Image for representational purpose only

Treading themeditative path really does put you in touch with your higher self, your inner guide, and could bring positive results in patients with memory complaints, so believe the doctors of Department of Psychiatry at the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.Even as a section of doctors raise questions on the authenticity of using mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) for cancer care, the age-old technique will soon be used as a therapy for reducing anxiety and depression, and thereby the incidence of dementia. The psychosomatic clinic of the Department of Psychiatry of the Medical College will take the lead in chalking out a programme for using MBI for dementia.

However, theAlzheimer's & Related Disorders Society of India differs in this. "There is no scientific backing to this argument," says its chairperson Mera Pattabiraman. "However, there is a probability that it can help dementia patients.

They are awaiting the study conducted by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) to get a scientific backing for the initiative. We are in the process of chalking out a programme for using MBI for dementia at the Medical College, said Dr S Krishnan of the Department of Psychiatry, the programme coordinator.

According to him, the doubts regarding the authenticity could be cleared once the Department of Neurology of SCTIMST released the findings of its study titled The effect of yoga and meditation on neuropsychological functions and brain connectivity networks in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively normal subjects.

The findings might clear the air. The feedback so far has been positive, Krishnan said.In 2015-2016 the Department of Science and Technology under its Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation (SATYAM) programme sanctioned the study proposed by Dr Ramshekhar N Menon of SCTIMST.

In the study, we focus on elderly people who have memory complaints and analyse whether we could improve their quality of life with the help of mindfulness.According to him, more comprehensive analysis is needed to evaluate its effectiveness. The results of the study could be released by early next year.The clinic had earlier joined hands with the Radio Therapy Department in providing training to professionals in cancer care, oncology PG students, nurses and psychologist for stress reduction and pain management among cancer patients in the state.

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Can meditation and yoga be used to treat dementia? This Kerala medical college thinks so - EdexLive

Like this photo that compares the veins of our lungs with the pattern of tree limbs,symmetry is found everywhere. Match your nature with nature, says Joseph Campbell

For people who love Yoga and stick with it, is usually because we find it offers us something more than just the ability to touch our toes. Similarly, our experience outside in nature cant be replicated at a gym or an indoor climbing wall.

My earliest years were spent with my Hippie parents camping out of our Volkswagen in Big Sur, or the Badlands on car trips from Boston to San Francisco and back. The progressive schools I attended in the 1970s introduced me to Yoga and meditation techniques as early as preschool and my favorite high school science project was hawk counting, solo, on a cliff overlooking the Hudson Valley.

In my youth I was immersed in punk/goth and arty subcultures deep in New York City, and for years was a suburban mom and a nonprofit development professional outside of Washington DC. My passion for the outdoors and my love of yoga were relegated to a pretty far-back burner in these other lives. Eventually, the cost of excessively urban and suburban environments, the accompanying loss of time and attention to solitary spiritual connections, were oppressive enough to sink me into deep depression and crisis.

My first savior was a return to Yoga at a small, urban ashram in Bethesda, MD. Concurrently I attended first one and then a second 500-hour Yoga teacher training, slowly transitioning my profession from fundraiser to full-time Yoga instructor.

Yoga and meditation brought me out of depression better than anything else.

I moved to Topanga four years ago, and experienced a second renaissance through my (re)discovery of the beauty of wild nature in the canyon and learning nature connection techniques as taught at my daughters Manzanita School that provides a unique outdoor curriculum.

Like Yoga, spending time in nature conveys benefits that are deeper than mere physical exercise. As it elevates and rejuvenates our spirit, we can also find meaning by aligning ourselves with the forces preserving the planet and its precious resources and inhabitants. More than anything that can be found in the artificially constructed worlds made by humans, nature is reality; it is where we come from and who we truly are.

Yoga and meditation techniques are likewise designed to strip away maya (illusion) to bring us to what is real and the present now. I couldnt help but start to notice more similarities and ways to bridge (or yoke) these two worlds.

The Forest And The Trees. Mythologist Joseph Campbell says, The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with nature. Like this photo that compares the veins of our lungs with the pattern of tree limbs, symmetry is found everywhere between the forms and workings of our bodies and the bodies of nature.

James Lovelocks Gaia Hypothesis suggests that our planet may function as one living organism and thus we are all just individual functions of one unified being.

Nature Yoga provides an opportunity to look at both the trees (individual selves) and the forest (greater environment) at the same time.

Artificially Shaped Bodies. Studies show that chairs are causing more damage to public health than smoking (https://www.latimes.com/health/la-xpm-2013-may-25-la-he-dont-sit-20130525-story.html).

Even the most dedicated athletes spend far more time on couches, desks, and sitting in cars and planes. Nature didnt design us for that. Our current lifestyles within human-instead-of nature-designed environments are literally reshaping our bodies and negatively affecting our health with sometimes drastic results such as fused discs, frozen shoulders, and fallen arches.

The earliest described or drawn illustrations of Asanas (poses) were just a few simple seated posesspecifically designed to alleviate the pain resulting from long hours of seated meditationin these same body regions that plague our contemporary sitting-based society.

