Meditation, Einstein and Living in the Moment: Has Your Life Gone to the Dogs?

I have an assistant at my work named Einstein.  He’s a yellow lab and he’s been coming to work with me for about twelve years now, since he was a puppy.  Though he’s a great help with children and other clients that I see in private practice, helping them feel comfortable; he’s an ever greater asset to me.  He’s very intelligent, kind, gentle, and incredibly sensitive to people’s feelings.  The two of us go on a walk almost every day.  We walk anywhere from a couple of miles to three or four miles; he’s very healthy, but now that he’s twelve years old he’s slowed down quite a bit.  When he gets in the car I usually have to give him a little boost to get in.  Before I sat down to do this pod cast, Einstein and I went for a walk.  I’m in my office in Newport Beach today and behind my office there is a staircase that goes up to the cliffs where Einstein and I like to walk.  I was walking ahead of Einstein and the leash that I was holding started tugging and Einstein wasn’t following me anymore.  He had collapsed on the staircase and was looking up at me rather pitifully.  Periodically his legs give way and they had collapsed underneath him as he was walking up the staircase.  I, of course, turned around and went down, lifted him up and carried him up the rest of the staircase.  We kept on walking, he started sniffing around and we both enjoyed the walk as we always do.  As I was walking, I was thinking that what had happened made me realize something about us as humans.  What many of us do when something tragic happens is create a story; a story that can run down a very dark path and ruin our day.  For example, in this instance I could have thought: “Oh no, Einstein’s getting older, he’s not going to be able to walk some day.  He may die some day soon.  This is horrible.  This is terrible.  What am I going to do?”  But I didn’t do that and neither did Einstein.  Einstein just walked, he didn’t’ even think about what had happened.  He went on and just did his typical sniffing, walking around, talking to other dogs and having a really good time; just as I did, although I didn’t sniff around quite as much as he did.  What we didn’t do was create a story.  Today, right now, Einstein was able to get up and keep walking.  He’s healthy today.  Tomorrow may be different, in a few weeks it may be worse; but right now he is doing fine and we are doing fine and we enjoy our walks together.  When he reaches a point where he won’t be able to walk anymore, Einstein and I will both adjust to that.  If there comes a time, and it will as it comes in all of our lives, where Einstein will head on over to the other side we will adjust to that too.  Of course, if Einstein hadn’t gotten up and I needed to take him to the hospital I would have done that.  I would have done what I had to do to make him well, keep him safe, and have him not suffer.  But still, even in that, we would just live in the moment.  This is how it relates to mediation.

If you’ve been listening to me for a while you know that meditation, from my perspective, is about quieting the mind and living in the present moment basically one breath at a time.  There are so many beautiful, wonderful things to be with and meditation teaches us to do just that.  When we meditate we concentrate on our mantra, our prayer word, our breath and we don’t create stories in our head.  We just follow our breath, be present with the moment, and enjoy the meditation experience.  When we stop meditating, the goal is to keep this going by being present with what is and trying to keep our minds fairly clear and empty.  It’s a very child-like approach to living.  Just enjoying life one breath at a time, being present with what is, and not creating stories.  Einstein is so good at doing this.  He has something to teach all of us and we can learn from it.

Meditation is another way to learn how to live in the present moment and really enjoy life’s journey.  Yes, there will be tragedy.  Yes, there will be dark times, but they’re much, much darker when we create a story; a story of negativity, a story of what will happen, what might happen instead of just focusing on what is happening.

There’s a distinction in the medical community between pain and suffering.  Pain is the physical sensation that occurs when we have something physically happen to us that causes us physiological pain.  For example, in Einstein’s case when he was looking up at me from the stairs he probably was in a bit of pain because he had collapsed and fallen on all fours and couldn’t get up.  It was probably a bit painful.  The suffering would be the mental part; the mental part that we create… “Why did this happen?  What’s wrong with me?  Is this going to get worse?  Oh no, oh no, oh no!”  We do often do that, creating our own anguish.  That is suffering.  Suffering is mental and it makes pain far, far worse than just the pain in and of itself.  I think that’s why meditation is so effective in treating pain because it eliminates the stories we create in our heads.

