Several years ago I stumbled onto Dan Harris and his book - 10% Happier.
I've also read his newest book Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics.
I find it strange that I found meditation and mindfulness through the secular world rather than my growing up days in church. But that is a difference. The evangelical world did not promote mindfulness from this stand point. Of course any decent growing up baptist heard the expression "quiet time". But that quiet time always included a bible - maybe a devotional book - but I certainly did not read the same language, hear the same thoughts that authors like Dan Harris discuss.
Sometimes I think that is my (personal) issue with the religion I grew up with - many times - it almost got to the point - but that is really another topic for another day.
Mindfulness - Meditation - ?
On that bookshelf with the Dan Harris' books is a duplicate of a Jen Hatmaker book. I wonder if anyone reading this blog would like that extra copy? If so - message me on Facebook and I can get it to you!
That bookshelf is a bit of a great example of my mind - and also a great example of why mindfulness & meditation can be such a good thing. Growing up - my mother actually taught me something similar but we did not call it one of those names. There would be times in my life that she knew I just needed a diversion -
She would tell me to go play the piano.
Of course on this very day - the piano is rather difficult to get to (there is a legitimate reason why this room is a mess - more on that later!) But soon - I can - just like soon I will be able to get to the book shelf too.
I have continued this study of Mindfulness and Meditation - now I have overlapped the study with a spiritual - religious side. And for those of you who regularly practice yoga - I suspect I am speaking your language - but you are so much more fluent that me! I suspect that the pausing of the mind in the yoga practice is a huge component of why we hear that yoga is so good for us.
The study of the Mystics are a great avenue to learn more about the practice of meditation and mindfulness. I have enjoyed the work of James Finley - Thomas Merton - Richard Rohr and the activities and practices of "The Center for Action and Contemplation". I know I have much more to learn.
I have also found children's books that talk about these practices. I find myself buying them quickly to share with the precious 4 in my life.
Of course something to discuss here is the Buddhist faith and my assumption that Mindfulness & meditation is very relevant to those practicing - (from what I can tell). I have certainly found that reading and learning from that faith can add to my understanding of mindfulness & meditation. And let me be honest - referencing the Catholic faith (as I did with Finley, Merton, Rohr) would have not happened during my growing up years - and I certainly would never have referenced or even spoke of the Buddha.
If you noticed - one of the books that I have for the grandkids is a book about the Dali Lama. Again - never something I would have discussed growing up. My faith - my beliefs - my way of life was very confined to what I heard at that baptist church. And while what I heard had many wonderful things that I still cling to in this day - there are things that I have added to learn about that have made a difference too.
Honestly - what all of these things have in common - and I will include my dad in this group too. My dad was my first spiritual teacher - and my dad along with all of these other references would start first with Love.
I suspect when we are serious about mindfulness and meditation - we find Love is more abundant.
Inside the cover of Zen Pig ....
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