A teacher... and a path.

A way into the Gordian Knot of existence, into the mystic of inner life, that leads to a destination of choice, and also maintains a connection with the natural, the outer, the world and the family.

A path, is a map. And faced with the myriad options of the mystic, the internal universes, how might one plot a strategy to learn, to experience and to grow in a manner of ones choice and maintain a fulfilling and experiential life in the world?

In the same manner as this.

Let me say that I wish to learn the guitar. I can pick up my guitar and shut myself away, and gradually, over time learn perhaps all there is to know about the instrument, but would I learn more if I took lessons, or simply if I sat and watched an experienced guitarist playing?

To share table with a master would be so delightful, I could watch, learn, listen and learn, and ask questions to resolve my doubts, maybe even debate and argue to establish the truth from my perspective, to reinforce my own understandings, and with humilty, be prepared to let go... should it be appropriate.

And, with all respect to guitar players, teachers and students, I do feel that the intuitive and sometimes intimidating and dark internal worlds and practices require as much if not more attention and explanations.

So, a map of the mind was laid out in front of me... a map with 84,000 routes, some leading to happiness, some leading to pain, some obvious, but some extremely counter-intuitive... A needed my tour guide.

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

When I left my first class I could hardly breathe. The teacher took my breath away, and left me speechless, but Mark, the ever cynic knew exactly how to put this through the test.

I returned for a second class, one week later, to see if this fellow, this monk, could perform the same trick twice. Could he beguile and inform and illuminate my experiences with such clarity and insight once again.

Not a chance. But... he did. OK, he's been lucky twice, and after I left the second week, I was even more astonished to see that the class, though non-repetitive, nonetheless approached and illuminated another layer of fears and experiences of which I have first hand knowledge, but had never shared with anyone else.

How did he know?

As I drove into Manchester for my third class, I decided to create some questions in my mind, and see if these would be 'picked up' by the monk, and addressed during his class. I cannot remember what the specific questions were, or just generalities about life, the universe and everything, but, I went in armed.

And he did it again. Three times in a row.

That was enough for me, I was convinced, and after the class I gave him a huge hug and asked him if he would teach me all he knew....

I had discovered a path! And, found a teacher!

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

I began to see that some form of distorted pride had been obscuring my desire to find a spiritual path, as well as all the hazy visions of the acid and beer, and that even very cool, together, wealthy, happy and successful people could go and find a teacher and ask advice.

You see, it got to a stage where I could manage my drug habits so well, they did not interfere with my working life, and home life, and as a result I felt like I could re-write the book, and be some high powered new species of yogi who did nothing spiritual, knew very little about the paths, got very high at weekends, but nonetheless, by dint of my consistent desire to get stoned I would attain high realisations, maybe through the mail... not.

So I put my head above the parapet and began to look around at what might be available, and I certainly had all my alert systems on full beam, and then one day something happened.

I saw a poster. A poster with details of a meditation class, fairly local, with a kindly looking Buddhist monk... What could go wrong? I went.

Now this class, this very first class was a scary event, as every single word the monk talked about related perfectly to my own situation, in my memory (of about 15 years ago), during a 1 hour class I may have well have been looking into a mirror of my my own mind and life, so accurate was the talk in relation to my experiences.

It was as if it had been choreographed, or staged specifically for me. Uncanny.

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

So, heading along the open psychedelic road to Nirvana, with all to go for, and a party every step of the way. And even a few beers now and again.... This is my sort of spiritual journey. Yay!

And a few more beers, and a couple more chillums, and some magic mushroom tea, and turn that Frank Zappa album up, I'm here to learn... And on it went, a ten year party (or was it 20 years), digging eventually into the darker worlds of white powders, the speeds and the cocaines, but still being oh so spiritual, but having no clear idea anymore as to what I wanted to find or be, and my faculties clouding and drowning in confusion and tedium...

I did meet an interesting man at this point, one who illuminated that it was alright to be a spiritual person once again, having had most of my aspirations battered out of me my my group of cynical drinking buddies, and this man did not drink, at all, and I can never considered that a teetotal person, a non drug user could be so interesting and cool.

It enabled a mirror to emerge from within my mind to see around a high corner that had been blocking my view for years, and years, and years... And that momentary glimpse, a view of a long forgotten, and distant horizon appeared once again. Just for one beautiful, perfect instant, I could see my life as dazzling with clarity as the brightest star, and all the spiritual potentials activated, and there it was, the prize, once again. Enlightenment.

Time to become a searcher once again, as those with whom my life had become embroiled had no wish to travel the rarer path, and I had to make my choices... Seek once again.

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

So, the inevitable happened, I found myself with introductory books to about 20 different faiths, traditions and belief systems, thinking that each one was not quite right for me, but... I'll take a little bit from each one, and gather them together in my own unique and personal manner and create my own path to enlightenment.

Sounds better, and kind of ideal for an intelligent bright young hippy type.

Trouble was, that each of these leads were only introductions, and they each had slightly contradictory ideas and definitions with regard to what the path to Enlightenment was, and more to the point... What was this golden destination?

You see each had its own rather vague and blurry idea of some sort peace that arose somewhere, sometime, with no clear directions as how to get there, or how to even recognise this was the path (and not a spiritually materialistic path).

So holding all these threads in one hand, I began to drift away from these high ideals, and tried to find some sort of teacher. But who to trust?

Someone in robes of some sort? Nah, nutters. Christian, Jew or Muslim? Nah, they were proven failures. Esoteric and Occult? Nah, too scary. So I made my wise and pragmatic choice and decided to follow a couple of acid heads I had met, as the seemed to be able to get through life, whilst being stoned, make me laugh, and come up with cool phrases when required, and they had pretty girlfriends (and sports cars), so if I was to follow any path, this looked like it...

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

So, as was the case with so many spiritual/psychedelic explorers, I wandered around the orange groves looking for guidance and steering, but wary of everyone and everything - this being based in part upon my Judao-Christian upbringing (corny I know), especially anyone in robes... Loonies!

So, I did what every respectable hippy did, I went to the local alternative bookstore, to browse and cruise the sections... And I had a feast, but I tended to want to get to the last chapter, to the meat, sod the vegetables, I just wanted the chapter on Enlightenment. I sped read the early chapters, ignored the introduction and preface, as I was 'advanced' already, I didn't need hints for beginners... Doh.

Part of the joy of this process was the accumulation of esoterica on my bookshelf, and of course the possibility of being asked about the book I was reading on the train... Oh, I'll add a little aside here, as at this time I was a 'young executive' with Mobil Oil, and I used to daily commute from Brighton to London - so to be perceived as spiritual amongst the hoy-polloy stiffs was quite a medal I wanted to wear - If you are reading this, you will dig that...

And amongst those books, one that I still recall, for its title, which kind of says it all 'Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism' 0h joy of joys! What a fantastic title, does exactly what it says on the tin!

Th stack of books gathered, my (very) shallow knowledge spread thinner than margerine on a prison sandwich, but I was gaining some bearings, but still, I would not listen to anyone in spiritual 'authority'...

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Herman Hesse was a Bodhisattva... Maybe a highly concealed one, but to my mind, he acted as no other wisdom being could.

If I had met a Lama at that time I would have been highly cynical, and would not been able to accept even the concept of Ultimate Truth, let alone the basis premise that we are the creators of our own happiness.

And, that happiness was/is a state of mind... Pah.

So, with my opening psychedelic mind, I embarked upon a quest for knowledge, choosing arcane and mysterious sounding books, ones that I wished to be see carrying, and that looked so fantastic casually spread around the carpet.

The precursor to this opening, was the use of drugs. What a word... Well, I used to take two - I smoked pot, lots of it, and I took magic mushrooms, lots of them. The pot was the approach to the inner world, and the mushrooms were the gateway.

And if you have used either of these, you will know exactly what I mean, and if you have not... well you probably won't.

But I can say that my pathway would not have revealed itself to me, had I not taken drugs, so at that stage of my life they were entirely necessary. I'll add now that I am not interested in taking drugs any longer... I will not rule it out completely, for who knows, at the right occasion, somewhere down the timeline I may, but not for the foreseeable future - they would just get in the way.

I have strayed from the story... I'll come back to it later..

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

January Retreat... The traditional time to engage in meditation. In India, back in the time of Buddha, the rainy season fell in January, and as a result travel and communication was limited and difficult, so the opportunities to remain at ones home, village or monastery became increased... So if you are, by circumstance, finding less opportunity to go outside, why not simply stay inside, and, once inside, really get deep inside...

