Scientific studies have demonstrated that meditation is not only a great antidote to these stressful times, but is also an all-around helper, reducing both intangible psychological states – such as alienation and disconnection and also very measurable health markers such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Also, it makes people more creative and more empathetic while helping them manage their stress and pain better. This, ultimately, means that people who meditate are not only healthier than those who don’t but also much happier and tend to lead more purposeful and balanced lives.

Why?

Eat lightly and drink even lighter. Big meals make you drowsy, and coffee makes us agitated. Stay away from them as much as you can but especially during the hours before meditation. I am not even going to mention other mind-altering substances: indulging them usually adds to the burden of stress which meditation strives to eliminate from your life.

Food/Drinks Before Meditation

Even though meditating in nature is better than meditating at home, if you are like most people, the former is rarely an option. The good news is that meditation can be as relaxing at home (or even on the train 😎).. if you pick the right spot. It should be neither too dark nor too light, relatively quiet and away from traffic or anything that reminds you of work.

Create A Sacred Space

Meditation is not a fashion show, so don’t spend too much time thinking when it comes to your clothes. The only thing you need to remember is to keep your clothing loose and roomy and avoid constricting your breathing or your circulation in any way.

Choose comfort over passion.

<ol><li>arrange your legs</li><li>lengthen and straighten your spine</li><li>rock your body from side to side like a pendulum</li><li>rock your body from front to back</li><li>tilt your pelvis slightly forward and soften your belly</li><li>tuck your chin gently</li><li>rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth and breathe through your nose, if possible</li><li>rest your hands on your thighs or in your lap</li><li>relax your body from head to toe, letting go as much as possible of any tension or discomfort</li><li>begin your meditation.</li></ol>

Prepare For Take-off In 10 Steps 

Name your “tunes”. Identify the things that replay in your awareness while you’re trying to meditate or do something else.Expand your awareness. These things may be just the tip of the iceberg: look deeper.Feel your feelings. Think of the ghost-analogy: the persisting feelings endure because you’ve never allowed them to pass through you and leave. Notice resistance and attachment. What you resist, persists….so don’t!

Check-In And Look Deeper Part 1

Find the wisdom. These habitual patterns have been with you for a long time: they certainly have something to teach you. See what it is.Get to the heart of the matter. Stick your head into the demon’s mouth. If it’s too traumatic, don’t do it by yourself and ask for some help.Infuse the stuck place with being. Find meaning in your negative habitual patterns by framing them within the wholeness and completeness of the existence.

Check-In And Look Deeper Part 2

The more you practice all the above, the more skilled you will become in detecting negative patterns before you get stuck. Thus, you will grow to become freer and less reactive .So…Whatever you’re doing, stop doing it right now. Close your eyes, relax a bit, and start breathing slowly while counting your breaths. There. For a moment, you experienced the present in all its majesty. That is why…YOU MATTER❤️

You Matter ❤️

The simple practice of sitting down and turning your attention inward can do wonders for your body and your mind. ❤️

Meditation Masterclass

Chapter 7 Text 13Lord Krishna said"Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me who am above the modes and inexhaustible"The whole world is enchanted by three modes of material nature. Those who are bewildered by these three modes cannot understand that transcendental to this material nature is the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa.In this material world everyone is under the influence of these three modes and is thus bewildered. By nature living entities have particular types of body and particular types of psychic and biological activities accordingly.

3 Modes Of Material Nature

There are four classes of men functioning in the three material modes of nature. (Goodness,Passion and Ignorance)Those who are purely in the mode of goodness are called brāhmaṇas(Intellectuals)(Scholars,Priests,Teachers).Those who are purely in the mode of passion are called kṣatriyas(Administrators)(Rulers,Warriors).Those who are in the modes of both passion and ignorance are called vaiśyas(mercantile class)(Agriculturalists,Merchants).Those who are completely in ignorance are called śūdras.(service or labour class)

4 Classes Of Men

Constitutional position of the living being is the rendering of service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If we analyze this statement, we can easily see that every living being is constantly engaged in rendering service to another living being. A living being serves other living beings in various capacities. By doing so, the living entity enjoys life. The lower animals serve human beings as servants serve their master. A serves B master, B serves C master, and C serves D master and so on.

Our Relationship With God (Part 1)

Under these circumstances,we can see that one friend serves another friend, the mother serves the son,the wife serves the husband, the husband serves the wife and so on.If we go on searching in this spirit,it will be seen that there is no exception in the society of living beings to the activity of service. The politician presents his manifesto for the public to convince them of his capacity for service.The voters therefore give the politician their valuable votes,thinking that he will render valuable service to society. The shopkeeper serves the customer,and the artisan serves the capitalist.

