My 5-day Stay at a Buddhist Forest Monastery in Sri Lanka

After five months in a popular surf destination in Sri Lanka, I decided to move into a remote Buddhist forest monastery to practice meditation.  I had been dreaming about meditating in a cave for months, but I wasn't sure if the forest-dwelling monks would allow me to stay.

STOP Delaying Happiness: You can choose to be Happy TODAY

Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash

A couple of years ago my friend Sophie, who is now a Buddhist nun, asked me in a text message, "How is your happiness going, Marco?"

I didn't answer anything because the truth is that at that moment I wasn't feeling very happy. As a matter of fact, I had not been feeling happy for a very long time. And the pandemic had made matters even worst, as you can imagine.

The Actual Difference Between Mindfulness and Meditation

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What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation, you may ask?

I know, it can be confusing since we often hear the terms mindfulness, mindfulness meditation, mindfulness-based meditation, or just meditation used interchangeably.

But, are they really all the same?  This is what I like to cover in this blog, starting with the definition of mindfulness and its benefits.

The Secrets of the Soham (Haṁsa) Mantra: Its Meaning, Benefits and Purpose

One of the most common types of meditations taught in India as part of the tradition of the Indian yogis is mantra meditation.  And the most important universal mantra that anybody can use for meditation is the so'ham or haṁsa mantra. 

What's significant about this mantra is that you don't need to receive any type of initiation to practice it.  It belongs to you, to me, and to all of us.  It is a powerful mantra and its meaning, purpose, and benefits are profound.  

Radha's Spiritual Birth at the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh [True Story]

Have you ever thought of visiting an ashram in India, such as the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh?  Maybe you are searching for authentic spiritual experiences at the feet of a true guru.  Well, before you embark on your spiritual journey let me tell you about this small book that will motivate you even more.   

Be Present with Yourself (Free Guided Meditation)

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Our minds are often so agitated, dissipated, and distracted that we even forget we are here, breathing. Don't you think so? Well, in this guided meditation, we will take a moment to remember ourselves, to become fully present with ourselves like we never had before, experiencing a natural sense of calm and serenity.

Releasing Physical or Emotional Pain (Free Guided Meditation)

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To release emotional pain such as depression, heartbreak, or despair, mindfulness meditation has proven to be extremely helpful.  It can even work to alleviate physical pain.  You can try it right now with this free guided meditation, or you can learn more about it in this blog.

 

Transforming Depression into Compassion (Guided Meditation)

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If you or someone you love is struggling with severe depression then this free guided meditation might help.  It can be an intense meditation though, so use it mindfully and according to your needs.  If you need to pause or even quit the meditation, please feel free to do that as well. 

How to STOP Thinking About Your Breathing

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A not so common issue when we start pranayama, breathwork, or when we simply do mindful breathing during a yoga class, is that sometimes it seems that we forget how to breathe. This can feel very uncomfortable and preoccupying. So here are a few simple tips to stop thinking about the breath and to allow it to become natural again. 

How to do Diaphragmatic Breathing: 7 Simple Exercises [with Script in PDF]

For most people, belly breathing is very easy to learn.  Diaphragmatic breathing, on the other side, requires a bit more practice.  

So in this blog, I'll share with you a sequence of simple breathing exercises that you can practice to do diaphragmatic breathing properly.