Ilchi Lee's Blog, page 14

Grasping for Specialness: Attachment to Recognition

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It’s natural to want to be recognized but how you compare to others does not reflect your true value.

Today’s world is a topsy-turvy and sometimes dangerous place. I suppose our collective question is: What should we do?

This is an especially complex question for those who follow the philosophies of Tao, since this is a path that emphasizes non-attachment and acceptance. Last month, I made a blog post that discussed the pitfalls of attachment and the three kinds of attachment that give people trouble. I would like to go deeper into each of those kinds of attachment, explaining how to identify and deal with them. Before we begin, though, I would like to clarify precisely what I mean by “non-attachment.”

Non-attachment Does Not Mean Not Caring

One misconception about the idea of non-attachment is that it means not caring what happens. This is not true at all. In fact, in a truly non-attached state, your heart is more open and receptive to the needs of others than ever. Attachment, in the spiritual sense, is about the ego and the ways that it wants to protect, defend, and cultivate an individual’s desires, or in some cases the collective egoic desires of groups of people. Attachments are the things that egos believe must happen in the world based on beliefs and preconceptions that people hold. When these egoic desires are not met, negativity follows in some form, ranging from annoyance and petty quarrels in the mildest form to violence and wars in the most extreme.

In a state of non-attachment, an individual can hold any opinion and preference they want, but it does not interfere with their own happiness or that of others. People make the world a miserable place when they become so deeply attached to their own beliefs that they cannot compromise or find common ground. This is at the root of the political polarization and ideologically motivated violence we see in the world. Being non-attached allows one to consider all points of view and to remain peaceful inside and out when the choices of others do not match our desires.

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You Can Be a Non-attached Activist

Being non-attached does not mean you have to sit home meditating while the world becomes more unlivable. In fact, we can be fully engaged activists for a cause dear to our hearts while remaining non-attached. Of course, even activists could become attached to their own objectives. That would be self-destructive, though, since to succeed, we need to be able to listen to other activists as well as to people who want to deny that there is a problem.

If we are truly unattached, we can even accept that people might make all the wrong decisions. They might choose to cling to destructive habits, or they might choose violence over peace. As much as we might not like those choices, if we maintain non-attachment, we will still be able to love them and feel our oneness with them, which is always the key to creating peace, no matter how bad things get.

Attachment to Recognition

Of the three forms of attachment, the attachment to recognition may be the one we experience the most from the youngest age. From the time we first became aware of ourselves as separate individuals, when we were still just toddlers, we hoped that other people would notice us and give us attention. “Hey, look at me!” we cried to our parents and family members as we went through the process of interacting with and learning about the world.

As we grew older, our socialization process only intensified this tendency. As we neared school age, we realized that a lot of things in our world are labeled “bad and good,” “better than and worse than,” “worthy and unworthy.” We discovered that people make these comparisons about coffee brands, clothing labels, and car models, and we found out that people believe that’s true about humans, too. We quickly buy into the idea that some individuals—like movie stars, millionaires, and sports champions—get lots of positive attention, while others are ignored, outcast, or trapped in lives of poverty.

The Drive for Specialness

When we observe this, our natural desire is to stand out among our peers. While our cultures encourage this, no one must teach us to do this; it is built into our “Brain Operating System,” the rules and structures by which our brains work, because we are human. We start by trying to gain praise from our parents and teachers with skills we learn and grades we earn. Then we move on to trying to impress our peers with the toys we own or the clothes we wear.

The biggest problem with this drive for attention is that it can never really be satisfied. Most of us will not experience being the valedictorian or the sports star, and our achievements, even if excellent, will always seem “less than” to some extent. Even if we do achieve those things, the experience of it will be fleeting as the next star rises to the top and we are forgotten.

Confidence vs. Arrogance

This drive to specialness has drastic effect on our self-esteem. Those who perceive themselves as failures—people who have no specialness—will automatically have low self-esteem and will become blind to their own potential. Everyone else will be caught in constant competition with others to rise to the top. Instead of loving and supporting others, our hearts close, and we look for reasons why we rank above them and they rank below.

This situation leads to a culture wherein people are likely to be narcissistic, displaying a kind of arrogance meant to project the message “I am better than you.” Even many “nice” and “polite” people engage in this to some degree, reacting emotionally if their claim to specialness—perhaps their physical beauty, intelligence, or social status—is called into question. Underneath it all, however, so many people are insecure and suffer great doubts about their own value. They have arrogance and pride, but they have no true confidence.

