Combining contemporary psychotherapy with the science and techniques of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Dr. Neale provides the conceptual maps, practical skills and emotional support that lead to optimal health and happiness. For more info check him out by clicking here.

In less then ten minutes, Sogyal Rinpoche explains the connection between the mind, meditation and contentment.

In this video, from April 2005, Sogyal Rinpoche explains about how we can discover the source of true contentment. In less then ten minutes, Rinpoche explains the connection between the mind, meditation and contentment. This video is from the WhatMeditationReallyIs.com course.

Just the other day I found myself in the all-too-familiar situation of trying to explain what I do when I meditate to a curious and inquiring stranger. I’m sure this has happened to you before…You know, you’re sitting on the bus or in a coffee shop and you strike up a friendly conversation with someone next to you. One thing leads to another, and before you know it you’ve let it slip that you meditate. Then comes that slightly tense moment as you wait to find out whether or not the other person thinks you’re a total wacko and if you need to try and change the subject to something safer…like sports or IKEA.

This time it was a little bit different though…

Inspired by the previous post from Marieke van Vugt, I decided to try my hand at sharing what a "normal" day of work-integrating-meditation looks like.

Since preparing to publish my book, Minding the Bedside: Nursing from the Heart of the Awakened Mind, and starting my own business, the unfortunate fact is that the time for my "formal" practice has suffered. Yet, while I lament and moan about the lack of time to formally practice, it seems like the integration of practice into my daily life, and my ability to take life onto the path, has increased.

Anurag Agawal talks about meditation and the 'I Meditate New York' program.

Ringu Tulku talks about what meditation really is.

Early this month, I was visiting a friend on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. There, I discovered the BMW Guggenheim Lab, “ led by international, interdisciplinary teams of emerging talents in the areas of urbanism, architecture, art, design, science, technology, education, and sustainability, the Lab addresses issues of contemporary urban life through programs and public discourse”.  And “Over the Lab’s six-year migration, there will be three distinct mobile structures and thematic cycles. Each structure will be designed by a different architect, and each will travel to three cities around the globe. The theme of the Lab’s first two-year cycle is Confronting Comfort—exploring notions of individual and collective comfort and the urgent need for environmental and social responsibility.”

Sounds sorta interesting. But what really caught my attention was that each Saturday morning a group called “I Meditate NY” was hosting a free meditation program.  A clever take off on the old “I Love NY”  ad campaign. That one was  copied by everyone and soon you saw “I ‘Heart ICON’ <insert your favourite place/activity/restaurant/pop star/etc.>”  pretty much everywhere. Behind the group is a world-wide organization called The Art of Living founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. I am a sucker for clever marketing, so I vowed to go on the following Saturday.

When Ringu Tulku Rinpoche came to visit Lerab Ling for a few days this summer, I had a chance to show him this website. He really liked it. I asked him if he would share a few thoughts on meditation practice that we could share. He agreed and fortunately, I quickly found someone who could make the video. This is what he said spontaneously, no rehearsal, straight and direct from the wisdom of experience to you. Sorry it took so long to get this one up. But it was worth the wait!