Have you had moments of feeling utterly lost, like the world was crumbling around you? In today's message, Tara Brach, shares a profound truth that she had come to understand during her own life’s biggest upset: in the midst of life's storms, our truest refuge lies within ourselves. “I decided to write ‘True Refuge’ during … Continue reading The connection that truly binds us is to be found in realizing our own unshakable acceptance of ourselves.
God hangs out in the spaces between your thoughts.
This week, our teacher has been Alan Cohen. And today being a Sunday silent meditation, I tried to find quotes where he speaks about silence or meditation and I couldn’t find much, so for today’s message I’m just including a few thoughts that sit really well with me… “If you are not living with a … Continue reading God hangs out in the spaces between your thoughts.
“In silence God ceases to be an object and becomes an experience.”
Sunday meditation is dedicated to silence, and I enjoy seeking wisdom from great teachers on the value of silence to accompany a Sunday morning journey of togetherness. Here for your enjoyment is some insight from Thomas Merton: “Not all of us are called to be hermits, but all of us need enough silence and solitude … Continue reading “In silence God ceases to be an object and becomes an experience.”
You are doing better than you think!
Life can feel a bit like a whirlwind. We chase deadlines, manage relationships, and navigate an ever-changing world. It's easy to get caught up in the noise and forget to take a breath, let alone reflect on how far we've come. But amidst the chaos, silence offers a powerful tool for personal growth. In the … Continue reading You are doing better than you think!
Stillness is not dependent on the mind being silent.
The biggest stumbling block to new meditators is the feeling, "but I can't get my mind to be quiet!" The truth is none of us can, and the good news is, we don’t need to… "Did I pay the electricity bill?" "What should I make for dinner?" "I wonder if Sarah got that promotion..." Frustrated, … Continue reading Stillness is not dependent on the mind being silent.
Moving from compulsiveness to consciousness.
Do you stop often enough to truly consider the driving force behind your actions? Are you living by conscious choice, or simply on autopilot, following the well-worn grooves of ingrained patterns and compulsions? Sadhguru offers a profound truth: "In the inner life, there is only one kind of revolution and it is a silent one. … Continue reading Moving from compulsiveness to consciousness.
After discarding the compulsions of conforming to the world, we discover the fullness of Nothing.
Silence… stillness… emptiness… all words trying to describe an essence that all of us know something about, and most of us have an uneasy relationship with. Lao Tzu called it “The Void”. Throughout human history there have always been teachings about what is possibly found within that nothingness when we are able to surrender and … Continue reading After discarding the compulsions of conforming to the world, we discover the fullness of Nothing.
Everything that is not YOU – will dissolve.
Today's silent meditation is inspired by Khalil Gibran. Silence, as Gibran reminds us, can be a potent tool. In its quiet embrace, we not only encounter "choirs singing the song of ages," but also confront the layers of armor we've accumulated over time. "You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts." … Continue reading Everything that is not YOU – will dissolve.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing there is a field…
Sundays are traditionally a time for rest and reflection, and what better way to embrace that stillness than by delving into the profound power of silence? Silence is not the absence of sound, but a gateway to the core of our being. Today's beautiful thoughts on silence come from the 13th Century Persian poet Rumi: … Continue reading Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing there is a field…
The soul always knows what to do to heal.
I really enjoy Sunday Silent Meditations, and I love finding quotes about silence to share with you. Here are a few really meaningful ones... “The soul always knows what to do to heal. The challenge is to silence the mind.” - Caroline Myss “The quieter you become the more you are able to hear.” - … Continue reading The soul always knows what to do to heal.
Regular meditation is “an overcoming”.
There's a reason meditation has stood the test of time across cultures and traditions. We often hear about its benefits in reducing stress and improving focus, but there's a deeper power simmering beneath the surface, meditating regularly is “an overcoming". Think about it. Before each session, there's likely a familiar voice – the "old you" … Continue reading Regular meditation is “an overcoming”.
Touch the original nature of your existence.