The Nature Yoga Experience. The first element of Nature Yoga is simply taking the practice outdoors. Yoga already feels different when the ground is uneven beneath our bare feet and we might need more effort from our core to keep steady in standing balance poses. Breathing pure, fresh air with the sun radiating on our skin makes Pranayama and breathwork a delight and particularly healthy as we add the benefits of greater Vitamin D and oxygen supplies.

We can take time to value the animal forms found in the names of many Yoga poses and try to embody the feeling of truly perching like an eagle surveying the land from a high ledge while twisted up in Garudasana (Eagle) pose. In Lizard pose, we can appreciate having our bellies close to the ground, and maybe emulate a few of their push-ups, too.

All five senses come more fully alive outdoors and provide a wonderful launching point for moving into deeper meditation and presence when brought to awareness, as we do when we try to see like an owl does or listen like a deer.

What happens when we return to our original or natural body?

While natures medicine feeds our physical and spiritual bodies, the strength and flexibility Yoga provides feeds directly back into our experience of nature. This is a give and take, much like the love exchange of exhaling your carbon dioxide waste (and thus gifting the trees), and then inhaling to receive natures loving gift of oxygen back.

Nature Yoga is offered monthly on the Manzanita School/Cali Camp campus in Topanga, CA. END SLUG

For more information and a current schedule, go to sarahthomasgulden.com, or follow @natureyogafusion on FaceBook and Instagram.

Manzanita School is located at at 1717 Old Topanga Canyon Road, Topanga, CA 90290. For more information: manzanitaschool.org; (310) 455-9700.

Nature Yoga teacher, Sarah Thomas Gulden, E-RYT 500, is author of Balancing The Wheels: A Practical Guide to Chakras in Yoga and Life. FaceBook:natureyoga; Instagram:@natureyogafusion; Twitter:@silversyoga.

By Sarah Thomas Gulden

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What Is Nature Yoga? - M'Online

A new research study published by XploreMR lays bare key insights into growth and evolution of mindfulness meditation application market through 2029. The research study focuses on key aspects of mindfulness meditation application market and sheds light on factors shaping demand. The research report on mindfulness meditation application market is a result of extensive research and promises a comprehensive evaluation of the market stratosphere.

Chapter 1 Global Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Executive Summary

The executive summary in the research study onmindfulness meditation application marketoffers a quick in-depth summary of the market growth and sheds light on the key insights governing growth of the mindfulness meditation application market landscape. This chapter offers a concise opportunity assessment wherein the readers get to understand latent opportunities prevalent in the global market space.

Chapter 2 Global Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Overview

This chapter in the mindfulness meditation application market report gives a brief glance at the market coverage/ taxonomy of mindfulness meditation application market and talks about the key aspects instrumental for growth. The chapter offers a brief introduction and definition of the mindfulness meditation application market, which also helps readers with better understanding of the market fundamentals.

Chapter 3 Key Market Trends

This chapter in the mindfulness meditation application market report talks about overarching trends impacting market growth. The chapter also talks about some of the product developmental trends crucial for readers to understand where the market is headed to.

Chapter 4 Market Background

This chapter in the mindfulness meditation application market report gives a quick idea of the market background. Information about key investment prospects also form a crucial part of this chapter. The chapter also features a list of prominent active app developers operating in the mindfulness meditation application market. Several other parts of this chapter include adoption of mindfulness meditation application by age group and market dynamics (drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities).

Chapter 5 Global Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Demand Analysis and Forecast

This chapter offers a historical market value and also pinpoints the current and future market value with authentic projections. The chapter in the mindfulness meditation application market report talks about Y-o-Y growth trend analysis and an absolute $ opportunity analysis for the readers to bank on.

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Chapter 6 Global Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast by Operating Systems

This chapter offers detailed analysis of the mindfulness meditation application market by operating system. This analysis has been offered on the basis of different types of operating systems, including IOS, Android, and others.

Chapter 7 Global Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast by Service Type

This chapter offers a comprehensive look of the mindfulness meditation application market analysis and forecast by service type. The service types included in the study are of paid and free, and the market attractiveness index has also been explained in detail.

Chapter 8 Global Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast by Service Type

This chapter in the mindfulness meditation application market report gauges demand for mindfulness meditation application across several regions. Some of the key regions featured in this research study include North America, Latin America, Europe, South Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Chapter 9 North America Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast

This chapter in the research study on mindfulness meditation application market report focuses on growth of mindfulness meditation application market in North America. The growth has been analyzed by taking demand in the US and Canada into consideration and the regional trends impacting growth.

Chapter 10 Latin America Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast

This chapter in the research report on mindfulness meditation application market report elaborates on growth of Latin America mindfulness meditation application market. Moreover, a special focus on the regional trends also forms the foundation of this chapter that offers an in-depth outlook of the regional market growth.

Chapter 11 Europe Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast

This chapter in the research study on the mindfulness meditation application market report offers a sneak-peak into the European market and dynamics influencing the regional market growth.

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Chapter 12 South Asia Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast

This chapter gives in-depth knowledge about the South Asia mindfulness meditation application market and traces latent opportunities across developing economies of South Asia.

Chapter 13 East Asia Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast

This chapter offers a deep dive into the East Asia mindfulness meditation application market and gives a thorough analysis of the demand-supply scenario across various regions of East Asia.

Chapter 14 Oceania Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast

This chapter throws light on details of the Oceania mindfulness meditation application market and dynamic facets influencing growth of this regional market space.

