Meditation Matters

Strategies for Difficult Times

Today's podcast will focus on using meditation to deal with difficult times. 

Fortitude and Courage

Fortitude is the ability to walk through fear, doubt and uncertainty.

Today's meditation will focus on embracing our inner courage and inner fortitude as we pray for unity and strength around the world.

Our Infinite Center

It's been said that while being self-centered is the source of grief, being centered is the source of freedom.

Being centered means being aware of the calmness and quiet inside of you. As you become centered, you experience timelessness.  

Recalibrating after the Weekend

It's said that a calm mind is a best cure for life's challenges. 

Today's podcast will focus on relaxing our bodies and calming our minds.

Poetry from Wendell Berry

Today's podcast will focus on poetry from Wendell Berry. 

Discussions with the Divine

The most important thing about meditation is that it gives us the opportunity to hear our soul speaking to us. Today's meditation will focus on listening to our souls. 

Renewal in this Season

There is no better time than autum to imagine that we are standing like trees, our inner selves unadorned by decoration, ready to rest and regain our strength. Growth requires release.

Today's podcast will focus on renewal. 

A Focus on Forgiveness

We all make mistakes. Other people, even those close to us, can hurt us from time to time. But if we hold on to grudges forever, it's like adding an entire new injury to the experience.

Today's meditation will focus on forgiveness.

Poetry Friday - Reb Nachman

Reb Nachman advocated for an unstructured and spontaneous form of prayer, often in solitude. His goal was to see the divinity inherent in all beings.

Lovingkindness

Lovingkindess has no conditions and no expectations. It is ideal, pure love which exists within each of us.

Today's podcast will focus on expanding love towards ourselves and others. 

Greatest Weapon Against Stress

Today's podcast will focus on the wisdom of William James, the great American philosopher who once said "the greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another."

A Focus on Mindful Breathing

Today's podcast will focus on Mindful Breathing.

Poetry Friday - Khalil Gibran

This week's Poetry Friday will focus on Khalil Gibran and his poem "On Self Knowledge". 

Poetry Friday - Poems about Hope

This week's Poetry Friday will focus on poems about hope.

The Healing Power of Love

Through love, we connect to our true spiritual self, without flaws or imperfections. Through love, we connect to the infinite, perfect stillness which is always with us.

 

Choosing Inner Peace

Inner peace always begins with choice. In the words of the American Nun Pema Chödrön, inner peace begins the moment you choose not to let another person or external event control your emotions. 

In today's podcast, we'll focus on a simple exercise that will help us choose peace. 

Relaxing Awareness Massage

In celebration of National Relaxation Day, today’s meditation will include a Relaxing Awareness Massage. 

Increasing Strength and Resilience

We are resilient not because we lack challenges or burdens, but because we each have the capacity to continue on despite those challenges.

Today's podcast will focus on increasing strength and resilience. 

National Lazy Day

In today's podcast, we'll celebrate National Lazy Day by including 10 minutes of silent meditation in addition to our normal opening and closing. 

Being Present for Others is Your Greatest Present

Sometimes being present is the greatest gift we can give others.

In today's meditation, we'll walk through four intentions to strengthen our ability to be there for those who are important in our lives.

Happiness is Your Birthright

Happiness is not dependent on what it happening. It is already within us, just waiting patiently for us to call upon it.

Today's meditation will focus on embracing happiness more fully. 

Cultivating a Beginner’s Mind

A beginner's mind is a mind for of curiosity and wonder. It is free of pre-conceptions, curious, and fresh.

Today's podcast will focus on expanding an cultivating a beginner's mind.

Poetry Friday - Li Po

Today's meditation includes poetry from the 8^th century Chinese poet Li Po. His poetry emphasizes harmony with nature, appreciation for the present moment, and stillness. In this way, Li Po's poetry reflects many of the themes of our daily meditation. 

Speaking with the Divine Presence

Rabbi Joseph Gelberman, a renowned Kabbalah teacher, once said "the most important thing about meditation is that it allows us the opportunity to hear our souls speaking to us."

Today's meditation will give us the opportunity to allow our souls and the divine presence to speak to us. 

Expanding the Light Within

Today's meditation is a version of one we did in March of 2020.

Poetry Friday - Randy Meisner

In today's meditation, we'll reflect on some timeless lines by Randy Meisner. 

Expanding an Attitude of Gratitude

Mental health professionals teach us that by increasing gratitude or gratefulness, we improve our resilience and optimism. 

Today's podcast will focus on expanding an attitude of gratitude. 

Finding Your Flow

All of us from time to time become frustrated with events in life. We can become upset even at little things that aren't exactly right, often a reaction to stress and anxiety. 

On today's podcast, we'll focus on expanding our ability to go with the flow.

Replacing Disappointment with Hope

Disappointment is a feeling that follows the failure of expectations. We all feel disappointment sometimes, but we need not be defined by it.

 

Today's podcast will focus on dislodging any disappointment we may be carrying.

 

Take a Breath

The greatest gift of meditation is simply the opportunity to pause and go within.

In today's meditation, we'll focus on taking a moment to breathe.

Poetry Friday - Thich Nhat Hanh

In today's meditation, we'll reflect on poetry from Thich Nhat Hanh.

Embracing The Unknown

The Play Must Go On

The Currency of Compassion

The Greatest Weapon Against Stress

Our ability to choose one thought over another is our greatest weapon against stress.

Stress in not a mandatory part of life. Today, let's choose to let go of the thoughts that cause stress.