If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.
-- Lao Tzu
At a time of economic downturn, with corruption on the rise and countries at war, we wondered what could bring greater awareness, kindness and compassion to a world in so much chaos? Could something as subtle and understated as meditation possibly have any affect on business, the environment, conflict or even politics? Can meditation make a big enough change in consciousness to transform the way we see ourselves, each other and our world?
We have both been immersed in meditation since we were young. It is the foundation of our lives and often makes us wonder what life would be like without it when we look around and see the massive confusion and suffering that many people experience. So, for our book, "Be The Change, How Meditation Can Transform You and The World," we wanted to paint a more varied picture by including many of the cool people who do it, how it affects them and why you should do it too!
Meditation has been the main focus of spiritual practice for thousands of years, but it is only in the last few decades that the general population has begun to realize how valuable it really is, regardless of spiritual or religious interests. However, this poses a conundrum. If meditation is so available and as well-known as it seems to be, why is it not already an integral part of everyone's lives? If health reports are saying how good it is as a way to cope with stress, how it makes you feel better about yourself and others, why do we ignore it or find excuses not to do it?
Self-centeredness and selfishness -- hallmarks of the ego -- affect not only our own lives and relationships but also influence the way we behave in the world. There is no limit to the damage a strong ego can do, from the arrogant conviction that our own opinions are the only right ones and everyone should be made to believe in them, to wielding and abusing power at the expense of other people's lives or liberties. The ego is neither good nor bad, except when self-centeredness dominates our thoughts, feelings and perceptions of life. A positive sense of self gives us confidence and purpose, but a more negative and selfish aspect of the ego makes us unconcerned with other people's feelings; it thrives on the idea of me-first and impels us to cry out, "What about me? What about my feelings?"
The ego also makes us believe that we are the dust on the mirror, that we could never be so beautiful as the radiant reflection beneath the surface. Yet how extraordinary to believe that we cannot be free when freedom is our true nature! When we begin to see that such self-centeredness does not lead to happiness and we yearn for something more genuine, when we realize that the pit of meaninglessness and emptiness inside is never truly satiated no matter how much we feed it, or when we have just had enough of chaos and suffering, then the longing for change arises.
This brings us to the importance of contemplation and meditation. Without such a practice of self-reflection, we are subject to the ego's every whim and have no way of putting a brake on its demands. Meditation, on the other hand, gives us the space to see ourselves clearly and objectively, a place from which we can witness our own behavior and reduce the ego's influence.
Meditation changes us. From being self-centered, we become other-centered, concerned about the welfare of all equally, rather than being focused on just ourselves. We become more acutely aware of how we affect the planet, how we treat each other and our world and seek to become a positive presence rather than a negative one. As we find our own peace, we want to actively help others to also be at peace.
Science is now proving that meditation is a genuine way to generate peace by reducing potentially harmful emotions, such as fear and anger. We usually think of such mind states as a fixed part of life, but they do not need to be. Many negative emotions arise from the emphasis we place on success and achievement, which is a left-brain activity. During meditation, we engage the right side of the brain, which encourages us to communicate in a more positive and caring way.
To bring peace to those around us and to our world, we have to change from being concerned with our own needs to reaching out and helping each other. But for kindness and compassion to become a natural expression of who we are, we need tools -- help, guidance and support. Meditation in its many forms is the one tool we have found that does all of this. By getting to know ourselves, discovering that we are more than we thought we were, and by connecting more deeply with our essential self, we find that we have the resources, strength and wisdom to not only make changes, but to become the change we so long for.
What does meditation mean to you? Do comment below. You can receive notice of our blogs by checking Become a Fan at the top.
See our award-winning book: BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You and the World, forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman, with contributors Jack Kornfield, Jane Fonda, Father Thomas Keating, Marianne Williamson, Ram Dass and many others.
Our three meditation CDs: Metta--Loving kindness and Forgiveness; Samadhi-Breath Awareness and Insight; and Yoga Nidra-Inner Conscious Relaxation, are available at: www.EdandDebShapiro.com.
