Being Zen

Meditation is hard. But we’re taught to believe if we spend enough time on the cushion, we’ll enter a prolonged, blissful, meditative state. At its extreme, this state of heightened awareness is sometimes referred to as enlightenment. You’re probably familiar with the origination of the Buddha. Long story short, he sat under a Bodhi tree for six days of meditation, and then finally, enlightenment struck. All of his earthly thoughts and feelings melted away, replaced by bliss and oneness with…

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A Zen garden, sometimes called a Japanese Dry Garden or Japanese Rock Garden, is a type of dry landscape garden that is typically composed of stones, rocks, and gravel. The garden is often used as a place of contemplation and reflection. The zen garden originated in China and later spread to Japan. The word “zen” is derived from the Japanese word “zen-na,” which means “meditation.” This style of garden typically creates a miniature landscape through careful arrangements of stones, water…

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The Four Noble Truths are one of the most foundational teachings of Buddhism. They describe the nature of human suffering and the steps we can take to liberate ourselves from it. The Four Noble Truths are: In this post, we’ll explore these truths and how they can help us live a more meaningful, mindful life. The Truth of Suffering The truth of suffering is perhaps the most straightforward of the Four Noble Truths. It simply means that life is full…

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Have you ever wanted to learn how to meditate? It feels like it’s all the rage right now. From celebrities to your next door neighbor, it seems like everyone is meditating. But how do you get started? And why is meditation even important? What’s the big deal? There’s so much information out there, it can feel overwhelming. And I know from experience, meditation can be frustrating for a beginner. Maybe you’re looking for a way to reduce anxiety, or just…

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“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.” ~Jodi Picoult It seems there is always something to worry about. Table of Contents: Health problems related to anxiety Getting started Meditation techniques to reduce anxiety Count your breath Focus on a flame Guided meditation Get moving Every day, we face challenges that cause stress and the stress brings feelings of anxiety. We’re anxious about our daily tasks at work. Are we…

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Will starting a mindfulness meditation practice be worth the effort? What are the rewards? Will the payoff be worth the time invested? Let’s be honest, we live in a culture of busyness. We get up, grab a banana or a bagel and hurry off to work. All-day we rush to meet deadlines and often deal with unpleasant bosses and co-workers. Many days we leave work later than planned. Arriving home, we start dinner and remember the kids have no clean…

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I’ve finally found a meditation routine that works for me. It took years, but at long last, I’ve settled into a place where I feel like I’m making sustainable progress. I don’t profess to know what will work for you, but I’ve made a few simple changes this year that have helped me to deepen my meditation practice. I first became interested in meditation four or five years ago. I was intrigued by the idea of mindfulness, and like many people,…

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If you’ve ever been to a yoga class or meditation sitting, there’s a good chance you’ve heard a singing bowl. Often used to signal the start or end of a meditation period, singing bowls are known for producing a soothing, relaxing, sustained musical tone. This is an example of what a singing bowl sounds like: Singing bowls are also sometimes referred to as standing bells. Generally, the tone is produced by gently striking the outside of the bowl or rubbing…

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