I have engaged in retreat many times, and it functions to increase or inner wisdom and capacity to remain in meditation, and there are several reasons for this. One example I might use here, is that should we engage in retreat, 4 times a day, over a 4 week period, we are, re-finding and relocating our inner position with regularity and frequency, and as a result, familiarity with our destination manifests, and it takes less 'effort' to find our inner space, our inner peace, as we only left it a couple of hours previously.

And once this chain of meditative islands gradually link together, we spend more time in meditation, than out. This is called practicing in the meditation break, and this aspect of mindfulness is an extremely potent addition to our goals, as, should we be able to mindfully maintain a peaceful thought, it will seem less abstract when we next sit down to 'find our peace'.

But to continue my story, my personal tale.. I began by picking up a couple of books about meditation, and attempted to learn, or teach myself. The reason, well I wanted to experience what might be found within my mind, and I believed that I could travel further inwards and outwards by the yogic methods.

It was not easy, and the books, though well meaning, were not real manuals for engagement.. I needed more, and I bumped into a book - Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

I have been teaching meditation for around 14 years, and have been practicing meditation, on and off, for over 30 years.

Some practices are simple, some very complicated, some are profound, and some are blissful. And as with all things, it takes time and practice to be able to develop and increase one's own understanding...

I am going to start by telling you part of my current meditational practice... It does change over the years, sometimes cyclic, sometimes experimental, sometimes taught by others, and sometimes intuitive.

At the moment I am practicing an intuitive and self-taught practice that is a combination of Highest Yoga Tantra and Alchemical Chakra Visualisation and Kundalini Flow... Sound a bit complicated? Well I guess it does, but the actual practices are very simple.

Maybe I should start at the beginning... I'm going to turn the clock back to ... 1977, when I was 22 years old. A bright, but stupid university graduate, with a taste to psychedelic exploration... Opening my mind.. Man...

More soon..

Written and Published by Mark Golding - THE ORGANIC HOME

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Last January, more than 400 people from across the Twin Cities area joined forces, and energies, to meditate for peace. And that's just counting the people who showed up; those who couldn't make it were encouraged to join in by meditating wherever they happened to be at the time.

An even bigger crowd is expected at 7 p.m. Thursday for this year's Peace on Earth Meditation. The leader of last year's event, Chunyi Lin of the Twin Cities based Spring Forest Qigong studios, will return to guide the meditation, which will be preceded by chanting from the monks of the Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastery.

With a large turnout expected, participants are encouraged to arrive early. The event is being held at St. Maron's Church, 602 University Av. NE., Minneapolis. A freewill offering will be collected.

It's BYOC, bring your own cushion for sitting on the floor. There will be chairs available for those who don't want to sit on the floor. As with last year, those who can't make it are encouraged to join in from their private meditation spots.

For more information, including directions, contact the Meditation Center at 612 379 2386 or www.themeditationcenter.org. Do not call the church; it is simply renting out the space for the event.

By JEFF STRICKLER

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Employees at Idea Village in Wayne take time twice a week to meditate and the results have been invaluable. From left are Ron Boger, executive vice president; Laura Nash, executive coach and president of 'Tuning In; Anand 'Andy' Khubani, CEO; and Maryann Hrebeniuk, customer service manager.

WAYNE, No one is unfamiliar with how hectic life can be both in and out of the workplace. Holiday stress, coupled with the everyday stuff of life, can knock even the best of us for a loop.

Idea Village, a Wayne based company, is finding a way to combat some of that stress, at least the part that happens in the workplace. The company works with Laura Nash on meditation.

Nash comes in to work with the employees twice a week. The company has set up a special meditation room, with comfortable chairs, couches and pillows for the sessions to take place.

'Laura studied under Deepak Chopra,' related Idea Village President and CEO Andy Khubani. 'I went to a conference where she spoke, and tried meditating with my wife for a while. At first, I found it hard to concentrate.'

Khubani gave up meditating for a while, until an employee asked him to bring meditation to the work place. He remembered working with Nash, and invited her in to give a presentation.

The staff started meditating in October 2008, and the results, according to Khubani, have been wonderful.

'Laura comes in on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons,' he said. 'But she suggested it would be more powerful, and work better, if we meditated even on the days she wasn't there.'

The group began to meditate each morning before the start of the work day, and within three months, saw the impact it had on both their personal and professional lives.

BY SUE TOTH

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

A program titled 'Meditation for the Body, Mind and Soul' is set for 7 to 8 p.m. Jan. 5 at the East Brunswick Public Library, Jean Walling Civic Center.

Umesh Bhatia will lead the program, designed to teach a technique to gain peace of mind.

For more information, call 732 390 6789 or log on to www.ebpl.org and click on News and Events.

By Sentinel

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

During the hectic times that make up the end of the year, a meditation garden offers a refuge from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Such gardens can be incorporated into traditional landscapes or designed to be completely separate. All that’s needed is a plan.

Meditation gardens provide a place for relaxation, rejuvenation and contemplation. They generally are subtly beautiful, private and designed with the individual in mind. The design and installation can even be an exercise in meditation.

There are only a few elements considered important in meditation gardens. There should be visual elements of green plants, a path (even a short one will work to provide a sense of a getaway), comfortable seating, a water feature, and inspirational art, natural features or flowers.

Some experts believe a meditation garden should have a roof or canopy to increase the sense of privacy. An arbor or trellis planted with vines, a spreading tree or arching clumps of bamboo will work. Choose plants that match the local site conditions and plant them well for quick establishment.

Other interesting items to include are plants that move in the breeze such as bamboo, hanging baskets and vines. Scent can add to the meditative experience. Include a species with fragrant blooms or leaves that are pleasing to you.

By TCPalm

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Sustainability School Opens Downtown Berkeley Campus to Meet Growing Demand for Holistic Living and Permaculture Classes.

People who have had a hard time finding educational opportunities on issues of permaculture, non violent communication and other aspects of sustainable living will now be able to attend classes at the newly opened campus of Common Circle Education in downtown Berkeley.

Located at 2130 Center Street in Downtown Berkeley, the Berkeley Campus of Common Circle Education offers over 200 classes every month in permaculture, yoga, compassionate communication and meditation.

The Institute's founder, Vladislav Davidzon, said, 'To make regenerative design and holistic thinking the norm, we're going to have to make them financially accessible. Our center offers over 200 hours of yoga, permaculture, compassionate communication and meditation instruction each month. Instruction is provided by top notch faculty and classes are available to members for under a dollar per class.'

Members of the public can attend classes on a drop in basis or become members. Free meditation introductions are offered at 7am and 12pm daily and yoga classes are held at 8am, 1pm, 4:30pm and 6pm. Evenings classes are offered on sustainability and permaculture, as well as a Permaculture Design Certificate course starting in January on Saturdays.

As a grand opening special, the school is offering a completely free week of classes during December and January. Regular membership costs $90 per month. Memberships include access to over 200 hours a month of yoga, meditation, communication and permaculture classes, as well as special discounts on weekend courses.

By PR Web

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

BUDDHIST RETREAT: Kentrul Rinpoche, Abbot of Katog Mardo Tashi Choling in Eastern Tibet, presents 'A Retreat on the Preliminary Practice of Ngondro,' 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 5 to 7 at the Chagdud Gonpa Tromge Ling Buddhist Center, 1001 E. Fireweed Lane. The practices will include meditation instructions and readings. Anyone is welcome to come. The three day retreat is $175. No one is turned away for lack of funds. (301 1332, www.tromgeling.org)

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

In today's high paced business environment, the pressure that effects employees can result in a number of costly consequences for businesses. However, through a variety of meditation and relaxation techniques, businesses are now enjoying substantial improvements in staff well being that ultimately improves their bottom line performance. Liz, from Kumara Meditation & Healing Centre in Perth, says, 'We are offering a practical and holistic approach to improving employees' well being and how they deal with stress and emotional issues in the workplace. The provided tools and strategies can be applied during the day to day working environment, crucial meetings and high pressure situations.'

The major benefits of incorporating meditation into a business are obvious. It reduces stress, increases mental concentration, clarity and awareness; it enhances productivity, effectiveness and communication in the workplace; tense situations are resolved with reduced negative and angry behaviour patterns, encouraging Team work and Customer Service; it expands work/ life/ family balancing skills and ultimately improves overall health and well-being, thus reducing absenteeism.

'Kumara for Business' offers a wide range of meditation and stress management training programs. 'We believe it is important to communicate with our clients to understand what they want to achieve through our programs', says Liz, 'These services can be applied to your workplace individually or as a package customised for your business.' The customer may choose the Introductory session, Stress Management through Meditation, or from the Four Week Program, the Ongoing Meditation Sessions or the Conference & Meetings Sessions.

