How Do I listen to Life?

Hello life, what do you want to tell me? There are moments in life when we owe it to ourselves to stop and listen to what really matters. When we hear what life is telling us, we can make choices that help us increase our level of well-being and satisfaction. We have two powerful waysContinue reading “How Do I listen to Life?”

What is Mind-Body Connection?

Our body always resides in the present. There is no way for our body to go into the future or the past. But our mind is not always in the present. More often than not, our mind is wandering all over, from past to present to future, non-stop. For most of our lives, our mindContinue reading “What is Mind-Body Connection?”

What is the Place of No Thought?

Zen Master Dahui talked about the place “where the road of words and speech ends” (言語道斷) and “where the domain of mental activity disappears” (心行處滅). Meditation is connecting with that place through immediate experience – What’s right in front you, right now? Mindfulness is letting go of thinking and judgment, and returning to the mindContinue reading “What is the Place of No Thought?”

What Can Mindfulness Add to My Life?

In our busy lives, we have to prioritize our time so that we don’t spread ourselves too thin over the many tasks and responsibilities that seem to keep piling up. So it’s understandable to ask, when we consider devoting time to an activity, what this pursuit will add to our life. Given the commitment ofContinue reading “What Can Mindfulness Add to My Life?”

How Do I Stay in the Moment?

As we devote more time to meditation practice, we begin to taste what it’s like to be in the present moment. We gain a deeper appreciation for being in the moment, but we also notice how often we get pulled away from the moment by our thoughts and fantasies. At this point, we ask, “howContinue reading “How Do I Stay in the Moment?”

Can I Focus on Something Other Than My Breath?

Mindfulness meditation instructions often include invitations to focus one’s attention on the breath, using breath as the anchor of the practice. But what if the breath just doesn’t work for you as a focal point? Some people can’t really feel their breath, so it can be difficult to focus their attention on something they can’tContinue reading “Can I Focus on Something Other Than My Breath?”

How Do I Stop Daydreaming During Meditation?

Daydreaming is a very common human mental activity. A large-scale study found that people spend 47% of their waking hours daydreaming! What is daydreaming? When we daydream, our mind is wandering into the past, future, or fantasy. Daydreaming is a way of escaping from the present moment. When we are daydreaming, we are not inContinue reading “How Do I Stop Daydreaming During Meditation?”

How Do I Find Peace?

I’ve heard many people say that they want to learn mindfulness meditation because they want to have some peace in their lives. How do we find peace, and what does mindfulness have to do with peace? Peace comes from the Latin word “pax” which means “tranquility, absence of war.” Our lives can be very busyContinue reading “How Do I Find Peace?”

Is Mindfulness the Same as Meditation?

Some people say that mindfulness is the a type of meditation. Some say that meditation is a type of mindfulness. Both are true. Mindfulness is simply present-moment awareness, so it can be done in the format of sitting meditation, or it can be done in everyday activity such as walking, eating, or exercising. From thatContinue reading “Is Mindfulness the Same as Meditation?”

What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Mindfulness Practice?

Formal practice is the soil, and informal practice is the harvest that comes out of the soil. Formal mindfulness practice is the time we set aside each day to practice the formal mindfulness technique – bringing our attention to the present moment, bringing our attention to the breath. When our mind wanders, we notice theContinue reading “What is the Difference Between Formal and Informal Mindfulness Practice?”