Beyond Comparison

The key to true confidence is to grow beyond comparisons, the obsession with “better” and “worse.” Of course, our brains always can and will make such comparisons, but we must recognize that there is no absolute truth in those comparisons. They are just information in the brain. Thinking, “I am better than her” or “he is less than me” is just a fleeting opinion formed in the mind. No matter how our culture may support the idea that some people are worth more and some are worth less, there is no truth in it.

Those thoughts are fine for finding the best person for a job or for finding the winner of the spelling bee, but they have no bearing on the actual value of an individual. The value of any individual can only lie in the soul since that is the only lasting, genuine part of who we are. Everything else—the trophies, the fame, the degrees earned—will eventually fade away.

Upgrading the Brain Operating System

As I mentioned earlier, this attachment to recognition is completely natural to the human brain; it is hardwired almost as an instinct. But, it is causing great misery on earth. Recognizing our true self, the soul, of every human being is the key to growing up and growing beyond this natural attachment. In other words, it is the key to upgrading our Brain Operating System. If we can do this, we can finally become secure in the unique role we have come to play here on this planet, and we can freely support and nurture the highest potential of others, as well.

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Poem: Ode to Mother Earth

In honor of Earth Day, I would like to share a poem with you that I originally published in my book, Mago’s Dream: Meeting with the Soul of the Earth.

Mother Earth, Mago
I have realized today
That I am an Earth-Human
Precious part of life’s grandeur
Existing on Earth
Belonging to Earth
Nurtured by Earth
Fed by the Earth
Sleeping on Earth
Feeling . . . the Earth
In my bones and blood
As I breathe with Earth

Mother Earth, Mago
I have realized today
I shall return to the Earth someday
For my body is yours
My soul is yours
My everything . . . is yours
Nothing that is mine is truly mine
But borrowed
During my time on Earth
My loved ones
Are also Earth-Humans

All feared ones
Of every race, religion, and nation
Are also Earth-Humans
Family that shares the same bed
Eats from the same table
Demanding respect
Forged from family ties
Ties that bind us . . . to all life on Earth
For peace on Earth
For peace within myself
For peace I shall live

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Practice Ilchi Lee’s Earth Qigong for Earth Day for a Deeper Relationship with the Earth

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Discover the power of Earth Qigong to deepen our connection with the planet, amplify healing intentions, and cultivate a sense of coexistence with our environment.

As Earth Day approaches this month, you may find yourself more mindful of the state of our planet. Perhaps you’re planning to celebrate the day or seeking ways to live a more sustainable and eco-conscious lifestyle.

In addition to taking actions to protect the environment, Earth Day presents an opportunity to deepen our personal connection with the earth. We can merge our minds and energy with the consciousness and energy of the earth, reminding ourselves of the profound interdependence between humans and nature, and the importance of nurturing and respecting our planet.

Earth Qigong, a powerful meditation practice that involves not only physical movements but also energy work, can facilitate this connection. By engaging our minds and bodies fully, Earth Qigong helps integrate our faculties together and directs our attention to the earth. It is a meditation practice that focuses on the earth, allowing us to connect with the planet on a deeper level.

One of the benefits of Earth Qigong is that it can amplify our intentions for healing, not just for ourselves, but also for the planet. Through generating positive energy and sending healing intentions to the earth, visualizing it as a vibrant, healthy, and thriving entity, we can contribute to the collective healing of the earth and the collective consciousness.

The following video shows a version of Earth Qigong I developed. It’s taught by Body & Brain Yoga and Tai Chi and Brain Education master trainer Chungsuk. Follow it whenever you would like a deeper connection to your inner nature and the earth.

I hope you can use this Earth Day as an opportunity to deepen your personal connection with the earth through practices like Earth Qigong. By integrating our minds, bodies, and energy with the consciousness and energy of the earth, we can cultivate a greater awareness of our interdependence with the environment, discover a deeper sense of coexistence, and contribute to the healing and well-being of our planet.

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Choose a Path to Success with 100% Positivity

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Never give up on positivity and what you choose will happen.

