January 2008


I used to have an aggravating case of medium level back pain.  I use medium to describe it because it wasn’t too painful to bear but it did make life really uncomfortable at times.  The funny thing is that the way I got over the pain was by developing my abdomend and making my intestines softer.  There was alot of pressure released from my back once my posture got better.  I could sleep better, walk better and sitting was not painful anymore.  Actually my entire body began to improve after my core area became more developed and flexible.  Going to the Dahn Yoga school was a good choice.  I would have never known that I could do something about my condition other than endure what-ever my symptoms are.  Learning this gave me hope and joy that I am not helpless I actually am in charge of everthing in my life.

My study of my brain has led me to realize that the place of nothingness is in my brain.  I watched my brains response to my actions that I make with my body.  My posture, my voice, my response time, my speed when moving, my gestures, smiling all effect my brain and helps in the process of creating thoughts.  The information I have about the different actions creates the effect those actions have on my brain.  What does this mean?  That my actions themselves are not good or bad it is my information that makes them good or bad.  After realizing this then I wondered: is there any natural actions that my brain responds to without any judgement.  I realized that even since my first day on Earth I was bombarded with information around me that told me what was good and what was bad.  When I laughed my parents laughed.  When I cried they were not happy.  When I smilled they smilled and on and on and on.  The next question that came up was what did my brain think before the external influence.  I asked myself this question and reflected deeply inside for the answer.  The only answer I received was Nothing.  That means that all this time the meditators search to become nothing is not something to become at all.  It is the natural state of everyone.  Realizing this was a huge relief.  I don’t need to gain anything because I already have it inside of me.

Dr Ilchi Lee frequently talks about  peace in his lectures.  I believe most people like to be in a state of peace.  The methods that Dr. Ilchi Lee suggest involve the physical body, the emotional state and the brain.  This way anyone can experience peace inside their of themselves.  Don’t we usually look outside for peace and just about anything else we want we look outside of ourselves for it.  We are the species that shape our own lives by the choices that we make.  We are not restricted to any enviroment.  We can go and come as we please and if we need help we can ask for it and even get it from someone if they choose.  No other living thing on Earth does that.  That is why we are at the top of the food-chain.  That is also why we need to get it together as a species.  When we get it together.  I am sure the Earth will start to heal itself and we can live in harmony with each other and with nature.

                                                               

Recently, I visited the elementary school, Sung Nam Elementary School, in rural South Korea, from which I graduated 45 years ago. The playground, in which I used to run and get out of breath, now looked to me like a very small garden.

Standing before the old school building and playground, I fell into a deep meditation for a long while. In my eyes, many vivid pictures from the past 45 years of my life, starting with my days in this school, went through my mind.

In the middle of this quiet and peaceful state of mind, my life’s journey flowed on like a movie. In it, a small boy who played very joyfully in this playground became an older gentleman with gray hair – who now communicates an Earth Human culture by making worldwide tours and meeting many diverse people.

I also imagined the time remaining for me to live on this precious Earth. The thought came naturally to my mind that I should devote my life to sharing and serving humanity. This end is now much more important and meaningful to me than anything else I could be doing.

The principal of this school is an esteemed educator with a strong educational philosophy. However, he confided that his school, located in a rural area losing population, might be on the verge of closing – if only two more students transfer to other schools.

I felt very sad thinking that this school – from which my father graduated in its 10th term and later taught, and I graduated in its 35th term with the many memories of my childhood – might very soon simply disappear. I grabbed the principal’s hands and declared my heart’s intention to help revive “our” school so that it survives and even thrives. I promised that I would facilitate the teachers, parents, students, and him to become “one mind” in making a happy and creative school. I would contribute my expertise in Brain Education to be practiced in this school, so that children would want to attend it, even coming from distant places.

South Korea’s University of Brain Education, of which I am the president, and Sung Nam Elementary School set up a collaborative relationship, announced in the school’s hall, December 5, 2007, the same day on which the Charter of National Education is celebrated in South Korea. The school graciously declared this date henceforth be called “Ilchi Lee Day.” Because of the connection to my childhood, I was happier this day than the times when 10 American cities honored me by declaring various dates as “Ilchi Lee Day.”

I feel really joyful in imagining my young juniors in Sung Nam Elementary School growing up with a sensitive, artistic and empowered personality, because of their experience with Brain Education methods – such as HSP (Health, Smile, Peace) 12 Steps, a program for physical and mental strengthening.

With all my heart, I would like to recommend that people who graduated elementary school two or three decades ago, make a visit to their elementary schools. Then they too may have a meaningful opportunity to reflect on their lives and to make a new plan for living their lives and contributing to the betterment of other people. If the school needs help, it can be an even more meaningful visit.

A meditation tour to your elementary school… you can meet yourself there.

http://www.ilchi.com/about-ilchilee/ilchi-blog/a-meditation-tour-to-my-elementary-school/