How to Clarify Your Goals

Phillip Moffitt is a recognized vipassana (insight meditation) teacher and outstanding yogi. This teaching on how to clarify your goals is excellent.

I have especially enjoyed his teachings on ambivalence, ambiguity, and ambition. I attended these talks about a year ago.

He teaches at the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, CA and has his own class in San Rafael, CA on Sunday nights.

Phillip Moffitt
Photo David Martinez

From my experience of Phillip as a teacher, his teachings in the San Rafael class are directed towards bringing the fruits of insight meditation practices into daily life.

Who would have believed that the CEO and Editor-In-Chief of Esquire Magazine would become such a wonderful yogi?

His story is quite interesting, but we don't have time to go into it now.

How to Clarify Your Goals

The article we are reviewing originally came to me by email with a link to the full article.

The title is Clarifying Values, Intentions, and Goals.

Many motivational speakers and marketers talk about setting goals.

For example, they may ask you to set a goal on how many people you would contact in the next day, week, month, or year to offer your services.

These "goal-setters" seem to miss out on the importance of intentions and values.

So let's review values, intentions, and goals as taught by Phillip Moffitt.

Goals are aspirations for the future that you seek to achieve; if they were not in the future, they would be achievements already. You may be accomplishing a certain goal already, e.g. being a good parent, but the effort is not over, so it remains a goal.

This statement is very clear on what it means to achieve a goal. Once you accomplish the goal, it becomes an achievement.

Intentions form the basis for determining how you meet each moment as you move toward your goals. Intentions always relate to the present moment. ... your intentions reflect what you believe matters most in life.

Where do your intentions come from?

Mostly, you intend to live your life according to certain principles or views.

Sometimes, you may not be clear on your intentions.

This may be because you are not clear on what your values are.

Values reflect your understanding of what really matters to you. They are shaped by familial and cultural conditioning, personal experience, and the wisdom of your understanding. Values can be situational, temporal, hierarchical, and subjective; thus, many of your values are somewhat fluid in daily life.

Clarifying your values may help you to clarify your intentions.

Clarifying your intentions may help you to clarify your goals.

If you want to learn how to clarify your goals, you may be interested in Phillip Moffitt's worksheet.

He created a worksheet which he uses in one of his workshops. The link to the worksheet is incorrect in the original article.

I'll be happy to send you the correct link. All you have to do is ask!

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Dancing with Life is a quick read and very worthwhile. I think I read it in two days!

Emotional Chaos to Clarity is his new book and I look forward to reading it.

The Dalai Lama Met With Aung San Suu Kyi

The Dalai Lama met with Aung San Suu Kyi on June 19, 2012.

Aung San Suu Kyi is the opposition leader for the Burmese people. She has spent most of the last twenty years in house arrest.


Dalai Lama Met Aung San Suu Kyi | Photo ICT email

During all that time, she continued to lead her people on the path to democracy. She is the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

As practicing Buddhist, she has inspired people in her country.

The Dalai Lama Met With Aung San Suu Kyi

This meeting took place just before the Dalai Lama was to give the CR Parekh Lecture on the Values of Democracy and Tibet at the University of Westminster.

The news report on the Dalai Lama's website stated:

As His Holiness received Burmese leader and fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, who had come to visit him privately this morning, he told her, “I have real admiration for your courage. I am very happy we’ve been able to meet”

After more than half an hour’s close conversation, during which His Holiness told her that just as her late father had shown great dedication, he was confident that she too would be of great service to humanity, he wished her every success in fulfilling her life’s goals. He also said he looked forward to meeting her again.

I have heard that the current regime in Burma wanted to change the name to Myanmar. The common people and perhaps the monks and nuns didn't like the change. They still prefer Burma!

Since the Dalai Lama met with Aung San Suu Kyi, and Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize, hopefully the world will look more seriously at the plight of the Burmese people.

Aren't you especially happy to learn about this meeting and the Nobel Peace Prize? This news has warmed my heart and given me new hope for the people of Burma.

Wishing Happiness for Others

Shantideva was an 8th century Buddhist scholar. The story goes that he was, like the Buddha, born into a princely life.

And, like the Buddha, he gave up his kingdom to become a monk.