'The total health and productivity cost of worker stress to American business is estimated at $50 to $150 billion annually.' (Sauter, S.L.; Murphy, L.R.; and Hurrell, Jr., J.J. (1990) Prevention of work related psychological disorders. American Psychologist. 45(10):1146 1153)

Looking at these figures, businesses shouldn't hesitate to look seriously at alternative methods to strengthen their employees well being.

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Local spiritual teacher and guided meditation publisher Lexa Finley will be leading a free workshop on reducing holiday stress in conjunction with the release party for her guided meditation CD 'Finding Peace and Harmony' from 1 to 3 p.m. Sat., Dec. 5 at the Akashic Record Bookshop, 1414 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

The CD contains a series of seven 10-minute guided meditations designed to help listeners reduce stress and achieve more balance.

During the workshop, Finley will use various tools and imagery found in the CD to walk participants through steps to help them release stress and other negative emotions associated with the holiday season, teaching them to find blocks of resistance and to reclaim their energy.

The workshop will begin at 1 p.m.

Immediately after the workshop, Finley will sign 'Finding Peace and Harmony' and four other CDs of guided meditations until 3 p.m.

Special discounts will be offered on all products offered by Journey Into The Spirit, the company founded by intuitive healer, clairvoyant and spiritual teacher Lexa Finley.

By Thousand Oak Acorn

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

In Holistic meditation one's focus is exclusively on the mind, in order to discover its nature. In that discovery is the key to freedom from the fragmentation of the mind, its endless fencing and identifications. The subject matter of the enquiry is the subject itself, the mind, and the instrument used is also the mind, the focussed mind.

Knowledge about the subject 'I':

Here one might pause to ponder how exactly knowledge about the subject is different from knowledge about objects. The latter is limited knowledge, limited to the area of one's expertise. Illustratively the field of knowledge of a cardiologist would be the heart and its problems. It would not include all matters connected with the heart. Cases calling for surgical intervention of the heart, like open heart surgery would be a different field. Both cardiac specialists would be ignorant about the treatment for other parts of the body, say about Gastric, Ulcer. Knowledge of particular specialisation would necessarily imply ignorance of the rest, which is therefore vast. This knowledge is dualistic, part of a pair; knowledge, ignorance, rich, poor, educated illiterate and so on.

Here the mind's search is for its own place of origin. Ramana gives the analogy of a dog tracing its master...

In contrast, knowledge of the subject is total. For, ours is a mental world, everything being dependent on the perceiver. Therefore, once the true nature of the mind is discovered everything else is known. Hence Ramana emphasises the need for and the primacy of knowledge about the 'I'.

Understanding the mind - The Enquiry:

In this enquiry about the nature of one's mind, one begins at the beginning, the state when the mind as we know it is not there, when the thinker and his thoughts are not there. This happens each day in deep sleep. A fatigued mind reappears on waking, refreshed. From this the origin of the mind can be inferred to be from a rejuvenating source. This Ramana had discovered to be the spiritual heart.

What happens on waking? Is the link with the source broken or continued. It is as good as broken because the thinker is lost in his own thought hordes and forgets his association with his conscious source, the heart. In the rapid movement of successive thoughts the one to whom the thoughts relate, the central force is forgotten. The mind's attention is hijacked as it was by this non stop thought movement away from where it should be on itself. This Ramana says is no wiser than to think that creeper can exist without tree and consequently paying attention only to it.

Thoughts are given an independent status, as if they can exist by themselves. Remedies are sought for control of thoughts through meditation. Will it free one from his thoughts? 'No'. At best there may be a lull during the period of meditation but thoughts will be back with a vengeance.

By A.R.Natarajan

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETEAT

Looking to ease physical pain? Suffering from mental anguish? Not sure where to turn? Meditation can provide relief. But how does it work?

Life and career coach and meditation guide in Ringwood, Mim Nelson, teaches that meditation is 'dirt simple.'

There are a lot of different ways you can go about [meditation], different paths you can take,' she said. 'Meditation is really natural and really simple.'

Nelson guides a free monthly meditation group that meets at the Presbyterian Church and is geared toward people of all levels of experience.

She believes that meditation and quieting the mind is not as difficult as many people believe.

'I don't think that you have to quiet the mind completely,' she said. 'If you think, 'is my mind really quiet?' That's a noisy mind. You have to not care.'

Jerry Kuhlman has been practicing yoga and meditation since 1973. He has been teaching group meditation for approximately 20 years. Six years ago he dedicated his career to yoga and meditation when he and his wife opened Highland Yoga in Butler.

BY DANIELLE ROSE

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Life presents many stresses each day, but fortunately for those in the Wakefield area the Rev. Maddie Sifantus will lead guided meditation sessions on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield, 326 Main St.

Meditation has been around for thousands of years and is considered of the oldest forms of mental, spiritual, health and wellness practices in existence. Yet it wasn't until around 500 B.C. that Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, expanded its popularity. Rev. Sifantus explained that the meditation group will practice the Buddhist form known as 'Mindfulness Meditation.' She describes it as 'bringing attention to the breath.'

Sifantus has been meditating for years as a way to 'keep on an even keel and stay centered.' She shared that in 2006 she was involved in a near fatal car accident and was able to go into a meditative state and remain conscious while waiting for paramedics. Having the ability to stay calm, she was able to communicate vital information to the EMTs. She was hospitalized for two months recovering from injuries.

Her group has been meeting since March 2009, after she became minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church in January. Both men and women, ages 22 to 60 plus, attend; about half are parishioners and half are community residents, she said.

By Joyce Shipley-Alders

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Maa Shyama researched and revived this ancient technique that has been used by yogis to stay healthy. Gradually, through practice and meditation, visualisation and conscious imagination, the body of the practitioner soaks and breathes the seven components of light in the right proportion.

In rainbow healing meditation, the practitioner delves into the subconscious and higher conscious minds to blast and transmute disease and pain with powerful cosmic rays of light. This removes memories of disease from the body and restores radiant health and balance.

Rainbow healing draws on a variety of alternative healing therapies so that one is healed at all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It is a journey of self healing and transformation by exploring one's energy centres, chakras, and auric fields.

Our bodies are surrounded by a coloured envelope of light known as aura, which is normally invisible. The aura is connected with spirally rotating energy centres called chakras. The aura's colours undergo continuous change in accordance with changes in chakras that are determined by our physical health, attitudes and emotions.

By C K SHARMA

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Brahma Kumaris, Sri Lanka, branch of the World Spiritual University launched its new national initiative entitled, 'Experiencing Inner Power and Protection through Good Wishes and Pure Feelings' on November 15 at the BMICH.

Representative for World Health Organization P.P. Singh, Group Director of Galle Face Hotel Lakshman Sirimanna, Rtd. Justice Ameer Ismail, B.K. Ganesh and others at the launch.

Many eminent persons comprising Supreme Court Judges, local and foreign diplomats, directors, administrators and the public were present.

Introducing the project, Bro. Ganesh of the Brahma Kumaris, explained that the project has been designed to fulfil the need of the time. The participants with the help of guided commentaries were given an experience how to tap the inner power source through an accurate meditation technique and also experiencing the new energy which is unleashed through the meditation. Participants in the meditation journey and experience meditation. The second part of the meditation experience was to connect the inner self with the Supreme power source and receive the powers. The third and concluding session of the meditation experience consisted in the participants bestowing the power to others in the world who needed it.

The three stages of meditation experience with the help of guided commentary gave the participants new found energy and strength to face life with ease and pleasure.

By Daily News

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Meditation is no longer just for the groovy folk. A just published study in the American Journal of Hypertension suggests the practice may bring cardiovascular and mental health benefits.

The research, conducted at American University in Washington, followed 298 students, half of whom practiced transcendental meditation for 20 minutes once or twice daily over three months and half of whom did not. Results: A subgroup of subjects in the meditation group who were at increased risk for hypertension significantly lowered their blood pressure and psychological distress and also bolstered their coping ability.

The average reduction in blood pressure in this group a 6.3 mm Hg decrease in the top (systolic) number of a blood pressure reading and a 4 mm Hg decrease in the lower (diastolic) number, compared with the control group was associated with a 52 percent reduction in the risk of developing hypertension in the future. Meditators who were not at increased risk for hypertension saw a reduction in psychological distress, depression, and anxiety as well as increased coping ability but no significant lowering of blood pressure. The results are particularly meaningful at a time when 'improvement in mental health is of great concern as greater numbers of college students are being treated for anxiety and depression than ever before,' says lead study author, Sanford Nidich, professor of physiology and health at the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management in Iowa.


