Black Sesame Seed Reduces High Blood Pressure

Black Sesame Seed Reduces High Blood Pressure

HEALTH -- Papaya Decreases Prostate Cancer Risk by 63%

 That’s the benefit seen by men in this study when they ate 390 grams of papaya per week (that’s half a large papaya and carries just 200 calories).

How does papaya deliver such health benefits? It’s a rich source of the three anti-cancer super nutrients beta-carotene, lycopene and beta-cryptoxanthin—all known to reduce prostate cancer risk (and breast cancer!). But there’s something special about papaya, because researchers recently discovered that our bodies absorb those crucial nutrients far better from papaya than from other sources like carrots or tomatoes—in fact, up to 300% better.

How is that possible? The answer is fascinating: this super fruit stores these nutrients in unique micro-crystalline structures which greatly enhance their availability upon digestion. Papaya is also very rich in potassium, and is therefore one of the most alkalizing fruits available: in fact it has nearly double (175%) the alkalizing power of pure lemon juice! It’s great as a smoothie all on its own, added to smoothies with several other fruit or vegetables, or just with yogurt on top for breakfast.

This low-calorie super fruit deserves special consideration as part of any healthy, fruit and vegetable centered diet meant to improve health and reduce cancer risk.
 

#ProstateCancer #Papaya #Lycopene #Smoothie
 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21627352

Pāli Word a Day for May 30, 2014

 

abaddha — unfettered, free, unbound

Daily Words of the Buddha for May 30, 2014

Kāyappakopaṃ rakkheyya;
kāyena saṃvuto siyā.
Kāyaduccaritaṃ hitvā,
kāyena sucaritaṃ care.

Let one guard oneself against irritability in bodily action;
let one be controlled in deed.
Abandoning bodily misconduct,
let one practice good conduct in deed.

Dhammapada 17.231

The Dhammapada: The Buddha's Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita

Remembering Maya Angelou (1928-2014)

 

I'm both saddened and uplifted this morning with the knowledge that our dear astounding example of true, deep and full living has passed.  We will continue to be inspired and to learn from her greatness, resilience, gratitude, larger than life gifts and talent - wisdom.  Thank you, Maya Angelou.

"ON THE PULSE OF MORNING"
Maya Angelou
, 20 January 1993


 
A Rock, A River, A Tree
Hosts to species long since departed,
Mark the mastodon.
The dinosaur, who left dry tokens
Of their sojourn here
On our planet floor,
Any broad alarm of their of their hastening doom
Is lost in the gloom of dust and ages.
But today, the Rock cries out to us, clearly, forcefully,
Come, you may stand upon my
Back and face your distant destiny,
But seek no haven in my shadow.
I will give you no hiding place down here.
You, created only a little lower than
The angels, have crouched too long in
The bruising darkness,
Have lain too long
Face down in ignorance.
Your mouths spelling words
Armed for slaughter.
The rock cries out today, you may stand on me,
But do not hide your face.
Across the wall of the world,
A river sings a beautiful song,
Come rest here by my side.
Each of you a bordered country,
Delicate and strangely made proud,
Yet thrusting perpetually under siege.
Your armed struggles for profit
Have left collars of waste upon
My shore, currents of debris upon my breast.
Yet, today I call you to my riverside,
If you will study war no more.
Come, clad in peace and I will sing the songs
The Creator gave to me when I
And the tree and stone were one.
Before cynicism was a bloody sear across your brow
And when you yet knew you still knew nothing.
The river sings and sings on.
There is a true yearning to respond to
The singing river and the wise rock.
So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew,
The African and Native American, the Sioux,
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek,
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh,
The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,
The privileged, the homeless, the teacher.
They hear. They all hear
The speaking of the tree.
Today, the first and last of every tree
Speaks to humankind. Come to me, here beside the river.
Plant yourself beside me, here beside the river.
Each of you, descendant of some passed on
Traveller, has been paid for.
You, who gave me my first name,
You Pawnee, Apache and Seneca,
You Cherokee Nation, who rested with me,
Then forced on bloody feet,
Left me to the employment of other seekers--
Desperate for gain, starving for gold.
You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot...
You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru,
Bought, sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare
Praying for a dream.
Here, root yourselves beside me.
I am the tree planted by the river,
Which will not be moved.
I, the rock, I the river, I the tree
I am yours--your passages have been paid.
Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need
For this bright morning dawning for you.
History, despite its wrenching pain,
Cannot be unlived, and if faced with courage,
Need not be lived again.
Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts.
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day
You may have the courage
To look up and out upon me,
The rock, the river, the tree, your country.
No less to Midas than the mendicant.
No less to you now than the mastodon then.
Here on the pulse of this new day
You may have the grace to look up and out
And into your sister's eyes,
Into your brother's face, your country
And say simply
Very simply
With hope
Good morning.

