For the month of May we offered anyone who so graciously donated to this website and to the continued support of Dhamma Tāpasā, a very unique chance indeed.
We offered you guys the change to become your very own superhero, using your name as one of the main characters in an up and coming completely Original Moral story.
It is with great pleasure to announce the winner of the competition is:-
Patricia Bell
Congratulations Patricia
After speaking to Patricia over email I think we are going to come up with a compelling new story on more of an adult theme as I feel this is more suitable. Stay tuned as an idea has already formulated and the writing has begun.
I can’t thank everyone enough who participated in this little special offer. This website at present couldn’t be kept running without the wonderful generosity of everyone out their.
If you would like to help us here at 4enlightenment with any size donation we are offer you as a thank you gift our Top 10 Most Popular Moral Stories delivered direct to your inbox as a PDF.
We are very close to having a series of books published and available across platforms such as Amazon, these include our Top 10 Most Popular Stories.
Donate today and grab yourself a copy of our Top 10 Most Popular Moral Stories completely free of charge.
We are please to announce Dhamma Tāpasā recently gave us his valuable time to record a voice over to the video and story “The Four Trees” our most loved Moral Story to date.
Please follow the links to YouTube to see our Audio & video version of “The Four Trees” narrated by Dhamma Tāpasā. If you could also share, like and comment that way we can spread the kindness further.
Our story comes from a time during the Roman Empire where there were mighty gladiators and legendary Emperors. Our story is centred around a normal soldier who became a legend in his own right.
Inspirational Short Moral Story
The Roman Soldier
From a young age our soldier was always good at sports and always dreamed of becoming a soldier. His dream wasn’t just of an ordinary soldier he dreamt of glory and recognition.
By the age of twelve he had proved himself, and was excepted into the military academy. He enjoyed his life and strived everyday to become the best. He knew of nothing better he could be, than that of a soldier in the Roman army.
He progressed well becoming one of the top students. Finally the day came of graduation, where he was selected to join the twelfth legion. An elite legion known for there bravery and savagery on the battle field.
He quickly excelled with his new legion, making friends quickly and soon become recognised as fearless and ruthless in battle. He rose through the ranks and became a sergeant looking after a dozen men.
Battle after battle were fought with our soldier and his brave twelve victorious at every turn.
He was gaining a reputation as one of the most mastered and revered soldiers in the entire Roman Empire.
More battles came with victories at every turn.
Until things started to change and a true legend was born.
It began with a pause in a battle to remove the wounded. While resting he watched the old and young come and tend to the wounded and find their loved ones. He watched as tears flooded the eyes and heart of one particular mother who wept desperately for her son, now lying motionless.
Like a lightening bolt our soldier could see this heartache and devastation was caused by his own sword and how his actions had an equal and opposite reaction.
No matter how hard he tried to shake these thoughts from his head, he just could rid himself of what he had witnessed. Something deep within him had started to change.
The battle was won and the legion were triumphant, but our soldier wasn’t celebrating, he was in deep remorse for that poor old lady and her son.
Right there and then he threw his sword to the floor never to pick it up again. He went to find the old lady who had wept for her son and on bended knees begged for her forgiveness.
He was released from duty, officially recorded as exhaustion, where he returned to his home town. Upon arriving home he was greeted as a hero, anyone brave enough to fight in the Roman army were treated this way. He felt very guilty for all this praise knowing the hurt and pain it had caused others.
Within a matter of days he entered a monastery to practice a simple life and to repent all his sins. He learned under a great master of the time and before long his heart was pure enough to allow for the healing.
With love now in the soldiers heart he walked the countryside spreading kindness and compassion wherever he could. His reputation began to spread far and wide as a saintly man full of love in his heart. He now wore the simple robes and collected only alms for his food.
He began to gather a following of men and women all eager to hear words of wisdom from this great man.
All our actions have consequences this is called Karma. Whatever we do, think or say produces Karma. If we harm others or ourselves then that karma caused is only negative. Over the long run that has a devastating effect on both our peace of mind and our wellbeing. What we think we become!
*Dhamma Tāpasā a trained ex Buddhist Monk and the spiritual name given to Andrew Hallas. An inspirational teacher of mindfulness and meditation techniques through the art of storytelling. Dhamma Tāpasā is able to capture our imaginations whilst teaching us valuable moral principles and deepening our understanding of the human consciousness and the everyday problems we face.
Once a very long time ago there lived a Hermit Monk, he preferred to spend his time well away from the trappings of society and instead sought seclusion within nature to deepen his meditation practice. He would still visit the local village early each morning to collect his alms food and this had been the way our Monk lived for many years.