By Sarah Baldauf

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

It was quiet.

Not so quiet that a person could ignore the cascading hum of the bus pulling in at its Packard Avenue stop, and then its resurging growl as it departed for its next destination. Or so quiet that someone could miss the chime of the University Center's bells when the time was a quarter to eight, or a light rain hitting the tiles on the archaic Packer Chapel.

But quiet enough for the minimal sounds to resemble a silence.

Four Lehigh students sat, cross legged atop baby blue pillows with their socked feet sticking out, in a circle at the altar of Packer church. Four pairs of shoes lay a quick glance to the side, along with four silenced cell phones, two silver watches, three backpacks and a slinky bracelet.

The students' eyes were closed and hands were cupped. One sat with his knees hitting the braided rug on the floor, so he would not strain his thighs or cause his feet to fall asleep, he said later.

No one spoke. Instead, they inhaled and exhaled through their noses slowly, so as not to interrupt the quiet with the gasp of a normal breath. Every once in a while, a person swallowed. Typically an unnoticeable human trait, this echoed across the altar walls like a loud gulp of beer or a dry cough.

At the beginning, Sarah Morgan, graduate student and the circle leader, had recommended participators push their tongues to the roofs of their mouths to prevent the buildup of saliva, and, therefore, the urge to swallow.

By Elaine Hardenstine

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

First and foremost one has to recognise the importance of such a unitary approach of the limitless embracing the mind, the body and the world, since it alone holds the key to a fully awakened mind and the bliss of natural joy. Secondly and perhaps equally important is the need to understand the mind and its essential nature. For this Ramana gives one an insight by drawing one's attention to what he calls, "The daily miracle about the mind" viz.; the daily disappearance of mind in deep sleep and its rising again on waking. The fact that the fatigued mind gets re energised during sleep should also be remembered. Logically one can infer that the mind has linked itself to the centre, the Heart in deep sleep. Hence Ramana says in his Forty Verses, 'God illumines the mind and shines within it'.

The existence of a treasure trove of happiness within is squarely placed before us. It is only logical that the best use of the mind's power would be to search for or quest for, this fountain of life. Hence in Ramana literature we find the expression, 'Margana', or search. Its importance is stressed over and over again. The search here is by the mind in the waking state for its own place of origin.

Perhaps the example of one using the T.V. 'Remote' for search of a particular channel of his choice would be apt. If the cable operator has made some changes or when some new channels have been added one has to search to locate the particular channel of his choice. Here the mind's search is for its own place of origin. Ramana gives the analogy of a dog tracing its master by a single means of identification known to it; his smell. It would not know whether its master is tall or short, fat or lean but it would certainly not miss his scent. Likewise the scent of its own origin, its own conscious nature would be imbedded in the mind. This would make it possible for one to be successful in the search.

Another familiar expression used by Ramana is to dive within, just as a swimmer would dive to the depths of a pool by using the diving board so too should one use the mind's power itself, its conscious nature, to dive within to discover the hidden treasure, the divine current in the heart.

By A.R. Natarajan

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

A new place of worship has opened in Middleton that is at once a place of peace and a place that's at peace with the earth.

Holy Wisdom Monastery is the latest in 'green' churches. It boasts bamboo flooring, geothermal heat, and dozens of solar panels on its roof.

Not only is Holy Wisdom Monastery one of the most environmentally friendly churches around, Sister Mary David Walgenbach said, 'We think it will be the greenest building in the U.S.'

Walgenbach, one of the three Benedictine Women of Madison, believes that there is a good chance that Holy Wisdom Monastery has the potential to receive a 'platinum' rating by the U.S. Green Building Council, which provides standards from environmentally sustainable construction.

The platinum LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, certification was just one of the construction goals for the new monastery and just part of the church's mission, which Walgenbach summarized as, 'To care for the earth, and we do that by having prairie around instead of farmland. It's why we wanted to build a green building, to care for the earth and to show that there can be some ways to save energy.'

One example of how the church is accomplishing its green mission is by the use of natural light as often as possible. To maximize natural light, designers controlled glare through the use of special glass.

Mark Hanson of Hoffman Architects, the Appleton based architectural firm that designed Holy Wisdom, said, 'Walk around the building. There's not a blind in the building, so we're bringing both light in, and we want to keep the view. The view is very important.'

By Channel 3000

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Desert Rain Zen Group will hold an all day sit. For more information please see our Web site.

We also hold weekly Zen meditations. We usually sit from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., but please check our Web site or email or call us to confirm times. Our sits are held from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. when there are UA home football games, and other schedule changes may occur.

We welcome old and new meditators. Our practice aims to bring traditional forms inherited from China and Japan into touch with our contemporary world and our actual lives. There are two 25 minute sits followed by tea and talk. Chairs are available for those not able to sit on cushions. Please plan to arrive a bit early to allow time to settle in. If you'd like a brief orientation to Zen meditation, please email us at drz@desertrainzen.org

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

The inaugural International Bali Meditators Festival will be held in Ubud this weekend, bringing together local and foreign experts and practitioners to promote meditation as a way of life.

The festival will feature panel sessions and workshops to enlighten participants about meditation, as well as share experiences and cross cultural understanding. Initiated by noted spiritualist Anand Krishna, the two day festival aims to create an enlightened society through meditation, festival committee head Oka Ratnayani said Wednesday.

"There are a lot of meditation groups in Bali, in Indonesia and in other countries, with their own ways of attaining self balance," he said.

"It's time for us to gather and inspire more people to apply the values of meditation in life."

Anand said meditation did not just correspond to physical health, but also involved higher consciousness.

"Meditation is not merely about sitting silently and concentrating; it's an expansion of consciousness to reach samadhi or self balance to make you feel no restlessness, worry or fear," said the spiritualist, author of more than 130 books on meditation.

"Once you have attained self balance, you begin your new life."

Bali was chosen to host the inaugural festival due to the island's strong spiritual base. "Although there have been some setbacks and defiances of values, the base remains strong, and we have to preserve this," Anand said.

Anand will be the keynote speaker at the Saturday morning session, which will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Balinese spiritualists Ratu Bagus and Prabu Darmayasa.

Ratu champions a creative approach to awaken desire for freedom and cosmic awareness toward a better and harmonious world, while Prabu eschews Anka dhyana (meditating on numbers), a simple but powerful meditation method to attain divine love.

By Desy Nurhayati

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

In a new study, researchers point to "robust" findings that short periods of meditation can help patients cope with pain. Past studies show that extensive mindfulness training can change the way pain is perceived. The study is the first to show that meditating just twenty minutes a day is a valuable intervention that can decrease pain sensitivity and decrease perception of pain.

The study comes from researchers at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. According to lead author and psychologist Fadel Zeidan, "This study is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of such a brief intervention on the perception of pain. Not only did the meditation subjects feel less pain than the control group while meditating but they also experienced less pain sensitivity while not meditating."

For the study the scientists taught meditation techniques over a period of three days, during one hour sessions. The fact that mindfulness training can be taught in such a short period of time makes the pain treatment practical and inexpensive for chronic pain sufferers.

By Kathleen Blanchard RN

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Holistic Drug Rehab, New York and CT, In an attempt to improve treatment outcomes for people suffering from drug addiction and alcoholism, drug rehabs across the country have incorporated holistic treatment methods into their treatment programming. However, the prevalence and use of this approach may not have occurred if it were not for a group of forward thinking individuals who launched the first treatment center built on a holistic philosophical core that focused on treating the entire individual and not just the symptoms. This approach is now widely known as the 'Mind/Body and Spirit' approach. After introducing this holistic approach to the addiction treatment field more than a decade ago, Mountainside Treatment Center in Connecticut proudly looks back and reflects on the 11 years of progressive development of its treatment program from pioneers to leaders in the field of addiction.

Chief Operating Officer, Martin Fedor commented that, 'Not many of the treatment centers we visited in the early days quite understood what it was that we were doing, and their eyes would glaze over when we would mention that we were incorporating Yoga, Meditation and other new techniques into our daily treatment program. At the time, it was way too new age for most of them and lacked any credibility as far as they were concerned'.

By Trans World News

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Building a peaceful society starts with a few deep cleansing breaths.

That's how each individual can change themselves and the world around them, says Art of Living instructor Gurdeep Bagga.

"A non violent and stress free society starts with a stress free individual," she said. "We must be at peace to achieve this."

