TheLeaderInside.com

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.”

~~~ Henry David Thoreau

Last week we talked about how our ego-minds get a bit upset when we decide to meditate. The ego thrives on keeping us focused on either the past or the future, or both. Our ego-minds don’t want us to find the Present, because it knows that once we find it, we’ll begin to see the truth of who we are — what the essence of us truly is.

Meditation is designed to diminish the power of the ego by directing your attention to something else, something truer than the usual incessant ramblings of the mind.

What is it? I’m not sure I can put into words what this “something else” is. I know that it is not thought — it’s something more subtle than thought. It’s not dwelling in the past — it’s not worrying about the future — it’s just Now! For me, it’s the silence that happens when I am able to quiet my mind during meditation or at other times when I can just relax into the inner peace. I guess you could call it the space between your thoughts. A lot of the time you may not even realize that you’re in the Present, because your mind thinks of it as nothing — or as you may sometimes hear it referred to — as “no-thing”.

One of the reasons why people who are trying meditation give up on their practice is because they’re expecting some big dramatic event to take place once they’re successful in quieting their minds. When you have people like me who are actively promoting meditation as the path to true inner peace, love and compassion, it’s understandable that people are looking for something more profound.

But, it’s not generally dramatic, it’s quite subtle. It might feel like a soft vibration. It could give you a different sense of complete relaxation. You might notice a sense of expansion or lightheadedness. For me, at the very least, it is always a feeling of peacefulness and contentment.

“The art of life is to live in the present moment, and to make that moment as perfect as we can by the realization that we are the instruments and expression of God Himself.”

~~~ Emmet Fox

I’m going to stop here for today because I’d like you all to take a few moments to watch this short video. This video is a portion of a talk given by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. Ten years ago Dr. Taylor was living in Boston, teaching and performing brain research at Harvard Medical School. In addition, she was the national spokesperson for the Harvard Brain Bank. In 1996, her work was stopped when she experienced a major AVM stroke. At the age of 37, she could not walk, talk, read, write, or recall any of her life. With the help of her mother it took Jill eight years to completely recover.

What’s truly amazing about this is that she, somehow, was able to study her own stroke as it happened — and as a result has become a powerful voice for brain recovery.

The reason I’m including this here, is that during her stroke, she had the chance to actually be in that place of complete Presence — that place where there was no ego — no past — no future — no mind-chatter — just pure essence. Plus, she is now able to describe it in some amazing detail. Hopefully, most of us won’t have anything this dramatic happen to us — I certainly am not wishing a stroke on any of us. However, that place I’m describing to you in the above article, does exist — in each and every one of us.

As she says herself ….

“How many brain scientists have been able to study the brain from the inside out? I’ve gotten as much out of this experience of losing my left mind as I have in my entire academic career.”

~~~ Jill Bolte Taylor

If, for some reason, the video below doesn’t play, here is a link to a site that carries it:

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/229

“The foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in compassion, and the reason for practicing the teachings is to wipe out the persistence of ego, the number-one enemy of compassion.”

~~~ Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama

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If you’re new to us here, be sure read the other articles about meditation. If you look on the upper left of the sidebar, you’ll see a list of the categories. Click the one called “Meditation” and you’ll be able to read the articles you missed. They start with the January 24, 2008 post.

Do include meditation in your daily life. If you’re just starting out, make it a 10 minute meditation. If you’ve been doing this for a while, try to do a minimum of 20 minutes. The longer you can maintain your focus on just your breath, the better.

“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”

~~~ Buddha

Namaste!

And, as I always say in closing — remember these words …

You are the most precious gift you can give yourself. Every day look in the mirror and say, “I’m available to more good than I have experienced, realized or imagined ever before in my life!” Do this every day while you look into your own eyes.

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

~~~ Buddha

~~~ DBL-R

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically, whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.
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In my meditation I use what I truly believe is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

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[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhism, Buddhist, The Secret, Law of Attraction, dreams, spiritual energy, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life[/tags]

“If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It’s very important to be aware of them every time they come up.”