Wrapping up the week with Sadhguru's words on silence. In today's whirlwind of activity, where stimulation bombards us from every corner, the concept of stillness can feel almost radical. Yet, within the quietude lies a doorway to our most authentic selves and the wellspring of true potential. First a look at what we might discover … Continue reading Touch the original nature of your existence.
This has taken a lifetime to learn…
Is silence a skill? Is it an art? Or is it just the natural flow of being deeply content, not needing anything more? Nicholas Sparks writes in The Notebook: “We sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken a lifetime to learn. It seems only the old are able to sit next … Continue reading This has taken a lifetime to learn…
You’ll remember what you are… and that there are things you know… always knew.
There is wisdom in you! Have you ever had a feeling, deep in your gut, that you knew something to be true, even without logic or explanation? Perhaps a moment of sudden clarity or a powerful intuition that guided you in the right direction? That, my friend, is the voice of your inner wisdom whispering … Continue reading You’ll remember what you are… and that there are things you know… always knew.
Without wisdom, our compulsion to “do” re-creates the same old problems again and again…
We live in a world obsessed with action. A desperate need to always be seen “doing”, and yet our constant busy-ness seems to primarily result in “never enough”. Never enough time, never enough money, never enough acceptance, never enough stuff. Our lives become controlled by lists, goals and productivity hacks – the constant pressure to … Continue reading Without wisdom, our compulsion to “do” re-creates the same old problems again and again…
Peace knows where you live, but it will only find you there if you make sure that you are in fact home.
Sunday meditations are an opportunity to come together, simply to sit in silence together. Jaya John's work doesn't speak much about meditation or silence, but this quote pointed right in the direction of finding this kind of silence that we can call home: "Peace knows your address. Make sure that you are home. Be present … Continue reading Peace knows where you live, but it will only find you there if you make sure that you are in fact home.
The friend that you’re gradually coming to know, is YOU.
Sundays are for silent meditation, so less direction from me, and more of experiencing your own silent space. Regular meditation introduces you to a lifelong friend, always present, offering unwavering support and endless depths to explore. This friend isn't someone that you need to go out and meet; it's you. The journey of self-discovery begins … Continue reading The friend that you’re gradually coming to know, is YOU.
Trying to describe the indescribable…
Words can be beautiful tools, painting vibrant landscapes of imagination and sharing the whispers of the heart. Yet, some truths dance just beyond their grasp, like moonlight on water, shimmering and elusive. Lao Tzu, the ancient philosopher, understood this dance intimately. In the last part of Lao Tzu's life, he was old, and believed he … Continue reading Trying to describe the indescribable…
The level of consciousness you tune-in to, determines your experience of the world.
Imagine life as a giant radio dial, buzzing with frequencies. Each station offers a unique experience, a specific lens through which you perceive the world. But unlike a physical dial, you have the power to choose your vibration – to tune into a consciousness that shapes your reality in remarkable ways. Think about it. When … Continue reading The level of consciousness you tune-in to, determines your experience of the world.
Almost as if we’ve been carrying with us a bunch of noisy passengers all along…
Imagine for a moment the scene of commuting to and from work every day in a noisy train car. Looking around you, you can see how the train is crammed with anxieties, doubts, and the echoes of others' opinions - this is a screenshot of the reality of what we’re surrounded by day after day. … Continue reading Almost as if we’ve been carrying with us a bunch of noisy passengers all along…
The infinitely creative womb of all existence.
Do you create the space to spend time in your own silence? And what benefit does spending time in stillness have? Can this benefit be described? Our teacher for this week has been Eckhart Tolle, and we'll have a look at how he describes what it is we find in silence: “Space and silence are … Continue reading The infinitely creative womb of all existence.
Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.
I clearly remember waking up on a Sunday morning in 2022 wanting to use Thich Nhat Hanh's work for the morning meditation. After powering up my PC I did a search on his name, and right on top of the search results was the news that Thich Nhat Hanh had just passed away. The first … Continue reading Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet.