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How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
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How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Benefits of Mindfulness: Mindful Living Can Change Your Life
Mindfulness 101: A Beginner's Guide
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Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today, we're going to talk about the possibility of changing our quality of life without changing our outer circumstances. So there's a Zen proverb that goes like this, "Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water." What this proverb is pointing to, what it attempts to remind us is that changing all of our external life circumstances is not the most effective way to bring about true fulfillment, inner peace or awakening. So achieving something great, finding the perfect partner, having kids, getting a big house, being popular or famous, none of these brings lasting fulfillment or completeness.
The fulfillment that we seek is inside us the whole time. Now this is ancient wisdom. This is not a new idea. But now modern science and psychology concur with this message. For instance, Matt Killingsworth from Harvard University conducted the largest study ever on the source of human happiness.
And what he found is that internal happiness did not depend much at all on external circumstances, but rather it depended mostly on how present we are in the moment. The more present we are in the moment, he's research suggested, the happier we are. Conversely, he found that the more our mind wanders away from the moment, the more unhappy we are. Want to be happy, he said in his Ted talk, then be the moment. So if we can hold this Zen proverb in mind, we start to see wood and water all around us as a metaphor for the life all around you.
The daily tasks that we have to do that we may often think of as mundane, you know, the steps in a project, the little routine moments that we have each day, like drinking tea, petting a pet, talking to a friend. What this proverb reminds us is to slow down and be present with a steady awareness on each step of the way, rather than focusing on an end result. So we can focus on giving our full attention to each action, each task, and each moment, one at a time. So today, if you find yourself rushing, stressed, caught up in your head, maybe taking a breath and bring to mind the sentiment of chop wood, carry water. See what it feels like to deliberately slow down.
Just do one thing at a time, rather than focusing on the end result, savour that each step and each task. As you do so, just noticing what it actually feels like in your body and in your mind to be more present in your life. The more connected you are to the moment, the more happiness and enjoyment you tend to feel. I hope this practice offers you some insight, some inner peace. As always, thank you for your practice and let's settle in for the meditation.
Chop Wood, Carry Water
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Duration
Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.
Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today, we're going to talk about the possibility of changing our quality of life without changing our outer circumstances. So there's a Zen proverb that goes like this, "Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water." What this proverb is pointing to, what it attempts to remind us is that changing all of our external life circumstances is not the most effective way to bring about true fulfillment, inner peace or awakening. So achieving something great, finding the perfect partner, having kids, getting a big house, being popular or famous, none of these brings lasting fulfillment or completeness.
The fulfillment that we seek is inside us the whole time. Now this is ancient wisdom. This is not a new idea. But now modern science and psychology concur with this message. For instance, Matt Killingsworth from Harvard University conducted the largest study ever on the source of human happiness.
And what he found is that internal happiness did not depend much at all on external circumstances, but rather it depended mostly on how present we are in the moment. The more present we are in the moment, he's research suggested, the happier we are. Conversely, he found that the more our mind wanders away from the moment, the more unhappy we are. Want to be happy, he said in his Ted talk, then be the moment. So if we can hold this Zen proverb in mind, we start to see wood and water all around us as a metaphor for the life all around you.
The daily tasks that we have to do that we may often think of as mundane, you know, the steps in a project, the little routine moments that we have each day, like drinking tea, petting a pet, talking to a friend. What this proverb reminds us is to slow down and be present with a steady awareness on each step of the way, rather than focusing on an end result. So we can focus on giving our full attention to each action, each task, and each moment, one at a time. So today, if you find yourself rushing, stressed, caught up in your head, maybe taking a breath and bring to mind the sentiment of chop wood, carry water. See what it feels like to deliberately slow down.
Just do one thing at a time, rather than focusing on the end result, savour that each step and each task. As you do so, just noticing what it actually feels like in your body and in your mind to be more present in your life. The more connected you are to the moment, the more happiness and enjoyment you tend to feel. I hope this practice offers you some insight, some inner peace. As always, thank you for your practice and let's settle in for the meditation.
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Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
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