Joseph Goldstein Retreats about Fear and Craving

Achieved is the end of craving - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2oC5nvAZiA&feature=youtu.be

The end of craving is a taste of freedom. 

Realized is the unconditioned. Achieved is the end of craving. 

Can we even imagine a mind that is free of craving, free of desire? 

The end of craving is not far of or special. The practice of the end of craving should be made for the moment, in the moment, right now. Practice for short moments many times. 

Experiment: The next time a desire should come upon you, see if you can recognize that the desire is present, that there's a wanting in your mind. 

What does it feel like when the mind is filled with desire/ wanting? And watch how it feels when you are free of wanting. 

Craving means thirst, the fear of unsatisfied longing. It is a compelling force. It's not superficial and it can consume you. 

Craving for: power, success, drugs, alcohol. Wanting things you don't even know what they are. Or "a cup of tea would be nice".

Wanting to want: you open a catalog and go through pages waiting for something to want. 

We get lost in the fantasy of the next project we want to do, the next vacation. This is a dead end and it's not going anywhere. We expect to get something and we fear that we won't. We are trying to control how the experience unfolds. 

Craving is temporary, it doesn't deliver on its promise of happiness. "If we go for this it's gonna make us happy". 

Craving of becoming, when we imagine ourselves in a future situation. 

Don't crave past experiences, don't bind yourself to future ones. Take notice when that happens. 

Let go of the present, it can become a fixation. Don't crave the present.

Liberation doesn't come from an experience we expect/ crave, it's about letting go. We usually do what we do in order for some experience to happen. You achieve freedom with the end of craving. With this, we don't practice wanting something new. 

All our activities are based on a mistaken sense of self. Something that's not there in the first place. 

How do we free our minds from craving just in this moment? Whatever is not yours, abandon it, let it go: "Not I, not mine, not myself". Ex: material objects, consciousness, feelings, etc. 

PERSONAL SUMMARY - Craving:  You can end craving through practice. Practice seeing when you feel like wanting something, as many times as you can. Notice when you live in the past or the future, and don't get caught up in the idea of always being present. Practice for short moments many times. Don't expect to get something and don't try to control your experience. Don't live behind of the image of yourself, this image itself is a mistake and doesn't exist. Whatever is not yours, abandon it, don't be subjectively/ personally attached to it, because nothing is actually yours. Do what you can for today, for this moment, without thinking about the results you will get in the future. 

Working with fear -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8LcKlmSqUs&feature=youtu.be

We experience fear when we are at the end of our comfort zone. 

Imagine a mind without edges or limitations. 

You endure pain rather than opening to it. 

We build up in our minds what the pain is gonna become "in one hour" and then we build up on that. Fear of anticipated discomfort/ pain limits you. 

"I'll take this second piece of toast just in case i'm hungry".

Don't be caught up or identified with the fear. 

We have so many distractions that we can't feel what we carry around. 

Don't just let fear go away, don't just let it happen, practice in order for it to happen. 

The healing power of awareness. 

How much do we do so we don't feel lonely or bored? 

Whatever has the nature to arise will also pass away. The cause of death is birth. 

We can know it is there (fear) and still push it away, still resist. 

Accept fear, it's ok. Imagine being with a frightened child, You wouldn't be denying it, you would be caring with the kid. 

Fear is just a mindstate, that's all it is.

We reteach ourselves lovelyness until it flowers from within with self blessing. 

PERSONAL SUMMARY - Fear:  Fear is something that appears at the end of our comfort zone. It is ok to be afraid, accept fear, embrace it, don't endure it, be open towards fear, it is normal to be afraid and it is a part of our human experience. Fear is just a mindstate, fixed in your mind, blinding you, that keeps you from looking around. For one moment, just stop, open your eyes, and look at the here and now, look at what is around you. There is no danger, nothing to be afraid of, no past experience or future expectations, it's just you and what you see around you. If you are afraid, don't identify with fear, don't act through fear, don't be fear. Accept it, look around and take a deep breath. Each time when you feel afraid, lonely, bored, or when you are looking for second options just to be sure, just remember, this danger you are afraid of, isn't a thing of the present, nor will it exist in the future.  

Jogging for Beginners, Quick Home Exercises and Breathing exercises.

*Read the blog description first*

I. The first step you need to take into account are stretching and breathing exercises. For this, a friend recommended me two of Elliott Hulse's videos, 30 seconds  to 1 minute for each exercise:
1.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD-3j2g9w9U
2.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTaFWFCqBzg&feature=youtu.be



II. 7 minute exercises

The 12 exercises are most effective if you carry them out the in correct order with a 10 second break between each. The exercises should be performed in rapid succession, allowing 30 seconds for each.

However the experts say that you must be in pain when performing the regime in order to benefit.

Quick Morning Workout: http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/quick-start-morning-workout

III.  Here's a short list of what you should do to start jogging:

1.  Comfortable clothing and shoes. Preferably, spend as much time barefoot as possible.

2. Don't jog on a full stomach. Hydrate yourself, drink lots of water. A banana before jogging should give you the right nutrients.

3.  Warm up, no stretches! Just walk fast before jogging, and then start to jog.

4. Breathe deeply and evenly. Avoid shallow and quick breaths.

5. Avoid hitting the ground heel first. This is bad for your knee. Instead, try to hit the ground with the flat of your foot.

5. Bend your arms at a 90 degree angle. Keep them at your side.

6. Look in front of you, don't look down.

7. Cool down. Jog slowly then walk for a few minutes before stopping. Finish with some stretches.

8. Jog 30-45 minutes in the morning for a boost of energy through the day. Jogging in the evening gives you more time and flexibility, but makes you less tired for your bed time.

9. Game App: "Zombies, Run!".

10. Sprinting burns more calories than jogging: sprint for 30 seconds, walk fast for 1 minute. Ignore the fact that you can run more and just stop, don't exhaust your body.

Useful blog post: https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/running-properly/