Great People René Descartes

René Descartes was one of the most influential philosophers of the post-medieval era, whom Hegel had called "the father of modern philosophy." Although he was educated according to the Scholastic tradition, he rejected it and tried to liberate philosophy from its influences and advance human knowledge through science.

His views promoted the unity of all sciences, the order of reasons and the interaction of body and soul. In his Meditations, he opened a new way of acquiring wisdom through the truths of metaphysics which eventually leads to the knowledge of God, or the "Supreme Good."

Some of Descartes great quotes are worth a read:

"I think, therefore I am."

"Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it."

"Except our own thoughts, there is nothing absolutely in our power."

"An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?"

Enjoy your day~

Namaste -

Mary jane Kasliner ~ Yogi & Feng Shui Master

Confucius ~ Meaningful Quotes

Some magnificent quotes by one of the greatest sages of all time ~ Confucius

"When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves."

"Things that are done, it is needless to speak about...
things that are past, it is needless to blame."

"The superior man...does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything;
what is right he will follow."

"Have no friends not equal to yourself."

"What the superior man seeks is in himself;
what the small man seeks is in others."

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling,
but in getting up every time we do."

Contemplate these quotes today~

Namaste,

Mary Jane Kasliner

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Zen ~ A Cup of Tea

A Cup of Tea

101 Zen Stories

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor's cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

Something to ponder...How full we all are of our own opinions...

Namaste,
Mary Jane
www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Lead by Following~Tao Te Ching

Lead by Following

The river carves out the valley by flowing beneath it.
Thereby the river is the master of the valley.

In order to master people
One must speak as their servant;
In order to lead people
One must follow them.

So when the sage rises above the people,
They do not feel oppressed;
And when the sage stands before the people,
They do not feel hindered.

So the popularity of the sage does not fail,
He does not contend, and no one contends against him.

Who are you following today?

Namaste,

Mary Jane

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Ancient Words of Wisdom~ Zen Stories

Flower Shower

Subhuti was Buddha's disciple. He was able to understand the potency of emptiness, the viewpoint that nothing exists except in its relationship of subjectivity and objectivity.

One day Subhuti, in a mood of sublime emptiness, was sitting under a tree. Flowers began to fall about him.

"We are praising you for your discourse on emptiness," the gods whispered to him.

"But I have not spoken of emptiness," said Subhuti.

"You have not spoken of emptiness, we have not heard emptiness," responded the gods. "This is true emptiness." And blossoms showered upon Subhuto as rain.

Enjoy the rain`

Namaste,

Mary Jane Kalsiner - Feng SHui Master & Yogi

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Words of Wisdom

The Sage ` Tao Te Ching

Honest people use no rhetoric;
Rhetoric is not honesty.
Enlightened people are not cultured;
Culture is not enlightenment.
Content people are not wealthy;
Wealth is not contentment.

So the sage does not serve himself;
The more he does for others, the more he is satisfied;
The more he gives, the more he receives.
Nature flourishes at the expense of no one;
So the sage benefits all men and contends with none.

May we all find the sage within ~

Namaste,

Mary Jane ~ Feng Shui Master & Yogi

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Zen~

"Before enlightenment: chop wood, carry water.
After enlightenment: chop wood, carry water."

~Zen proverb

Photo by Mary Jane Kasliner


The goal of Zen practice is to discover one's Buddha nature. Meditation and mindfulness helps achieve new insights which leads to enlightenment.

Take several minutes a day to become quiet and find your "Zen" nature.

Namaste,
Mary Jane Kasliner ~ Feng Shui Master & Yogi
www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Socrates ~

Socrates believed that the ephemeral social attainments are not a worthy pursuit compared to the improvement of one's self. It was through the improvement of self that men could find true virtue and live happily.

What are you doing today to improve 'Self?"

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Namaste,
Mary Jane kasliner, Feng SHui master & Nationally Certified Yoga Teacher

From the Sages ~ What is the Meaning of Life?

Read on about the meaning of life from some of the greatest minds.

"Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart.
Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens." ~Jung

Cinque Terra - Italia ` Photo by Mary Jane Kasliner

"The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity by contributing to the establishment of the kingdom of God, which can only be done by the recognition and profession of the truth by every man."~Leo Tolstoy

"Vain are the beliefs and teachings that make man miserable, and false is the goodness that leads him into sorrow and despair, for it is man's purpose to be happy on this earth and lead the way to felicity and preach its gospel wherever he goes.
He who does not see the kingdom of heaven in this life will never see it in the coming life."

~Khalil Gibran

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

~Martin Luther King

"You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it.
That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life."

~Jiddu Krishnamurti

"As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death."~Leonardo da Vinci

"Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it."~Buddha

What does life mean to you?

Namaste,

Mary Jane Kasliner ~ Feng Shui Master & Yogi

www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Conquer Self ~ Buddha

"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."

never an easy task to quiet the mind of negative chatter. When we can begin to master that aspect then self can be conquered.

Have a peaceful day!
Mary Jane
Feng Shui Master & Yogi
www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Wisdom of the Ancient Sages ~ Confucius

Chinese teacher, philosopher and political theorist, lived in the 6th century BC and dedicated his life to relieve people's sufferings.

The way of achieving this was to spread moral living to the people. this was an enormous goal to achieve and in fact he was unable to achieve this goal himself. However, he left behind a philosophical system that still holds up today.

He believed the ultimate virtue was the love of man and the ultimate wisdom the understanding of man.

If we can all attempt to love one another and understand each other then we will see a world of peace.

Namaste,
Mary Jane~
www.fengshuiyoganj.com

Victor Hugo - Influential Poet

Victor Hugo was a great author, poet, artist and political ideologist of the 19th century. Both through his works, which inspired and stimulated on multiple levels, and through his political actions, he helped France establish a democratic government, rather than a monarchy.

His writings have many characteristics relevant to modern society and they involve humanism, human rights, justice and people's fair, democratic governance. Hugo masterfully orchestrated strings of words into emotional sequences that stirred people's inner spirit for justice, social fairness, equality, humanism and other noble values.

Victor Hugo was not only a great storyteller or poet, but actively used his artistic talent to stimulate the masses to more positive directions.

Find a positive direction to take whatever the motivating factor may be.

Have a wonderful day! I will check in with readers next week as I will be in sunny California...

Namaste,

Mary Jane