Photo +Gina Fiedel

Daily Words of the Buddha for May 29, 2014

Diso disaṃ yaṃ taṃ kayirā,
verī vā pana verinaṃ;
micchāpaṇihitaṃ cittaṃ
pāpiyo naṃ tato kare.


Whatever an enemy might do to an enemy,
or a foe to a foe,
the ill-directed mind
can do to you even worse.


Udāna 4.33

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

"Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God." ~ Maya Angelou

 

(b. 1928 - d. 2014)

I Ching For The Week of May 19, 2014

#10 - Lü:  Mating with the Tiger

Above:   Qian/Gan --  Heaven; energy, Spirit power
Below:    Dui  -- Open: easy, responsive
                       
The Wisdom:

The heavens are sounding
Slow down so you can hear
Between each step is a pause
In that pause life resides

It is in the tiger’s cave where spirit mates with man. For you at this time be aware that all of your small accomplishments have led you to this point, the point of making the trek up the mountain to make an offering. If your offering is correct and your approach is with dignity and humility, you mate with spirit. If your steps are too fast and you are rude, brash and do not adhere to the ancestral ways of good behavior, the tiger is no longer a guide, it is a fierce guardian of spirit, and that is very dangerous.

You have come to a crossroads where two paths meet. You are to make a choice. One path is hidden in shadow. Beyond the shadow, the path seems clear and promises guaranteed abundance. The other path is clear and enticing, however it promises nothing. There is no glimpse of success or conquest. This is the path that leads up the mountain of the tiger’s cave where spirit resides. This path though bright and clear is difficult and fraught with many challenges and is up the steep mountain.

This is a ritual journey that seems, at its core, to be very familiar. Intercourse, spiritually, sexually and in commerce, must be treated with honor and great care. It is this intercourse that can bring you the focus and energy to accomplish your goals, if your behavior is honorable.  You have chosen your life path before and did well, but this time much more is at stake and if you follow the shadow path, as your ego would prompt you to do, you may make it to your goal unscathed on the outside, the way you are seen by others. They will praise and honor you. While on the inner plane, spirit will have not allowed you into the mating cave and you will have much, but feel empty and unable to connect with your spirit force, the force of joy and love.

Your companions on this journey are of utmost importance, for you cannot do this alone. Choose well and hold them close. This is not the time to try to lift people up to your level, whether in business, social interactions, or in your personal relationships. Be kind, loving, and compassionate for sure, but be cautious as to who is rolling with you at this very important juncture on your path. Giving your power away at this time will be disastrous.

It is now of great importance to travel with persons of like desires and goals for the greater good for all. For us as individuals, and for us as children of Gaia, we must demonstrate to her nature the respect and care that is her due. This will bring light to the path and will please Spirit and the ancestors who are always there as guides and angels. The tiger on your path also sees this and protects you and will not bring harm to you, your relationships, family or tribe.

