The Buddha's Teachings as a Pathway

Henry Gellis is an established Los Angeles investment professional with experience in holistic health and wellness. As the president and founding partner of Awaken Global Media, Henry Gellis informs operations of Awaken.com, an online publication that covers wide-ranging topics, such as yoga and meditation practices.

An written by Jack Kornfield and published at Awaken focuses on the Buddha's teachings, which are also known as the Lion’s Roar. They reflect a half-century teaching to those who would listen and delivering a message of wisdom, compassion, and freedom through focused spiritual practice. Groups who gathered to listen to the Buddha free themselves from illusions of separateness from others and heed the voice within. They learned to unify thoughts and actions in ways that provided freedom from the myriad entanglements present in an ever-changing world.

One of the most profound lessons described in the ancient sutras was provided by the Buddha to a devotee who spent months enraptured, listening to his words reverently. Ultimately, the Buddha informed the monk that he did not really see him because gazing at the Buddha is about seeing the Dharma(divine law). With the Dharma embodying the path to uncover the truth. It is something kept alive by all who sincerely follow a pathway of questing enlightenment through the centuries.

Actions To Take That Will Benefit Your 'Healthspan'

 In a recent article on Awaken.com, Peter Diamandis details the actions you can take right now that will allow you to age gracefully and get to 100. Click here to learn more...

How Animals Teach Mindfulness and Spirituality

Henry Gellis is a Southern California entrepreneur who is a founding investor of Awaken.com, an online publication with a unique emphasis on topics from healthy living to yoga. A recent article in Henry Gellis’ publication brought focus to lessons we can learn from animals when it comes to spirituality.

For adults, communing with other species may be mind-expanding and good for the soul. Children may have a particularly strong connection with animals, as they are closer to their elemental selves, free from information overload, expectations, and excessive cultural formations, including language. Different species each have their own ways of sharing, interacting, and loving, and to understand this first hand broadens our own capacity in these realms.

Through taking time to commune with an animal companion, adults may be able to bring themselves into a more mindful state, free from internal and external noise. In many cases, such interactions emphasize the importance of patience, as animals do not adhere to the time schedules of humans.

One approach to learning from an animal is to practice mindful breathing corresponding to that of the animal. Another involves learning to communicate fully without words. The author describes attending a workshop facilitated by a shaman who was also a horse trainer. One practice she found valuable centered on making requests of horses only using focused thought. To have the horse respond to the energy of these concentrated thoughts was empowering and enlightening.

Jane Goodall’s Experience That Transcended Mainstream Science

Henry Gellis is an established Southern California investment executive who helps to inform Awaken.com, an online health and wellness journal. The publication, in which Henry Gellis is a founding investor, offers a wealth of timely and informative articles across a spectrum that includes philosophy, spirituality, yoga, sustainability, and healthy living.

One recent Awaken.com piece, “Mystical Experience of Jane Goodall, PhD,” brought focus to a formative experience in the life of a pioneer in the conservation movement. A central mission of Dr. Goodall’s life was 55 years spent within Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park studying wild chimpanzees’ family relations and social interactions.

As Dr. Goodall recounted it, returning from an extended six-week US trip that centered on conferences, fundraising, and lobbying efforts, she again found herself in the wild place she loved and entered into a “state of heightened awareness.” The sheer beauty of what she saw around her, with no price tag attached, brought her to a state where sense of self was nonexistent. Rather, she found herself one with the earth, trees, and chimpanzees, and imbued with “the spirit power of life itself.”

This mystical experience, which lasted a single afternoon, had a profound impact on Dr. Goodall’s entire way of looking at life. From that moment on, she drew from the wellspring of a timeless truth, of which she felt mainstream science captured only a tiny part. This became a source of strength which she could always draw on when life turned “harsh or cruel or desperate.”

States Stand at the Forefront in Transition to Clean Energy

Based in Southern California, Henry Gellis emphasizes entrepreneurship with a purpose and is a founding investor in Awaken.com. Topics covered by Henry Gellis’ website span natural health, meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and the environment.

A recent article in Awaken brought focus to the increased importance of state efforts in promoting and commercializing clean energies. This is critical, given that the federal government has become less aggressive in this area since 2017.

With forward progress achievable due to the decreasing cost of clean energy technologies, 29 states have set in place renewable portfolio standards (RPS). These mandate generating or obtaining an increasing amount or share of electricity from clean energy technologies each year.

Thirteen states have also set in place 100 percent clean energy goals, often in tandem with an RPS standard. Unfortunately, not all of this legislation is enforceable, and some standards could be overturned through executive order by future governors.

With a handful of states bringing focus to energy storage as part of their mandates, California stands at the forefront in its residential solar photovoltaics (PV) standard. This requires that a majority of new homes have either rooftop PV systems in place, or community solar installations that homeowners can readily access electricity from.

Mindfulness in the Workplace

As a private equity investor, Henry Gellis focuses on businesses with positive social benefits, including companies in stress reduction and mindfulness. Henry Gellis is a founding shareholder in the media company Awaken, which publishes informative articles that spread awareness of practices that improve well-being, including mindfulness. 

Mindfulness training is becoming a popular offering in workplace wellness programs. Research has found that mindfulness has the following impact on employees and managers:

- Improved well-being. Stress is one of the top contributors to workplace illness and reduced productivity. Mindfulness practice has been linked to higher levels of employee resilience, which can protect workers from the effects of a stressful environment. 

- Improved performance. Mindfulness practice helps the brain relax and makes it more effective during deep cognitive tasks. Employees who routinely engage in mindfulness exercises exhibit more creativity, flexibility, and adaptability.

- Better relationships. Mindful managers and other workplace leaders are more empathetic toward their subordinates, which can improve the job satisfaction of employees. Conversely, mindful employees are more effective at managing the stress of working under difficult supervisors.

Aligning With the Higher Self Through Listening to Intuition

Leading Gellis Investment Management, California entrepreneur Henry Gellis seeks out value in companies that are presently undervalued. Among Henry Gellis’ successful endeavors has been helping launch awaken.com, which provides articles and resources spanning the full spectrum of holistic wellness. 

A recent feature on the Awaken website centered on author Jonathan Robinson, who spoke about strategies for aligning with one’s higher self. As Robinson describes it, contemporary culture is too focused on money and activities undertaken simply for the sake of staying busy. Many people forget to take time to give those they love they gift of connection. One way of countering this tendency is, when in a happy or loving moment, to “try not to leave it so quickly.” 

Another aspect involves listening to the universe and being aware of feedback in one’s daily life. Feelings such as boredom and frustration let us know when we are “hot or cold.” Intuition can also tell us when things are heading in the right direction, with a sense of “feeling right” often leading to positive results. Rather than simply following the mind on a “wild ride,” trust the way one feels about something in the moment.

This does not mean that the path is necessarily easy. Rather, when something is both positive and meaningful, more energy will be directed toward it in ways that achieve measurable results.

Materialism vs. Consciousness

As the owner of Gellis Investment Management, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis is particularly interested in making small investments of venture capital in private companies involved in the health-and-wellness industry. He also works closely with the wellness website Awaken. Central to Henry Gellis’ personal and professional focus is the idea that materialism and consciousness must be balanced in order to realize one’s potential as a human being and to contribute positively to the world as a whole.

A subset of the metaphysical model known as realism, materialism is the belief that matter (the physical world around us and everything in it) exists outside and independently of consciousness. This feels innately correct because most of us believe that the world remains in place just as it is, whether we are conscious of it or not.

Under the tenants of idealism, however, the material world requires consciousness to exist. It posits that the entire universe is based in consciousness and that all physical matter, as well as the laws of nature that govern matter, arise as an expression of that consciousness.

Healthy Aging and the Blueberry

Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis stands out as a founding investor in Awaken.com, which makes ideas about wellness and stress reduction available to the public. Through the website, Henry Gellis supports the distribution of important health information, such as the power of antioxidants in blueberries.

Blueberries belong to a category known as superfoods, which have the power to support physical and mental well-being. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals. Free radicals can accelerate aging by damaging the structure of cells, a process known as oxidation.

Chemical analyses have shown that blueberries have a higher concentration of antioxidants than any other fruit. This is particularly important for older people since studies have shown that blueberry consumption may delay and even reverse neurological damage and its behavioral effects. Scientists believe this process may be due to the fruit's ability to correct the signaling problems that cause neuronal decline.

