me learn to look deeply
and to develop my understanding and compassion.
They are not doctrines to fight, kill or die for.

The Second Mindfulness Training:Non-attachment to Views

Aware of suffering created by attachment to views and wrong perceptions, I am determined to avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. I will learn and practise non-attachment from views in order to be open to others’ insights and experiences. I am aware that the knowledge I presently possess is not changeless, absolute truth. Truth is found in life and I will observe life within and around me in every moment, ready to learn throughout my life.

The Third Mindfulness Training: Freedom of Thought

Aware of the suffering brought about when I impose my views on others, I am committed not to force others, even my children, by any means whatsoever – such as authority, threat, money, propaganda or indoctrination – to adopt my views. I will respect the right of others to be different and to choose what to believe and how to decide. I will, however, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness through compassionate dialogue.

The Fourth Mindfulness Training: Awareness of Suffering

Aware that looking deeply at the nature of suffering can help me develop compassion and find ways out of suffering, I am determined not to avoid or close my eyes before suffering. I am committed to finding ways, including personal contact, images and sounds, to be with those who suffer, so I can understand their situation deeply and help them transform their suffering into compassion, peace and joy.

The Fifth Mindfulness Training: Simple, Healthy Living

Aware that true happiness is rooted in peace, solidity, freedom and compassion, and not in wealth or fame, I am determined not to take as the aim of my life fame, profit, wealth or sensual pleasure, nor to accumulate wealth while millions are hungry and dying. I am committed to living simply and sharing my time, energy and material resources with those in real need. I will practise mindful consuming, not using alcohol, drugs or any other products that bring toxins into my own and the collective body and consciousness.

The Sixth Mindfulness Training: Dealing with Anger

Aware that anger blocks communication and creates suffering, I am determined to take care of the energy of anger when it arises and to recognise and transform the seeds of anger that lie deep in my consciousness. When anger comes up, I am determined not to do or say anything, but to practise mindful breathing or mindful walking and acknowledge, embrace and look deeply into my anger. I will learn to look with the eyes of compassion on those I think are the cause of my anger.

The Seventh Mindfulness Training: Dwelling Happily in the Present Moment

Aware that life is available only in the present moment and that it is possible to live happily in the here and now, I am committed to training myself to live deeply each moment of daily life. I will try not to lose myself in dispersion or be carried away by regrets about the past, worries about the future, or craving, anger or jealousy in the present. I will practise mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. I am determined to learn the art of mindful living by touching the wondrous, refreshing and healing elements that are inside and around me, and by nourishing seeds of joy, peace, love and understanding in myself, thus facilitating the work of transformation and healing in my consciousness.

The Eighth Mindfulness Training: Community and Communication

Aware that lack of communication always brings separation and suffering, I am committed to training myself in the practice of compassionate listening and loving speech. I will learn to listen deeply without judging or reacting and refrain from uttering words that can create discord or cause the community to break. I will make every effort to keep communications open and to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

The Ninth Mindfulness Training: Truthful and Loving Speech

Aware that words can create suffering or happiness, I am committed to learning to speak truthfully and constructively, using only words that inspire hope and confidence. I am determined not to say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people, nor to utter words that might cause division or hatred. I will not spread news that I do not know to be certain nor criticise or condemn things of which I am not sure. I will do my best to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten my safety.

The Tenth Mindfulness Training: Protecting the Sangha

Aware that the essence and aim of a Sangha is the practise of understanding and compassion, I am determined not to use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit or transform our community into a political instrument. A spiritual community should, however, take a clear stand against oppression and injustice and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.

The Eleventh Mindfulness Training: Right Livelihood

Aware that great violence and injustice have been done to the environment and society, I am committed not to live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. I will do my best to select a livelihood that helps realize my ideal of understanding and compassion. Aware of global economic, political and social realities, I will behave responsibly as a consumer and as a citizen, not investing in companies that deprive others of their chance to live.

The Twelfth Mindfulness Training: Reverence for Life

Aware that much suffering is caused by war and conflict, I am determined to cultivate non-violence, understanding and compassion in my daily life, to promote peace education, mindful mediation and reconciliation, within families, communities, nations and in the world. I am determined not to kill and not to let others kill. I will diligently practice deep looking with my Sangha to discover better ways to protect life and prevent war.

The Thirteenth Mindfulness Training: Generosity

Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression, I am committed to cultivating loving kindness and learning ways to work for the well-being of people, animals, plants and minerals. I will practice generosity by sharing my time, energy and material resources with those who are in need. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. I will respect the property of others, but will try to prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other beings.

