TheAmerican poet Allen Ginsberg once wrote, The suffering itself is not so bad; its the resentment against suffering that is the real pain.

This week, a reader sent me an e-mail describing her frustrations with meditation. As a woman in a highly-competitive industry, she decided to try the practice as a means to be more productive and keep myself sharp.

Anyone who has tried meditating will likely recall the first few attempts being laden with frustrations. I remember the first time I tried formal meditation. I had recently read the resolve of Buddha who, prior to his enlightenment, declared, Let my skin and sinews and bones dry up, together with all the flesh and blood of my body. I welcome it. But I will not move from this spot until I have attained the supreme and final wisdom.

Buoyed by such unyielding determination, I began to meditate to control the mind and clear it of all thoughts and lasted a grand total of five minutes before I gave up, concluding that meditation obviously doesnt work.

Fast forward some 15 years later and the frustrations still pay a visit, although thankfully they are less potent than they used to be. Its easier to stay in their company, allowing them to have their say without getting caught up in the performance.

One of the main stumbling blocks of meditation is having expectations. In a culture that places a high premium on getting things done, making progress and achieving success, its counterintuitive to engage in the non-doing of meditation without feeling like youre wasting time, or that you have to do something in order to reap the benefits.

In the case of wanting to be more productive and have more of an edge, our ego is driving the desire for us to want more, have more, to gain more this is its primary purpose: its never satisfied with what we achieve; nothing is good enough, and so it leaves us in a constant state of wanting.

Eckhart Tolle, in his book A New Earth, writes, No ego can last for long without the need for more. Therefore, wanting keeps the ego alive much more than having. The ego wants to want more than it wants to have. And so the shallow satisfaction of having is always replaced by more wanting.

The first thing we should note when meditating is that there is no competition in the practice: we dont compete against ourselves, we dont compete against our colleagues, our bosses or anyone else to whom we might compare ourselves. When we are fixated on wanting something from our meditation, we will never get it.

Instead, we should aim to rest in the awareness of the moment. In our meditation, we feel the sensation of the breath, a feeling in the body, or recite some words mentally, and we simply be with whatever comes into our conscious awareness. Theres no agenda and no judging if we do judge a thought or a feeling, we just note it and let it go. We dont even judge our reactions.

Frustration in meditation is greatly reduced when we practise without feeling the need to achieve. By just doing the practice regularly, the benefits will come over time. It might sound simplistic or a little too easy, but thats exactly how progress in meditation is made.

In losing our expectations, we plant the seeds of non-judgmental remove in our minds. Theres no unnecessary rejection, desire or zoning out; were fully aware of whatever arises. Its akin to people-watching in a coffee shop: we see whats there, but we merely observe with interest.

Resting in awareness, we work with the mind to reduce excessive thinking; when we reduce excessive thinking, we become more focused; and when we become more focused, we are able to concentrate and be fully aware of what were doing. This is how meditation helps with productivity and performance. It doesnt give us a magic solution, it simply centres the mind and lessens the distractions that lead our minds wandering off into the past or the future.

Having said that, it can be difficult to quieten the voice that says, Youre wasting your time when you should be doing something important If this is the case for you, then being able to keep company with that voice without getting caught up in its story becomes part of your practice.

Meditation is done neither to achieve a particular goal nor to rid ourselves of some unpleasant thought or feeling. It wont solve our problems or hand us a prize at the end of the session. Instead, it cultivates the ability within us to stop acting blindly as were prone to do.

Through meditation we tune into life, engage with whats there and use the resources at hand that allow us to deal effectively with whatever situations arise. Rather than losing our minds in the turbulence of life, meditation is the anchor that helps us to make sense of everything we experience.

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In meditation, leave your expectations behind - Star2.com

Seetha.Lakshmi

Bengaluru: He believes that it's up to us to live with a problem/situation in life or fight it. As an 8-year-old, Tibetan meditation master Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche suffered from anxiety disorder. But he conquered it through meditation. The millionaire monk, who founded the Tergar Meditation Centres across the globe, was in Bengaluru to lead a session at the Srishti School of Design and Technology. He spoke to STOI about mind control, modern science and buddhism. Excerpts.

You have said the mind is like a crazy monkey... like stock market... uncontrollable with ups and downs every minute. But abandoning negativity is probably the toughest challenge in the times we live in. As a meditation master, what's your advice to people to stay positive?

It's all in the mind, isn't it? Everything is created there and ends there. When you look at the waves in the ocean, it's up to you---whether you can see the monsters or any other form. It's created in the mind. I know it's not easy to shut anxiety and emotions away. It took me five years to gain control through meditation. At the core of the Tergar meditation is the joy of living --- living with awareness. It's free and pure. It feels like space. Emotion is like a cloud. So meditating helps you connect with space and clear the cloud.

Neuro scientists have said brain function can be altered with continuous meditation. Can you explain?