I’m excited about the year 2023. It’s going to be a year of jackpots, full of good news and big leaps forward for all my projects. Now, you might wonder how I know this, but it’s not because I have a crystal ball or have heard anything on the news. I believe it because I know that I’m the master of my own brain, and I can design and organize my environment as I choose. By choosing to see 2023 as a year of jackpots, I’m setting my brain in motion to look for positive outcomes and create the energy to bring them about. This is the power of the brain, and it’s available to all of us.

To make the most of this power, we need to focus on 100 percent positivity. When we choose positivity, we change our consciousness, and our world becomes a more positive place. This doesn’t mean we’re lying to ourselves or ignoring our faults and failures. Instead, it means we’re choosing to focus on what’s possible and taking steps to move forward.

One way to embed positivity in our brains is through our bodies. The brain and the body are interconnected, and by feeling the sensations of our bodies, we can become more aware of our brains. This is the first step of my Brain Education training method for self-mastery. By exercising mindfully and feeling our bodies and breath, we become more attuned to our sensations and energy. We discover that we can transform our bodies and our thoughts, and that there are many possibilities available to us.

Through feeling our bodies, we discover that the things we thought were set and inevitable are actually transformable. We discover the many possibilities open to us and that if we choose something, it will happen.
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Walking is a simple and effective way to engage our bodies and brains. By walking with intention and focusing on our bodies and the positive energy we want to bring into our lives, we can fill ourselves with 100 percent positivity. I recommend taking at least 5,000 steps a day and spending at least an hour communicating positivity to yourself—your brain, your arms and legs, and every part of being.

As you walk, new energy and fresh oxygen will flow through your body, releasing endorphins and energizing you. You can split it up if you’re busy, but make sure to get your steps in and meet yourself where you are. Try it for 21 days and build up to 100 days to make it a habit. Once you try walking, you can add strengthening exercises such as pull-ups, sit-ups, or push-ups.

Finally, having a clear goal is essential to making the most of our brain’s power. A clear goal has a time period and a definite number, such as being able to do fifty sit-ups in ten days. Making such a concrete goal lets your brain focus on it better. You can clearly evaluate the results and find motivation to accomplish it. Challenge yourself with a goal that you think will be difficult. With such a goal and 100 percent positivity, you can develop trust in the power of your brain.

As you walk your 5,000 steps a day, take some time to think about your goals and what you want to achieve. Focus on the positive outcomes you want to create and take steps to move towards them. With intention and positivity, we can all create the future we want for ourselves.

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Letting Go: The Tao of Non-Attachment

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Enlightenment from different perspectives is a process of becoming lighter. We can lighten ourselves by freeing ourselves from attachment.

Spiritual writers and teachers often use the word enlightenment. But what does this word really mean? The word enlightenment seems to mean different things to different people. In eighteenth century Europe, it meant a philosophy based on reason, not on tradition or superstition. In Eastern spiritual paths, it usually means transcending the physical plane to find a state of bliss beyond the sufferings of this world. In casual conversation, people will even speak of others with open-minded, progressive opinions as “enlightened.”

Whichever way you prefer to define the word, all of these cases have something in common, which can be found in the word itself. In the middle of the word enlightenment, you will find the word lighten, meaning “to relieve a burden in whole or in part.” Or, it can mean “to become lighter or less dark.” Both of these definitions describe the essence and purpose of the spiritual path: to lighten the burden of life in this world and to lighten the darker aspects of human character.

But how then do we lighten ourselves? How do we lighten our burdens and lighten our characters? The key is to examine our attachments, those things that we cling to in our minds so strongly that we cause pain to ourselves and others. This examination, this self-watching, can begin with understanding the three kinds of attachment: attachment to recognition, attachment to security, and attachment to control.

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Recognition: The Desire to Be Special

The need to be special, to stand out, and to gain status above and beyond others causes much suffering in the world. To a large extent, this desire is ingrained in us from a very young age as we get extra positive attention for getting the best grades, for winning at sports, or for being the best looking or the most charismatic. When people are at the opposite end of the spectrum—unpopular or lacking in money and status—they are often unloved and undervalued. Naturally, we do not want this for ourselves, and so we seek to be seen as better than others around us, to place ourselves as high on the social hierarchy as possible.

The problem here is not that we are seeking to be the best. In and of itself, it is a great thing to try to be the best you can be at anything you do. The problem is when we lose sight of our true value—the value of our souls. Your value does not come from your achievements in this world, and neither does anyone else’s. If you devalue yourself or anyone else based on lack of status or accomplishment, you have sown the seeds of unhappiness for yourself and others. If you are fortunate, you can feel the joy of winning an Olympic gold medal or gaining entrance into a top university, but if you attach your value to these things, you will find that your joy is shallow and fleeting.

