To change habitual patterns, direct your energy toward a new focus. Deny the old pattern by affirming a new one. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
A steady daily meditation practice gives us the ability to reach a single point of focus and to control the thought patterns in our minds. We also learn how to be an attentive witness to the conversations taking place in our minds. When we spot the rising of a pattern that is not useful, we can alter the focus and replace that pattern with more useful thoughts and affirmations. This is the definition of that freedom which meditation grants us.
Life has to be lived; why not live it in the highest way? Look for the good in everything. ~Paramahansa Yogananda
We can choose to live our lives in an unhappy way, focusing on the difficulties that we experience or we can focus on the positive things in our lives. Our brains are hardwired to focus on the negative over the positive. Science has shown that we can change our focus to the positive. When we bring skillful, conscious attention to the positive aspects of our life, we change the neural networks in our brain so the conscious experience of happiness in our life becomes more and more automatic. Our practice of meditation supports us in being more self-aware, calmer and peaceful. When we are in that place, we can more easily focus on the positive, even in times of stress. This is living life in the highest way.
Each day should include some physical work that is useful. Physical work strengthens the body and calms the mind through concentration on the task. It connects us to the earth and the holy present moment. Every day nourish the body, the mind, and the soul.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Our daily meditation practice gives us the skill to bring the mind to a single point of focus. Long after our time of meditation, physical work allows us to bring this focus to bear on useful work in the world, and it can extend the harmonious joy of meditation into our daily life. As we continue our practice of meditation, we can extend it into work, into walking, into interacting with others and into all aspects of our life. Think of meditation as the highest preparation for life, and of life as the blossoming of meditation.
The antidote for regret is to move our awareness into the present moment. Consider what you can do now that makes a difference. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Most of us have had times in our life where we have done something or said something that we regret. We wonder what we can do to take it back or change it, when often there is nothing we can do. We can't change the past, but we can affect the future. The only way to do that is to live in the present moment. Our meditation practice supports us in developing that part of ourselves that observes ourselves — the witness consciousness part of ourselves in the present moment. When we are meditating we are observing ourselves meditating, noticing when we have been distracted by thoughts and gently bringing ourselves back to our point of focus. When we are not sitting on the cushion we learn to observe ourselves and do or say the right thing in that moment. This is the antidote to regret.
Use the lamp of awareness to observe different states of consciousness. By becoming aware of our changing mental conditions, we can rise above the normally distracted state of mind by directing our attention toward higher consciousness.
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
A steady practice of meditation gives us full awareness of the thoughts taking place in our mental field. Once we have this ability to be aware, we can change the distracted patterns in our mind. We can use techniques like concentrated awareness of the breath to reach a state of single pointed focus. This can help us easily accomplish tasks after meditation out in the busy world, and moreover we can cultivate a higher level of compassionate consciousness when dealing with others in difficult situations.
The wise see that there is action in the midst of inaction and inaction in the midst of action. Their consciousness is unified, and every act is done with complete awareness. ~Bhagavad Gita 4:18
Our lives are so busy and so full of input. When we first begin to meditate, it may feel like we are wasting time. We are so used to always doing, that it feels difficult to just sit in the silence. Once we have been meditating for a while, we realize the benefits that we are reaping from this time of quiet. There is definitely action happening during this time of perceived inaction. Conversely, our meditation practice supports us when we are active in the world. We are more aware — more conscious of what we are thinking, doing or saying. This enables us to choose theaction that supports us and those around us in the highest way.
To create dynamic will power, determine to do some of the things in life that you thought you could not do. Attempt simple tasks first. As your confidence strengthens and your will becomes more dynamic, you can aim for more difficult accomplishments. Be certain that you have made a good selection, then refuse to submit to failure. ~Paramahansa Yogananda
Our daily meditation practice gives us the focus to bend our will for positive purposes. As we become aware of our ability to control the contents of our mind during meditation, we can harness our latent ability to manifest our useful desires. Over time our deepening meditation unleashes our astonishing ability to accomplish many things we would not have attempted before meditation and the world around us becomes increasingly supportive. Begin or deepen your meditation practice today.
