Meditation and Mindfulness

Armchair23

I started meditation last October on the 8 week MBSR course. I've done day retreats and try and sit most days. Like many things in life you will get out of it what you are prepared to put in, buying the books & paying for the course don't work on their own : ))

It does really help open you up to everything around you, not just the cynical and judgemental, and ought to be taught, and sometimes is taught in schools.

http://www.bemindful.co.uk/learn/find_a_course lists one place in Belfast (obviously I don't know if you're still in Belfast - don't panic ! ) and you can search for places around the UK.

One breath at a time belfastgirl23 and enjoy X

Sugardonut

Just ordered one of the recommended books, some excellent reviews on it so fingers crossed it works for me!

belfastgirl23

Armchair23 wrote: »

I started meditation last October on the 8 week MBSR course. I've done day retreats and try and sit most days. Like many things in life you will get out of it what you are prepared to put in, buying the books & paying for the course don't work on their own : ))

I wish lol! I did get time to try the one minute exercise at the start of one of the books earlier but think I'm gonna have to work on this a bit!

Armchair23 wrote: »

It does really help open you up to everything around you, not just the cynical and judgemental, and ought to be taught, and sometimes is taught in schools.

Do you know me? I think this is exactly what I need

Armchair23 wrote: »

http://www.bemindful.co.uk/learn/find_a_course lists one place in Belfast (obviously I don't know if you're still in Belfast - don't panic ! ) and you can search for places around the UK.

One breath at a time belfastgirl23 and enjoy X

I am still in Belfast and in fact this is not too far away from me so I shall definitely look it up. Though it sounds like it's for people who already know what they're doing

Thanks for taking the time to answer!

Armchair23

Entirely my pleasure belfastgirl . On my next loving kindness meditation I'll send some your way

Let us know how it goes X

belfastgirl23

Armchair23 wrote: »

Entirely my pleasure belfastgirl . On my next loving kindness meditation I'll send some your way

Let us know how it goes X

Thank you. Honestly I think I need to learn to send a little of that my way as well but I'll return the favour when I've been at it a while. Will keep in touch with this thread, sounds like we're all working on the same things!

cnoelj

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

this is such an interesting thread, I've just ordered the two books you recommend. I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about courses in Ireland? I've had a google but it's really hard to know whether they're good, bad or middling.

I've just been thinking a lot lately about trying to have some joy in life, it feels like so much of our environment is negative and depressing and personally I find it hard to relax and open myself up, this sounds like a really interesting mechanism to help me think about this some more. Thanks everyone for your contributions here, I've really enjoyed reading them.

You say that you want more joy in your life. That is wonderful as I am discovering that this is the true purpose in life. We have chosen this human experience to enjoy it. Many people will give what they feel to be a spiritual purpose - serving others etc, but this misses the point. Starting from this premise we get into 'must dos and should dos which robs us of any joy that we have, and thus the downward spiral starts. Once we connect with our joy we would then move on to make the discovery that it is indeed aligned with service, making an impact or whatever it may be for us. I have found that for me it is important to put the horse before the cart, and that by moment by moment in finding my joy I can then access my purpose in that moment, which completes the circle.

Another of my discoveries is that we need to be recognise and be honest with ourselves about our current reality. Am I feeling joy right now? If the answer is no what am I feeling? Can I accept that feeling. That IS my reality. I have been given the gift of a whole range of emotions. That is wonderful and when used correctly is empowering, when I am able to speak my truth in my anger, sadness, guilt or whatever it may be.

I ask myself what is it I am feeling right now and then given that - without making that feeling wrong, what is it that I want to feel better?

Love this thread and good to see so many who are seeking more from life. Blessings on your journeys! Haven't checked the thread out for a while, I certainly will do more often.

zzzLazyDaisy

I don't know if this has been mentioned already, but just in case...

There is a really good double audio book on CD called 'Mindfulness and eight week plan for finding peace in a frantic world' by Mark Williams and Danny Penman.

The first CD is the book read by Mark Williams and the second CD is a bonus guided meditation CD.

I got mine on ebay but there is an updated version for sale on amazon

called Mindfulness a practical guide (check that it is the one by Mark Williams and Danny Penman, and also that it has the bonus meditation CD, as there are others with similar titles)

I definitely recommend this CD, as I find it easier to close my eyes and listen than trying to read and take it in. The guided meditations are especially good.

Armchair23

There are so many books out there some of them are great, some of them I'm sure are great if only I ever got round to finishing them !
There are lots of talks and guided meditations available for free to download. A good place to start is here
http://gaiahouse.co.uk/pages/resources/dharma-talks/dharma-talks-online/

So you don't have to spend a fortune to have a look at what's out there for you. You just have to spend a little time and thought.

The trouble is you can really run the risk of sounding a complete air head when you talk or write about these things without anyone knowing you personally.

So at the risk of sounding a bit aged hippy ( and there's nothing wrong with that ) be kind to yourself, don't be harsh and judgemental, cut yourself some slack. You'd be surprised that once you can find it in you to forgive yourself for making mistakes or being thoughtless, you can extend that into being more accepting of other people.

Listen to the talks and read the books they are much more likely to engage you than my ramblings. But I wish you all joy XXX

candygirl

Hi guys :hello:
Are we all still being mindful?I admit I have lapsed a bit, but am back on it, as get too stressed otherwise:(
Hope you're all ok:A

Armchair23

Hi Candygirl

As you'd expect lots of good intentions and then before you know it oops how many days did I just miss my sitting practice !

I feel so much calmer and less anxious when I meditate regularly but as soon as I get to feel the benefits I get a bit casual and start to miss days here and there.

It just shows how hard it is to get rid of old bad habits and keep with the newer good ones. Thats humans for you !