It is normal and natural to want to be safe. However, ironically, the world has made itself a very dangerous place because of this impulse. People stockpile guns and countries develop nuclear weapons all in the name of “security.” The problem is that total security is an illusion that can never be achieved, and spending your life seeking security leads to a lifetime lived in a state of fear and worry. The economy will never be 100 percent stable for all time. Other countries and people can act aggressively against us, no matter how much we build up our armies. A disease can grow to epidemic proportions and take your life at any time, too. These are just facts of life, and living in a state of fear will not change them. We can do our best to prepare for any eventuality, but remaining in a state of resistance against them is futile and miserable.

This is true for individuals, too. Becoming your best self will probably require being courageous in some way, so if you always play it safe, you won’t grow very much during your life. You will have to “stick your neck out” to become your best self, and there is no way you can guarantee that your risks will pay off. Also, you will have to open your heart fully to love fully, and there is no guarantee that someone won’t hurt you emotionally in exchange for your love. But the other choice—living a closed-hearted, safe life—is essentially a life wasted, devoid of growth and connection to other people.

Control: The Drive for Power

Perhaps the darkest side of human nature is our lust for power over other people. Human history is marred by endless stories of countless people oppressing and controlling others. Countless wars have been started because of this attachment, too, as people seek political, cultural, and ideological control of other people.

Even if you are a peace activist and a champion of oppressed people around the world, this attachment may affect you more than you think. Our personal relationships, too, are affected by our need to control how other people act and think. Many marriages and friendships end over petty differences in perspective and opinion. And even the most altruistic people can get caught up in thinking that others are “foolish” or even “evil” if their political and religious perspectives differ from their own. This need to control the minds and actions of others makes lasting peace impossible, both personally and globally.

Love, Not Attachment

It is important to understand that developing a stance of non-attachment is not the same as being calloused or uncaring. In fact, losing your attachments makes you freer to open your heart up wider. It is like being able to see the world from a higher perspective, from a God’s-eye view, if you will. Instead of only loving those to whom you are most attached—yourself, family, your religion, your political group, and your country—your heart can grow to embrace the whole world.

So, make loving more and loving better the object of your quest for non-attachment. You do not have to be perfect in this non-attachment; rather, it is a journey that slowly moves you from a small-minded perspective to a wider, all-inclusive perspective. The point is to look and to see what you are really doing to yourself and to others when you keep your love small and limited to your own self-interests. If you can commit to this, step by step you will come closer to the mountain top that is the true experience of enlightenment.

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7 Tips for Visualizing Your Way to Success

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The MindScreen lets you access all the faculties of your brain to create your life consciously.

In a recent blog post, we did a meditation for abundance that included a visualization of what you want to create for yourself and the world around you. Today, I’d like to help you perform this kind of creative visualization better by giving you more insight into it.

I’ve made a special but simple name for our brain’s ability to imagine and to connect to things that are not present in front of us in the physical world—a MindScreen. By giving it a name, I hope to make it a bit more concrete and understandable.

A MindScreen is not a flat screen; using it is more like putting on virtual reality (VR) goggles and being able to see in all directions. Our MindScreens have three different levels. They go from using simple imagination to being able to feel the energy of what we imagine to using the screen for creative problem solving and brilliant intuition.

At the highest level, the MindScreen has the power to connect with the information of the cosmos—information that’s beyond our personal experience. It can also connect to the MindScreens of all the people in the world. Everyone has a MindScreen, and ultimately, they are all connected to each other at the deepest, purest, brightest level.

So what can we do to make the MindScreen work optimally?

1. Immerse Yourself

The “dial” that turns the MindScreen up through each level is our concentration. The more we focus on what we see, the more immersed we become in it and the more powerful it is. In fact, with a high degree of concentration, the screen just appears without our having to turn it on consciously.

Our hearts, not only our minds, fuel our concentration. Just like when we fall in love, the more passionately we feel about the object of our visualization, the closer we want to be to it and the more immersed in it we become. The heart’s passion and power fuels the MindScreen and gives us a reason to be fully immersed in the future we want to manifest.

