Ilchi Lee's Blog, page 7

Poem: Who Am I?

I am who I am. I am me. I am Tao.

More than 40 years ago, I desperately searched for answers to the basic questions, “Who am I? Why do I live?” I was so desperate that I went up a mountain to fast and meditate for twenty-one days to receive an undeniable answer to the first question and then another twenty-one days to come to a conclusion about the second. I felt this experience, which exploded in my mind and felt like I was dying, was my enlightenment. At the end of it, I became completely myself and realized that, after all, there is nothing to be enlightened to.

Since then, I’ve worked hard to share the main message I received at that time: Cosmic Energy is my energy, and my energy is Cosmic Energy. Cosmic Mind is my mind, and my mind is Cosmic Mind. Though these were the words that burst into my mind, I also realized that this answer applies to all of us. I share it to fulfill the decision I made in answer to why I am here on earth—I will make a peaceful and harmonious world, a healing society.

I’ve been praised and vilified for the work I’ve done. Thankfully, I’ve been joined by many students who make it worthwhile. The ups and downs of this journey have led me to respond to the question of “Who am I?” at less fundamental levels. One expression of my thoughts on this was published in a book of my poetry called Songs of Enlightenment. I thought this expression of how people see my work and my brand might help you with your own doubts and struggles and remind you that your true self is complete as you are.

Who Am I? (1)

I have known
Hypocrisy and falsehood
Sin and depravity
Beauty and honesty
Freedom and deliverance.

I don’t wrap myself
In good or evil
Nor disguise myself with authority,
Nobility or even love;
I am who I am.

Loving and angry
I sometimes fast;
I don’t care about the clothes I wear
Sneakers and shoes
Korean clothes or western suits
Whatever.

I seek what I need
But do not hunger for riches;
I never have lied or swindled for money;
I do my work
And accept my reward
Head held high.

Recognition comes as
A by-product of my work;
I don’t demand authority;
Like clothing and shoes
Whatever.

Sometimes people bow to me thrice
At times I accept
Other times I refuse
Usually a handshake is enough.

Gentlemen of Old
For prestige and honor
Wore furs in summer
Walked when it rained;
Masters of lore
For spiritual purity
Abandoned families and lived harshly
Proud to suffer in vain.

Scorn upon any attempt to pigeonhole
What a master should be
Upon criticism of those who seek a path
Where they fear to tread.

Made by those who choose a master
Acknowledging and anointing another
Self-congratulating in hypocrisy
Fulfilled by vicarious mastership.

Cosmos forever changes
Saints and sages
Watch the master see
The eternal law of life.

What is natural is Tao
Tao knows no falsehood
Does not recognize good or evil
Tao is ever changing and harmonious
Aware of its own eternity.

I cannot be defined
I accept my mission
With sincerity
I declare myself as myself.

Not one bit better
Not one iota worse
Just me as I am
No wrapping paper
By nature, neither pope nor president.

I have walked a difficult road
At times lost and wandering
To find myself
True self that I will keep.

Upon a bright star I have seen my soul;
I will brighten the universe
For I know
That I am light and truth
Cosmic energy and cosmic mind.

To be an enlightened master
Cannot be the privilege
Of a few exceptional souls
Extraordinary in ordinariness;
A Master is honest and filled with common sense.

An ordinary person
Ordinary and complete
Bearing witness to natural perfection
Reveling in ordinary completion.

Related PostsPoem: One LovePoem: I Know YouTen Tips for Living an Authentic LifeIlchi Lee’s Recipe for Unconditional LoveHeartfelt Gathering of 5000 Volunteer InstructorsFeatured Video

The Key to Unlocking Your Brain’s Creative Power

[Photo by leungchopan via Envato Elements]

Recovering the zero point, a state of pure, neutral consciousness, is essential for maximizing the brain’s creative power and effectively manifesting desired outcomes.

Lately, I’ve been speaking a lot about the importance of imagination for creating miracles in our lives. Visualizing and feeling an outcome we want to create is an important part of the manifestation process. This process is part of the Law of Attraction, but there’s an important step that’s often not mentioned. Without this step, such a universal law may not work. I call this step “recovering the zero point.”

The zero point is a state of consciousness of nothingness, in which thought and emotion have quieted. This neutral state of consciousness doesn’t lean in any direction. Once we have entered a pure, neutral state, genuine change and creation become possible through maximized concentration and brainpower and unbiased and unobstructed consciousness. It’s like having to pass through neutral when changing gears in a car.

When we completely empty our minds, our consciousness accesses the zero point, and we become able to activate this essential creative power without limit.
Share on X

If we don’t recover our zero point, however, imagining our goals isn’t effective because, despite our best efforts, thoughts and emotions from long-established preconceptions and habits keep dragging us in other directions. They clutter our concentration and clog our minds, especially our unconscious minds. Recovering our zero point means pressing the reset button of our consciousness. We wipe away the thoughts and emotions in our mind to reveal a blank slate on which we can draw anything.

The blank slate of zero point consciousness is made up of the raw potential that lies at the root of all life. It’s the creative power of our brains that attracts the information and circumstances we focus on. Just as the beating of our hearts is not produced by thoughts or emotions, neither are miraculous occurrences and great stories. They manifest through the essence of life. When we completely empty our minds, our consciousness accesses the zero point, and we become able to activate this essential creative power without limit.

Enjoy Ilchi Lee’s blog posts?

Keep up-to-date with weekly wisdom delivered directly to your email inbox.

Sign Up Now

How to Recover the Zero Point

A simple way to quiet the humming of thoughts and emotions is focusing on the vital activity inside the body. If we focus on how the body feels, after a while, we can sense its life energy. Riding on the waves and rhythms of that energy will naturally release and quiet our thoughts and emotions, leading us to the zero point and its creative potential.

Practice this Training Sequence for Reaching Zero Point Consciousness

Activate Energy with Brain Wave Vibration

[Photo by Franklin Hughes]Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Tap two inches below the navel with relaxed fists, alternating the right and left hands. As you tap, start to move your head left to right rhythmically, keeping your head, neck, shoulders, arms, and abdomen relaxed. Release your breath out your mouth. After five minutes, slowly stop and let your arms hang at your sides. Feel your feet firmly planted on the ground as you take three breaths. Then, push up from the ground, bouncing your knees and letting the rest of your body follow the movement in a relaxed way. Close your eyes, and let your entire body vibrate, feeling the vibrations inside. Gradually let your body move as it wants–follow its feeling. It may want to move gently or strongly. It may feel like repeating the same motion or moving erratically. Allow yourself to jump, run, roll, dance, punch . . . anything. Your body knows what it needs to do to free itself from stress, tension, and blocked energy.

 

Purify Energy with LifeParticle Sun Visualization

[LifeParticle Sun, envisioned by Ilchi Lee, artist Al Choi]When you feel freer and more relaxed, sit comfortably with your back and neck straight and your hands on your knees. Imagine this image of the LifeParticle Sun, a sacred geometry symbol of the source of life, enters the center of your brain through your forehead. The LifeParticle Sun emits the purest, brightest form of light. Picture shimmering, golden particles of light flowing from the LifeParticle Sun to your entire brain and down through your whole body. Let the brightness extend out of you, engulfing you in a golden capsule. This capsule is recharging the energy in your body, replacing the dark, stagnant energy that Brain Wave Vibration released.

 

Feel Energy with Hands

[Photo by Franklin Hughes]Next, rub your palms together briskly to create a feeling of heat. Bring them up to chest height and face them toward each other, keeping them a couple of inches apart. Feel the heat and other sensations in your palms. Focus on those sensations as your move your hands toward and away from each other, following the rhythm of your breath. These sensations are energy in your hands. You may not feel much at first, but the feeling will strengthen with practice. Continue this meditation for about five minutes to help your mind quiet.

How close to the zero point you come through this practice sequence and what you feel while doing it depends on your current energy state and experience. The more you do it, the clearer your energy will be and the easier it will be for you to enter into a deep meditative state–the zero point. It’s from the zero point that the attractive power of our imagination will be maximized.

Editor’s Note: See more about the zero point in Ilchi Lee’s books: LifeParticle Meditation: A Practical Guide to Healing and Transformation, Change: Realizing Your Greatest Potential, and Connect: How to Find Clarity and Expand Your Consciousness with Pineal Gland Meditation.

Related PostsTake Back Your Brain!True Power Comes from NothingnessNew Rules for a New BrainDo You Know Who You Are?You Are a CreatorFeatured Video

Awaken Your Miracle Brain to Uncover True Character and Potential

[Photo by friends_stock via Envato Elements]

Unlock the full potential of your Miracle Brain by aligning your body, discovering your true self, and embracing the transformative power of intention and perseverance.

In a world full of distractions and challenges, many of us struggle to find clarity, purpose, and inner strength. Yet, within each of us lies a powerful tool that can transform our lives—the Miracle Brain. This unique aspect of our consciousness not only helps us navigate life’s complexities but also unlocks our true character and potential. By awakening the Miracle Brain, we can break free from the limitations that hold us back, access deeper levels of creativity and insight, and live a life of greater meaning and fulfillment.

What Is the Miracle Brain?

The Miracle Brain is more than just our everyday thinking brain. It is the awakened state of consciousness that transcends the limitations of our biological brain, allowing us to connect with our highest self—our true character. When our Miracle Brain is active, we tap into a vast reservoir of wisdom, creativity, and strength that goes far beyond what we typically perceive as possible.

This concept is deeply rooted in ancient wisdom. The Samil Shingo, an ancient Korean text, speaks of a divine light within the human brain, a light that is not merely a physical phenomenon but an expression of our original nature. This light represents the essence of our human character, a pure, unchanging value that exists beyond all comparisons and societal labels. It is the truest form of who we are, untainted by the identities and roles we assume in the world.