When Einstein’s in pain he doesn’t’ create a story in his head.  When I first got him and he was a puppy, he had a very allergic reaction to something he ate in the backyard.  We took him to the pet emergency center because his head had swollen to at least two to three times its normal size.  Einstein always loves to meet new people; so even though his head was completely swollen, his tail was wagging away because he was so excited to meet all these new people at the veterinarian emergency center.  Meditation teaches us to live in the present moment, not to create stories, and just be.  It’s a beautiful way of life and I encourage all of us to try it.  We will forget, of course, but if we keep going back to it and keep remembering “Oh, I don’t have to create a story.  All I need to focus on is that there’s a problem, can I fix it?”  Einstein was stuck on the stairs, I picked him up, and we went for a walk.  That’s all it was.  All of us have things happen in life.  The one thing in life that is guaranteed is that life will change; but by not creating a story we adjust to change so much better.  We respond instead of react, when we don’t create a story.  Life can go pretty well when we don’t create a story and we just enjoy life one breath, one moment at a time.  Meditation is our tool for teaching us how to do this.

Remember, after you stop meditating in the morning and in the evening keep your mind in that meditative state, that state of present awareness, of just being throughout the day.  Of course we need to use our minds to make decisions and other things throughout the day but far, far, far less than we actually need to use it.  What I believe we will find is that if we just quiet our mind, live in the zone by just being, life actually goes much, much better.

Let’s try to live like Einstein; not create stories out of tragedies and just get up and start walking again.  I think we will find that this is a healthy way to live our lives.  This is what I teach in my pod casts and retreats; how to live a life without stories but a life filled with wonder, joy and peace.

Resource box:

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com  He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com   He has a weekly podcast that explores the world of Happiness at http://www.HappinessPodcast.org  He also has a blog at http://www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com  If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net 

Meditation and Labyrinths

            Labyrinths are walking meditations that go way, way back in time.  Archeologists can date them all the way back to 1500 BC but they are probably much older than that.  We can find them all over the world, in churches, cathedrals, old ruins, and now many spiritual retreat centers have them.  Perhaps the most famous labyrinth is Chartres Cathedral just south of Paris.  It’s a beautiful labyrinth that dates to over 800 years ago.  I suggest anyone that goes to Europe visit Chartres Cathedral.  It’s beautiful and the labyrinth is right inside the cathedral.

            Some people confuse labyrinths with mazes, but it’s not a maze.  It is more of a meditation that is in walking form.  Let me explain.  The labyrinth has a pathway that you walk in order to reach the center but it goes round and round, back and forth, until you reach the center.  The key is to take slow steps and just walk towards the center; taking your time and following your breath.  I recommend with each step taking a breath.  Continue to walk all the way to the center until you get to there.  Once you get to the center, stop, be, listen.  I don’t want to necessarily tell you what will happen but I do want to encourage you to get on the internet and find a labyrinth near you.  Go to the labyrinth and walk the labyrinth.  See what happens when you get to the center.  The experience is different for different people.

            I love labyrinths and have been to many of them around the world.  I encourage you to try a labyrinth.  They are a walking meditation in a beautiful, winding course.  Many people, including myself, see it as a metaphor.  At one point you’re born, you enter life, life has twists and turns but then when you reach the center all is well.  All is well.  All has always been well, because there’s a path, a journey that each of us is on.  This path has a direct, exact way for each of us to go and we really can’t veer from it even though it has twists and turns in it.  It is leading us exactly where we are supposed to go.  Our goal throughout the journey is to stay present, stay focused, and just take one step, one breath, or metaphorically one day at a time.  As we enjoy the journey, even with the twists and turns, we get to the center and all is well.

            People around the world use labyrinths as a way to enter a contemplative state; a state of mental coy essence, where our minds are still and we just be.  Taking one day at a time, one moment at a time in life.  Life truly has a course for each one of us.  All will be well; we just need to keep going.  All will be well, all is well. 

