Today's DailyOM Offerings...
May 12, 2014
Meditation for Beginners
Jack Kornfield
2001
Jack Kornfeld is an author and the cofounder of the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, where he teaches the "most simple and universal" processes of meditation. Problems facing the novice are foremost on Kornfeld's mind, and speaking in a frank, warming, comfortably raspy, and rooted voice, he narrates stories of ancient traditions and tricks of the trade. Meditation for Beginners is a great gift for the stressed-out soul who comes to you for help and has no experience in meditation, or for those who used to meditate but have drifted into a state of getting ready to meditate that can last for months, even years. When we're distracted in our meditations by physical sensations such as tired or itchy legs, for example, Kornfeld says that instead of ignoring it, we should "feel that quite carefully, let that energy of the body open in your attention. See if you can be aware of the sensation in a peaceful or a kind way." Often these sensations dissolve ! and evaporate in our consciousness once we stop running from them or trying to distance ourselves.
Varieties of teachings and four short meditation exercises take up the second disc, teaching us how to move into a Buddhist perspective: "The Buddha said at one point that all the teachings of the dharma have only one purpose, the sure heart's release, the opening of the heart. This is the purpose of the dharma and nothing else." Keeping it simple, Kornfeld focuses on this concept: When the heart is open, everything falls into place much easier. Letting go can be as scary as dropping backward over a cliff with your eyes closed, but once you're able to let go, you float in the arms of the interconnected universal fabric.
Many of the approaches mentioned on Meditation for Beginners might be obvious, but unless you hear them spoken while deep in a receptive state, they can be hard to bring into life, such as the idea that "the cause of our suffering is our fighting and struggling with what is." With Kornfeld's help you can stop struggling with what you cannot change, following your breath with the calm detachment of listening to a breeze through the trees: "feel the movement of the breath like a breeze; it breathes itself; your whole being is in change like a river, your breath shows you that river, that movement of impermanence." Guiding us to this place of stillness and impermanence, Kornfeld shows a calm mastery and deep understanding of what's going on in the beginning meditation practitioner's mind from moment to moment. He makes Meditation for Beginners an essential starting place for what cannot help but become the journey of a lifetime, and perhaps longer.
May 12, 2014
Positive Reflections
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may find that one of your relationships shifts for the better today. If so, you could be experiencing feelings of encouragement and hopefulness. Perhaps you're feeling closer to one of your friends or loved ones. Maybe you detect a stronger connection between yourself and someone you work with. It could also be that you are feeling good today about your relationship with yourself. Your positive attitude may be attracting new opportunities toward you, as those around you pick up on your optimism and respond in kind. You might consider letting your optimism seep into other areas of your life today.
A positive outlook creates positive outcomes in our lives and in our relationships. Our perspective has a powerful effect on how we interact with others and, subsequently, what and whom we let into our lives. A positive attitude and outlook is often reflected back via every aspect of our lives. When we own and put forth that positive attitude, good things and situations naturally begin to manifest for us. Our relationships can benefit from a good dose of positive energy and an optimistic perspective. Our relationships, after all, are among our biggest mirrors and reflect back to us exactly what we wish to see. See your relationships and your life in a positive light today, and you will shift many of your personal dynamics to the next level.
May 12, 2014
Steps to Freedom
Change What Isn’t Working
by Madisyn Taylor
If we don't change what isn't working in our lives, we will continually have the same day over and over again.
We have all had the experience of realizing that something in our lives is not working. This knowledge can come as a sudden realization or a nagging feeling of doubt that grows stronger, waking us up to the fact that something needs to change. Some people have a tendency to act rashly and make sweeping changes before even understanding what the problem is. Other people fear change, so they live with the uncomfortable awareness that something needs to shift but won’t do anything about it. Between these two extreme responses lies a middle way that can help us powerfully and gracefully change what isn’t working in our lives.
The first step is remembering that your life is made up of parts that belong to an interconnected whole. Changing one thing can change everything. Because of this, small changes often have a big effect. Sometimes much bigger changes are necessary, but the only way to know for sure is to take the time to really understand the problem. Examine your life as an entirety-your work, your relationships, where you live-and determine what specifically is not functioning the way you would like. Once you have figured out the problem, write it down on a piece of paper. For example, “I am not happy with my relationship” or “I don’t like my apartment.” The next step is to figure out the adjustment you would like to make and how you can go about making this change. If you are unhappy with your relationship because you spend too much or not enough time with your partner, you may want to discuss this problem with them and come up with a compromise. On the other hand, if you realize your rela! tionship is not working to such a degree that it needs to end, begin working through that process. Writing down the truth can be a powerful catalyst for change.
The key to making changes that work is to accept the necessity of change as part of life. As we change, we may find it necessary to fine-tune our relationships, work, and living situations. Our lives are living, breathing entities that reflect our dynamic selves.