In order to be truly passionate, though, we need to know our “whys.” Why do we want something? Why are we visualizing it? For what do we live? Knowing our whys connects the brain and the heart.

2. Keep the MindScreen Clean

A clear mind, like a mirror, can reflect all things. It can reflect the present and the past, and show the future as well. A state in which our MindScreen is clean is a state in which we’re awakened. It is a very pure state. For the MindScreen to operate at its best, our brains need to be in a this pure state in which distracting thoughts have quieted and energy circulates well.

Through meditative movement, especially Brain Wave Vibration, we can calm the mind down and slow down our brain waves. If we can slow our brain waves to a theta frequency (between four and eight cycles a second), our thoughts will not only be quiet and clear, we will also have access to the subconscious mind.

On the other hand, when our MindScreen isn’t clean, it’s hard to realize it’s even there at all. Once it is shrouded in thoughts, the screen no longer functions.

3. Turn Up the MindScreen’s Brightness

Negative thoughts, emotions, and attachments use up our brains’ energy so that our MindScreens don’t have enough power. To keep our MindScreens on, we need to release negativity by changing our energy with practices such as breathing, other forms of meditation, qigong, yoga, or even just smiling, dancing, or going outside for a walk. The lighter and brighter we feel, the better our MindScreens will work.

4. Be Careful What You Project

Sometimes our MindScreens still have enough power, and we project negative thoughts onto it. Maybe we are under a lot of stress, having a hard time, and going through difficulties. Unfortunately, those negative thoughts will then be reflected in reality. That’s why we always need to put information we want on our MindScreens, not information we don’t want. Once we have chosen that information, we can create a concrete story about how it will become the future. Then our brains will be better able to make that information eventually appear outside our minds.

The MindScreen is there to help us overcome negative information and circumstances. If we realize we are being negative, we can quickly change the scene on our screen. By changing our minds this way, we can alter our internal and external situations.

So, no matter how poor our environment may be, we should absolutely not allow negativity to enter our MindScreens. We may not be able to help such thoughts coming to mind. But we can discard them quickly. Or if we see negative things around us, we don’t need to put them on our MindScreens, just as we don’t put rotting food into our mouths. We need to be able to discern which information is good for us and which isn’t.

If we do put unhealthy information onto our screens, though, we can take an antidote. That antidote is forgiveness. Forgiveness is a kind of spiritual processing. It removes poisons from our minds and hearts.

5. Use the MindScreen Regularly and Consciously

There are many situations in which our MindScreen operates without our being aware of it. At those times, we may be creating situations we do not want. If we visualize with the MindScreen regularly, then we will become even more aware of it and can control it even when we are not sitting in meditation. When we continue to display something on our screens, our brains start moving in an effort to realize those images. If we draw a picture of our wishes really coming true rather than as a formality, our brains will discover how to make what we picture a reality.

6. Start the Day with the MindScreen

Each morning, take a good, long look at yourself using your MindScreen. Bringing up today’s schedule, create a diary in your brain and use it to manage your schedule. Show the images of the people you will meet today and punch in their names. You can have the people you’re meeting say what you want them to say. On your MindScreen, do all your work in advance; picture it being accomplished. You can use your screen for everything in your brain. Those who apply the MindScreen are people who work miracles.

7. Look at What You Visualize from Every Side

When putting something on the MindScreen, it’s not enough to see it from only one angle. It’s hard to create or understand something from just one dimension. Instead, look at it from all sides, even inside. See the big picture. In life, we are always confronting problems, and we solve those problems. But we come up with ridiculous answers when we fail to properly understand the problems. At school, it’s good because they tell us right away that we’re wrong if we don’t get the problem right. When we go out into society, though, they don’t tell us the answers. We take the answers we’ve come up with for problems we’ve gotten wrong, and, continuing to apply them, we end up creating more problems in our lives.

The MindScreen provides a powerful understanding of the creative powers of our brains. If we maintain our screens and use them regularly, whatever we want can become a concrete reality.

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Luck Is in Our Minds

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Whether we encounter good luck or misfortune in our lives, in the long run, we have an opportunity for growth.

Fundamentally, I don’t think there is any bad luck. So there’s no reason to blame anything on luck. We can just keep moving passionately toward our goals. It just takes humility and wisdom to grow, to learn through will, passion, and experience.

