“Before practicing zazen, set your intention: “I will practice breath awareness as a form of meditation for five minutes, counting each breath. When my mind wanders, I will return to counting the breath, beginning again with one.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“Stop thinking—about anything other than what you are doing right now. Notice your breath. Enjoy all that there is to this moment.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“Stop thinking—about your upcoming plans when you take time to read. Notice your breath. Take in each word and allow the information and ideas to settle in.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“Stop thinking—about what you are going to say next while someone else is still speaking. Notice your breath. Hear them out, open your mind, and listen.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“Stop thinking—about all the things that could go wrong in your career. Notice your breath. Be your best and do your best.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“Stop thinking—about your workday when you are with your family. Notice your breath. Love them now.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“Open Awareness Meditation, also known as “open attention,” “open monitoring,” or “soft focus,” is a form of mindfulness meditation in which you allow the many things present in your consciousness (sounds and other sensory input, as well as your thoughts and emotions) to arise in your awareness and then naturally fall away as they are replaced by different sounds, thoughts, etc.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“The ancient concept of yin and yang refers to the two fundamental sides of nature—both spiritual and physical, both feminine and masculine.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“Yin is the feminine aspect of all things and is associated with that which is expansive, open, and receptive, while yang is the masculine aspect of all things and is associated with that which is precise, active, and specific. Every person has both yin qualities and yang qualities,”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You
“Attention is the yin to concentration’s yang. Attention (mindfulness) and concentration (focus) work together to provide a full, rounded experience of being both focused on the task at hand (whatever it may be), as well as having a complete awareness of, and an open mind to, the many aspects of the moment you are in.”
Source: Practical Meditation for Beginners: 10 Days to a Happier, Calmer You