Through The Looking-Glass: Alice In Yoga-Land

Theres a specific training, within Buddhist yoga, which asks us to look upon the things of our world as being very similar to the reflections of objects as seen in a mirror: arising as the result of specific causes and conditions, yet possessing ~ in and of themselves ~ no inherent existence. So the next time youre looking at yourself in a mirror, you can notice that the reflection of your face, there in the mirror, is there only because of the confluence of: the existence of the mirror, your having placed your body in front of it, and the capacity of your eyes to see clearly what is in the mirror to name just the most obvious of the causes & conditions. And then you can think: all of the objects Im going to experience, as I walk through my day, are no more (or less) real than this reflection of my face that Im seeing now in the mirror. And notice the result, as you do go through your day, of thinking this way

If youve already got a sitting meditation practice, a variation on the above practice that you might like to try is this: sit facing AWAY from a large mirror (a full-length mirror is best, otherwise youll probably have to sit on a chair for this to work); then set up a second, smaller mirror in front of you, into which you can look, to see the room in front of you as reflected in the mirror thats behind you. (And if you can even figure out these instructions, youre probably already enlightened!) Then drop into an open, relaxed, shamata (calm abiding) sort of space, with your eyes open, gazing gently at the room-in-the-mirror-in-the-mirror. And then ~ a shift here to a more vipassana (clear seeing) practice ~ understand: the world around you, as experienced by your conditioned perception, is always much like what youre seeing in the mirror.

And you now might wonder: what would it mean, what would be required, and what would it be like to go ~ along with our heroine Alice ~ through the looking-glass, into yoga-land? If you actually are Alice, you will of course end up in Wonderland, and we all know what thats like. If youre a Buddhist, one possible destination would be whats known as a Pure Land. (But this is a yoga blog, so lets just stick with yoga-land.) At any rate, these might be interesting questions to research And in the meantime, check out the hall of mirrors scene near the end of Bruce Lees film Enter The Dragon (a film which ~ despite its brilliant fight scenes ~ is a bit hard to swallow in certain places, if youve got even a budding feminist sensibility but this is an aside!)

And Ill end, for today, with the following poem, taken from Frithjof Schuons collection, Songs For A spiritual Traveler Enjoy!

The Mirror

Is not the world a mirror in which God
Sees his beauty in a thousand images?
A spectacle that vanishes, repeats itself
Lights up from naught, then fades away.

The fruits of existence teach us two things:
God-resemblance and God-remoteness;
Remoteness brings to nothing the fabric of existence
Resemblance is timeless like the stars.

Elizabeth Reninger holds a Masters degree in Chinese medicine, is a published poet, and has been exploring yoga - in its Taoist, Buddhist & Hindu varieties ~ for more than twenty years. Her teachers include Richard Freeman and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. To read more of her yoga-related essays, please visit her website: http://www.writingup.com/blog/elizabeth_reninger

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Your Guide to Wireless Security Cameras

The use of wireless security cameras has been gaining in popularity over recent years. This can be for many reasons. Some people use wireless security cameras to make their home secure and to monitor their home. Other people use them to monitor their nannies or their employees. Some people use it for surveillance of their store or office. Whatever the reason may be, wireless security cameras are quickly becoming the preferred method of security for many people. If you would like more information, then let this be your guide to wireless security cameras.

Wireless security cameras are so popular because you can literally put them anywhere you want because you don't have to worry about wires. The placement of them is very flexible and they are very easy to install. They are also quite inexpensive to purchase and many come with warranties. The only drawback is that wireless security cameras require that you change the battery pack on them every 4 to 8 hours. The battery packs can be recharged so it is best to have more than one so you can easily change them out.

Wireless security cameras work by sending video signals to a receiver via a transmitter in the wireless camera. The receiver can be connected to a TV, VCR, computer, etc. No wires are needed between the camera and the receiver. The receiver can be placed anywhere from 700 feet to 10 miles away from the wireless camera. It just depends on which wireless security camera model you buy. The receivers can penetrate as much as 8 walls. They also penetrate most solid objects such as: glass, plastic, wood, fiber glass, and some metals. This is an added benefit for people when they want to place the camera in a certain spot.

If you have trouble viewing the wireless security camera image, you may have to move the camera a bit. Sometimes moving it just a few feet can make a huge difference in what you see. You also have to pay attention to what kind of material the signal has to travel through. The denser the material, the weaker the signal will be. It is usually best to have the receiver positioned hire than the camera. This will give you the best range.

The above was all of the important information you should know about wireless security cameras. If you are considering getting a wireless security camera, you will be glad to have known all of this information. A wireless security camera is a cheap and effective way to monitor anything and to help you feel more secure. It will give you peace of mind and leave you feeling glad you decided to purchase a wireless security camera.

Bob Hett offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Security cameras and home safety. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Wireless Security Cameras

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