Luck comes and goes. We can’t stop the flow of luck. But there are ways to make it our own. It’s about trying our best. It is said that heaven helps those who help themselves. Help doesn’t only come from heaven; it also comes from other people seeing us do our best.

To create a lucky day today, close your eyes and imagine something good. The source of all things is the mind. If you keep imagining good things, then good energy will come from you. Negativity will disappear from your inner consciousness, and the color of your face will brighten.

Saying, “It’s so good,” keeps the landscape of the mind fertile so that any wish you strongly plant in it will eventually come true.

Troubles cannot be avoided, but the moment we fall into self-pity or beat ourselves up, the moment we give up, we have nowhere to turn. We need to be on our own side. We can ask ourselves, “What is the meaning of this pain that has been given to me? What is the purpose of my life, and how can this help me? What can I learn at this time?” Then our minds will open, and we will truly be lucky.

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Overcoming Brain Blocks to Greater Abundance

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Change your mind to change your energy to change your life.

Despite the current volatility of the economy, we still have a measure of self-determination when it comes to the abundance of resources we have in our lives. That power comes from focusing the mind on what we want while eliminating thinking patterns that contradict our desires. A principle from philosophy of Sundo from ancient Korea explains why this works. It states, “Where mind goes, energy follows.”

When we struggle to achieve our financial goals or fail to attract fulfilling relationships and career opportunities, this principle tells us a little about the root problem. It reveals that if we are lacking something in our lives, we need to change something in our mind and energy.

Understanding Universal Energy

So how does that work? We are made of the same universal energy that gave rise to everything else in the universe. No matter what, we are connected to it or else life would not be possible. Through this connection, we are able to use and move this energy according to our will. However, the content of our minds and habits can block us from accessing it the way we need to.
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That’s why, if we want to eliminate our blocks to abundance, we must first understand unequivocally that we are not separate from universal energy. We were born out of this energy, and access to this energy is our birthright. In this sense, we are no different than a billionaire, a president, or a movie star. So, we can allow our inner and outer lives to follow the flow of universal energy. Then we can learn how to direct this flow with our minds. It’s from this flow that abundance comes and creation happen.

Brain-Brightening Energy Meditation

To an extent, we can observe ourselves and change negative patterns of mind and body just through observation and habit creation. However, there may be many subconscious memories and deeply rooted assumptions that are more difficult to change. For example, we may have some hidden childhood memory that caused us to believe we are unworthy of abundance, or we may have been subconsciously affected by the negative beliefs of others, even if we didn’t accept those ideas on the surface. To begin to change these, I recommend practicing this energy visualization:

Relax and prepare your body as you normally would for any meditation practice. I recommend natural, deep breathing and the traditional half-lotus posture. If the half-lotus is not comfortable, a chair is acceptable, so long as you can keep your back straight. Avoid slouching or leaning back on a backrest.Relax your body completely and place your hands with your palms upward on your thighs or knees. Keep your back straight, creating a straight line from the top of your head to your tailbone. Breathe naturally and allow your body to relax.Now, imagine that with each breath, bright, golden light is entering your body at the top of your head. Visualize the light entering and cleansing your brain of any darkness. As you exhale, dark and limiting thoughts, traumatic memories, and negative beliefs are expelled. With each breath, your brain becomes brighter until it is shining brightly like the sun.Now, visualize the light and the warmth of its glow permeating your body, too, filling it with the fire of creativity and motivation. Notice how your body feels with this visualization.After a minute or so, bring your mind back to ordinary awareness, but maintain the feeling as much as possible throughout your day.Abundance Visualization

The above meditation prepares and purifies the mind so that it is ready to create the life we desire. At first, just practice that part, focusing on purification of the mind. If we practice sincerely, we should begin to feel much greater positivity and confidence. That is the feeling of opening ourselves up to the abundance of the universe. In the beginning, just focus on purifying the mind in this way, and then add on this abundance visualization:

Prepare your vision for your life carefully first. Ask yourself, “What do I truly want in my life?” Choose carefully whatever is the best first step. For example, you might want to imagine paying off a credit card, acing a job interview, or meeting a new friend.Now, complete the Brain-Brightening Energy Meditation as above, but add the image of yourself going through the process of completing this goal, whatever it is you have in mind.Visualize that the bright universal energy continues to permeate your body throughout your day, but now it also moves outward into your environment. See the energy moving and circulating in the world, as you both give and receive energy. You are one with the flow of the energy of life, and abundance comes to you naturally.After visualizing the completion of your goal, come back into your ordinary awareness, but retain your sense of relaxed confidence and your feeling of connection to energy.Enjoy Ilchi Lee’s blog posts?