            Throughout history people with time and money limitations have traveled labyrinths in lieu of traveling to actual holy sites.  They see the labyrinth as a substitute to these travels and create the same experience as visiting one of these holy sites around the world.  I encourage you to find a labyrinth and experience it.  Experience something that has been around the millenniums.  If you ever get a chance to visit California I would love to take you to some of them or better yet perhaps we could even experience the beautiful labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral in France some day.  I always welcome my readers and listeners contacting me.  I enjoy sharing my experiences with you, the reader and would love to do so personally.

Resource box:

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com  He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com   He has a weekly podcast that explores the world of Happiness at http://www.HappinessPodcast.org  He also has a blog at http://www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com  If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net 

Waking Up at Princeton: It’s Not Always The Degree You Get That Makes You Smart

      Many years ago, when I began working on my first Masters Degree at Princeton, I had an experience that really helped me change my life and put me on a new path, a new direction for how to live my life.  Towards the end of my degree I had made many accomplishments while at Princeton.  I had was graduating with honors, I had won many awards for some research work I had done, I had been accepted into one of the top PhD clinical psychology programs in the United States, and all seemed to be going well.  

      On a beautiful spring day during my last days there, I had decided to go to a park and just hang out for a few hours.  I had not done this at all during the entire time I was there at Princeton.  I was very busy achieving things, being involved, being active; but I hadn’t really slowed down and just experienced the beauty of Princeton, New Jersey.  If you ever get the chance, it really is a beautiful city with lovely parks and open fields all around.

      The day was pristine and I decided to lie on my back on the grass and just look at the sky and the trees all around me when something happened.  I realized that I had been there now for almost three years and had never done this; yet this moment, this activity of just lying on my back and looking at the sky was the most beautiful experience I’d had during my entire stay at Princeton.  I had missed out on just being, being present and enjoying nature and the surroundings around me.  I was so busy achieving that I never just stopped and enjoyed the wonders that were always there for me to enjoy.  It was a very sad experience for me, but one that really pushed me forward and helped me start changing the way I lived my life.  Of course it wasn’t an overnight change, but I really did begin to slow down and enjoy the journey.  I was not just achieving, but enjoying the process of moving forward growing and just being, just enjoying nature and life as it  happens right here, right now.

      When I came out to California I discovered all of the beautiful hiking trails that were all around me and I found many people in my doctoral program that would join me on different days to walk these trails.  I really was committed to taking the time to truly enjoy life and stop just achieving.  The funny thing was, when I first started going on the trails I probably had about ten different people who would hike with me at different times, on different days.  It was so beautiful hiking on the hills and the mountains; but at the end of the program I couldn’t find one person in my doctoral program that had the time to go hiking anymore.  I obviously found many other people who would join me, they were people who had obviously learned to enjoy life and take the time to enjoy the journey of life, but none were from my doctoral program.  

      One of the key factors of happiness is that we really do need to enjoy the journey, no matter what’s happening in our lives.  If we’re on that achievement path, if we’re trying to make money, earning degrees, fame, it doesn’t matter what it is, we still need to enjoy life along the way.  It isn’t that it is wrong to achieve but it’s wrong to miss out on life as we achieve.  The lane of gratification leads to a very empty, very sad life.  There’s nothing wrong with achieving but let’s enjoy the journey along the way.  Enjoy life, get out, be with friends, be in nature; enjoy the journey, enjoy life and achieve; we really can do both.  We have a tendency to make our achievements, our goals, supersede living and loving life right here, right now.  So often we say, “Some day I’ll slow down.  Some day I’ll enjoy life, but right now I need to achieve.  I need to make it so I have time to slow down when I reach my goals.  When I reach my goals, then I’ll slow down and enjoy life.”  But why not achieve, slow down a bit, and enjoy the journey?  We can do both.  We may reach our goals a little bit later but instead of just reaching our goals, not knowing in what shape we will be when we get there, if we enjoy the journey along the way if it doesn’t turn out the way we expected we’re not going to care that much because we’ve enjoyed the journey along the way.  It’s a win/win.  We get to work towards our goals AND enjoy our journey.  The key is that we have to slow down a bit.  We have to let go of some of our goals or say we will reach some of them but instead of in three months it might take six months.  It’s the old tortoise and hare story.  The tortoise still got to the end of the race but he did so slowly, enjoying the journey.  