The Miracle Brain and Our Character

Our human character is not something that can be acquired or lost. It is an inherent aspect of our being—a divine quality that is always present, even if it is often obscured by the distractions and challenges of life. The Miracle Brain is the state in which this true character is fully realized and expressed.

When we activate our Miracle Brain, we experience a profound shift in our consciousness. We no longer rely on external validation or material success to define our worth. Instead, we recognize that our value comes from within, from the light of our true self. This realization empowers us to live authentically, with clarity, purpose, and a deep sense of inner peace.

What Can the Miracle Brain Do?

The potential of the Miracle Brain is limitless. It enables us to access insights and ideas that seem to come from a higher source. It enhances our ability to solve problems, make decisions, and create new possibilities in our lives. When our Miracle Brain is active, we are more focused, more creative, and more resilient. We have the power to transform our circumstances, heal ourselves, and contribute positively to the world around us.

Moreover, the Miracle Brain is not just about individual achievement. It is also about fostering a sense of unity and interconnectedness with others. When we operate from our Miracle Brain, we are naturally inclined to act with compassion and a desire for the greater good. We understand that our well-being is tied to the well-being of others and the planet, leading us to live in harmony with all of life.

Awakening the Miracle Brain

Awakening the Miracle Brain is not a one-time event but a continuous process of self-discovery and practice. It involves tuning in to the divine light within us and allowing it to guide our thoughts, actions, and decisions. This is where the practice of Brain Education comes in. Through techniques such as mindful breathing, energy meditation, and conscious movement, we can strengthen our connection to our true self and activate the Miracle Brain.

One of the simplest yet most powerful practices we can adopt is the pull-up exercise. This may seem like a purely physical activity, but when approached with the right mindset, it becomes a profound tool for awakening the Miracle Brain. The pull-up challenges us to push beyond our perceived limitations, to engage our willpower and determination in a way that mirrors the process of activating our Miracle Brain.

Enlightened Pull-ups

The mindset we bring to pull-ups is crucial. First and foremost, it’s important to approach each pull-up with intention and focus. Rather than seeing the exercise as a mere physical challenge, we should view it as an opportunity to connect with our true self. With each pull, we consciously choose to rise above our doubts, fears, and perceived limitations. This is not just about building muscle; it’s about cultivating the willpower and determination that activate the Miracle Brain.

Additionally, we should cultivate a mindset of presence and awareness. As we engage in the exercise, it’s vital to be fully present in the moment, paying attention to our breath, our body, and the sensations that arise. This mindful awareness allows us to tap into the deeper layers of consciousness that the Miracle Brain represents.

Finally, adopting a mindset of self-compassion and positivity is key. The path to awakening the Miracle Brain through pull-ups is not always easy, and it requires patience and persistence. We should approach each attempt with kindness towards ourselves, recognizing that each small effort is a step closer to unlocking our full potential. By embracing the process with cheerfulness, even in the face of difficulty, we strengthen our connection to the Miracle Brain and move toward a deeper realization of our true character.

A Process of Self-Discovery

In addition to focusing on the mindset, we should also take note of the changes that occur as we train. As we practice pull-ups, both physical and mental shifts begin to take place. Our chest opens, our muscles align, and our spine becomes more upright. These physical changes do more than improve our posture—they help to wake up the Miracle Brain. An aligned body creates an optimal environment for the brain to function at its highest level, enhancing our awareness, creativity, and inner strength.

Equally important is the process of self-discovery during this journey. As we push ourselves through the challenges of pull-up training, we inevitably learn new things about ourselves—our strengths, our resilience, and even our vulnerabilities. These discoveries are vital because when we take the time to express what we’ve learned, whether through journaling, speaking, or simply reflecting, our mind and brain become more aware of these insights. This awareness allows us to integrate these discoveries into our consciousness, helping us realize our true value and character. This, in turn, activates the Miracle Brain, empowering us to live more authentically and effectively.

Through this combination of intention, presence, self-discovery, and perseverance, the simple act of doing pull-ups transforms into a powerful practice for awakening the Miracle Brain. It becomes a way to align our physical, mental, and spiritual selves, helping us to live more fully and authentically.

Living with the Miracle Brain

Living with the Miracle Brain is about more than just improving our individual lives; it’s about contributing to a larger movement—a movement to uplift humanity and create a world where everyone can thrive. When we live with an active Miracle Brain, we are better equipped to face the challenges of the modern world with wisdom and grace. We become leaders, healers, and creators of positive change, each in our own way.

Let us embrace the Miracle Brain within us and allow it to shine brightly in everything we do. By doing so, we not only transform ourselves but also help to light the way for others, creating a ripple effect of enlightenment, healing, and love throughout the world.

