This comprehensive text, by the Ven. Henepola Gunaratana, is a must read for every person from those even vaguely interested in mindfulness to those who are mastering some of the more subtle aspects of their mind. Dealing with everything from reasons to practice through to philosophy and exercises for practice this will definitely answer any questions the reader may have. The friendliest, yet most thorough read I have yet encountered on the topic of mindfulness. Available completely free of charge as a .pdf or .epub file thanks to Urban Dharma, there is no reason at all not to do yourself the favour and get stuck right into Mindfulness in Plain English.
From the wonderful site Researchingmeditation.org, we came across this blog about the cross-cultural links of meditation. If you are into breadth of facts and in-depth research that is not excruciatingly difficult to read, this is the site for you. This particular blog talks about the origins and differences between the multitude of meditative practices that are out there, from the more popular Eastern traditions to the less well known Christian practices. Making meditation fun sounds quite difficult. If you have ever tried to meditate consistently you will know that some days you gravitate towards it out of a sense of duty, some days for relaxation, but very rarely for fun. This post from Tiny Buddha helps us out with some techniques that can help us stay focused and enjoy every minute. Check it out and enhance your practice! Earlier this year, the BBC's David Sillito investigated why mindfulness meditation has become so popular. This short video from the BBC website shows the effect of mindfulness meditation on the brain, using MRI scans. Amazing stuff! Have a look at this flash mob meditation held in London in April 2012. This has got to be a wonderful experience! White matter in the brain - this stuff matters... Aspartame, a common substitute for sugar, has been recognized as a potentially harmful substance that can destroy white matter in the brain. Aspartame exists in as many as 6000 products, and is estimated to have been consumed by 200 million people. The damage is due to by-products created upon ingestion, including formaldehyde. This is an example of the effect that the food we eat and substances they contain can have - in some cases, very extreme! Naturalnews.com has released research that indicates that 11 hours of mindfulness meditation is enough to begin the reversal of this process - enough for the brain to actually begin reproducing white matter! Take control of your health - try stay on top of news and research, then use the findings to change your life for the better! On that note - don't believe everything you read. As with anything, do your own research as much as possible, and piece together an idea of how to go forward! |
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