Be truthful. Speak words that bring love. Encourage others. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
The words that we speak are powerful. We can bring joy, peace and love to ourselves and others with the words we speak, or difficulty and suffering. As we often say, everything is energy. Science has proven that. The words we speak bring energy. We want to bring positive energy to ourselves and to others. Love and compassion comes through us, with our words. Speaking the truth, with compassion, brings the power of truth out into the world. Taking a few moments of silence before we speak will let us know if the truth we speak is compassionate or harmful. This includes what we say to ourselves. Our regular meditation practice teaches us to observe ourselves and enables us to pause before we speak. Compassionate, loving speech is our goal.
The successful practice of meditation requires balance and focus—qualities that are essential to a happy, successful life. Cultivate balance today. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Meditation requires balance but a balanced lifestyle of moderation in all things returns the favor, supports our practice of meditation and can bring an end to suffering. Meditation requires focus and in return the techniques of focused attention enable us to reach deeper states of meditation. When we meditate regularly with focused attention, we enable a virtuous cycle of improved meditation and balanced, graceful life experiences.
By focusing on friendliness and other such qualities, the power to transmit them is obtained. ~Yoga Sutras of Patanjail 3:24
Often you have heard us teach that at the end of our meditation practice, it is a good time to focus on the peaceful energy that we have experienced while we were sitting and to send that peaceful energy out to our family, friends, our community and the world. This practice has been taught and experienced for hundreds of years. It works. Focusing our thoughts and behaviors on friendliness and compassion is powerful. We become the center of a ripple that moves out into the world — for those we love and for those whom we may have difficulty with. Just imagine all of us as the center of these ripples. This strength permeates our entire being and we benefit because we are also focusing on this for ourselves. The power of focusing on friendliness and compassion transforms us and transforms the world.
A mantra -- a word, a word-phrase, or a sound -- may be used to focus attention. For most meditators, during the early stages of practice before meditation flows spontaneously, listening to a mantra is more helpful than "waiting and observing" because it supports concentration. Roy Eugene Davis
Mantra technique begins with intentional silent vocalization of the mantra, for example "hong-saw":"hong on the in-breath and "saw" on the out-breath. After this has gone on for a while, we can notice that the mantra will continue to be chanted in our mind without conscious effort. As this continues, we can be watchful for the transition from concentration into the state of meditation itself, when boundaries drop away and we simply fall into a state of blissful peace. At this point, technique is no longer necessary. If we drop back out of meditation, we can always pick up the technique again.
To meditate a short time with depth is better than to meditate for long hours with the mind running wild. In the beginning, therefore, don’t force yourself to sit for a long time. Strive for shorter, but deeper, meditations. Then gradually, as you become accustomed to going deep, lengthen the time you sit in meditation. ~Paramahansa Yogananda
In the quiet of the mind, beyond thought, is where we find the peace and calmness that is at the core of our being. Returning again and again during our time of meditation will allow us to re-claim the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits that we are seeking. The great meditation masters have guided us to meditate for twenty to thirty minutes a day to achieve those benefits. At first we may have difficulty sitting for that length of time. When we start out, meditating for a shorter period of time and working our way up to twenty or thirty minutes will support us in making meditation a joyful, everyday habit.
Inspiration energizes the mind and body, enables us to perceive possibilities, improves powers of intellectual discernment, unveils intuition that provides insight, and causes us to want to be skillful and accomplished. ~Roy Eugene Davis
Beyond its many health benefits, a regular mediation practice opens us to inspiration. We become attuned to our innate ability to access wisdom on many levels. Enhanced access to inspiration alone justifies the energy needed to meditate regularly every day for at least twenty minutes. Begin or deepen your meditation practice today.