Related PostsCharacter Is LoveSuccess and Value Lie in Good CharacterOne Heart for Humanitarian EducationBenjamin Franklin’s Brain Utilization and Human HappinessReveal Your Unconditional Value with Daily Mind-Body TrainingFeatured Video

3 Principles for Building a Foundation for Longevity

Discover how principles like unleashing your inner child, planning with intention, and staying active can help you live a longer, healthier, and more joyful life.

There’s no fountain of youth that will allow you to live a long, healthy life—it all starts with a few key principles anyone can implement.

Experts agree that longevity isn’t written in stone. It’s believed that genetics only accounts for up to 25 percent of anyone’s longevity. The other 75 percent is up to you, even if you weren’t blessed with great genes.

If you want a happy and long life, here are a few things you can do to tip the odds in your favor.

Find and Unleash Your Inner Child

Remember that pure, unadulterated joy you felt as a child? Every day, you woke up ready to see what the day would bring. Whether you were pursuing your interests, indulging in your curiosity, or even making mischief, you were 100 percent invested in finding fun.

Finding longevity can be as simple as letting the child in you take the reins again. Rediscover your pure hope and dreams—the same kind you had when you were a child. Find things you want to accomplish and that make you feel free and alive. That joy and enthusiasm will carry through to everything you do. You’ll feel lighter and as if anything is possible.

Plan as If You Are Building a House

Wishing for good health isn’t enough, you must have a road map to get yourself there. All the knowledge in the world won’t help you live a long, healthy life if you’re not willing to put in the work. Your ideas must make the leap from knowledge into habits.

By planning as if you are building a house, you are much likelier to reach your goal of longevity. If your goal is to move more or cook healthier meals, it helps to know yourself and develop a plan that is more likely to succeed. If you know you’ll skip your daily exercise if you put it off until after dinner, then set your alarm clock an hour earlier to tackle it first thing in the morning.

Utilize both your body and brain and take your emotions into consideration. Your best chance at a long and joyful life will come from pursuing complete health and happiness.

Once you’ve taken stock of where you are currently, you can use that knowledge to begin planning your path. For instance, if you know you should be eating less than you do or selecting healthier foods, make a plan for that. Watch what you eat when you’re upset or struggling emotionally. That’s when many of us mindlessly eat or choose comfort foods to help us deal with our moods. Utilize your brain to avoid that trap.

Make Sure to Move

Your best shot at longevity and good health comes from exercise and movement. If you hate going to the gym, that’s okay. One of the simplest exercises is also one of the best—walking.

If you have trouble fitting it into your day or finding the motivation to move, try to find the easiest way to do it instead of making it overly complicated. Start to think of it as a gift rather than another thing to check off your to-do list. Think of how many people in the world would love to have the privilege of taking a leisurely walk outside on a nice day.

Find what you most enjoy about walking and build it into your plan. You can walk to go somewhere or walk simply in the knowledge you’re helping your health. If you’re feeling stressed, it’s important to accept those feelings and not let them stop you from going on your walk. The movement will help you resolve stress, especially if you walk in a way to reduce the stress.

Try this way of walking to generate the most energy in your body for a long, healthy life:

If walking every day starts to feel a bit boring to you, remember my other tip—to unleash your inner child. Learn a sport or find some other exercise you love to include more movement in your day and to feel young again.

Grow Old On Your Terms

Aging can’t be prevented, but feeling old can be. We can design how we want our lives to look and feel as we become older. By thinking about it, you can build a plan and live a life others believe isn’t possible.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about living a long, healthy, and fulfilling life from Ilchi Lee’s book, I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years: The Ancient Secret to Longevity, Vitality, and Life Transformation.

Related PostsThe Special Secret of LongevityDiscover the True Value of Health and LongevityChoose a Path to Success with 100% PositivityMeet This Centenarian Who Never Stops LearningNever Stop Challenging MyselfFeatured Video

Turn on the Brainphone to Reconnect with Our Innate Potential

[Photo by Raul_Mellado via Envato Elements]

By training our bodies and minds to tap into our innate intelligence, we unlock our creative potential, overcome self-imposed limits, and achieve a deeper sense of peace and joy.

Many of us in the modern world are enamored by the growth of artificial intelligence, which is being rapidly integrated into the technology that’s part of our everyday lives—even into the handheld devices we carry everywhere and use all the time. Most of us will agree that the devices we call “smartphones” have become part of ourselves. Our reliance on the convenience of smartphones to calculate costs, get a ride, order food, find where we’re going, connect to our loved ones, keep us entertained and organized, monitor our health, and even meditate cannot be denied. We could even say that we are addicted to the dopamine “hits” that are built into our experience with them.

This “smart” technology can make us forget about the innate technology we’re already carrying around with us completely for free: our brains. No matter how wonderful smartphones are or how intelligent they are becoming, our brains remain more amazing and powerful. I’ve coined the term “brainphone” to remind us of their importance.