Our Relationship With God (Part 2)

The capitalist serves the family,and the family serves the state in the terms of the eternal capacity of the eternal living being. In this way we can see that no living being is exempt from rendering service to other living beings,and therefore we can safely conclude that service is the constant companion of the living being and that the rendering of service is the eternal religion of the living being.Yet man professes to belong to a particular type of faith with reference to a particular time and circumstance and thus claims to be a Hindu,Muslim,Christian, Buddhist or an adherent of any sect.

Our Relationship With God (Part 3)

Such designations are non–sanātana-dharma. A Hindu may change his faith to become a Muslim, or a Muslim may change his faith to become a Hindu, or a Christian may change his faith and so on. But in all circumstances the change of religious faith does not affect the eternal occupation of rendering service to others. The Hindu, Muslim or Christian in all circumstances is a servant of someone. Thus, to profess a particular type of faith is not to profess one’s sanātana-dharma. The rendering of service is sanātana-dharma. Factually we are related to the Supreme Lord in service.

Our Relationship With God (Part 4)

The Supreme Lord is the supreme enjoyer, and we living entities are His servitors. We are created for His enjoyment, and if we participate in that eternal enjoyment with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we become happy. We cannot become happy otherwise. It is not possible to be happy independently, just as no one part of the body can be happy without cooperating with the stomach. It is not possible for the living entity to be happy without rendering transcendental loving service unto the Supreme Lord.

Our Relationship With God (Part 5)

Bhagavad Gita 8.20–21 Supreme Lord Krishna said“There	is	another	nature,	which	is	eternal	and	is	transcendental to this manifested and	unmanifested	matter.	It	is	supreme	and is never annihilated.	When	all	in	this world	is	annihilated,	that	part remains as	it	is. That	supreme	abode	is	called unmanifested	and	infallible,	and it	is	the	supreme	destination.	When	one	goes there,	he never comes	back.	That	is	My supreme	abode.”Everything	is	present in Vaikuṇṭha loka.	There	we	can	have	an eternal,blissful life	full of knowledge(sac-cid-ānanda).It	is	not	compulsory for us to rot in this material world.

Our Real Eternal Home   (Part 1)

The	easiest	way	to go to the	Vaikuṇṭha lokas is: Simply try	to understand	Kṛṣṇa.	Why does He come? What are	His activities? Where	does	He	come	from?	Why	does	He	come in the	form	of a	human	being? We only have to	try	to	understand this and study Kṛṣṇa as	He	explains	Himself in	Bhagavad-gītā.	What	is	the	difficulty? God personally explains Himself as	He	is,and if	we	accept	Bhagavad-gītā	as it	is, we	shall	no longer have to transmigrate.We	shall	no	longer have to endure birth and death,for we	can	attain our spiritual	bodies made of eternity-knowledge-bliss, and live happily in Kṛṣṇa’s	family.

Our Real Eternal Home  (Part 2)

Kṛṣṇa is providing	for	us	here, and	He	will	also provide	for	us	there.	So	we	should	know that	our	happiness	is	 in returning home,	back	to Godhead,	where	we	can	eat, drink and	be	merry	in Kṛṣṇa’s company.

Our Real Eternal Home  (Part 3)

Chapter 7 : Knowledge of the Absolute Text 15Lord Krishna said : Those miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons, do not surrender unto Me.

Who Don't Surrender To Krishna

Out of the 8,400,000 different species of living beings, there are 400,000 human forms. 900,000 varieties of material bodies in the water, 2,000,000 vegetable bodies, 1,100,000 worms and reptiles, 1,000,000 forms of birds, 3,000,000 different bodies of beasts forms. Altogether there are 8,400,000 varieties of bodies in different planets of the universe, and the living entity is traveling by so many transmigrations according to different modes of enjoying spirit within himself.

8.4 Million Species In Material Universe

Chapter 7: Knowledge of the AbsoluteTEXT 19Lord Krishna said : After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.

Who Surrenders Unto Krishna

Although krishna has unlimited opulences, 6 of them are primary which are strength,fame,wealth,knowledge,beauty and renunciation.Krishna has all these opulences in fullness. Even a common man has some of these opulences in minute quantity but no man has any of opulence in fullness.

6 Primary Opulences Of Krishna 

Chapter 5 :Karma-yoga- Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Text 29Lord Krishna said : I am the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, one who knows me attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.

Who Is Krishna ?

