During this two-minute audio excerpt from an hour-long radio interview, Zen Buddhist priest Rev. Taka Kawakami explains how meditation can be mind training, and how to simply meditate.
He says that you should just sit up straight and feel your breathing. It might help to have longer inhales and exhales. He suggests breathing in for a count of five and exhaling for a count of ten.
Read MoreIn a two-minute excerpt from an hour-long radio interview, Zen Buddhist priest Rev. Taka Kawakami talks a good approach to meditation. Instead of using meditation to achieve something or solve an issue, it is better to simply observe from a non-subjective point of view.
Read MoreZen is not a brand. It is a Buddhist religion and the word literally means “seated meditation.”
Listen in to this interesting and lighthearted interview with Rev. Takafumi Kawakami of Shunkoin Zen Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, Japan.
Paul and Taka talk about the common misconceptions about Zen and Buddhism in the West, as well as about meditation, mindfulness, living life better and Captain Kirk.
And -- no -- there is really is no such thing as Zen massage, Zen yoga or Zen hamburgers. That is just marketing silliness.
Read MoreI took the handle of the metal tablespoon and punched a hole in the bottom of the coconut and slid a straw in. I then sat down at the table on the front porch of my bungalow. The stray cat sprawled out on the table sleepily looked up at me and refused to move out of the way.
I then slowly savored the sweet taste of the fresh coconut water, which was my breakfast. It was my last day in Thailand. I was on Day 16 of my fast. In twenty four hours, I would back in my home in cold Kyoto where I would break this fast by eating 5 small organic cherry tomatoes. The first solid food in 17 days.
As I sipped on my breakfast, I reviewed all that had changed in a short amount time. My belly was gone and I had lost about 30 pounds. The stress I had been carrying around had also lifted. I felt clear-minded and energetic, although my physical power had been tuned down a couple of notches. I had a clearer of image of what I wanted in life and how to get there. And I didn’t feel hungry at all.
Read MoreNurturing our bodies nurtures our spirit.
With more than 20 years of experience teaching fasting, cleansing, and the Buddhist teachings of dharma, Hillary Adrian Han shares with Paul her deep knowledge and wisdom about living a healthy life being connected to your innermost essence.
This very special edition of the Paul Crouse Show was recorded during Paul’s 13th day of a fast at the Dharma Healing International Center on Koh Samui island in Thailand, which Hillary runs.
In this wide ranging conversation, Hillary and Paul talk about the Buddhist concept of dharma, the process and benefits of fasting and cleansing, eating healthily and how to make simple changes to create new, healthy habits.
Read MoreAligning with our inner nature can transform our lives.
With many years of experience blending psychology and spirituality, Kevin Akash Olver shares with Paul the simple and practical ways for living better.
Kevin is a teacher of personal growth and meditation in England. He has a gift for clear seeing and is known for his warm, peaceful nature and inspiring approach.
"Kevin has been a powerful influence on my life," says Paul
Read MoreFinding the right creative outlet is liberating.
This month Paul talks with Kyoto spoken word artist and musician Phil Norton (aka: Preacherman Says) about life, poetry slams, the creative process and the Horse-headed Goddess of Mercy.
It was a great show with a lot of laughs, some music and even a few bleeps.
Read MoreLife isn’t rational. It is magical. The question is: What kind of magic are you using?
This month, Paul talks with Star Nations co-founder Denise Iwaniw about her clairvoyant gifts, the gifts everyone has, and how to live a more magical life.
"Everyone can connect with spirit and use their own gifts, " says Denise. "To start out, simply take some time to be quiet and be open to what is around you and inside of you."
Denise is the Real McCoy who knows her stuff. She is acknowledged by the Catholic Church as a seer, as well as being a Pipe Carrier (holy person) in the Lakota Nation. She talks having her gifts since childhood, and her spiritual journey.
Paul and Denise have known each other more the 25 years, and Paul considers Denise to be one of his teachers.
Read More"Doctor! Doctor! It hurts when I do this!" "Then don't do that."
That sounds simple, right? Well....
In this short vlog, Paul Crouse talks about clearly seeing the things that we all do to sabotage ourselves, and choosing to change that behavior. Because If we don't, we'll keep on doing the same things over and over again, and never get where we want to be.
Read MoreWorry is focusing your attention on your fears repeatedly. It is a habit; a form of conditioned thinking.
Worry is a waste of time and energy. It does absolutely nothing to change what you are worried about.
It is also destructive. It causes a great deal of stress, which is unhealthy physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Worrying simply reinforces the fear you already have in your life. Fear is paralyzing and keeps you away from living your life to the fullest.