Chapter 15 Middle East & Africa Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast

This chapters underlines the crucial aspects and elements of MEA mindfulness meditation application market and also focuses on factors impacting growth.

Chapter 16 Emerging Countries Mindfulness Meditation Application Market Analysis and Forecast

This chapter elaborates on growth of mindfulness meditation application across emerging countries, including China, India, and Mexico and the regional trends having profound influences on market growth.

Chapter 17 Market Structure Analysis

This chapter offers a close look of the market structure analysis and a dashboard view of the companies operating in the global market space. There is a detailed view of the pricing assessment by competition, which assists the market players in terms of price benchmarking.

Chapter 18 Company Profiles

This chapter gives concise information on the companies operating in the mindfulness meditation application market, wherein vital aspects including regional presence, key focus areas, product portfolios of leading brands have been included and discussed in detail.

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Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market: Quantitative Market Analysis, Current And Future Trends 2019 to 2029 - My Health Reporter

No one knows where they all came from.

Some are stern, and some are smiling. Some have broken wings.

Some are tall. Some are tiny, tucked between tree roots.

Some look suspiciously like fairies. But thats OK; when an angel appears, shes welcome here.

I think if somethings going to show up, it finds a home. And its meaningful to people, says Joanne Einsmann. Shes the garden coordinator for Unity of Bon Airs Meditation Gardens, a hidden sanctuary behind the church on Buford Road in North Chesterfield.

What we wanted to be is a sacred space for people to come to, Einsmann says. One of the songs that we do in church on Sunday, it says, Youre standing on holy ground, and to me, thats what this place is. It just is. It is.

The paths are a popular place to jog, walk and bike. Couples get married there. Ive chatted with a paramedic who goes there to unwind after a 24-hour shift. Church member Harry Simmons once met a UPS driver who was taking his lunch in the gardens. Its just such a peaceful, beautiful place, the driver said.

Some people nap, some people meditate, and quite a few people play Pokemon Go. (There are several Pokestops on the property, intended for just that purpose.) Einsmann doesnt mind, if it gets them out in the woods, in nature. You know, everybodys doing their own thing.

This is the magic of the Unity gardens: Many people consider the place to be their own. Hence, the appearance of the angels. Sometimes people ask first whether they can contribute a piece of statuary, or a plant. Often, they dont. St. Francis recently assumed a post on the promenade; no one knows who put him there. But Unity will let him stay.

The gardens feel surprisingly big. Theres a rainbow bridge garden, where the ashes of many beloved cats and dogs are buried; an outdoor classroom with wooden benches; a goldfish pond and a gazebo. Farther on is a bridge over a stony streambed, a porch swing and a childrens area with fairy-garden playthings. It just keeps going and going, Einsmann says. Go far enough, and youll find yourself on a short trail that comes out on Peck Road.

Unity a Christian church, not Unitarian is a sister church to Unity of Richmond, near Byrd Park. In the mid-1980s, there were so many congregants south of the river that they decided to form their own church, Unity South. Members rented space at Sabot at Stony Point as they saved money, and in 1996 purchased a rundown ranch home with 2 wooded acres on Buford Road.

It was cheap, says Rusty Rothrock, one of the original members.

But it also had potential, Einsmann says.

Thus began twin transformations: the house into a sanctuary, and the woods into a garden. Rothrock and fellow congregant Lisa Lambeth laid out an initial landscape plan, with a large open area in the center and a path that descended to the stream. A third Unity member, Gary Johnson, drove the bulldozer. Volunteers planted hundreds of small, gallon-sized azaleas and rhododendrons and carted away truckloads of trash. Thus, it began.

As the church expanded outgrowing the ranch house, which in 2011 was replaced with an airy, Arts and Crafts-style church so did the gardens. It wasnt just about landscaping, Rothrock explains. The gardens became a place for congregants to hang out outside of Sunday services and a way to attract new members.

For 16 years they were overseen by master gardener Ayer Chamberlain, who died in 2015. Her favorite spot to sit was a bench by the streambed, with a sign that reads Bon Ayer. In a decade of working with her, Einsmann was inspired to become a master gardener herself, eventually taking over as coordinator.

The responsibility is daunting, she admits. Its huge. Huge. Huge! Fortunately, she has a cadre of about 20 loyal volunteers who weed, mulch, haul, plant and water.

In 23 years, the little shrubs have grown into a great grove. The scraggly divisions of periwinkle and lily of the valley, contributed from members gardens, have spread into flowering carpets.

But the path down to the stream is badly eroded, the water bill hits $1,000 some years, and the church hasnt had the resources to fix everything. Until now.

Last month, a man approached Rothrock. He and his family werent church members, but they had been coming to the gardens for two decades. Hed recently lost his wife, he said, and he wanted to contribute something to the gardens in her name.

Rothrock gave him the gardens wish list, which totaled some $11,000, and invited him to pick an item. He said, Well do the whole thing.

Last week, heavy equipment came in to re-grade the paths. The church will be installing a well, adding erosion controls and perhaps installing a labyrinth. The gardens will be closed for a few weeks while the work is completed. In the spring, it will be glorious.

And who knows? By then, a few more angels might appear.

