Before we are Koreans, Canadians, Americans, or any other nationality, we are Earth beings. That concept is central to my philosophical teachings because understanding this ultimate identity is the only way to transcend some of the challenges we currently face. But how can we grow beyond our limited sense of self to truly embrace being a child of Mother Earth? One way is to place ourselves in direct communion with the elemental earth. Of course, we mean something different when... Read more
Human beings have become the masters of all five elements on earth. We have learned to sail vast oceans and bring water to our crops. We have carved beautiful objects from wood and built massive structures with it. We have also moved tons of earth with huge machines, and we have extracted cement and asphalt to lay millions of miles of roads and other surfaces. We have extracted metal to manufacture amazing creations, from the implements of war to the... Read more
In universal Asian understanding of nature, there are five elements, or forms of energy, that make up the physical world: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Together, they create the Elemental Cycle, which gives rise to all the processes of nature as the elements interact—wood feeding fire, fire creating earth, earth forging metal, and so on. These same elements are within the human being, too, in various proportions, and balancing them within the energy body is an important key to... Read more
In spiritual circles, there has long been much talk about the spiritual keys to abundance, often called “the law of attraction,” which suggests that everything on the physical plane is available to us if we are open to receiving it. Basically, it’s just a matter of focusing the mind on what we want while eliminating thinking patterns that contradict our desires. In the philosophy of Sundo from ancient Korea, there is a similar principle, which is stated, “Where mind goes,... Read more
Building good relationships takes time, and repairing broken relationships takes even more time. But, there are things you can do right now to start improving the way you relate to others, whether the relationship is with a romantic partner, an old friend, or just a casual acquaintance. Because everyone possesses a soul that is on a journey of growth, everyone you meet is important and worthy of mindful attention and basic respect. Also, every person you encounter, even if they... Read more
The start of a new year is a beautiful time of renewal for everyone. It provides an opportunity to set new goals and to evaluate one’s progress through life. Most people set resolutions to improve themselves in some way or to accomplish something worthwhile. I hope you have made some plans for yourself, too. I have one question for you, though: Have you made your energy resolutions? I ask this because you will have a difficult time keeping your New... Read more
As we head into the new year, we put away the glittering decorations and twinkling lights of the holiday season and set our sights on the goals we’d like to achieve in the coming months. Sometimes, the energy at this time can feel a bit heavy; the fun is over, and it is time to work. I believe this does not have to be true. We can keep the positive spirit with us all year long, if we choose to... Read more
The beginning of each new year is a natural time to set goals for the year ahead and assess your progress over the last year. Do you remember what resolutions you set for yourself 12 months ago? Did you succeed in keeping them? Hopefully, you wrote them down or remember them clearly enough. Maybe you were committed to them and accomplished them all, or maybe they were just momentary wishes that you weren’t ready to work toward. Or, maybe you... Read more
Every year, thousands of people go through one of my self-discovery workshops called Finding True Self. The people are of all ages, from young college students to retirees, and they come from many cultures and backgrounds, and it is given in many different countries around the world. The training is essentially the same for everyone, and almost everyone is deeply touched by it. Many end up with tears of joy streaming down their faces by the end of it, and... Read more
There are three essential things we need to grow on our spiritual path: a spiritual teacher, spiritual principles, and spiritual practice. Most people who regard themselves as spiritual people will usually find the first two very naturally. By participating in things such as reading books, attending church, and investing in workshops, they expose themselves to the principles offered by well-known spiritual teachers. The third one, spiritual practice, is less often adhered to because it takes commitment and discipline. Spiritual practice,... Read more
Living Tao with Ilchi Lee
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