Meditation, in some aspects, could be likened to sports.  If you train for a day and are then inactive for a week, you will not make a great deal of progress.  In point of fact, you might finish up straining a muscle or injuring your back because you haven’t conditioned your body gradually, as virtually [...]

Whilst discussing the practice of sitting still, one of the distinguished meditation teachers, the Zen master Shunryu Suzuki, used to allege that the finest way to show a snake its true nature is to put it in a hollow stick of bamboo.  Take a moment and afford this extraordinary metaphor some thought.  What could he [...]

Breathing is a standard focus for meditation, for many reasons.  For one thing, breathing is sensuous, rhythmical, and forever with us, as long as we are alive. Besides, breath is a gift to us from the larger universe; it comes inside our body, into our lungs, into our blood, and then into every cell.  Breath [...]

This exercise will assist you to deal with overwhelming or negative emotions that may rise up at any time, but particularly during meditation. 1) Close your eyes and breathe deeply for a couple of minutes. Once you feel calm, imagine that you are holding a large stone, rock or crystal in your hand. This is [...]

The following instructions are a meditation for getting in touch with your soft spot and initiating the flow of unconditional love, also known as loving-kindness.  To differentiate this sort of love from conditional love, think of the love of a good mother for her child.  She gives her love freely and unconditionally, without asking for [...]

One of the first things you require for true meditation is the correct mental attitude, especially one of listening.  Most people rarely listen.  They are deaf to the symphony of sounds around them.  They are also deaf to other folks, since they are more concerned in speaking their own minds.  They treat their own conscience [...]

Here is a uncomplicated form of meditation which almost everyone should able to manage. 1. Sit in a good chair in a comfortable position. 2. Loosen up all your muscles as well as you are able to. 3. Try not to think about anything. 4. Breath out, relaxing all your muscles . 5. Repeat the [...]

Anything you do or experience could supply you with an opportunity to practise mindfulness.  But you might prefer to commence with a few of your customary activities – the ones you could be performing now on automatic pilot while you daydream, space out, or obsess.  The fact is, even the most mundane tasks can prove [...]