Never miss a Sunday Story: Sign up for the newsletter, and well drop a fresh read into your inbox at the start of each week. To keep up with the latest posts, search for the hashtag #SundayStory on Twitter and Facebook.

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Sunday Story: Where the Angels Just Show Up - Richmond magazine

Two community workers who strongly believe that a healthy body and mind equates a healthy society have come together to create awareness about Mental Health Awareness Week that runs from September 23-29.

Neelu Taore, from the Art of Living Foundation who has been helping the community by conduction breathing and meditation techniques for more than a decade along with Peter Young Howick Local Board member who has been organising a host of well being classes throughout the week in Flat Bushwill be hosting a free yoga and meditation session at Ormiston Primary School on September 28 from 8-9am.

As NZ has a very high rate of depression it helps to be aware of your emotions and learn how to handle them through your breath. You can use simple techniques at home to be more aware of yourself and feel happier at the same time with positive mindset, she says.

The foundation has helped millions of people all over the world to de-stress their lives and live happily and is one of the biggest volunteer-based organisation in more than 152 countries worldwide.

On Saturday, September 28 from 8-9am at Ormiston Primary School, Flat Bush.

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Free yoga and meditation session - Times - Times Online - Auckland

A bright water bottle you wont be able to ignore

As the United States Geological Survey says, a whopping 60 percent of the human body is water, so you need to replenish the supply to, you know, function. Besides keeping my mucosal membranes moist and lubricating my joints, I notice that drinking water throughout the day just helps me feel better and more alert. To keep up my reserves, I bring a water bottle everywhere I go. Wirecutter recommends the Hydro Flask 21oz Standard Mouth water bottle, which is leakproof, durable and available in fun, eye-catching colors. I recommend sipping while commuting, while at your desk, and even when you go out to the bar. If you struggle with remembering to drink water, the delightful Twitter account @tinycarebot can prompt you to hydrate as well as take other small breaks.

A soothing meditation app

Although meditation apps cant replace help from a medical or mental health professional, theyre handy tools that can help calm you. If youre just starting out, if youre looking for structured meditations, or if youre the type of person who uses Google Maps because you like being told what to do (guilty), consider Headspace, Wirecutters favorite meditation tool. With multiple recommendations from friends, my therapist, and even a family I babysat for, I bought Headspace after trying out a few free meditations. Headspace offers options based on time limits even for one minute or for processing emotions like anxiety or stress. Ive graduated to mostly meditating on my own, but when Im feeling extra frazzled I still pop on my headphones for a guided session to give my buzzing mind a break.

Yoga from anywhere

When Im traveling or too squeezed for time or, lets be real, lacking the funds to get to a yoga studio I turn to YouTubes free exercise videos. I do Yoga With Adrienes videos regularly to stretch my tense muscles. (Make sure youre in good health before starting an unsupervised exercise routine.) Adrienes videos have great sound quality, sometimes her cute dog pops into view, and her prompts are never judgmental. And you can choose from tons of videos that vary in length and focus. Ive even done a seven-minute stretch in a hotel room after a long day of walking a trade-show floor. If you want to make at-home workouts a regular thing, check out ClassPasss audio classes or apps like The Underbelly from the yoga teacher, New York Times contributor and body-positivity activist Jessamyn Stanley.

P.S. The expert bargain hunters at Wirecutter, The New York Timess product review site, are scouring thousands of discounts to find the best deals on products that are actually worth it to upgrade your life. Subscribe the daily Deals newsletter here.

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5 Cheap(ish) Things for Self-Care in 15 Minutes a Day - The New York Times

Last week, we learnt that, for guidance and entering into well-being, the people of the Lord need to keep following in His steps and avoiding all distractions. The subject today is that God also gives warning to all people, keeping them from destruction. They, therefore, need to be sensitive to the signs, which God gives and avoid evil. If only we can read in between lines, we can see that the writing on the wall is there, even now. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.(Rom. 1:18-19).

In Nigeria, and the world at large, today, God has been giving us some signs of impending dangers if we do not change our ways.

Reflections on the Bible Readings for Day (Mattins)The OT (Dan. 5) passage is an example of the arrogance of world rulers and their confrontation with God Who is the controller of history. Belshazzar obviously knew how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar (cf. Dan. 4) and so acted out of spite (cf. v. 22) in ordering the wining with the holy vessels from Jerusalem. The bringing in of wives, particularly concubines, was the peak of the desecration saga. It was a deliberate act of additional provocation and insult to God and the Jews, especially as most ancient Eastern states, e.g. the Medes and Persians (cf Esther 1) were not allowing women at state banquets. Men and women were mostly segregated in the ancient Near East, except if the Babylonians had a different culture (which had not been established).

The writing on the wall at the climax of the insolence became the open declaration of Gods verdict. It brought Belshazzar to his senses, although too late. However, Daniels interpretation shows that the sign/writing had actually always been there, only that Belshazzar choose to ignore it. The lesson of King Nebuchadnezzar was very clear and, in itself, a writing on the wall that would not need the interpretation of the magicians or prophets. The blindness and negligence of Belshazzar made history to repeat itself.

