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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 the importance of concentration. So I'd first like to share a quote with you from the Buddha. And he said this 2,600 years ago, he said, "We have lost respect for a concentrated mind." That's it. One line we've lost respect for our concentrated mind.
What I find hilarious about that is, again, that this was 2,600 years ago. What the heck would the Buddha say this, in today's day and age, looking at, you know, our relationship to concentration and focus? I do think it's interesting to hear this, you know, so many thousands of years ago, that he was still seeing this, that there's a tendency for humans to get distracted and to not respect the power of a concentrated mind. And that's what I'd like to focus on here today as a, another reminder that one of the things I see is we don't put enough value on the power of concentration for leading to tranquility, ease, stress reduction, and calm. So much, so much of the tension that we experience on a day-to-day basis is a mind that is just in opposition to what is here, that is feeling some dissonance between what it wants to be here and what is actually here. The powerful thing about concentration is that it closes that gap.
It essentially absorbs itself into whatever it is it's concentrating on. And that can include just the present moment experience. And think about these moments where you've just been deeply present, where the mind isn't trying to get someplace else, isn't thinking about the future, isn't caught up in the past. All of which is okay. We don't beat ourselves up for those thoughts, but when the mind really is anchored in concentration in that way, there's stillness ,there, there's ease, there's calmness.
A byproduct of a concentrated mind is tranquility. And a byproduct of often an agitated mind is stress or dispersed mind. Now it's possible and absolutely possible that we can cultivate a quality of ease by watching all of the thoughts move through our mind. You know, this also becomes the seeds for creativity and imagination. So there's merit to that.
But one thing I, I invite you to look at, as you continue on your meditation journey, is your emphasis on concentration. And what would it be like to take the development of concentration maybe a little more seriously in your meditation practice? We'll be doing a meditation today, specifically designed around cultivating concentration. But one way that we can do this is really paying careful attention to when the mind has wandered off. I'm really trying to notice that as quickly as possible. And then invite the mind back with curiosity to the thing that we're paying attention to.
The more we can reduce those gaps of mind wandering, the more quickly we can develop concentration in our meditation practice and the more we'll have access to that in our day-to-day practice. So just something to consider. And don't worry. I won't tell the Buddha about your concentrated mind. I won't tell him about my concentrated mind, as well.
Hopefully though we can start to regain some respect for a concentrated mind, and I think we'll all be the better for it. So thank you so much for your practice. Let's settle in for today's meditation.
The Importance of Concentration
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Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about the importance of concentration. So I'd first like to share a quote with you from the Buddha. And he said this 2,600 years ago, he said, "We have lost respect for a concentrated mind." That's it. One line we've lost respect for our concentrated mind.
What I find hilarious about that is, again, that this was 2,600 years ago. What the heck would the Buddha say this, in today's day and age, looking at, you know, our relationship to concentration and focus? I do think it's interesting to hear this, you know, so many thousands of years ago, that he was still seeing this, that there's a tendency for humans to get distracted and to not respect the power of a concentrated mind. And that's what I'd like to focus on here today as a, another reminder that one of the things I see is we don't put enough value on the power of concentration for leading to tranquility, ease, stress reduction, and calm. So much, so much of the tension that we experience on a day-to-day basis is a mind that is just in opposition to what is here, that is feeling some dissonance between what it wants to be here and what is actually here. The powerful thing about concentration is that it closes that gap.
It essentially absorbs itself into whatever it is it's concentrating on. And that can include just the present moment experience. And think about these moments where you've just been deeply present, where the mind isn't trying to get someplace else, isn't thinking about the future, isn't caught up in the past. All of which is okay. We don't beat ourselves up for those thoughts, but when the mind really is anchored in concentration in that way, there's stillness ,there, there's ease, there's calmness.
A byproduct of a concentrated mind is tranquility. And a byproduct of often an agitated mind is stress or dispersed mind. Now it's possible and absolutely possible that we can cultivate a quality of ease by watching all of the thoughts move through our mind. You know, this also becomes the seeds for creativity and imagination. So there's merit to that.
But one thing I, I invite you to look at, as you continue on your meditation journey, is your emphasis on concentration. And what would it be like to take the development of concentration maybe a little more seriously in your meditation practice? We'll be doing a meditation today, specifically designed around cultivating concentration. But one way that we can do this is really paying careful attention to when the mind has wandered off. I'm really trying to notice that as quickly as possible. And then invite the mind back with curiosity to the thing that we're paying attention to.
The more we can reduce those gaps of mind wandering, the more quickly we can develop concentration in our meditation practice and the more we'll have access to that in our day-to-day practice. So just something to consider. And don't worry. I won't tell the Buddha about your concentrated mind. I won't tell him about my concentrated mind, as well.
Hopefully though we can start to regain some respect for a concentrated mind, and I think we'll all be the better for it. So thank you so much 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.
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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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