In the Buddhist tradition, a meditation teacher is called a “kalyana-mitta”, which means a “noble friend”, or a “spiritual companion.” They are men or women who have already walked the path and can in turn accompany you along your own journey. But are the qualities that make someone a meditation teacher or spiritual guide? I recently explored this question in a Community Call on the essential qualities of a meditation teacher, and how they relate to you.
If there is anything we’ve learned in these challenging times, it’s that resiliency is not a given. It must be earned. Facing life’s challenging experiences will develop resiliency… if you face them with courage, patience, and a little faith. However, if you want to grow your capacity for resiliency then there is no substitute for a developmental practice. Any practice that is committed, long-term, and keeps you at the edge of your comfort zone will gradually develop your physical, psychological, emotional, and yes, even spiritual resiliency.
It is no understatement to say that we have all been tested during this current Coronavirus and COVID-19 crisis. It is in times like this that you get to see both the depth and limitation, of your own inner resilience. Recently, I was invited to once again join my old friend Mark Walsh on The Embodiment Podcast to explore the question: what does it mean to have inner resilience during a pandemic?
We’ve all been there. For sure if you’re a parent, but if not then you only have to remember back to your childhood. The long road trip with mom and dad in the front seat and the kids in the back bored out of their minds. It’s just a matter of time before that incessant, and annoying question comes from the kids in the back seat – “are we there yet?”
Last fall I offered free meditation coaching sessions to a limited number of people in my audience. Those who participated were a varied group of meditators that ranged from novice to experienced that included therapists and leadership trainers, martial artists and dancers, people who follow traditional meditation schools, and people who had an eclectic collection of meditation methods. In the following coaching demo, I work with Celynn Morin who is herself, a wellbeing coach.
A fact that becomes immediately clear for everyone in this Coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic is that our resources are not as stable as we thought. From good health, to work and income, to face masks, to toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and everything in between. And even though we do everything we can to be smart, safe, and secure in these times, we realize that it is all really beyond our control. This is why meditation has always been called your very own spiritual resource. Because it is always there to support you no matter what is going on the world around you. I went through my archives and picked out 10 posts on meditation and spirituality that I think are helpful resources to everyone through these uncertain times. With Love.
With the whole world in lock-down and keeping social distance from each other, it is extremely supportive to get together to practice meditation. Last Sunday, March 29th, 2020 I gathered with our global meditation sangha for a 60 min workshop on how meditation can be an essential resource for you during these challenging times. In this community call we explored how Meditation supports you not only in ordinary times, but especially during the current Coronavirus and COVID-19 crisis. The session was aptly called “meditation in a time of crisis.”
Over the past 4 years, I have written close to 100 blog posts at the intersectionality of Aikido, meditation, and personal development. In one way, or another, all of my blog posts explore the same essential question: What does it mean to walk a higher path of practice? A question that is very relevant in these uncertain times. I went through my archives and picked out 10 posts that I think will support you through these uncertain times. With Love.
Things change fast. With the current global Coronavirus and Covid-19 crisis comes worries, stress, and fears. But within all of this uncertainty, one thing is clear… we are all in this together. While it is a challenge to face this Coronavirus pandemic, it also gives us an opportunity to come together at this critical time. And it allows us to come together in the right way. Join Miles Kessler and the Integral Dojo’s meditation sangha in the replay below for a special global meditation gathering on “Big Mind / Big Heart In A Time Of Crisis.”
The Zen Buddhist practice of “Koans” is meant to transport your mind beyond concepts, penetrating into the true nature of reality. “Reality” being a perspective that is hidden from the ordinary mind, never to be understood through concepts, logic, and reason. Just like with Zen, the true nature of Aikido is a “Koan”, a truth that is hidden from view of the ordinary mind. Even more so when in the midst of conflict. So what is “The Aikido Koan” that will reveal the mystical nature of conflict?
