Ilchi Lee's Blog, page 69

What If You Died in 3 Minutes?

Suppose you will die one month from now. What about tomorrow? Or three minutes from now? Is there something you would still do regardless? That something, then, is sincere and meaningful.

Faced with death, you realize that all other desires in your life are illusions for maintaining life. Life and death, however, are the substance.

Death, then, is an important tool whenever you make a decision in life. All external expectations, pride, shame, and fears of failure fall away before death, and only the things that are important as truth remain. That’s why death makes us truthful.

So, if you live your life thinking of death not as somewhere distant, but as close at hand, there is no doubt you will become a Hongik Human—a person with a pure and great mind that loves the world and tries to help everyone.

People generally live in fear that they might lose something. Death is the best way to escape from that fear. That’s why death can be a good guide, a good medicine in life.

Life’s greatest invention is death.

 

Ilchi Lee

 

Latest Film by Ilchi Lee Premieres in Sedona

By Kim Steffgen

Ilchi Lee’s latest film, CHANGE: The Brain and Divinity, was met with warm applause at a Red Carpet Event at the Sedona Creative Life Center on Thursday, October 9, 2014, where nearly 200 people gathered.

The film, which is a sequel to last year’s CHANGE: The LifeParticle Effect, explores the idea that the potential for human greatness lies within the human brain. Executive Producer Ilchi Lee calls that greatness divinity, and suggests that everyone has the potential to be great if they know how to use that aspect of their brain.

The event, hosted by the and local media company Change Your Energy, began with a buffet in the center’s courtyard and a book signing by author Rebecca Tinkle. Tinkle’s novel, The Secret of Mago Castle, is a spiritual adventure set in Sedona, AZ. Inspired by Ilchi Lee’s Brain Education method, the book suggests what the destiny of the human race would be if it fulfilled its highest potential.

Audience members were comprised of Sedona Meditation Center students, fans of Ilchi Lee’s works including his bestselling book The Call of Sedona and his first film CHANGE: The LifeParticle Effect, out of town visitors and members of the Sedona community. The emcee for the evening was local celebrity, actress, and singer, Shondra Jepperson.

One attendee named Lonnie, who years ago sustained a brain injury that left him with intermittent memory loss, said he had just seen the flyer for the film that afternoon and was intrigued.

The film’s main premise is what Ilchi Lee coined the Brain Operating System or BOS, which he compared to a computer operating system. With animations and dramatic reenactments, the film described five principles on which the BOS runs, which by practicing them, can be the key to unlocking the true potential of humankind.

These concepts were reinforced by real-world examples of people applying the principles of BOS, both in the United States and in Lee’s native South Korea. Spiritual and brain education thought leaders weighed in on what BOS could mean for our lives and our future.

After the film, Ilchi Lee gave a talk about his personal journey from Korea to Sedona via Los Angeles and the early struggles with school studies that inspired him to seek a better way to educate the whole person—body, mind and soul.

Rebecca Tinkle concluded the evening with a reading of a passage from her novel, reinforcing the film’s message of hope for humanity’s ability to awaken to their divine consciousness in the present era.

Shine with the Sun

Bathed in the faint light of the dawn.

The warmth of the sun penetrates your body

down to your soul,

igniting a flame of passion

and the dance of vibrant health.

With just your awareness

and your imagination,

solar energy fills every cell.

Healing light radiates,

turning your body

into a solar body

that transmits the purifying fire

of divine love to the world.

 

Ilchi Lee

 

The Truth of Sage

Are you familiar with an herb called sage? It has been used as a homeopathic remedy for health and healing for thousands of years. What you may not know, however, is that through sage, you can access a greater truth.

Sage is an herb that can clear your mind and warm your body by warming your energy—two prerequisites for cutting through your everyday mental chatter. We normally focus on our likes and dislikes, desires and goals, and all of the information that comes to us through our senses or generated in our own mind. This sea of information our mind is constantly floating in is filled with angels and demons. When we experience positive information and events, then we are being helped by angels, but when we’re immersed in negative information and events, we are in the hands of demons.

