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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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Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about trying to attain permanent happiness. I'll start with a bold statement. There is no experience that will lead to permanent happiness. I'll say it again and this time really let these words and the understanding of these words sink in.
There is no experience, no experience that will lead to permanent happiness. Now once we understand this, and by the way, you don't have to take this at face value. You could explore this in your own life. But it's a truth that contemplative practitioners, meditation practitioners, and people who have lived life continue to come back to. And once we do understand it, it shifts how we pursue fulfillment.
And some would say it's even when the big work begins of our personal growth. Yes, certain life changes can have lasting improvements to our overall wellbeing, sometimes in really massive ways. But to think that some future arrangement of conditions will permanently satiate our thirst for fulfillment is, it's folly. It's a hollow pursuit and our incessant grasping for the conditions that will finally make that possible. Well, that actually works against us in the end because we create so much extra tension along the way, constantly feeling unsatisfied.
I recognize also that permanent happiness is a tall order. And an easy pushback to this could be, well Cory, I'm not looking for permanent happiness, if that's even possible. I'm just looking for life to be good enough to be able to roll with the punches, experience a bit more joy. Awesome. I fully support that.
And, and to that sentiment, I'll say two things. The first is I see many people say this, but tend to act differently. That is our relationship to life and future moments reflect more of an underlying assumption still that once I get there, then I'll have happiness. Just kind of keep our heads down, working really hard to that future moment, even though we know we, I don't want permanent happiness. There's this feeling of like, once I get there, then I'll have it.
So I think that's worth reflecting on. The second thing is that you can absolutely live a really good life playing the game of more pleasure and less pain and arranging your life conditions to improve that ratio. This is what, I think you could argue, most people aim to do. And there are endless examples of people who feel satisfied with this path. However, there are also many people who become disillusioned by these highs and lows and start to look toward a different, more lasting form of fulfillment.
And to pursue that path is a slightly different game. It requires going inward instead of outward, seeking to understand how the mind works and how its relationship to experience create suffering or happiness. And then systematically training the mind to change its relationship to experience in service of less suffering and more fulfillment. This is indeed a path and it's one that you're on through mindfulness and meditation. So I hope this gives you something to think about in the context of the work that you're doing.
And also just as a reflection of when you think about happiness. Is it something in this distant moment that you're working toward? And once things come together in this way, even though you've seen so many of those scenarios before play out and be hollow, is there still this feeling of once I get there. And what would it be like to soften around that, drop into this moment and see, is it possible to find a little bit more contentment right here, right now? That's a significant path. Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
Permanent Happiness
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, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about trying to attain permanent happiness. I'll start with a bold statement. There is no experience that will lead to permanent happiness. I'll say it again and this time really let these words and the understanding of these words sink in.
There is no experience, no experience that will lead to permanent happiness. Now once we understand this, and by the way, you don't have to take this at face value. You could explore this in your own life. But it's a truth that contemplative practitioners, meditation practitioners, and people who have lived life continue to come back to. And once we do understand it, it shifts how we pursue fulfillment.
And some would say it's even when the big work begins of our personal growth. Yes, certain life changes can have lasting improvements to our overall wellbeing, sometimes in really massive ways. But to think that some future arrangement of conditions will permanently satiate our thirst for fulfillment is, it's folly. It's a hollow pursuit and our incessant grasping for the conditions that will finally make that possible. Well, that actually works against us in the end because we create so much extra tension along the way, constantly feeling unsatisfied.
I recognize also that permanent happiness is a tall order. And an easy pushback to this could be, well Cory, I'm not looking for permanent happiness, if that's even possible. I'm just looking for life to be good enough to be able to roll with the punches, experience a bit more joy. Awesome. I fully support that.
And, and to that sentiment, I'll say two things. The first is I see many people say this, but tend to act differently. That is our relationship to life and future moments reflect more of an underlying assumption still that once I get there, then I'll have happiness. Just kind of keep our heads down, working really hard to that future moment, even though we know we, I don't want permanent happiness. There's this feeling of like, once I get there, then I'll have it.
So I think that's worth reflecting on. The second thing is that you can absolutely live a really good life playing the game of more pleasure and less pain and arranging your life conditions to improve that ratio. This is what, I think you could argue, most people aim to do. And there are endless examples of people who feel satisfied with this path. However, there are also many people who become disillusioned by these highs and lows and start to look toward a different, more lasting form of fulfillment.
And to pursue that path is a slightly different game. It requires going inward instead of outward, seeking to understand how the mind works and how its relationship to experience create suffering or happiness. And then systematically training the mind to change its relationship to experience in service of less suffering and more fulfillment. This is indeed a path and it's one that you're on through mindfulness and meditation. So I hope this gives you something to think about in the context of the work that you're doing.
And also just as a reflection of when you think about happiness. Is it something in this distant moment that you're working toward? And once things come together in this way, even though you've seen so many of those scenarios before play out and be hollow, is there still this feeling of once I get there. And what would it be like to soften around that, drop into this moment and see, is it possible to find a little bit more contentment right here, right now? That's a significant path. Thank you for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
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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
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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