One fine afternoon, after our Monk had received his alms food he found his usual meditation cushion and began to be aware of his breathing and started to practice Samadhi Meditation. His concentration became so great our Monk sat for a very long time and didn’t notice the large snake coming closer and closer. Our Monk was absorbed with his one pointed concentration that he had become as still as a tree.
The large snake didn’t even notice the silent and still Monk who was meditating as still as a tree, all he noticed was a nice warm sleeping spot in those Monks robes all draped around his crossed legs, and in the sunshine, our snake snuggled into the Monks lap and fell fast asleep.
An hour or so passed like this with our Monk in deep mediative concentration and our snake fast asleep on his lap, until slowly the Monk returned his concentration to his surroundings and began to become aware of an unusual weight in his lap. You can imagine the surprise of the Monk as he glanced down into his lap. As bold as brass a very large snake had indeed curled up in his lap and fallen fast asleep.
Fear grasped our Monk who instantly closed his eyes and started meditating again. He calmed himself and remembered his training, all things are impermanent and forever changing, and knew without a doubt the snake would move on again, and so he stayed in Meditation
But our snake was very comfortable and didn’t want to move, he stayed where he was fast asleep. This went on for many days until even the villagers had started to notice the absence of their Monk and decided to pay him a visit.
The villagers came with food and offerings and as they approached they noticed the Monk sat silently in Meditation, they were all so absorbed with the serenity of the Monk and his stillness that they didn’t notice the snake curled up fast asleep in his lap. Slowly each villager bowed with respect to the meditating monk and left their offerings and our monk to his meditation.
Life went on like this for many many days. Our Monk out of fear in a deep mediative concentration, our snake fast asleep on his lap all comfortable as can be, and the villagers coming each and every day to offer food.
Finally our snake found himself hungry and so uncurled himself from the Monks lap, stretched his biggest stretch he went off in search. Our Monk also slowly came out of meditation but something had changed deep within, he had sat for many days in complete absorption of his mind and saw as clear as a mountain lake the processes within our minds that cause humanity so much pain and suffering, he had attained enlightenment.
He had experienced for himself the true impermanence of all phenomena and the attachment to everything which causes our sufferings. As our monk slowly opened his eyes a great sense of loving kindness filled his heart, he noticed all the offerings from the local villagers and was compelled with compassion to help there sufferings. He packed his small bag an started the walk to the village where he stayed and taught for the rest of his life, the root causes of our sufferings and the way to enlightenment.
Sometimes Fear can compel us to do some remarkable things but also has the power to cripple our thinking. Everyone of us has experienced fear in our lives and it is how we move forward not allowing that fear to consume our thinking that is the key. Fear is a natural response to changeable and uncertain situations. To attach to that fear and live life within her is not a natural response, this is overthinking. If fear is having a crippling effect on your decision making, we are overthinking life and need to find a way to relax. Meditation helps to calm the mind and settle the overthinking. Feel the fear and do it anyway
*Dhamma Tāpasā a trained ex Buddhist Monk and the spiritual name given to Andrew Hallas. An inspirational teacher of mindfulness and meditation techniques through the art of storytelling. Dhamma Tāpasā is able to capture our imaginations whilst teaching us valuable moral principles and deepening our understanding of the human consciousness and the everyday problems we face.
Anxiety can be a crippling disease of mind, it’s a feeling of fear or apprehension of something yet to come and in extreme cases is devastating to your life.
Calming Anxiety
Anxiety disorders can cause your heart rate to rise, heart palpitations, and chest pain. You may also be at increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
The 5 ways of Categorising Anxiety
According to the National Health Service from the United Kingdom Of Great Britain we generally put the effects of Anxiety into 5 categories, these are
Generalised Anxiety Disorder: Described as an excessive amount of worry, stress or anxiety which may include symptoms such as depression. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association Of America (ADAA) Generalised Anxiety Disorder is diagnosed as extreme worry about a variety of things which leads to continuous anxiety and lasts for a period of 6 months and longer.
Social Anxiety Disorder: This is the paralysing fear of social involvement and situations usually leaving the person suffering feeling alone, isolated and ashamed.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: OCD is an overwhelming sense to perform certain tasks a certain way over and over again. This experience of intrusive nature of thoughts can give rise to chronic stress.
Panic Disorder: Is characterised by unexpected and sometimes repeated episodes of intense fear, physical symptoms include but not limited too, chest pains, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, tightness of chest, dizziness and or abdominal pain.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Stress caused after a dangerous and scary event. Example would be experiencing war, a deadly storm or almost drowning. This is known as Traumatic Stress and can lead to PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder
Mind Matters and Anxiety
How to cope with Anxiety
There are many methods we can use to cope and indeed combat anxiety and it’s associated symptoms, here is a quick list that may help, it is by no means comprehensive and if you feel you know something which may help others please feel free to share. I will credit you and add your pearl of wisdom.
