One reason I believe I've had trouble connecting with people since committing to my daily meditation practice is the new language I use to think through the world. Instead of rationalizing my way through the choices in my day, I'm feeling my way through them. Instead of seeking entertainment, I'm seeking peace and quiet. Instead …
24/7 Happiness
My understanding of happiness is shifting. Happiness used to be based on an experience. I would do something enjoyable, and that would make me happy. I'm learning that happiness is just a state of mind independent of what I'm experiencing externally. If I'm aware of my sensations in the present moment, I'm happy. Instead of looking for …
Needing To Wanting To Appreciating
My expectations of the outside world are slowly transforming along with my self-confidence. When I was first introduced to this practice I knew I had discovered something special, but I had no idea how to integrate this foreign practice into my life. While I was a strong independent person, meaning in my life came from sharing …
Community Building
I've established my daily practice, and I was right that hosting a group sitting and writing a blog would help me focus on meditation, but I've had little success building a community. The attendance at my Goenka Vipassana group sitting has been low mostly because there just aren't enough meditators in this tradition around. There …
Identity
Its been 4 months since I left the center and I've successfully maintained my practice but to do so I've withdrawn from society. While I know this path is right, it's still very different from everyone around me. To get established in this practice, I found that I needed to pull back and look inward, …
Unrealistic Expectations
I took my first 10-day meditation course 2.5 years ago and I thought I had discovered the tool that would empower me to help people find peace and happiness in their lives. I've come to realize that finding peace and happiness is a very personal journey full of complex choices. While I've found this technique …
No Expectations, No Goals, And No Agendas For The Holidays
The holidays are a wonderful time, but also a tricky time. We get together with our families that know us so well and we have a tendency to push each other's buttons unintentionally. Well, let's be honest. We do it intentionally sometimes too. We've mastered blaming everyone else for our behaviors. "If she didn't do …
Continue reading No Expectations, No Goals, And No Agendas For The Holidays
Avoid Harming Others
I've spent most of my life trying to figure out what I need to do to live a good life. The choice was always between this action or that action. Inaction looked like apathy so that wasn't an option. Meditation has shown me how much harm I do with my daily actions. By eating meat, I'm …
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving weekend. I'll get back to this blog next week.
Fighting Out Of Fear
Vipassana has challenged me to let go of many things. I'm currently having a lot of trouble letting go of the desire to fight, compete, and stick up for myself. I was taught that these were the things that defined me and my success. I worked hard to do the best I could because it made me …
Living Vipassana 