Relationships can be difficult at this time. Nurture them with loving care, fierce honesty and great dignity. Do not stoop to petty arguments that spin and spin and go nowhere. It will be of great benefit to find the loving silence that can be a salve to many wounds acquired on this road less travelled.  You know how it should look and feel and you can make it that way. This is fully in your power to do…become the loving heart, and the soulful companion to friends, associates and lovers. In this way you will find what you have been looking and hoping for…actions that feed the best in others and in yourself.

It is important during this process of personal growth, and in your desire for change for the greater good, that you treat others who come through your life, no matter what position or attitude they may hold, with respect and kindness. It is vital to understand that the way you are in the world is your soul’s reflection. If your interactions with others are tinged with mean spiritedness, disrespect, or harshness, that negativity will stick to your energy field; it will be an energetic dark fog that can be felt by all you interact with, be it family members, friends, associates, or strangers. This energy repels the good and attracts more of its own kind of negativity. In short, you will attract exactly what you project. Should you have a buildup of negativity held in place by improper conduct, you will become blinded to your true path of learning, seeing, and living your truth.

In essence these words are saying that if you are not fully aware as you conduct your daily life, and have your head in the clouds as you step into the road in front of an oncoming bus or as you climb the mountain and miss your foothold, you will be part of a negative whole that is eating away at the world’s peoples. By being aware and showing kindness to your companions, you will not slip or fall, you will be warned, supported and loved as you move into the space of satisfactory conclusion. This action that begins with you will spread as a beacon of light to all of earth’s people and will bring hope to others who are trapped in a darkness of their own making.

The simple good manners that we should have learned as young people, such as the words please, excuse me, and thank you, carry a lot of weight as we move through our days, as does the respect for elders, whether they are different from you or in a different strata of society.

Look scrupulously to your inner conduct: If you find jealousy, greed, or envy in your thoughts, do your best to become aware of this mental projection. Correct it and let it go (including the feelings of guilt that may have arisen for having had this “bad” thought). Jealousy breeds more jealousy, judgment breeds more judgment, just as kindness breeds more kindness.

The words you think are more powerful than the words you say. See the negative words and change them on the spot. This action, as simple as it seems, has an enormous impact and will feed you in a very deep and positive way.

It is the magic of good manners and proper conduct that can open the doors to love, health, and abundance. This kind of correct behavior will bring joy to you and to those around you. Joy nourishes creativity. The joining of joy and creativity brings a deeply felt satisfaction that is a healing balm to your heart and soul, opening the doorway to prosperity in all things.

New and glorious relationships can be seen on the horizon. Be open and trusting of heart. When you see the reflection of truth, know that you are loved.

If you love, speak of love; if you are grateful, speak words of gratitude; if you are in need, ask for assistance with grace and no expectations.

This week, make kindness, compassion, and good manners your exercise. When you do, you will reap swift results. And never forget: We are all on this boat together.

Peace and many blessings



BobbyK    

www.bobbyklein.com

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “HONOR” SOMEONE?

            Our abusive or indifferent parents would have us think it means letting them get away with murder.  Do they want us to believe that we have to obey them unquestioningly, even though we are now adults, and even if what they want harms us?

             I think we each need to define what "honoring" means to us and find a definition we are comfortable with.  To some, it might mean limited contact, an occasional card, or a brief visit.  To others, it might mean not calling the police and having your parents arrested for child abuse, molestation, stealing from you, using your social security number to take out credit cards and ruining your credit, stalking you, or any of the dozens of other prosecutable crimes committed against many of us.  And to still others, it might mean letting your indifferent loved ones live their lives in peace and be who they are, while you live yours in peace on the other side of the country.  "You stay in your backyard, and we'll stay in our backyard."

             But one thing honoring does NOT mean is that you have no choice but to tolerate their abuse.  Honoring does not mean that you never confront, or set limits on someone's behavior.  Honoring does not mean you have to give up all hope of ever being treated nicely, and sacrifice your own health and well-being for their  enjoyment.

