UNFINISHED
333
OVERVIEW
7/16
• EDIT
is WAY INCOMPLETE
•
Please Read Anyway,
Actually
this whole sorta
wacky
Buddha-blog
is
an Unfinished.
SINGLE
SCROLL,
ONE
VERY LONG PAGE
So START ANYWHERE
that catches your eye.
That
goes for the whole site.
Hi Sitting Friends ~
JUST GETTING STARTED:
If you graze and scroll n' roll
around in this site,
follow some of it along -
while you be verbally silent -
and ponder, contemplate what these authors
are really saying about Life - besides
necessary
details about coming to therapy in here,
there's
a lot of good quote readings in here to
inspire
and uplift you - so please just dig in
-- and breathe,
slow down and breathe, drink deeply,
intelligently
nourish your Spirit also. . . .and breathe
“ Most 'Thinking'
is linear,
most of Life isn't
“
PAGES
TO GET DOWN INTO. . .
started MARCH
2016
ongoing work
copy / multiple versions
_________________________________
BUDDHIST COUNSELING SESSIONS
and “MINDFULNESS PRACTICE”
specifically
designated as a ‘THERAPY’:
We’ve never actually had that before,
We’ve never actually had that before,
before Zinn and MIT and MBSR… Whew !
That’s another progressive huge step for
the science and spirituality crossover…
Buddha said ~
“Ananda, you are finally
coming to your SENSES --
Your body Sensations
-- and using them as
‘Waking Up Objects’
of observation to notice,
to watch and be aware of…
" What
is accepted by the majority of people -
does not mean
it is Real." ~ The Buddha
Buddhist Mindfulness
Therapy is New !
Awakening
Mindfulness Meditation Practice
~ is an
effective Buddhist-based 'Alternative' way
- complementary
to contemporary psychotherapy
for the
Discomforted Mind, Wounded Spirit or
Disheartened,
Despairing Relationship ~
all in the midst of our very edgy,
over-driven, survival-stressed
Uncertain Times
_______________________
Yes, we're certainly smack dab
as my Dad usta say...
in the middle of some horrific
Uncertain
Times -
Dickens agrees...
" It was the best of times,
it was the worst of
times,
it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief,
it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of Light,
it was the season of Darkness,
it was the spring of hope,
it was the winter of despair,
we had everything before us,
we had nothing before us,
we were all going direct to
Heaven,
we were all going direct the
other way -
in short, the period was so far
just like the present
period.
~ Sir Charles
Dickens ~
A Tale of
Two Cities (1859)
_______________________
“And then the
day came
when the risk to
remain
tight in a bud
was more painful
than the risk it
took
to
blossom” ~
Anais Nin
___________________________
Maybe you're a very
UNCOMMON PERSON
....
UNFINISHED 1.
OVERVIEW 7/7/16
• EDIT WAY INCOMPLETE
• Plz Read Anyway,
Actually this whole sorta
wacky blog is Unfinished...
SINGLE SCROLL
ONE VERY LONG PAGE
START ANYWHERE
that catches your eye.
Most
'Thinking' is linear
most
of Life isn't
PAGES TO GET DOWN INTO. . .
started MARCH 2016
ongoing work copy / multiple versions
_______________________________________
BUDDHIST COUNSELING SESSIONS and
MINDFULNESS PRACTICE as a THERAPY
Akasa
Levi @ age 75 years
Finally coming to his senses ~
♦ AKASA LEVI
q(~?~)p Counsel
( Akasa-Maitreya Levi, DhMA / D.Min )
Santa Monica CA 90405 ~ 310-450-2268
See CONTACT Details
at Table of Contents
akasalevizz@msn.com ~ akasalevi@gmail.com
just plain good reading - we’re remodeling
" What
is accepted by the majority of people -
does not mean
it is Real." ~ The Buddha
Buddhist Counseling Mindfulness Therapy
Awakening Mindfulness Meditation Practice
at The LAUGHING BUDDHA
SANGHA -or-
The SPIRITUAL ADULTHOOD PROJECT
~ an effective Buddhist-based 'Alternative' way
complementary to contemporary psychotherapy
for the Discomforted Mind, Wounded Spirit or
Disheartened, Despairing Relationship ~
all in the midst of our very edgy,
over-driven, survival-stressed
Uncertain Times
_____________
-:¦:- The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA - guided by
AKASA LEVI, a former ordained American Buddhist forest monk who
lived several years in rural Asia. Akasa coaches a small, salon-sized
Satsang sitting group for Buddhist Mindfulness meditation with practice
discussion and Dharma theory study. Now a feisty 75, this eccentric, really
funny ole' Dharma-mentor teaches at his little meditation shrine room filled
with statues of the Buddha. He invites anyone actively practicing an 'awareness
meditation' to come sit. Beginners very welcome.
-:¦:- The
SPIRITUAL ADULTHOOD PROJECT •♦• The LAUGHING
BUDDHA SANGHA •♦• guided by AKASA LEVI - a U.S.military Vet and former ordained
American Buddhist forest monk • who lived several years in rural Asia - to
be with the LAST LIVING BUDDHIST MEDITATION TEACHERS of the PRE-GLOBAL
ERA, most passed on now • Akasa is a feisty 75 - an
authentically compassionate genuine curmudgeon • Odd, a really funny,
eccentric old man of the Dharma, a respected JuBu Tribal Elder •
Rogue and mentor- into nourishing a maverick,
iconoclast intelligence in the people he treats, teaches, counsels or coaches
at his little meditation shrine room in his garage • Why not ? Filled with
Dharma books and statues of the ancient Buddha, he also practices in the
scientific secular spirit of contemporary Mindfulness meditation as well • An empirical
man to the core. Truly an acquired taste like Thai shrimp paste • Akasa is
known for his spontaneity, ready warmth, and wry unpredictable humor.
• Please VISIT the Expanded BIG BRO BIO PROFILE at the
TABLE of CONTENTS. Read Part One of The Making Of . . .
-:¦:- The
Spiritual Adulthood Project ~ is where I can offer Buddhist based 'Alternative'
approaches to relating with Your True Core Self • One-to-One Individual therapy
• Relationship and Partnering issues • Difficult to communicate Feelings •
Disheartened anxious insecure Wounded Spirit • Therapy for Maverick People --
"Non-Ordinary" "Uncommon People" • 'Rebels' 'Creatives'
'Sensitives' cerebral verbal artistic gifted ~ and yet Unhappy people •
"Mindfulness" really ‘Works’ to cultivate a calm, kind, kewl,
wise, spacious, fearless "Big Good-Hearted Mind".
______________________
Yes, we're certainly smack dab
as my Dad usta say...
in the middle of some horrific
Uncertain Times -
Dickens agrees...
" It
was the best of times,
it
was the worst of times,
it
was the age of wisdom,
it
was the age of foolishness,
it
was the epoch of belief,
it
was the epoch of incredulity,
it
was the season of Light,
it
was the season of Darkness,
it
was the spring of hope,
it
was the winter of despair,
we
had everything before us,
we
had nothing before us,
we
were all going direct to Heaven,
we
were all going direct the other way -
in
short, the period was so far
just
like the present period.
~ Sir Charles
Dickens ~
A
Tale of Two Cities (1859)
_____________________
Hi ~
JUST GETTING STARTED:
If you graze and scroll n' roll around in this site,
follow some of it along - you be verbally silent -
and ponder, contemplate what these authors
are really saying about Life - besides
necessary
details about coming to therapy in here, there's
a lot of good quote readings in here to inspire
and uplift you - so please just dig in -- and
breathe,
slow down and breathe, drink deeply, intelligently
nourish your Spirit also. . . .and breathe
_______________________
“And then the day came
when the risk to remain
tight in a bud
was more painful
than the risk it took
to blossom” ~
Anais Nin
_____________________________
Maybe you're a very UNCOMMON
PERSON ....
The “Uncommon Person” /
“The Non-Ordinary Person”
Already Feels Different -- in a Very
Non-Assimilate-able Way.
Many people really do, but for the truly 'uncommon one'
it's sort of a double-whammy to carry!" ~ Abraham
Maslow
• UNHAPPY 'UNCOMMON' PEOPLE are sensitive, creative,
individualistic, savvy, higher-consciousness oriented
people -
artistic, intellectual, awkward, mystical, musical,
poetic,
idealistically spiritual or real shitty like the rest of
us can be. …
And yet, not exactly the ordinary majority.
Fortunately, in large due to social media,
the ‘conversation’ is now very visibly out on the table.