Meditation for Beginners
Jack Kornfield
2001
Jack Kornfeld is an author and the cofounder of the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, where he teaches the "most simple and universal" processes of meditation. Problems facing the novice are foremost on Kornfeld's mind, and speaking in a frank, warming, comfortably raspy, and rooted voice, he narrates stories of ancient traditions and tricks of the trade. Meditation for Beginners is a great gift for the stressed-out soul who comes to you for help and has no experience in meditation, or for those who used to meditate but have drifted into a state of getting ready to meditate that can last for months, even years. When we're distracted in our meditations by physical sensations such as tired or itchy legs, for example, Kornfeld says that instead of ignoring it, we should "feel that quite carefully, let that energy of the body open in your attention. See if you can be aware of the sensation in a peaceful or a kind way." Often these sensations dissolve ! and evaporate in our consciousness once we stop running from them or trying to distance ourselves.
Varieties of teachings and four short meditation exercises take up the second disc, teaching us how to move into a Buddhist perspective: "The Buddha said at one point that all the teachings of the dharma have only one purpose, the sure heart's release, the opening of the heart. This is the purpose of the dharma and nothing else." Keeping it simple, Kornfeld focuses on this concept: When the heart is open, everything falls into place much easier. Letting go can be as scary as dropping backward over a cliff with your eyes closed, but once you're able to let go, you float in the arms of the interconnected universal fabric.
Many of the approaches mentioned on Meditation for Beginners might be obvious, but unless you hear them spoken while deep in a receptive state, they can be hard to bring into life, such as the idea that "the cause of our suffering is our fighting and struggling with what is." With Kornfeld's help you can stop struggling with what you cannot change, following your breath with the calm detachment of listening to a breeze through the trees: "feel the movement of the breath like a breeze; it breathes itself; your whole being is in change like a river, your breath shows you that river, that movement of impermanence." Guiding us to this place of stillness and impermanence, Kornfeld shows a calm mastery and deep understanding of what's going on in the beginning meditation practitioner's mind from moment to moment. He makes Meditation for Beginners an essential starting place for what cannot help but become the journey of a lifetime, and perhaps longer.
May 12, 2014
Positive Reflections
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You may find that one of your relationships shifts for the better today. If so, you could be experiencing feelings of encouragement and hopefulness. Perhaps you're feeling closer to one of your friends or loved ones. Maybe you detect a stronger connection between yourself and someone you work with. It could also be that you are feeling good today about your relationship with yourself. Your positive attitude may be attracting new opportunities toward you, as those around you pick up on your optimism and respond in kind. You might consider letting your optimism seep into other areas of your life today.
A positive outlook creates positive outcomes in our lives and in our relationships. Our perspective has a powerful effect on how we interact with others and, subsequently, what and whom we let into our lives. A positive attitude and outlook is often reflected back via every aspect of our lives. When we own and put forth that positive attitude, good things and situations naturally begin to manifest for us. Our relationships can benefit from a good dose of positive energy and an optimistic perspective. Our relationships, after all, are among our biggest mirrors and reflect back to us exactly what we wish to see. See your relationships and your life in a positive light today, and you will shift many of your personal dynamics to the next level.
May 12, 2014
Steps to Freedom
Change What Isn’t Working
by Madisyn Taylor
If we don't change what isn't working in our lives, we will continually have the same day over and over again.
We have all had the experience of realizing that something in our lives is not working. This knowledge can come as a sudden realization or a nagging feeling of doubt that grows stronger, waking us up to the fact that something needs to change. Some people have a tendency to act rashly and make sweeping changes before even understanding what the problem is. Other people fear change, so they live with the uncomfortable awareness that something needs to shift but won’t do anything about it. Between these two extreme responses lies a middle way that can help us powerfully and gracefully change what isn’t working in our lives.
The first step is remembering that your life is made up of parts that belong to an interconnected whole. Changing one thing can change everything. Because of this, small changes often have a big effect. Sometimes much bigger changes are necessary, but the only way to know for sure is to take the time to really understand the problem. Examine your life as an entirety-your work, your relationships, where you live-and determine what specifically is not functioning the way you would like. Once you have figured out the problem, write it down on a piece of paper. For example, “I am not happy with my relationship” or “I don’t like my apartment.” The next step is to figure out the adjustment you would like to make and how you can go about making this change. If you are unhappy with your relationship because you spend too much or not enough time with your partner, you may want to discuss this problem with them and come up with a compromise. On the other hand, if you realize your rela! tionship is not working to such a degree that it needs to end, begin working through that process. Writing down the truth can be a powerful catalyst for change.
The key to making changes that work is to accept the necessity of change as part of life. As we change, we may find it necessary to fine-tune our relationships, work, and living situations. Our lives are living, breathing entities that reflect our dynamic selves.