If you feel there is something left off this list, maybe you have an idea that may help others, then please feel free to add a comment below, I will credit you and add your pearl of wisdom to the list.
Is Society getting you down? Does it seem everywhere you look our establishments are run by complete fools? Political systems, corrupt corporations, energy sucking globalists.
What if you could find a way to truly leave the system, what if you could just leave behind this whole messed up situation?
Well what if I were to tell you there is a way. A way to leave all those problems of a messed up corrupt society behind, for good! And it doesn’t involve living in a tent in the forest.
I was once truly sucked into any conspiracy theories, the 911 twin towers, the subsequent London bombings, Russian interference, political masterminding, the Rothschild family and anything else you can think of. I was angry and pissed off, it seemed to me there was 100 percent something going on that we weren’t being told about, and I was also 100 percent convinced it could be done better.
I got myself so worked up and upset with everything and anybody. I had turned into, without my knowledge, an energy sucker. I used to drag people into my world of conspiracies no matter what was bought up in conversation. I used to talk at people not with them, and in doing so used to steal people’s energy. It was hard to be around someone so upset and angry with everything, someone like me.
I found a way to leave all this behind me, and now am peaceful, chilled out, relaxed and calm. The news that used to frustrate me no end, doesn’t affect me in the slightest. I now listen to people and there opinions, and care about them. I am happier then ever and live a fantastic life I honestly didn’t believe was possible. A dramatic transformation happened to me, and I can share with you the one thing that changed my life so you too can succeed in leaving this messed up society of corruption and political B/S behind.
So what changed? what did I learn that changed my outlook? Is there some secret?
It’s not a secret and I will share with you in just a moment.
First I need to explain something, so you can understand what I am about to say. For some people what I’m about to say is going to be a little difficult to grasp with a mind so full of stuff.
So I want you to Just relax and try and listen to what I’m saying, before forming an opinion, only after you have have read all the information form an opinion. Then I would love for you to challenge it, rip it apart, analyse it and inspect what I have said, that way at least I know you listened.
Hear we go
There is inherently nothing wrong with what is going on with society. There is no conspiracy theories, or even shape shifting aliens running the planet. Everything that is happening to our societies, governments, country wars, mass media marketing, death and destruction is completely normal to us humans.
Please don’t get me wrong, the whole world is in complete mayhem and drastically needs sorting out. What I’m am telling and revealing to you is that it is the human consciousness that is responsible for this mess and nothing else. The Brown Bear isn’t responsible or indeed the poor chicken. It is our human consciousness that has created this mess and it needs to change to get ourselves out!
Let me explain. Every conspiracy you have heard about was created within a human consciousness and as so we can see that each and everyone of us have a personal role to play.
All Governments lie to there citizens, just as we parents lie to our kids. There is no conspiracy in that. Both are the human consciousness in action just upscaled. Corporations are run by the same consciousness of humanity that lives within our families. There are power struggles between siblings just as there is in management, there is present in both family and corporation, greed, dishonesty, jealousy, lying, manipulation and many more unpleasant traits. Every characteristic you see within the family just upscales into governments, industry, manufacturing, advertising, sports and any other activity the human consciousness is involved in. After all who is in charge if not a human with a human consciousness.
Just because our elite went to Harvard or Eton doesn’t make them into saintly figures who have purified the defilements of their minds. On the contrary these men and women are bred to hold dear to their hearts greed, materialism, manipulation, lying and dishonesty as the back bone of the worlds economy.
If we as humans continue in the manner we have there will be no end to our destruction of planet earth. It is our human consciousness at this very level right NOW, with all its defilements of greed, manipulation, jealousy, callousness, aggression, dominance, vindictiveness, envy and deception that is present in all of us.
It must be our life goal, our jobs, in this life to change our level of consciousness so we can pass it onto the next generation. There is no better time to learn than Now! We must begin to change these defilements of mind.
If you are still with me and can see logically what I have said and want to make that change, to be someone special who is really trying to make a difference and escape this mayhem we call society. Then the next thing we have to do is clearly experience this logic for ourselves. We need to clearly experience personally that it is this human consciousness, with its defilements of greed, dishonestly, jealousy, manipulation and many more that creates the mess we are in and it is this human consciousness that needs to change!
Meditation
Meditating allows us to clearly see and experience this truth or reality for ourselves. When we meditate we learn to watch or observe our minds wanderings. With time and patience we slowly see these defilements of greed, manipulation, lying, stealing and jealousy all clearly present within ourselves. Once we see it within ourselves we now clearly understand how it is present in our families, our work place, our schools, and our governments, finally creating the society we live in. Once you can clearly see and perceive your defilements as negative and harmful to yourself as well as others we natural drop them as if they were like a hot coal in the palm of your hand.
