The first foundational principle of the Serena system is knowing who we are. None of these methods of achieving optimal physical and psychological well being really work sustainably until we can begin to grasp this concept of self, non-self, or levels of consciousness. Training and practice (like meditation and mindfulness) are essential but they aren’t enough. We have to understand why we are practicing, where we want to go with the practice and, perhaps most importantly, we have to have faith that it will work. So today, we are going to revisit the principle of Knowing Ourselves but rather than using an apartment building or the idea of levels of consciousness, we are going to explore three other frameworks for talking about who we really are:  One, Chakras, Two, Personification, and Three, States of Being.

Chakras & More

"Humans grow to become whatever the believe." Bhagavad Gita 17:3

In this episode, Zebediah Rice looks at the way the brain controls how we feel and what we do. It is true that no matter how much we try, we are ultimately not in control of the events that unfold in our lives. And yet, in strange and subtle ways, we do control both our experience of reality and the very future that awaits us. It all comes back to our beliefs. If we have limiting or negative thoughts, emotions, ideas and beliefs then we are manufacturing a reality for ourselves that is going to be limiting and negative. We are the ones that are responsible for creating our experience of life. And we do this through our beliefs. In this episode, we are going to explore this dynamic and look at how simply changing the belief from negative and limiting to positive and unlimited, changes our actual experience of life itself.

We Become What We Believe

In this episode, Zebediah Rice investigates what could be called the awkward adolescence of consciousness. At some stage in life, many of us reach a point where we are ready to do things differently. We may have tried other options for self-improvement but nothing is really creating any fundamental changes in our life or leading to sustained happiness or health or peace. With the Serena approach, the idea is to take the advice of the ancient teachers seriously and attempt to incorporate their teachings into our life. The challenge with the Serena style approach is that when you actually go back and read what these guys have to say, turning their insights on living the best life into practice can be challenging, to say the least. In this episode Zebediah looks at what three of his favorite masters (Lao Tzu, Jesus, and Buddha) have to say about techniques we can use to achieve Nirvana here in this body, in this life. He then puts this into a context of what our self really looks like and with this context, then brings these obscure teachings into a practical and specific set of things each of us can look out for and do in our day to day lives to live better, more fulfilling, happy and healthy lives.

The Awkward Adolescence Of Consciousness

The ancient Asian traditions of martial arts brings us much wisdom. One teaching that is highly relevant for our day to day lives is what could be called The Four Rules of Martial Arts. In this episode, Zebediah Rice explains the first of these rules, "Don't Be There" or how to avoid the turmoil in the first place.

The First Rule - Avoid (The Four Rules of Martial Arts Part 1)

From the tradition of martial arts we learn that there are four rules that each of us can follow in our day to day lives. Like a long buried secret, these four rules have been hidden in the plain sight of the fighting arts from Asia. But following these Four Rules of Martial Arts isn't just about combat. To the contrary, they can have a transformative and powerfully positive impact on every one of our lives. In this episode, Zebediah Rice explores the second of these rules, "Heal the Situation" and connects it with ancient spiritual traditions like Islam and Buddhism.

The Second Rule - Heal (The Four Rules of Martial Arts Part 2)

The Asian tradition of martial arts teaches us many things. But one of the most powerful and relevant sets of principles to come down to us are the Four Rules of Martial Arts. The live or die contrast of the fighting situations they focused on put in stark relief what the important elements to survival were. These old masters understood that a nuanced set of principles that could be applied to maximize success was needed. Part of the challenge with understanding these rules today is that they operate on a number of levels and so the true meaning can be hidden. Today, your host, Zebediah Rice, explains the third rule (Run!) in all its many layers using examples from everyday life.

The Third Rule - Run (The Four Rules of Martial Arts Part 3)

The Fourth Rule of Martial Arts is in some ways the most subtle and most commonly misunderstood. We call it "Fighting," yet a fight is rarely the action that is needed to realize the best possible outcome. In this episode, we look at what the feudal Japanese Ronin can teach us about what fighting really looks like. We see that when we are dominated by wanting and doing, much of life becomes a fight and therefore makes these rules of martial arts so relevant to all of us. And finally, we learn from fictional characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Oogway, how to fight like a true master.

The Fourth Rule - Fight (The Four Rules of Martial Arts Part 4)

Science is showing that meditation and mindfulness really work. For example, we now know that meditation not only lowers stress and improves mental sharpness but it also strengthens our immune system, gives us more youthful and healthy brain tissue, and can be as good or better than prescription drugs for treating mental illnesses like depression, addiction, and autism. So maybe there is something to what all those ancient masters were talking about. Turns out when you strip away the religious and institutional covers, they figured out how to feel happy, healthy and fulfilled and told us how to do it. This podcast breaks it down in contemporary language so that we can all benefit from the profound insights into the human condition provided to us by the likes of Buddha, Jesus, Lao Tzu and so many others. You can also find Serena Guided Meditations on a separate podcast. Like the Serena Podcast, it is free.

The Serena Happiness & Health Podcast

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