Chapter 9 : The Most Confidential Knowledge Text 10Lord Krishna Said : This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.

Who controls Nature ? 

Chapter 13 Nature,the enjoyer and consciousness.Lord Krishna said : Renunciation of the objects of sense gratification,absence of false ego, the perception of the evil of birth, death, old age and disease; nonattachment to children, wife, home and the rest,and evenmindedness amid pleasant and unpleasant events;constant and unalloyed devotion to Me,resorting to solitary places, detachment from the general mass of people;accepting the importance of self-realization,and philosophical search for the Absolute Truth-all these I thus declare to be knowledge,and what is contrary to these is ignorance.

What Is Knowledge ?

Chapter 2 Text 13 Lord Krishna said : As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.

What happens after DEATH ?  

Bhagavad Gita (Song of God)  : Words that came directly from the lips of God.

Bhagavad-Gita As It Is

Derived from the Latin word ‘nihil’ meaning ‘nothing,’ Nihilism was quite possibly the most pessimistic school of philosophy. It was a widespread style of thinking throughout 19th century Europe. Nihilism questioned all forms of authority, including government, religion, truth, values, and knowledge, arguing that life is essentially meaningless and nothing really matters. But it wasn’t all doom and gloom – some found the idea of rejecting prescribed doctrines a liberating prospect.

What is Nihilism?

One of the fundamental aspects of Nihilism was its rejection of all forms of authority. Nihilists questioned what gave one figure the authority to preside over another, and asked why there should be such a hierarchy in place at all. They argued no one should be more important than anyone else, because we are all as meaningless as each other. This belief has led to one of the more dangerous strands of Nihilism, prompting people to wage acts of violence and destruction against the police or local governments.

1. Nihilism Questioned Figures of Authority

In the wake of the Enlightenment, and its subsequent discoveries of ration and reasoning, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche argued that Christianity no longer made sense. He argued that a totalizing system that explained all truths about the world was a fundamentally flawed system, because the world is so complex, nuanced, and unpredictable.

2. Nihilism Questioned Religion

Nihilism argued that nothing had any meaning, and there was no higher purpose or calling in life. It’s a pretty depressing attitude, defined by pessimism and skepticism. And at times this attitude has led to wanton acts of violence and extremism.Nietzsche believed we should accept the fear and uncertainty of the unknown, in order to pass through it and find a new higher calling.

3. Nihilists Believed Nothing Matters

Towards the 20th century, the doom and gloom attitude of Nihilism softened. It eventually evolved into the less anarchic style of Existentialism. While Existentialists shared some of the skepticism about power systems and religion as their predecessors, they also believed the individual had the power to find their own purpose in life. From Existentialism, Absurdism emerged. The Absurdists argued that the world might well be chaotic, turbulent and absurd, but we could still celebrate it, or perhaps even laugh, but only in a wry, cynical way.

4. Nihilism Sometimes Overlaps with Existentialism and Absurdism

“It is a self-deception of philosophers and moralists to imagine that they escape decadence by opposing it. That is beyond their will; and, however little they acknowledge it, one later discovers that they were among the most powerful promoters of decadence.”-Friedrich Nietzsche, The Will to Power

Nietzsche Quote

Nihilism was a gloomy philosophical school from the 19th century - its leaders argued nothing mattered, and life had no higher purpose.

If you spend a lot of time in a situation, which consumes a lot of emotional energy, you'll naturally look for a way out.When people leave religion, this is part of the choice.

⚡ The principle of minimum energy

When someone chooses to identify as an atheist, it is because it's more believable to them.It also takes a lot of guilt off of them, for things that don't matter anyway.

🧠 Atheism

Answer with: "If what you believe is true, then no need to convince me, I'll naturally realize you are right"

🕯️ Next time someone tells you "turn from your wicked ways"

because they want to think their hatred is justified by a greater force.

🛐 Sometimes people need religion

consensual relationship is not disrespectful to any religion. Telling people they deserve to suffer is.

💖 Having a loving,

it's best to use reason. "God said so" isn't a valid reason.If your religion is only fear-mongering beyond the basics, then maybe think it through.

🗣️ If you tell others about your beliefs,

These are not my words, they are from a TikTok video that popped up, sadly I can't use a TikTok link to publish. You can check out the video <a href="https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMNANVxvF/?k=1">here</a>. Please support the original creator.

❗ Disclaimer, please read

Hi! A little different topic today, this just popped up on my for you page on TikTok, and I wanted to share it with you! Not my words, original video link on the last idea. 🤔🧠🛐

People using religion to justify hatred

Our time is our life and our attention is the doorway to our hearts.