He couldn't be bothered with politics and court proceedings.

As a student, he was known to avoid his fellow monks. He would rather be alone.

No one ever saw him study. Most of them ridiculed him.

None of this phased him.

At one point, his fellow students elected him to give a very serious lecture to the whole student body including the teachers.

They thought for sure that he was going to embarrass himself.

Boy, did he surprise them.

Shantideva came up with one of the most beloved teachings of his time.

Wishing Happiness for Others

Here is a quote from one of the passages.

All the joy the world contains has come through wishing happiness for others.
All the misery the world contains has come through wanting pleasure for oneself.

His teachings have come down to us with various translations for the title of his lecture. One such rendering is, "The Way of the Bodhisattva."

A bodhisattva is a person who devotes his or her life to bringing happiness and reducing suffering for other people.

She or he does this by expressing a life of love, compassion, generosity, and kindness to others.

A bodhisattva not only wishes for the happiness of others. Through their generosity, they bring others joy and relieve suffering.

Bodhisattva's take upon themselves the following vows:

1. Sentient beings are numberless, we vow to save them.
2. Desires are inexhaustible, we vow to put an end to them.
3. The Dharmas are boundless, we vow to master them.
4. The Buddha Way is unsurpassable, we vow to attain it.

Here, dharmas refers to the many teachings of the Buddha.

Obviously, these vows are unobtainable. The right effort is to do what you can to bring happiness and relieve the suffering of others.

What have you done to bring happiness to the people you love? What have you done to reduce the suffering of people you care for?

Do you know anyone who you would consider to be a bodhisattva? What are his or her qualities? How does she or he manifest them?

Do you know anyone who could benefit from wishing happiness for them? What could you do to show them you care?

Please share these bodhisattva ideals with your friends. They will appreciate it gratefully.

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Bodhisattva Mind by Pema Chodron Old Price: $69.98 Price: $396.81

Christian Wisdom From Meister Eckhart

Meister Eckhart was an influential fourteenth century Christian mystic. His given name was Eckhart von Hochheim. He lived in Germany and was a member of the Dominican Order.

He was kind of a revolutionary for his time,



He was tried as a heretic by the inquisition led by Franciscan monks. No verdict seems to have been delivered in his case.

Some of his ideas relate closely to what we learn in Buddhism.

Christian wisdom from Meister Eckhart

If we hold fast to the distinction between today and tomorrow and yesterday, we are holding fast to nothingness.
Better enjoy the eternal and undivided, divine now.

Meister Eckhart
Christian mystic
c. 1260 - c. 1327

This quote relates to the Buddhist idea of living happily in the present moment.

The Buddha said:

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, not to anticipate the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Elsewhere, he is quoted as saying,

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”

The Seventh Mindfulness Training of the Order of Interbeing of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh states,

Aware that life is available only in the present moment and that it is possible to live happily in the here and now, I am committed to training myself to live deeply each moment of daily life. I will try not to lose myself in dispersion or be carried away by regrets about the past, worries about the future, or craving, anger or jealousy in the present. I will practice mindful breathing to come back to what is happening in the present moment. I am determined to learn the art of mindful living by touching the wondrous, refreshing and healing elements that are inside and around me, and by nourishing seeds of joy, peace, love and understanding in myself, thus facilitating the work of transformation and healing in my consciousness.

All three of these masters remind us to live only in the present moment.

When we think about the past, we do so in the present. When we plan for the future, we do so in the present.

As long as we do not dwell on the past or long for the future, we can dwell happily in the present moment.

What do you think about these quotes? Do you find any substantial difference between Christian wisdom from Meister Eckhart, the Buddha, and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh?

If you know someone who would benefit from learning how to dwell happily in the present moment, please let them know.

Please enter you comments below.

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These books are all by Oliver Davies, a professor of King's College, London. His passion for the life and works of Meister Eckhart is admirable. Enjoy!

Meditation Practices for Anxiety

One of the major types of complaints we hear about daily are anxiety attacks. Or, at least people are experiencing a lot of anxiety.

Meditation practices for anxiety can have a calming influence on our lives.

We can regain our composure and learn to drop the anxious feelings.

In reality, taking time for ourselves away from our problems really helps.