Our Amazing Brains

Of course, we know that we need our brains for everything we do. Even if we become forgetful or scattered, our brains are manage everything inside our bodies. They are taking in vast amounts of data from our external and internal environments and processing it in useful ways that let us make decisions for our lives and act on them. Our brains allow us to have complex interpersonal relationships and empathize with other lifeforms (even non-living things). They have created new cultures, technologies, and ideas that go beyond the existing paradigms. There’s also so much activity in our brains that we aren’t conscious of.

Our brains have a spiritual aspect as well. Through them, we can have enlightened experiences in which we feel connected to all things with great, unconditional love, compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness. We can sense energy, detect the vibes around us, and “download” information that’s beyond our personal experience. Some people communicate with spirits, or unembodied consciousness—all through their brain.

Our Brains Create Our Lives

All these characteristics of our brains enable them to create our lives. This creative power goes beyond the sum of our thoughts and actions. It can yield the unexpected—even what can be seen as miraculous.

Our miraculous brain, a Miracle Brain, is often underutilized because of our limited perspective of what’s possible. We often don’t recognize these self-imposed limits; they seem reasonable. Yet, because of them, our inherent but amazing ability to be the creators of our lives remains a nice idea that’s never actualized.

It’s also unused because we’ve become too reliant on knowledge and tools outside of ourselves—especially our smartphones. This reliance disconnects us from our bodies, hearts, and minds. If, instead, we used our brainphones, we could clearly see what is happening inside us, recognize our challenges, and find solutions. Rather than relying on momentary dopamine hits, we could realize what our hearts want and do things that bring us true peace and joy as well as deep satisfaction.

Maybe you have had flashes of insight or gut feelings that have helped you do or avoid something. These are blips when our brainphones have turned on momentarily. They connected to wisdom and creativity beyond our norm. At these moments, the parts of our brains we don’t usually use become active. Unfortunately, we are unable and unused to keeping them on all the time. So, we have to train ourselves to do it.

Make a Miracle Body

The way to turn on our brainphones and fully use our Miracle Brains is to create a Miracle Body. What is a Miracle Body? It’s a body that has achieved something that surprises us.

For example, there was a story about a woman in her fifties in Japan who decided to learn how to walk on her hands. She was not particularly physically fit and had never done anything like that in her life. But she made a choice, and she kept training until she succeeded. As she trained her body, her consciousness was also trained. As her body was stretched and challenged beyond it’s limits, her brain had to extend beyond what it had done before. Her brain became brighter–more active, positive, and confident; it became a Miracle Brain.

When we listen to that story, our first response may be, “Wow, that’s amazing!” To create a Miracle Body and a Miracle Brain, we can’t stop there. We then have to think, “Wow, I can do that!” It’s taking that leap of faith that activates our brainphone. Then our determination and positivity keep it active and strengthen our Miracle Brains.

Read more about overcoming limits with pull-ups ►

We are the masters of our emotions, the masters of our environment, the masters of our brains, and the masters of our lives, through our bodies. We can see ourselves doing something—imagine it—then practice and train our bodies daily. If we are joyful and cheerful and revitalize our bodies, it will create more than we ever thought or expected.

Related PostsAlzheimer’s, Cell Phones, ADD and the BrainDon’t Underestimate Your Brain7 Ways to Make Your Energy More PositiveFive Steps to Clearing Mental Clutter with Information FastingBe a Smart BrainFeatured Video

Pull Up Your Life: Overcoming Limits

[Photo by Creative Credit via Creative CreditEnvato Elements]

Small, consistent steps in overcoming physical limits, like mastering a pull-up, can boost our confidence and strength, revealing our true potential.

Do you feel your body getting weaker as you get older? Are your joints creaking and your stamina slowing down?

I thought I was in pretty good shape, even though I’m in my seventies. I exercise regularly and eat nourishing foods. But one day, I tried doing a pull-up after a long break, and discovered I could hardly do one!

That didn’t sit well with me. I’ve always prided myself on overcoming physical limitations. I’d decided to live 120 healthy, happy, and productive years. I couldn’t ignore my weak arms and chalk it up to aging.

So I started practicing. My muscles gradually grew stronger until, finally, I could do several pull-ups. The day I could effortlessly do a pull-up in proper form to my chest, I felt ecstatic and wanted to share it with everyone.

Small Steps for Big Hope

If you feel limited in life, remember: you don’t have to be. We all have areas to improve, and progress comes with practice. We can build physical, emotional, and mental strength gradually, seeing real differences over time. I’m confident in this not just because I’ve done it, but because believing in ourselves is the first step.

However, believing in the impossible can be challenging. Starting with a small, achievable goal can give us hope. Success builds confidence, showing our brains we can accomplish more.

Enjoy Ilchi Lee’s blog posts?

Keep up-to-date with weekly wisdom delivered directly to your email inbox.