The non religious, non sectarian foundation is offering local courses from now until December. The course is offered in more than 150 countries by the foundation founded in India 27 years ago by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

"We teach breathing, yoga and mediation techniques," Bagga said. "We know that some peace of mind lessons have become a bit cliched over the past few years, but we think the experience speaks louder than words."

Bagga was an IT professional in Los Angeles five years ago living a high stress lifestyle. She eventually found her way back to India and the Art of Living Foundation's work.

Since then she's been an instructor working for the registered charitable organization in Windsor and Sarnia.

The course, which costs $300, runs for a total of six days over a week at the Newton Centre in Newton Park.

Free introductory sessions run every Monday from 5 p. m. to 6 p. m.

"We think that most people will notice a difference from the start of each session to the end," said volunteer J. V. Rao.

The sessions are organized by volunteers and fees charged are focused on charitable work, Rao said.

There is no pressure to join the program if a participant isn't enjoying it, he said.

By OBSERVER STAFF

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Long ago, meditation was regarded as an Eastern religious practice. Today, modern science has now proven it to be a powerful tool for personal development and self healing.

Meditation costs nothing. It requires no special equipment, it's not difficult to learn and can be practised anywhere, at anytime. As little as 20/30 minutes per day is fine and unlike medication, has no side effects.

There are many techniques, but all have a basic goal, to calm the restless mind and facilitate inner awareness.

Doctors agree that most of our illnesses are stress related. Even when patients seem unaware, there are issues they are unconscious about that relate to their problems.

Every illness has a psychosomatic component. True healing cannot take place if we only treat the physical manifestations (the symptoms) and neglect the underlying emotional and spiritual components (the cause).

Neuroscientists have found that meditation changes the activity of the brain. It produces slow alpha and theta brain waves usually associated with deep sleep. It also activates different areas of the brain, brain waves in the stress prone right frontal cortex move to the calmer left frontal cortex. This mental shift decreases the negative effects of stress, depression and anxiety. There is also less activity in the amygdala, the area of the brain where the brain processes fear.

By The Gleaner

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Shands Cancer Hospital at the University of Florida, located on the new Shands at UF South Campus, opened its 500,000- quare foot, state of the art hospital Nov. 1, according to a news release. The facility has 192 private rooms and cost $388 million to build. The new facility includes nursing stations designed so practitioners can easily see patients and computer alcoves between rooms to provide an observation/charting area for patients who need closer attention. The Garden of Hope offers a quiet place of beauty to pause and reflect, and the Sanctuaries of Silence and Peace provide quiet areas for meditation and prayer adaptable for people of all belief systems, according to the release.

By Nurse

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Who needs flu vaccine when you exercise your risk away - or maybe even meditate?

University of Wisconsin Madison is studying 150 residents to see if exercise and meditation can ward off colds and the flu.

It's well known that meditation can reduce stress, and prevent certain chronic diseases.

But Dr. Bruce Barrett says the new study hopes to find out if meditation or exercise can help the immune system keep respiratory infections away.

The study began last month. The participants are taking weekly classes for about two months on the proper ways to meditate and exercise.

Most are doing about 45 minutes of one or the other each day until May.

About a third of the group is not doing either activity.

They're all getting seasonal flu shots and blood tests, and they'll receive nasal swabs if they contract a cold or the flu.

Scientists will use the tests and swabs to identify the viruses, and see if the exercise or meditation affects the way the immune system responds to their flu shots.

The study is funded by a $1.2 million federal grant.

By Pierce County Herald

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

The Center for Spiritual Living, Westlake Village at 880 Hampshire Road, Stes. V and W, presents the following programs and services. The public is invited.

For information or any event, email csl@cslwestlake.org or visit www.cslwestlake.org.

Every Sunday a 'prayerful guided meditation' is offered from 9:30 to 9:50 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life service with Dr. Maureen Hoyt at 10 a.m. Children and teen groups also meet at 10 a.m.

Following are the upcoming Sunday service topics:

Nov. 1: How many ways can you say thank you?

Nov. 8: Counting my blessings. Nov. 15: Saying yes to life.

Nov. 22: Happy Thanksgiving.

Nov. 29: Journey to selfawareness.

Dec. 6: Celebrating all cultures.

Dec. 13: What we believe about Christmas.

Dec. 20: Better watch out, better not pout.

Dec. 23: Holiday candle lighting service with carols, cider, choir performance.

Dec. 27: Burning bowl ceremony.

Dec. 31: Annual peace vigil.

A midday meditation takes place every Wednesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Lisa Chadwick Peterson facilitates 'A Moment's Peace' meditation. The Rev. Linda Fisher facilitates Wisdom Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Hoyt leads an introductory course to the metaphysics of the Science of Mind teaching founded by Dr. Ernest Holmes at 7 p.m. Thursdays.

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Transcendental meditation reduces stress and improves the emotional and mental well being of breast cancer patients, new study findings suggest.

The two year trial included 130 patients at Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago, aged 55 and older, randomly assigned to either a transcendental meditation group or to a usual care control group. Quality of life was assessed every six months.

"Emotional and psychosocial stress contribute to the onset and progression of breast cancer and cancer mortality," study author Sanford Nidich, senior researcher at the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, said in a news release from Saint Joseph Hospital.

"The transcendental meditation technique reduces stress and improves emotional well being and mental health in older breast cancer patients. The women in the study found their meditation practice easy to do at home and reported significant benefits in their overall quality of life," Nidich added.

"It is wonderful that physicians now have a range of interventions to use, including transcendental meditation, to benefit their patients with cancer. I believe this approach should be appreciated and utilized more widely," study co-author Dr. Rhoda Pomerantz, chief of gerontology at Saint Joseph Hospital, said in the release.

The study, published in a recent issue of the journal Integrative Cancer Therapies, received funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

By AJC

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Modern medicine views disease as a mechanistic process, caused either by 'germs,' chemical imbalances, or genetics. This leads to the assumption that for every illness, there is a physical cure, either by killing the offending micro organism, restoring chemical balance through a pill, or cutting out the failed or offending body part by surgery.

The materialistic outlook has even taken over the practice of psychiatric medicine. If a person is depressed, disturbed, anxious, or unhappy, don't look at the possible causes in that person's outlook, environment, diet, habits, addictions, or value system. Just give them an anti depressent or even an anti psychotic. Never mind that these drugs may just suppress symptoms or even reduce the person to almost a vegetative state. On the surface, at least, they seem to be 'getting better' or at least causing less trouble!

But in some circles, an entirely different world view is emerging. We know, for instance, about the holistic approach to medicine that sees a person as not just a bundle of chemical reflexes but a complete human being with a mind, heart, body, and spirit, all of which need to work more or less in harmony for optimum health to result.

But how often is this knowledge really practiced by people day in and day out?

A whole new industry of holistic health practitioners has come into existence, including those who practice acupuntrure, acupressure, reiki, hypnosis, massage, and bodywork, including yoga, tai chi, qi gong, etc.There is also a growing awareness that a regular practice of prayer and spiritual devotion also benefits the whole person, including the physical body.

The deepest of these holistic practices may in fact be meditation. Meditative or contemplative prayer is a central component of religious practice within both the Catholic and Orthodox faiths, and meditation is the central discipline of all lines of Buddhism. Yoga also includes meditation, and in some types of yogic practice is the core discipline.

Are people who meditate more healthy? I am not aware of any scientific studies, but based on my own experience with many different types of meditation which includes association with various groups, schools, and teachers of meditation, I would have to say they appear to be. Or at least they worry less about their physical health, take illness more in stride, and are able to recover faster when it occurs.

One thing is sure: long term practice of meditation on a daily basis seems to raise the energy level of the body. This makes a difference because the body is like an energy filled vessel. If this energy leaks through negative emotions, unnecessary physical tension, and the constant churning of the mind, the body will suffer a general state of depletion, which is bound to make it more susceptible to disease. It also makes a difference if one avoids much of the jarring imagery churned out by the mass media through violent and disturbing films, TV programming, video games, etc.

These health related factors which have been understood by traditional societies for millennia are also starting to be realized by millions of ordinary people in every walk of life. Combined with a nutritious diet, physical exercise, positive relationships, and productive work, a rich inner life of prayer and meditation produces a multitude of benefits, not the least of which seems to be improved physical health and greater resistance to infections such as swine flu.

By Richard C. Cook

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Taking a few cues from Buddhist traditions, Susan Emmer Schmidt believes people should try to put aside their hectic schedules and endless responsibilities to appreciate the present and enjoy simple moments.

As a member of Peacemaking Education and Action through Collaborative Efforts, the PEACE Ministry, a group at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, Schmidt is involved with study groups examining the teachings of Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hahn.