Everyone has a baseline of happiness. It is difficult to change that. But neuro scientists have found that with meditation, the baseline can change. Money, fame and power do not change the baseline of happiness. You can win a lottery and feel happy for two years, but then the joy wanes away. You go back to feeling normal. Scientists have also disproved that if you are born unhappy, you will stay that way the rest of your life. But now, they have found that meditation can change that.

You have said there's not much difference between modern science and Buddhism...

Science is looking for truth and reality, and so is Buddhism. But the difference is, after discovering that, they don't know what to do with their discovery. But Buddhism has answers even after the discovery. One of them is meditation. Scientists today say time, atom and space. .. are all impermanent. We said that 2,500 years ago.

Tell us about the most unique experience you had during your wandering retreat.

I had no plan. I just left the Tergar Monastery in Bodhgaya, India, one day. I wanted to train myself to leave behind all my connections. But the days were not easy. I thought I would die. For three days, I just sat in a railway station before I went to Kushinagar; I was becoming sick and my body was giving up. I was feeling paralyzed. On the fifth day, after I left Bodhgaya, I just sat for five hours and meditated. I cannot explain the awareness I got during those hours. My mind had opened. There was new awareness in me. I felt so good. That was the most wonderful experience.

Do you see more people leaning towards spirituality and meditation today than probably what it was, say 10 or 15 years ago?

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Science has proved that meditation can improve quality of life: Buddhist master - Times of India

Vancouver Sun

BC voters open to meditation and Christian prayers in schools: Poll Vancouver Sun British Columbians were mixed on many spiritual issues, with 42 per cent believing mindfulness meditation should be allowed in public schools. Just 35 per cent opposed the meditative practice which teachers are increasingly teaching their public ... and more »

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BC voters open to meditation and Christian prayers in schools: Poll - Vancouver Sun

Brazil's Paulinho pictured during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in Montevideo on March 23, 2017 (AFP Photo/DANTE FERNANDEZ )

Beijing (AFP) - Brazilian international Paulinho was chastised Saturday by the Chinese football federation after promoting a betting company with a porn star -- two sectors banned in the communist country.

In the photographs online that have been an embarrassment for his Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, Paulinho, smiling and clutching a wad of cash, is shown standing next to a woman in a white bikini top and shorts.

According to the Chinese media, the woman with the former Tottenham player is Tsukasa Aoi, a Japanese adult film star.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has said they condemn these "illegal activities" and called for the Brazilian to "respect the rules" in a statement on their website.

Gambling and casinos are illegal in mainland China, as is the sale of pornographic films.

"As a professional player and role model to young players and the public, he needs to excercise self-discipline and be careful about his image and be a positive example," the federation said.

The body said Paulinho, 28, had never asked permission from his club to collaborate with a betting company.

"The club has already chastised the player and demanded he end his collaboration with the company immediately," they added.

Sina Sports, a Chinese website, cited an "assistant" to Paulinho as saying the footballer didn't know Tsukasa Aoi was an adult film star.

The Brazilian had done publicity for a betting company based in the Philippines and it was not supposed to be shown in China, it said.

Sina Sports said Paulinho is considering suing the company for broadcasting the images without his permission.

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Paulinho under fire in China over ads with porn star - Yahoo Sports

Not many know that 'Pink' actress Kirti Kulhari is married to actor Saahil Sehgal, and that the couple is spiritually inclined. The husband-wife jodi, along with Saahil's parents are expected to visit Osho Ashram in Pune over the next few days. Kirti elaborates, "Saahil and I got married in June last year in Bhutan, before the release of Pink. My mother-in-law, my husband and I are Reiki experts. Saahil and his mother believe in Rajneesh's philosophies and this will be my first visit to the ashram." The actress reveals that she turned to spirituality in 2009. She says, "I'm not going to the ashram to achieve anything. I just want to be. I'm looking forward to exploring the meditation techniques there as well as the food!" Speaking of Rajneesh and his ashram's controversial perception, she says, "I have been reading his teachings. Rajneesh believed in the luxuries of life. So why not? As far as sex or other desires are concerned, he believed that you have to go through it to go beyond it. If someone tells you not to do something, you will be tempted to do it even more. He taught that you must do something till you don't want to do it anymore."

Pink raises all the right questions women have faced since long

01:20

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Kirti Kulhari to visit spiritual ashram in Pune - Times of India

ByDINA ARVALOPort Isabel-South Padre Press editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com

During a special meeting of the city commission Wednesday, the City of Port Isabel unanimously approved the re-funding of a loan on the Yacht Club, the formation of a water aerobics class at the community pool and passed several resolutions opposing proposed state legislation.

First up was a re-funding of a variable interest Texas Leverage Loan on the historic Port Isabel Yacht Club. Its been going up it was two-point-something (percent interest) when they first got the loan, its up to 4 percent now, City Manager Jared Hockema explained to the commission.