We give a lot of weight to our angels and demons. We supplicate ourselves to angels to get things we want, and we curse demons when we get things we don’t want. However, though we may get caught up in our angels and demons, they are not the real truth. They are no more important than the shows we watch on television or the imaginary visions in our mind. They are just ephemeral phenomena. If you pay too much attention to phenomena, without knowing Truth with a capital “T,” then you end up being a slave to those phenomena—to both angels and demons.

But you can choose not to be a slave. There is something greater than angels or demons: there is divine spirit. It is present in all life. In humans, it is connected to the brain stem. What I call divine spirit is the creative force of the universe. It doesn’t have likes or dislikes, desires or goals. It is simply Truth with the infinite potential to be expressed.

As in all life, that Truth exists in sage. Observe sage—look at it, smell it, feel it, taste it, chew it, swallow it, and notice how you think, feel, and react as you do it. Through mindful interaction with sage, you can uncover the real nature of sage—the divine spirit. In the process of observing sage, then, you can see the true nature of your own being.You will find Truth.

If simply observing sage is not enough, then take it one step further. Hold fresh sage in your mouth as you do Solar Body energy exercises such as Plate Balancing Exercise, Toe Tapping, and Brain Wave Vibration. These exercises will amplify the effects of sage and vice versa. With your energy flowing and your mind and emotions at zero point, you’ll gain the perspective of an objective observer who looks carefully at themselves and all life and sees the Truth.

(White sage photo courtesy of http://www.fbts.com/.)

Ilchi Lee Visits Bronx School That Has Embraced Brain Education

By Michela Mangiaracina

On Wednesday, September, 24, 2014, Ilchi Lee visited PS 001, a public school in Bronx, New York that has made his Brain Education method an intricate part of the school. Since Brain Education’s introduction to the school in 2008, it has been incorporated into classwork as well as many other areas. Brain Education-related signs and murals are present all around the school, and the school also has one whole day a year where the entire school only does Brain Education training. Even the school logo and mission statement explicitly mention the Brain Education goals of health, happiness, and peace.

Brain Education affirmations around PS 001.

The principal and many of the teachers at the school have taken the Brain Education Leadership course offered by Power Brain Education, in which they learned how to teach Brain Education to children and to incorporate it flexibly and effectively into a classroom. Power Brain Education, headed by Dave Beal, who also attended the school visit, is the company that teaches Brain Education for children in the United States through its school and afterschool programs and training centers.

According to Mr. Beal, Principal Jorge Perdomo credits Brain Education with “saving” PS 001. Since Brain Education was implemented there, the school’s rating has gone from a level “D” (unacceptable) to a level “A” (excellent). His once raucous school now has almost zero incidents of negative student behavior and all of the teachers and students truly love the school. They were even featured in the local news as an example of a school with a strong school spirit as they were able to ward off an attempt by the Department of Education to divide their building into two schools.

During his visit, which was his second to the school, Ilchi Lee spent time with Principal Perdomo, had a tour of the school, gave a lecture to 30 out of the 40 teachers, and spoke with a class of fourth graders.

Ilchi Lee (right) meets with PS 001 principal Jorge Perdomo (left).

In their time together, Principal Perdomo, a former music teacher, emphasized the importance of the arts, especially the value of music, dance (movement), and visual arts, and Ilchi Lee agreed that creative expression builds confidence and character and enhances the body’s natural healing ability. Ilchi Lee also shared that it’s his belief that creating humanitarian prodigies who have good character and strong integrity is the fundamental role of education.

After watching a video about PS 001, Ilchi Lee showed Mr. Perdomo a video about one of the students at his new Benjamin School for Character Education in Korea, an alternative school based on Ilchi Lee’s educational philosophy. The principal was very impressed by what he saw, saying, “It is amazing that you have created this online forum to deliver this spirit to the world.”

Ilchi Lee and Principal Perdomo share what novel things they are doing in education.

Ilchi Lee explained more of his educational philosophy to the teachers who gathered after telling them how he came about designing Brain Education and making it a curriculum in Korea, including founding an undergraduate and graduate university focusing on it. Lee said that the way most schools are set up right now, where students memorize a lot of facts and then take tests on them whether they are ready or not, causes stress and worry, which diminish brain power and make students who don’t have the particular talent of memorizing and taking tests feel not valuable. Lee said schools and teachers should remember that there are many types of talents and abilities, all of which need to be fostered by a fluid and respectful relationship between teachers and students. Rather than continually feeding students information, Ilchi Lee said students need to be made ready to receive it, which means they need to learn how to manage their emotions, recognize that they are valuable, and become passionate and motivated.