After attending a six day retreat with Hanh that drew almost 1,000 people to Stonehill College in Easton in August, she knew she wanted to share his teachings with the church community and others who are interested.

"I really started to realize the incredible benefit of being supported by other people," the Norfolk resident said.

Schmidt, 64, approached the Rev. Ann Willever and Parish Minister Carol Rosine later that month with the idea of organizing Pathways to Peace, a Buddhist-inspired meditation group, and was met with support.

Schmidt facilitated the first meeting at the church on Sept. 13, which involved meditation, a reading from one of Hanh's many books, "Peace is Every Step," and discussion.

"The whole practice is about training ourselves to be more mindful and aware of our surroundings, or choices, what we're doing and why we're doing it," she said. "It's just about being really present in the moment, whether we're cooking, cleaning or praying."

By Ashley Studley

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Swamiji, when we are in deep dreamless sleep and when we are in real meditation, are we in the same no mind state?

Buzz up!

No. When you are in deep sleep, you go to the level of the seed and come back to the state you were in before going to sleep. No growth happens in you. When you are in real meditation, you go to the level of the seed, the seed ruptures and you move on to the next higher state. That is the difference. They are two extremes. Of course, when you look from outside, extremes always look alike. A madman looks like a mystic and a mystic looks like a madman! Both of them have lost their minds but in different directions.

About the author

Paramahamsa Nithyananda

Paramahamsa Nithyananda is a recognized enlightened master today. Born amidst rich spiritual heritage, and with a natural passion for the Truth, he experimented with yoga, integration of mind body spirit, meditation, tantra, vedanta and other Eastern metaphysical sciences, from the tender age of 3...

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

WHEN we're talking about quiet neighbours, they don't come much quieter than the Warwick Mindfulness Meditation Group.

That's according to spokesman Gary Fuller, who has told the Daily News about their plans to meet in the former home of Warwick identities Bill and Mavis Scott.

Thegroup has applied to the Southern Downs Regional Council for permissionto run their not for profit and Buddhist influenced weekly meditation sessions at 157 Pratten Street.

Mr Scott has passed away and MrsScott is now living in Brisbane, but the couple's presence in the homewill be remembered by naming the foyer to the group's premises, theformer living area, 'The Bill and Mavis Scott Room'.

Mr Fuller said Mrs Scott had been a regular at meditation sessions held at the Warwick Library and St Mary's Parish Centre.

'The group had its origins with the University of the Third Age and has grown to a membership of around 23, two thirds of whom are women,' MrFuller said.

'We are not looking for huge membership but anyone who would like to come along is more than welcome'.

By Jeremy Sollars

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

A new study published in the September issue of Integrative Cancer Therapies reports that women who have breast cancer can reduce their stress and improve their emotional and mental well being by practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique.

According to the American Cancer Society, the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that regular meditation can reduce chronic pain, high blood pressure, anxiety, and blood levels of cortisol, one of the stress hormones.

Transcendental Meditation study

The Transcendental Meditation study involved 130 women aged 55 years or older who had breast cancer. The two year study was a collaboration between the Center for Healthy Aging at Saint Joseph Hospital, Northwestern University, Indiana State University, and the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University of Management.

The women were randomly assigned to practice the Transcendental Meditation technique or to a group of usual care (control group). All the women were administered quality of life measures every six months for two years. The women who practiced Transcendental Meditation reported significant benefits in their overall quality of life and found that the meditation was easy to practice at home.

By Deborah Mitchell

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

In a world that is too often muddled by chaos and uncertainty, it is often difficult to find time to reflect upon everyday life. Gratitude and sincerity are lost to the humdrum of society's constant wants. 'Seasons of Salt,' published by iUniverse, offers a new way of looking at life. Author Millie Horlacher tells her readers that spirituality can be found in otherwise uneventful circumstances and to always be listening for God.

'Seasons of Salt' is a book of meditations that gently guides its readers in reflection and self discovery. Each meditation begins with a Scripture reading, then relates life experience to the Biblical message and ends with a prayer. Through Horlacher's personal experiences, the reader is able to look deeper into his or her daily life. The author's meditations, which she likes to call 'salty,' include experiences of deep grief and pain as well as times of joy and laughter. The underlying message is that God was and always is present.

'Travel with me through our common experiences of family, food, and childhood memories, as well as through our shared identity as children of God and the calendar of the Christian year. Just as a small amount of salt sprinkled into soup can spread throughout the pot, our grains of salt can too spread the message of Christ to those around us.'

'Seasons of Salt' is a meditational guide that can be used for one's private devotional times or for group devotions. It offers an inspiring and life changing outlook for all those whose lives it touches.

By E Releases

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

A new trend is taking off with Wellness and Healing Centres popping up all over Australia. Liz McCaughey from Kumara Meditation & Healing Centre in Perth says, 'Now more than ever people are looking for a single place to go that is going to meet a number of needs. People are busy so if they can go to the one place to meditate, browse a book & gift shop, have a coffee, relax with friends and even do their yoga, they are going to find that really appealing'.

McCaughey knows what she is talking about as she and her husband Roger are the founders of Kumara Meditation & Healing Centres (www.kumara.com.au). The first Kumara Centre opened in 2003 and is located in the beautiful Northshore Tennis and Country Club. This Centre has a large workspace room, plus therapy and massage rooms.

The second opened its doors in September 2007 in the northern suburbs of Perth. Kumara developed from a basic meditation centre to its current form. It now offers 3 different meditation courses, and a wide variety of energy courses, deeper study courses and yoga. Kumara is a complete healing centre, with its growing number of practitioners, teachers and many weekly healing meditations.

Due to a growing consumer need the facility quickly expanded from one teacher to 5 teachers with Satellite centres planned and opening throughout Western Australia. The second centre has a gift shop and book cafe plus a large workspace area. Kumara is also proud to be Home for Pranic Healing in Western Australia and has introduced a Kabbalah Self Study group in conjunction with The Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles.

'We are happy to provide a place where anyone would feel welcome, whether they are interested in meditation and healing, or they just enjoy a good cup of coffee and a great book' says McCaughey. With so much to offer, it is definitely worth a visit. If you can't make it to one of the centres then check out the website at http://www.kumara.com.au

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Chandigarh will soon set up treetop meditation huts in the serene environs of the Botanical Garden, a unique place for relaxation away from the busy city life, in this union territory.

These huts will be a part of Nature Interpretation Centre coming up at the Botanical Garden here in Sarangpur village. The centre is a part of Chandigarh's tourism promotion project.

'Under the project, treetop meditation huts and various public utility services would be provided at the Botanical Garden. City residents and tourists can come here to beat their stressful lifestyle and we would take care of all their needs,' Chandigarh conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden Ishwar Singh said here Sunday.

'Our primary aim is to promote eco tourism in Chandigarh. Besides, our objective has been widened to include promotion of research, education, conservation of flora and spread of awareness about our floral heritage,' he added.

The department of tourism has sanctioned Rs.2.5 crore (Rs.25 million) for this project. The task to set up this centre has been assigned to the engineering department. The centre will be completed by the end of this financial year.

The Botanical Garden, which was inaugurated in 2007, is spread over an area of 180 acres.

'It is one of the biggest botanical gardens in the region. The garden comprises 15 botanical sections, 13 of which have already been completed. Two sections, including Japanese and Cactus garden, will be developed soon at a cost of Rs.40 lakh (Rs.4 million),' Singh said.

By IANS

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

The Tibetan Lama, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche, spoke at 4 p.m. yesterday in Muller Chapel to an audience of about 128 students and faculty on 'Meditative Awareness and Living & Dying.'

Bardor, with the help of translator Palden Oshoe, said in an hour long talk that there are six different levels to dying. His lecture focused on three of those levels.

'Living and dying is a part of a life cycle,' Bardor said. 'Everyone is subject to death and since we are all good at living we should all be good at dying.'

Senior Emily Berg attended the event after hearing about it from her professor.

'I have an interest in Buddhism and I regularly go down to Namgyal [a monk monastery in Ithaca],' Berg said. 'It was really interesting about how he went into specifics after you die.'

Bardor said in life people are trained through meditation to make the dying process a smooth one. He said in Tibetan Buddhism, there is a 49 day period between death and incarnation. Depending on your training and meditation skills, the 49 days can go by either fast or slow.

Jewish chaplain Michael Faber and Brian Karafin, associate professor of philosophy and religion, invited Bardor to speak about meditation after being contacted by Mary Gilliland, a member of the Namgyal Board of Directors.