• THERAPY ? So
you’d probably need a true to the bone authentic 'Non-traditional
Therapist' who understands “non-mainstream”, non-Matrix lifestyles
-- and who is deeply empathic and genuinely understands ‘uncommon' and
‘unusual’ or ‘non-ordinary’ people - who are quite unique or gifted, yet
unhappy people.
• You may be a very 'individual' person who feels very
naturally inward, spiritual oriented - and yet you're struggling to get
‘worldly’ problems/emotional issues handled realistically and with
integrity as well -- yet without you having to commit to any spiritual path
whatsoever.
I offer ‘Nothing’ to ‘Believe’ in. That’s a pun.
Just the emergence of your own individual ‘true knowing’ and personal
excellence. I want to assist you in discovering a 'natural unfolding' of
unshakable balance, boundless wisdom and joy. And your innate good humor -
Liberating a new sense of caring and connectedness with yourself, other
people and the universe. An expanded inner acceptance and outer
effectiveness.
• Akasa Levi, DhMA (D.Min) ~ 310-450-2268
Supervision and Spiritual direction -
our counseling therapist/facilitator -
our friend. Akasa’s BIO/Profile
is at the Table of Contents.
I offer NO promises or religious dogma -
• We practice as Buddhist ministers / pastoral
counselors, not as licensed MFT or PhD clinical psychologists.
We take in a much broader scope than just the
psychological. We address the cultivation
of a very contemporary metaphysical Spirit in this
difficult modern media society we live in.
Educating the Spirit also, gives you a wider, stronger
inner-base and space to work with.
• ‘True’ Happiness is totally / almost
totally independent of the unavoidable effects of ‘everyday’ circumstances
and conditions. Really 'true freedom' as they've spoken about in Asian
teachings for millennia. You may want to talk with someone - like me -
someone who has training in both worlds: psychology AND spirituality.
• At “Spiritual Adulthood” we offer a uniquely
combined counseling -- an innovative, holistic, Asian-based ‘spiritual
variation' of therapy grounded in pragmatic, practical Buddhist
psychology. Created for intelligent people - sensitive people - creative
people - odd, uncommon unhappy people…
" THE GREATEST RISK
IS NOT TAKING ONE! "
This form of Counseling Therapy can be called many
things --• Spiritual-based Counseling • Psycho/Spiritual Therapy •
Spiritual Direction
• Spiritual-oriented Life Coaching • Tribal and Religious
leaders and shamans the world over. The Good Ones doing good healing practices.
• It's been going on effectively for 1000's of years ...
• This is not a traditional Western licensed
clinical psychotherapy -- nor is it 'Religious'. Religious suggests it’s being
done on their clock, on their time. ‘Spiritual’ suggests it is happening on your
time individually, it’s all about you -- It is 'Spiritual', which takes in
everything ‘sacred’ human culture and benevolent
well intentioned thought has ever created.
• Akasa Levi, DhMA (D.Min) ~
310-450-2268
Supervision and Spiritual
direction -
our counseling
therapist/facilitator -
our friend. Akasa’s
BIO/Profile
is at the Table of Contents.
• We practice as Buddhist
ministers / pastoral counselors, not as licensed MFT or PhD clinical
psychologists.
We take in a much broader scope than just the
psychological. We address the cultivation
of a very contemporary metaphysical Spirit in this
difficult modern media society we live in.
Educating the Spirit also, gives you a wider, stronger
inner-base and space to work with.
____________________________________
SOME IMPORTANT Preliminary
DETAILS ~
or just skip 'em and Keep Reading . . .
or just skip 'em and Keep Reading . . .
-:¦:- The SPIRITUAL ADULTHOOD PROJECT
•♦• The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA guided
by AKASA LEVI
• I’m a ONE MAN SHOP ~ Always have been. I counsel both
adult Women and Men in INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL THERAPY sessions with a strong
Buddhist-informed theoretical base, as well as good Western modalities like
psycho-dynamic analysis and CBT ( cognitive-behavioral therapy ) spinoffs. I
use “Mindfulness” approaches to approach the highly dissatisfied mind,
discomforted feelings, and disruptive emotions in they’re ’process’. Later on
you’re welcome to move on to group meditation and sharing sessions if you wish,
as your tolerances’ get fit.