Meditation may seem a far cry away from the front line of demonstrations and protests but meditation is a double edged sword, everyone who meditates slowly sees the unsatisfactoriness in this constant game of buying continuously ever more stuff just to make us feel slightly satisfied in life, just to require us to work even harder to pay for it all and so the cycle begins again. We see the very rat race for what it is. We naturally pull ourselves away from the mass commercialism that seems to of afflicted the West and now the East
Meditation is like Mahatma Gandhi was to India with his peaceful protest against the system. Meditation changed Nelson Mandela from terrorist to enlightened master. Meditation has the power to change the world into that wonderful place we know can exist.
If you want to see a change in the world then it is up to each and everyone of us to change our level of consciousness away from the one that created the mess we are in. To do that we can all practice meditation. Even if only a third of the world started meditating today, the rest would slowly follow, just like all sheep follow the majority so do humans. Don’t be a sheep, instead lead by example, lead others in changing their consciousness. Meditation is a 100 percent guaranteed way to stop this madness on planet earth, and for each of us to live in harmony not just with the planet but we will start to feel calmer, happier and more at peace.
Are you with me!
So where do we begin, the Benefits of Meditation have been well publicised on mainstream media and social networks and some of you may have even tried a little mindfulness in your daily lives. What I would like to share with you is the correct way to mediate, not the capitalistic industry way, but the Buddhist monk 2,500 year experienced method of training. And this is completely Free as it always has been and always will.
If you are a complete beginner then I recommend checking out our Beginners Meditation or Samadhi Meditation, these are the most fundamental aspect of mindfulness meditation, to establish a strong grounding or foundation in our breathing before we move onto Vipassana Meditationalso known as clearly seeing meditation, and this is where the magic begins. Our investigations within our own consciousness begins to reveal the truths or Facts Of our Existence on how we experience this life.
I cannot state highly enough to practice the basics first, establishing a firm and unshakable foundation in Samadhi Meditation first before moving on. This sounds the most simplest and easy way to sit and meditate, I promise you it is anything but. Just practicing this meditation and establishing a firm foundation can and will bring with it the most joyful, pleasurable and an insanely high euphoria that can last for hours sometimes days. Far better than any thrill seeking drug.
I wish you all the success with your journey through meditation and mindfulness training and practice. If there are any questions, problems you may be facing then it would be my pleasure to help in anyway I can. My training and experience can be found at the About Us Page and to contact me and receive a personal email, use the Contact Us Form.
Having an optimistic outlook on life is not just scientifically proven but it is also highly beneficial to our minds and bodies. Being optimistic is seeing things in a less stressful manner, seeing the lighter side of life, enjoying the adventure rather than worrying what’s to come. Having optimism makes us feel happier and more content with life no matter who or where you are. Wouldn’t you rather be optimistic
Optimism is a thought pattern that can be taught and learnt successfully, it may be true that they’re are some people born with a more optimistic outlook on life, these guys just have a head start.
Optimism can be taught and learnt successfully, just like any other thought pattern, repetition, patience and kindness to yourself go a long way. The good news is that optimism can be implemented into your life almost instantly.
When I was a Buddhist monk in rural Thailand we sometimes used to ride into town in the back of an Land Rover with those bars holding up a canvas roof. Every big bump in the road, and one of the monks would bang his head on one of those metal bars, not once did I hear a scream of pain or abusive language, every time it happened the monk would burst out laughing.
Of course I thought it was strange, until I started to change my mindset and slowly I also found I too could laugh at adversity, it even feels good
How To Change Your Mindset
Meditation has a direct impact within our brains resulting in increased activity within the Anterior Cingulate Cortex, the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex and the Hippocampus region which is directly responsible for the grey matter produced in our brains. The possibilities this may have within the scientific fields of Alzheimer’s and memory retention, are only just being realised
The Benefits of Meditation have been well documented in the last ten years and with MRI scanners now showing us the actual visible results that meditation brings.
The reduction in Stress, Anxietyand Depression are reported in 95 percent of all participants from as little as two weeks of mindfulness meditation training. The increase in Optimism, Happiness and Contentment are equally as impressive with over 90 percent of participants reporting a dramatic change.
Imagine the benefits of keeping this wonderful and simple exercise up everyday
How To Start Meditating
Sitting in a comfortable position, either cross legged on a meditation mat, using a meditation stool or a solid chair, keep a straight spine, not over pulling it one way or the other, gently relax your shoulders and bring your chest forward to allow your lungs to be fully open.
Softly close your eyes and take a few long deep breaths, start to feel your muscles relax and your worries drift away, when your ready bring your attention to your breath.
For more on Meditation and Mindfulness training techniques, from the different positions and correct posture to use, too Basic and more advanced meditations to try. Visit our Meditation Page
