Ilchi Lee, founder of Dahn Yoga

Become Master of the Seas

By Ryan on Aug. 19, 2008.

An Ilchi Lee Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”   Become Master of the Seas   The day is made up of countless meetings. Meetings and partings…it is through partings that new meetings arise. Whether it is a meeting between two beings or between human and nature, Our minds are always being engulfed with contact and conflictAlthough the air that blows feels refreshing At times it stirs the deepest scars within us Even the emotionless wind that comes to us Causes multiple emotions There is no way we can remain detached when We meet with beings full of emotions Contact between humans become Joy, sadness, and painWhen we do not have a map for true life Thoughts of the future and past arise without mercy If you have a fantasy, it will be shattered If you have expectations, you will be disappointed It is when we calmly watch ourselves with absolute detachment that We can see a true reflection of ourselves. Fantasy or emotion These are just waves and not the sea itself Do not cling to the waves, trying to ride it forever Do not try to become the sea itself either Become master of the seas Master of the winds Master of life This is only possible through absolute detachment.

The Distance of the Eye of a Needle

By Ryan on Aug. 18, 2008.

An Ilchi Lee Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”   The Distance of the Eye of a Needle   It is when we connect with the essence that all of life sublimes into art Religion becomes art, politics become art, and education also. The essence is from where infinite creation begins To one who is enlightened to Truth The ways are countless with no limits However, ways that have arisen outside of truth Have no soul and may even lead to danger.To connect with the essence we must give ourselves up entirely To become one with the origin we must entrust ourselves completely This is a transaction with the heavens When we completely open ourselves up When we approach with our hearts and not our heads We may gain the heart of heavenFor one who has connected to the essence The light of his spirit shines to the ends of the universe Without writing a single word, by simply holding his sword He becomes a great master recorded into history.We cannot learn the essence, it can only be given to us We cannot receive it without letting go of the “I” Only when there is complete oneness will there be true connection. In becoming one with the essence Even if there exists the smallest of gaps-the distance of the eye of a needle, It is the same as being a hundred miles apart.

The Mind with which We Pick a Single Flower

By Ryan on Aug. 15, 2008.

An Ilchi lee Message for the Soul”A Flower Blossom in the Morning”   The Mind with which We Pick a Single Flower     Wherever there is life, there has also been the taking of life.Even in the water we take to quench our thirst Infinite living beings breathe and move. Drawing this line of when we can justifiably take life or not is difficult. To draw this line between good and evil is also a difficult task. What is good and what is evil changes with each period, each religion, and each nation. What is the basis for defining good and evil that embraces all this? To take or give life, good and evil are fruits cut out from one root. There is no way to maintain life without taking life. Evil grows by stepping on good and good rises by treading on evil. If the purpose of one¡¯s life is not set, The war between good and evil will never end. The way to live a life of dignity is to realize your higher purpose. When you set the purpose of your life as the completion of your soul, The circle of life and death rises to one of infinitely higher value. The soul is precious because it is only through the soul that You can realize the higher purpose of your life. It is when we labor Working for the benefit of all life, Working for our greater selves That our higher purpose is created To take life for this purpose Is the same principle as cutting down a tree to build a table. The plants and animals that enter the mouth of a person Who has realized the completion of his soul Will return to the place of origin together with the soul. When biting into an apple Or picking a flower, It is the consciousness with which we do this that is important. Although many lament the wrongs of this world The world is by nature right. It is because we are trying to fix a world that is already right, That no matter how much we try, it does not get fixed. The thing that needs to change is not the laws or frameworks of this world, But the consciousness and preconceptions of people.

At the Center of the Universe, We are Complete

By Ryan on Aug. 13, 2008.

An Ilchi Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”   At the Center of the Universe, We are Complete     The peace we feel when we are inside Nature Is due to Nature’s openness. Nature does not insist upon its “self” Even in a drawing, each being of Nature shines with beauty. For one tree to grow beautifully, there are countless exchanges. The energy of the sun, moon, and wind¡¦ Innumerable energies that cannot be seen grow the tree. And the tree opens itself up fully to all of them. This is the way, not only for the tree, but for birds, flowers¡¦ All beings that exist inside Nature. Only humans ceaselessly build walls, draw borders, and withdraw deep inside the self. The stars in the skies appear as if they are spread and separate, But in the eyes of the Universe, they are one big clump If we observe the world while doing away with empty space, Thousands, millions of things exist separately. When we focus only on our thoughts and preconceptions, the whole cannot be seen. This is just like looking at the stars and moon without seeing the empty space that lies beyond. When we lose sight of the origin of our life We forget how to exchange and lose our connection to our origin. We fall into the illusion that we are incomplete and lonely beings. Within this illusion we become attached to competition, possession, and control. Just as the sun and moon are suspended in empty space, So it is, that the origin of humans is empty space. With empty space as the basis, all things that exist between the heaven and earth are connected as one. When we become connected to our origin, we become the center of the Universe. When we stand at the center, our hearts open fully And each and every cell inside our bodies awakens. We are able to embrace and exchange with all when we are at the center, Holding an open love. This is when we become complete beings.