Sign Up Now

Where to Start

We can begin by mastering a pull-up, push-up, or another exercise. Create a plan to build strength safely, practice consistently, and track your progress. Forgive yourself for setbacks and stay committed.

Through dedicated practice, we gain hope, confidence, and trust in ourselves. New goals become attainable.

Life presents challenges, but we don’t need to wait for adversity to grow. We can seek challenges that excite us. The strength and resilience gained will contribute to a healthier, longer life.

Related PostsHow to Detoxify Your Brain for a Long, Healthy LifeYou Have Three Powers for Making Your Own Health, Happiness, and PeaceWhat Should We Live for in Our Later Years10 Tips for Working Steadily Toward Your GoalsMaster Your Body to Master Your BrainFeatured Video

How to Resolve Conflicts by Embracing Contradictions

[Photo by ljubaphoto via iStockPhoto]

Embracing contradictions and fostering an open-minded and flexible approach can help resolve conflicts constructively, leading to a harmonious and fulfilling life.

Conflict is an inevitable part of life, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. As we try to manage our careers and families, understanding how to resolve conflicts constructively can bring peace and balance to all aspects of our lives. Let’s explore how embracing contradictions can help us achieve this.

Embracing Contradictions Is Natural

Have you ever wondered how two opposite ideas can coexist peacefully? The universe itself is based on the coexistence of contradictions. For example, according to quantum physics, all objects can be both particles and waves simultaneously. This principle applies to life as well; living is a form of dying, as each day we live, we move closer to death.

Accepting opposing views and beliefs also comes naturally to our brains. They have the capability to accommodate and reconcile seemingly incompatible values and phenomena. Our brains, and our very nature, also tend to want to help others. The desire to help is as fundamental as the need for food or sex. This drive exists beyond individual personality or ego. No special talent or skill is needed to resolve contradictory ideas—simply accepting and choosing this noble consciousness awakens the brain’s latent potential for harmonious coexistence.

Accepting Opposing Views Is Crucial for Peaceful Conflict Resolution

Although embracing opposing views and beliefs is natural, choosing to do it is crucial. When we view contradictions as irreconcilable, we set ourselves up for conflict. We’re choosing to limit our perceptions. But we can make a different choice: by accepting that differences can coexist, we can foster greater understanding and problem-solving within our families and communities.

When we accept the coexistence of contradictions, ours becomes a world where apparently contradictory things can exist together—an open world where we acknowledge and appreciate others. Far from being situations in which we must defeat the other side to win, contradictions are challenges and opportunities to seek wiser answers that benefit all.

Start with Accepting Everyone’s Right to Exist

Before we try to accept opposing ideas, we can work on accepting something more fundamental–the right of each of us to exist, and then the right of all of us to have our own ideas. Countless people exist in this world, people with different thoughts, different lifestyles, different skin colors, different tastes, and different political beliefs. Acknowledging they have a right to exist in this world the same as anyone—no more and no less—is the key to resolving conflicts.

Practical Advice for Conflict ResolutionStay Flexible: Helping the people in our circles embrace contradictions with us can help them manage their emotions better, understanding that it’s possible to feel both joy and sadness simultaneously.Open Our Minds: Encourage ourselves and each other to accept that differing views can coexist. This promotes harmonious group dynamics and resolves conflicts through mutual respect and understanding.Cultivate Wisdom: Highlight the brain’s capacity to reconcile incompatible values. This can inspire us to seek inclusive solutions to problems, leading to more balanced decision-making.Know Our Core Values: When our cores are solid and we know who we really are, like a tree with strong roots that can sway with the breeze, we are less likely to feel threatened by people or views that are different from ours.Question Existing Information: Instead of digging in our heals, we can look beyond our existing information to find new insights and solutions that would work better for everyone.Practice Forgiveness and Gratitude: View conflicts as opportunities for practicing forgiveness and gratitude, which can align us with our true selves, who naturally tend toward peaceful coexistence.

By embracing contradictions and fostering an open-minded and flexible approach, you can resolve conflicts more effectively, leading to a harmonious and fulfilling life.

Enjoy Ilchi Lee’s blog posts?

Keep up-to-date with weekly wisdom delivered directly to your email inbox.

Sign Up Now

Related PostsUniting the Collective Will for a Better WorldHarness Positivity for Real SolutionsTurn Conflict into FuelThe Energetic Power of ForgivenessThe Need to Get Our Way: The Attachment to ControlFeatured Video

Ilchi Lee’s Meditation for Discovering What We Really Want

[Photo by AaronAmat via iStockPhoto]

Uncovering the desires of our true selves involves meditating to clear the mind, focus on the heart, and feel our inner vibrations.

We all possess the power to create our lives. Have you felt that? If you haven’t, it may be because you’re not really sure what you want. Our uncertainty can come from having ideas about what we want to create while not actually wanting those ideas deep down. When we’re uncertain, it’s hard to make a vibrational alignment between what we think, feel, and do. But that alignment is where our creation power comes from.