• RELATIONSHIP Counseling for Couples, Partnering issues,
Gender and Identity issues. We only offer Real Life sessions, with real
live people in the room. Inter-active, face to face, very personal, kind and
caring as well as ‘tough-love’ - and the occasional directive ‘tasks’ and even
homework when appropriate - in clear, truthful, hopefully effective
sessions. “Relationships” can be difficult. Period. Everyone knows that.
__________________________________________________
PLEASE NOTE ~
A Few House Responsibilities - Here’s the Deal…
A Few House Responsibilities - Here’s the Deal…
Dear Gals n’ Guys ~
• I gotta’ be sorta strict-ish about your
life-arrangements affecting you’re just being here, time-issues and other
important ‘engine maintenance’ responsibilities - so we have the way more clear
- we have the freedom to ‘work’ the session - and not fuss around with the
logistics of Details -- unless of course this is a part of the way you
roll…
• ALL counseling sessions are all 'Live' counseling
visits at my little studio ‘Shrine’. Again guys, No Skype. My Steady
counseling clients are limited to our immediate local area - so you can be
on time and I can run a tight little ship. Thank you for hearing this ~ really.
• PHONE COUNSELING-sessions will probably happen
later on, here and there - but only when necessary for
'established clients' with me.
• I can offer you a First-Time FREE phone consultation
to local Los Angeles area inquirers. 1-310-450-2268. I will certainly need
to talk with you on the phone first. It's all about developing a solid,
sound 'ground' of genuine communication -- and what it is to be a responsible
client.
• Please ASK ME PLENTY of
QUESTIONS, and really feel into if "Spiritual Adulthood"
sessions might be helpful for you --
• ONGOING REGULAR STEADY
SESSIONS are by a mutually
arranged fee, date and time by appointment only.
• I can offer AFFORDABLE
NEGOTIABLE sliding-scale
lower-fee sessions for those who really need it. We do not take insurance
coverage, health plans or Medicare, Obama Care, HMOs etc. I do not accept
any electronic plastic as a payment means - only cash of check. I must charge
full going fee For A First Time Visit. I can discuss sliding scales
after that.
• I offer a much more generous EXTENDED SESSION-TIME than
is usual... ALL sessions are given much more than the standard
therapy-hour's time (:55 min ). We offer you sessions usually about one
hour+20 min (:80 min) to allow plenty of time to go really deep as you
need to during your session that particular day... without feeling cut off or
hurried out the door..
• A FIRST-TIME PHONE
INQUIRY ( FREE ) is always good
to have with you - and much more immediate for me to respond to you, if
you briefly write down your issues and some feelings before you call me. Please
do not email instead, the live voice is so important to hear --- (
ambivalent emails back and forth really does not work well at all ) Please
simply PHONE ME - and that may take courage on your part, but
‘courage’ is what we will also be working on… we'd need to talk 'Live' first -
if you sincerely wish to inquire further.
• BEST PHONE TIMES for reaching me on any particular day:
NOON to 6 PM weekdays --
usually Tuesday thru Thursday.
Usually 6:00 pm being the
last client of the day.
Friday as a reschedule day
or as a spill-over day.
These are the best
guidelines to try’n reach me --
1-310-450-2268.
• And I just may be in session when you call.
LEAVE A MESSAGE + phone number + email.
When can you best be reached.
That’s what this is basically about at core -
Becoming Reachable.
‘How can we reach you’ --
and please speak very slowly and clearly.
It is important that you’re going try your best
to make yourself ‘accessible’ -- so we can reach you --
-- and you can reach us -- and best, you can 'reach'
yourself --
Buddha Learned How to Become an Easy to Reach Person.
No barriers of protection. Nothing to protect.
• We can possibly refer you to qualified Buddhist
counselors
or therapists in your own local or regional area if you
email me.
Again…
"The
Greatest Risk Is Not Taking One"
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
WHAT CONTINUES to FOLLOW is going to take some more
reading time - and
some more patience on your part to read and sort yourself
thru.
You do not have to read it all at once - Read at your
leisure.
TAKE IT IN SMALL BITES, GRAZE, SCROLL and SKIP AROUND IN
IT --
YOU'LL CERTAINLY KNOW A LOT MORE about what you need
when you're done reading some/all of this ... hang in
there
______________________________________
BE COURAGEOUS !
