Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, circa 1583–June 13, 1645) [2] was a Japanese artist (who painted Hotei/Budai below watching a cockfight), swordsman, strategist, and writer who became renowned through Zen stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 62 duels [3, a].
He is considered a kensei ("sword saint") of Japan [4]. He was the founder of the Niten Ichi-ryū (or Nito Ichi-ryū) style of swordsmanship.
In his final years, Miyamoto Musashi authored The Book of Five Rings (五輪の書, Go Rin No Sho) and Dokkōdō (獨行道, The Path of Aloneness).
Both documents were bequeathed to Terao Magonojō, Miyamoto Musashi's most important student, seven days before Musashi's death.
On the one hand, The Book of Five Rings [b] focuses on the character of his Niten Ichi-ryū school in a concrete sense, his own practical martial art and its generic significance.
On the other hand, The Path of Aloneness deals with the ideas that lie behind it, as well as his life's philosophy in a few short aphoristic sentences. More
Liven: Take a 3-minute quiz. Is your brain working against you? Discover what's keeping you stuck and finally break the cycle. This journey is intended to help you better understand your patterns and structure your experiences. Treat this quiz as a moment of honest reflection.
Liven is not related to Chase Hughes and is not intended to replace professional diagnosis, treatment, or therapy. Everyone's experience is unique. Results may vary. Experiencing medical or mental health concerns? Please reach out to a licensed healthcare professional.
People (operatives?) who hate Chase Hughes want to shut him up
Chase Hughes' 2007/2008 website allegedly sold a supplement he called "Redshift with Neuridium." He claimed it was used by "all branches of the United States Armed Forces" and that it had "international recognition," neither of which seems to be the case.
I'm a handsome success. Buy from me.
Why is Chase Hughes popular? Chase has appeared on popular podcasts and shows, including Joe Rogan's podcast, the podcast Diary of a CEO (as seen in the clip above), and the Dr. Phil Show.
There are a lot of people leaving positive reviews for his books on Amazon.com and his YouTube videos.
But the truth is, haters say, that Chase Hughes has been lying about his credentials and experiences for most of his adult life. His "success" and popularity are based on a few factors.
(Liven) PRIVATE RESULTS: Your ADHD patterns suggest your brain may be locked in an avoidance cycle — treating important tasks as low-level threats and redirecting your energy toward anything that offers immediate relief. This is often fueled by years of accumulated pressure between high capability and low output. Over time, this can take a significant toll — chronic procrastination, task paralysis, and a widening gap between your intentions and your actions. This cycle is extremely difficult to break through willpower alone, as your neurology is prioritizing short-term safety over long-term execution.
(KODEN OBSCURE) May 26, 2026: Zen Wisdom: Been struggling to break a bad habit for years and feel like it's losing battle using willpower?
Many of us are fighting a war we were never meant to wage. In this video, we explore a profound piece of wisdom from the Japanese monastic tradition: Zen monks never fight their habits.
Instead of using force, they use intelligent design. Discover the five unusual and quiet methods used in Zen monasteries to redirect energy, change environments, design time, and observe urges without judgment.
Learn why treating our mind with patience rather than going to war with it is the ultimate secret to lasting freedom. What this video covers:
Why willpower almost always fails in the long run
The "replacement gesture" and how to redirect energy
How breaking the spatial anchor of a room can instantly stop an urge
The danger of "empty time" and how monks structure their day
Why harsh self-judgment actually feeds our bad habits.
CHAPTERS
0:00 The monk who couldn't break a habit
1:29 The secret monastic view of habits
3:01 Method 1: The replacement gesture
4:10 Method 2: Breaking the spatial anchor
5:29 Method 3: Eliminating undesigned time
6:50 Method 4: The practice of conscious permission
8:15 Method 5: Escaping the loop of self-judgment
9:37 - Why fighting keeps the habit alive
10:29 - Wrestling the shadow (a Zen metaphor)
11:37 - How to finally become free.
