Click here to find out more about Burt Goldman and what he learned under Guru Yogananda.

Through mindful meditation, we are sometimes distracted by the most intrusive of thoughts. But we are human! Initially, new meditators will find it hard to control the mind’s need to speak it’s mind. But do not be disheartend, even the most masterful of meditators sometimes fail to quell the mental conversation.

The following story comes from a set of parables (or koans), translated into English from a book called the Shaseki-shu (Collection of Stone and Sand), written late in the thirteenth century by the Japanese Zen teacher Muju:

Learning to be Silent

The pupils of the Tendai school used to study meditation before Zen entered Japan. Four of them who were intimate friends promised one another to observe seven days of silence.

On the first day all were silent. Their meditation had begun auspiciously, but when night came and the oil lamps were growing dim one of the pupils could not help exclaiming to a servant: “Fix those lamps.”

The second pupil was surprised to hear th first one talk. “We are not supposed to say a word,” he remarked.

“You two are stupid. Why did you talk?” asked the third.

“I am the only one who has not talked,” concluded the fourth pupil.

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Thanks to AshidaKim.com for providing us the enlightening koan!

Want to learn more?

Learn how you can quieten your inner conversation through the art of Mindful Breathing.

Editor’s Note: I recently found this great article which reveals 10 ways to improve your meditation. It really doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or advanced at meditation, these pieces of advice are vital on getting to know your inner self.

Top Ten Tips for Meditation

by R. Pettinger

Meditation can simplify our lives and help us live in the eternal now. When we enter into real meditation we experience a real sense of peace and joy. To gain access to this inner reality meditation is necessary. These are some tips to help improve our meditation.

10 Pointers

1. Proper Breathing

If we can carefully regulate our breathing this will be a great aid to our meditation. When we slow down and become conscious of our breathing, the mind naturally slows down and it is easier to control our thoughts. When we meditate our breath should be so gentle that if someone placed a feather by our mouth it would barely move.

2. Stop Thoughts entering

This is often easier said than done. However it is the essence of meditation. If we can learn to stop our mind from pursuing endless thought then we will be able to enter into real mediation; real meditation is inner silence.

Sri Chinmoy says the essence of meditation is:

“When we meditate we empty our minds and then fill our minds with something divine.”

3. Mantra

The use of mantra can be of great help in quietening the relentless noise of the mind. A mantra is a sacred word or phrase repeated many times. By repeating a mantra we calm the mind and also make it one pointed. After chanting a mantra meditation will be easier.

4. Meditation Shrine

If we can create a sacred space for meditation we will gain added inspiration. A meditation shrine can be a small corner of a room we keep only for meditation. Over time we will find this space builds up a meditative consciousness helpful to our meditation.

5. Regularity

Like many other activities the more we practice meditation the better we will become. If we meditate sincerely everyday then we will find that our capacity to meditate increases. If our meditation is sporadic, progress is much more difficult.

6. Spiritual Heart

If we struggle to calm the mind and stop the unceasing flow of thoughts we can try meditating on the spiritual heart. We should try to feel our whole sense of awareness is leaving the mind and entering the heart. If we are able to meditate in the heart we will identify with the expansive and divine qualities the spiritual heart embodies.

7. Concentration.

To meditate well we need to master the art of concentration. In essence concentration involves focusing on only one thing at a time. If we can be one pointed and not get distracted, then our meditation will become very powerful.

8. Inspiration

Meditation should be viewed as a lifelong process of self – discovery. It is important to try and maintain our enthusiasm and inspiration for meditation. We can do this by associating with other like minded people who also meditate. If we can find a real spiritual teacher this will also give us significant inspiration to meditate.

9. Never Give Up!

Sometimes we meditate well but sometimes we feel meditation is most difficult. However it is important that we should not become discouraged just because of an unsuccessful meditation. Often we may be making progress, even if it is not always immediately obvious.

10. Intensity

Meditation doesn’t just mean sitting down quietly for 10mins. If we have real eagerness to experience the inner rewards of meditation, we will give it all our focus. When we feel this burning aspiration, our technique of meditation becomes less important. Instead our soul will come to the fore and our meditation will become spontaneous.

full article >>

“BREATHING? Are you doing it? . . . Or does it happen?”

About Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is an Indian yogi and mystic that founded of the well renowned Isha Foundation with yoga centers across India and the USA.

He is so well respected in the meditation field and also worldwide. In 2006 this phenomenal forward-thinker was a delegate for the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit and also spoke at the World Economic Forum.

On How To Become Meditative

“If you cultivate your body, if you cultivate your mind, your emotion and energy to a certain level of preparedness meditation will blossom within you.” – Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

Words of Wisdom:

Sadhguru Official Website >>

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He dates back the state of no mind consciousness, the merging of the soul and the spirit, to biblical times with the transfiguration at the Mount of Olives.

Yogiraj’s Lesson

“Humanity is one’s only religion. . .

Breath is one’s only prayer. . .

Consciousness is one’s only God”

10 Enlightening Minutes

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Hello World! For anybody out there that practices meditation or is interested to start, your life has just started to taste that much sweeter.

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