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How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Benefits of Mindfulness: Mindful Living Can Change Your Life
Mindfulness 101: A Beginner's Guide
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Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness.
Today, we're going to talk about
the possibility of changing
our quality of life without
changing our outer circumstances.
So there's a Zen proverb
that goes like this, "Before
enlightenment, chop wood carry water.
After enlightenment, chop
wood and carry water."
What this proverb is pointing to, what it
attempts to remind us is that changing all
of our external life circumstances is not
the most effective way to bring about true
fulfillment, inner peace or awakening.
So achieving something great, finding
the perfect partner, having kids,
getting a big house, being popular
or famous, none of these brings
lasting fulfillment or completeness.
The fulfillment that we seek
is inside us the whole time.
Now this is ancient wisdom.
This is not a new idea.
But now modern science and
psychology concur with this message.
For instance, Matt Killingsworth
from Harvard University conducted
the largest study ever on the
source of human happiness.
And what he found is that internal
happiness did not depend much at
all on external circumstances,
but rather it depended mostly on
how present we are in the moment.
The more present we are in
the moment, he's research
suggested, the happier we are.
Conversely, he found that the more
our mind wanders away from the
moment, the more unhappy we are.
Want to be happy, he said in his
Ted talk, then be the moment.
So if we can hold this Zen proverb
in mind, we start to see wood and
water all around us as a metaphor
for the life all around you.
The daily tasks that we have to do
that we may often think of as mundane,
you know, the steps in a project,
the little routine moments that we
have each day, like drinking tea,
petting a pet, talking to a friend.
What this proverb reminds us is to
slow down and be present with a steady
awareness on each step of the way,
rather than focusing on an end result.
So we can focus on giving our full
attention to each action, each task,
and each moment, one at a time.
So today, if you find yourself rushing,
stressed, caught up in your head, maybe
taking a breath and bring to mind the
sentiment of chop wood, carry water.
See what it feels like to
deliberately slow down.
Just do one thing at a time, rather
than focusing on the end result,
savour that each step and each task.
As you do so, just noticing what it
actually feels like in your body and in
your mind to be more present in your life.
The more connected you are to
the moment, the more happiness
and enjoyment you tend to feel.
I hope this practice offers you
some insight, some inner peace.
As always, thank you for your practice
and let's settle in for the meditation.
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