Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning action.  

It means any action you do, whether it is physical, verbal, or mental.  

Take a guess: how many actions do you do each day? 

Buddhists say we each do 65 actions per second, constantly, all day long. It may be a fleeting thought, a judgment, a touch, a glance, a word muttered under your breath. Of course, it can also be something big like saving a child's life or just hauling yourself up out of bed in the morning to go to work. 

Can you imagine how many actions you rack up in a day, at the rate of 65 per second? There are 86,400 seconds in a day (there is some controversy about whether you make karma while you're sleeping; so, discounting 8 hours of sleep, that's 57,600 seconds of waking time.) 

So you do 3,744,000 acts per day (57,600 seconds times 65 acts per second).  

How many of these are you conscious of? 

An action creates a seed in your mind that lies fallow until something triggers it. After a lifetime (averaging 72 years, worldwide), we've built up a bank of karma of 98,392,320,000 seeds, just waiting to go off.  Depending on the kind of life we've led, they're a mix of good and bad seeds. Maybe some proportion of neutral ones as well. 

Then, of course, Buddhists say we each live many lives. Maybe a couple million. So multiply that by a couple million. Or more. 
 
Our lives are overfull of cases of what seems to be injustice, where sometimes bad things happen to good people. Often we lament that there is no justice in the world. The laws of karma tell us differently. They say that every kindness is rewarded. It just might take a couple of lifetimes. But it's comforting to know there is justice in the world. And there is a way, Buddhist tradition tells us, to manage karma so you get more good results during your lifetime. 

So--what makes a karmic seed go off? What happens when a seed opens? How many seeds open and are discarded in a lifetime? How many remain to be carried over into the next life? How many seeds do we bring into this life with us? What characterizes a good seed and a bad seed?  

What are some ways to take control of your covid experience?

Having a stronger immune system can help.

Getting enough sleep can increase the strength of your immune system:
Suggestions:  No blue screens two hours before bedtime. You can get apps to remove the blue from your phone and computer. Or just read a book. Some like Melatonin, it gives me weird dreams, so I take Valerian root capsules and a cup of chamomile tea before bed. CBD products also work pretty well for many people to get a solid night of sleep without a hangover.

Eat foods that reduce inflammation or stay away from foods that do.

Foods that increase inflammation: Sugar and high fructose corn syrup, artificial trans fats like margarine, fast foods and processed foods, excessive alcohol, processed meats like sausage, bacon, ham, smoked meat, and beef jerky.

Foods reducing inflammation include: Berries, fatty fish, broccoli and avocados, green tea and peppers, mushrooms, grapes, turmeric, extra virgin olive oil, dark chocolate and cacao and tomatoes.

Reduce your stress and do some stress reducing/mindfulness practices:
Sometimes walking away from a stress inducing situation can be a great boundary making practice and gives you peace of mind. Yoga, meditation, walks in the woods, knitting, cookies, etc...as long as it is a distraction free, non adrenaline building, activity it is mindful and helpful.

Supplements and herbs:
On a daily basis I take a number of things to help keep my immune system strong and my mind sharp:
Vitamin C, D and E
A good multi vitamin
Probiotice
L-Lysine

I also usually have one blended meal a day, meaning a smoothie with with the following: Unsweetened vanilla almond milk, blue berries, banana, spinach, wheat grass, collagen powder, organic peanut butter, a date or two, a teaspoon of cacao, MCT oil, add some ice and blend. I try not to eat after dinner time around 6:30 p.m. until my smoothie time which takes place around 10:00 in the morning.  I feel this is a super healthy smoothie and has plenty of protein and super foods.

Different people have different needs and I do recommend you go to a good health food store, with trained staff, to purchase your vitamins so they digest well and absorb rather than just getting pooped out.

For a Better Life
Brian Granader

Live Better:

Life, Mind and Environment:

Have you ever wondered how to create lasting change? Why it seems so hard and if it's really worth the bother?
I've thought a lot about it and realize it's about the little things more and more...so here is a little thing you can do.

Copy the message below and put it on your bathroom mirror...Read it while brushing your teeth.

Darling, you are a work of art.
You have the ability to fully display 
beauty apart from vanity, influence apart from 
manipulation, kindness apart from competition
and dignity without degradation.
You are a catalyst to transform
the world around you through your wit,
wisdom, character and courage- all the
while creating beauty and embodying love.
You are not only interesting, but original, not only good enough, but
exceptional, not just here, but here for purpose.

Every week be on the lookout for more Live Better suggestions:)