We are extracting meaning from our minds and our own lives.

The flexibility with which we do that may influence

how we change our minds,

therefore our lives. 

]]> http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/mind-and-life/feed 0 http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/black-hole http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/black-hole#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 19:58:14 +0000 Daniela Andreescu http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/?p=896  

‘To believe or to not believe’ … an informational ‘black hole’ that prevents one from experimenting, understanding and moving on. Preferably moving on to a new level of understanding and being, from where one can enjoy a new degree of freedom.

Happiness is the progressive realization of a worthy goal. Our task is to make sure that the goal is worthy and that our motivation to realize it is selfless.

]]> http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/happiness/feed 0 http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/no-comment http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/no-comment#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:44:53 +0000 Daniela Andreescu http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/?p=878

“Each of us has a variety of habitual tactics for avoiding life as it is…  

To train to stay open and curious,  

to train in dissolving our assumptions and beliefs, 

is the best use of our human lives.”

Pema Chodron

]]> http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/no-comment/feed 0 http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/conversatie-despre-the-gift-of-now http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/conversatie-despre-the-gift-of-now#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:41:29 +0000 Daniela Andreescu http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/?p=874

We often want everything that comes our way, or that we see on someone else’s plate. But we also have the capacity to sacrifice pawns to win at chess. 

Isn’t life a chess game that is played within yourself? You and your personal story and history, playing against the future you, that has a chance to win or lose, depending on what you wish to choose. Each moment. Such as right now.

]]> http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/right-now/feed 0 http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/new-year-resolutions http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/new-year-resolutions#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:52:58 +0000 Daniela Andreescu http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/?p=849  

Thinking about making New Year Resolutions?

You might consider making a commitment about how you want to be, besides what you want to do.

Actually, it is reasonable to believe that we do things because of what we imagine we feel when we accomplish those deeds.

The bad news is that we are deeply conditioned by our past experiences. The results of what we do trigger more craving, strenuous effort and stress, or the moment of happiness we experience does not last and we start running again after the next.

The good news is that we also have the potential to become ever more conscious about our choices, and we can change to do things differently.

So, why not go straight to how you wish to feel and aspire to be, and then design the actions accordingly?

The “Ten Buddhist Perfections” may offer you inspiration. It is said that by practicing and attaining them you cross over from an unsatisfied mind and a life full of useless stress, to a happy mind and a life of serene inner freedom.

“Is there a guarantee that this works for me?”

Without guarantees or certainties, explore and check for yourself.

Just make your choice and don’t forget… to enjoy the process.

1. Generosity

May I be generous and helpful!

2. Ethics

May I be well-disciplined and refined in manners!

May I be pure and clean in all my dealings!

May my thoughts, words and deeds be pure!

3. Renunciation

May I not be selfish and self-possessive but selfless and disinterested!

May I be able to sacrifice my pleasures for the sake of others!

4. Wisdom

May I be wise and be able to see things as they truly are!

May I see the light of Truth and lead others from darkness to light!

May I be enlightened and be able to enlighten others!

May I be able to give the benefit of my knowledge to others!

5. Energy

May I be energetic, vigorous and persevering!

May I strive diligently until I achieve my goal!

May I be fearless in facing danger and courageously surmount all obstacles!

May I be able to serve others to the best of my ability!

6. Patience

May I ever be patient!

May I be able to bear and forebear the wrongs of others!

May I ever be tolerant and see the good and beautiful in all!

7. Truthfulness

May I ever be truthful and honest!

May I not hide the truth to be polite!

May I never swerve from the path of Truth!

8. Determination

May I be firm and resolute and have an iron will!

May I be soft as a flower and firm as a rock!

May I ever be high-principled!

9. Loving-kindness

May I ever be kind, friendly and compassionate!

May I be able to regard all as my brothers and sisters and be one with all!

10. Equanimity

May I ever be calm, serene, unruffled and peaceful!

May I gain a balanced mind!

May I have perfect equanimity!

May I serve to be perfect!

May I be perfect to serve!

(The Ten Buddhist Perfections - „A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life”)  

Have you made your choice? Then remember to also make a plan.

“… And how will I put it into practice?”

Invent small aims, on a daily basis, to wake you up and remind you of your resolution and your goals. Design concrete actions to achieve each day. Train and befriend your mind to help you carry your decisions though.

 “How to start?”

Define your intention and examine your motivation. When both are clean-clear and meant to benefit yourself and others, you might discover how exceptionally easy it is to keep the promise you made to yourself to be and become …

generous, helpful and well-disciplined,

pure and clean in all your dealings,

selfless, disinterested and fearless,

energetic, vigorous and persevering,

wise, high-principled and tolerant,

truthful and honest, firm and resolute,

kind, friendly and compassionate,

calm, serene and peaceful.

May you be happy!

]]> http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/new-year-resolutions/feed 2 http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/the-gift-of-now http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/the-gift-of-now#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:10:48 +0000 Daniela Andreescu http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/?p=843

My first book,

to be launched at the Gaudeamus Book Fair,

in Bucharest

Saturday, November 26, 2011, 14.00 hrs,

Editura Herald.

A book of words and images about

attentive presence, mindful awareness,

mind-stretching exercises, creativity in daily life,

visual meditations and reflection

for life enhancement. 

]]> http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/the-gift-of-now/feed 0 http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/a-happy-mind http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/a-happy-mind#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:26:45 +0000 Daniela Andreescu http://www.danielaandreescu.ro/blog/?p=829 When you are content with what you have, the mind settles down.

When you delight in giving, the mind becomes light.

When you realize that what you have is already good,

when you cultivate contentment and generosity,

when you learn how to let go of holding on and holding back,  

you can begin to transform the negative mind into a happy mind.

We struggle because of a tenacious habit of wanting life to be different from what it is. Clinging to a rock while being battered by waves causes damage. Letting go and learning to swim freely in the changing waters can result in well-being. Maybe also a feeling of joy and a sense of meaning.

We seldom exercise that right with ourselves. When we do it, we neglect to take the time to listen to our deeper response. We are accustomed to just jump to conclusions, propelled by thinking habits and pre-set emotional reactions.

Especially when it comes to our beliefs and convictions, we strongly uphold our views, directly or indirectly, consciously or unconsciously. Fortunately, the sudden changes that storm our lives help our minds not to die of stagnation. It’s usually the moment when we start asking ourselves questions, in a new atempt to understand the world and our existence.

Take nothing for granted, accept nothing on faith alone or based on someone’s praise and fame, honestly and positively question things about yourself, challenge your most basic beliefs and convictions. Inquire, listen, study, experiment and verify for yourself. Leave blind faith and afflictive doubt aside, and practice healthy skepticism accompanied by wisdom and compassion.  

It is an extraordinary practice that teaches openness, flexibility and awareness. It can enlarge your vision about yourself and the world, and open the way to new understandings on the path of true knowledge, science and being.

Critical thinking, intellectual caution, suspended judgement, inquisitive doubt, thought experiments, continual testing, are means by which we can confront our prejudices, myths and theories that at some point we started to believe as truths.

Thinking a new thought… Isn’t that an exquisite emotion?