Merriam-Webster defines an “affirmation” as “a statement that expresses a belief in something or someone, often used to encourage, uplift, or motivate.”

Let’s not confuse an affirmation with a mantra; there are important differences. A mantra is a word or sound, often in a language unfamiliar to most readers. An affirmation, on the other hand, is a word or sentence in the speaker's known language that can be easily understood. An affirmation holds a specific meaning for the person using it, while a mantra does not typically consist of everyday vocabulary. For example, the word “Om” doesn’t carry a specific meaning for English speakers.

In short, Affirmations have meaning and, Mantras, intentionally, do not.

Zen meditation, rooted in the teachings of the Buddha, has evolved over centuries. It is unique in that it began in India, and then traveled to China before being brought to Japan, where it developed into Zen Buddhism. Practitioners can explore the wisdom of Zen Koans in the Rinzai school of Zazen or enjoy the many benefits of open awareness from the Soto school.

As you perform Nature Visualization Meditation, it will become clear that this practice is more than just a temporary escape from stress. It can be a powerful tool for cultivating a peaceful and harmonious mind, echoing the wisdom in the quote, “Your mind is like a garden.” Just as a garden flourishes through mindful care and love, so too does our mind thrive when nurtured with positive, beautiful imagery. So, take a moment each day to tend to your mental garden and watch as the seeds of peace and calm take root and flourish.

The Noble Eightfold Path is a set of elements for spiritual development. Vipassana meditation directly supports and is supported by these same elements. It’s as if Vipassana meditation is the workbook for the textbook that is the Noble Eightfold Path. This practice can be seen as striving to follow the word of the Buddha in real time.

In this piece, we will discuss seven key elements of loving-kindness meditation as well as seven benefits of the method. We will talk about how those elements and benefits can transform many aspects of your life, including your relationships, your level of self-awareness and your overall peace of mind. We will cover the stages and history of loving-kindness meditation as well.

The Mind is Like a Garden. The purpose of this article is to serve as the definitive collection of everyone known to have said the quote throughout history. This way, you can choose your preferred source in your work and life. I hope you enjoy it.

All you need to do to “practice” the law of gravity is to not step off of a balcony without a parachute. All you need to do to practice the principle of Impermanence is to not expect anything to last forever. Unless you do end up stepping off the balcony without a parachute, in which case you will be proving the principle yourself.

In the past, these magical “psychic” events were rare. They might happen by pure coincidence or, as some people believe, they are caused by a divine force- god or another higher intelligence. I cannot be sure how often someone experienced these synchronicities in the past. It could have been once a year or once in a lifetime. It could have been experienced more often by people who think spiritual thoughts, those who meditate, or by those who are very religious.

Today, however, synchronicity is all around us, minute by minute, hour by hour. You think about something and you see more about that thing all over the place. Today, synchronicity is also experienced by everybody, the spiritual and agnostic alike. In this modern time, we live in an almost magical world where relevant topics pop up all around us. Life is very different in this case.

Mindfulness meditation is a refuge of tranquility and self-awareness in a world that is becoming increasingly hectic. Being aware of the present moment and avoiding judgments helps to develop emotional resilience. Grounding oneself in the body creates a connection between the mind and body. By cultivating equanimity and self-awareness, individuals can embark on a personal journey of growth.

The purpose of this piece is to illuminate the many similarities between the three major Western religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and a major Eastern religion, Taoism. To the average citizen of the world, the avatars of Eastern and Western religions are contradictory- this one OR that one. But, by showing you that much of the variety comes from style and not substance, I can shrink that “or” down a bit. By the end of your scroll, I think you might be wondering, “Am I a Taoist?”

I am choosing to reinvigorate this particular phrase because I believe it to be true. I have personal experience with this topic. My own outside life has mirrored my own inside life and continues to do so. At times in my life when I complained, cursed, raged, worried and pointed blame internally, my outside life produced more to complain, curse, rage, worry and blame about. Conversely, the more (and every time) I maintain a loving, abundant, peaceful and calm internal state, the more life sends me love, abundance, peace and calm. This is my personal perspective.

The experiment led to a commitment on my part. I have decided to never forget this lesson about thoughts and thinking. Although not a habit yet, I expect to integrate it into my life forever. With that, I fully expect a life that’s calmer and happier than the one I had lined up before this new knowledge. It’s that good. I recommend you read Joseph Nguyen’s book or, at least, apply the “no thinking” practice right away.

I believe that one of the most encouraging parts of this piece is that, with the right state of being, all goals can be accomplished - both big and small. As I stated above, I have achieved every goal to which I was truly committed. I also have a way to measure my level of commitment through the honest assessments of two impressions of mood: Immersion and ability to feel the goal achieved. If I am right, then I should be able to anticipate the success or failure of everything I undertake going forward. And, with that, i can change course along the way to save time if those impressions of mood aren’t rating strong enough to keep the status quo.

My meditation routines have evolved and changed countless times over the years. The word “evolved” may not be the best option because I don’t see any one form of meditation as better than another. Each serves its purpose then and at that point in life. Any meditator will tell you that, while there are countless types of mediation, their core elements are the same, as are their general benefit.

With that being said, it’s always interesting to see how someone else does it. You could get a new idea or two. It also shows you that you are not alone in your meditation practice. I’m there with you, every day.

Here is the ritual I have been conducting for the past few months.

There comes a point when you are no longer the student.

A guide for the intermediate mindfulness practitioner.

Grin and change your perception about what you are trying to bear.

It’s not about bottling it up.

There are only 4 directions in which a favor can be assessed:

The favor receiver DOES appreciate the sacrifice - the favor doer DOES consider it a sacrifice = NO CONFLICT

The favor receiver DOES NOT appreciate the sacrifice - the favor doer DOES NOT consider it a sacrifice = NO CONFLICT

The Favor receiver DOES appreciate the sacrifice - the favor doer DOES NOT consider it a sacrifice = NO CONFLICT (what happened between my son and I)

The Favor receiver DOES NOT appreciate the sacrifice - the favor doer does DOES consider it a sacrifice = CONFLICT

The inherent challenge with long-term goals stems from the fact that they are long-term. They take a long time. During the years spent working towards a long-term goal, doubt and impatience can creep into our minds. Time spent waiting to complete a goal can be painful, especially without a strategy to cope with the pain. Here’s one way to plan your quest.

Taking advantage of our mind’s slower brain waves upon waking, and before falling asleep.