If you are feeling a lot of anxiety, you might consider taking a little walk or just looking at something beautiful.

It doesn't matter when or where anxiety strikes, there is relief in sight. Please take a look at these four relaxation techniques for anxiety management.

Meditation Practices for Anxiety

• Deep Controlled Breathing
• Stop - Think - Proceed
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation Techniques for Anxiety
• Meditation

Let's look at these one by one.

Deep Controlled Breathing Technique

This is a simple method and any therapist will swear by it. It is not only easy but also has a calming effect on the body and mind which can be felt in a few seconds. Deep slow breathing is actually Diaphragmatic Breathing. Here, the diaphragm is expanded and contracted in slow motion to control breathing. ...

This meditation practice for anxiety relief has been taught for millennium. The yogis of old taught that diaphragmatic breathing was best for daily life. We have forgotten how to utilized it to reduce our anxiety.

Stop – Think – Proceed

The idea behind this is to tell yourself to take a break from doing any activity which causes anxiety in you. This is also the easiest of the relaxation techniques for anxiety control. Stop the activity that generates stress which builds up into anxiety. ...

This is an excellent choice when you are stuck at work. This ties in with taking a walk or looking at something beautiful.

We often teach people who come to Mindfulness in Healing to notice something really beautiful in there lives each day until they return to our group. People who have done this find excellent results.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation Techniques for Anxiety

Progressive Muscle Relaxation technique requires that you concentrate on your body and work to relax your muscles one by one. ...

Deep relaxation is the gateway to understanding ourselves. Many people have found this to be especially helpful.

Meditation

You need to learn to meditate. But once you have mastered it, you will be able to keep anxiety at bay. People who meditate are able to leash their thoughts and concentrate on one task alone. While meditating, you cut off most of the sensors of your body. More...

There are so many different meditation practices that reduce anxiety that we can't go into them all here. However, you probably can learn a lot from 9 Minute Meditation.



In the 9 Minute Meditation course, you will learn 12 different meditation practices for anxiety and stress reduction.

You will also have access to a series of guided meditation audio recordings which guide you step-by-step.

You will not be overwhelmed with too much material at one time. You can gently come up to speed.

The course will cover three of the four techniques mentioned in this post in great detail.

Do you see the benefits of meditation for anxiety relief? Do you know someone who could be helped with meditation practices for anxiety? Please share the information in this post with them.

Ego Ucks - Try Meditation

Ego Ucks!

What do you do when you get caught up in your ego-centric ways? It happens to all of us. This picture show you why. Win a free 9 Minute Meditation Course! Guess how much the t-shirt in the picture cost and share the picture with your friends.

What Can You Do TODAY?

The following quote is from the Dalai Lama on 9/11.

What he said back then still has relevance today. Maybe even more so!

What Can You Do TODAY?

Now, with the world in financial turmoil, we must move in the direction of a resource based economy. Unlike a money based economy, a resource based economy, provides the necessities of life everyone.

This eliminates scarcity, which is the bane of the poor and disenfranchised. It also eliminates hunger, crime, greed, pollution, and many other ills of our society.

Today the human soul asks the question: What can I do to preserve the beauty and wonder of our world and to eliminate the anger and hatred and inequality that inevitably causes it-- in that part of the world which I touch?

What can you do TODAY, this very moment?"

The Zeitgeist movement is an effort to bring about a resource based economy. Zeitgeist is a German word which means, "spirit-time". It is the spirit of the time we are living in.

One thing that you can do TODAY is to watch the Zeitgeist movies. Then you can share these ideas with your family and friends.

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Meditating generosity, compassion, and the interbeing of all there is can help us to see the interconnectedness of all things.

Then we will be able to do what is necessary to develop a resource based economy.

Loving Kindness Meditation

Ed and Deb Shapiro have been teaching meditation for 25 years. One of the meditation practices they teach is loving kindness meditation.

Loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity are the foundations for a happy life. They are known collectively as the four immeasurable minds.

These practices work for anyone. They are not restricted to any religion, race, or creed. They are universal human qualities.

Loving Kindness Meditation

Ed and Deb Shapiro wrote about loving kindness meditation on the Huffington Post.