Other studies have shown that blueberries' anti-aging effects extend beyond the cognitive to the physical realm. Data has linked blueberries to a reduction in heart attack risk, while general studies of antioxidant-rich foods suggest they may prevent heart disease and reduce overall inflammation in the body.

Effects of Yoga on Life Expectancy and Quality

As owner of Gellis Investment Management, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis seeks out opportunities in the lifestyle, health, and wellness arenas. Henry Gellis has personally invested in Awaken.com, which publicizes innovative technologies and techniques for reducing stress and improving overall well-being.

Popular wisdom has long associated yoga with healthful aging. In recent years, scientific knowledge and research have helped to confirm this belief.

One study at UCLA revealed that in patients with a high risk of Alzheimer's disease, practicing yoga and meditation can lead not only to improved memory and cognition but also lower levels of anxiety and depression, improved resilience, and a greater resource of coping skills. 

Yoga can help to combat the physical effects of aging as well. It helps the blood circulate through the body and encourages deep breathing, thus delivering more oxygen to body cells. Joints are guided through their complete range of motion, which guards against joint breakdown. Further, bones receive the benefit of improved density through weight-bearing exercises. The practice of yoga also improves the function of the digestive, immune, and lymphatic systems while controlling blood glucose levels and helping to clear the blood of bad cholesterol.

Even on the genetic level, yoga can offer a benefit. Cardiologist Dean Ornish and his colleagues studied the effects of yoga and other lifestyle changes on men with early stage prostate cancer. The team found that by the end of the study, the participants demonstrated a more youthful physiology and a greater resilience to disease.

What is Transcendental Meditation?

The owner of Gellis Investment Management in Los Angeles, California, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis also contributes to the planning and upkeep of Awaken.com, a news site for positive media and healthy living. With a passion for wellness, Henry Gellis practices meditation in his spare time. Though there are many different types of meditation, one of the most popular techniques is transcendental meditation, which offers many positive side effects.

Brought to the United States from India in the 1960s, transcendental meditation instructs a person to sit comfortably with their eyes closed, while repeating a word or sound called a "mantra". This technique improves concentration and quiets the mind, giving the practitioner a feeling of rest, stillness, and stability. While some other types of meditation ask the practitioner to focus on something specific, transcendental meditation seeks to empty the mind and enter a state of "restful alertness".

Practicing meditation on a regular basis has been shown to reduce anxiety, chronic pain, cholesterol, 
and high blood pressure. The common practice requires that you meditate twice a day for twenty minutes to be the most effective.

Mindful Meditation Could Positively Affect Grey Matter Regrowth

A partner at enlightened media company Awaken.com, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis is responsible for the leadership of an online platform that provides uplifting content to more than 158,000 Facebook users. Under the leadership of Henry Gellis and other partners within the company, Awaken.com has published articles on a diverse array of subjects, including one article from late 2015 that detailed the effects of meditation on gray matter within the brain.

Grey matter is one of two forms of tissue that make up the brain’s central nervous system. Its primary function is to process the information that the brain takes in through the body’s senses, and it can be damaged in instances when the body experiences hypoxia, the condition of low oxygen levels.

According to the article published on Awaken.com, a study at Massachusetts General Hospital indicated that people who engaged in regular mindfulness meditation were more likely to see a boost in the growth of grey matter in the brain. Specifically, the study indicated that 27 minutes of daily mindful meditation could increase the density of grey matter in crucial areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus and the amygdala, which play an important role in compassion and self-reflection and stress and anxiety regulation, respectively.

Must-See Places in Tahiti

As one of the leaders at Awaken.com, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis oversees strategic planning and fundraising for a company that searches for innovative technologies that reduce stress, including high-tech meditation as a mechanism to make brain waves more relaxed. He also maintains an interest in the use of Tibetan and Hindu mantras to change consciousness. In his free time, Henry Gellis enjoys traveling and has visited Tahiti, a French Polynesian island that offers a number of fascinating destinations. Here are a few of the most popular places to see:

- La Plage de Maui. A famous stretch of beach, La Plage de Maui features pearly white sand that stands out from the island's typical volcanic black sand. This south shore beach also features a lagoon with shallow, warm water. 