The NT reading (Acts 25:1-12) is about the trial of Paul before Festus. The Jews plotted to kill him on the way and so demanded that he be taken to Jerusalem. But God led Paul to appeal to Caesar. This is another dimension of divine signification and human discernment by which we are prevented from destruction.The Venerable Dr Princewill Onyinyechukwu Ireoba, FIMC, CMC, is the Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.princewillireoba@gmail.com, trinityfoundationibrucentre@gmail.com

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The writing on the wall: Meditation for the fourteenth sunday after trinity - Guardian

Mindful Living

We all need a healthy balance between being and doing in our lives. The pace of modern life draws us into cycles of excessive doing and when that happens, the quality of our doing suffers. Of course, if we allow the pendulum to swing too far in the other direction nothing gets done! So we need to find a healthy balance between being and doing. The practice of meditation provides a bridge between being and doing. It helps us to discover our true-self and to live life more deeply and with greater authenticity.

Because we have so little experience of simply being, when we deliberately choose to enter that realm through meditation or mindful activities, it can at first appear to be passive, lifeless and boring. But soon we discover that its not so much that we are doing nothing as that we are doing nothing else we are taking care to simply be. The key question is what is the relationship between our doing our activities of thinking and acting and our state of being? Meditation changes our understanding of the relationship between them so that we discover that in fact being mode is a nourishing and uplifting state that is always available to you, and can be accessed even in the midst of busy daily activity.

The wisdom traditions and religions of the world tell us that we are healthiest when being is primary over doing, when our being informs and guides our doing; in other words, when all our thinking and actions are fully rooted in a state of being. We spend so much time in doing mode that we can lose track of our essential being. When this occurs we can easily become overwhelmed by continual thinking and activity. We become less aware, less integrated, less mindful. Our focus becomes fixed on satisfying our perceived personal needs and maintaining our conditioned lifestyle.

We cannot arrive at this experience of being through doing, through thinking or reading; we arrive there through silence and stillness.

So, what must we do to experience our being? We must enter into stillness and silence. In moments of stillness and silence we experience something deeper within ourselves we might call this our true self. But the silence also mysteriously awakens us to our connectedness to others, to the world around us and the creative energy of the universe. We discover that in stillness and silence we can become free of the bonds of attachment, anxieties, and the desires of the ego. My research into the childs experience of meditation has taught me that young children discover this for themselves when they meditate. In silence we can learn to let go of the constant distractions of the mind, even if only fleetingly when we first begin to meditate. However once we taste it, even for a moment, we recognise there is more to being human than the thinking mind allows. We come to a heart-felt understanding that meditation brings us mysteriously into communion with pure being. And, as our doing becomes more grounded in that understanding of our essential nature, we find we are becoming more peaceful, more fully aware and more fully connected with ourselves and others.

We cannot arrive at this experience of being through doing, through thinking or reading; we arrive there through silence and stillness. All of the wisdom traditions of the world tell us that stillness represents our path back to being. Meditation may appear to be about pressing the pause button, putting life on hold as it were for a short period. But it is much more than that. It is deeply transformative but the change takes place at a level of consciousness deeper than ordinary self-consciousness. It is only over time that we realise our awareness of who we are has become transfigured. Meditation teaches us that we are not our thoughts, not our emotions. It gives rise to another way of knowing, to an awareness that transcends thinking unclouded by your thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is only by meditating that you will appreciate that you can simply be yourself, outside of all the labels of mother, father, son, daughter, partner, teacher, colleague, friend. You discover that none of those things defines who you are; nor does our doing define us. Our doing is not who we are.

Being comes before doing. The full richness of the mode of being is best appreciated through direct experience of meditation. As we remain faithful to our meditation we discover that the quality of our being mysteriously determines the quality of our doing. But it is important to appreciate that we cannot enter being mode from a doing mind-set. We have to let go of all expectation of achievement through meditation. Being mode is not devoted to achieving particular goals. In being mode, the focus is on accepting and allowing what is, without any immediate effort to change it.

Related

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Finding a balance between being and doing - The Irish Catholic

Though everyone may try to locate an area in the house where he/she feels like meditating, vastu may make ones efforts, accurate, fruitful, easy and feasible

Vastu is concerned with human factors which remain the same, in terms of preferences related to mans needs, psychology, socio-cultural identities, family and other life supporting concerns. And though the shape and significance of those concerns have altered with the changing times, but as a social creature, human beings cannot change all the aspects and turn them upside down. Therefore, the tenets of vast u still hold relevance and are followed by almost all classes of society in a rational manner, because when a subject is defined scientifically, it becomes logical.

Meditation

People describe life according to their own philosophy, but most people appreciate competition, struggle, work-speed and future growth targets. And though there is nothing wrong in accepting challenges, balancing the energies amongst the body, mind and soul is also essential. At the same time, one aims for mental peace, sound health and balanced temperaments.

Meditation is one of the best tools to de-stress and streamline human energies. And though meditation is gradually obtaining prominence in modern society and in most of the parts on the globe, defining the perfect method and the real benefit of meditation is still a tricky question. Vastu is a science of directions and vibrations and studies, analyses and defines the proper direction for each activity.

Meditation And Its Positive Effects On The Brain

Vastu Helps

According to vastu, there is a proper direction and location for every deed. Meditation cannot be categorised as an ordinary human action like sleeping. playing, eating. working, driving or doing exercise. It is something which is similar to creating a very sensitive thread by way of synchronising the outer-self and inner-self. Initially, anchoring the uncontrollable mind to concentrate on a given holy task, needs deliberate efforts.