In the still mind the Self reveals itself. From the depth of meditation, a person draws the joy and peace of complete fulfillment. Bhagavad Gita 6:20 Why would we want to meditate? Why make the effort to sit quietly each day? Most of us would welcome peace and joy in life especially when we experience life challenges. The practice of meditation quiets down the myriad thoughts that are always racing around our mind. Our mind becomes like a still, calm lake that then can reflect the inner knowing, the inner peace that is at our core, always. We become more able to control our thoughts, rather than letting them control us. We are more able to discern the right thing to do. We are more able to "keep our cool". We are more able to see the beauty in life. That is the joy.
Strong mental chains are forged from desire and habit. Each time action is taken to fulfill desire, another link is added. Use discernment and self-discipline and break the chain
~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Every one of us comes into this world with a unique gift to offer others, but we also seem to have a deeply ingrained habit or obstacle that may get in the way of fully offering that gift. Meditation allows us to develop the witness consciousness that makes us aware of this core obstacle, and as we continue to deepen our daily practice, we gain the strength and insight to embrace the joyous self-discipline that frees us from it. The wonderful promise is that meditation can eventually burn away all traces of such obstacles and grant us complete freedom.
Having taken your seat, strive to still your thoughts. Make your mind one-pointed in the practice of meditation, and your heart will be purified. ~Bhagavad Gita 6:12
It is important, when we sit to meditate that we have a steady "seat". This means having an erect, but relaxed posture. Often, just adjusting our posture during meditation will help in re-focusing our mind. Then we use a technique, such as following the breath or repeating a mantra, to focus our minds so that the thoughts can settle. When we feel a deep peaceful feeling or calmness, we can let go of the technique and let ourselves rest in meditation, always returning to the technique when we need it. We don't meditate just to meditate, but to experience the peace of meditation throughout our day. We will find that our relationships improve, our outlook on the world improves and we can deal with life's stresses in a calmer, more peaceful way.
Turn toward that which serves your highest purpose by using the reins of discrimination to withdraw attention from that which is not useful. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
First our meditation practice makes us aware of the changing gaze of our attention. Then over time we use the technique of concentration to focus our attention and gain proficiency in controlling it. As our meditation deepens, we come to recognize and trust our intuition and ability to discriminate and take actions that can lead to useful outcomes. Over time we come to understand our individual purpose - our unique contribution we bring to life. Meditation makes all of this possible and can bring an effortless grace to daily life.
Being even-minded—neither clinging to nor resisting the way things are—allows us to see through changing conditions to the good that is ever present. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
It is said that the one thing that never changes is that everything changes. Sometimes those changing conditions are not what we expect or what we would like. Changes in our life can be small things or major events. We can get really upset or angry when these changes occur or we can observe, acknowledge and honor our feelings about the change, but accept that things change. We suffer much less when we can move through these changes with grace. Our meditation practice helps us to prepare to live our lives flowing like a river, around and through the obstacles of life. Our meditation practice helps us to more easily see the good that is always present, no matter what changes occur.
Just noticing the arising of desire as a wave, frees us to ride the current of divine energy beneath it. Wave upon wave of desire arises. Watch. Wait. Move through life with astounding freedom. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Our daily meditation practice makes us exquisitely aware of the many thoughts that arise and fall away in the mental field. This witness consciousness can carry over to daily activity and provide some distance from the arousal of desire on our own minds. With practice, we can recognize when these are the passing desires of restless ego, when they are not useful and let them drop away. We can also recognize the peaceful energy of enhanced intuition and follow it to guide our life to achieve our highest goals.
Steady practice of superconscious meditation purifies the mental field and is practice for living free in the world. Freedom from mental conditioning is the goal, meditation is the means. ~Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
What does it mean to live free in the world? Why would we want that? Our mind, our mental field is full of impressions from past experiences, good and bad. Often the previous bad experiences influence our reactions to current experiences. It is a common saying that an event or something someone said has "pushed our buttons". When that happens we may feel angry and/or upset. Those buttons are the impressions in our mind. Superconscious meditation smooths out those impressions in our mind and creates new positive impressions. This is what freedom is, to be free of the negative mental conditioning and live our lives from a place of positive thoughtful action rather than re-action.
