The Wise Words of Buddha

Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it.

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

The world, indeed, is like a dream and the treasures of the world are an alluring mirage! Like the apparent distances in a picture, things have no reality in themselves, but they are like heat haze.

Our theories of the eternal are as valuable as are those which a chick which has not broken its way through its shell might form of the outside world.

On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a shadow that never leaves them.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned.

As the fletcher whittles and makes straight his arrows, so the master directs his straying thoughts.

Buddha Quotes

If a man who enjoys a lesser happiness beholds a greater one, let him leave aside the lesser to gain the greater.

I reached in experience the nirvana which is unborn, unrivalled, secure from attachment, undecaying and unstained. This condition is indeed reached by me which is deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand, tranquil, excellent, beyond the reach of mere logic, subtle, and to be realized only by the wise.

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.

There is nothing so disobedient as an undisciplined mind, and there is nothing so obedient as a disciplined mind.

What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: Our life is the creation of our mind.

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.

In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

The mind is the source of happiness and unhappiness.

As the fletcher whittles and makes straight his arrows, so the master directs his straying thoughts.

To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.

Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.

The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings.

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.

Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine.

Look within, thou art the Buddha.

Believe nothing merely because you have been told it. Do not believe what your teacher tells you merely out of respect for the teacher. But whatsoever, after due examination and analysis, you find to be kind, conducive to the good, the benefit, the welfare of all beings -- that doctrine believe and cling to, and take it as your guide.

A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden.

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Inspiring Quotes & Sayings

Quotes on Inner Peace

If you're looking for inner peace from the outside world, you're not going to get that. The inner peace starts with looking at you from the inside.
Mary J. Blige

Inner peace is beyond victory or defeat.
Bhagavad Gita

When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities.
The Dalai Lama

When the mind is left without anything to cling to, it becomes still.
Sri Ramana Maharshi

The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.
Norman Vincent Peale

When your daily activities are in concert with your highest priorities, you have a credible claim to inner peace.
Hyrum Smith

When the restless activity of your mind slows down, when your thoughts stop rushing like waves on a windy day, then you will start getting glimpses of the sweet taste of inner peace.
Remez Sasson

Spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.
Susan Taylor

Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions.
Gerald Jampolsky

A quiet mind is all you need. All else will happen rightly, once your mind is quiet. As the sun on rising makes the world active, so does self-awareness affect changes in the mind. In the light of calm and steady self-awareness inner energies wake up and work miracles without effort on your part.
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Learn to be calm and you will always be happy.
Paramahansa Yogananda

When we are unable to find tranquillity within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Constant meditation awakens the ability to enjoy peace of mind while talking, eating, walking, working and throughout any other activity.
Remez Sasson

Meditation gives you an opportunity to come to know your invisible self. It allows you to empty yourself of the endless hyperactivity of your mind, and to attain calmness. It teaches you to be peaceful, to remove stress, to receive answers where confusion previously reigned.
Wayne Dyer

The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom.
James Allen

Peace is not achieved by controlling nations, but mastering our thoughts.John Harricharan
When you make peace with yourself, you make peace with the world.
Maha Ghosananda

Everything you do can be done better from a place of relaxation.
Stephen C. Paul

You can hear the footsteps of God when silence reigns in the mind.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Learn silence. With the quiet serenity of a meditative mind, listen, absorb, transcribe, and transform.
Pythagoras

The real spiritual progress of the aspirant is measured by the extent to which he achieves inner tranquility.
Swami Sivananda

Spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.
Susan Taylor

Stretch Now --- Hand Exercise

articles courtesy: http://www.stretchnow.com.au/resources/exercises/hands-exercise

Turmeric Benefits

Health Benefits of Turmeric – Are there any Side Effects of Turmeric?

In recent years, turmeric benefits have captured the attention of Western scientists and herbalists. However, this herb held a place of honor in India's traditional Ayurvedic medicine because they have always known the magical medicinal powers of turmeric.

Before we delve into the health benefits of turmeric, including the possible side effects of turmeric, we would like to share with you a little about its healing history and traditional turmeric benefits.

Turmeric is a perennial shrub that is grown in India and other tropical areas of Asia. It was long used as a hot yellow spice to flavor Indian cuisine. In addition, it was added to a variety of mustards to give them a potent "bite."

