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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, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about the word papancha. Now this is a word from the Pali language and it means the countless generation of pointless thoughts, mental proliferation. When one thought leads to another, then another, then another then another. This is papancha.
I first learned about this word while practicing meditation in Burma. It's used to describe the mental proliferation that can get activated by a single sense experience such as a sight, a sound, a smell, taste, sensation. And we've all experienced it. I'm sure you already had that recognition when hearing the definition. Just one thought triggers another thought, which triggers another thought and triggers another thought until several minutes have gone by and you're completely lost in some trail of thinking that no longer has anything to do with the original experience that arose.
That's papancha. And I, I love the word, papancha, because the way it sounds is, at least for me, how the experience of mental proliferation feels. All that ping ponging of this thought, this thought, this thought, this thought. It just feels like how the word papancha sounds. So how can we use this? Well, in your meditation practice, when you notice this mental proliferation arise, one, recognize that there's a word for this, papancha.
And because there's a word for it, it means every other human has experienced it. So you're in good company. It's normal. And you can use it to label the experience so that it doesn't become so personal. A lot of times when the thoughts are going in all these different directions, we can feel like, you know, what's wrong with me? What's wrong with my mind? Why is it doing this? Why I won't to stop thinking? But instead, if we just go, Oh, that's papancha.
Right? It kind of depersonalizes the experience and puts a name on something in a way that allows us to just recognize it for what it is,ah mental proliferation, papancha. So I invite you to, to start to bring that into your meditation practice and even throughout your day, when you notice that mental proliferation and setting, instead of getting caught up in judgment or self-berating, just say, Oh, there's papancha. There's papancha. And bring the attention back to the present moment. Mind goes off again, there's papancha.
And have some fun with it. At the heart of it. I think that's the biggest thing we really want to cultivate in our practice, little bit more playfulness, a little bit more understanding and a little bit more ease in relationship to our mind, especially our papancha mind. So enjoy adding this to your practice. Thank you for your practice and let's settle in for today's meditation.
Mental Proliferation
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Duration
Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about the word papancha. Now this is a word from the Pali language and it means the countless generation of pointless thoughts, mental proliferation. When one thought leads to another, then another, then another then another. This is papancha.
I first learned about this word while practicing meditation in Burma. It's used to describe the mental proliferation that can get activated by a single sense experience such as a sight, a sound, a smell, taste, sensation. And we've all experienced it. I'm sure you already had that recognition when hearing the definition. Just one thought triggers another thought, which triggers another thought and triggers another thought until several minutes have gone by and you're completely lost in some trail of thinking that no longer has anything to do with the original experience that arose.
That's papancha. And I, I love the word, papancha, because the way it sounds is, at least for me, how the experience of mental proliferation feels. All that ping ponging of this thought, this thought, this thought, this thought. It just feels like how the word papancha sounds. So how can we use this? Well, in your meditation practice, when you notice this mental proliferation arise, one, recognize that there's a word for this, papancha.
And because there's a word for it, it means every other human has experienced it. So you're in good company. It's normal. And you can use it to label the experience so that it doesn't become so personal. A lot of times when the thoughts are going in all these different directions, we can feel like, you know, what's wrong with me? What's wrong with my mind? Why is it doing this? Why I won't to stop thinking? But instead, if we just go, Oh, that's papancha.
Right? It kind of depersonalizes the experience and puts a name on something in a way that allows us to just recognize it for what it is,ah mental proliferation, papancha. So I invite you to, to start to bring that into your meditation practice and even throughout your day, when you notice that mental proliferation and setting, instead of getting caught up in judgment or self-berating, just say, Oh, there's papancha. There's papancha. And bring the attention back to the present moment. Mind goes off again, there's papancha.
And have some fun with it. At the heart of it. I think that's the biggest thing we really want to cultivate in our practice, little bit more playfulness, a little bit more understanding and a little bit more ease in relationship to our mind, especially our papancha mind. So enjoy adding this to your practice. Thank you for your practice and let's settle in for today's meditation.
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The little talks before the meditations are priceless. It's like I've found my peeps. The topics, the quotes, the goals—it all makes so much sense to me, things I want to be thinking and learning about. Most importantly, the meditations are kindness-centered, which I love. It feels like a new way to approach meditation.
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- Gina, Plus+ Member
Vidyamala’s tips on catching anger as it’s happening or about to happen are great - clear, practical, and doable.
- Vicoir
The little talks before the meditations are priceless. It's like I've found my peeps. The topics, the quotes, the goals—it all makes so much sense to me, things I want to be thinking and learning about. Most importantly, the meditations are kindness-centered, which I love. It feels like a new way to approach meditation.
- Lauren
Incredible, easy to navigate app. I would highly recommend this app to anyone who wishes to reduce stress and anxiety or simply as an aid to improve overall mental health.
- Kirtus
I love how the app gives me pointers to new things to explore.
- Lydia
So calm and soothing. I love the new bundle with Kelly Boys, she’s brilliant!
- EJ
Better than Headspace. I've had the paid version of both apps, and I must say I enjoy this one better.
- Gina, Plus+ Member
Vidyamala’s tips on catching anger as it’s happening or about to happen are great - clear, practical, and doable.
- Vicoir
The little talks before the meditations are priceless. It's like I've found my peeps. The topics, the quotes, the goals—it all makes so much sense to me, things I want to be thinking and learning about. Most importantly, the meditations are kindness-centered, which I love. It feels like a new way to approach meditation.
- Lauren
Incredible, easy to navigate app. I would highly recommend this app to anyone who wishes to reduce stress and anxiety or simply as an aid to improve overall mental health.
- Kirtus
I love how the app gives me pointers to new things to explore.
- Lydia
So calm and soothing. I love the new bundle with Kelly Boys, she’s brilliant!
- EJ
Better than Headspace. I've had the paid version of both apps, and I must say I enjoy this one better.
- Gina, Plus+ Member
I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
- Babi
You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
- Joy
Highly recommend.
- Humanfrst
Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
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I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
- Babi
You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
- Joy
Highly recommend.
- Humanfrst
Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
-
I am very new to meditation, and am so happy that my first introduction to it has been through this app
The first session was fantastic. I feel safe. And supported. Almost like having someone helping me through my difficult time. I’m very grateful for this app.
- Babi
You get a lot of useful tips for handling stress and anxiety in 'real life'.
- Joy
Highly recommend.
- Humanfrst
Kelly Boys is hands down the best. Everytime I click on one of her guided meditations I get excited for the calmness that lies ahead.
-
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