Their method is described in this quote.

This meditation opens your heart by developing loving kindness.

Start by breathing into the area of your heart, softening and relaxing with the in-breath, and letting go of tension on the out-breath. Hold your name or an image of yourself in your heart and silently repeat: May I be well, may I be happy, may I be filled with loving kindness. Do this for five minutes or more.

Then, silently wish all beings be well, all beings be happy. If you are at work you can spend a few minutes repeating the names of the people you work with and wishing them happiness and joy. On your way home from work reflect on your day and generate loving thoughts to all those you met. At night, think of each member of your family and wish them wellness and happiness: May they be well, may they be happy, may they be filled with loving kindness. Do this for five or more minutes. Source.

Ed and Deb Shapiro have authored a couple of books. You may want to check them out.

 

9 Minute Meditation

In the 9 Minute Meditation course, you will learn a complete set of loving kindness meditation practices. These are guided meditation practice recordings along the same lines as the beginning guided meditations in the course.

You can use the verses in 9 Minute Meditation, or you can write your own.

You will settle into your meditation using the guided meditation process.

You will begin the loving kindness blessings by sending unconditional friendliness to yourself. You will practice this for the rest of the 9 minute meditation.

In the second guided meditation in this series, you will shower loving kindness blessings on members of your immediate family. This includes only spouses, children, and parents.

In the third lesson, you will extend your loving kindness blessings to your "sisters and brothers and aunts," uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and their children.

In the next lesson, you will learn how to send loving kindness to the people you know who are suffering.

In the final lesson in the series, you will send loving kindness blessings to mother earth and all sentient beings.

Does this make sense to you? Everyone can use a lot of loving kindness daily,

Please do comment below. You can receive notice of our blogs every Thursday by entering your email address below.

Wisdom For Living in the Present Moment

This came to me in an email. It contains much wisdom for living in the present moment.

This is something we should all read at least once a week! Make sure you read to the end!

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

Wisdom For Living in the Present Moment

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive but don’t forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'.

I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose.

Please be one of the 7% and share this with your family and friends.

The World Without Humans

Did you ever catch an episode of Life After People on the History Channel? The ones I saw were quite thought provoking.

Alan Weisman has written a book called, "The World Without Us." In an interview with Tricycle Magazine, he spoke about global warming, population control, and what the world without humans would look like.

The World Without Humans

Now, please watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2hJnbQBRwY

If you get a chance, try to find replays of Life After People. The graphics in the series are incredible.

You will really get a sense of what is in store for the planet when the last human leaves the earth.

The Five Remembrances

This video brings to mind what are called the five remembrances. These are contemplations that help us understand ourselves as humans.

They are:

1. We are of the nature to grow old. We cannot escape old age.
   
   
2. We are of the nature to have ill health. We cannot escape ill health.
3. We are of the nature to die. We cannot escape death.
4. Everyone we love and everything we have is of the nature to change. We cannot escape impermanence.
5. Our actions are the only ground on which we can stand. We cannot escape the consequences of our actions.

Each of these can be the subject of a 9 minute meditation. In fact, you will find a guided audio recording for each of them in 9 Minute Meditation.

Meditation Practices

To practice, you would find a comfortable position. Take several deep breaths to settle down from your daily activity.

Then you would start with the first remembrance for the rest of your 9 minute meditation.

One possible way to do this is to say to yourself, "old age" when you breathe in. And say to yourself, "no escape" when you breathe out.

You could stick with the first one for as long as you like. Alternatively, you could introduce the second one on the next day. Then the third one on the day after that. And so on.

What did you think of the video? Do you understand how it relates to the five remembrances?

Did you know that even the sun will die? Don't worry about it. It will live for another 4 or 5 billion years!

Did you know that the sun will become a red giant star? It will grow so large that it will totally envelope the earth!

If you like the video or the five remembrances, won't you please share them with your family and friends? One or more of them will gratefully benefit from your sharing.

Interview With One Of My Mentors

This online interview with one of my mentors inspired me to share it with you, my readers.



I have decided to withhold the name of my mentor for the time being.

This is quite different from all of my other posts, so please have a little patience.

