Mindfulness Meditation Blog

We all know that it’s important to appreciate the good things in our lives and to be thankful for the acts of kindness that come our way. Gratitude is part of being a good person; [...]

Unconditional goodness and self-worth There’s a big difference between ordinary confidence and genuine confidence. You could say that ordinary confidence is based on some kind of reference point or relationship. Often, if you feel confident [...]

It often feels like there are just not enough hours in a day and not enough days in a week to get things done. The forty-hour work week is a distant memory. We barely find [...]

A good number of new meditators begin sitting with the hope that the holistic benefits of meditation will make themselves felt in a matter of days. They expect meditation to act as a quick fix [...]

We all want happy, healthy lives for our children. Teaching kids how to meditate can give them a jump start to accessing the many benefits of meditation. Even though today’s kids exhibit elevated levels of [...]

Many new (and not-so-new) meditators wonder: what kind of meditation experiences should I be having? What should I be feeling? Is my practice even working? It’s easy to forget that meditation requires patience. Why? Because [...]

At its core, spiritual meditation is the mindful practice of connection to something that is greater, vaster, and deeper than the individual self. It may seem paradoxical, but the path to that connection passes through [...]

Zen meditation is an ancient Buddhist tradition that dates back to the Tang Dynasty in 7th century China. From its Chinese origins it spread to Korea, Japan and other Asian lands where it continues to [...]

Sometimes when people have tried to meditate and then lost interest, they wonder “Is it really possible for anyone to meditate? Or is it just the chosen few?” According to meditation experts, just about anyone [...]

Meditators swear by the practice’s ability to bring enduring positive change into their lives. But where does meditation come from? What are its origins? Who thought it up? We don’t really know. The earliest records [...]

Many students are searching for healthy practices that relieve stress, calm frazzled nerves and help them relax. Mindfulness meditation is a natural, easy-to-follow method that offers college kids who are feeling the grind important physical, [...]

Some technique of meditation is practiced in virtually every community throughout the world. An ancient tradition, meditation is as relevant in today’s busy world as it ever was. It can lead us to discover a sense of calmness [...]

Some people report having visions during meditation. Having a “vision” is defined as experiencing something out of the ordinary that wouldn’t be real in the normal state of things, but that seems very real to [...]

Good question! Meditation is indeed learning to work with the mind. The Cambridge dictionary defines meditation as “the act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a religions activity or as a [...]

If you’re a parent or children’s caregiver, you well know that caring for small children can be challenging. Moments of intense joy, closeness and wonder might be peppered with bewilderment and concern if the child [...]

You probably know that the increasingly popular practices of mindfulness and meditation share Buddhist roots. But did you know that there are many different schools of Buddhism, each with its own meditation techniques and methods? [...]

People have been practicing meditation for millennia. This ancient practice is as pertinent nowadays as it was centuries ago. Meditation helps us quiet our minds, connect with our inner qualities and foster wisdom and awareness. [...]

We all dream of aging like good wine, getting better and better as the years progress. And we all know that this dream is rarely realized: growing old comes with its fair share of losses [...]

Today’s kids lead extremely hectic lifestyles. Their days are filled with school, family and social obligations, sensory overload, and internal and external pressures. This can lead to a surplus of hard-to-handle situations that culminate in [...]

“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” These pithy words were spoken by the French philosopher Blaise Pascal in the 17th century. We often become so swept [...]

Sometimes even the most seasoned meditators find it difficult to meditate on a daily basis. But isn’t it funny how we find time to watch TV, go shopping and do everything else? When we understand [...]

Where Would You Love to Meditate? Ready for a real journey to uncharted territories? It’s time to sit! And where are the best places to meditate? A quiet room definitely counts, but there are plenty [...]

For centuries, silent meditation was reserved for the privileged few who had renounced the world and sought communion – with the divine, the universe, or their own inner being - in remote cloisters and retreat [...]

“Awareness” is a buzz word in meditation talks and mindfulness conversations. But what, actually is awareness? Is it being mentally alert? Discerning? Well-informed? Is there a difference between awareness and consciousness? Being self-conscious and self-aware [...]

Since ancient times, Buddhist monks and nuns have used bells as part of their daily meditation practices. Among other things, bells are considered a meditation enhancer, as they help practitioners keep their attention focused on [...]

When the topic of mindfulness comes up, there are people out there who still imagine that meditation is the domain of free spirits who enjoy zoning out on a woven grass mat somewhere. But the [...]