And as per vastu, every activity needs a perfect mix of physical and occult peripherals like proper light, sound, echo, temperature, colours, humidity and auric sphere. In short, these may be defined factors for a conducive situation or condition required for meditation. Peace, sound, breath, concentration, calming ambience and a happy mood are the primary requirements for starting meditation. So, though everyone may try to locate such an area in the house, where he/she feels like getting all or few of the above, vastu may make ones efforts, accurate, fruitful, easy and feasible.

Positive Vibrations

The east direction is known to be the direction of the lord Sun, the God of knowledge, holiness, wisdom and positive thinking. North-east is defined as the sub-direction for innovation and creativity. North is the coolest direction and related with powerful magnetic flux, meant for concentration and cool temperaments. It means that these directions are best suited for doing any such activity that needs concentration, a calming environment and holiness of the lord Sun. It is filled with positive vibes which are necessary for meditation beneficial directions.

If a place is filled with positive vibes, after meditation one may feel charged with positivity and rejuvenated. Therefore. try to choose the area of east, north-east and north for any spiritual activity. However, other directions are also good, but avoid choosing the south-west direction for tranquil endeavours such as meditation.

Supportive Elements

Small plants, flowers, open areas, green grass, light shadows, morning hours, light colours, light apparels, quiet environment and accurate light are the factors which are easily and naturally available in the north-east direction and one can easily harness this positive energy to add to the fulfilment of practicing meditation. On the contrary, heavy noise, dark colours, sharp light, noon or afternoon hours, stressed areas, harsh music and cluttering etc. are hindrances to meditation and may not be helpful.

For quick concentration while doing meditation, one should try to face the east or north-east and keep away all electronic and electric gadgets. Mobile phone, computers, TV sets, electric stabilisers and other such objects should either be put oft or put away while concentrating.

Flow Of Energy

The full body should be tree of bonds and bindings like leather belt, wrist watch and other such objects because at the time of channelizing the energy in kundalini (seven energy centres the seven glands) from moladhara (base chakra) to crown chakra, such blockages may block the proper flow of energy and the purpose of meditation may remain unaccomplished. Therefore, all possible measures should be initiated while meditating, since it is also a means to achieve spiritual self- actualisation.

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Beneficial Directions For Meditation - Version Weekly

Robots vs Meat-Based Competition

How many of you believe robots and artificial intelligence will take jobs?

*Everyone's hands go up.

How many of you believe machines will take yourjob?

*No one moves.

Robots, AI and other disruptive new technologies are expected to displace a significant number of office and manual labor jobs that pay $20 to $40 an hour, according to a 2014 Pew Research Center report. It wont happen all at once, and thats a blessing and a challenge. Slowly, then quickly, machines will replace certain human jobs. We might not hear about most of them because theyll happen in pockets of geographies and industries. But in the not too distant future, well see the great extent that robots are among us, and that people will no longer be able to applyfor the jobs that some humans work at today.

How robotics and AI will change jobs has been top of my mind since the national elections emphasis on bringing back jobs to the USA. While the current administration focuses on the past, AI and automation overall is already tackling jobsthat we once believed only humans can do. According to new research from the National Bureau of Economic Research, when one or more industrial robots were introduced into the workplace, 6.2 jobs were eliminatedfrom a local area where people commute for work.

Technology always displaces jobs. There are those who believe Well be fine. simply because humans endure. The current state of U.S. politics underscores a great divide between those with and without wealth, and how those extremes affect perspectives and, ultimately, policies. Realists know the jobs that vanished arent returning. Furthermore, if the existing wealth divide continues to source new profits fromautomation as the "employee" of choice, more human aka meat-based workers will be displaced. Boston Consulting Group, for example, estimates that the number of industrial robots around the world will quadruple by 2025. It doesnt stop there. If you believe office jobs are safe, think again.

Tech also creates jobs including jobs to build, maintain, program robots. Do you want to add a line about tech also creates jobs? The first theme of the Pew report is: Advances in technology may displace certain types of work, but historically they have been a net creator of jobs.

From the rust belt to the coming brain wash, we are on the cusp of witnessing busy cubicles and offices becoming ghost towns.

The Robots are Coming!The Robots are Here!

Do not pay attention to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnunchin when he says robots arent anything we workers need to think about right now. At an Axios eventin March 2017, he claimed that AI supplanting peoples jobs is not even on our radar screen....50 to 100 more years away. I'm not worried at all. In fact, I'm optimistic."

Yet in 2016, economists under the Obama administration told Congress there is an 83% chance that workers earning less than $20 an hour will lose their jobs to robots. Those who receive up to $40 an hour face a 31% chance of losing their jobs to automation. Starting immediately and expanding over time, these economists worried that middle-skilled Americans are standing in the path of automation, including clerks, bookkeepers and assembly-line workers. (I would share the report with you but the current administration doesnt believe the public needs to read it because its no longer available online.)

The 2014 Pew Research Center report forecasts by 2025 robots and so-called digital agents will displace more jobs than they create.

Artificial intelligence is already competent enough to perform some jobs of humans who felt safe at their desks. In one instance Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance in January 2017 reportedlyreplaced 34 human insurance-claim workers in Japan with the IBM Watson Explorer.

