Have you ever noticed how the universe’s macrocosm is reflected in its microcosms, that patterns repeat whether you look up close at the details or from a distance at the big picture? For example, the motions of the planets in the solar system are like the motions of electrons in atoms, and the actions of nations relate to the tendencies of the individual people within those nations. Likewise, the cycles within our own bodies or in a single ecosystem reflect... Read more
Spiritual maturation naturally leads to changes in perspective and priorities. Where once we were concerned mainly with ourselves and that which reflects directly upon our status in the world—our career, our family, our finances, our possessions, etc.—our orientation becomes less self-centered. Eventually, the lines between our needs and those of others become blurred; my happiness and success is inextricably linked to everyone else’s happiness and success. That’s why many advanced spiritual practitioners speak in terms of “living a life of... Read more
All of us have witnessed the miracle of our body’s healing power, but we tend to take it for granted. If we get a scratch or a small cut, we know that it will heal up and disappear within a few days. We might clean it off, maybe put on some ointment or a bandage, and then we just wait. As if by magic, our body knows what to do to knit itself back together and to replace the tissues... Read more
I have been able to spend a lot of time on both the northern and southern hemispheres of the earth. I have had this opportunity because I have helped develop training and retreat centers on both sides of the earth. Right now in New Zealand, where I am working on the Earth Village, we are in the middle of winter and the sun is mostly hidden away behind clouds. But if I were to fly to visit Sedona Mago Retreat,... Read more
When you think of the geniuses of history, the people who create art and technology that change our culture for generations, what do you suppose gives them the ability to do so? What sets them apart from other ordinary people? It can’t be genetics since they rarely have others in their family who do the same, and it can’t be mere intelligence or skill, or geniuses would be much more common than they are. Really, it comes down to a... Read more
Today, June 15th, is a special day for me and for many others. It is Earth Citizen Day. I hosted the New Millennium World Peace and Humanity Conference with many honored guests and twelve thousand participants on June 15, 2001 in South Korea. At the end of the event, one thing became very clear to everyone who was there: We must identify ourselves as Earth Citizens and hold that identity superior to any identity, race, or religion in order to... Read more
Have you ever watched a young child dancing along to some happy, upbeat tune? Probably, the child had a wide grin on his or her face and moved about freely, without any self-consciousness. No one had to teach that child to do this because dance is a universal cultural element, showing up in some form in every culture on earth. Unfortunately, as we get older, we start to believe that there is a right way and wrong way to dance,... Read more
You’ve probably noticed that you are harder on yourself than you are on other people. Most of us have developed the habit of negative self-talk, which is that voice inside that constantly criticizes you. Your appearance, your habits, your choices, your social status, your bank balance, your talents—none of these things are ever good enough in the eyes of this harsh judge that resides in your brain. You could call this voice your “inner parent” because it is always trying... Read more
Have you ever heard of chunjikiun? For many, that is an unfamiliar term, but in the practice that I teach, a path rooted in ancient Korean energy study, its cultivation is the main objective. You could think of it as a new way to understand the laws of the universe, or even as a different way to understand God. In literal translation, the word chunjikiun mean “heaven earth energy.” You may recognize the word ki (sometimes spelled qi or chi)... Read more
Have you ever heard of yullyeo? Maybe not, since it is a concept found in ancient Asian stories about how the universe and humanity came into being, and it is not often talked about in the West. I think it is an important concept, though, similar to the idea of the Tao, that can help people to understand their place in the universe and to live better in it. The simplest definition of yullyeo is “the rhythm of the universe.”... Read more
Living Tao with Ilchi Lee
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