May it be with the Whole World

By Ryan on Aug. 11, 2008.

An Ilchi Message for the Soul “Flower Blossom in the Morning”   May it be with the Whole World   To love is the easiest meditation. It is easier to love than to hate. And loving ten people is More joyous than loving one. And loving one hundred people is More joyous than loving ten. When we love the whole world, Our joy becomes infinite. Loving without receiving isn’t enjoyable. How can you make the world fall in love with you? When you bring benefits to others, People will have no choice but to love you. Imagine enveloping the world with your love. You will become the lover of this world. If for one day you are not there Will the world not lose its brightness, fall into a deep sadness And be grieved over the loss of its lover? If you live your life with this great love One day the light of life will shine in your heart And you will gain the strength to heal this world. Oh beautiful one, if it must be that you love, May it be with the whole world. Share your love with your people, with this world, And with this universe.

If a Lotus Were to Die without Ever Blossoming

By Ryan on Aug. 5, 2008.

An Ilchi Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”   If a Lotus Were to Die without Ever Blossoming   There is nothing more that goes against the will of the Heavens Than a lotus dying without ever blossoming its flower.Not knowing the potential held inside the roots of the lotus The root will merely rot and become part of the mud Only when its potential is known will the lotus blossom.There is no need to grieve over the roots buried in mud It is because of the mud that we are able to live in this world Mixing in with all its illusionary forms and permanence. The mud and the lotus are both precious The lotus cannot bloom if it is separated from the mud It is when the body gives itself whole to the mud That a true lotus will blossom. And it is only when the lotus blossom comes to be Do we come to know the eternal world that is beyond both the mud and the lotus.

When I Breathe, I Share Love with the Empty Space

By Ryan on Aug. 4, 2008.

An Ilchi Lee Message for the Soul “Flower Blossom in the Morning”   When I Breathe, I Share Love with the Empty Space   If I were to compare my body to the infinite empty space, It is an existence as small as a particle of dust My heart feels the empty space in its entirety and embraces it.With each and every breath I become one with the empty space. Just as there is an empty space that exists outside my body There is one that exists inside my body. Since both empty spaces are connected We are tightly embracing the empty space from inside and out. All living things have their noses buried deep into this empty space Receiving life from its greatness. If the great empty space outside falls ill It only follows that the small empty space inside falls ill.If my heart is dark, the empty space darkens If my heart is bright, the empty space brightens.When I breathe, I share love with the empty space When asked where the Creator exists I say it is inside this empty space.The empty space enters me And it becomes as big as the heavens inside of me. I become the heavens I become the empty space.

Toward Completion

By Ryan on Aug. 3, 2008.

An Ilchi Lee Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”

In the process of walking towards completion Suffering, ugliness, and fear are all a part of the journey. Do not wish for pain to disappear but ride on the pain. Do not hide from fear but ride on the fear. Although you the divinity residing inside you Fear and doubt cover its light.Light is not something that comes down to you. It is something that can be met through you¡¦ When your soul awakes and you meet the light of divinity Like the rain that comes inside a thunderstorm Ripping open the curtain of my flowing tears, My soul cries out and shakes me awake.The love of this world is not complete. Even a seemingly perfect love is shattered by a single doubt. A seemingly eternal fortress will collapses under a cascade of gunfire. Love that is complete can be guarded by the heart And strength radiates light from inside. Walk towards the shining divinity. The light of divinity can only be seen by the awakened eye. Therefore, always be awake.

Enlightement Comes Like an Arrow

By Ryan on Aug. 1, 2008.

An Ilchi Lee growth Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”

You may be enlightened by simply watching a falling leaf. You may be enlightened by looking at the twinkling stars.Enlightenment can come find you like an arrow. An arrow that might be hurtling towards you from the side, From in front of you, or perhaps even from behind you. . . Or it can come from inside you.Are you ready to catch the arrow of enlightenment that might be hurtling towards you at any moment? If you are not awake in this moment now, it might disappear like a flash of lightening. Enlightenment is only achieved by the meeting of truth and truth. It is only when your heart is as true as pure gold, Can another truth come and be the spark To light a fire. This fire is creation, life, and love. Like this fire, enlightenment takes place. And like this fire, you are born again as a new being.

Ilchi Lee : Laziness is an Illusion

By Ryan on Jul. 31, 2008.

An Ilchi Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”

Ilchi Lee : Don’t Think About a Mulberry Tree While Standing in front of a Pine Tree

By Ryan on Jul. 30, 2008.

An Ilchi Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”

You can enjoy the fresh scent of pine trees inside a dense pine tree forest. When you open your chest wide and breathe in that scent, Your head becomes clear and your heart is refreshed. However if you think about a mulberry tree while standing in front of a pine tree, you cannot smell the scent that the pine tree is generously sharing with you. Your head will be full of images of the mulberries and large leaves of the mulberry tree. Here and there, I see this in people seeking truth. However, these are just names and ways of communicating truth. The important thing is realize the truth within you. What is it that you truly want?We go to a forest of pine trees for fresh air. When you’re standing in front of a pine tree, All you need to do is drink in as much oxygen as you want. Thinking about a mulberry tree while standing in front of a pine tree would be a waste of time.

