BEZA Blogs

Let’s explore the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism alongside Nature’s wisdom.

Beyond the Edge – Love is what you do!
Beyond the Edge – Love is what you do!

Embodied Enlightenment ~ Love in practice ~ From a Buddhist perspective and from the Buddha himself, you are perfect and complete and lacking nothing! At the moment of the Buddha’s enlightenment he realised that he had always been enlightened - that it was the...

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Earthen Zen – Healing the Masculine and Feminine
Earthen Zen – Healing the Masculine and Feminine

Read the signs around you. Meet unpredictability with authenticity and curiosity. Trust your medicine to meet revolutionary moments with truth. In this Module we study medicine gifts; transformation; the trickster; authentic expression; transformation; shapeshifting...

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Beyond the Edge – Gold Beyond the Edge
Beyond the Edge – Gold Beyond the Edge

Dear Earth Beings, Here is something for you to investigate in this moment, or perhaps for the rest of your life… My spiritual Grandfather, Baba Credo Mutwa - High Sanusi, Sangoma and Spiritual Elder of the Zulu people was the great record keeper of the ancient...

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Medicine of NATURE Module
Medicine of NATURE Module

Medicine of NATURE Module Way of Medicine3 August - 15 September 2024 Applications close 21st JulyRead the signs around you. Meet unpredictability with authenticity and curiosity. Trust your medicine to meet revolutionary moments with truth. In this Module we study...

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Circle of Connection
Circle of Connection

Healing the Masculine and Feminine To heal the pain in any existing divide between the masculine and feminine, and give practical expression to this Heart-Mind Way, Nangaku from BEZA and Svenja Krauer - an Alchemist of Change, invite you to a monthly online community...

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Zen Roots, Blossoms in Spring
Zen Roots, Blossoms in Spring

3 or 5 Day Zen Meditation Intensive 24 – 29 September 2024 Boschrivier Farm, Stanford, WC.There are many ways of describing a Blossom. The unique experiences of practicing meditators see their own blossoming, each in accord with their vast interior landscape. We live...

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The Transformative Power of Talismanic Art
The Transformative Power of Talismanic Art

“Becoming aware that the art I had been instinctively creating using sticks, stones, feathers and bones, is my unique medicine gift to the world, I completed my first “conscious” Talismanic Art Piece. I based it on my journey with Born as the Earth School so far.” – Alison Evans

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Artificial Intelligence vs Authentic Intelligence: A Zen Buddhist Perspective on Consciousness
Artificial Intelligence vs Authentic Intelligence: A Zen Buddhist Perspective on Consciousness

“Everything we are talking about AI or computing power will never be able to beat the complexity that nature presents to us. The real intelligence is Nature’s Intelligence. AI is good, but AI is just a tool to Nature’s Intelligence. Nature’s Intelligence is four and half billion years old. To think that something that is less than a hundred years old can beat something that is four billion years is a bit of an extension.” – Agam Khare

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Forest Bathing, Shinrin Yoku: What is it, and How to Practice it.
Forest Bathing, Shinrin Yoku: What is it, and How to Practice it.

In a world that is constantly on the move, where stress and anxiety seem to be an integral part of our daily lives, there’s a Japanese practice that offers a refreshing escape into nature’s embrace. Its called Shinrin Yoku, or forest bathing, and it’s a profound way to reconnect with the natural world while reaping numerous health benefits. In this article, we’ll delve into the essence of Shinrin Yoku, explore what it means, and learn how to practice this ancient Japanese art.

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The Effects of Inauthentic Expression & Deception on the Body
The Effects of Inauthentic Expression & Deception on the Body

Often the social environment is partly to blame for deceptive activity. In holistic communities the perpetrator, victim, and witnessing community all share collective responsibility for maintaining honesty and equity in all relationships. Therefore, we each have a vital role to play in reducing inauthenticity in our friend, family, work, and social circles. Firstly, role-modelling authenticity, vulnerability and truthful expression allows others to trust their own capacity to do the same. This a powerful first step in creating an environment that supports authentic expression.

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Exploring Healing Wisdom: 5 Medicine Buddhas and Their Influence on Buddhist Practice, Belief, and Schools
Exploring Healing Wisdom: 5 Medicine Buddhas and Their Influence on Buddhist Practice, Belief, and Schools

Buddhism, with its rich tapestry of teachings and traditions, encompasses a wide array of beliefs and practices. One intriguing facet of this spiritual journey revolves around the concept of the “Medicine Buddhas.” In this article, we delve into the world of these celestial beings, their significance in Buddhist practice, the beliefs surrounding them, and the various schools that venerate them.

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The Body’s Center: How the Hara, or Center of Gravity Functions in All Body Practices
The Body’s Center: How the Hara, or Center of Gravity Functions in All Body Practices

In the realm of body practices, there exists a fundamental concept that serves as the anchor for balance, strength, and movement coordination. This concept is none other than the “Hara,” often referred to as the core or center of gravity. Whether you’re practicing yoga, martial arts, dance, or any physical discipline, understanding the significance of the hara is crucial for unlocking your body’s full potential and achieving optimal performance. In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of the hara, exploring its functions and importance across various body practices.

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Body Mechanics, Hara and Healing
Body Mechanics, Hara and Healing

Body mechanics in simple terms is how we use and hold our bodies in our day-to-day lives. In technical terms, good body mechanics means using the body’s strength to the best mechanical advantage to do a task efficiently and without injury. Sometimes, this involves manipulating the way in which a task is done.

Body mechanics are utilized in day-to-day tasks from sitting, standing, lifting, carrying, bending, sleeping, and so on. The aspect of compensation falls into this category too. Meaning, if there is any form of incorrect compensation while doing an activity, we can throw out our entire body’s balance

and the result is pain. This will be explored in section three. The most common form of pain, when one has poor body mechanics/ incorrect compensation, is back and neck pain. Back muscles are used in nearly all movements and even a slight abnormal stress on a muscle can pull the spine out of alignment.

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