- Marché de Papeete. A large market in Papeete, Marché takes up an entire city block. The market features vendors of shell necklaces, colorful pareo (sarongs), and woven hats, as well as meat and fish sellers. 

- Musée de la Perle. Developed by the famous pearl dealer Robert Wan, this small pearl museum explains the ins and outs of the pearl-cultivating industry. Visitors can view the displays in English and explore Monsieur Wan’s beautiful jewelry collection.

Meditation and Yoga- Finding Strategies for Letting Go of Anger

The co-owner of Awaken.com, Henry Gellis guides its development as the site president. Through the site, Henry Gellis and his team tackle subjects relevant to everyday joy, such as the benefits of meditation and yoga. One of the major benefits of these practices is finding ways to let go of anger.

Known as a secondary emotion, anger often covers up a deeper, more troubling emotion, such as grief, fear, or shame. Because these deeper emotions expose our vulnerabilities, we often cover them with anger, a powerful emotion that we feel coursing through our whole bodies. Acting from a place of anger tends to only put more anger in the world, so it is important to keep this emotion in check. 

While screaming, violence, and destruction are common reactions to feeling anger, these actions do not get at the root of the emotion. For that reason, it is more powerful to recognize that anger is present by naming it nonjudgmentally and digging deeper to find its cause. Meditation and yoga provide us with the self-awareness and tools we need to recognize and deal with anger in a constructive manner. 

Every person experiences anger in a unique way, so transforming the anger also takes a personalized approach. When we know the root of our anger, we can approach it appropriately and learn to let it go.

The Benefits of Organic Food for the Environment and Health

In order to reduce stress, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis uses both conventional and nonconventional media like sound and music such as high tech meditation tapes from Synchronicity Foundation and Holophonic 3d sound as well as films, virtual reality, and games. Henry Gellis is the president of Awaken.com, and promotes a healthy and environmentally friendly lifestyle for all. Eating organic food is one of the ways to live in an environmentally and physically healthy way.

Organic foods are said to be better than conventionally produced foods in many ways.There is no GMO(genetically modified organisms) present, studies have shown that the antioxidants produced in organically grown food have more overall positive impact on the human body. In general, organic food is believed to have greater natural ability to provide our bodies with resistance to various diseases, like cancer, heart disease, premature aging, vision problems, and cognitive malfunction.

Likewise, farming organic food is more environmentally friendly than growing food in the conventional way. Organic food farmers avoid using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which directly reduces the intake of harmful chemicals and unnatural compounds. This in turn lessens the chances of diseases like autism and ADHD, which are associated with chemicals like organophosphorus that are present in certain types of pesticides. Moreover, reduced use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers also implies less dumping of these chemicals into the environment, cutting air, soil, and water pollution.

Yoga Linked to Improved Health Through a More Diverse Gut Microbiome

The owner of Gellis Investment Management and president of Awaken.com, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis is interested in the intersection of stress reduction, nutrition, health, and technology. One of Henry Gellis’ primary hobbies is yoga. 

The benefits of yoga are numerous and some are perhaps unexpected. For example, yoga has been linked to a better gut microbiome. The gut is linked to health in many ways, including immunity, weight regulation, and food digestion. Part of a healthy gut includes good bacteria, but many things can upset this microbiome, include chronic stress, environmental toxins, and processed foods.

Yoga has been linked to a healthier gut microbiome for two key reasons. First, yoga helps control stress levels. Too much stress changes the way in which gut microbes interact with the body. By controlling stress, yoga helps maintain a good gut balance. Secondly, moderate exercise like yoga is linked to better microbial diversity, especially when paired with a high-protein diet. Microbial diversity is very important for strengthening the immune system and maintaining healthy body processes. 

The impact of yoga on gastrointestinal health may explain some of the other benefits of the practice. In addition to a stronger immune system, a good gut microbiome increases energy and endurance, strengthens bones and joints, and combats depression.

What Distinguishers Original Thinkers from the Rest of Us?

The president of Los Angeles-based Awaken.com, Henry Gellis also leads Gellis Investment Management, which has invested in a number of companies working in stress reduction, health, and nutrition. To get inspired, Henry Gellis enjoys talking to some of the most original thinkers alive today. 