" As human beings, our greatness lies
not so much in being able to remake the world...
as a being able to remake ourselves.
WE must become the changes
we want to see in the world " ~ Gandhi
" You began as a Creation, now become a Creator.
Never wait at a barrier " ~ Rumi
" The limits of the possible can only be defined
by going beyond them into the impossible." ~ Arthur
C. Clarke
“ Good, but impossible resolutions, are simply checks
that men draw on a bank where they have no account.
Start with the eminently 'possible'. ~ Oscar Wilde
" While one person hesitates
because they feel insecure and inferior,
the other is busy making mistakes aplenty
and becoming quite superior." ~ The Tao
“DESTINY” is every step
we’re taking
and going thru right now to get there.”
~ Grandfather Bearheart, Creek elder
OVERVIEW ...
" There is no such thing as a 'problem'
without a 'gift' for you in its hands.
Sometimes you have problems
because you need their gifts.
It is through gifts that you grow." ~ Richard Bach
THE ‘PROBLEM’
and going thru right now to get there.”
~ Grandfather Bearheart, Creek elder
OVERVIEW ...
" There is no such thing as a 'problem'
without a 'gift' for you in its hands.
Sometimes you have problems
because you need their gifts.
It is through gifts that you grow." ~ Richard Bach
THE ‘PROBLEM’
“ BRING YOU LIFE BACK
FROM THE 'EXILE' OF YOUR SPIRIT
and INTO A SACRED BALANCE AGAIN ! “ ~ Poet Laureate
Robert Bly
• WHATEVER IT IS, YOU'RE
"A-NOT-SO-HAPPY-PERSON"
Many, many folks aren’t. We're in very agitated, anxious,
turbulent, uncertain times right now.
Career & Life-Purpose Despair, Emotional Stuff,
Mid-Life Changes or Painful Relationship
Dilemmas personally don't make it easier. So please, go
'see' somebody& amp; really start
working it out. 'You' - really being heard from way deep
inside and coached forward &
through by a counseling therapist who can deeply
understand you – human to human.
So get out of your own 'protective' self-imposed
isolation: “I can do it by myself” mantra -
reinforced by ego-pride-shame-hurt-loss-fear-cycles
& just put yourself into counseling sessions for awhile. It'll be good
for you - you'll get some relief, some resolution and even some joy and
laughter.
This is where you can work
on your Stuff and your Soul
on a 'frequent enough' basis
to make a really significant,
noticeable difference.
There is no obligation to have
a free phone-consultation with us
to see if this could feel good
and workable for you...
ARE YOU FEELING ‘DISSED’? ~
DISAPPOINTED DISCOURAGED DISTRESSED Disagreeable
Discomforted Disconnected Disconcerted Discontent Disdainful Disgruntled
Disgusted Disharmonious and Disheartened -- Disillusioned Disintegrated
Distressed Dismayed Dismal Disorganized Disoriented Disregarded Dissatisfied
Distant Distraught Distrustful and very Disturbed About It All --
This whole ‘Dis’ this or ‘Dis’ that thing - about your
life. You CAN change it! We can help support and assist you. 'Therapy' is a
huge personal challenge - but YOU DO have to show up for yourself to make it
happen.
"Eighty percent of success is just showing up"
~ Woody Allen
Please,
Get some quality counseling therapy -
somewhere, anywhere -
that may be a place for you to start.
Be very welcome to inquire about us.
Again, maybe you are
a very UNCOMMON PERSON ....
_________________________________
" Every community needs
a group of angelic troublemakers "
~ Bayard Rustin, black activist social reformer
"Our constant 'Inner-Inquiry' is our Passion
and our Passion is our Life-task. All the rest
is the wonderful madness of art." ~ Henry James
"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be
anything!
Anything that will assert Integrity of Purpose
and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers,
the creatures of the commonplace,
the slaves of the ordinary." ~ Sir Cecil Beaton
"Be not afraid of absurdity - do not shrink from the
fantastic!
Within a dilemma - choose the most unheard-of,
the most audacious solution!
De l'audace! De l'audace!
Et encore de l'audace! Be audacious!" ~ Karen Blixen
__________
___________
____________
WHAT CONTINUES to FOLLOW is going to take some more
reading time - and
some more patience on your part to read and sort yourself
thru.