So, if we can discern what our deep inner selves want to be truly fulfilled and at peace, then we can work on changing the vibrations of our bodies and minds so that they resonate with those wishes. We can also make plans and use strategies that will lead to achieving them. No matter what tools we have or techniques we use, however, they can’t work if our true selves deep inside and our logic, preconceptions, and habits don’t match.

So how do we figure out what our deep inner self wants?

Taking a Deep Dive Inside

We all have an awareness, an observer, that notes of the information our inner and outer senses gather. We can think of this awareness as a lens that we can point at certain information to become conscious of it—whether it’s outside of ourselves, inside us, or in the limitless consciousness of the universe. When we become aware of it, we can process and use it.

In order to reach deep inside us, the lens of our awareness need to be clean and sharp. This means it can’t be clouded by scattered thoughts and emotions or jump from here to there. We need to clear out our thoughts and emotions and point that lens steadily toward one spot—to the center of our chests, our metaphysical hearts, where our purest desires lie. And that involves meditation.

Practical and Dynamic Meditations

Fortunately, we can do this without sitting for hours in one position. We can even do it if we’re not meditation experts. Dynamic, moving meditations—such as Brain Wave Vibration, Belly Button Healing, Toe Tapping, Body Tapping, and more—use steady vibration to clear the energy behind our runaway thoughts and emotions, revealing deeper parts of ourselves. They also slow down our brain waves, which lets us focus our awareness more easily.

Focusing Our Awareness

How we focus our awareness is also important. Once we point our inner lenses at our hearts, we need to allow whatever is there to express itself. More specifically, we need to feel it. As we feel that area, deeper emotions or thoughts may emerge, but they are not what our true selves really want. The longer we keep our lenses steadily pointed and the more we feel our hearts, the more likely we will access the messages our true selves have for us. We’ll be able to sense what they really want.

Meditation for Uncovering Our True DesiresSit comfortably on the floor or in a chair. If you sit in a chair, place both feet flat on the ground. Do some relaxing exercises such as stretching your arms up and wiggling from side to side. Then, lower your arms and shake your shoulders up and down to loosen them.Using your palms and/or fists, tap around your body in a steady rhythm. Try to reach every part. As you tap, close your eyes and focus your awareness on the sensations in your body. When you exhale, release your breath out of your mouth.After five minutes, concentrate your tapping on your sternum in the center of your chest. Keep exhaling through your mouth to let go of your thoughts and emotions.Then, five minutes later, move your tapping to your lower abdomen. Use alternating fists to tap about two inches below your navel. Once you become comfortable with the tapping, loosely shake your head and even your upper body from side to side in a steady rhythm with your tapping. Practice this form of Brain Wave Vibration for five to ten minutes. You can follow this video . Finishing your Brain Wave Vibration with three breaths, hold your hands in front of your chest with your palms facing each other. For another five minutes, feel the sensations on and within your palms as you move them toward and away from each other, synchronizing the movement with your breathing. You can follow this video for more guidance in this energy meditation exercise, known as jigam. After resting your hands on your knees, turn your attention to your breathing. Instead of trying to control it, simply let yourself breathe naturally and comfortably. Keep breathing in this relaxed way.Bring your awareness into the center of your chest and feel it relax as you breathe deeply. Once you get a sense of the feeling there, ask yourself: “What do I really want?” Keep repeating this question silently until you sense a response. Trust your feeling.Conclude the meditation by taking a few deep breaths. Smile to yourself, and feel grateful for everything life offers. You may want to write down your experience and your answer afterward to help process and integrate them.Listening to Our Inner Voices

There is infinite love and character within us. That is our true selves. If we listen to our inner voices, we can feel our hearts trembling. Everything that exists has a unique vibration. It is not a thought, emotion, or sensation but a feeling. It is a stirring, a thrill. This is the voice of the heart. When the noise of thoughts, emotions, and sensations is silenced, our true vibration reveals itself. Unconditional love, fulfillment, and blessings will come into our lives when we match our thoughts, words, and actions with this vibration. But we need to begin by feeling it.
 

Editor’s Note: For more help connecting with your true self, you can see Ilchi Lee’s books CONNECT: How to Find Clarity and Expand Your Consciousness with Pineal Gland Meditation and LOVE HEALS Practice Guide: A 21-Day Journey to Personal Transformation (co-authored with Ilchibuko Todd). You can also participate in the True Self Awakening Workshop offered by Body & Brain. Learn more here.

Related Posts[Video] Set Your True Self Free with Traditional Korean DrummingWhat Are Our True Selves?Ilchi Lee’s 3 Simple Ways to Turn Your Energy Around and Become Your Authentic Self5 Ways to Have the Courage to Be YourselfHow to Speak from Our True SelvesFeatured Video

Discover 3 Tao Insights That Free Us from Suffering

[Photo by fizkes via iStockPhoto]

Find inner freedom and ease suffering by accepting life’s inherent challenges, understanding the transient nature of existence, and recognizing the illusion of the self.

