by Lisa Shaw

In human form, we embody the essence of the Divine, and that essence, according to multiple religious and spiritual traditions, is love. On this single point, diverse devotional adherents usually agree. They affirm that the human being is a spark of Divine light, a segment of the universal whole, and our journey through life is to make our way back to that greater Divine entity. Of course, karmic debt complicates the individual journey to varying degrees, but our ultimate purpose on earth is wisdom gathering on the road home to enlightenment.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

In our life’s journey, many of us have to confront people who hate us and are treating us badly or behave in a way that we find is inappropriate. As a reaction, some people choose to hate them back and treat them in a bad way as well so as to deal with them, thinking that they need to fight against them and win over them. To me, this only makes things worse, and one of the best way to deal with those who hate you is to actually love them. Here are three main reasons why you should do so.

Haters are also victims.

Have you ever questioned yourself why people hate? Were they born this way? Or maybe circumstances led them to do so?...

“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ~ Thích Nhất Hạnh

For many of us, breathing is just an automatic function to bring in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, what we don’t realise is that breathing in a constricted manner from the chest, also known as shallow breathing, can increase our stress and anxiety levels.

The true nature of breath does not only lie in the fact that it’s responsible for life, but also, that it defines the quality of our life. David Coutler in the book, Anatomy of Hatha Yoga said, “the breath is the link between mind and body, and that if we can control our breath, we can control every aspect of our being.”

Last year the Brazilian Ministry of Health did something pretty radical: they created a food guide that actually reflects healthful eating habits.

The new guide offers a holistic, comprehensive, and ethical approach to diet, and the result is an incredibly refreshing (and quite radical – more on that later) manual for living a healthy life. Rather than dividing foods into subgroups in the typical Western, reductionist manner – carbs, protein, veggies, fruit, protein – and recommending what, in the Canadian context at least, feels like a simultaneously restrictive and unattainable number of servings to consume each day, Brazil’s guide breaks down foods in a much more natural way. Their four food categories are:

1. naturally or minimally processed foods;
2. oils, fats, salt and sugar;
3. processed foods (these include bread, cheeses, cured meats and pickles); and
4. ultra-processed foods.