      We can achieve anything as long as we enjoy the journey, slow down, and work towards our goals.  Ultimately, what can really help us along the way is to be passionate; to love our goals because we just like doing them and enjoy the journey along the way.  That is truly the ultimate win/win scenario, because even if nothing happens with our goals we will have enjoyed the journey and we will have loved doing what we were doing all along the way.  If it doesn’t work out, well, then we just move to the next thing.

Resource box:

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com  He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com   He has a weekly podcast that explores the world of Happiness at http://www.HappinessPodcast.org  He also has a blog at http://www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com  If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net 

The Pursuit of Happiness: What are you seeking?

We all seek for many things.  Some of us seek for money.  Some of us seek for fame.  Some of us seek for love.  Some of us seek for health.  But I believe, at its core, what we are ultimately seeking for is happiness.  “I’ll be happy if I find the love of my life… if I have enough money, I’ll be happy… if I get that promotion… if I purchase that home… if I get that car…”  The list goes on and on but we all know people who have money, who have fame, who even have the love of their life but still are not happy. 

Instead of that which may lead to happiness, we are going to look directly at what does cause us to be happy.  Together, with this book, we can ultimately have a happy life.  You may be asking, “Why do I want to listen to you Dr. Puff?” and that’s a very good question.  I will give you my answer; however, the ultimate proof is going to be that as we move on together are we improving our lives?  That’s always the key of anything, does it work?  If this isn’t working for you then stop reading, put this book down and move one; but let’s give it a try and see if perhaps our lives don’t improve as we move along together. 

I’d like to give you a brief introduction about me first.  You will learn a lot more about me as I go along.  I am a big story-teller and love to share my stories.  Perhaps why I feel I have something to say about happiness is that God created me in such a way that this has been my passion of life.  For example, have you ever met someone who loves music and they eat, sleep, and drink music; that’s all they do?  Or perhaps you’ve known someone who loves mathematics and they eat, sleep, and drink mathematics.  I have, from a very young age, pursued happiness; asking what makes us happy, how can we be happy, and it’s been a long arduous journey.  Along the way I have learned some things, some things that really work well for being happy, staying happy, and maintaining happiness throughout your day, week, year, and life.  Again, the proof will be in the pudding, but let’s explore the world of happiness and see if we too can’t be happy.  I guarantee you that anyone, absolutely anyone, can be happy if they just work at it.  It is work, but at our core this is what we are all pursuing.  We may be pursuing it by diving into our favorite sports team and watching them every weekend, by going to the local clubs and searching for the love of our life, by going to our work day after day and hoping that we make enough money and all will be well.  We will explore these things and find what truly helps us to be happy, to stay happy and to live a happy life.