Interview With One Of My Mentors

The text which follows has been edited to eliminate the "chat-speak" a bit. Also, irrelevant comments have been deleted. The deletions are indicated by ellipses (...). The mentor's questions are in bold.

Are you there?

Yes.

I'll be a little late for the call today. I have tennis from 2:30-4:00 PDT.

You are a busy man. :)

Can I ask you one question?

Sure.

Who is your teacher for spiritual life?

Thich Nhat Hanh.

Rinpoche?

Take a look at http://30yplumvillage.mindfulnessbell.org.

I checked it online.

No he is a Vietnamese Zen Master.

I see. I see.

What do you learn? Meditation?

The art of mindful living.

I see. That's a good practice. :)

Do you chant any mantra?

I developed a couple of verses that help me remember my mindfulness practice throughout the day and they are a vital part of my meditation practice. They came to me in a deep meditation over 15 years ago. The little jingle goes like this:

Lying still,

Breathing in, Breathing out,

Healthy cells grow all by themselves,

I am free of cancer.

I use the "healthy" when I inhale and "free" when I exhale. This happens during sitting meditation, standing in line, walking, picking up tennis balls, etc.

This is the foundation of my practice inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh.

I see.

You seemed to study what I called Heart Chakra.

Am I correct?

Build up the energy within you.

Well, this is the subject of a remarkable teaching from the Buddha called metta practice - are you familiar with it?

I am still a newbie on this.

I have only been learning about this since April 2009.

:)

I'm a newbie at IM!

However, I do my meditation daily as it gives me an inner peace as well as do things beyond. ... :)

Metta is the Sanskrit word for loving kindness. The practice consists of the four immeasurable minds: metta (loving kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy) and upekksa (equaniminity). Develop one of these and the others follow. My children have touched my heart all their lives and from the joy I experience in their happiness, the other qualities of loving kindness (unconditional friendliness), compassion, and equanimity came along.

I call tell when you told me that you had to pick up the phone from your daughter in South Africa. :)

South America.

That's the fundamental teaching about Buddhism.

Ecuador.

Yes, South America. :)

Wisdom and compassion.

Yeap.

What is mindful mean?

Paying attention on purpose to what is going on in the present moment without judgment.

I see. Be on the present moment.

I'd say be in the present moment!

ok. :)

When you want to be in the present moment, that requires more than just understanding. It also requires a steady heart. Am I correct?

Yes - it does. That is developed through mindfulness practices like meditation, walking meditation, being present for your loved ones and other people, etc. Much more/

Do you do meditation?

Yes - every day - for so many days that I can't remember the last time I didn't!

15 years?

Easily!

I also incorporate restorative yoga, mindful movements [inspired by yoga], and tennis into my daily practice.

What does tennis has to do with meditation?

When you play tennis, you are dealt a lot of stuff for your feelings. You miss a ball and you feel bad, you make a good shot and you feel good. You go up and down with the level of your play. You want to reach equanimity and mindfulness rather than getting caught in your feelings. There's a lot more about this and I have given several talks to demonstrate my use of tennis as a meditation practice.

I see your point now. It is similar with how I incorporated with my dealing with others in business and personal life. It requires patience and commitment.

In my Mindfulness in Healing class we practice deep listening and loving speech with our members. They really appreciate that.

Wait ...you had a cancer?

Yes - 15 years ago

"Jerome Freedman, Ph.D., is a cancer survivor since 1997. He brings to these sessions more than 35 years of teaching relaxation and mindfulness experiences. His purpose is to inspire people to take charge of their own well-being and actively participate in their healing."

You recovered through meditation.

It was one of the components of my healing. I had chemo, radiation, surgery, etc., but the primary care fell to alternative/complementary/integrative medicine under the direciton of Michael Broffman of the Pine Street Clinic. He is a multi-faceted genious who knows everything about Eastern and Western approaches to cancer treatment.

Do you know one thing, Jerome?

What thing?

Though what you mentioned to me is something that people should practice, the reality is not a lot of people are willing to listen to this practice.

they see meditation as part of superstitious.

When I told people about the benefit of doing meditation, they see it as if I am talking about comic books. :)

How do you let people see the vision you are trying to share with them?

