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meditation

Nebula

Depression, Mindfulness and the Inner Critic

mindful

There is a great deal of current research about how various meditation practices actually change the brain in positive ways. This is incredibly exciting and with the help of functional brain scans, researchers can see in real time what parts of the brain are stimulated and calmed through these practices. Parts of the brain related to higher brain function have been measured and have actually increased in size from these meditation practices. This is called neuroplasticity.

Some meditation practices teach how to concentrate on one specific image or mantra to help focus the mind. An important and emerging meditation technique is associated with Buddhism and is called Mindfulness. It is actually being integrated into many Western psychology practices not just because of its effectiveness but because it does not require people to embrace a belief system different from what they already have.  Read More »Depression, Mindfulness and the Inner Critic

The Laws of Manu

manu

I was in a session with a client last week and the topic of spiritual work came up. My client suggested he was not doing enough to further himself spiritually. He has a very big and responsible job and a family at home who he loves spending time with. Naturally, time is the biggest issue for him because there is so little discretionary time available with all of his responsibilities. I suggested that there is a way to shape one’s consciousness but that of course takes intent and the subsequent practice. As we got deeper into this I remembered studying the Laws of Manu, a supplement to the Indian Vedas, considered the most sacred of the Hindu scriptures. Though there is much about the social norms of religious life discussed in this volume (surmised to have been written about 500 BC), what I recall most prominently is a description of a way to structure one’s life in four 25-year increments

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