A source of joy
‘Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.’ Thich Nhat Hanh
Magnanimous mind
The magnanimous mind invites us to take a wider perspective rather than getting constantly bogged down in the minutiae of everyday life.
Obstacle as path
‘The obstacle is the path.’ Zen saying
Nourishing our spirit – Part 2
Last week, we looked at setting aside a place in our home which symbolises our intention to nourish our spirit. Just as important as creating a place is to create time.
Excessive doubt
The final of the five hindrances to meditation in the Buddhist tradition is excessive doubt, sometimes also called paralysing doubt.
Stilling the mind
‘Breathing in, I calm my body,
Breathing out, I smile.
Restlessness
Restlessness and worry are the forth of the five hindrances to meditation in the Buddhist tradition, and it’s one that probably most of us can relate to quite well!
Working with sleepy mind
One of the most effective (but definitely under the category of ‘don’t try this at home’!) strategies for combating sleepy mind must be sitting on the edge of a deep well during meditation.
Sleepy mind
Most people who meditate would be very familiar with ‘sleepy mind’ – this feeling that you’re drifting in and out of meditation, perhaps even asleep for significant chunks of it.
Aversion
The second hindrance is aversion, and in both Buddhism and mindfulness, learning a new and different approach to our aversions is considered both fundamental and also very therapeutic