The science of meditation neuroplasticity

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_l_j7ne2bMLlSmYqP2CDKpnlFgNO9Sl_lqV4NgMaOmxbUhoUo2DYwUg5kpV-9OuEfYMtN0Q08E0iKk7ZGfLbpu7sdb59_jlYYwePLDDRiWiUfiA7ITE4dRqKrZfhrhvkwXXikVv9-yo/s1600/meditation_by_ledaryuga-d5df8ze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_l_j7ne2bMLlSmYqP2CDKpnlFgNO9Sl_lqV4NgMaOmxbUhoUo2DYwUg5kpV-9OuEfYMtN0Q08E0iKk7ZGfLbpu7sdb59_jlYYwePLDDRiWiUfiA7ITE4dRqKrZfhrhvkwXXikVv9-yo/s320/meditation_by_ledaryuga-d5df8ze.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The science of meditation neuroplasticity, the brain evolves based on the activities we perform. Regular practice of loving kindfulness meditation leads to increased compassion and thereby teaches our brain to be more socially intelligent.</span>

The science of meditation neuroplasticity

The science of meditation neuroplasticity, the brain evolves based on the activities we perform. Regular practice of loving kindfulness me...

Read more »

Abuse has many forms.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKZ1C9WC2e9NHcfu1y94jQbimnL12ExX0TmyN9GKSIeiN9qwTDeR9MPmhZmLel3y8_iOoOm7NnS_uEoSuJdnj2oUm6UD9WG4ozQIgMMv7XdRWrOxFkKqMpVtMnPhOB6cyVBVdQpqXNSA/s1600/stagesmeetup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKZ1C9WC2e9NHcfu1y94jQbimnL12ExX0TmyN9GKSIeiN9qwTDeR9MPmhZmLel3y8_iOoOm7NnS_uEoSuJdnj2oUm6UD9WG4ozQIgMMv7XdRWrOxFkKqMpVtMnPhOB6cyVBVdQpqXNSA/s320/stagesmeetup.jpg" width="214" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br /><br />Abuse has many forms. Expropriating one's childhood in favour of an adults pursuits is one of the subtlest varieties of shadow self creation.</span><br /> <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; max-width: 100%;"><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;"> <tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td align="center" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; width: 300px;"><div align="center" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </td></tr> </tbody></table>

Abuse has many forms.

Abuse has many forms. Expropriating one's childhood in favour of an adults pursuits is one of the subtlest varieties of shadow self cr...

Read more »

Child Within Penning that is, writing down the truth of our feelings, our point of view, our fears

<br /> <div class="zemanta-related" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 20px; orphans: 2; overflow: hidden; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRfzwVvQf_uEuY3G9AkUbwo1T7OBrKWRxjnJzyb7UTFl13JxaAiRDVYGWpSzrf3UJ7oaKmIqs0uGq0ooIsTwyskL6QQ1G4qHDwH4Ok1LVt7dTLuxwzMsSp4VZ12I8GieV34FsNbOlrGc/s1600/10simple+stages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRfzwVvQf_uEuY3G9AkUbwo1T7OBrKWRxjnJzyb7UTFl13JxaAiRDVYGWpSzrf3UJ7oaKmIqs0uGq0ooIsTwyskL6QQ1G4qHDwH4Ok1LVt7dTLuxwzMsSp4VZ12I8GieV34FsNbOlrGc/s320/10simple+stages.jpg" width="214" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Child Within Penning – that is, writing down the truth of our feelings, our point of view, our fears, our angers, our hopes, our expectations, our desires, our fantasies, our hatreds, our regrets, our thoughts, our memories, our prejudices, our secret loves, our painful experiences, our humiliations, our past traumas – requires massive intimacy with ourself. This self-intimacy is the essence of mindfulness, and yet is also what makes mindfulness so difficult. Many people find it difficult to script – or write in a deep and prolonged way – because of the strange feelings of being so emotionally intimate with ourself. But if we can tolerate the potential discomfort, if we can sit with the truth of who we really are and look at our truth expressed on the page in front of you, then you can nurture a wonderful relationship with our greatest ally: our own true child within!</span></div>

Child Within Penning that is, writing down the truth of our feelings, our point of view, our fears

Child Within Penning – that is, writing down the truth of our feelings, our point of view, our fears, our angers, our hopes, our ex...

