Today's DailyOM Offerings...
May 27, 2008
Mindfulness for Beginners (2 CD Set)
Jon Kabat-Zinn
2006
As founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts medical center, Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches mindfulness meditation, ideal for stressed-out people who avoid anything with a spiritual or New Age flavor. This is the final medical result, with Zinn teaching mindfulness as a meditation practice-sitting quietly without judgment, observing things, and letting the phenomenon of perception manifest in the listener's being. No matter how attuned to the nature of the spirit we think we are, it's the modern human's innate tendency to put on blinders, to filter out all but the information the ego needs to make its fight-or-flight decisions. Zinn's approach is to counsel us toward a way back out of this sensory prison, back to the enjoyment of the beauty inherent in all things. Through the two discs of Mindfulness for Beginners-continually narrated sans music in Zinn's relaxed, fatherly voice-this process becomes easy, relaxed, and pleasurable.
The first CD focuses on the rudiments and theories behind mindfulness, which Zinn describes as "Paying attention, in the present moment, as if your life depended on it." In attaining full awareness, the training involves learning to suspend judgment and the desire to label and dismiss. "The irony of all this is that, even when someone comes to the medical center with something wrong with them, is that we're already whole." Zinn teaches us to move beyond fragmenting our world into inner and outer, this or that, to see the energies beyond the forms and to stop judgment.
The second CD takes us into the realms of practice with different meditations, including the "Eating Meditation," which should be ideal for anyone with any sort of eating disorder: "See if you can have a couple of raisins on hand," Zinn notes. He encourages us to see the raisin in its pure form, free of attachment to the name of "raisin." "Notice its surface features, colors, shape...." In doing this, Zinn helps us to stop eating unconsciously. From there we move into ever more advanced exercises, from awareness of the body to objects and sounds and finally to "Mindfulness as Pure Awareness." A superb gateway into the realms of higher understanding, Mindfulness for Beginners would make a perfect gift for that stressed-out loved one who shies away from yoga or for any open-minded listener looking for positive instruction.
May 27, 2008
Keeping The Faith
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
A devoted and tender mood can make helping and supporting the people you care about a joy today. If your loved ones approach you for aid, affection, or guidance, you will likely find it easy to accede to their requests, even when their nature interferes with your own plans for the day. Your compassion can prompt you to act responsibly when you see friends or family members suffering under the weight of challenging circumstances. As you work side by side with them to help them return to the light, you may be pleasantly surprised to note that they grow ever more willing to put their faith in you. You can derive great satisfaction from their confidence today, provided you treat their trust as the generous gift that it is.
The loyalty we show our loved ones is proof of our devotion and demonstrates that our feelings of affection will remain strong through the most taxing conditions. Since it’s easy to be loyal when there is little strife to test our feelings, the people we care about may question whether we will stand by them during challenging times. When we are consistently faithful, their doubts will melt away and be replaced by their confidence that our affection is unwavering. They will instinctively know that they can depend on us to provide them with support and compassion when life is trying. In turn, our loved ones will be there for us when we find ourselves in situations that test our limitations. The important people in your life will have no doubts regarding your loyalty today because your choices will make your dedication clear.
May 27, 2008
Spiritual Being--Physical Experience
Physical Bodies on Earth
We are on this earth, in our physical bodies, because our souls have things to learn that we could not learn in any other way. It is through our physical body and the physical world that we can experience life. Purely spiritual beings are just that - they are in a state of being rather than doing - in a place that is beyond the limitations of time and space. But when we incarnate on the physical plane, we are automatically subject to the laws of physics and the world of dualities. In this place, we know what happiness is because we have experienced sadness, and we understand the value and power of light because we have known darkness. Knowing this, we have the opportunity to let ourselves be spiritual beings having a physical experience.
There is no pain in the spiritual realm, because we know we are one with the limitless source of the universe. But here, in the material realm, our sense of limitation and separation allows us to feel our emotions and to learn about love, forgiveness, and compassion. We go from a spiritual state of oneness to learning how to be in relationship with people who are different and distinct individuals. We learn to understand ourselves through our relationships with the world around us-its seasons and landscapes, challenges and opportunities. And through our journey to find our place among so many others, we begin to recognize our own glimmer of light in a constellation of stars.
Once we remember that we are spiritual beings, we can revel in the experience of being human while knowing we are all connected. We can live from the place of oneness while truly appreciating the beauty of diversity, the bittersweet feel of love and loss, and the elation of triumph over challenges and adversity. It is through these opposites that we experience life itself, and we can ride through the dark times with the understanding that it will help us to appreciate the light of life and love and spirit more fully. We are here now because we made the choice to experience an earth life, so now we can choose to enjoy the journey as completely as possible.
