People often ask if you should have your eyes open or closed when meditating. Either way is fine. Different teachers will prefer one or the other. For example, the Shambhala tradition teaches eyes open because meditation for them is about becoming fully awake. They teach that you should keep your eyes open so that it [...]
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Meditation isn’t easy so I get pretty excited when I can find something that helps out. I was reading in 8 Minute Meditation that you should use a timer so that you don’t have to keep checking the time. It’s one distraction you can take out of the picture. This struck a chord with me because [...]
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What is the inter-relation between meditation and your lifestyle? How does one effect the other? This may include your job, your diet, your family, and how you chose to spend your time. You may be surprised to hear this story recounted by Shinzen Young on his website, “I once heard a group of Americans invite [...]
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Living in the present is a true gift that frees us from our pain and anxiety. When we focus on the present moment, we gain control of lives that can be spinning out of control. In the present, we are liberated from the mistakes, regrets, guilt, and traumas of the past. In the present, we [...]
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Have you ever gone into a meditation with high hopes of reaching the great, deep, peaceful, distraction-free space that you got to yesterday or last week? It's probably safe to say we've all been in that position. Sometimes we just can't get there, and that's OK too. Personally, I don't think there is anything like [...]
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Guided meditation CDs are very popular today. There are a myriad of different guided meditation CDs available—some focusing on general meditation (enlightenment, relaxation) and others very targeted to specific goals (weight loss, financial stability). You can even get a wide variety of guided meditation MP3s from purelifemeditation.com, iTunes and Amazon.com. Are guided meditation CDs effective? [...]
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Does the task of maintaining a regular meditation practice seem daunting? For many, especially those new to meditation, meditating daily can be like anything unfamiliar – there is a lot of anticipation and fear before you start but much satisfaction after you become familiar with the routine. In order to make meditation be a welcomed [...]
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Although there isn’t any real scientific proof on this, I believe that one of the benefits of meditation is that it can help you improve your ability to be a good listener. One of the key elements of being a good listener is, of course, paying attention. If your mind is racing and full of [...]
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It can be challenging for many people to get a meditation routine set in place and to adhere to it. When unexpected events arise or the routine gets interrupted, it can be that much more challenging to stick with the program. One thing is for sure though, the stronger your meditation regimen is at home, [...]
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I love this story that I originally heard from Jack Kornfield. It is a heart warming, thought provoking reminder to give a little more. The Tire Iron and the Tamale By JUSTIN HORNER Published: March 4, 2011 During a roadside breakdown, who didn’t stop, and who did. During this past year I’ve had three instances [...]