Read more »

In each of us, there is a child within. Our child within is perfect and undamaged.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAwvvSRiADkrVFVDiFdYvscUA8rO35QXD52YkVaQF76j-haROL9SHK740UgNgNNDyVhAFJgu6gpN_D8jXrn1pdHz6QCkNee1QONstxaStiB-LlaSzMwFuLlsweTTTI0sGskZBOzZHPtA/s1600/10simple+stages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAwvvSRiADkrVFVDiFdYvscUA8rO35QXD52YkVaQF76j-haROL9SHK740UgNgNNDyVhAFJgu6gpN_D8jXrn1pdHz6QCkNee1QONstxaStiB-LlaSzMwFuLlsweTTTI0sGskZBOzZHPtA/s320/10simple+stages.jpg" width="214" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">In each of us, there is a child within. Our child within is perfect and undamaged. We have all had times of difficulty as children and many of us have experienced childhood problems of disrespect. To protect and defend ourselves against future suffering, we the dtysfunctioning adult often attempt to forget those painful times. </span><span style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Every time we’re in touch with the experience of suffering, we believe we can’t bear it, and we stuff our feelings and memories deep down in our unconscious mind. Where the child rebels once more from our adult abuse, It may be that we haven’t dared to face this child for many decades.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><br />But just because we may have ignored the child doesn’t mean she or he isn’t there. The child within is always there, trying to get our attention. The child says, “I’m here. I’m here. You can’t avoid me. You can’t run away from me.” We want to end our adult suffering by sending the child to a deep place inside, and staying as far away as possible. But running away doesn’t end the child within confusion; it only prolongs it.<br /><br />The intuitive child within voice demands attention, but we do the opposite. We run away because we’re afraid of the power inside our child. The block of confusion in us feels overwhelming. Even if we have time, we don’t come home to our child within. We try to keep ourselves constantly dissociated—watching television or movies, socialising, or using alcohol or drugs—because we don’t want to experience the child withins clarity of mind all over again.<br /><br />The child is there and we don’t even know he/she is there. The child in us is a reality, but we can’t see her/him. That inability to see is a kind of ignorance of the constructed parent. This child has been severely ignored. She or he really needs us to return to the clarity of mind we used to posses. Instead we turn away from our childhood truths.<br /><br />Ignorance is in each cell of our body and our consciousness. It’s like a drop of ink diffused in a glass of water. That ignorance stops us from seeing reality; it pushes us to do foolish things that make us suffer even more and confuse us again the already-ignored child within us.<br /><br />The child is also in each cell of our body. There is no cell of our body that does not have that child in it. We don’t have to look far into the past for that child. We only have to look deeply and we can be in touch with him/her. The distracted child within is lying inside all of us right now in the present moment.<br /><br />But just as the child within is present in every cell of our body, so are the seeds of awakened understanding and happiness handed down to us from our perfect child within. We just have to use them. We have a lamp inside us, the lamp of our child within shining in our locked basement, which we can re-light anytime. The oil of that lamp is our breathing, our stages, and our perfection. We have to light up that lamp of childhood so the light will shine out and the darkness will dissipate and cease. Our practice is to light up the lamp.<br /><br />When we become aware that we’ve forgotten the child in ourselves, we feel great compassion for that child and we begin to generate the energy of re-connection. The practices of walking,  sitting, and  breathing are our start our reconnection. With our breath and  steps, we can produce the energy of our child and return to the awakened wisdom lying in each cell of our body. That energy will embrace us and heal us, and will heal the damaged adult that skates on our surface tormenting us.</span><br /> <br /> <div class="zemanta-related" style="clear: both; margin-top: 20px; overflow: hidden;"> </div> <br /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <div style="margin: 0px;"> <br /></div> </div>

In each of us, there is a child within. Our child within is perfect and undamaged.

In each of us, there is a child within. Our child within is perfect and undamaged. We have all had times of difficulty as children and m...

Read more »

We have childhood and adulthood all backwards.

