Karen Shanley's Blog, page 13

Does the Path of Awakening Require Us to Become Silent?

Q: I was reading today that one of the stages along the way to awakening is becoming silent. I was thinking that I have a compulsive need to share what I think. Is one of the things I need to work on to become more of a quiet person who is just listening and keeping to myself?

It’s true that once a regular sustained practice of meditation is established, silence is a natural outgrowth. That’s because once we are able … Read More

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INOH Dogs

I was having a conversation with a friend who works with Australian Shepherd Breed Rescue. We were discussing how we both wish there was a better word than “Rescue.” It’s pejorative to all the people who have legitimate reasons for having to relinquish their dogs, and not sufficiently incriminating to those who irresponsibly or impulsively get a dog and then irresponsibly or impulsively look to dump the dog.

So, we were trying to come up with a new term that … Read More

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Unhooking the Hurt: How to Release Painful Emotional Hooks

Q: There are certain subjects, words, and criticisms that have the power to shake us to our core. What’s going on here?

Let’s begin by talking about the power that words have over us. They sometimes carry heavy emotional and psychological weight. They can lift us up. They can also crush us. For the most part, we have a basic understanding of how and when this happens. In the moment. But what many people don’t realize is that whenever there … Read More

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Why Has It Become So Difficult for People to Get Along?

Q: Why has it become so difficult for people in this country to get along?

The primary reason for this difficulty lies in a fundamental misunderstanding about human nature. There’s a widespread misconception that all humans are essentially the same and should, therefore, naturally get along. However, this is far from the truth.Human beings are incredibly diverse, not just in appearance but in their core attributes.

For example, some individuals possess extraordinary willpower, while others have very little. This isn’t … Read More

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You Must Make the Inner Calling

… Read More

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Best Zucchini Recipes Ever!

Even if you don’t have your own garden, if your car’s been unlocked, you’ve probably been anonymously gifted with enough zucchini to feed an army. We gardeners like to share the wealth, as it were…

I’m here to help save the day. I have two recipes that are guaranteed to have everyone in your family (even your vegetable-hating kids) loving zucchini and asking for more. No joke.

So without further ado:

Zucchini Cauliflower Pie

I know, it sounds positively awful … Read More

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How and When We Lost Our Telepathic Abilities

Q: Can you explain what influence language has on our perceptions?

When we are born, we’re born with full awareness. We’re still connected to the All–That–Is.  Looking into a newborn’s eyes, you can see the ancientness of their souls. You can see the wisdom of the ages looking back at you. Because this newborn is still fully connected, this is their experience.

But before long, to make us more suitable to living within the families and cultures into which we’re … Read More

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The Cultural Tractor Beam

Q: You often talk about how we are brainwashed by culture. Why is that a bad thing? What can we do to prevent this?

Cultural brainwashing teaches us not to question and not to think or act for ourselves. There are many ways to prevent this and still live a so-called normal life. It’s not realistic to set impossible expectations. Most of us will feel we can’t fully disengage from culture. But we can become more aware of how language … Read More

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How to Stop Your Dog From Marking in the House: A Comprehensive Guide

You may have noticed lots of pics with Arrow lately. That’s because we’re keeping him while Cait finishes up a master’s program. And while I love this dog to pieces, going from two to three dogs wasn’t in my plan. It changes the whole dynamics from eating to who gets affection when, to playtime, to walks, to… you get the idea.

And from the title of this post, you should have guessed that having two males with a female, also … Read More

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Why Eastern Spirituality is Often a Struggle for Westerners

Q: In reading Master of Self-Realization by Shri Sadguru Siddharameshwar Maharaj, I find that his answer to everything is that we are experiencing an illusion. We need to let go and just stop caring about whatever it is. That’s all there is to it. But for me, it’s not helpful to be told to just let go. What am I missing?

This is one of the reasons why Eastern spirituality can be tricky for Westerners. The Advaita Vedanta teachings do … Read More

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