I’d like to share a story that I heard once that I believe really explains what happiness, at its core, is all about.  There once was a man named Jim who was regularly praying to God for this and that, always wanting something.  He prayed for more money, he prayed for the love of his life, he wanted this illness to go away, and this pain to be gone, and on and on.  He constantly kept praying to God regularly for this and that and that and this.  Perhaps we can all relate to this in some way?  Then one day, late at night while he was saying his prayers a voice started speaking to him out of nowhere.  He was very frightened and said “Who is it?”  The voice answered, “I am God.”  You can imagine he was both very frightened and very excited.  Jim asked him, “Why are you here God?  What do you want?”  God replied to him, “Jim, you have been praying to me for many, many years and constantly asking me for things.  What I am going to do is I am going to give you one last thing.  Only one thing, but it can be anything you want; however, it will be the last thing that I ever give you in your life so make it a good one.”  Jim was very excited and nervous.  He really didn’t’ know what to ask for and didn’t want to ask for the wrong thing so he began to talk to his friends and ask them for help in making his decision.  One friend said, “Ask for money!” but another friend said, “No, we all know people who have lots of money but they still have lots of problems.”  Another friend said, “Ask for a long life!” but another friend said, “No, if you do that you will outlive all of your friends and loved ones and you will be sad and lonely in life.”  He continued to question people what he should ask for but nothing seemed right; everything people would come up with had some type of hole in it that made it a bad choice.  So six months later God came to him again.  God said, “Jim, it’s been six months and I need your request.  What is it you want from me?”  Jim said, “God, can I ask you a question first?” and God said, “Yes Jim, of course you can ask me a question.  What is it?”  So Jim asked, “God, can you tell me what to wish for because I don’t know what to ask for?”  God said, “Yes Jim, I will tell you what to ask for.  Jim what you ask for is that whatever happens in your life that you be content with it.”

Now think about those words… “That whatever happens in your life, you be content with it.”  What does this mean for us?  You say, “I’m in a job I don’t like… can I be happy?”  Of course, make the changes as best you can; but if it doesn’t change be content with what you have.  If you don’t have enough money and you wish you had more and the bills are constantly there, again be happy with what you do have. 

There is a science rule that I will speak of many times in the future that says “If any person in the universe can be happy with ‘this thing’ then that means it is a possibility for anyone.”  This means if someone has cancer, but they’re happy, that means any of us can be happy.  If someone has lost the love of their life but they can still find happiness, then that means anyone can find happiness.  We will elaborate on this in much more detail and if you have any questions or comments regarding this I welcome your thoughts.

Basically, at its core, what this story tells us is that if we learn to be happy with what we have, then we are happy.  If we learn to love what life has given us, then we are happy.  Yes we may want changes, yes everything may not be going the way we want, but if we celebrate and love what we have while working towards making changes at the same time we have a happy life. 

This chapter may actually inspire more questions than answers but, if possible, keep exploring with me the world of happiness.  I truly do believe that any of us can be happy.  It isn’t necessarily complicated but it does take work.  Together, let’s explore how to be happy right now. 

Until next time, accept what is… love what is.

Resource box:

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com  He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com   He has a weekly podcast that explores the world of Happiness at http://www.HappinessPodcast.org  He also has a blog at http://www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com  If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net

Creating A Place To Meditate

            Children love a routine at night when they are preparing for bed.  Putting them to bed, reading them a story, singing to them; whatever the routine is that a parent may have, calms them and relaxes them.  When children go on a road trip in the car they do so much better when they have something special with them that reminds them of home; a special blanket, a cd of songs that calm them and so on.  My daughter has a special “blankie” that makes her feel safe and calm when she’s on a trip. 

            Though we are older now and more sophisticated, it is still important for us to have a routine or a ritual, especially in the case of meditation.  This is mostly because, although meditation sounds so very simple – you just learn to follow your breath and quiet your mind – it really isn’t.  What can help us is to have things around us that can help to get us into that meditative state.

            The first thing I recommend is a meditation place.  This meditative place is a place where you can go to in order to meditate each day and night.  It is the place that you will go to each time over and over.  I think when we have that ritual of going to the same place it tells our mind that “okay, it’s time to meditate.”  It isn’t important where our meditation place is, but what’s important is that it is consistent.  You can create a beautiful area with a bubbling fountain, candles, and comfortable pillows or you can choose to sit on the same old comfortable couch each time.  What matters is that you choose the same place with the same objects around you every time.  Having this same place to go to will allow your body to recognize that “Ah, this is the place where I relax, calm my body and my mind.  This is where I get into my meditative state.” 

