Lasára Allen » Contemplation, Meditation, and Prayer http://lasaraallen.com …author, educator, activist, coach. Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:59:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 My Grandfather’s Flag – In Memoriam http://lasaraallen.com/articles/my-grandfathers-flag-in-memorium/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/my-grandfathers-flag-in-memorium/#comments Sun, 29 May 2011 15:51:44 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=1448 This memorial day, I hope you’ll take a moment to remember, to pray for, all those who have fallen in the lines of fire – not just “our” men and boys, wives and daughters, but all of those who have fallen, everywhere around the world.

In Memoriam

Written Memorial Day, 2009

My mother grew up 
with photos 
of

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/my-grandfathers-flag-in-memorium/feed/ 2 Fasting Against Hunger – at elephant http://lasaraallen.com/articles/fasting-against-hunger-at-elephant/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/fasting-against-hunger-at-elephant/#comments Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:37:45 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=3067 “Day five of water-only fasting. No food at all since Friday night. And I’m not the only one. Hundreds of thousands of faith leaders, secular leaders, workers’ rights activist, and poor folks nation-wide are fasting too. I happen to fall into more than one of those categories.

And still the collective silence is deafening. Too many

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/fasting-against-hunger-at-elephant/feed/ 0 Lent: A How-To for Mystics http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/lent-a-how-to-for-mystics/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/lent-a-how-to-for-mystics/#comments Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:28:58 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=3015 (Reprinted from Elephant Journal. First publication 3/8/11.)

I am not, nor have I ever been, your typical Christian. Most wouldn’t even call me Christian, though I would say my spiritual reality is very catholic (small “c” intentional) and I do have my own special relationship with Christ.

I am in no way claiming to be your spiritual

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/lent-a-how-to-for-mystics/feed/ 2 Lent: A How-To for Mystics at Elephant. http://lasaraallen.com/articles/lent-a-how-to-for-mystics-at-elephant/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/lent-a-how-to-for-mystics-at-elephant/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:44:02 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=2985 Read my latest at Elephant Journal, Lent; A How-To for Mystics, TODAY!

Excerpt:

I am not, nor have I ever been, your typical Christian. Most wouldn’t even call me Christian, though I would say my spiritual reality is very catholic (small “c” intentional) and I do have my own special relationship with Christ.

I am in

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/lent-a-how-to-for-mystics-at-elephant/feed/ 0 The Gift of Recognition http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/the-gift-of-recognition/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/the-gift-of-recognition/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:29:47 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=2949 Altruistic Fostering: http://balneus.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/chimps-altruism-and-helping-with-the-kids-of-others/

This week in my teleclass series, A Course in Deep Acceptance, we’re working on the theme of “Family”. Here I’ll share one of the exercises from the course materials with you.

The Gift of Recognition

Sometimes when I’m in the middle of a project it’s hard to hear a request for my attention as

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/the-gift-of-recognition/feed/ 1 In Honor of Dr. King – Lest We Forget http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/inspiration/in-honor-of-dr-king-lest-we-forget/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/inspiration/in-honor-of-dr-king-lest-we-forget/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:17:47 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=2919 Continue reading In Honor of Dr. King – Lest We Forget

]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/inspiration/in-honor-of-dr-king-lest-we-forget/feed/ 1 It’s never the same river twice. http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/truth-is-like-a-river/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/truth-is-like-a-river/#comments Wed, 05 Jan 2011 23:06:44 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=2917 Winter Solstice brought 2010 to a powerful close with a solstice/full moon/eclipse, and 2011 began with another astrological event that was intense. And while I don’t put store in the “determinist” theories of astrology, I do find many models and modes of exploration worth incorporating into my personal practice and path.

So, the full moon/lunar eclipse

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/truth-is-like-a-river/feed/ 0 Looking Forward to 2011! http://lasaraallen.com/articles/health-and-fitness/looking-forward-to-2011/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/health-and-fitness/looking-forward-to-2011/#comments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 04:03:31 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=2905 Looking Forward to 2011!