You do not have to read it all at once - Read at your
leisure.
TAKE IT IN SMALL BITES, GRAZE, SCROLL and SKIP AROUND IN
IT --
YOU'LL CERTAINLY KNOW A LOT MORE about what you need
when you're done reading some/all of this ... hang in
there
______________________________________
Another Basic Problem:
Emotions get to overrun and run thinking.
Thoughts get so embedded in feelings ~
Confusion, hopeless, numb... angry and sad
MAYBE YOU'VE BECOME SO OVERWHELMINGLY ‘IDENTIFIED’
and OVER-INVOLVED IN YOUR OWN DIFFICULT 'LIFE-STORY'
That You Can’t See The Forest Because of All The Trees!
Your 'Story' of being such a driven 'Winner' or a
victimized 'Loser' - or just a plain Nobody ’out there’ - you're just so
overwhelmed, you’ve become under-whelming - feeling so isolated - that you just
plain 'hurt'. Maybe you’ve lost the path, or forgotten the way, or just feel so
ineffective in your 'deeper' inner-search. Or you’ve just never yet really
sought out Who ‘You’ really, really are - ‘in here’. Inside.
RE-DISCOVERING and DEFINING "Yourself" -
totally defined in/on your OWN TERMS ! ( not society’s term’s or religion's
terms or family’s terms ). YOUR Own Terms is what 'Therapy of the Spirit' is
largely about ! Therapy of the 'True' Spirit is really where ALL mind / spirit
/ soul-healing MUST start. True therapy has to start and end with the Heart !
It’s been that way in every culture all through time! It's just only that until
very recently, the 'choices' of that kind of healings have always been so few
and restricted in availability to either doctors or shamans or the church. No
longer. Every approach world-wide is now available to you! It's from this very
Big Approach that you can truly find yourself and then truly give back to
others in a valuable, clear, easy-going and natural way ... true 'Goodness'. Faith
in ourselves simply as Humans-restored. And it can be 'Spiritual' AND YET
totally NON-RELIGIOUS.. Please consider that!
____________________________________________________
“The SPIRITUAL ADULTHOOD PROJECT” is a Buddhist-based
Psycho/Spiritual oriented Counseling and Alternative Therapy. The world renown
and respected ancient tradition of Buddhist Mindfulness Psychology is a path of
cultivating a 'transcendent' - a 'higher sanity' - a very clear-seeing ability
for yourself. By developing this wisdom understanding, you are now available to
generate a much more all-inclusive compassion - which leads to an authentic
peace in ourselves, which we can then extend out to our family, friends and the
world. Learning and using a 2500 year-old tested self-development approaches
and techniques towards a clear, wholesome, peaceful, joyful mind. Traditional
Buddhism is absolutely NOT a ‘religious path’ but more of a practical,
pragmatic, highly intelligent ‘Humanism’ - There are NO gods and NO worship and
NO religious superstitions involved in anything we offer in any way whatsoever.
Unless you do want to hear it. Working archetype-forms that are really just
good stories…. Or not. The Buddha ( 528 BC ) himself was an atheist. There are
some challenging bewilderments in Buddhism for the mind. Zen is founded on it….
Just discovering and uncovering the essence of a sane, wise, peaceful, pure
spirit that is YOU.
_______________________________________
“And then the day came
when the risk to
remain tight in a bud
was more than the risk
it took to blossom” ~ Anais Nin
_____________________________
" FORGIVENESS Is Giving Up
All Hope For A Better Past! " ~ Aba Gayle
“It is still up to you to choose
to join with ‘truth’ or with ‘illusion’.
But remember that to choose one
is to let go of the other.” ~ A Course In Miracles
“ If Nothing Changes, Nothing Changes !
When the Way comes to an end, then change -
having changed, you pass through." ~ I Ching
ABOUT WHO WE ARE and HOW WE THINK:
A JOYFUL DISCLAIMER and A Statement of Philosophy ...
Who We Are In Our Hearts and In Our Heads
as a 'Spiritually-Based' Counseling Service ~
that too is certainly going to affect you !
The Buddhist’s Theory of Everything.