            Another thing that can be helpful is having objects around you; it can be a picture, a candle, a flower or anything that reminds you that this is a peaceful time.  I have a table that has objects on it that represent peacefulness to me.  Some people call it an alter while others call it a table.  I love candles, perhaps you do too, so I have a candle on my table.  I love lotus flowers so I have a lotus flower on the table.  Some people love crystals and will place a crystal on their table.  I have a gem that represents my birthstone that I feel is beautiful and peaceful.  This is simply a place with the items that represent peacefulness to you and it becomes somewhat “sacred” to you as you meditate.  That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a religious spot with religious artifacts, unless that’s what you want it to be.  It doesn’t have to have a religious connotation to it.  It simply has to represent peace to you.  As time goes on, the feeling you achieve when you see this table or alter will become more and more intense and calming each time you see it. 

            Some people also use meditative music in the background and that’s fine if it works for you, as long as it doesn’t overwhelm your space and clutter your mind.  Many like to use incense, appealing to your sense of smell.  I used to meditate with a group in this one place that always had incense burning.  When I would enter the room the immediate scent of the incense calmed my body and my mind knew it was time to move into a meditative state.  That’s what you’re looking for when you design your area for meditation.  You want the area to appeal to your senses and make your body and mind recognize that this is your place to go into a meditative state.  This is your place to be calm.

            At first, I think it’s also beneficial to tell people around you that you are going to be meditating and ask them to be quiet around you while doing so.  Ask them to honor your need to have silence around you, especially as you are just beginning.  What’s most important though is, just like that child who needs and enjoys routine, you need a consistency that brings your mind and body into that meditative state.

            One other item that many people enjoy when they meditate is having a special bell to ring at the beginning and at the end of their meditation.  It really enhances your experience and makes it far more beautiful.  Many people utilize the bell as a sign to their body and mind that this is the beginning and then the end of their meditative moment.  A simple inexpensive, pleasant sounding bell is all you need for this.

            One way to experience different styles and techniques of meditating is to join a retreat.  My partner and I offer retreats that give you the opportunity to experience many of these different techniques I’ve explained thus far.  Retreats give you the opportunity to try various things before actually going out and creating your own space.  You may find that you thought music would enhance your meditation, but instead it clutters your mind as opposed to helping it empty.  You might find that incense create a sense of instant calming for you when perhaps before it was never something you would have considered.  Going on a meditative retreat is definitely one of the best ways to experience different techniques and styles to get you acquainted with the art of meditation, whether you are a beginner or have been meditating for a long time.  Sometimes, as someone who has meditated for many years you find that you’ve reached a plateau where you can’t seem to get any more relaxed or deeper than you currently have been.  Going to a retreat can open new doors to your style and technique that will bring your meditation skills to a whole new level.

            Either way, creating a calm and consistent atmosphere is a positive and necessary step in creating your path of meditation.  Remember, in order to be consistent you should meditate twice a day; once in the morning and once at night.  This twice a day mediation is the beginning of your finding a clear and peaceful mindset throughout your day.

Resource box:

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com  He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com   He has a weekly podcast that explores the world of Happiness at http://www.HappinessPodcast.org  He also has a blog at http://www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com  If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net

How To Meditate Anywhere

            Where can you meditate? Do you need to have a quiet place free from all distractions and noises or can you actually meditate anywhere, anytime, any place?  Many people live in crowded cities or areas where it’s busy.  Does that mean that they can’t meditate?  Is it possible to meditate even when there’s cacophonous noise all around you?  I say it is.

            Let me share this story with you.  Many years ago I went to my wife’s high school reunion.  I didn’t know many people from her high school because I had grown up in a completely different area.  So while I didn’t know many people and she knew just about everyone, she obviously wanted to meet up and enjoy conversation with her friends.  She wanted to spend time with her friends, reconnecting.  We were in a room with a band playing and many people talking and laughing.  I was sitting there quietly and I decided to try something.  I wanted to see if I could meditate even with all this noise around me.  I could clearly hear all the noise and conversation, the music all around me.  I kept my eyes open and although I could still hear my surroundings I was able to go into a meditative state without being obvious.  I managed to meditate and relax in a meditative state while she enjoyed herself and her conversations.  Even with all that noise, all the conversations going on and people dancing I was able to meditate.  I surprised myself with this ability because up until this point I had never been in an atmosphere like this.  My life normally is rather quiet, so I’ve never really had the opportunity to try meditating in this type of atmosphere.  I have been meditating for a long time and this is definitely part of the reason for my ability to meditate so quickly and easily in this particular situation; however, my point is that if I can do it than anyone can.  If I can learn to meditate anywhere, so can you.  All it takes is practice, determination and dedication.

            Many people live in large cities, or have large families, or maybe live in a noisy house.  You ask yourself, “How do I meditate with all that noise going on all around me?” and my answer is simple; “You listen to the silence in the noise.”  In my house I have an area set aside in the middle of my house to meditate.  I never ask my family to be quiet.  If the television is on, music playing, whatever the noises around me I don’t ask them to be quiet, I just meditate.  How is that possible?  Well, the key is to listen to the silence amongst the noise.  That may sound kind of odd but let me explain.

            It’s like a room.  The room you’re in right now may have chairs, a television, and tables.  If you’re in the car there’s the steering wheel, the seats, the console.  But in both of these places while there are things around you there is also space.  The space, in many ways, can be like meditation.  Find the silence amongst all the noise.  Find the silence in the noise.  The background in which the noise is taking place is silence.  Be present with that silence.  Go there, be attentive, and be present with that silence.

            If you live in a big city you may hear cars honking outside and the people making noises as they walk by; but what about all the emptiness, all the space around you?  Go to that emptiness, that silence, and space.  It’s a lot like a bite from a mosquito.  There’s a tendency to scratch that bite because it itches, but if you scratch it then it actually gets bigger and more bothersome.  If you ignore the itch, it goes away.  In a sense you’re ignoring all that noise around you.  All the cacophonous noise that’s all around you is simply ignored.  You don’t push it away, you just in a sense acknowledge that it’s there and then get back to your breath.  Breathe deeply, breathe slowly, and when your mind goes back to the noises around you, simply go back to your breath, your mantra or your prayer word.

            Another little trick that I like is to use headphones with music or a guided meditation while you are meditating.  You listen to meditative music or guided meditations and while you may still be able to hear the noises around you, but your main focus will be on the music, on your breath or on your guided meditation.  That’s really the key.  Your mind can only focus on one thing at a time.  In one day we bounce all over the place.  We listen to a conversation, move our attention to a noise, go back to a thought, whatever the distraction may be.  Meditation is about focusing on one thing and staying there, staying focused.

            When I was at the noisy reunion that I spoke of earlier, I focused on my breath.  Even though I was still in a noisy place I could focus on my breath and tune out the noises around me.  I found the silence that the noise was created in and stayed there, concentrating on my breath.  Even though I could still sense the background noise, I was in a deep place.  You can do this too.  Wherever you are, you can make it a place to meditate.  You don’t need everything to be perfect.  Just focus on your breath, your prayer word, your mantra.  When your mind’s distracted by external noises, instead of thoughts, just get back to your breath.  If you’re in a very quiet place, your mind can be just as loud as if you were in a noisy crowd.  Don’t fight that noise, but acknowledge it and go to your breath.  Concentrate on breathing in, breathing out, slowly and deeply.

            What you will find is that no matter where you are, no matter what circumstances are occurring in your life, you can still meditate each and every day.  Remember you can meditate anywhere, anytime; just be present and at peace.

Resource box:

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com  He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com   If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net 

Meditation, Awakening and Enlightenment

People from the Eastern hemisphere are probably more acquainted with the term or the word “Enlightenment.” If you’re from the Western hemisphere, you probably are acquainted with the term “Awakening”.  So what is “Awakening” or “Enlightenment”?  In the Western tradition Abraham Maslow was really the pioneer in studying these wonderful experiences of “Awakening”.  He called them “Peak Experiences.”  They really are magical, wonderful, enlightened experiences of truly being present in the moment.  Being present in the moment and alive; being so present that you feel and sense everything around you and everything inside of you.  It was a very magical, beautiful experience he found as he researched it many years ago. 

            In more of the Eastern traditions they use the word “Enlightenment,” very similar to what we call “awakening” in the West.  It entails loosing the egoic and being present with right now.  Buddha is quoted to have said “There is no self.”  I think what he meant is that we are so in touch with all that is around us that we loose the egoic identity of “me” and “mine.”  There’s a greater love and we’re more in touch with other people than we are with ourselves.  Sometimes, when people do drugs this experience of “me” and “mine” occurs.  I definitely don’t advocate this method as a way of moving into an awakening.  We all know that drugs are not a solution to finding ourselves but will only put us on a path to self-destruction.  Meditation is a safe and much more effective way of experiencing this form of awakening.

            There truly are many different definitions of enlightenment or awakening.  I could go on and on about what it means or what it doesn’t mean.  In the Western tradition the term “via nakeva” is described as “it isn’t what you think it is.”  It means that it isn’t anything that you think it is.  In the East they often use the term “neti-neti” which means “not this, not that.”  So enlightenment is really beyond description.  It fascinates us, we pursue it, and some people even enter monasteries to experience it.  Some people enter retreat centers and programs to find “enlightenment” or “awakening.”  There is a lot of energy around the world going into finding an awakening or enlightenment. 

            I too hold to the tradition that true awakening and enlightenment truly cannot be fully described.  It is beyond words, beyond description.  What I can do is give you some practical, hand-on tools so that you too can have these wonderful experiences on your own.  Perhaps the best way that I can describe it is that enlightened, awakened people are very quiet.  I don’t mean that they don’t talk; what they do is they stay “still inside.”  They allow their mind to be quiet, to be at rest, and to be present with what is.  I often use the example of children.  Children are often perfect examples of enlightened beings because they are really 100% present with what is, right here, right now.  They don’t worry about the past or the future.  They concentrate on that moment that they are living in. 

            If you’re interested on having your own enlightenment experience I encourage you to be still.  Be quiet, quiet the mind.  What you will find is that in that vacuum, in that huge emptiness of nothingness, it is actually filled beyond description.  Let me give you an example.  If you have ever been in a cave, as I have been when I’ve been spelunking, when you turn off all he lights it becomes pitch black.  It is still, with no talking, yet what you will find is that is still but so amazingly full that emptiness can be.  That silence is amazing.  I encourage you to find this emptiness, this quietness, and be present with what is.  Don’t think about it, don’t put words to the moment, don’t describe it, just be in that quietness.  It isn’t beautiful, it isn’t ugly, it isn’t exquisite, it just “IS.”  Lose all the adverbs, all the adjectives and just be.  Be still.

            If you practice this experience of being still, in this quietness, that is what I am going to call “Dr. Puff’s Awakening or Enlightenment Experience or Life.”  When you are truly still you are awakened to the vast infinite reality around you that your normally very busy mind is keeping you from.  Be still and quiet.

            In the Christian and Jewish Bible there is a beautiful verse that I really love that says, “Be still and know that I am God.”  I think the key there is to just be still and the whole vast cosmos opens to you.  The wonderful thing is that you can experience this on your own.  All you have to do is work towards quieting your mind.  I know it’s work, but it is so worth it to reach the point where you can truly quiet your mind.  Keep practicing and working on it. 

            I think one of the best ways of achieving this is to go on a retreat but if this is not possible keep using the techniques I teach you here or the podcasts on my website to work towards that moment when you become enlightened.  Eventually you will find that you can find that place in your mind where you are still, quiet, and even “awakened” or “enlightened” on your own.  Work towards this and keep meditating.  You will begin to have perhaps “mini enlightenment” experiences that will get bigger and grow.  Perhaps some day you will enter a world where throughout the day you are truly present and still.  You will be still and enlightened with the vast and wonderful cosmos that used to be cluttered with your thoughts throughout the day. 

Resource box:

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com  He also creates a weekly podcast that explores the world of Enlightenment available at http://www.EnlightenmentPodcast.com   If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net