'Bardor has been working in New York for several years and has experience of teaching students in the western hemisphere' Gillilan said.

Gillilan, previously a poetry professor at the college, said she has worked closely with Faber for many years.

'I thought it would be wonderful to connect him with the college because [the college] has such a strong religious program' she said.

By Natalie Rubino

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

It is daybreak and Miyoshinji Temple's gongs are being rung, the first sounds you have heard in the past eight hours. Lines of monks rustle past, venturing out to a ceremony. Unlike Kyoto's more renowned temples that have become attractions, Miyoshinji Temple carries on as a Zen Buddhist temple and monastery, housing monks and pilgrims as it has for centuries.

Even though Miyoshinji stands in the heart of Kyoto, it occupies its own domain composed of several sub temples, each with its own order, group of monks and protocol.

Though UNESCO World Heritage temples and gardens are a short bicycle ride away, Miyoshinji Temple eschews tour bus groups, sticking to its Zen like simplicity and tranquility. Known for its history of hospitality, two of the sub temples welcome both Japanese and foreign visitors as guests. Taizoin offers regular "Zen Experience" sessions meant to introduce Japanese culture to foreign visitors.

By The Star

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

Following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, western governments sought out mechanisms to press China on human rights, with leaders lobbying over lists of political prisoners and establishing 'human rights dialogues' with Beijing.

The lists are still a staple of high level visits to China, although arguably intimidation of dissidents has increased in the past two years, especially around the Olympics and the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen this June. And diplomats in Beijing put little faith in the dialogues.

'Most of us view them as bureaucratic and procedural games,' says one European envoy.

To have influence, some observers believe, western governments need to shift strategy and focus on issues with support within the Chinese system, rather than hectoring from afar. China has already reformed its death penalty rules, introducing compulsory review of each case by the Supreme People's Court.

'We need to go with the grain, pushing topics which are already being discussed within China, rather than always opposing the government,' says John Fox, until recently a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Mrs Clinton argued she used her trip to broaden discussion about human rights away from just dissidents when she met a group of non-governmental organisations. 'At least as important in building respect for and making progress on human rights are the efforts of civil society institutions, NGOs, women's groups, academic institutions,' she said.

But some campaigners believe that dissidents should remain the focus. 'The best thing that western governments can do is speak out about activists who are in jail,' says Dimon Liu, a veteran activist based in Washington.

The trickiest issue remains how western governments deal with Tibet and Xinjiang, two western provinces that have seen ethnic riots over the past 18 months. The Tibetans in particular have substantial popular support in the west. But these are also the issues where the response from China is usually at its most inflexible.

The Obama administration will set the tone. The Dalai Lama's advisers say he has been assured he will see Mr Obama this year, a proper meeting on the president's official agenda, rather than a 'drop by' in the corridors of the White House. If that meeting takes place, the Dalai Lama can argue that his cause of Tibetan autonomy has not been sacrificed to realpolitik. But if Mr Obama does not confirm, many other leaders may follow suit.

By Daniel Dombey

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'Cultivating a Good Heart'

Weekly drop in classes at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Come and enjoy listening to a talk on buddhist view and experience guided meditations to relax and inspire us in our daily life.

These classes are casual and suitable for anyone; teaching positive thinking and meditation. You do not need to be a buddhist to enjoy them and benefit from them.
Please contact us for further information.


By Cambridge Now

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Richard Davidson, one of the world's top brain scientists, believes mental exercise, specifically meditation, can literally change our minds.

'Our data shows mental practice can induce long lasting changes in the brain,' said Davidson, professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin Madison.

His startling scientific research on the impact of meditation on brain function has implications that go beyond the physical.

Buddhist monks believe mental attributes and positive emotions such as compassion, loving, kindness and empathy are skills that can be cultivated.

And science is beginning to back that up.

Davidson started meditating in 1974, when he was a PhD student at Harvard. Back then, meditation was seen as a somewhat faddish eastern import right up there with the dashiki and the Jesus sandal.

'The culture at the time was not so receptive,' Davidson said, 'nor were the scientific methods so well developed.'

It was when he met the Dalai Lama in 1992 that he 'decided to come out of the closet with my interest in meditation.'

He became excited about the possibility of applying rigorous scientific study to the practice of meditation.

'I made a commitment to do my best to take the tools we have so well honed in studying fear and anxiety and apply them to kindness and compassion.'

Davidson began an ongoing study of the brains of Buddhist monks, the so called 'Olympians' of meditation, each of whom had accomplished at least 10,000 hours of meditation.

'The work was framed within the research on neuro plasticity, the understanding that the brain is built to change in response to experience,' Davidson said.

Just as an injured brain can adapt by mapping out new neuron pathways to accomplish tasks, 'brain circuits (for) regulation of emotion and attention are malleable by the environment and are potential targets of training,' he said.

Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imagery (fMRI), Davidson showed that compassion meditation, even in short term practitioners, induced significant changes in patterns of functional activity in the brain.

By Denise Ryan

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Your weight can be dangerous! We already know that about our own body weight. If you are exercising and add a weight or two for pumping iron to build bone density, here are some words of caution.

I've lifted 3 pound weights at the Senior Center bone building exercise class three to four times a week for several years. In a session recently, I took two 3 pound weights out of their storage basket and one of them sneakily slipped out of my weaker hand, landing on my right foot's middle toe. Immediately a whole week of plans changed due to my not paying attention for one second.

In spite of applying a frozen pack of hot dogs to the impact area, half my foot promptly turned a rosy violet. The swelling and intense pain only lasted a day, but I resorted to a wheelchair for grocery shopping and stopped my daily two mile walks for a week.

Even though my bones need strengthening, nothing was broken. Perhaps the exercises are even helping to make my toe bones stronger, which would be the best part of my episode. Also, besides learning the lesson that exercise equipment needs to be handled very carefully, during my moment of crisis, I got better acquainted with some very helpful and friendly seniors at the center.

Sara Aeikens

It's been fun comparing notes with other AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project seniors on differences we've noticed. When I staffed a table for our Vitality Project project, as an ambassador for Albert Lea at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair, we were located directly next to the AARP health screening center. I was grateful to learn from them that my 'bad' cholesterol had dropped 30 points and my glucose was lower than my last test.

By Sarah Aeikens

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Would you like an experience of expressing happiness, gratitude and joy every week? Maybe throw in hand clapping, dancing and moving to the beat? How about silent meditation and contemplation on a question or an issue?

How about a community in unity?

Beginning Thursday, come over to Hey Jude! Music and Meditation at St. Jude's Episcopal Church (the one with the labyrinth in the floor and near SUU on 200 West and Harding Street in Cedar City) and join a new expression of joy and togetherness.

Thursday, Melanie Paulk-Abderrahman, E-RYT, leads the group in a Guided Meditation.

Oct. 8, The Tibetan Monks will lead a prayer service for peace and well being.

No requirements, dress code or guilt allowed. Local musicians.

This event is supported by the Cedar Area Interfaith Alliance. Call Rev. Susan at 559 3623 or email stjudes@netutah.com for more information.

By The Spectrum

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Someone I know well began waking up around 3 a.m. and had difficulty getting back to sleep. He has a history of Seasonal Affective Disorder, which many people begin to experience in late August as the days get shorter, and he suspected this was the first sign.

The sleep disturbance didn't bother him that much because at least he wasn't feeling depressed yet. He has a history of clinical depression, too.

But just last week, those symptoms started. Although his mood wasn't yet depressed (that's just one of many symptoms for the condition), he was still experiencing a lot of related problems. He was feeling less secure about his thoughts and judgments, more tentative in some social interactions, and feeling an increase in his baseline anxiety. And he said his mind sometimes felt like chipmunks on steroids!

He does his work but is much more tired than usual. A part time writer, he sometimes feels his work isn't quite the quality it was before all this started. Of course that is probably just a negative perception because I know his work and think it has been excellent.

I know this guy so well because it's me.

Seasonal Affective Disorder affects many people to varying degrees. Although we don't know why some people get it and others don't, we know it has a genetic link and that people with a history of depression are at increased risk.

I have had three previous episodes of clinical depression and currently take a maintenance dose of medication. What I am feeling is in the mild range of depression, but for some, depression can be quite severe, triggering thoughts of hopelessness and despair.

The experience of even moderate depression is to live with a mind that feels out of control. Thoughts race; everything feels worrisome, hopeless and never ending. Depressed people have a tendency to be terribly self critical and blame themselves for their problems, which only adds to the shame.

The experience of depression is not well known by the general public. Of course I was partly being light when I talked about chipmunks on steroids, but depression does make one much more self-conscious. And because of the shame and stigma attached, many feel alone and afraid to talk about what's happening for fear of being harshly judged.

