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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.
So today I'm going to tell you
a story about wild chickens.
So this story comes from the
meditation teacher, Larry Rosenberg
and his experience of meditating
in the forest of Thailand.
So here's the story.
So after many years he spent as
a Zen monk in Korea, he goes on
this journey to Thailand and to
go on these extended retreat.
But what he didn't realize is that he also
took with him on his journey to Thailand,
a whole bunch of expectations about what
his experience was going to be like there.
So he arrived at his assigned lodging
and he was going to be in this small
meditation hut in the forest each day
with an attendant bringing him food.
So there he was at this retreat
where he came to cultivate
inner peace in a serene forest.
And it turns out that the whole
forest was overrun by screeching,
scratching, wild chickens.
Not what he was expecting
for a meditation retreat.
Distressed and disappointed, he
was confronted by his own mind.
How am I supposed to be at peace
with all of this noise around me?
My retreat is ruined.
I came all the way for this?
But after enduring his own annoyance and
frustration and dismayed day after day,
he finally realized that he had a choice.
He may not be able to control all
those wild chickens, but he could
control his response to them.
He could keep resisting the
chickens or he could accept them.
And as he chose to accept the wild
chickens and just let them be,
all the negativity and annoyance
in him melted away and he found
peace in the middle of it all.
Now like Larry, we're all going
to have times when the reality
of our lives contains wild
chickens of one kind or another.
Things are going to arise that
are painful, annoying, unpleasant.
Things we can't control.
And as they arise, it's wise to
remember that we do have a choice
in how we handle the situation.
We can resist, or we can accept.
We can wage war with life,
or we can wage peace.
We you make ourselves miserable and
agitated about what's happening, or
we can find peace and even joy amongst
the wild chickens of our lives.
So if we can set aside our ideas of
how we think life should or shouldn't
be, relax our agendas and just
accept life as it is, we're going
to find greater degrees of peace and
equanimity in the middle of it all.
So as always thank you for your
practice and foryour presence here.
And let's just take a moment now to
settle in for today's meditation.
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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
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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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