              Even if you must divorce your parents and never see them again, it doesn't mean that you're dishonoring them. It just means that you accept that they are the way they are and that they'll never change, which in truth is honoring them as people whose right it is to be everything they want to be, that you're ok with it, and even that you still feel love for them, but you just can't stick around for it anymore. Given the unfortunate reality of their innate abuse, you can still choose to set limits on them or have no contact with them, because they are destructive people. You can honor them by accepting them for who they are, not expecting change, and letting them live their own way in peace, but at the same time honor yourself and your own right to live in peace as well. Which means choosing NOT to be in their presence when they are abusing you.

            Telling the TRUTH is NOT dishonoring someone. I have always believed that if you don’t want anyone to know what you did, then just DON’T DO IT! If an abuser is so sure that he’s right and that his behavior is justified, then he should have no problem telling everyone, or having YOU tell everyone, what he did, and still holding his head up high. He should WANT you to tell the truth about him to everyone you meet, since it will only make him look good! But if he’s ashamed for others to hear about the things he’s said and done, then maybe he needs to reassess how he acts. If you hide what someone does or cover up the truth, THAT would be dishonoring him, because it would mean that you were ashamed of him or embarrassed by him.  An abuser has no right to become angry when you rebuke him, or to accuse you of “dishonoring” him, if you are speaking the truth. HE is the one who did what he did, YOU only told the truth about it.

               One of the best ways to honor someone is to help them be the very best person that they can be. Some people need a little push along the path to righteousness and godliness. Allowing God's law of Sowing and Reaping to bring evil people to repentance is more beneficial to them than interfering with the Natural Consequences of their behavior by giving them a free ride. 

               Many of us still love our abusers, but because it is not safe to be with them, we have learned to love them from a distance. The same is true of honoring. If your parents refuse to respect your boundaries and choose to continue mistreating you, then you can limit or end, if necessary, your time with them, "honor" them from a safe distance, and still be obedient to God’s Word. You can speak the truth about your parents at all times and not be dishonoring them. Only people who want carte blanche to get away with anything would accuse you of not honoring them simply because you spoke the truth and set healthy boundaries in your relationship.


               “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the Lord.  Zechariah 8: 16-17 NIV
 

Honoring Mother's Day ...

This is what Mother's Day means for me ... to Honor Thy Earthly Mother, as defined by the Essene Gospel of Peace:

The Seventh Communion is with Our Earthly Mother --

Our Earthly Mother,
She who sends forth her Angels
To guide the roots of man
And send them deep into the blessed soil.
We invoke the Earthly Mother!
The Holy Preserver!
The Maintainer!
It is She who will restore the world!
The earth is hers,
And the fulness thereof the world,
And they that dwell therein.
We worship the good, the strong,
The beneficent Earthly Mother
And all her Angels,
Bounteous, valiant,
And full of strength;
Welfare-bestowing, kind,
And health-giving.
Through her brightness and glory
Do the plants grow up from the earth,
By the never-failing springs.
Through her brightness and glory
Do the winds blow,
Driving down the clouds
Towards the never-failing springs.
The Earthly Mother and I are One.
I have my roots in her,
And she takes her delight in me
According to the Holy Law. "

Peace be with you All.

 

 

Recipe: Roasted Spring Vegetable Cobb Salad with Honey-Herb Vinaigrette

Salad Ingredients:

2 eggs

3 slices bacon

2 small or 1 large red or golden beet, trimmed on both ends, peeled, and then chopped large

1 bunch radishes, trimmed on both ends then halved or quartered if large

1/4lb asparagus, trimmed then chopped

extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

2oz honey goat cheese, crumbled

5oz arugula, baby kale, baby spinach, or romaine (or any spring lettuce you like!)

For the Honey-Herb Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 Tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1-1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme)

salt and pepper

Instructions:

Place eggs in a saucepan then cover with cold water 1″ above the tops. Bring to a boil, place a lid on top, then remove pan from heat and let sit for 12 minutes. Drain then plunge eggs into ice water or run under cold water for a few minutes. Peel eggs when cool enough to handle then slice. (Can be done ahead of time. Cook then peel eggs and store in the refrigerator, and then slice before serving.)