By Dan Gottlieb

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With an increasing suspicion that our jobs and retirement accounts will not provide for our well being, more and more people are working toward something with deeper meaning. While our financial markets dance without hope of settling in the near future, a growing number of critical minds have been coming to the Diamond Way Buddhist Center to invest in the one thing that remains constant in our lives: the Mind.

Three times every week, (Sundays at 5:45 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:45 p.m.) the Diamond Way Buddhist Center of Minneapolis provides public meditations for the community at 1701 W. Lake Street, 3rd floor. This particular style of Buddhism has been proven to work for modern, Western lay people. The price also works well for a society in a recession: free.

For over 2,500 years, Buddha and those who study his teachings have been helping individuals recognize that their joy and mental well being do not have to be dependent on the conditions of one's life. By meditating and enhancing one's view and attitude, the result is increasing joy and usefulness. Once we understand that it isn't the house, car or other luxury that makes us happy, we are free to enjoy whatever arises in our lives.

On a more tangible level, the Diamond Way Buddhist Centers USA is financially investing its resources into a retreat property in Western Wisconsin. This place will offer a venue for meditators to go deeper into their practice, as well as a space to host large courses with distinguished teachers. One such teacher, Lama Ole Nydahl, will visit Minneapolis on November 10, 2009, and give a lecture about Buddhism at the Minneapolis Central Library. 'We are a very old company,' he says, 'and we only make one product: human development.'

The Diamond Way Center practices in the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Under the spiritual guidance of H.H. the 17th Karmapa Thaye Dorje, it offers teachings and meditation instruction to lay people. The center welcomes newcomers at any and all public meditations.

By South Side Pride

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The image of workaholic lawyers slowing down to silently meditate strikes many people as incongruous.

Eric Bentley, litigation partner at Holme Roberts & Owen's Colorado Springs office, would like to change that.

'Last year, when I went to a meditation retreat for lawyers, I got several laughs,' he said. 'A very typical response is that meditation for lawyers is an oxymoron.'
In April, Bentley and about a dozen other meditating lawyers held the first meeting of the Colorado Contemplative Lawyers Society. Their goal, Bentley says, is to give lawyers a place to discuss the unique ways meditation can help lawyers practice law, as well as spread the word to those who don’t currently meditate.

One of the first things the Contemplative Lawyers emphasize is that lawyers who meditate do their jobs better.

'It's not just a New Age fad,' said Stephanie West Allen, Contemplative Lawyers' founder. 'It's very much a mechanism for improving your professional skills and your professional performance.'

Allen is a professional mediator (one 't') and also a strong proponent of meditation (two 't's') for lawyers. She sees signs that meditation is becoming more accepted in the legal profession, though she acknowledges that most lawyers are still wary.
'One of the reasons lawyers are often resistant to meditation is that they think it would put out the fire in their belly,' Allen said. 'It's not going to put it out at all, it's going to focus it.'

By Matt Masich

THE LATEST MEDITATION NEWS, FROM FIND PEACE IN RETREAT

n a unique exercise, members of the ruling and Opposition parties in Chhattisgarh Assembly have begun a four day Raj Yog meditation from Sunday at Mount Abu to seek spiritual wisdom for effective running of the administration.

Among those who are attending the meditation camp are chief minister Raman Singh, his 14 cabinet colleagues, speaker Dharam Lal Kaushik and Opposition Congress party leader Ravindra Chaubey.

Addressing the dignitaries at Gyan Sarovar, the Chhattisgarh chief minister stressed on the need for transparency in the administration and lauded the Brahmakumaris for their work to promote peace in the world. "One can learn how to run the administration spiritually from the Brahmakumaris and their institution," he added.

Talking to TOI, Ravindra Chaubey said, "This will help change the perception of people towards politics and politicians. We may have ideological differences but here we think thinking about how to improve the working system for the welfare of people."

Earlier, Raman Singh was accorded a warm welcome by the Brahmakumaris at Manpur Airport on Abu Road when he landed in a chartered aircraft in the afternoon.

Brahmakumaris' media spokesman BK Karuna said, "The Chattisgarh chief minister earlier offered a floral tribute at the samadhi of Dadi Prakash Mani." The chief minister also sought the blessings of Raj Yogini Dadi Janki, the present chief administrator of the sect, for the welfare of people of Chhattisgarh.

By Times Of India

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Swamiji, while we are on the topic of rituals, can you please tell us something about the path of rituals and the path of meditation?

See, with rituals, there is something definite about them. It is structured and you know when exactly it is going to start, when it is going to finish, where you are going to do it, what for you are doing it etc. With rituals, you go into them, and come out as the same person. There is so much of security in the whole process. That is why it has spread so much. Anything that is definite spreads.

But what happens in meditation? First of all, meditation seems too simple to produce any benefits when compared to rituals. People always ask me why I do rituals at the ashram. I tell them, if I tell people to simply come to the ashram and sit under the banyan tree and meditate, which is actually enough, will they listen?

If I did not have the Dakshinamurthy idol and the Nataraja idol, if they did not see these idols there, would they come to just see open space and a banyan tree? Probably only I will be sitting under the banyan tree and meditating!

By Paramahamsa Nithyananda

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Meditation is a contemplative flight. Contemplation is not a mere intellection or a sheer emotional sentimentalism. We can say that contemplative flight is sustained only when we come to spread in full both our head and heart as wings to keep our balance during this inward pilgrimage. It is necessary, therefore, that we must have the confidence in a Protecting Power that guides, wields, and sustains our subtle efforts in this unknown field. Therefore, every seeker is advised first to invoke the blessings of the Lord of his heart.

Your Prophet, your Lord, or your guru can be the deity of your mental worship. It is not at all of importance what form symbolises our concept of the Higher. There is absolute freedom for you to conceive and consider the Supreme through any symbolism. And, symbolism cannot be avoided, as, at this moment of our development, we are still living in the plane of the mind. The mind cannot conceive the formless and the infinite.

By Vedanta Vani

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So, when I learned a few weeks ago, that I would have to have knee surgery, I began searching for bird or animal spirits that might be of assistance.

I felt stumped for a while, until I remembered the mountain goats I had observed out West a couple of years ago. On a visit to Glacier National Park with my sister and brother in law, I had witnessed mountain goats executing the most phenomenal jumps and stops on almost sheer-faced rocky outcroppings.

It turns out mountain goats are more likely to plunge to their death executing just the kinds of feats I witnessed than they are to fall to predators, according to "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals."

So several days before my surgery, I began meditating on mountain goats. And the evening after the procedure, I fell asleep under the influence of not merely the drowse of lingering anesthesia and substantial painkillers but also the dream of climbing with the compact goat antelopes of the western mountains.

It was not until a couple of days later when real discomfort set in that I also noticed an odd synchronicity in my life. I had gone looking through the detritus of my closets for a walking stick or cane to help me get around and discovered one given to me many years ago by a nephew. It was a hefty walking stick, topped with a goat's horn. It is probably not a mountain goat's, since it has a somewhat corkscrew like turn in its coil (those of a mountain goat tend to curve only slightly), but in a pinch, this manifestation of a goat will do.

By Cape Cod Times

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Swami Mukundananda, the founder of Jagadguru Kripalu Yog, is to organize week long Sessions on Yoga, Meditation & Lecture Series on 'The Science of the Soul & God Realization' in eleven cities across the US; one of which will be organized between 1st/7th August, at Sanatan Shiv Shakti Mandir, 5645 Hillcroft Avenue; Ste 701, Houston, TX 77036

Swami Mukundananda, after obtaining Engineering & Management degrees from two of Asia's premier institutes (IIT & IIM resp.), renounced a high profile corporate career to embrace Spirituality. He is one of the foremost Disciples of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, and has been preaching the Divine Vedic Wisdom across the Globe for more than past twenty five years.

'Wellness for life: Reach the Treasure Within' is a holistic Life style revealed by the 'Jagadguru Kripalu Yog'. This Complete Life style has been intelligently designed by synthesizing different schools of ancient Yoga such as Ashtang Yoga, Samkhya Yoga etc., rejuvenating the body, mind and soul.

The Pioneer of this Unique Art is the Fifth Principal & Original Jagadguru or the Universal Guru, Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj is only the Fifth Such Divine Personality in past five thousand years to have been honored with this prestigious Title.

There will be conducted Two Separate Events One after the other. The First being The Lectures on 'The Science of Soul and the God realization', followed by Sessions on Yog Meditation.

By SB Wire

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