The Fourteenth Mindfulness Training: Right Conduct

For lay members: Aware that sexual relations motivated by craving cannot dissipate the feeling of loneliness, but will create more suffering, frustration and isolation, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without mutual understanding, love and a long-term commitment. In sexual relations, I must be aware of future suffering that may be caused. I know that to preserve the happiness of myself and others, I must respect the rights and commitments of myself and others. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to protect couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. I will treat my body with respect and preserve my vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of my bodhisattva ideal. I will be fully aware of the responsibility for bringing new lives in the world, and will meditate on the world into which we are bringing new beings.
For monastic members: Aware that the aspiration of a monk or a nun can only be realized when he or she wholly leaves behind the bonds of worldly love, we are committed to practicing chastity and to helping others protect themselves. We are aware that loneliness and suffering cannot be alleviated by the coming together of two bodies in a sexual relationship, but by the practice of true understanding and compassion. We know that a sexual relationship will destroy our life as a monk or a nun, will prevent us from realizing our ideal of serving living beings, and will harm others. We are determined not to suppress or mistreat our body or to look upon our body as only an instrument, but to learn to handle our body with respect. We are determined to preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of our bodhisattva ideal.

Mindfulness andHIV

2007-06-20T13:33:00.000-04:00

Miracle of Mindfulness an Introduction
by Thich Nhat Hanh, Mobi Ho, Vo-Dinh Mai

The other day I remembered that I was HIV Positive. I am not sure how long I had forgotten this.
I am not sure that I completely forgot. What I do know is that I didn't like the feeling of forgetting.

This may sound odd to many of you. It may seem like a dream come true to forget about living with HIV even if only for a while. Some of you may even think that I am a little crazy. Well your wrong I am a lot crazy! But that is not the what I came to write about.

Let me tell you a little about what happened. I was at work feeling a little nauseous . I
was wondering why I was feeling that way(I thought of five reasons other than HIV or my Meds) and thinking that I just wasn't sick.It was then that it suddenly hit me out of the blue: I have HIV! I have a disease. There is a reason for the way I feel. It was actually a bit of a relief. I must be doing alright if I forgot.

Then I started thinking that if I had forgotten when I take medication daily then the others around me must forget also.I am not sure if this is the case but again what I did know is that I didn't like this.

I decided a year ago when I was diagnosed that I was going to make something positive come out of this . I was going to live as an example that HIV is closer to people than they think; It wasn't something that they only hear about in Public Service Announcements.
It was in their neighborhoods, Not Just third world countries. It was as close as the person standing right next to them at work. I wanted them to have a face and a name to put with the disease, Not just labels like "HIGH RISK GROUP". It is in this way that I believe that the fight against stigma will be won.

What had bothered me so much is that if I can forget about HIV/AIDS ,Then why do I expect others to think about it? Why do I expect others to care for more than Thirty seconds during commercial breaks? It is only through awareness of this disease that is running rampant throughout the world that we are able to get the money necessary to prevent, treat and hopefully one day cure this disease. Awareness! And I had forgotten about it even with it swimming through my veins and hiding out in my cells.

So how do I walk the fine line between obsessing about HIV and keeping awareness at the forefront of my mind? I think the answer to that is different for each of us. For myself I believe that this falls into the category of Mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a Buddhist term that means just what it says: Being mindful.
This is a practice of being aware of your body and mind,thoughts and speech,actions and inaction's. This practice is not about changing the way you think or removing or adding thoughts. It is simply being aware and acknowledging what is going on physically and mentally. If you are angry, simply be aware of the fact that you are angry. If you are happy, be aware that you are happy. There are many aspects to mindfulness that encompass every aspect of life. This is the simplest form and explanation of this practice.

How does this help me to walk the line between obsession and Awareness? I realize that I am HIV positive. When I am feeling well I am mindful that I am feeling well and HIV positive. When I am feeling Ill I am Mindful that I am feeling Ill and HIV positive. Sounds really simplistic doesn't it? It isn't something that happens over night. It takes many a day of thinking about HIV more than some of us are willing to do. I said thinking not worrying. I have to keep HIV in my mind even when I am feeling well. Not just when I am feeling bad. HIV does not take a break it is only through my diligence that I keep healthy. This doesn't stop when I am feeling well.
This mindfulness helps me to make decisions that are appropriate for my health and well being all the time.

Now how does this help me to keep bringing awareness about HIV to those around me? It helps me to remember that I have some difference to those around me. It helps me to know when I feel different. It mindfulness helps me to choose the right words and actions to help those around me to understand how HIV affects them and the world. It helps me to live my life in a way that can help others that are struggling with this disease. Mindfulness is the light that shows me the right course when things are the darkest.

Don't let HIV run your life. Be mindful of how it affects you and others. If you are scared, know that you are scared. If you are feeling lonely, know that you are feeling lonely. It is only when we know how we feel that we can start to change those feelings into positive feelings such as courage,compassion,and community.

LIVING MINDFULLY WITH HIV

Technorati Profile

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The 15th Edition of The International Carnival Of Pozitivities

Mindfulness Meditation Study

Can mindfulness meditation or education slow the progression of HIV?

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Accepting submissions for edition 15 of the ICP to be hosted at Living Mindfully with HIV

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Mindfulness andHIV

by Thich Nhat Hanh
Unified Buddhist Church