Make sure to subscribe for more insights on Eastern philosophy, mindfulness, and personal mastery. #zenwisdom #breakbadhabits #japanesephilosophy #mindfulness #selfimprovement how to break bad habits, Japanese philosophy, Zen monk teachings, habit replacement, stop using willpower, Zen monastery secrets, overcome bad habits, personal growth, self improvement, mindfulness practices, replace bad habits, Zen habits, Eastern philosophy, mental health, how to stop overthinking, discipline, atomic habits, dopamine detox, Buddhist philosophy, master the mind
So much of what people call "Zen" (capitalized as opposed to zen or jhana/dhyana) sounds more like Taoism (with a stiff dose of Confucianism) than Buddhism, and here's why. It was all picked up in translation. So what was lost? Those may be beautiful spiritual/temporal traditions with which to blend, but what is obscured is the historical Buddha's message until it is almost completely lost and replaced by Hinduism (with its Tantra, yoga, and magic that gave rise to another branch Vajrayana/Shingon attached) to a new religion that came to be called Mahayana, far from the Buddha's Dhamma.
Everything Zen
We silly Westerners have no idea! We think we know
"Zen" is a silly word, carrying so much meaning in American English. Goodness knows what it means in Japan or China nowadays, a dying religious sect taking sides in the jiriki versus tariki battle?
We aim to find out on Thursdays in Los Angeles at the Pasadena Zen Sangha. There is a path. What is it? If one were to ask the average American Zen practitioner, then everything likely to be heard in response would be some derivation of Taoism, not Buddhism or any relation to relation to the Doctrine of the historical Buddha.
Lao Tzu (Laozi) was not a Buddhist. He was possibly a celestial (deva), descended to Earth to philosophize and guide the Chinese.
For all that, on "Buddhist Radio" (Alan Watts - KPFK 90.7 FM, 8:00 am, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026) Alan Watts explained Zen in 18-minutes.
His brief talk lays bare the root of every misconception. Moreover, Buddha's Wisdom (in the video displayed above) does much to add context and clarify. Zen can be grasped.
Watts says the problem with understanding Zen is that unless one were raised Japanese -- very punctilious, rigid, formal, ritualistic, deadly afraid of a faux pas, losing face, or doing things incorrectly -- one will not be able to appreciate what Zen (Taoism) offers as relief.
Zen promotes spontaneity, naturalness, flow, being at ease, comfort, and relaxing into a kind of "just being" present and mindful (of the moment) without so much thinking (premeditation).
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• How long are the lessons?
Daily lessons vary in length ranging from 7-10 minutes. Practice for longer if you wish. That is always welcome.
• When does the Challenge start?
The Challenge begins Sunday, February 1, 2026. Each lesson in February becomes available daily as we move through the month. Lesson One becomes available on February 1st...Lesson Five becomes available on February 5th, and so on.
• Can I join the challenge late?
Registration for the 2026 challenge closes at 11:59 pm EST on January 31st. Unfortunately, we cannot take late registrants beyond that date. So do it now, not in a minute, NOW.
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The Challenge is offered on a sliding-scale basis with a suggested contribution of a dollar-a-day ($28); however, a donation is not required to participate. If you are inspired to make a larger contribution to support the Challenge, you can do so here via PayPal.
• Does the course have lifetime access?
No, there is no lifetime access to course materials, as they are owned by happify.com. Once a lesson becomes available, you have until May 31st, 2026, to access it.
• How do I access meditations?
Once you sign up for the Challenge, you will receive an email to verify your account in Teachable. Once setup, you will need to log-in to Teachable each day to access lessons. You will receive a daily email from us each day with the link to the day's lesson. If you are not receiving these emails, please contact our support team right here.
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• If I get busy and skip some days of the Challenge, should I stop all together, or can I continue forward?
You are either welcome to continue onward either at your own pace doing the lessons in order or pick back up on the current day’s lesson the group is currently on. You can then go back later to the lessons you missed since you will have access to the materials until May 31st, 2026.
• Do I need to purchase a copy of the book to participate in the Challenge?
No, the book Real Happiness is not required to participate in the Challenge. However, if you would like to supplement your experience, it is a great way to deepen your experience. For anyone wanting to purchase the book, you can use the code MEDITATION20 to receive a 20% discount via Hachette (US orders only). This discount also applies to Real Happiness at Work and Finding Your Way.
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All forms of the book are the same. Choose whatever format you prefer for yourself.