Mindfulness for Beginners (2 CD Set)
Jon Kabat-Zinn
2006
As founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts medical center, Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches mindfulness meditation, ideal for stressed-out people who avoid anything with a spiritual or New Age flavor. This is the final medical result, with Zinn teaching mindfulness as a meditation practice-sitting quietly without judgment, observing things, and letting the phenomenon of perception manifest in the listener's being. No matter how attuned to the nature of the spirit we think we are, it's the modern human's innate tendency to put on blinders, to filter out all but the information the ego needs to make its fight-or-flight decisions. Zinn's approach is to counsel us toward a way back out of this sensory prison, back to the enjoyment of the beauty inherent in all things. Through the two discs of Mindfulness for Beginners-continually narrated sans music in Zinn's relaxed, fatherly voice-this process becomes easy, relaxed, and pleasurable.
The first CD focuses on the rudiments and theories behind mindfulness, which Zinn describes as "Paying attention, in the present moment, as if your life depended on it." In attaining full awareness, the training involves learning to suspend judgment and the desire to label and dismiss. "The irony of all this is that, even when someone comes to the medical center with something wrong with them, is that we're already whole." Zinn teaches us to move beyond fragmenting our world into inner and outer, this or that, to see the energies beyond the forms and to stop judgment.
The second CD takes us into the realms of practice with different meditations, including the "Eating Meditation," which should be ideal for anyone with any sort of eating disorder: "See if you can have a couple of raisins on hand," Zinn notes. He encourages us to see the raisin in its pure form, free of attachment to the name of "raisin." "Notice its surface features, colors, shape...." In doing this, Zinn helps us to stop eating unconsciously. From there we move into ever more advanced exercises, from awareness of the body to objects and sounds and finally to "Mindfulness as Pure Awareness." A superb gateway into the realms of higher understanding, Mindfulness for Beginners would make a perfect gift for that stressed-out loved one who shies away from yoga or for any open-minded listener looking for positive instruction.
May 27, 2008
Keeping The Faith
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
A devoted and tender mood can make helping and supporting the people you care about a joy today. If your loved ones approach you for aid, affection, or guidance, you will likely find it easy to accede to their requests, even when their nature interferes with your own plans for the day. Your compassion can prompt you to act responsibly when you see friends or family members suffering under the weight of challenging circumstances. As you work side by side with them to help them return to the light, you may be pleasantly surprised to note that they grow ever more willing to put their faith in you. You can derive great satisfaction from their confidence today, provided you treat their trust as the generous gift that it is.
The loyalty we show our loved ones is proof of our devotion and demonstrates that our feelings of affection will remain strong through the most taxing conditions. Since it’s easy to be loyal when there is little strife to test our feelings, the people we care about may question whether we will stand by them during challenging times. When we are consistently faithful, their doubts will melt away and be replaced by their confidence that our affection is unwavering. They will instinctively know that they can depend on us to provide them with support and compassion when life is trying. In turn, our loved ones will be there for us when we find ourselves in situations that test our limitations. The important people in your life will have no doubts regarding your loyalty today because your choices will make your dedication clear.
May 27, 2008
Spiritual Being--Physical Experience
Physical Bodies on Earth
We are on this earth, in our physical bodies, because our souls have things to learn that we could not learn in any other way. It is through our physical body and the physical world that we can experience life. Purely spiritual beings are just that - they are in a state of being rather than doing - in a place that is beyond the limitations of time and space. But when we incarnate on the physical plane, we are automatically subject to the laws of physics and the world of dualities. In this place, we know what happiness is because we have experienced sadness, and we understand the value and power of light because we have known darkness. Knowing this, we have the opportunity to let ourselves be spiritual beings having a physical experience.
There is no pain in the spiritual realm, because we know we are one with the limitless source of the universe. But here, in the material realm, our sense of limitation and separation allows us to feel our emotions and to learn about love, forgiveness, and compassion. We go from a spiritual state of oneness to learning how to be in relationship with people who are different and distinct individuals. We learn to understand ourselves through our relationships with the world around us-its seasons and landscapes, challenges and opportunities. And through our journey to find our place among so many others, we begin to recognize our own glimmer of light in a constellation of stars.
Once we remember that we are spiritual beings, we can revel in the experience of being human while knowing we are all connected. We can live from the place of oneness while truly appreciating the beauty of diversity, the bittersweet feel of love and loss, and the elation of triumph over challenges and adversity. It is through these opposites that we experience life itself, and we can ride through the dark times with the understanding that it will help us to appreciate the light of life and love and spirit more fully. We are here now because we made the choice to experience an earth life, so now we can choose to enjoy the journey as completely as possible.