~~~ Deepak Chopra

Where am I headed in this article? The title tends to make you wonder what in the world is he coming out with now, right? I guess what has me motivated today is my realization that so many of us find so many reasons not to meditate, and I’d like to take a look at why that happens.

But first ….

Here’s another meditation clip for you to use in your daily meditations. Like the one last time, this one is also about 9 minutes long. I hope you enjoy it. Don’t forget to turn on your speakers. Just click the “Play” button — and then you can continue reading today’s article as you listen. When you’re done reading, play it again as you do one of your meditation sessions for today. (Yes! That is a blatant hint — meditation needs to be an every day practice!)

There are several different tools and techniques that can help you to be in touch with your inner peace. However, one of these is by far the most powerful method, and that is meditation. If you truly desire to shut off all the mind-chatter and get to know the peaceful being that you are, then meditation is the only tool you really need. It’s also readily available, any time, any place, and doesn’t require anything more than a place where you can be quiet and relaxed for a while.

“Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods.”

~~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The really neat thing is that meditation is easy to do and doesn’t take a lot of time. The reason we don’t practice meditation isn’t because it’s too hard or we don’t have the time — the reason is that we can make up all sorts of reasons (I call them excuses) for why we can’t do it. We know it’s supposed to be a good thing to do, so why do we fight it off so vigorously?

The answer is simply that our ego doesn’t want us to meditate. The last thing our ego wants is for us to get in touch with who we truly are. The ego-mind can’t bear the idea that we might get to spend a few moments living in the present rather than the past or the future. Past and future are places the ego thrives — the present is where the truest essence of you resides — and it’s the only place where that happens — and it’s the only place where the ego-mind isn’t.

“Give up all bad qualities in you, banish the ego and develop the spirit of surrender. You will then experience Bliss.”

~~~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Let’s face it, we have allowed our minds to be in near complete control of us almost since the day when we had our first thought. It’s no wonder that we “think” we don’t have time to meditate or that we tell ourselves it’s too hard to do. That ego of ours knows what meditation can do. It knows that meditation can knock its power down a notch or two in a hurry, and it doesn’t want to allow that to happen — not by a long shot. That old ego-mind of ours is saying, “We don’t want any of that truth stuff around here! No way! No how!”

So, how do we teach this mind of ours to quit convincing us that we don’t want to — or have time to meditate? If you have a strong enough desire to get in touch with your inner peace, then you will find the courage to block out a short time in your daily schedule for peaceful abiding. If the desire is there, then you will do it. If it’s not, then you probably won’t.

I don’t believe there is a “correct” amount of time to set aside. Sometimes, 10 or 15 minutes is enough. I do think it’s important to put this time on our schedule, especially if you’re just starting out or are having trouble getting your ego-mind to listen to reason. For some, early in the day is best. For others, it might be at the end of the day. For me, I like to meditate during the day, but I have the advantage of working at home so this is possible for me. Although there is no “correct” amount of time, I would recommend that you commit to a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes every day.

Next week I’d like to spend some time pursuing more about what this “true self” that we all possess is like — what it might be like to be in the “Present”.

“The foundation of the Buddha’s teachings lies in compassion, and the reason for practicing the teachings is to wipe out the persistence of ego, the number-one enemy of compassion.”

~~~ Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama

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If you’re new to us here, be sure read the other articles about meditation. You can find links for them over in the left sidebar under the “Recently Posted” section. They all have a title starting with the word, “Meditation”. They start with the January 24, 2008 post.

Don’t forget, spend at least 10 minutes twice each day meditating. Meditate for longer if you can. If you’ve been doing 10 minutes, take it up to 15. If you’ve been doing 15, see if you can take it up to 20 minutes. The longer you can maintain your focus on just your breath, the better.

“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”

~~~ Buddha

Namaste!

And, as I always say in closing — remember these words …

You are the most precious gift you can give yourself. Every day look in the mirror and say, “I’m available to more good than I have experienced, realized or imagined ever before in my life!” Do this every day while you look into your own eyes.

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

~~~ Buddha

~~~ DBL-R

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically, whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.
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As you know, I do practice sitting, silent meditation every day in my life. Recently, I did a podcast about this for another blog that I read. Take a moment and click this link to hear what meditation means to me and what it does for me.

My Meditation Podcast

In my meditation I use what I truly believe is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

Regular, daily meditation can give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

====================================================================

====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhism, Buddhist, The Secret, Law of Attraction, dreams, spiritual energy, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life[/tags]

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

~~~ Mother Teresa

Today I’d like to spend some time discussing the power of silence — especially the inner silence that will reveal so much about who we truly are.

Here’s an example of how silence can bring about discoveries. It’s sort of an analogy of what it might feel like to get a glimpse of your true self in the silencing of your mind during meditation.

Note: Here’s another meditation clip for you to use in your daily meditations. This one is also about 5 minutes long. I hope you enjoy it. Don’t forget to turn on your speakers. Just click the “Play” button — and then you can continue reading today’s article as you listen. When you’re done reading, play it again as you do one of your meditation sessions for today. (Yep! I’m still bugging you! This is something that needs to be in your life every day.)

One of the things that I enjoyed doing when I lived in Vermont was to go for walks in the woods. I loved going for those walks in the early morning hours. There’s an interesting phenomena that happens when you enter the forest – all the activity of the birds and other animals goes silent as soon as they become aware of you. They know that you’re there. They don’t want you to know where they are, so they get very quiet.

If I then find a warm spot in the sun, sit down, become very still and quiet myself and my mind — just as I would in a peaceful abiding meditation — the world of life in the woods that had shut down when I entered, begins to re-open again, slowly but surely. It may start with just a couple of birds resuming their singing. But after a short time the sounds of the forest get louder and louder. More birds will chime in. Soon the woodpeckers will go back to hammering the trees. Then the ground critters will begin to scurry through the underbrush. You’ll hear the squirrels as they scramble around and chase each other up the bark of a nearby tree. You’ll find that you’re listening to a variety of chatters and squeals from unknown and unseen creatures as they become less and less aware of you being present in their home. It isn’t long before the forest returns to its natural state.

The amazing beauty is that you are now a part of this world of the forest. You are not a big bunch of ego bopping along through life – you are now a part of this precious environment – you’re not thinking – you’re not worrying about what to fix for dinner – you are just with what is – you are completely present in this miraculous moment.

“Let us be silent, that we may hear the whispers of the gods.”

~~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Something quite similar happens when we do a peaceful abiding meditation. We become very quiet and still. We focus on our breath because the breath is our way of knowing that we are alive in the moment. Our flow of thoughts begins to slow down as they are replaced by the flow of our breathing. We begin to sense a new level of awareness. We start to learn more about how we perceive things. We’re gaining a new understanding of how we relate to the world around us. We’re not forcing it – rather it’s all happening very gently.

But then, this ego of ours, being the demanding thing that it is, increases its efforts to distract us from our meditation. We find ourselves thinking about how interesting and exciting it is that we’re doing this meditation and wondering what our friends will think of us. We’re thinking about how good a cup of tea would taste right about now. We’re thinking about the shopping we need to do before we can get dinner ready. Trying to keep our minds quiet is a lot like trying to keep a kitten on our laps when it wants to go elsewhere. However, these thoughts are nothing more than stories we’re telling ourselves. You’ll probably also notice that most of these thoughts are of the past or in the future. This is the ego’s way of trying to keep us out of the present moment – out of the silence.