Some people may wonder if there is a way to distinguish original thinkers from the crowd. Psychologist Adam Grant set out to answer this question and spent years studying the most cutting-edge minds of our generation. His studies identified three common traits of all original thinkers. The first of these traits, perhaps surprisingly, is procrastination. While procrastinators typically take more time to finish a project, research has shown that their end results tend to be much more creative. According to Grant, this creativity results from procrastinators taking the time to consider new, outside-the-box possibilities.

The second common trait is that original thinkers tend to have a large number of ideas. Not all of these ideas are necessarily good, but original thinkers have several that they would be willing to bet on being successful. Grant acknowledges that original thinkers tend to fail often, but they are willing to try. 

Some people may think original thinkers are fearless, but this is not true. In fact, says Grant, fear is the third common trait. However, these individuals tend to use their doubt to improve their ideas rather than hold them back. Because of doubt, original thinkers tend to continue refining their ideas to be as good as possible.

A Helpful Guide for Vegetarians Traveling in Thailand

Henry Gellis is the owner of Gellis Investment Management in Los Angeles, California. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Henry Gellis has spent a lot of time traveling. As he tries to limit his consumption of animal products, he has experience ordering vegetarian cuisine in many countries, including Thailand. 

While Thailand can prove extremely friendly to vegetarians, individuals need to understand the philosophy of eating in this country. First, visitors need to understand that vegetarian in Thai means that people do not eat chunks of meat or fish. In other words, meat stock, fish sauce, eggs, and similar ingredients are allowed. For that reason, some people may want to order vegan dishes. However, even vegan has a different meaning. Vegan foods contain no animal products or garlic, and certain herbs and vegetables may be left out.

Some dishes in Thailand are typically vegetarian, such as pad pak ruam prik gaeng, which consists of mixed vegetables cooked in chili curry paste and kaffir lime leaves. Another option is pad pak gachet, which is stir-fried water mimosa, a delicious Thai vegetable that grows underwater. Individuals can also order vegetarian pad gra pao het jay, which replaces pork with mushrooms. In all of these cases, it can be helpful to ask for no fish sauce, which is commonly used in restaurants.

Byron Katie’s Four Questions for Self-Discovery and Healing

 

Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Gellis brings yoga tips, health-related news, and inspiration to his readers as the president of www.awaken.com. On his website, Henry Gellis offers advice and original interviews from popular leaders in mindfulness and self-improvement, including Byron Katie.

Byron Katie’s method of self-searching relies on four big questions. She suggests that directed self-inquiry helps uncover the real reasons people experience suffering and emotional hardships in their own lives. As part of the healing process, Byron Katie asks people to identify an issue that is weighing on their mind and answer the following four questions honestly.

1. “Is it true?” Individuals must determine if an issue is as it seems or if something else is sparking the negative feelings.

2. “Can you absolutely know that it is true?” For example, it is difficult to know absolutely what another person thinks about you, and people cannot see the future to know if their fear will come to pass.

3. “How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?” This question asks people to evaluate how focusing on negative thoughts impacts their behavior and feelings.

4. “Who would you be without that thought?” The final question encourages people to envision themselves without the negativity that causes them pain.

How Inspirational Leader Tony Robbins Prepares for a Stress-Free Day

At www.awaken.com, Entrepreneur and Wellness Guru Henry Gellis presents tips for healthful, stress-free living to his readers. Many of the articles and interviews on Henry Gellis’ site come from popular inspirational leaders, including Byron Katie, Eckhart Tolle, and Tony Robbins.

An advocate for mindfulness, a popular motivational speaker, and the author of several best-selling self-help and motivational books, Tony Robbins attributes a good deal of his infectious energy to his unique morning routine. For years, he has maintained a ritual designed to shock his system and prepare him mentally and physically for each new day.

Tony Robbins often begins his day by plunging into a very cold pool or river for up to a minute. A fan of cryotherapy, he also enjoys spending several minutes in a cryotherapy unit on the mornings following a long seminar.

After a quick freeze, the motivational speaker begins his “priming” ritual, which includes listening to meditative music followed by performing sets of Kapalabhati Pranayama breaths. After this yoga exercise, he spends time contemplating three things for which he is thankful and finishes off with his own version of a prayer.