Ilchi Lee speaks about Brain Education to PS 001 teachers.

To do that, Brain Education focuses on enhancing three things:

1. Maximizing our natural healing power

2. Recovering our character and integrity

3. Developing our infinite potential and ability

All of these things occur when students become more aware of themselves—their bodies, their emotions, and their behavior—and gain tools to manage them, or, as Ilchi Lee said, to manage their brain well.

Accomplishing these three things does not need to be complicated, Ilchi Lee explained. They could even be achieved with one exercise, such as the Plate Balancing qigong exercise he demonstrated for the teachers, which is a simple whole-body exercise that relaxes body and mind, improves circulation, and increases energy.

He also gave them and the students sage, an herb whose scent would help them be calm and enhance their natural healing ability. And he donated 100 copies of his recent book, Bird of the Soul, to the school and encouraged teachers to take one home to their families.

Ilchi Lee gives fourth grade students a piece of sage.

The fourth grade students who met with Ilchi Lee had fun watching him dance, give a martial arts staff demonstration and play flutes for them. They also learned Plate Balancing Exercise and how humming can improve your natural healing ability.

The children had drawn handmade cards for Ilchi Lee, which they had hung on the walls.

Mr. Lee told them, rather than primarily focusing on grades or on receiving recognition from others, they should focus on the health and happiness inside. He said if they want to be healthy, happy, and peaceful for the rest of their lives, they can do three things:

1) Sing whenever they want to

2) Dance whenever they want to

3) Draw whenever they want to

When you’re happy, healthy, and peaceful, you can demonstrate your creative power and you experience love. This brings up your temperature, not only physically but energetically and spiritually as well. On the other hand, you become colder when you feel lonely, afraid, or angry, such as when you get bad grades. More than academics or grades, students first have to maintain the “temperature,” literally and figuratively, of health, happiness, and peace. Then, Ilchi Lee said, they’ll do really well. When you value health, happiness, and peace above all other things, that’s the measure of love and respect for all human beings. Without that, there cannot be successful education.

Leaving PS 001 with this message, Ilchi Lee encouraged the school. He told them they can be the hope for education in the United States.

Dave Beal, Ilchi Lee, and Jorge Perdomo (back row, left to right) give a thumbs up with fourth graders from PS 001.

Dance, Sing, and Draw

Your heart beats in a rhythm.

It’s a phenomenon of life,

and the foundation of music.

It is yullyeo,

the rhythm of the universe.

From yullyeo comes

music, dancing, and drawing.

Whenever you want

to feel happier,

whenever you want

to regain your peace,

whenever you want

to enhance your body’s

natural healing power,

express yullyeo.

Dance, sing, or draw

however you like.

If you draw an infinity symbol

with your hand,

it becomes a dance.

Through your rhythmic,

flowing movement,

you raise the temperature

of your body, energy, and spirit,

creating passion and the motivation

to live, love, and contribute,

and the power

to heal yourself

and the world.

 

Ilchi Lee

 

Change Film Sequel to Be Released in October

By Kim Steffgen

Our brain is something most of us take for granted, yet its everyday feats are more amazing than the calculations of the fastest supercomputer. But what drives the brain? How can it work to its fullest potential?

Ilchi Lee and the directors of CHANGE: The Brain and Divinity have set out to answer these questions with the making of his new film, the sequel to the documentary CHANGE: The LifeParticle Effect.

The film explores these inquiries about the brain, the thought process, and the quest for divinity with animation, dramatic reenactments, and interviews with spiritual and brain education thought leaders.

A main premise of the movie is the brain’s “operating system.” The most vital software on a computer, the operating system coordinates everything and runs systematic functions. Our brain also has an “OS.” But the brain’s operating system didn’t come with a manual. The concept of a Brain Operating System, or BOS, was the inspiration for much of Ilchi Lee’s work and teachings. CHANGE: The Brain and Divinity explores the concept of the human brain and BOS principles as the key to unlocking the true potential of humankind.

But the film is more than an inquiry about the brain’s mechanisms. This thought-provoking sequel highlights the brain as the means to fulfilling human potential, both on a personal and global scale. It gives a fresh look at how the brain works—not its cells and circuits, but the intangible laws that let anyone master all of its functions; to discover the vast potential for growth and change that lies within all of us.