“In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in an clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth.”

~~~ Mahatma Gandhi

Please remember, this ego-mind of yours has been in complete control of you for most of your life. It’s not going to relinquish that control without putting up some fierce resistance. Keep bringing your mind back to the breath. Don’t spend any energy on trying to analyze the intrusive thoughts. Don’t judge yourself or your thoughts for being there. The thoughts are neither good nor bad. A thought is just a thought. Merely see the thought for the minor distraction that it is and return again to the breath. Remain gentle and you will experience a healthy meditation.

Keep practicing every day. Consistency is vital. With patience, and regular practice, we’ll begin to learn that there’s something going on under all that stillness. There’s a new strength there – there’s a new sense of stability – there’s a new wisdom. Integrating meditation into your life – learning to be mindful and present, clear and attentive – this is the doorway to a life of depth and joy.

Sure, our mind will run off on us again, but it we keep bringing our focus back to the breath, over and over, we will eventually learn how to be more mindful of what and who we truly are. When we experience those wonderful moments of perfect peaceful abiding, it’s like something from another world. Our crazy mind grows quiet. It stops chasing around like a scared rabbit. It’s a very spiritual experience. Even though this seems so unusual and strange, it is giving us that glimpse into who we truly are.

Now we are developing the tools to cultivate our gardens. Those flower seeds of love and compassion we talked about before will have a place to take root.

“Silence is a source of great strength.”

~~~ Lao Tzu

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If you’re new to us here, be sure read the other articles about meditation. You can find links for them over in the left sidebar under the “Recently Posted” section. They all have a title starting with the word, “Meditation”. They start with the January 24, 2008 post.

Don’t forget, spend at least 10 minutes twice each day meditating. Meditate for longer if you can. If you’ve been doing 10 minutes, take it up to 15. If you’ve been doing 15, see if you can take it up to 20 minutes. The longer you can maintain your focus on just your breath, the better.

“Those who really seek the path to Enlightenment dictate terms to their mind. Then they proceed with strong determination.”

~~~ Buddha

Namaste!

And, as I always say in closing — remember these words …

You are the most precious gift you can give yourself. Every day look in the mirror and say, “I’m available to more good than I have experienced, realized or imagined ever before in my life!” Do this every day while you look into your own eyes.

You are special — and you are loved. You are the greatest gift you can be.

Shanti … (A sanscrit word meaning, “Let there be Peace. Peace, beautiful Peace. Peace within, Peace without. Peace in this world. Peace for all beings.”)

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

~~~ Buddha

~~~ DBL-R

P.S. Remember, that if you have one of the “readers” — like My Yahoo, My MSN, or the Google Reader, or any of the others, you can get our blog sent to you automatically, whenever I post to it. Just click one of the buttons over on the left side to add it to your reader.
================================================================
In my meditation I often use what I truly believe is the most powerful personal growth and mind development tool on earth. It’s the The Holosync Solution. I knew that meditation was a vital element to nurturing my soul — to opening myself to the universe — and this tool has allowed me to achieve and receive the benefits of deep, long-term meditation — and to achieve it much more quickly. If you’re having trouble “getting meditation to work for you” – then the The Holosync Solution is what you’re looking for.

In addition to the wonderful discoveries we’ve been revealing in these post about meditation, regular, daily meditation can also give you …

(1) Increased intelligence and creativity.
(2) Lower stress levels — and with that — increased ability to handle whatever the world tosses your way.
(3) New levels of self-awareness and inner peace.
(4) The healing of emotional issues at the deepest levels —

— it’s definitely worth taking the time for this powerful practice every day.

With a One-Year 100% Iron-Clad Guarantee, you can now do so with no risk whatsoever — just click any of the links that say … The Holosync Solution

— The Holosync Solution

====================================================================

====================================================================
[tags]peace, inner self, inner peace, Buddhism, Buddhist, The Secret, Law of Attraction, dreams, spiritual energy, action, value, inner balance, enlightenment, destiny, manifestation, meditation, patience, gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, body balance, life cycle, beginnings, endings, positive thinking, ego, silence, consciousness, staying grounded, cycle of life[/tags]