Karen Shanley's Blog, page 11

Enlightenment Seems Unattainable. Should the Goal Be Simply to Live a Good Life?

Q: Can we talk about the path to enlightenment? How does one get on that, and stay in it, and get to enlightenment?

First, you must learn about and understand what enlightenment is. This information has been shared in depth for thousands of years,  and still, few people are able to do it. It cannot be accomplished by intellectual pursuit, but that is often the doorway that is easiest to enter through.

In some ways, the task is impossible, as … Read More

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Best Weighted Blanket on the Market

Thinking of getting a weighted blanket? There are so many to choose from, but this is my recommendation.

This brand of weighted blanket is like a warm, cozy hug. It can help reduce stress and anxiety, leading to better sleep quality, as it may increase serotonin and melatonin levels while reducing cortisol. The gentle pressure from these blankets can also help prepare your body for rest by calming your heart rate and breathing. This can make it easier to fall … Read More

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Non-Attachment and Flow

Q: What is this idea of non-attachment? Is it about not caring about anything? That doesn’t seem right. This makes it problematic for a lot of people to figure out why they get out of bed in the morning. Can you explain further how you reach that point of being able to just walk away and not care? 

First, let’s consider attachment. There’s a belief that what you have belongs to you and a tendency to think it cannot be … Read More

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Are Bull Terriers Good With Children?

I know. What am I doing, including an article on Bull Terriers? I thought you could use a good laugh. And this is one of the funniest articles I’ve ever read. That’s by way of a warning that you should not be drinking coffee while reading this.  Try substituting your breed’s name and see how much of it would apply to your beloved—unless, of course, you have one of the smaller, delicate breeds.

“Are Bull Terriers Good With Children?” by … Read More

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Fear is a Thought

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Releasing the Day’s Energy

Q: It seems that around the age of 4 and 5, children experience many more powerful emotions. This can make getting kids to bed even more difficult. Around that age, so many kids seem to save all their talking for bedtime.

At that age, they’re processing many emotions of change, loss, learning independence, learning acceptance and how to fit in. Some are in an environment for the first time where they are seeking approval from someone other than their parents. … Read More

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Emptiness

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Reality of Other Realms

Q: Why do people of various spiritual schools of thought describe different realms in which they travel? Why aren’t they all going to the same place? I’m thinking of the differences between Theosophists, Spiritualists, Shamans, Sorcerers, and so on.

All of those worlds various people describe exist for those people. There are many dimensional states that exist in which one can travel and experience a spiritual reality. Just as there are many countries to which you could travel to in … Read More

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Shootout at the O.K. Corral

If you’d just walked in on this scene unawares, you might think you were in the middle of a shootout at the O.K. Corral, with fallen bodies strewn about. Nope. Just another day of trying to feed my picky eaters.

I’ve written before about the joys of getting my dogs to eat. We’ve reached comical new heights. Like toddlers, these guys now also need to have their lovey toys join in on the fun. Riley, my very sensitive boy, … Read More

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If You Are Serious About Spirituality, Is It Necessary to Become a Vegetarian?

Q: Should serious spiritual seekers limit themselves to a vegetarian diet? It seems to me that if killing is wrong, then killing animals is wrong, too.

If you’ve been contemplating spiritual matters long enough, this question inevitably comes up. There are a few different ways to look at it. Your view could be said to align with the ethical values of nonviolence and prevention of cruelty. Certainly, many spiritual people strive to live by those values.

Q: But is choosing … Read More

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