In India's traditional Ayurvedic medicine turmeric was a symbol of prosperity - it was considered a whole body cleansing herb. Medically, it was used as an aid for digestive disturbances and as a treatment for fever, infections, dysentery, arthritis, jaundice and other liver problems.

The traditional Chinese physicians also used turmeric medically to treat liver and gallbladder problems, stop bleeding, and relieve chest congestion and menstrual discomforts.

How Can Turmeric Benefits…Benefit You?

The Health Benefits of Turmeric……….

The health benefits of turmeric lie in the active ingredient called curcumin. This powerful compound gives turmeric its therapeutic benefits, its yellow color, and its pungent flavor. More specifically, curcumin harbors antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, stomach-soothing, and liver-and heart-protecting effects.

Turmeric is thought to reduce inflammation by lowering histamine levels and it may also stimulate the adrenal glands to increase production of a hormone that reduces inflammation. It is often used to ease joint pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. However, it is also used to reduce joint pain and in inflammation in other disorders as well.

Turmeric (curcumin) also harbors rich stores of antioxidants. Antioxidants are disease-fighting substances that mop up the continuous onslaught of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that damage cells as they travel through the body and are responsible for premature aging and diseases such as cancer if left unchecked. In fact, Naturopaths often recommend turmeric for situations in which high concentrations of antioxidants are required.

Studies with animals show that turmeric benefits liver health. Several animal studies suggest that turmeric protects the liver from the damaging effects of certain toxins, including alcohol. These findings certainly lend credence to the herb's history of use in liver aliments.

Among the many health benefits of turmeric, is that it harbors antiplatelet activity. The herb reduces the ability of the blood to form clots and, as such, this action may improve circulation as well as offer some protection against heart attacks and strokes.

If you suffer from digestive problems this may be the herb for you. Turmeric helps digest fats by stimulating the flow of bile. No wander it was used traditionally as a digestive aid.

Laboratory studies indicate that curcumin has anti-cancer activity. More specifically, it destroys some types of cancer cells. For example, in the laboratory, curcumin kills cultures of human leukemia cells. This action may be due to turmeric's antioxidant properties or some other anti-cancer activity. Needless to say, more research is needed to determine turmeric benefits as a potential cancer agent.

Other possible health benefits of turmeric:

* May help fight bacteria infections.
* May offer cataracts prevention through its antioxidant properties.

Bottom line........

More research is required to substantiate all of turmeric's purported health benefits. On the other hand, it wouldn't hurt to add it to your spice rack.

Precautions and Side Effects of Turmeric

Indeed, the possible turmeric benefits are substantial, but it is always good to be informed of possible side effects. Turmeric is considered a safe herb. However, prolong use of higher than recommended doses can cause stomach upset and other gastrointestinal disturbances.

There is no RDA (recommended daily allowance) on turmeric because it is not considered an essential nutrient. However, a typical adult dosage as a stand-alone supplement is 400 to 600 of curcumin a day.

The following people should avoid the use of turmeric.

* People with congestive heart disease whose cause remains unidentified.

* People with painful gallstones, obstructive jaundice, acute bilious colic, or extremely toxic liver disorders.

The following people should speak with a physician before starting any supplementation.

* Pregnant women, women who are trying to conceive or women that have a history of fertility problems.

* Women who are nursing.

* People with a blood-clotting disorder.

* People on any type of medication.

* People with health conditions.

How to Maximize Your Turmeric Benefits through Turmeric Supplements

Tips on Choosing a Quality Turmeric Supplement

1. Choose a supplement using only standardized extracts of at least 95% curcumin or greater.

2. Curcumin is not well absorbed by the body when taken taken orally. As such, it is often sold with piperine to enhance absorption. Bromelain also enhances the bioavailability curcumin.

3. Select a supplement from a company that follows pharmaceutical GMP compliance. Many supplements on the market today do not provide you with enough of the active ingredient to offer turmeric benefits because it's cheaper to produce. More specifically, manufactures of dietary supplements do not have to guarantee the content, effectiveness, or even the purity of their products.

As a result, many products contain little or none of its therapeutic ingredient, therefore, no turmeric benefits or too much ingredient making consumption dangerous! While others have been reported for harboring harmful contaminates.