(Instead of Resolutions, Try Dedications, Intentions, and WHY NOTs Instead.)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Jump into Your New Year: Mind, Body, and Spirit Renewal Program * New Year’s Coaching Sessions – Start the Year with Clarity

Dedications:

Self:

To keep working toward my best over-all health: Exercise. Diet. Rest and Relaxation. Meditation. Mental

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/health-and-fitness/looking-forward-to-2011/feed/ 1 A New – Or POST – New Year’s Tradition; Give Up Resolutions! http://lasaraallen.com/articles/dedications-intentions-and-why-nots/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/dedications-intentions-and-why-nots/#comments Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:23:46 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=439 by Lasára Allen, www.LasaraAllen.com

Are you planning on making any resolutions for the coming year?

Many of us make New Year’s resolutions – and then fail. A whopping 88% of well-meaning New Year’s revelers will “fail” in achieving the resolutions they set out as a

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/dedications-intentions-and-why-nots/feed/ 3 Islamic and Sufi Mystical, Metaphysical, and Religious Quotes http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/islamic-and-sufi-mystical-metaphysical-and-religious-quotes/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/islamic-and-sufi-mystical-metaphysical-and-religious-quotes/#comments Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:13:52 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=2108 In honor of Ramadan, 2010

In the name of Allah, most beneficent, most merciful.

“The foremost in religion is the acknowledgement of Him, the perfection of acknowledging Him is to testify Him, the perfection of testifying Him is to believe in His Oneness, the perfection of believing in His Oneness is to regard Him Pure, and the perfection of

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/islamic-and-sufi-mystical-metaphysical-and-religious-quotes/feed/ 1 Tonglen Meditation as Self-Healing http://lasaraallen.com/articles/tonglen-meditation-as-self-healing/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/tonglen-meditation-as-self-healing/#comments Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:09:34 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=2019 Tonglen meditation is a simple practice of transmutation. It’s the process of breathing in “dirty” energy, thoughts, or feelings, and releasing them with compassionate non-attachment as pure light.

As opposed to the idea of breathing peace and calm into the body and mind, in tonglen we breathe in pain and suffering (dukkha) and transform it into

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/tonglen-meditation-as-self-healing/feed/ 1 I Love You – A Daily Practice http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/inspiration/i-love-you-a-daily-practice/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/inspiration/i-love-you-a-daily-practice/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:23:35 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=2000 As you move through your life today, think “I love you” to everything and everyone, ALL THE TIME! Or at least whenever you remember to. Most importantly, think “I LOVE YOU!” when you are feeling sad, angry, separate from another, or from source, or alone. Don’t forget that YOU are

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/inspiration/i-love-you-a-daily-practice/feed/ 0 18 Rules for Living http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/18-rules-for-living/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/18-rules-for-living/#comments Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:39:43 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=1983 Often referred to as “Dalai Lama’s 18 rules for living”, this piece of writing does not actually originate with the Dalai Lama. Regardless, it’s a great piece of writing, with many important reminders. I needed some of them badly today, and thought you might, too. Enjoy. I hope this list provides some sweet upliftment for

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/contemplation-meditation-prayer-articles-by-lasara-allen/18-rules-for-living/feed/ 0 Breathing for the Liberation of All Beings http://lasaraallen.com/articles/breathing-for-the-liberation-of-all-beings/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/breathing-for-the-liberation-of-all-beings/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:10:27 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=1801 For the first day in this 21 day experiment, I am not feeling overly inspired to write. As another writer taking part in the experiment asked this morning, “where do I start?” I answered; “Start where you are! Trite, but still good advice. ”

And here I am. Stuck.

Over the past few days I have

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]]> http://lasaraallen.com/articles/breathing-for-the-liberation-of-all-beings/feed/ 0 The Devotion of Presence, The Presence of Devotion http://lasaraallen.com/articles/the-devotion-of-presence-the-presence-of-devotion/ http://lasaraallen.com/articles/the-devotion-of-presence-the-presence-of-devotion/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:11:26 +0000 Lasára Allen http://lasaraallen.com/?p=1758 There was a time in my life where I so strongly desired to be in perfect Presence all the time that my desire for Presence became the greatest pain I had ever felt.

I sought absolute ego death; annihilation of self into Self, the surrender of “I” into that which is greater than

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