A 2015Fortunerobotics article, 5 white-collar jobs robots already have taken, deserves to be revisited. Author Erik Sherman discovered instances where machines are performing, in limited instances, the jobs of trained professionals:

At South-by-Southwest 2017, I spent time with the CEO of one of the most recognized luxury, auto brands. Privately, he shared that he proactively communicates with his factory workers about automation displacement, and is developing plans to move affected workers into new roles. But he was honest noting that not everyone displaced will have a new job at this factory. He also shared with me a personal story. His daughter, today a successful radiologist, is already studying for a new medical career because radiology is expected to be automated.

To the extent we can take control of what's to come to the future workforce as leaders and individuals cannot be overstated. MIT researcher Matt Beane told Fortune: I don't think we have a good handle on this. The end-game scenarios seem kind of severe. From here on in, it's really, really, really going to change and it's going to change faster than we can handle."

We Need to Reframe the Problem. Its Not Us vs. Them, Its Us vs. Ourselves

Technology reporter and good friend J.D. Sartain, who writes for CIO,Network Worldand Computerworld, and I recently were talking about AI and the future of jobs. During our discussion, she asked a brief, but foreboding, question that I initially underestimated: What are the human jobs of the future in an era AI?

After all, there is no shortage of possibilities. I didnt care to repeat what others already said. At the same time, I took her question to task. After initial thought and research, I struggled to offer specific titles and descriptions. Sartains question was the impetus for me. Not only did I need to answer her question, but also doing so would help me help others raise awarenessand pursue productive solutions.

We do live in interesting times. The entire premise of normality is being pushed further from the comforts of yesterdays reality. Disruptive technologies threaten a wide range of todays jobs. Whats also threatening is the lack of awareness and productive discussions around this threat. The future doesnt have to be bleak.

Our future is rooted in a matter of perspective. Do you see the glass half empty or half full? Ive always believed that this question assumed an inanimate state where a glass is just sitting there. But the nature of the discussion changes if theres context and activity. Are you pouring into or out of the glass?

This is true for the jobs of the future. We stand at a crossroads. Do we continue on our current path or do we begin to learn and unlearn what we need to evolve and progress? If youre waiting for someone to tell you what to do, youre on the wrong side of innovation.

Whether its AI, robots or change in general, what we do about disruption is often a choice early in the cycle of evolution. For example, in 1999, an analyst shared with Blockbuster executives his take how new tech might change their video-rental business: Investor concern over the threat of new technologies is overstated. These famous last words helped place Blockbuster on a direct path to irrelevance. We always face disruption. Whats old eventually gives way to whats new. Its what we do about change and when we act that matters. While the world fights for the jobs of the past, innovation quickly eats jobs of the present. Every day, more and more jobs are at risk of becoming automated or displaced by emerging technologies. And, it comes at a frightening cost the widespread elimination of jobs and displaced workers around the globe. Sooner rather than later, there will be sweeping job reform in the name of progress and it wont stop. Technology will continue to advance. It always has. The massive efforts to bring jobs back, in hindsight, will be for naught.

The real investment with the greatest return is helping employees learn new skills and gain valuable expertise that apply to the jobs of the future. To do this takes great care and empathy. No one wants to hear that theyre replaceable. No one wants to see that his or her experience and worth are eroding. No one wants to believe that change will target him or her. The late author and futurist Alvin Toffler first referred to this situation in 1965 as Future Shock.Simply stated, its a personal perception of "too much change in too short a period of time." This anxiety disorients and disconnects people, who react as if frozen in place as the technology society evolves.

Ignorance is bliss until its not. But what if we reframe the automation-eliminates-jobs problem as an opportunity? In theory, everyone can support a plan that increases personal value and net worth. It switches this dilemma from a have toto a want tolearn and unlearn new skills to survive and thrive in the future. The question is, whos responsible for teaching students and training the workforce of the future today? We are. While its in the best interest of institutions and organizations everywhere to invest in human development, we cannot solely rely on others to shape our future. At the end of the day, the only person responsible for my path is me.

Change Starts with You

Search on Google, "jobs that no longer exist"and read a list of jobs outmoded by innovations. Its reality. As technology advances in intelligence and capabilities that approach human, the number of jobs threatened will dramatically accelerate. Whats scary is that were too busy in the present to see that we, individually and collectively, are displaceable and replaceable. I often say that I tried to be innovative once, but I got stuck in meetings all day.

I see the world changing, but I cant personally see it ever affecting me.

Automation isnt evil. Every day, management teams consciously make decisions to automate systems and processes for profitability and scale. The challenge is whether or not employees choose to consider how their job might be affected. Ask a room of employees how many of them believe technology will take over human jobs, everyone will agree its unavoidable. But if you ask them to raise their hands if they believe their job will be directly affected, most likely the response will be much different. People usually assume change will happen to the other person, not to us. As Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy once said: Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Your career is in your hands. This is not only business, its personal. Each worker, every single human being must take responsibility for his or her personal development. Dont wait for someone to push you forward or miraculously save you from the future (or yourself). I am 100% in support of employers, educational institutions and government doing their part to future-proof the workforce. But no one should wait idly following the same routines day in and day out, or assume their current career trajectory will stay constant. Change is constant. Everyone must broaden and modernize their skills. What we know and what we need to know are separated by what we choose to see around us. Yes, its scary. But it can also be empowering if you let it.