We are truly 'non-denominational' and 'non-religious' and
welcome all journeyers of all Ways,
or especially even those of no way. 'Spiritual' doesn't
mean 'Religion'. Actually, you can't even become a 'Buddhist', as that too is
just another 'label'. The ONE Web of existence, life & consciousness
has many 'Names' in many different world cultures. The ONE Web 'itself', really
has NO name at all. All cultures on the planet call it ‘The One’ ( 1. ) So we
just simply call it "EVERYTHING". All of 'creation' itself. ‘Creator’
& ‘Creation’ is all the same thing, the same One. We simply leave it at
that. One is One and there is nothing outside of it. It's All ONE. You gotta’
love it all. We try to love it All. Most of the time, piece by piece in peace.
" There is no such thing as a strictly 'secular'
therapy - or that a therapy is 'non-spiritual' .. That’s where establishment
psychological sciences are poetically naïve. EVERY 'therapy' is spiritual if it
deals with matters of the heart and emotions and feelings. Buddhist approaches
in particular, are 'spiritual' BUT non-religious. The historical Buddha was a
Humanist & a Pragmatist. There's a freedom of intelligence &
openness to that - a big difference. " ~ Abraham Maslow
• WHY of ALL Possible Things - are we Buddhist-based ???
We particularly use the Buddhist branding name, because
those Asian cultures have got some of the most skillfully mature, very
grounded, least misleading, most inclusive and the very best of the
mind-healing techniques available so far - so far as we've come across. So we
use 'em. And we're still strongly very eclectic: we use many diverse approaches
- so we'll use what YOU need, not what 'we' like best or 'believe in'. We're on
your side! We practice as Buddhist ministers not as licensed MFT or clinical
psychologists.
_______________________________________________
Psychological Inflexibility: an A.C.T View of Suffering
The core conception of ACT is that psychological
suffering is usually caused by the interface between human language and
cognition, and the control of human behavior by previous direct experience. And
failure. ‘Psychological inflexibility’ is then to emerge from experiential
avoidance, cognitive entanglement, attachment of a conceptualized ‘self’, loss
of contact with the present, and the resulting failure to take needed
behavioral steps in accord with core values. An extensive research program on a
theory of convoluted language and cognition, contemporary Relational Frame
Theory (RFT / ACT ) takes the view that trying to change difficult thoughts and
feelings as a means of coping can be counter productive, but new, powerful
alternatives are available - including ACT: acceptance, mindfulness, cognitive
defusion, values, and committed action therapies..
Cognitive fusion -- the domination of stimulus functions based
on literal language even when that process is a harmful, experiential avoidance
-- the phenomenon that occurs when a person is unwilling to remain in contact
with particular private experiences and takes steps to alter the form or
frequency of these events and the contexts that occasion them, even when doing
so causes psychological harm the domination of a conceptualized self over the
"self as context" that emerges from perspective taking and relational
frames lack of values, confusion of goals with values, and other values
problems that can underlie the failure to build broad and flexible repertoires
and an inability to build a larger unit of behavior through commitment to
behavior that moves in the direction of chosen values
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We'll gladly give you a FREELY offered Local Phone
Consultation –
No Obligation ! - or call to set up an actual appointment
• 310-450-2268
The phone is much more personal - and some quality
'personal attention'
is probably what you need for yourself right now -- more
'closeness'
rather than distance... We do know that when you're
feeling vulnerable, skittish or just plain bad and sad -- sometimes 'reaching
out' is hard -- please, do take up the challenge!
"Take the first step in faith.
You don't have to see the whole staircase
-- just take the first step." ~ Martin Luther King
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we also offer to the community ~
• Prior to Akasa Levi’s partial retirement from group
meditation teaching in 2014 with a Parkinson’ diagnosis - he Creatively-minded
Corporate/Business Consultation: Human Resource Resolution
and 'Spirit In The Workplace' development. Very way out
of the box stuff. We also consult
on the American 'spiritual mind-set', 'The Crisis In
Faith', 'Loss of Classical Mythologies
to Technology', 'What's Wrong With Our Minds and
Culture?' and current 'religious trends'
(trends that are quite unconscious, un self-identified
& dreadfully naive within the
contemporary American/Western cultural praadigm as a
whole.
• We Counsel all manifestations of alternative &
emerging life-styles: mixed racial/religious
partnerings & marriages; gay & bi
curious, str8 still exploring. It's the 21st Century:
It's a big wide open world out there now... We offer
bridge-building between communities:
people of all colors, religions, diverse cultures
& ethnic origins. A pluralistic society brings
so many awesome enrichments as well as struggles of
balance & new found respect ...