Line a baking sheet with foil then place a cooling rack on top and spray with nonstick spray. Line bacon on top of cooling rack then place inside a cold oven. Turn oven to preheat to 400 degrees. Bacon will cook as oven heats up. If bacon’s not crispy enough after the oven is finished preheating, let it bake for a few more minutes. Crumble when cooled.

Toss chopped beets with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper then roast in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove sheet pan.

Toss chopped radishes with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl then add to baking sheet with beets. Roast for 10 more minutes. Remove sheet pan.

Toss chopped asparagus with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl then add to baking sheet with beets and radishes. Roast for 5 more minutes.

Meanwhile, combine ingredients for Honey-Herb Vinaigrette in a jar with a tight-fitting lid or bowl then shake or whisk to combine.

Divide lettuce between two plates then make rows of roasted vegetables, sliced hard-boiled eggs, crumbled bacon, and crumbled goat cheese. Drizzle with vinaigrette then serve.

RECIPE: Quick Breakfast Fix: On-The-Go Blueberry Muffin Smoothie

This is the perfect healthy breakfast on the go. It's packed with everything you need to get your morning started: hearty oats, antioxidant rich blueberries and super seeds like flax and chia. This is definitely the perfect start to your morning.

Ingredients

1 cup almond milk
1 banana
1/2 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
1/4 cup oats
4 ice cubes
1 Tbsp. ground flaxseeds
1/2 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. chia seeds

Directions

Combine all the ingredients in a blender starting with almond milk and ending with cinnamon. Blend for 2 minutes or until smooth. Top with chia seeds and enjoy! 

Serves 2.

Awakening To New Beginnings

Awakening brings with it two stunning realizations: That there is nothing and nobody to blame for unhappiness, ever – no parent, no boss, no event, no ‘mistake’, no bodily ‘problem’, no government, no authority figure, no substance, no presence or absence of that which is wanted or unwanted. And true joy and contentment are without cause, and never dependent on circumstances. There is no excuse for misery, and no excuse required for joy.

This kind of radical freedom and responsibility (or lack of it) can be dizzying and even terrifying at first, and bring with it profound existential uncertainty. “Nobody to blame anymore? Nothing external can make me happy? Then what’s it all about? Why do I bother? Who the hell am I?”. But stick with the uncertainty, friends. Allow the ground beneath you to open up. Be here. Breathe. Remember that only the false can die. Free fall into wonder. Taste the delight in life.

Awakening from a Caterpiller Into A Butterfly

Awakening is not a thing. It is not a goal, not a concept. It is not something to be attained. It is a metamorphosis. If the caterpillar thinks about the butterfly it is to become, saying “and then I shall have wings and antennae” there will never be a butterfly. The caterpillar must accept its own disappearance in its transformation. When the marvelous butterfly takes wing, nothing that was the caterpillar remains.

On Healing ...

Finding peace and joy in any moment is healing. But here’s the thing: healing doesn’t have to be heavy. It doesn’t have to feel like a tiresome concept that we lug around on our backs; one that holds within it the burden of our pain and suffering. It doesn’t have to be cloaked in drama. Healing can mean whatever you want it to mean; happiness, softness, awareness, forgiveness, letting go, returning to totality…

Enjoy Peace and Joy Now

The outcome of everything we want is Peace and Joy. It calls to us because we knew it once before. Having had it, we seek for it again. But whenever we seek for it in the future, we get anxious; worried that things won’t go right or fear that circumstances may change; fear the unknown. From this point of view (state of mind), we MISS the sure outcome that awaits to emerge – in THIS moment. Have faith, the outcome is sure. Those who are certain of the outcome can afford to wait, and wait without anxiety.

On Living In The Moment

Living the moment means choosing to be in a place of gratitude. Whenever I find my mind drifting to the regret of yesterday or the worry about tomorrow, I gently bring my mind into the present moment. As I have gotten older, I have come to realize that simple gratitude is a source of fulfillment. I am now less focused on what I do not have. I have learned that each day I wake up and choose to see life as a gift.. allows me to be fully present in that day. I cannot control the outcome of the day, but I can control my reactions to it.

Every Life Lesson Is A Gift

We will never live a trouble or pain free life but with each event, each heartbreak, each disaster that you live through will make you stronger, wiser more able to bear the difficulties of life and hopefully realize that these things are not sent to test us but rather to teach us and all we have to do is live through them and learn from them. Every lesson is a gift, every life is a gift, accept it and receive it graciously.

RECIPE: Easy Teriyaki Sauce & Tofu Stir Fry

RECIPE:  Easy Teriyaki Sauce

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 cups soy sauce or tamari. (Please try to buy these organic)
1/4 cup + 1 T mirin (Japanese cooking wine)
1 1/2 T maple syrup
1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp garlic
1/2 T arrowroot (this is used as a thickening agent.)
Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry
1 pkg extra firm tofu (please try to buy this organic)
5-6 handfuls of spinach
2 cups cooked quinoa
teriyaki dressing

Instructions:

In a sauce pan, mix all the ingredients on low heat for about 5-7 minutes.
Transfer to a mason jar.

RECIPE:   Teriyaki Tofu Stir Fry 

Preheat oven to 375.

Cut the tofu in cubes and place into a container.

Pour the teriyaki mixture into the container and let it marinate for at least an hour.

When it’s done marinating, use a slotted spoon to scoop up the tofu and lay it on a lined baking sheet.

Bake for about 35-45 minutes, stopping halfway through to flip and brush more sauce on the tofu.

Once the tofu is done, set it aside.

In a large saucepan, heat the cooked quinoa with the remaining sauce.
Turn down, cover and simmer for about 5-7 minutes.

Lastly add the spinach and cook just until it is slightly wilted.

Uncover and let the remaining sauce boil off. Top with the roasted tofu. Enjoy!

The mixture will thicken slightly in the fridge. When ready to use, you can try the quinoa dish. If tofu isn’t your thing, feel free to use your favorite protein.

RECIPE: Garlic Brussels Sprouts with Candied Bacon

These are not your Grandma's Brussels sprouts!

Prep time: 10 min.
Total time: 35 min.
Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut in half
2 Land O Lakes® Garlic & Herb Sauté Express® squares
1 small (1/2 cup) onion, chopped
1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed, quartered

Directions:

Heat oven to 450°F. Line bottom of 15x10x1-inch baking pan with aluminum foil; spray with no-stick cooking spray.

Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in bowl. Coat bacon slices with brown sugar mixture. Place coated bacon onto prepared pan; sprinkle with any remaining sugar mixture.

Bake 6 minutes; turn bacon strips. Bake 6-8 minutes or until browned and caramelized. Remove bacon to plate. Cool completely; cut into pieces.

Melt Sauté Express® square in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat; add onion. Cook 1-2 minutes or until softened. Add Brussels sprouts; stir to coat. Cook, without stirring, 5-6 minutes or until sprouts begin to turn golden brown. Stir sprouts; continue cooking 5-6 minutes or until golden brown. Add bacon pieces; stir to combine.

SERVE as a side dish alongside your favorite entree!

Nutritional Facts:

Calories: 250
Fat: 13g
Cholesterol: 25mg
Sodium: 560mg
Carbohydrates: 27g
Dietary Fiber: 5g
Protein: 9g

RECIPE: Quinoa Stir Fry

An easy meal that can be made in under 30 minutes. If you don’t care for quinoa, you can always use rice instead.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4-5 servings

I always have quinoa in my pantry. I love cooking with quinoa because it’s not only a plant based complete source of protein, but it’s also gluten free.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked quinoa
10 mushrooms diced (I used button mushrooms)
1/2 cup onion diced
2-3 garlic cloves minced depending on the size
1/2 cup slivered almonds
3 small carrots diced
2 T oil (I used coconut oil)
2-3 T balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

In a saucepan, saute the onions, garlic, mushrooms, carrots and oil for about 5-7 minutes on medium heat.

Then add in the cooked quinoa, almonds and balsamic and keep sauteing on medium heat for another 5 minutes or so.

Lastly, add in the salt and pepper to taste.

This should keep for about a week and a half in the fridge.

Pāli Word a Day for May 02, 2014

parāyaṇa— the destination

Daily Words of the Buddha for May 02, 2014

Na paresaṃ vilomāni,

na paresaṃ katākataṃ.

Attanova avekkheyya,

katāni akatāni ca.

Look not to the faults of others,

nor to their omissions and commissions.

But rather look to your own acts,

to what you have done and left undone.

Dhammapada 4.50

Gemstones of the Good Dhamma, 
compiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika

RECIPE: Crispy Cauliflower Buffalo Wings (Gluten-Free!)

It's crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and extremely easy to make — perfect for a weekend snack, dinner, appetizer or to bring to your next party. That is, if you still want to share after trying them!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower, chopped into bite size pieces

1 cup garbanzo bean flour

1 cup water

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. melted butter or ghee

2/3 cup hot sauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450F. In a medium size bowl, combine flour, water, garlic powder and salt.

Whisk together until smooth. Toss cauliflower into batter making sure to coat each piece completely, then place battered cauliflower on a lightly greased, non-stick baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, tossing half way through.

In the meantime, combine melted butter and hot sauce in a large bowl, stirring. When cauliflower is done, remove it from the oven and gently toss it in the hot sauce mixture. Place cauliflower back on the baking sheet and cook for an additional 25 minutes or until it becomes crispy. Allow cauliflower to cool for 15 minutes before serving. Serve with your favorite creamy dressing.

Enjoy!

HAPPY LEI DAY!

May Day is LEI DAY in Hawai'i ... Aloha Ho'olaulea!

Pāli Word a Day for May 01, 2014

paramaṃhita — the ultimate welfare

Daily Words of the Buddha for May 01, 2014

Puññameva so sikkheyya

āyataggaṃ sukhudrayaṃ.

Dānañca samacariyañca,

mettacittañca bhāvaye.

Train yourself in doing good

that lasts and brings happiness.

Cultivate generosity, the life of peace,

and a mind of boundless love.

Itivuttaka 1.22

Gemstones of the Good Dhamma,
compiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika

Don't look back ... you're not going that way.

DAILY AFFIRMATION

I possess an endless supply of creativity,

energy and tolerance for any project that I assume.

BE THE CHANGE ...

A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.

Intuition can serve as a compass. People who are highly connected to their "gut feelings" often do things a little differently.  Even when we're not at a fork in the road, wondering what to do and trying to hear that inner voice, our intuition is always there, always reading the situation, always trying to steer us the right way. 

But can we hear it? Are we paying attention? Are we living a life that keeps the pathway to our intuition unblocked? 

Feeding and nurturing our intuition, and living a life in which we can make use of its wisdom, is one key way to thrive, at work and in life.


BE THE CHANGE ...

Awaken your inner voice by being and doing something different ...  spend  time alone or let go of negative thoughts ... at any moment in your day, ask yourself:  "What is my intuition counseling me to do differently, now?"

Pāli Word a Day for April 30, 2014

akampita — that which does not tremble

Daily Words of the Buddha for April 30, 2014

Ubhinnamatthaṃ carati,

attano ca parassa ca;

paraṃ saṅkupitaṃ ñatvā,

yo sato upasammati.

Knowing that the other person is angry,

one who remains mindful and calm

acts for one's own best interest

and for the other's interest, too.

Saṃyutta Nikāya 1.188

Gemstones of the Good Dhamma, 
compiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika

Pāli Word a Day for April 29, 2014

pipāsavinaya — the dispelling of thirst