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Your Mind Is a Creation Machine

Learning to be abundant is about learning to use the principle, “Where mind goes, energy follows,” well. No matter who we are, our minds can move energy in our favor; it is just a matter of realizing and using the power we already have.

Of course, if our minds go in a negative direction, energy will follow that, too. By ridding our minds, including the subconscious mind, of anything that amounts to “I can’t” or “I am unworthy,” we make way for abundance to flow toward the possibilities we imagine. The unseen world of universal energy is like a vast resource that is available to everyone in endless supply, so we might as well start using it to recreate or expand our lives right now.

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New Mexico Declared Feb 8, 2023 Earth Citizens Day

[New Mexico State Senator Nancy Rodriguez (second from right) with members of the Earth Citizen Movement]

In a declaration on February 8, 2023, the New Mexico State Senate proclaimed that day Earth Citizen Day after a successful vote for the “Earth Citizens Day” Memorial Act.

The Senate Memorial, proposed by Senator Nancy Rodriguez, was supported by many Democratic state senators, including the Democratic Party’s original secretary. After a heated discussion, the bill passed with a majority vote. Twenty-nine of the senators present voted for the legislation, one voted against, and five abstained.

[New Mexico State Senator Nancy Rodriguez]

The Memorial act recognized that:Everyone living on earth is an Earth CitizenBeing an Earth Citizen means promoting mindful living, natural health, and world sustainabilityThe Earth is facing many new challenges at onceChange cannot happen without a change in consciousnessA change in consciousness starts with accepting Earth Citizenship as an identity and common ground between peopleIlchi lee founded the Earth Citizen Movement to connection one hundred million people in the spirit of Earth CitizenshipThese Earth Citizens would form the foundation of a peaceful and sustainable future by leading “mindful, harmonious, and holistically sustainable lives”Enjoy Ilchi Lee’s blog posts?

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Because of this recognition, the state senate solved to demonstrate its commitment and leadership to sustainability and peace through the declaration of Earth Citizens Day. It hopes the declaration will remind everyone of the need to care for the planet and to embrace everyone with open hearts, regardless of their background or ideology.

The Senate delivered a copy of the declaration to Ilchi Lee, the founder and president of the Earth Citizens Organization (ECO). He expressed his gratitude for it, especially to Senator Rodriguez. He also sent his love, gratitude, and congratulations to all the members of the Earth Citizen Movement who had worked for a long time to bring it about.

[Members of the Earth Citizen Movement who supported the act.]

Ilchi Lee has long talked about and promoted the idea and necessity for adopting an Earth Citizen mindset. He believes this declaration of Earth Citizens Day means that the time has come for everyone to agree that the final path humanity must now choose is coexistence and that it has become a great starting point and ignition point.

The Earth Citizens Day Declaration

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Energy Body Basics: The Key to Good Energetic Hygiene

[Photo by YuriArcursPeopleimages via Envato Elements]

Taking good care of our energy body helps us take care of our other bodies as well.

These days, the idea of “good energy” and “good vibes” has become commonplace even in Western countries. This primarily Asian concept that’s so central to our overall well-being now has more support from scientific research and seems like common sense to many people.

Although the idea of energy has become more integrated into Western culture, the average person doesn’t know how it really works. More importantly, they don’t know how to use it for their own health and wellness.

The practices I’ve developed to take our health into our hands—Brain Education and Body & Brain Yoga and Tai Chi—are based on principles of energy. More specifically, they are based on the Korean tradition known as Sundo. This year, I’d like to introduce some of these principles in more detail. By sharing this information with you, I hope you can better recognize and use what’s going on in your body all the time.

Basic Energy Anatomy

When most people think of their bodies, they think only of their physical body, the body made of bone and skin and muscle. But really we have three bodies—the physical body, the energy body, and the spiritual body. These three bodies are linked so that what happens in one body becomes reflected in the other two bodies.

Within the energy body, energy flows continually and systematically. We have twelve main channels, or meridians, and two additional channels that run up and down our bodies. On our heads, trunks, arms, and legs, energy goes down the front of us and up the back. It also goes horizontally around our waist.