<ul><li>You have to set aside time each day for the kind of silence and solitude that brings peace. </li><li>Taking a day off each week for rest isn’t such a bad idea, it can greatly improve your productivity and happiness.</li><li>To become more mindful, take pleasure in slowing down your life by allowing moments of inefficiency.</li></ul>

Slow Down! The Three Takeaways

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with notifications on our devices, it can be hard to find silence and solitude.Even if we are alone with our phone, it doesn’t mean we’re alone in our thoughts. Social media leaves us connected to a bombardment of thoughts and opinions. Before smartphones, people would wait without a source of constant distraction. They would sit on the bus and watch out the window. Nowadays, we leave little time for solitude and reflection.

Silence And Solitude In The Age Of Constant Diversions And Distractions

Just make a point to get up earlier than your household. Take time to enjoy things like a good book and a cup of coffee. You could even take this extra time to take a leisurely walk before work. Put down your phone and unplug your headphones. Allow yourself to feel all the emotions that might come your way.The more you do this, the more you’ll start to realize solitude does not equate to loneliness. Rather, it lets you connect with the world around you.

Steal The Time

Not long ago, Americans used to wake up to a quieter Sunday where all businesses were closed and there wasn’t much else to do but be with family or go to church. The shift in society to the more secular and commercial has made it hard to have a day for rest anymore. Shops are now open, and people often have to worry about work on this day.Every Sunday, spend time doing things you don’t normally have time to do, like taking a nap or going on a long walk. Enjoy the company of your family or close friends. Resting will allow you to appreciate the week previous and recharge for the one to come.

It's Good To Take A Day Off Every Week

Have you ever stood in the line of a grocery store frustrated at the person in line in front of you who is looking for coupons? Don’t they know we’re in a hurry?The truth is, we don’t have to be so efficient all the time. Instead of racing by cars on your commute home, try going the speed limit, or take a minute to let other people merge in front of you. It probably doesn’t need to be a stressful race. Instead, it could be a relaxing time of solitude that allows you to reflect on your day and listen to your thoughts.

Allow Some Inefficiency

Another great way to slow down your life is by simplifying your phone. One trick is transitioning to a “dumb” phone. And honestly, is there really a reason we need social media and emails constantly notifying us?But if you’re not into that more idea, you could delete social media and email apps so you can just use your phone for calls and messages. This will allow you to focus on one thing at a time rather than distractedly multitasking.

Simplify Your Phone

Hurry is a form of violence on the soul. Here are a few symptoms of hurry sickness. 1. Irritability — You get mad, frustrated, or just annoyed way too easily. 2. Hypersensitivity — All it takes is a minor comment, a grumpy email, or a little turn of events to set you off. You can’t seem to roll with punches 3. Restlessness — When you actually do try to slow down and rest, you can’t relax. 4. Workaholism (or just nonstop activity) — You just don’t know when to stop. Or worse, you can’t stop. 5. Emotional numbness — You don’t have the capacity to feel another’s pain.

The Hurry Sickness

The solution to an overly busy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what really matters. We can’t do it all. We simply can’t see, read, watch, taste, drink, experience, be, or do it all. Not an option. We have limitations. Lots of them. Our bodies. Our minds. Our giftings. Our personalities and emotional wiring. Our families of origin. Our socioeconomic origins. Our educations and careers. Our seasons of life and their responsibilities. Our eighty or so years of life. God’s call on our lives. Nobody has more than twenty-four hours in a day

Asking For More Time Is Flawed

<ul><li>Drive the speed limit. </li><li>Get into the slow lane. </li><li>Come to a full stop at stop signs. </li><li>Don’t text and drive. </li><li>Get in the longest checkout line at the grocery store. Turn your smartphone into a dumbphone. </li><li>Get a flip phone or ditch your cell phone altogether. </li><li>Parent your phone; put it to bed before you and make it sleep in. </li><li>Keep your phone off until after your morning quiet time. </li><li>Set times for email, TV watching or social media.</li><li> Single-task.</li><li>Walk slower. </li><li>Take a regular day alone for silence and solitude. </li><li>Take up journaling. </li><li>Experiment with mindfulness and meditation. </li></ul>

The Rules

Who are you becoming? That was the question nagging Pastor Comer. Within the pages of this book, readers will find a compelling emotional and spiritual case against hurry and in favor of a slower, simpler way of life.

Meditation Masterclass

Bhagavad-Gita As It Is

What is Nihilism?

People using religion to justify hatred

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

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