Follow Ed and Deb Shapiro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/edanddebshapiro
Dr. Judith Rich: Living Transformation: Awakening to Our Oneness
it is the core of who we are -
meditation helps remove the clouds or troubling, negative thoughts in the sky or open space of your mind -
so you can see the light of day the natural clarity that is rich in peace and joy!
that sure is cool!
enjoy life it's better than you think!
Pick it up often as there are over 100 voices from the Dalai Lama to astronaut Edgar Mitchell -
I actually consider BE THE CHANGE to be a reflection & coming together of many luminous people
good for you!
Thanks for your warm & wonderful comment!
Treasure youraelf,
Ommmmmmm
I met Kundalini Master Yogi Bhajan in 1970 in L.A.
I was a new Swami initiated by Paramahamsa Swami Satyananda at the Bihar School of Yoga in Monghyr, India - I was trained in all aspects of yoga including Kundalini -
Thank your for sharing your story alahnar it is an inspiration to many here on -
Healthy Living!
Enjoy the journey!
What I find is that it takes a certain discipline to not find reasons not to take the time to do it. Like any exercise, the hardest part may be getting started but the benefits show themselves almost immediately.
Deb & I are English citizens - we lived there (Deb was born near London) we had our own T.V. series on meditation it was on Channel Health TV -
Actress Joan Collins was the face of the Health Channel - everyone involved had on common goal to help people to serve others in the best way possible.
Meditation is the key - as it tames the monkey mind!
never look to get anything from meditation that looking to get (is a tension) & in itself is an obstacle!
You meditate just for the sake of it (hard for you to believe isn't it, ha!)
Meditation is like your breath there is no substitute without breath there is no life!
Without meditation there is no real life either - you are just existing - you believe you are alive but you are asleep to the exquisiteness of your own beingness your own existence -
so a nap is a poor substitute, in fact meditation is the opposite of a nap. A nap puts you out of touch but you may need the rest so of course it is good for you but
Nelson Montana your comparison is completely off - it is like standing in a baseball stadium - just standing there & thinking you hit a home run (ha)
Meditation connects you with yourself - your peace - but words can't describe it - you have to experience it - it's like never eating an apple & trying to describe what it tastes like!
If meditation never worked for you - then you never ever ever meditated -
you may have closed your eyes & sat quietly but that is the same as standing at the side of a lake & thinking you are swimming!!
Better luck next life! (haha)
Treasure yourself,
Ed
To each his own. Different strokes...
cycle / climb 14,000 foot mts. & I danced on T.V. won the NYC dance championships -
all because of my ability to focus & breath & "meditate -
You are too much in your head -
get out of your mind & into your heart!
Let's ski sometime - do you ski?
May you be well - may all things go well for you!
"So many reasons to meditate. Peace and simplicity are two more. What could be more peaceful and, seemingly simple, than sitting quietly and experiencing. Tame your mind and your life will follow."
Its like a cleansing for me.
Fanned!
Thats what Joshua was told in Jos.1:8; David wrote about meditating day and night in the 1st psalm.
there is no reference point - where is "my place of meditation?" -
there is only Radiant Emptiness - no thing - nowhere to come no where to go!
Fanned!
my mind which can be counter productive sometimes....PEACE and God Bless
I love what you say it deserves to be quoted:
"meditation to me means focusing on the present, not the past, which is gone, or the future, which has not happened yet.....beÂing grounded in the consciousnÂess that is infinite..Â..we are all connected, to everyone and everythingÂ....meditaÂtion means to me calming the mind and listening to my spirit....Ânot my mind which can be counter productive sometimes.."
I wish we could count on that. But apparently, some people think that chaos and suffering are to be counteracted not by change or longing for it, but by spouting some Birtherism.
In other words, some people respond to a loss of control by reinforcing rigidity.
Good article
"I've used a very simple meditation called counting breath and it really,reaÂlly helps with relaxation and clarity."
fanned!
to be aware of this phenomenal world - awareness is the key -
awareness enables you to be with whatever arises within -
The mind is like the sky that is transparent - everything arises - rain, tornadoes, etc. but the sky remains the sky unaffected -
A free mind is like that whatever arises is seen for what it is an dealt with with compassion!