<br /> <div class="zemanta-related" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-top: 20px; orphans: 2; overflow: hidden; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRjEMJswkMJAmY9Sp1J5egU1nGrpVoVQFKqPjOQG6vIvCLxwpTYXgAr6UYjIU7VvpkVHRNfRZkQnhA5va16LZtb4IO_-PtqCdGRrIvjze6etvLef7VBRbqV3yzpXFFTlGgsVT6kiQjjfQ/s1600/The+Ten+Stages+234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRjEMJswkMJAmY9Sp1J5egU1nGrpVoVQFKqPjOQG6vIvCLxwpTYXgAr6UYjIU7VvpkVHRNfRZkQnhA5va16LZtb4IO_-PtqCdGRrIvjze6etvLef7VBRbqV3yzpXFFTlGgsVT6kiQjjfQ/s320/The+Ten+Stages+234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">We have childhood and adulthood all backwards. start to imagine how it would be if our children within were the true leaders and we all followed their example.<br /><br />Firstly, the child within has no job or financial responsibilities. They are free to dedicate 100% of their time to leading us forward.<br /><br />The Child Within wouldn’t need to lead through fear, intimidation, well placed press campaigns, or even charisma, but through the simple fact of them being helpless. Anything that might put our health at risk, and therefore our ability to adequately take care of our helpless leaders, would have to be cut out of our lifestyle.<br /><br />We would probably exercise more, eat less crappy, junk foods, and consume less alcohol, drugs and cigarettes.<br /><br />We all know our child within like to sleep a lot, and through this example, maybe we’d learn how important rest is. Maybe we would stop killing ourselves for money, stop exhausting our energy in pursuit of material happiness, and simply come home and sleep.<br /><br />And yes, there are nights when our child within doesn’t sleep, when they keep their parents up all night, exhausting them, but it would be okay because you wouldn’t have to go to work the next day, and no sick note would be needed.<br /><br /><br />All you would have to do is call your boss and say that you were up all night taking care of one of the leaders of the world, so you won’t be in today as they are finally asleep and you are about to join them.<br /><br />We wouldn’t have to worry about our child within spending the country’s money as they don’t need fancy clothes, expensive cars, or luxury holidays. They just need simple clothing, love, care and attention.<br /><br />Maybe this would make us take a long hard look at the things we actually need. If our helpless leaders can survive without so much, then why can’t we? Especially as we’re actually aware and able to take care of ourselves. Why would we need more than our leaders?<br /><br />World leader meetings would not be affairs where country politics, the economy, laws or spreading of the countries funds are discussed, but they would be times of selfless, inspired gift-giving, food, smiles, and quality time spend with family, friends and loved ones.<br /><br />We all know that nothing brings people together in a loving way more than a newborn child.<br /><br />Our Child within would not have to give long speeches to try and inspire their people, as they are naturals at inspiring wonder and appreciation for life. To watch a child learn to move, smile and giggle for the first time makes you stop and contemplate how wonderful the simple things in life are.<br /><br />Everything to our child hidden within is the most amazing thing in the world.<br /><br />They don’t need computer games, blockbuster movies, or to be entertained with technology. They find pleasure and wonder and happiness in simple games of peek-a-boo, or simply lifted into the air and bounced on a knee.<br /><br />They are amazed by the simple fact that we have hands and feet that we can move and control just by thinking. Watching them learn to grab, sit, crawl and walk, is an awe-inspiring time, and maybe we’d start to marvel everyday at our own ability to walk, talk, sing, dance, and make each other smile and laugh just by pulling a silly face.<br /><br />Maybe we’d wake up every morning and take a minute to stare at our hands and feet, wiggle our toes and play with our fingers, fascinated by our own miraculous selves.<br /><br />Pollution, war and fighting would all have to become things of the past, as they would most definitely pose too much of a threat to our leaders upbringing.<br /><br />Plus, leaders ultimately decide on going to war but I think babies would be too busy sleeping to even start any.<br /><br /><br />Maybe we’d have more story-time, build more playgrounds instead of factories, plant more trees instead of paving roads, and take better care of animals so our leaders can grow up to see and learn.<br /><br />To cherish women would become our life. To look after our sisters and daughters, mothers and aunties, the past, present and future birth givers of our leaders.<br /><br />Babies would also be truly neutral.<br /><br />They have no prejudice and no ego. They are completely untouched by the trappings of greed, jealousy, hate, or other negative emotions we allow to drive us in adulthood.<br /><br />Our Child within hold no grudges and have not experienced betrayal or lies yet. They represent what every person and country needs at some point — a complete, clean slate and fresh start.<br /><br />Our Child Within also have true power, which they don’t obtain through the threat of military force, scandal or money, but through simply existing.<br /><br />Only our child within can put a woman through nine months of pain and aches, and hours of labor, only to instantly and completely fill her with joy the moment they’re born.<br /><br />Only a child within can make the toughest men you’ve ever met turn into soft-talking, silly-face-making, happy clowns, who’ll play peek-a-boo on a semi-crowded train full of strangers without caring what anyone around thinks of them.<br /><br />And when our child within grow into adults who can finally feed, dress and take care of themselves, there would be no farewell ceremony, no speeches given, no need to ask them to step gracefully down.<br /><br />No. Instead they would just be given a ball, or a bike, or meet up with other former leaders, and with a smile told, “Thank you, you can go outside and play now.”#10stages#childwithin.</span></span></div>