For this reason, we suggest that you only select a supplement from pharmaceutical GMP compliant facilities. These facilities adhere to very stringent manufacturing standards.

Featured Turmeric Product

Looking for Turmeric Benefits?

One company that meets the above requirements -- and more -- is Xtend-Life Natural Products from New Zealand. Their flagship product called Total Balance contains turmeric (98% curcumin) piperine, and bromelain, in addition to a full spectrum of other specialized nutrients that your body needs for optimal 'whole' body health including vitamins, minerals, other potent antioxidants, specialty nutrients, amino acids, enzymes, and other herbal extracts. In fact, Total Balance contains over 75 specialized total nutrients.

All of the ingredients are scientifically combined in a synergistic way to enhance and maximize the efficacy of each other.

We here at Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre have been taking Total Balance for several years now and can personally attest to its excellent results such as an increase in energy levels, mental clarity, and an increase feeling of well-being.

We hope this webpage discussing turmeric benefits was useful to you.

To Your Health!

The Editors

Articles extracted from: http://www.nutritional-supplement-educational-centre.com/turmeric-benefits.html

Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist: What’s the Difference?

Confused About When to See an Optometrist versus an Ophthalmologist? We Clear It Up for You.

One of the most confusing parts of vision and eye care for many patients is understanding the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists. Add opticians into the mix and people become even more perplexed. So figuring out where you should start when it comes to vision care and eye health can be tricky.

Fortunately, once you understand the differences between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, it’s pretty easy to know where you should go, when, and for what. There is considerable overlap in certain areas between the two, but there are also several striking differences.

Let’s start with optometrists.

What Is an Optometrist?

Traditionally, Optometrists (also known as O.D.s or Doctors of Optometry) were trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions like farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism, as well as fit and prescribe contact lenses and prescription eyeglass lenses. A large part of their job was (and still is) to perform “refractions” — or vision correction exams.

Today’s Optometrist: Trained in Disease Diagnosis & Treatment

However, over the past 20 years, optometry training has become much more medically-oriented than in the past, and optometrists now receive rigorous and comprehensive training in not just optics and refractions, but also the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease, as well as other systemic conditions that can effect vision and eye health.

Although optometrists are not M.D.s, most current optometrists can prescribe certain medications, as well as diagnose and treat a broad-range of medical conditions that impact the eye, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, retinal disease and ocular disorders associated with diabetes and high blood pressure.

In fact, it’s not unusual for a skilled optometrist to be the first health care professional to spot developing systemic conditions like diabetes during routine eye exams.

Optometrist Education & Training

Most optometrists will undergo four years of undergraduate training — usually a pre-med type curriculum — and then four years of post-graduate doctoral training. Coursework will typically include pharmacology, ocular disease diagnosis and treatment, vision therapy, optics, physiology and anatomy, and countless hours of hands-on clinical work.

All optometrists must pass a series of rigorous nationally-administered exams to earn their license to practice. Some optometrists will also complete a one-year post-graduate residency to gain more specialized expertise in a particular area.

All of this is done to prepare optometrists to serve as the “front-line” for day-to-day vision care.

Optometrist Services

Today, most optometrists provide a broad range of vision care services, including:

General vision services like eye exams, and treatment of conditions like strabismus and amblyopia

Diagnosis and basic treatment of eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and conjunctivitis (pink eye.)

Prescribing medications for certain eye conditions (for example, antibiotics for eye infections)

Eye disease and injury-prevention

Prescribing and fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses

Vision therapy services, such as eye exercises and low-vision aids

Pre- and postoperative care for people who have had eye surgery or Lasik surgery.

Not all optometrists will have specialized training in these areas, especially if they graduated prior to 2000, so it’s always a good idea when choosing an optometrist to ask questions about their specific training and specialties – especially when it comes to ocular disease diagnosis and treatment.

What’s an Ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D.) that specializes in the eye.

While the training between ophthalmologists and optometrists is now very similar (especially around ocular disease diagnosis and treatment,) there are some marked differences between the two.

First, ophthalmologists are trained to perform surgery, which optometrists are not. This includes things like Lasik vision correction as well as removal of cataracts, or surgery related to eye trauma, burns or detachments of retina.

Second, ophthalmologists have additional specialized training in diagnosing and treating more complex medical eye conditions. So it is not unusual for optometrists and ophthalmologists to work closely-together on hard-to-diagnose conditions or ongoing disease treatment and management.

Third, as M.D.s, ophthalmologists are allowed to prescribe a broader-range of prescription drugs than optometrists.

Ophthalmologist Education & Training

Ophthalmologists will receive four or more years of premedical undergraduate education, four years of medical school, and then one year of internship to get their doctorate degrees. Once they become licensed physicians, they will then undergo a residency of three or more years, with medical and surgical training in eye care.

Ophthalmologist Services

While all ophthalmologists are trained in vision services such as eye exams, refraction, vision correction and lens prescription, not all ophthalmologists will choose to practice vision correction as a primary service.

Performing eye surgery is more profitable than refractions, so although ophthalmologists by training must be able to perform these services, they will often leave these day-to-day vision services to optometrists to perform instead.

Also, optometrists tend to have more eyewear product (like eyeglass frames and prescription sunglasses), so most primary vision correction is performed not by ophthalmologists, but by optometrists (and often technicians.) It is also not unusual for ophthalmologists and optometrists to work in the same office and co-treat patients.

What About Opticians?

Although opticians have a similar-sounding name to optometrists and ophthalmologists, they are very different from eye doctors: Opticians specialize in filling the lens prescriptions that optometrists and ophthalmologists prescribe.

Opticians will typically receive a one or two-year degree or certification. In a typical optometry practice, the optician will:

Evaluate the lens prescriptions written by the eye doctor

Dispense, repair, adjust and replace eyeglass frames, lenses and contacts

Take measurements of a patient’s face in order to match them up with glasses that are appropriate for their facial structure

Assist in determining which lenses are appropriate for a patient

Provide guidance on how to match eyeglass frames with a patient’s personal fashion style or lifestyle

Should I See an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist?

For most day-to-day eye and vision-care needs, an optometrist will generally be your best choice. Optometrists typically have better appointment availability than ophthalmologists and will often have more eyeglass frame stock options, as well.

Like ophthalmologists, optometrists are trained to perform thorough eye examinations and refractions, as well as vision therapy for things like lazy eye. Some argue that optometrists are actually more skilled at vision correction because they typically perform many more refractions on a day-to-day basis than ophthalmologists. So practice makes perfect … or so the theory goes.

And, because optometrists now have more specialized education in ocular disease diagnosis and management, they are trained to spot many of the same diseases and conditions that in the past only an ophthalmologist was trained to diagnose.

If more serious eye health conditions are found by an optometrist, the optometrist will then refer you out to an ophthalmologist for a more detailed examination or ongoing treatment.

Articles extract from: http://www.urbanoptiques.com/vision-care-focus-on-vision-care/vision-care-articles/optometrist-vs-ophthalmologist-whats-the-difference

LEARN THE DIFFERENCE

LEARN THE DIFFERENCE
Optician vs. Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist

A patient that requires contact lenses or glasses will seek the help of an optician. An optician fills lens prescriptions for contact lenses and glasses, written by the optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Opticians are not responsible, nor trained, for eye examinations or treatment solutions for eye disorders. They help you pick our your frames and adjust them to fit comfortably.

Optometrists are doctors who perform annual examinations to treat any vision problems and detect signs of disease and abnormal conditions. Examinations may also include testing for glaucoma, color perception, depth, and the ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. Optometrists must be licensed, have a Doctor of Optometry degree, and pass a state board examination.

Ophthalmologists must acquire a Doctor of Medicine degree, a broad knowledge of general medicine, and clinical training. If a person requires medical or surgical care for an eye disease or an eye injury, he or she will seek the assistance of an ophthalmologist. Your refractive laser surgeon MUST be an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists must acquire a Doctor of Medicine degree, a broad knowledge of general medicine, and clinical training. This provides them with enough experience to diagnose and treat all types of eye disorders.

Ophthalmologists are the only eye care professionals certified to perform surgery on the eye. A subspecialist has undergone additional years of medical training exclusively in their chosen area of expertise, for example, retinal diseases, glaucoma, cornea or pediatrics.