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Kindly limit sharing in the comments section to the scope of this Challenge and how it affects your life. Our intention is to foster a community of encouragement and support for this practice. We ask that comments adhere to the principles of right speech and refrain from harmful speech. Any comments containing advertisements or inappropriate content will not be published.
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"We can always begin again." - S. Salzberg
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ABOUT: Sharon Salzberg is a pioneer in the field of Buddhist meditation, a world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She has played a pivotal role in bringing Buddhist insight meditation (vipassana) and mindfulness (sati) into mainstream American culture since 1974. She is cofounder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and has authored 10 books, including the New York Times bestseller Real Happiness. Acclaimed for her down-to-earth and relatable teaching style, she offers a secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings, making them instantly accessible. Her writing can be found on Medium, On Being, the Maria Shriver blog, and Huffington Post. She is also the host of her own podcast The Metta Hour, with 100+ episodes, featuring interviews with the top leaders and voices in the meditation and mindfulness movement. Learn more at sharonsalzberg.com.
(Dechen wangdi 🇨🇦) H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama has an important message for all religions, a message of love and unity (mutual respect, tolerance, celebration, amity, peaceful coexistence). #tibetanvlogger #tibetanyoutuber June 21, 2025. Background music: "Tears" (Produced by MX Audio Library)
Link: • Tears - No Copyright M...
Whatcha doin, SpongeBob? - Just sitting. - You mean shikantaza? - Uh, what? I mean, yeah, that.
Why Zen is the EASIEST path to enlightenment (but few understand it)
Can we speed this up? I've got things to do.
(Cinematic Bible Lore) May 16, 2025: 🌿 Is Enlightenment (redefined in Zen as satoriorkensho rather than bodhi) really about effort, rituals, or sutra study, or could the simplest path be the most powerful?
This video dives deeply into the essence of Zen Buddhism — a tradition that goes beyond concepts and leads to direct experience of awakening through simplicity.
Discover the story of Bodhidharma, the teachings of Dōgen Zenji, and why zazen (seated meditation) is not just a technique — but a way of mindfully living in the here and now.
Whether new to Zen or deep in practice, this guide reveals why Zen is the easiest — and most overlooked — path to enlightenment.
🧘 LEARN:
Why Zen rejects dogma, rituals, and intellectual striving
The power of zazen: how “just sitting” (shikantaza) becomes awakening
How Dōgen’s teachings dissolve the illusion of time and ego
Why the present moment holds everything we seek
How to bring Zen into daily acts like washing, walking, or breathing
💬 Question:
Ever felt fully present — free from discursive thought, self, and striving? Share the experience in the comments.
📺 Explore more: 🎥 The Deepest Teaching of Buddha 🎥 The Secret Behind Zazen Meditation 🎥 Buddhism vs. Zen – What's the real difference?
👉 Like, share, and subscribe to join in weekly journeys through the world’s deepest spiritual traditions. 📌 Hashtags #ZenBuddhism #ZazenMeditation #DogenZenji #SimplePathToEnlightenment #PresentMomentPractice #ZenExplained #Mindfulness
Cinematic Bible Lore; May 16, 2025; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Impatient? Rush to Minute 2:37 to hear Christian approach and the Devil's opposition to being good
What is the Zen way to liberation? Kindergarten
Imagine beginning the Rains Retreat (Buddhist Lent known as Vas) with the idea of being good. Mara will come right at you like an angel of light (Mara Devaputra, Cupid, Eros, Kamadeva) and undermine your efforts, won't he? That's his modus operandi, as Alan Watts explains. But Taoism, and therefore Zen Buddhism, has a solution: Don't let him know what you're doing. One must act without intention, without premeditation, without the goal or outcome in mind so as to not let him know what we're up to on our path to be good. Otherwise, he'll just come along and ruin our efforts like taking candy from an old person or trying to give veggies to a baby: They'll fight you.
Not 40 days, but for more than 40 years, Alan Watts has earned a reputation as one of the foremost Western interpreters of Eastern philosophy.
Beginning at age 16, when he wrote essay for the journal of the Buddhist Lodge in London, Watts developed an audience of millions who were enriched by the wisdom of the East through his books, recordings, radio shows, public television programs, and public lectures.
In all, Watts wrote more than 25 books and recorded hundreds of lectures, all building toward a personal philosophy that he shares in complete candor and joy with readers and listeners throughout the world.
Insight can do what the ego cannot do by doing. - Philosophy or sophistry? Does Watts go too far?
Sixties icon? He was at it since before the 1950s.
His overall body of work has presented a model of individuality and self-expression matched by few philosophers, modern or ancient.
KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles continues to air Watts on Sunday mornings (8:00 am) and during Something's Happening midnights on Thursdays overnight to Friday.
What if there were a way to get children to listen without yelling, bribing, or threatening?
I'll kill'ya, you little motherfather! - No, mommy
I'd like to be a more mindful parent, a more compassionate parent, a more effective parent -- and I'd like to stop yelling. What to do, what to do?
But do you know what it's like? It drive a person crazy! If only there were a way to connect, like author Andee Martineau promises.
Could there possibly be a way to get my kids to want to listen...without the yelling, ultimatums, or bribes? Here's a FREE book offer to find out: Free Parenting Book – Connect Method
Andee Martineau appeared on a podcast explaining Connect Method
What we need is committment, discipline, and GRIT. That's passion and perseverance combined. Passion gets us started then fails us, so we then switch to perseverance that doesn't need motivation or emotion, just committment. That's the discipline. Get help, a party to be answerable and accountable to. Be a friend, and you'll have a friend. Keep at it until the habit forms. Then it gets easier. Join a group if necessary. The more resources we have, the richer and more successful we get.
Is a daily meditation practice the goal -- to someday be serene and find enlightenment? Then here's the chance of a lifetime at Los Angeles' Dharma Buddhist Meditation group sitting: meetup.com/zen-07.
This is a motivational video for those who train in kung fu. It contains various fights between Shaolin Buddhist monks practicing kung fu and other martial arts.
Kung fu Buddhist monks Wiki edited by Wisdom Quarterly
The umbrella term kung fu (功夫) or wushu (武術) refers to Chinese martial arts. There are several hundred fighting styles that developed over the centuries.
These styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as martial arts "families" (家/jiā), "sects" (派/pài), or "schools" (門/mén).
Examples of these traits include Shaolin-quan (少林拳), physical exercises involving mimicry of the Five Animals (五形), and training methods inspired by old Chinese philosophies, religions (animism, Buddhism, Confucianism, shamanism, Taoism), and legends.
Styles that focus on chi (qi, kyi, prana, spiritus) manipulation are called internal (内家拳/nèijiāquán), while others that concentrate on improving muscle and cardio fitness are called "external" (外家拳/wàijiāquán)....
Fighting Shaolin Temple monks
Shaolin Temple was built in 495 AD on Song Mountain, and the first Buddhist monk who taught Buddhism there was the Indian monk Ven. Buddhabhadra (佛陀跋陀罗/Fótuóbátuóluó), called Batuo (跋陀).
His first two Chinese disciples, Huiguang and Sengchou, had exceptional martial abilities. Sengchou's skill with a tin staff is documented in the Chinese Buddhist canon.
After Ven. Buddhabadra, there came a western South Indian Buddhist monk named Ven. Bodhidharma (菩提达摩/Pútídámó), called Damo (达摩). It was 527 AD. His Chinese disciple, Huike, was also a skilled martial arts expert.
The implication is that these first three Chinese Shaolin monks -- Huiguang, Sengchou, and Huike -- may have been military men before entering the Buddhist monastic life.
The Shaolin style of kung fu is regarded as one of the first institutionalized Chinese martial arts.
The oldest evidence of Shaolin participation in combat is a stele from 728 CE. It attests to two occasions, a defense of Shaolin Monastery from bandits around 610 CE, and their subsequent role in the defeat of Wang Shichong at the Battle of Hulao in 621 CE.
However, from the 8th to the 15th centuries, there are no existing documents that provide evidence of Shaolin participation in any combat.More NOTE: The motivational videos uploaded are the result of time and effort. They are highly edited by Fight Light to make them both interesting and to comply with the "Fair Use" act to the best of our knowledge. However, if any person still has issues with this content, we are open to talk and take them down if requested. Therefore, do not hesitate to contact us via email or social media.
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