The good news is that you can stop worrying if you choose to.
Read MoreWould you rather be walking on a beach right now? Or doing something else? Do you feel stuck?
Choose to change. Even if you feel like you have no choice, you always do. You have a free will. You you want to live a better life, you can -- but you have to choose to do it.
Read MoreIt’s your life. Choose how you want to live it. Trust yourself and listen to your body. Your awareness and inner knowing are the best guides you have. You don’t have to do what the people around you — or society — tells you do to.
Join Japanese holistic wellness practitioner Miki Matsumoto and Paul Crouse as they talk about mindfulness, healthy living and the stewardship of planet Earth for future generations.
Read MoreChallenge yourself to do things that you would not normally do to break your pattern of living on autopilot — and lessen the probability that you will become a grumpy old person.
Once a week, you should do something that gets you out of your comfort zone. Something that makes you feel uncomfortable, like sleeping on the other side of the bed or not drinking coffee for 24 hours.
Once a month, you should do something even more uncomfortable, like eating raw octopus or not using your mobile phone for an entire day.
And once a year, you should do something very, very uncomfortable — like listening to entire Justin Bieber CD or skydiving -- if you are afraid of heights.
This is a great way to break our habitual, conditioned thinking patterns, as well as open us up to greater variety of life experiences.
Read MoreMove your butt with exercise. Sit on your butt to mediate.
Taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of your soul.
Join British fitness and movement coach Russell Trott and Paul Crouse as they talk about the importance of moving your body, as well as how Russell’s Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice has changed his life.
You can contact Russell at the CrossFit Kyoto website.
Read MoreIf you don’t know yourself, your values and what you really want, it is difficult to live life to the fullest. Many people don't know what they really want and are miserable.
International businessperson and cool mom Lisa Wellington tells us about her experiences and then walks us through a values exercise to help us be clear about ourselves and our lives.
Take a break from thinking for a little bit today.
We are taught that thinking is good and that we can solve all of our problems by thinking about them. To be thoughtless is considered to be an insult.
Yet, we can get lost in our thoughts. Often, the same thoughts go around and around, and make us crazy. Sometimes we think we know everything.
For today, lets try something different. Instead of trying to bend the world to fit our thoughts, let try to just be. Empty yourself of thoughts through simple meditation.
Read MoreWhen you are walking on your path, life can be full of synchronicity and flow. But what do you do when you are down in the dumps?
Join in with Paul Crouse and funk soul twins Johnna and Reylia Slaby as they have a laugh filled conversation about growing up in Japan as (kind of) Americans, and doing what you know is right even though others tell you otherwise.And a bunch of other fun stuff. No boring old people here. LOL!
If you want to keep your sanity as an expat, get out of country at least once year. More is even better.
I have lived overseas in Japan for more than 20 years. I have a rule for myself about leaving the country at least once a year. I broke that rule this past year and noticed that I was getting stressed out and feeling stuck.
I just took a week long trip to visit some friends in Sweden and I feel a lot better. I have a much better perspective on just about everything, including what I need to do to move forward in my life. And spending time with good friends as great for the soul.
Even if you aren't an expat, travel overseas at least once a year. The world is such an amazing place. Just do it. LIfe is short. Standing in a land with a different culture and different smells is a really good reality check.
Read MoreWhat if you -- as a thoroughly secular person -- asked God if he existed and you got an answer? It might shake your world. It did for Lauri.
Join in with Paul Crouse and funk soul sister Lauri Watanabe as she tells her amazing, life changing story and shares her wisdom, humor and good vibes.
Read MoreI am always right, right? Well, that is what our ego tells us.
Often when others criticize us, there is at least bit of truth to it. If we leave some space actually listen to what the other person has to say, while not repressing our emotional reaction, we can take yet another step forward toward liberating ourselves from the enslavement of our ego.
Read MorePaul Crouse
Paul Crouse Show 041 "Loneliness and Isolation" with Frances Robbins
Paul Crouse Show 039 "Toxic Relationships" with Frances Robbins
A Cautionary Tale About Being Too Cautious
Paul Crouse Show 038 "Anxiety & Depression" with Frances Robbins
9862 Miracles: My 27 Years of Sobriety
Paul Crouse Radio Show #33 with Morgan Fisher - Part Two - "Thoughtless and Mindful"
Paul Crouse Radio Show #32 with Morgan Fisher - Part One - "A Rock & Roll Life"
Paul Crouse Radio Show #19 with Katherine Arati Maas - "Recovery, Healing and Taking Care of the Soul."
Paul Crouse Radio Show #17 with Rev. Taka Kawakami - "What the Bleep is Zen?"
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