mindful monday

image courtesy of shambhala sun

this weekend i was blessed to spend friday night and saturday with sharon salzberg and sylvia boorstein and was truly enamored. i wanted to share highlights penned into my idea book in hope that you, too, could bask in the inspiration.

- the art of mindfulness is not falling into oneself.

- ask "is this for my benefit and the benefit of those around me?"

- ask "what do i really need right now in order to be happy?"

- our problem is that we want too little.  why is your sense of aspiration so meager? what holds you back?

- most important time of meditation is when you sit down to do it.

- we cannot stop cognition but we can stop the long stories and discursive thoughts in meditation by bringing awareness to the sensations.

- in each moment we experience one of five senses {or the sixth which is the mind} and each is either pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral

- how do you related to the joy and pleasure coming at you?

- pain is transformative.

- email apnea - stop breathing when doing email.

- before meetings, appointments, etc., ask "what do i want to see emerge from this meeting?"

- think "may i meet this moment fully. may i meet it as a friend."

- remember that everyone is the way they are because they can't be anyone different. 

- is your mind a terrible neighborhood where you wouldn't go alone?!

- suffering and the end of suffering does not come from avoiding.

- best kind of generosity comes from a sense of abundance.

- acknowledge what is true and real in your own experience, then work to turn it around.

- remember to always begin again. 

- ask "is my mind clear or not?"

such juicy nuggets. i hope you, too, find a dose of inspiration here. 

oh, and i picked up sharon's latest book real happiness at work: meditations for accomplishment, achievement, and peace {hmmm, winter online book club pick?}, am loving it, and think you will, too. who doesn't need a little mindfulness during the working hours? 

wishing you a beautiful and mindful week ahead. bisous. x 

 

{to explore mindfulness further, join the "mindfulness: tranquility within" e-course}