That potential, the film demonstrates, stems from our divine nature. Executive producer Ilchi Lee says of the documentary: “CHANGE: The Brain and Divinity is being produced so that people can realize their value, because there are many people who don’t know what it is. It’s ultimately the divinity and the soul. . . . I made CHANGE: The Brain and Divinity so that it could serve as a catalyst for people to become enlightened to the fact that they absolutely do have divinity within them, in their brain.”

With insights from Barbara Marx Hubbard, Neale Donald Walsch, and others, as well as real-world examples, CHANGE gives us a glimpse into what the world would be like if all people could discover their divine nature in their brain, and, in the process, live out their best human character.

The film will premiere at a red carpet event at the Sedona Creative Life Center in Sedona, Arizona on October 9, 2014.

New Bird of the Soul Animated Storybook

By Michela Mangiaracina

A twenty-minute animation based on Ilchi Lee’s book, Bird of the Soul, and its whimsical illustrations by Jisu Han, will be released on YouTube on October 3, 2014. Originally produced in Ilchi Lee’s native South Korea, the English dubbed version of the animation features two original songs by composer Chris Yanson. The dubbing was directed by Paul Yanson.

Like the book, which includes a meditation CD and journal, the animation of Bird of the Soul reminds viewers of the importance of staying connected to their deepest inner voice, their soul, which is always offering encouragement and advice. That voice is represented by a sweet bird played by voice actress Kira Buckland. The bird also represents the sense of freedom found when we keep our ears open to our soul. That freedom comes from a deep trust in ourselves and the courage to imagine what we really want.

The main protagonist in the story, Jay, who loses touch with his soul as he grows up and focuses outside of himself more and more, is played by voice actor . The action of the story reaches a climax when Jay has achieved what would commonly be called a “good life,” but isn’t really happy.

Here’s a sneak preview of the animation and the spirit of the book. It features one of the new songs, sung by Kira Buckland, and is sure to put a warm smile on your face.

Fighting the Battle of Habits

What sort of battles are the fights of this world? They are not fights between good and evil. They are battles of ideas and habitual energy.

There are two conflicting tendencies in us. One is a struggle to protect our ideas and habitual energy and the other is a strong desire to grow and develop. These two fight continuously.

The battle is won by the power of choice. We can choose between our soul, our natural essence, or the voice of our ideas and habitual energy. Which will you choose?

If you want to choose your soul over your habits, you need to purify your negative thoughts and memories, and the selfish desires of your ego. However, you can’t stop at the thoughts, memories, and desires you’re aware of. You have to go deep into your subconscious, even to the karma lying at the very bottom of your consciousness. That’s where you’ll find the root of your habitual energy.

To purify down deep into your subconscious, feel your body and the energy flowing in and around it. Once you are doing this deeply enough, you start to move and vibration begins. As you move, if there are places in your body that feel uncomfortable, then focus on them and resolve the problems there by releasing the stagnant energy you’re holding in that area. If it’s difficult to concentrate on your body or feel its energy, start moving and vibrating your body first; it will be easier to concentrate and will get your energy moving.

When the energy is fully flowing in your body and your consciousness is fully immersed in energy, when you achieve complete unity with energy, that’s when purification of consciousness takes place. Only once your old ideas and habits become uprooted this way will you become clearer, and your soul will have freedom and joy.

 

Ilchi Lee

 

3 Keys to Self-Confidence

In the game of life, you can’t lose. It’s just a little hard sometimes. Trying to grow and achieve something in life is like giving birth. It hurts, but you can’t stop it and you can’t avoid it. You have to push through until you make it. And when you reach the end, you’ve created something amazing.

To make it to the finish line, you have to train yourself ceaselessly and keep your self-confidence going. If you lose confidence in yourself, you lose everything. Follow these three steps to find and hold on to self-confidence and manage yourself:

1. Manage your spirit.

Is your spirit alive?

2. Manage your time.

Are you using your time well?

3. Manage your body.

Is your body healthy and powerful?

Taking these three steps will make achieving your goals become a natural process. By managing your spirit, time, and body, the game becomes fun.

 

Ilchi Lee