We have childhood and adulthood all backwards.

We have childhood and adulthood all backwards. start to imagine how it would be if our children within were the true leaders and we a...

Read more »

Turn away from the computer/tablet/smartphone and sit for a moment noticing the sensations in your mind and body

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4n44uVBD1XXQuvaz91QqrqaJBG_4WhpEHxa7KaHKyaMKU5LHumFfeIpD6E6uU25dyoecozytPMA_9_p76DfUs0_dPaBPa-PoGHrqZEbjIxe-0gFZUWOemtaFl6oTvd1Nac1V3h-c-4k/s1600/mind34.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4n44uVBD1XXQuvaz91QqrqaJBG_4WhpEHxa7KaHKyaMKU5LHumFfeIpD6E6uU25dyoecozytPMA_9_p76DfUs0_dPaBPa-PoGHrqZEbjIxe-0gFZUWOemtaFl6oTvd1Nac1V3h-c-4k/s320/mind34.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Turn away from the computer/tablet/smartphone and sit for a moment noticing the sensations in your mind and body.<br /><br />How do you feel? What can you hear?<br /><br />Try to be as present in that moment.<br /><br />If your mind wanders off to tasks that you have to complete or starts working over things that happened yesterday, let these go.<br /><br />Gently bring your mind’s focus back to the present. Just be wherever you are for a few moments.<br /><br />Remember: mindfulness is not about trying to make sense of anything, it’s about attention to that moment.</span>

Turn away from the computer/tablet/smartphone and sit for a moment noticing the sensations in your mind and body

Turn away from the computer/tablet/smartphone and sit for a moment noticing the sensations in your mind and body. How do you feel? What...

Read more »

Meditation Mind eating meditation

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sbwk9mukC1MQvkhyvM0brm_PaU1ASHCLYPL4mMFGCHE13qE7T8czTMursozQir3xzWSINBTWBECB8ZqiEQq482uCYehW_4DEcihZAAwx5lTmZ5KywzzmoJDbLyiNf7T7y1wrOdg6J7c/s1600/borderkoans+Collage.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sbwk9mukC1MQvkhyvM0brm_PaU1ASHCLYPL4mMFGCHE13qE7T8czTMursozQir3xzWSINBTWBECB8ZqiEQq482uCYehW_4DEcihZAAwx5lTmZ5KywzzmoJDbLyiNf7T7y1wrOdg6J7c/s320/borderkoans+Collage.jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br />Will you be eating any food today?<br /><br />Thought so.<br /><br />So you can practice a little mindfulness meditation while you eat.<br /><br />When you take the first bite of any meal, just take a moment to really pay attention to the taste.<br /><br />Look at the food carefully, feel the textures in your mouth, smell it and notice how your body reacts to it.<br /><br />You don’t need to keep this up all the way through the meal, but use it every now and then to focus your attention.</span>

Meditation Mind eating meditation

Will you be eating any food today? Thought so. So you can practice a little mindfulness meditation while you eat. When you take the first ...

Read more »