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