Mark Hodder
Happiness and success through learning
Meditation
Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation and Mindfulness are two techniques that have been proven time and time again to have a positive and lasting impact on peace of mind. From ancient religions, through modern psychology techniques such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and on to the latest Positive Psychology all have found the benefits of paying attention to and being fully aware of what is happening now (or mindfulness) and the reflection, contemplation and peace that meditation can bring.
I have listed the individuals that have had the greatest influence on me and I think you may also find useful. If the techniques are on this page I have applied them in my practice and life and can recommend them from that perspective. Some of the ideas here are useful for personal reflection in a quiet space, others are for use at any time of the day when you would like to be more aware of what is actually happening now.
Jack Kornfield, Buddhist Meditation Teacher and Psychologist.
I begin with Jack Kornfield and his beautiful and accessible to all meditations. If you are new to the idea of mindfulness Jack's Guided Meditations introduced with stories from everyday life will show you the path. If on the other hand you have been practicing for years there is still so much to learn here. Jack's real skill is combining eastern wisdom with the pace of modern western life.
In addition to the guided meditations A Path with Heart, Jack's book about leading a spiritual life, to learn from life's lessons, grow and gain greater self-acceptance is inspiring and uplifting.
These 3 audio CD's / downloads have been most useful to me.
Guided Meditation is a useful place to start as every step is explained and the 6 meditations are both easy to use yet powerful. For everyday use.
Guided Meditations for Difficult Times is ideal if you are going through hard times in life. The meditations here will help you find resolution, compassion and understanding.
A Path with Heart is for those who wish to know more about growing through a spiritual path and Jack's life and work.
Guided Meditation
Guided Meditations
for
Difficult Times
A Path With Heart
Deepak Chopra, spiritual teacher, mind-body link specialist.
I've just included a few of my favourite meditations, books and audio books by Deepak. He's best experienced on his website, the official Youtube channel and twitter.
The Soul of Healing Meditations are a set of guided meditations I return to often and are particularly useful in assisting healing and pain relief.
The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success are a timeless classic and the place I began my journey with Deepak. SynchroDestiny brings the concept of waking mindfulness, noticing coincidences and their meaning to life, there are also some deeper meditations found here, the audio course is well worth searching out. The Book of Secrets is for anyone looking for answers to the meaning of life from a spiritual perspective. Reinventing the Body brings Deepak's incredible work on aging well fully up to date and is an excellent audio book.
Zen Master Dennis Genpo Merzel
Big Mind is a more advanced meditation practice. The process integrates the best of Buddhist meditation practice and the idea of sub personalities from psychology. The process has been developed to assist you become whole and healed, an integrated and free functioning human being.
I found the ideas of being able to communicate with our, often conflicting, inner voices and then go beyond this conflict most useful. Profound spiritual awakening and psychological freedom are possible through this process.
Mindfulness - Mark Williams and Danny Penman
The evidence based and NICE approved Mindfulness process developed as the foundation of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MCBT).
The 8 week Mindfulness programme is proven to reduce stress and the likelihood of depression. Each week has a specific daily meditation, accompanied by routine activities to build Mindfulness into everyday life and a habit breaker to help create more helpful thinking patterns. This process is easy to apply and results are observed quickly.
Eckhart Tolle
"You are not your thoughts" is the easiest way to summarise Echart Tolle. His teachings speak about how to become aware of what is happening moment to moment - or living in the Now.
The Journey into Yourself is an accessible way to listen to his message - you will need to adapt to his slower than usual talking pace.
The Power of Now is the classic book and along with A New Earth they offer a way to live life from moment to moment.
Alan Watts 1915-73 philosopher, writer, speaker
Where sometimes Deepak gets a little deep in quantum mechanics Alan Watts has a clarity about the nature and purpose of spiritual teachings from around the globe. Just some of the questions from Alan Watts that inspire me are:
"What do you really desire?"
"What would you do if money were no object....better to have a short life full of what you enjoy doing than a long life lived in a miserable way."
The Work of Byron Katie (quote from thework.com)
"Who would you be without your story?
The Work of Byron Katie is a way of identifying and questioning the thoughts that cause all the anger, fear, depression, addiction, and violence in the world. Experience the happiness of undoing those thoughts through The Work, and allow your mind to return to its true, awakened, peaceful, creative nature."
The Work is a meditation in itself and requires mindfulness truth fully ask yourself and answer the four deceptively simple questions that can help you transform any thought and achieve a sense of peace and inner freedom. You can make the choice to love what is and learn and grow from any situation. You will encounter the work several times here on my site as it is so powerful and applicable in many area of personal development. All materials required for the work are available free at www.thework.com