Ilchi Lee : Earnest Desire

By Ryan on Jul. 28, 2008.

An Ilchi Message for the Soul “A Flower Blossom in the Morning”

 Earnest Desire

When a chick tries to come out into the world by cracking its shell
The mother hen pecks at the shell from the outside.
The strength of the chick to come out into the world
Unites with the strength of the mother hen to open a new world.

When a chick tries to come out into the world by cracking its shell
The mother hen pecks at the shell from the outside.
The strength of the chick to come out into the world
Unites with the strength of the mother hen to open a new world.

Each of us nurtures a chick like this in our own hearts.
When that chick tries with all its strength to crack its shell
To come out into the world, we call that desire.

At the same time that the chick directs all its strength towards the shell,
From the outside, the mother hen pecks at the shell with equal strength.
When these two sources of strength collide with a “Bang,” a new life is born.
We call that birth enlightenment and we call it insight.

When we come to possess an ardent wish in our hearts, Everything in the world becomes a mother hen.
A line from a poem, a verse from a song, a stranger that you meet by coincidence;
All of them help you in making your dreams and desires become a reality.

by Ilchi Lee

Ilchi Lee : You are the Sun of this World

By Ryan on Jul. 27, 2008.

You are the Sun of this World

‘You are the sun of this world.’ This is what I always tell myself.
First, my brain doesn’t really believe it.
This is because we place our own limitations on ourselves.
It is because we have information in our brains that says we are worthless and of little importance.

Through the third step of Brain Respiration, ‘Brain Refreshing,’ if we cleanse away negative information, the declaration, I am the sun of this world!?will ring true from your heart.

The important thing is for you to acknowledge this for yourself.
That is when you will gain immense power.

You must be able to tell yourself, ‘I can do it!’ ‘I am great!’ You must be impressed and moved by yourself.
Your brain will change when you find your own unique charm and tell your brain.

Only then your whole personality will become charming and attractive.
Do not hesitate any longer. Put this into practice.

You are the sun that brightens this world.

Only when you make a positive choice will you gain the power to take-off into 2008.

by ilchi lee

Ilchi Lee: How to use this life

By Ryan on Jul. 27, 2008.

How to use this life

We have the source of life within us.
Ideas are a wall separating us from that life.
The one who doesn’t know that the source of great life is within is moved by those ideas.

Our lives are part of the great life of the cosmos.
I am greatly deluded if I think the life given to me is “mine.”
All we can know is that this life given to us is available for our use.

Will I use that life in ways that are bright or dark?
That is my choice.
The selfishness and obsessions within us begin with the thought that this life is mine.
Growth of the spirit begins in the understanding that this life is not my own.

Life belongs to no one.
This life is given to us for a short time,
Only to return to its source.
As we manage mountains, fields, and rivers to leave to our descendants,
Our lives, too, we only manage for a short time.

Only when we know we come from the source
Can we know the way to back to it.
At the moment life ends, if a person’s spirit can return to the source following that life,
That person can be called a “complete human being.”

by Ilchi Lee

Ilchi Lee : Actualizing Your Vision With Devotion

By Ryan on Jul. 24, 2008.

Actualizing Your Vision With Devotion

Once you have chosen the purpose of your life, the only thing left for you to do is to actualize that choice with your utmost devotion. Devotion is the biggest force that will help you accomplish your vision. Devotion is something that arises from a deep place in your heart and is your will to be true to your true self. It is your true heart that is full of sincerity without any falsity. Devotion is something you give to something higher, clearer, and divine, to the center and the root. This is why devotion is an expression of your mind to become brighter than you are now, to grow more from the place you are at now.Hope will never leave the heart of someone who lives with a child’s mind. No matter what is said, whatever happens outside of the heart, such a person will always feel gratitude and happiness in life. Likewise, someone with a devotional heart cannot ever be lazy. However, one who has lost devotion will easily become useless and fall into despair. When devotion disappears, we become lazy and discontent.

When performing a task, there is a difference between doing it with uninterrupted utmost devotion and just doing it without resting. This can be compared to the task of gathering sunlight through a magnifying glass to start a fire. There is a difference between maintaining the exact focal point over a period of time and not doing so. In the beginning, it is a tiny difference, but later the former will be a big enough energy to light a fire, while the other will be a weak and dispersed energy that disappears without producing any results.

At first, you start putting in devotion because you expect something back. Once this devotion becomes sincere and from your heart, the initial expectations become smaller and smaller and only devotion grows. And then, once devotion becomes even deeper, your expectations disappear and only your sincere heart to give your utmost devotion remains. That is when your vision is actualized on its own without struggle.

The reason why people have a hard time doing things with utmost devotion is because they live their lives without focusing 100% on the present moment. Devotion is something you give to the present. Giving devotion is evidence that you are focusing 100% on this moment now. If you are not focused on this moment now, your mind is caught between worries about the future, attachments to the past, and it is obvious that there is no space for devotion.

by ilchi lee