We all aspire to leading happy, healthy lives. To fulfill this yearning for well-being, we generally find ourselves actively trying to obtain what we’ve decided we need and steer clear of anything that might thwart [...]

Meditation is no longer the exclusive domain of yogis and seekers. Many ordinary folk are embracing the practice - and so are celebrities. Famous people get as much out of sitting as the rest of [...]

Is there a special person in your life who meditates? Wondering what meditation-related gifts might surprise and delight them? Even the smallest of gifts tells your partner that you care about them and are supportive [...]

Ever wonder how Buddhist monks and nuns achieve that seemingly unflappable peace of mind? The truth is, they had to start from scratch - just like everybody else. As you work your way from distracted [...]

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Responses and Meditation Do you experience a pleasant tingling sensation (called ASMR) when someone whispers in your ear or gently massages your scalp? Does it send delicious shivers down your spine and [...]

Meditation means different things to different people. The most mainstream form of meditation nowadays is mindfulness, but there are plenty of other forms, including awareness, mantra, contemplative, relaxing, gong, visualization and so on. The New [...]

Meditation requires a great deal of patience and commitment – but we all know it’s worth the effort! Sometimes, though, it’s helpful to balance the “patience and commitment” part with “energy and relaxation.” That’s when [...]

Regular meditation practice often results in experiences that are different from those of everyday life. But what should we expect? Meditation tends to bring long-buried emotions, memories and qualities to the surface. You may have [...]

According to the Eastern meditative traditions, lasting happiness is achieved by understanding and training the mind. Our usual pattern is to look to the outside world for the validation and comfort that define our happiness, [...]

Mindfulness and awareness are the foundations of meditation. But what’s the difference? If the term “mindfulness” is now part of the zeitgeist, “awareness” is somewhat harder to pin down. In the context of meditation, both [...]

Sometimes when we meditate we have exceptional experiences that we wouldn’t trade for anything. Other times we end up feeling bewildered or frustrated by the whole process. This is a natural pendulum effect that most [...]

For those new to meditation or thinking about starting, some common questions that crop up are How long should my meditation session last? How long is long enough? Do I have to do this forever [...]

We lead extremely busy lives - more often than not we have to devote our attention to many different tasks simultaneously. Meditation is an antidote to this scatteredness: when we practice, we train the mind [...]

Meditation helps us discover and cultivate our inner strength, resilience, and focus. But even if we recognize the value of meditation, it isn’t always easy to find time for it. And even if we are [...]

Beginners and seasoned meditators alike wonder what deep meditation should feel like. In their quest for deep meditation, some meditators who think they are not progressing fast enough may be tempted to switch techniques. But [...]

Important Meditation Posture Pointers When you settle down for a meditation session, it’s important to find a comfortable seated position and maintain good posture. A variety of meditation poses are suitable and you’re sure to [...]

How To Stay Calm - How Does Meditation Help? For many of those looking to “keep calm” and de-stress, meditation might just be the ideal solution. Meditation practices vary widely around the globe, and among [...]

A mantra is a syllable, word, or phrase that is repeated during meditation. Mantras can be spoken, chanted, whispered, or repeated in the mind. Most mantra meditation techniques have two essential components: mindfulness meditation and [...]

Many people rely on daily readings and meditation to help them maintain balance and a healthy spiritual life. Those who adhere to a religious tradition have sacred texts that can inspire and guide them throughout [...]

Vipassana meditation, also known as insight or awareness meditation, is best summarized by Socrates’s famous maxim “To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.” The goal of vipassana is to give us insight into the [...]

There are many forms of meditation and many ideas about what meditation is. While different spiritual paths may associate meditation with contemplation, prayer or other practices, Buddhist meditation is generally associated with mindfulness and awareness. [...]

Meditation is a transformational method that not only helps us relax but also improves our general well-being. If you’re just beginning to meditate or you’ve been wanting to learn, there are a variety of simple [...]

Meditation is an effective technique that has been around for centuries. People who meditate consistently find that there are short-term and long-term benefits. For instance, soon after they start sitting, meditators begin to enjoy a [...]

Doctors recommend swimming as one of the best exercises around, and for good reason. When we swim, the main muscle groups all go to work in a way that doesn’t put undue stress on the [...]

Do you wonder how many people in the world practice meditation? It’s a good question! Considering the immense popularity that meditation has garnered in the last few decades, we can estimate that there are presently [...]