Move in a New Direction by Choice

Disruption either happens to you or because of you. Start by exploring the jobs of the future and those that are continually expected to jump into the dead pool. Then put yourself on a path that seeks input, education and experience that closes the gap between you and tomorrows jobs.

We should:

As someone who studies digital Darwinism, digital transformation and business evolution, I cannot emphasize enough, how important it is for business, education and political leaders to invest in technology and human capital. To invest in tomorrows workforce and move people into the jobs of the future starts with learning from modern-day politics. Yet as counter-intuitive as it might seem, empathy and the ability to understand and share the feeling of another helps us build bridges between where we are and where we need to be without challenging ones belief system.

Modernizing human capital is not a choice or a cost-center. It is an investment in the future. Its imperative that we bring people to the future instead of leaving them behind. Doing so promotes unity. Otherwise we create division. Nows the time for action. If AI systems and robots are going to get hired, we need to prepare for worker displacement and not replacement. Nows the time for education and HR reform to teach skills and disciplines for tomorrows jobs and train/re-train employees to stay on the value-added side of automation.

Now Hiring: Humans for the Future Apply Within

Sartain also asked me to think through job titles and descriptions for the jobs that dont exist today. Heres my initial high-level list to move the conversation forward. What new jobs would you add to this list?

Drone engineer:Design, build and repair drones and drone flight sequences. Also engineer drone applications, performance and choreography, i.e. Intels Super Bowl halftime show.

Robotics engineer:Design, build and support robotic equipment for use in everyday industrial, consumer, and vertical scenarios.

Organ Designer/Farmer: Proactively grow human organs for immediate readiness by all types of patients. Experiment with future organ design and development.

Robot Services:Expert who matches technology with need/applications and either designs or sources custom robot development or implementation. Then services the unit over time.

Robot Programmer and QC Inspector: Programs robots to perform specific functions and manages and optimizes performance.

Robot/AI Behavioral Specialist:Observes human and robot interaction, counsels engineers on behavioral programming and robot mannerisms and demeanor.

Robot/AI Animator/Narrative Specialist: Like Hollywood or gaming scriptwriters and character developers, AI and robots will need personalities for human engagement. This role will develop characters based on psychological and anthropological input to interact with purpose to complement specific personalities and applications.

Robot Dating Coach/counselor:As we saw in Her, people will eventually date and fall in love with technology. This role will serve as a matchmaker and counselor to cultivating successful, productive relationships.

Robot Whisperer/Therapist:Robots/AI will need training and therapy to ensure their development matches the expectations of their owners/partners.

Digital Currency Advisor:Beyond traditional financial products, digital currency advisors will help investors build wealth by investing, trading and selling emerging digital currencies.

Cyber Security/Digital Investigator: With cyber-crimes on the rise in professional and personal settings, these specialists will help individuals and companies investigate threats, solve crimes, and advise on security protocol for protection.

HR Innovator:This role will focus on identifying the jobs of the future within the organization, establishing hiring protocol and establishing training programs to transition existing employees away from eroding job functions toward new needs.

Resource Auditor aka The Skim Reaper:Assesses roles for viability and scale, identifies those that are out of date, those that can be automated, and scores individuals that can or cannot migrate to new roles.

Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Experience Architect:Designs new worlds and experiences for work, gaming or exploration and advises on supporting technologies to bring the desired experience at every level to life.

Data Whisperers:Data is only as useful as the questions asked, the data points collected, its analysis and how insights become actionable and executed. Data whisperers see whats missing in data expertise, programs, operations and use across the organization to develop progressive narratives, data architecture and growth strategies.

What comes next is surprisingly (and unsurprisingly) up to you. Make choices about your future not based on what you feel entitled to, but instead what you can do to learn, grow and provide. The future is in your hands.

I'll leave you with this...

Imagine a pair of horses in the early 1900s talking about technology. One worries all these new mechanical muscles will make horses unnecessary.

The other reminds him that everything so far has made their lives easier -- remember all that farm work? Remember running coast-to-coast delivering mail? Remember riding into battle? All terrible. These city jobs are pretty cushy -- and with so many humans in the cities there are more jobs for horses than ever.

Even if this car thingy takes off you might say, there will be new jobs for horses we can't imagine.

But you, dear viewer, from beyond 2000 know what happened -- there are still working horses, but nothing like before. The horse population peaked in 1915 -- from that point on it was nothing but down.

There isnt a rule of economics that says better technology makes more, better jobs for horses. It sounds shockingly dumb to even say that out loud, but swap horses for humans and suddenly people think it sounds about right.

As mechanical muscles pushed horses out of the economy, mechanical minds will do the same to humans. Not immediately, not everywhere, but in large enough numbers and soon enough that it's going to be a huge problem if we are not prepared. And we are not prepared.

You, like the second horse, may look at the state of technology now and think it cant possibly replace your job. But technology gets better, cheaper, and faster at a rate biology cant match.

Just as the car was the beginning of the end for the horse so now does the car show us the shape of things to come.

Source

Link:
Now Hiring: Robots, Please Apply Within - Forbes