I know that too well! That why I have created two blogs and a membership site:

Meditation Practices - this site.
Best Meditation Videos
9 Minute Meditation ( membership site )

I also have Facebook fan pages:

https://facebook.com/MeditationPractices

https://facebook.com/BestMeditationVideos

https://facebook.com/MindfulnessInHealing

https://www.facebook.com/pages/9-Minute-Meditation-The-Path-To-Well-Being/333655933343468 - need likes for this one to get the vanity URL

Done. :)

Let's talk again about this next time. :)

I pressed like button for you.

...

As I mentioned to you, people do see meditation as superstitious things and unreal in life.

This is why if you want to tap onto this market as a way to develop their interest, you can't really focus on meditation. Instead, you need to focus more onto searching for happiness, self-confidence, and etc. :)

Yes - I know. That's why I'm promoting 9 minute meditation. Take a look when you get a chance.

Please Join the Conversation

You may like to join in this conversation about the interview with one of my mentors.

Do you think that meditation is superstitious? Have you tried it lately?

We have some excellent resources for you here and on the other websites mentioned in the interview.

What questions came to your mind as you read the interview? Would you be willing to ask them in the comments below?

Would you be willing to share them with other people?

Your questions and comments would be gratefully appreciated.

9 Minute Meditation

The 9 Minute Meditation course will help you reduce or eliminate stress from your life.

In just 9 minutes a day, you will be able to manage your stress, anxiety, and worries in unexpected ways.



9 Minute Meditation will help you also in other aspects of your life. Your relationships with your family, friends, and your co-workers will improve. You will enjoy your recreation much fuller.

You will find that your health improves with meditation just 9 minutes a day. This happens naturally as a result of reduced stress.

Your feeling of well-being increases with daily practice.

9 Minute Meditation

In 9 Minute Meditation, you will discover:

• A foolproof, scientifically proven way to eliminate stress, and gain complete mental clarity in 9 minutes or less.
• The simple “mind hack” that you can help you perform better at your job… immediately! (use this during a stressful time at work to get things done and feel like a superstar)
• How to improve your personal relationships, professional growth, long-term health, and more… without stressing about a single thing.
• The secrets, step-by-step, system that anyone can use, no matter what your job, religion, education level, or marital status!

Even A Child Can Do It!

Included in the course are guided 9 minute meditation audio recordings the will help you jump start your practice.

These recordings introduce you to mindfulness of breathing with easy to follow instructions.

The instructions are so easy that even little children can learn to do them.

All you have to do is to sit quietly in a comfortable position. Then take several deep breaths to bring you into the present moment.

Once you are ready, start to become aware of your breathing. When you breathe in, know that you are breathing in. When you breathe out, know that you are breathing out.

The guided meditations teach you simple words that you can use to follow your breath.

If your mind wanders, and naturally, it will, simply bring it back to your breathing.\

That's all you have to do!

How You Can Help

Do you know anyone who could be helped by learning these simple meditation techniques? Please share this information with them and they will be grateful to you.

Why Are We Here?

Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh is well known for peace efforts during the war in Vietnam. Since then, and probably before, he has been teaching about interbeing. He says that we interare with everything in the cosmos. Here is a quote illustrating why we are here.

We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.
― Thich Nhat Hanh

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I highly recommend this book. It is always by my bedside.

Mindfulness of Craving

Craving or desire, especially sensual desire, is the root of all suffering. Mindfulness of craving can help us reduce or eliminate desire and give us freedom.



Now what do we desire? Sex and sensual pleasures? Money? Power? That beautiful woman or handsome man? That shiny car? The best meals? That beautiful beachfront home? Chocolate? All the latest gadgets? The mansion overlooking the golf course? Our own business? Shopping until we are dropping?

What sense of happiness do these objects of desire bring us? We all want happiness and to avoid suffering.

Desires are endless! Where can we find happiness?

My wife always said to our children, "To desire what you don't have is to waste what you do have." Yet we all desire much more. Our whole economy is based on it.

We think shopping and buying is going to eliminate the discomfort we feel. We learn that it leads only to more shopping and more discomfort!

Mindfulness of Craving

This article from Barre Center for Buddhist Studies is titled, "Mindfulness and the Cognitive Process, Part I: The Pathology of Desire," by John Peacock. The essence of the article is that craving and desire are built into our original makeup.

