Much ado about nothing?

The mind is a terrible thing.....to waste. It's also awesome, far-reaching, incredible and unquenchable. The human mind is built to do one thing really well - to ponder "why?" Every parent has experienced the incessant "Why?" from their children as they become aware of one of their basic traits - the need to know - something, anything, and always more and more and more. We are never satisfied. And we never SHOULD be satisfied. Life progresses anew each day, and even the clouds do not repeat their patterns exactly. The sun never rises in exactly the same spot each day. The only really predictable phenomenon is the moon - it has always turned its one side to earth for millenia. Curious.

Science can help us understand many things, but we still want to know MORE. What lies beyond the experience of death? Are there more dimensions (what we call heaven, hell, etc.) to reality? What is it like? Can I know God? Do angels really exist? Can I influence my own health by thought and intention? Practices which can help fill the gaps are meditation and prayer. For the faithful, spirit-focused person, prayer is the proper vehicle. But meditation is an even more successful practice - for the believer AND the non-believer. Meditation draws the life-force within us to the surface, flooding the brain with a more refined energy, kind of like a car wash for the brain.

Doing nothing is difficult for some people. But the end result of faithful practice is a changed mind, a peaceful attitude, and a more discerning mind. It dissipates stress and leads to understanding the connectedness of all life.

And it's not that difficult. Mindfulness, a Buddhist practice, is as simple as thinking. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and just "watch" your breath - that is, pay attention to your breathing in and breathing out. Thoughts will always be present - just let them float by, not paying attention to them. If you realize your mind is wandering into a thought, come back to being attentive to your breathing. That's it. Twenty minutes, once or twice a day, before a meal, not after. In time it will make a difference in your life. Namaste.

See http://www.learningmeditation.com/relax.htm

Need some inspiration? Try A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle