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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, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. Today, I'm going to explore the myth of striving. There's an old Zen story about this. A young, but dedicated Zen student approached his teacher one day and he asked him, "If I work really, really hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find enlightenment?" The master thought about this for a moment and he replied, "Ten years." The student then said, "But what if I work really, really hard? Like I apply myself to learn fast. How long then?" The master replied, "Hmm.
Well, twenty years." "But what if I give it, you know, every single ounce of effort I can muster. I'll work incredibly hard at it. I'll give up everything else. How long then?" asked the student. "Thirty years," replied the master.
"But I don't understand," said the student, "Each time I say I'm going to work harder, you say it's going to take me longer. Why is that?" The master replied, "When you have your eyes on the goal, you're not really present on the path." So this story points to one of the biggest obstacles, I think, we come across in mindfulness practice and that is that we tend to get so caught up in the idea of trying to find our fulfillment in the future, that we're rarely fully present in any given moment. So we always tend to have our eyes on some goal in the distance. And then, you know, we're trying to get someone, somewhere else, we're trying to become something more or better, fix things, solve things, thinking that once we get there, we'll finally be okay and happy. And so, you know, you're here, but you're always wanting to be there waiting to live.
You know, whether it's waiting until you're thin enough, waiting till the next holiday, waiting until all of your problems are sorted out or waiting until you're in enlightened. Waiting until you finish this daily mindfulness so you can get on with the rest of your day. So there's often this subtle sense, this kind of tension inside. A tension that comes from wanting to be there. Right? So when not quite here.
This is the basic habit. The mind is projecting into the future. You know, with this idea of what we need to do before we can really be present and happy. So the key to our practice is really to let go of that myth of striving so that we can actually finally fully relax into this present moment, the aliveness of the richness of now. So we're going to explore this a little bit more in today's meditation.
But you know, also in daily life, just when we're getting caught up in striving, seeing if you can let that mindset go and practice being present on the path of your life, moment by moment and step by step. As always, thank you for your practice. And let's settle in now for today's meditation.
The Myth of Striving
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, I'm going to explore the myth of striving. There's an old Zen story about this. A young, but dedicated Zen student approached his teacher one day and he asked him, "If I work really, really hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find enlightenment?" The master thought about this for a moment and he replied, "Ten years." The student then said, "But what if I work really, really hard? Like I apply myself to learn fast. How long then?" The master replied, "Hmm.
Well, twenty years." "But what if I give it, you know, every single ounce of effort I can muster. I'll work incredibly hard at it. I'll give up everything else. How long then?" asked the student. "Thirty years," replied the master.
"But I don't understand," said the student, "Each time I say I'm going to work harder, you say it's going to take me longer. Why is that?" The master replied, "When you have your eyes on the goal, you're not really present on the path." So this story points to one of the biggest obstacles, I think, we come across in mindfulness practice and that is that we tend to get so caught up in the idea of trying to find our fulfillment in the future, that we're rarely fully present in any given moment. So we always tend to have our eyes on some goal in the distance. And then, you know, we're trying to get someone, somewhere else, we're trying to become something more or better, fix things, solve things, thinking that once we get there, we'll finally be okay and happy. And so, you know, you're here, but you're always wanting to be there waiting to live.
You know, whether it's waiting until you're thin enough, waiting till the next holiday, waiting until all of your problems are sorted out or waiting until you're in enlightened. Waiting until you finish this daily mindfulness so you can get on with the rest of your day. So there's often this subtle sense, this kind of tension inside. A tension that comes from wanting to be there. Right? So when not quite here.
This is the basic habit. The mind is projecting into the future. You know, with this idea of what we need to do before we can really be present and happy. So the key to our practice is really to let go of that myth of striving so that we can actually finally fully relax into this present moment, the aliveness of the richness of now. So we're going to explore this a little bit more in today's meditation.
But you know, also in daily life, just when we're getting caught up in striving, seeing if you can let that mindset go and practice being present on the path of your life, moment by moment and step by step. As always, thank you for your practice. And let's settle in now for today's meditation.
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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.
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Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
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Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
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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
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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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