Energy moves through these channels for as long as we’re alive. Often, there may be places through which energy becomes sluggish or stuck. The parts of the physical body and spiritual body that are associated with those places are then also sluggish or stuck. The longer an energy blockage lasts and the bigger it grows, the more likely we’ll notice imbalances in our physical, mental, and emotional health. Noticing and clearing an energy blockage as soon as possible helps prevent disease from developing.

Energy doesn’t only remain in our energy body; it comes and goes through points all along the energy channels—365 of them. These points can also be blocked. Acupuncture and acupressure, as well as other energy practices, open these points to allow energy to flow the way it needs to for us to be healthy.

The three bodies are powered through energy centers that pump life energy through the body. These energy centers are called dahnjons in Korean Sundo practice or chakras in yogic practices.

[Learn a bit more about chakras here and try out this chakra visualization.]

[Image Credit: Best Life Media]

Ideally, these three should maintain a fairly equal balance relative to each other. You can visualize this as a triangle with the physical body forming the base, and the spiritual and energetic bodies forming the sides. The equilateral triangle is one of the strongest shapes known, which is why architects throughout history have relied on it to create stable structures. Your overall health is similar—you must maintain a good balance between the three bodies keep yourself strong and stable in mind, body, and spirit. If any of the three are either over or under developed, it is like a triangle with one long side and one short side—it can easily tip over and fall.

Your Foundation: The Lower Energy Center

The lower dahnjon supplies energy to the physical body, and it is located in our lower abdomens, about two inches below the belly button and two inches inside. This is equivalent to the second chakra, the sacral chakra, in the Hindu chakra system. We could think of it as a furnace that is churning out energy to our physical bodies so that we can get things done in the world. If our lower dahnjon is strong, we might even feel heat emanating from our core—the proverbial fire in the belly that keeps us motivated and energetic. If our lower dahnjon is weak, we will likely lack the vitality and energy to get things done.

The power of the lower dahnjon can be developed by just about any physical exercise, but anything that works the legs and abdomen, the core, is especially helpful. Keep your legs strong by walking or hiking every day, and choose workouts that build the abdomen. When you feel your lower dahnjon kick into full gear, you will feel heat building in your lower abdomen.

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The Heart of Your Being: The Middle Energy Center

The middle dahnjon is equivalent to the heart chakra in yogic practice, and it is the energy center related to our emotions and our state of mind. It is located in the middle of the chest in the center of the sternum, and it’s also known as the fourth chakra. A healthy, open middle dahnjon is associated with positive emotions and a loving heart. An unhealthy middle dahnjon, by contrast, is constricted by stress, negative attitudes, and poor relationships with others.

Energetically, the middle dahnjon connects us to all other beings on the planet through the energy of love. To develop the middle dahnjon fully, we must first realize, in the depth of our beings, that “all is one” and that there is ultimately no separation between us, other human beings, and all the living creatures on the planet.

Connecting to the universe in this way is not always easy in a world that presents many difficult challenges, but we can begin this journey by developing more positive emotions about ourselves, the world, and those around us. Focus on developing gratitude and a joyful heart; instead of complaining and approaching everything with a critical mind, open your heart and mind to everything you see in the world. Stress primarily comes from blockage in the middle dahnjon, so simple breathing and relaxation techniques will help a lot, too.

Your Spiritual Energy: The Upper Energy Center

Although it is not something we can perceive with our senses, the upper dahnjon connects us to the most substantial, eternal part of us, the part we could call our soul or spirit. Most of us are closed off from this energy to some degree, however. Awakening and opening this energy center is key to the state of being we call enlightenment.

This energy center is located in the brain—between our eyebrows and a couple of inches inside of our head. In yogic traditions it is the sixth chakra and is called the third eye due to its intuitive abilities. Information that we hold plays an important role in the health of the upper dahnjon. Much of the information we receive is limiting in some way, so ridding ourselves of unhelpful information can help us grow spiritually, unleashing our natural intuition and spiritual insight.

Most spiritual practice is designed to help you develop the upper dahnjon. Meditation is an especially helpful practice, helping us to gain control of the non-stop information that flows through our brains.

Making It a Habit

Understanding the nature of the energy system is really only the beginning. Learning to use energy the most effectively can take many years of dedicated study. The first step, though, is realizing they exist and that they have great influence on our quality of life. We can begin to pay attention to our energy right now.

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