Have you ever found yourself caught in an endless cycle of stress and frustration, despite your best efforts to maintain a positive outlook? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the demands of daily life—balancing work, family, and personal needs can leave little room for true peace and contentment. We might wonder if there’s a way to break free from this persistent struggle and find genuine relief from suffering.

The journey to liberation begins with a profound shift in perspective. By embracing three fundamental realizations about life—accepting that suffering is inevitable, understanding the transient nature of all things, and recognizing the illusion of the self—we can transform our relationship with pain and discover a path to lasting joy and freedom. These insights are not about adopting a pessimistic worldview but rather about seeing life with clear eyes and an open heart, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and serene existence.

1: Life is suffering.

Yes, that seems to be a rather bleak view of life. We might protest, “But this is not positive thinking! I do not want to live according to such a negative view of life!” If we are familiar with the Law of Attraction, we might even think that this will only attract more and more suffering to us. If this statement were just a negative view of life, we would be right to react against it as undesirable. But it is not about worldviews or attitudes. Rather, it is just a neutral, realistic statement about our situation here during our time on earth.

The goal here is to accept that this is our lot in life. All living things suffer, and there is no getting around that fact. If we have not accepted the inevitability of suffering, then it means we are still wrestling against it, trying futilely to get rid of it from our lives. This in turn only creates greater suffering. If we can accept the fact of suffering, we will make great strides toward lessening the effects of suffering in our lives.

2: Everything is transient.

Just like the previous realization about suffering, this statement is a simple statement of fact about the nature of life and our existence in the universe. Everything in the cosmos has a beginning, before which it did not exist, and everything has an ending, after which it will not exist. This is true even of galaxies and suns, whose lifespans are billions of years long. For humans, our lives are much more fleeting. Our whole lives between birth and death, and even the entire existence of humanity, are like a blink of an eye compared to the age of this universe. Yet, we cling to things as though our existence will go on and on. We defend our power, our money, our self-concept as though it is real and everlasting. Realizing the transience of existence can help us drop whatever it is that stands between us and true inner freedom.

3: There is no self.

When we are born, we come into this world without a sense of being separate from the rest of the world. At that age, there is no “me” or “you” yet, and there is no “self” and “other.” But as we grow, we gain a sense that separations of this kind are real and that we are each individuals who are distinct from other individuals. This is what gives rise to the ego, the sense of self that we all naturally protect and defend. This is entirely normal, but we may also be aware of all the suffering and destruction that egos cause in the world.

Awakening to the third realization is the key to overcoming ego and the suffering its defense causes. Self, in fact, is just a temporary illusion that we can learn to overcome. But that is not easy. It’s a kind of dying, really. But on the other side of the death of our attachment to who we think we are, we discover the freedom to change and adapt—the ability to be whatever we want and need to be.
 

There may be some things in these concepts that make us feel a bit uneasy, maybe even a little frightened. However, if we contemplate these principles, and we actively and honestly seek to make them real in our lives, we will exponentially increase our experience of joy and freedom.

Related PostsPlaying It Safe: Attachment to SecurityWhy Do You Suffer?The Need to Get Our Way: The Attachment to ControlLetting Go: The Tao of Non-AttachmentGrasping for Specialness: Attachment to RecognitionFeatured Video

I Am a White Dragon

This image I made many years ago has kept coming to mind lately. It is a painting I call “White Dragon.” The feeling I get when I think of this image reflects what I wrote in a poem of the same name.

I think the world needs people who have a sense of a white dragon urgently right now. In fact, I believe a white dragon is part of all of us. We just need to open our inner eyes, our Tao eyes, to see it.

White Dragon

I am a white dragon
Invisible to the eye;

I live deep in the ocean
And dwell hidden in the clouds;

My home is nothingness
Everywhere and forever;

I listen to music of the cosmos
And sing songs of the soul;

I belong to nowhere
Attached to nothing;

Stars sparkle
Winds blow quietly;

I breathe with the children
Wrapping myself around Bell Rock;

I am cosmic energy
I am cosmic mind.

 
What do you feel when you gaze upon the strokes of the “White Dragon” painting?

 
Editor’s Notes:

The poem “White Dragon” was published in Ilchi Lee’s book, Songs of Enlightenment .Dragons are powerful beings in traditional Korean culture, and white is traditionally a spiritual color. The Bell Rock referred to in the poem is a famous rock formation in Sedona, Arizona that is thought to be a strong energy vortex.Enjoy Ilchi Lee’s blog posts?

Keep up-to-date with weekly wisdom delivered directly to your email inbox.

Sign Up Now

Related PostsBe a Leader of ChangeFace Challenges and Ignite Creativity with the Energy of the DragonPoem: I Know YouYour Body Is a BrushKeep Your Life in Balance with the Five Elements of NatureFeatured Video