Paws4Bliss Events Calendar
This e- newsletter is exclusively designed to inspire you and keep you on track with upcoming events. Enjoy!
Please click on the blue links below to learn more about each workshop.
Fridays May 13th, 7:30pm-9:00pm
Canine Companion Mindfulness Meditations Class 1
Location: Sit Happens! #16, 2333 - 18 Avenue NE
Fridays May 20th, 7:30pm-9:00pm
Canine Companion Mindfulness Meditations Class 2
Location: Sit Happens! #16, 2333 - 18 Avenue NE
Saturday, May 21st, 9:00am - 11:00am
Canine Meditation Hike
Location: Glenfield section of Fish Creek park, the Bannister Road entrance. (Across from McInnis and Holloway Funeral Home).
Sunday, May 22nd, 9:00am - 5:00pm
Canine Reiki Level 1
Location: Sit Happens! #16, 2333 - 18 Avenue NE
Fridays May 27th, 7:30pm-9:00pm
Canine Companion Mindfulness Meditations Class 3
Location: Sit Happens! #16, 2333 - 18 Avenue NE
To register for these workshops contact Sangavasini by phone at 403-390-6894 or by e-mail unleash@paws4bliss.com
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Lessons from the Wise Ones- the Furry Sages.
My dear and wise friend Nina always says: Dogs hold the Key to the Universe. I completely agree with her. The articles you find in Zen From the Den are submitted to Paws4Bliss by canine zen-masters and wet nosed meditation experts alike. Read on and find where our furry friends can lead us if we are willing to listen and follow in their tracks.
This month’s article has been submitted by my friend Nina’s Canine Companion Winnie. Winnie has mastered the art of not taking life seriously. Please find her wisdom below.
“Hi everyone, my name is Winnie. I was so happy to find out that I could submit an article for the newsletter as I’ve been wanting to share my approach to life with humanity for a while. One thing I have noticed about human beings in general is that they take life waaaaay to seriously. My experience is that life always turns out the way it issupposed to and that there is no way we can control it, even if we try. So if that is the case, why worry and why not laugh more? Let me throw you a bone: What makes you smile? Have you laughed at least three times today – laughed so hard that your belly hurt? If not, then sniff out some ways to do this. You will see that not only will you feel much better but you are laughing your way to health as well! There is even a yoga and meditation practice just for laughter! To find out what happens in our body when we laugh is too much to share in this article. It is all summed up on this yoga page: http://www.yogalaff.com/html/health.htm My mom also told me that laughing is a way to connect with our intuition although I am not bothered by this. I play because I like to play, that’s all. Life is very simple, you will find out. Have fun with your practice!”
-Winnie
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Making a Difference One Step at the Time
This section of the newsletter was inspired during a walk with Coco out in nature. I looked at the footprints she had left on the ground. “This is all she leaves behind”, I thought. Looking around at the trash on the ground I noticed the ‘footprints’ that humans had left. I was wondering how we can reduce these artificial foot prints so we only leave ones like Coco did. As I was picking up the trash I realized that taking pawsitive action is part of this. In Footprints you will find ways of how we can make a difference in the world through taking action with awareness. As Einstein said so beautifully: “A problem can never be solved with the same mind that created it in the first place”. The awareness part plays an equally important role as the action part – unconscious behavior like judgement is just part of the problem and will not solve it. We have to apply both: action and awareness and take responsibility to find creative solutions. You make a difference, whether you believe it or not. Let us all make it a pawsitive difference!
We all live in on planet Earth. We can increase our impact through joined efforts. Let’s join hands in creating a civilization of peace through community.
The Art of Unclutching – Unleash Your Inner Puppy!
Many times I experience that the inner world experiences are very similar to the outer world experiences. Here is one example through which I would like to introduce the art of "unclutching" to you.
My guru (teacher) Paramahamsa Nithyananda from India has shared the powerful practice of what he calls as “Unclutching”. Different ways to describe this practice could be witnessing, or relaxing from a thought, emotion and/or any other experience in the inner world. It is the ultimate practice and meditation technique. Here is the gist of it.
When we are attached to an experience it will ultimately lead to suffering. The truth is: It is not the experience itself but our attachment to it that creates the suffering! Here is how. We end up either craving this experience again and again if it was pleasant and suffer if we can’t have it. If it was an unpleasant experience we label it as bad and suffer. The attachment to it will make us maul it over again and again, re-living it over and over again, like a stuck record player; this keeps re-affirming our suffering. So whether it is through pain or pleasure; either way we end up in suffering. They talk about this in Buddhism as well; they call this process attachment and are striving for non-attachment. This is how I would translate it in dog terms.
When you walk a dog, you are holding on to a leash. This way, not only the dog is restricted but so are you through the leash. When you drop the leash the dog is free where it wants to go, and so are you. You can decide to pick up the leash again or leave it be. So it is the leash that binds us to the dog, not the dog itself. The dog is not grabbing the leash and pushing it into your hands. You are the one who decides to pick up the leash, to hold on to it tightly or to drop it. Of course this is just a metaphor to reflect the teaching of unclutching in which the dog reflects the experience and the leash our attachment to it.
When we unclutch from an experience we have in our inner world, it is like we are dropping the leash, the attachment. When we drop any ideas, any conditionings we carry about ourselves about who we are, what we do, what our limitations are and so forth, we are create a space for our potential to flower. Just like a flower seed carries the potential to become a flower, so do us human beings carry a seed that is our inner potential. When we hold on to the inner leash by staying in our comfort zone we will not experience this inner potential. When we have the courage to drop the leash, to drop all these ideas, our Inner Puppy potential can be released. We will start to live life to the fullest!
Please understand that this does not mean to drop all outer, worldly things now like your job, relationships etc. This might happen as a side effect, but first just drop the ideas. You will know where to go from there guided by your Inner Seeing Eye dog called “Intuition”. Enjoy this journey!
“With intuition the potential power which is inside your being is simply unleashed.”
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Paramahamsa Nithyananda
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In the Spotlight: An unknown Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
from the Therapy Dog Inc. News Magazine
Sharing the bliss by sharing your tails
The following story was e-mail to me by my friend. It touched me deeply and felt it should be in the newsletter to share with you. It is something all of us dog lovers can relate to.
“From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."
They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."
Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."
Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you too think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."
"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of "just a dog", I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man or woman."
So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog" just smile... because they "just don't understand."
Do you have an inspiring story like this one that you would like to share in this newsletter? We at Paws4Bliss would love to hear from you! Please e-mail your story to unleash@paws4bliss.com
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Book of the Month
Animal Grace
By Mary Lou Randour
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CD of the Month
Animal Healing
By Perry Wood, Mind, Body & Soul series
 In Perry Wood we have discovered a fantastic new artist who records in the same beautiful style as Mike Rowland, Stephen Rhodes and Philip Chapman.
Working closely with the world-renowned animal healer Margrit Coates (who regularly writes for a well-known UK Newspaper) his debut album is now available in the hugely popular Mind Body and Soul series.
Aimed specifically for playing to animals from cats to horses the album cleverly avoids sounds that pets might find distressing. Margrit has already reported success with the album in the course of her daily work.
However like all the recordings in the Mind Body and Soul series, such is the quality of this calming beautiful music, that it also "crosses over" into a much broader appeal. This album will be popular with anyone looking for restful, tranquil, quality music.
Divine Mine
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