"If you do not see God
in the next person you meet,
you need look no further." ~ Gandhi
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“La vraie générosité envers l'avenir consiste à tout
donner au présent.”
“True generosity towards the future is to give everything
to the present.” ~ Albert Camus
" THE GREATEST RISK IS NOT TAKING ONE! "
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QUOTES ~ The Gift of Wise Words
To measure you by your smallest deed
is to judge the ocean by the frailty of it's foam.
To judge you by your failures is to cast blame
upon the seasons for their inconsistencies ~
Kahlil Gibran
What good you do is of little significance,
But it is very important that you do it.
WE must be the change you want
to see in the world " ~ Mahatma Gandhi
"If we have no peace,
it is because we have forgotten
that we belong to each other." ~ Mother Teresa
"You yourself,
as much as anyone in the entire Universe,
deserves your OWN affection, care and love.
You can explore the whole universe looking
for someone who is more deserving of your
love and affection than you are yourself...
and you will not find that person anywhere.
To be maximum effective -
the Practice of Loving-Kindness
must absolutely begin with yourself!" ~
The Buddha
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“Who was born first, 'You' or 'The World'?
As long as you give first place to ‘The World’
-- you are bound by it.
Once you realize, beyond all trace of doubt,
that the ‘world’ is in you --
-- and not 'you' in the world,
right then and there, you are out of it.
Of course, your body remains in the world
and 'of' the world,
but YOU are not d-e-l-u-d-e-d by it.”
~ Nisargadatta Maharaj
They drew a circle that shut me out --
Calling me a heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win --
We drew a circle that took them in.
~ Edwin Markham "Outwitted"
"Do not look back in Anger,
or forward in Fear,
but around in Awareness" ~ James Thurber
"At night make me fearlessly one
with the Darkness ~
In the morning make me
optimistically one with the Light" ~ Wendell Berry
You may want to hi-lite, copy and send
the quote below to people you know...
some of the wisest guidance you will
ever read, put to personal use or offer.
Here it is ~
"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your
heart.
Try to love the 'Questions' themselves - like locked
rooms
and like books that are written in a foreign language.
Do not, just right now, seek for the Answers.
The 'Answers' which cannot now be given to you -
because you would not be able to actually ‘live’ them.
And the point is to ‘live’ everything -
experiencing everything.
At present, you need to live the Questions themselves.
Perhaps you will then gradually, without even noticing
it,
live along some day into the true Answer. Your
answer."
~ Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet" (1903-1908)
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We are non-denominational and definitely non-religious
and
welcome all journeyers of all Ways or even none.
-:¦:- The SPIRITUAL ADULTHOOD PROJECT •
buddhistcounselingmindfulnesstherapy.blogspot.com • Buddhist-based
'alternative' approaches to relating with Your True Core Self • One-to-One
individual therapy • Relationship counseling • Partnering issues • Difficult to
communicate feelings • Disheartened anxious insecure Wounded Spirit • Counsel
for 'Uncommon People' 'Rebels' 'Creatives' 'Sensitives' cerebral verbal
artistic gifted ~ yet really Unhappy. "Mindfulness Insight"
cultivates a calm, kind, wise, deep liberation with a "Big Good-Hearted
Mind"
The SPIRITUAL ADULTHOOD PROJECT is a Member of S.E.N.
(Spiritual Emergency Network
at Esalen Institute in Big Sur). We are an
outreach-project of “The Laughing Buddha Sangha”
in Santa Monica, CA 90405 - and utilize the practice-approaches
offered by Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre/Santa Rosa, CA. Our
favorite meditation center here in town is InsightLA.org in Santa Monica about
5 blocks away right up the street.
♦ The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA - guided by AKASA LEVI, a
former ordained American Buddhist forest monk who lived many years in rural
Asia. Akasa coaches a small, salon-sized Satsang sitting group for Buddhist
Mindfulness Meditation with practice discussion and Dharma theory study. Now a
feisty 75, this eccentric, really funny ole' Dharma-mentor teaches in his
little meditation shrine room filled with statues of the Buddha. He invites
anyone - beginers welcome - practicing an 'awareness meditation' to come sit.
end