If ... mindfulness, is not there in ordinary life, it is not working. If it is only there on retreat, and absent in your daily life, this is also problematic. What makes this integration so difficult is that ... desire or craving, is not just something added to our experience: It is literally built into our cognitive process. We are, if you will, born with the pathology of desire.

He goes on to say that there are three forms of craving:

"Desire is threefold: namely, desire for sense pleasures, desire for becoming and desire for non-being."

Desire for sense pleasures is obviously the most common. We have all experienced this phenomenon.

What he said about "desire for becoming" is interesting:

[Desire for becoming] is different, in a sense, it is you on a good day, in that you want to be you, perhaps forever, or wish some state to continue. In its most extreme form, in religious and philosophical thinking, it can pan out in terms of the idea of immortality. So it is actually linking to the craving or grasping after something immutable within us, which we feel constitutes our reality, or our self--it is this that you desire to go on forever.

It is also the craving for novelty, innovation, new phenomena. You are craving to become this and that, in a round of endless stimulation, linked very much with [desire]. We are always looking for the new thing that is going on. "Where's the new teaching going on?"

The third craving, the "desire for non-being" leads to suicide and aggression:

The desire not-to-be, ... is seen as further down the chain. One of the main and tragic aspects ... is the drive toward suicidality. This is an important dimension of [the desire for non being] that gives rise to the desire to "annihilate" both self and other and manifests as aggressive and self-destructive impulses.

[Note: Pali words in the original article have been removed or translated for clarity.]

Where Do We Go From Here?

Where does mindfulness of craving take us?

In the first place, since craving is the cause of suffering, we should recognize it when it comes up. That doesn't mean we have to do something about it. Just mere recognition of craving can cause us to stop for a moment.

Do we really need that next piece of chocolate? That fifth cup of coffee? That fancy shirt or blouse? That shiny car?

In the second place, mindfulness of craving can help us to remember mindful consumption. It can help us avoid certain foods, goods, TV programs, movies, and the like that temporarily destroy our tranquility.

In addition, mindfulness of craving can inspire us to look deeply inside of ourselves. Perhaps we can get at the root cause of our desire. Then we can work on eliminating what we consider bad desires.

Also, we can transform our desires into constructive actions which benefit ourselves and others. For example, we may decide to donate the money we would have spent on something to the homeless or some other worthy cause. Instead of going shopping, we volunteer at the clinic.

Have you noticed how short lived the satisfaction of your desire tends to be? You may love that new car for many years. If you get right down to it, it is just transportation. You may even want to trade it in while it still has value.

The excitement about other purchases tend to be even more short lived! The flowers will wilt and die. The shirt will get stained and be useless after a while. The chocolate will be gone once you eat it. The next piece is waiting there - just for you!

What desires do you have? Which of these are causing more suffering than enjoyment? Can you afford to cut back on some of them?

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Qi Gong Meditation for Weight Loss

Being overweight and having eating disorders are contributors stress. Qi gong meditation for weight loss can help with this problem.

Lee Holden is a popular qi gong instructor and is appearing on a PBS series on the subject. His series, Exercise to Heal is aired on many stations around the country.

This video is a preview of one of his CD titled, "Qi Gong For Weight Loss (Qi Gong/Yoga For Beginners Series)."

Qi Gong Meditation for Weight Loss

Qi Gong Meditation for Weight Loss

I'm wondering if Lee Holden knows Master Fong Ha, since he went to the University of California at Berkeley. I have taken some classes with him and his student Izzy.

I have incorporated some of what I learned from Master Fong Ha and Izzy into my morning meditation practices. I have great love and respect for the teachings I've received.

What do you think of this video? Do you know anyone who could be helped by learning qi gong meditation for weight loss? Let them know by clicking on the LIKE button and sharing this post with others who may be helped.

The Turth Within You – Swami Vivekananda

This quote came for a card from a friend a long time ago. It has been waiting to be shared all this time.



The teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna were the first teachings I was exposed to when I began meditation practices at the Vedanta Center in Chicago. We would sit, listen to talks, and chant on Sunday mornings.

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