As such, the Economic Development Corporation (EDC ) hired a financial adviser to explore refinancing options and were able to secure a lower interest loan at a fixed rate. They have been able to secure a purchaser at a 3 percent fixed rate, so its a savings, of course, from what were paying right now, Hockema said. The lower interest rate would generate a savings of more than $100,000 over the life of the loan, he said.

In other news, a suggestion from a resident ultimately spurred the Commission to approve the offering of water aerobics classes at the Citys public pool.

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clickinghere.

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City refinances Yacht Club, approves water aerobics classes Port ... - Port isabel south padre

Every Wednesday from noon to dusk, a piece of the park, Lake Ella, is transformed into an organic food market called the Growers Market at Lake Ella. Started as an initiative in the community by Florida A&M Universitys (FAMU) School of Agriculture and Food Sciences and their FAMU statewide Small Farm program, the Growers Market at Lake Ella has managed to stay afloat for the last 13 years.

According to Jennifer Taylor, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of Small Farm Programs at the FAMU s College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, the Growers Market at Lake Ella was a FAMU initiative.

We were having a series of workshops about organic farming, organic agriculture, and what it was about. The benefits of organic farming and organic integrated management, all of these different kind of strategies that support organic farming systems, said Dr. Taylor.

The development for the Growers Market at Lake Ella, didnt stop at a meeting table.

They came to me and said, Well Jennifer we actually need a different kind of market, can you help us develop a market? continued Dr. Taylor.

According to Dr. Taylor, there are a total of four markets in Tallahassee, but what makes the Growers Market at Lake Ella so unique is it is the only organic methods market, where only organic farmers are able to sell produce.

The Growers Market at Lake Ella features many of farmers from surrounding counties who go through strategic planning processes to thoroughly execute a Wednesday at the market.

According to Annette Layton, owner and farmer of Little Eden Heirloom Farm in Crawford, Fla., preparing their produce for sell, is impossible to do at the last minute.

It really starts months in advance. Its going to take two to three months for this to harvest. Basically its an everyday thing, Layton said.

According to David Newman, farmer of Ripe City Urban Farm in Tallahassee, Fla., his Wednesdays begin with early morning preparation.

Wake up fairly early, harvest everything the same day, package it in some kind of bag. Whatever units, I sell each particular item and then put that in the cooler then put it in the truck. Then prepare all of the marketing stuff. It is pretty routine now, Newman explained.

To the average person, farming may seem like a heavy cross to bear, but to farmers like David Newman and Annette Layton, farming equals steady income and food sustainability.

It is literally a full-time job. This is the only job we have right now. Every now and then Ill do some art, Layton said

I got passionate about growing food in a healthy and sustainable way. This is my form or major income, I also get into real estate on the side, explained Newman.

At the Growers Market at Lake Ella organic food seekers get the opportunity to meet the farmers, without a third party, who nurtured and grew their food. For many of the produce buyers, attending the Growers Market at Lake Ella every Wednesday is more than just buying produce and going home, but also building relationships with the people in the community.

According to Bennett Hoffman, Little Eden Heirloom Farms frequently visiting customer, Little Eden Heirloom Farm is what brings him back to the Growers Market at Lake Ella.

They have great stuff, the people are nice. Thats why I like to come to the market because I like to know what I am getting and who I am getting it from, Hoffman explained.

The diverse love for organic food is what the Growers Market at Lake Ella used as a great tactic to bring the community together.

According to Dr. Taylor, for the last 13 years after searching for a place to host the market, the Tallahassee community has welcomed the Growers Market with open arms.

I searched several places around town that would be a great place to have a market. Somewhere where the community needs to come and see and supportand we got that mix here [Lake Ella] and the people support us."

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FAMU's organic food market at Lake Ella brings unity to the community - Famuan

Are pizza delivery chains trying to appeal to a more health-conscious consumer?

Papa Johns is trying to live up to its "Better Ingredients, Better Pizza," slogan by offering organic vegetable toppings at about 35 locations near their headquarters in Louisville, Ky.

The organic offerings are part of a pilot program launched over the past month that the chain intends to roll out nationwide.

Noting customers' changing attitudes about what's considered "healthy," chief ingredient officer Sean Muldoon and his team say they wanted to see how customers would respond to having organic options on the menu.

Our customers want to know where their food comes from and how it is produced, said Muldoon in a press release. At Papa Johns, we are constantly looking at ways to meet the needs of our customers whether its through our clean label initiative or testing organic produce.

5 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT PAPA JOHN'S

To get the pilot program started, the pizza chain-- founded in 1983 by John Schnatter-- partnered with Green BEAN Delivery, a family owned company, to source Roma tomatoes, green peppers, yellow onions and mushrooms from certified organic farms across the country in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Oregon, California and Indiana.

Matt Ewer, the CEO of GREEN Bean, says he's looking forward to expanding the program and he's been working with his employees to connect with more organic farmers across the country to improve the supply chain for future ingredient acquisition.

"Papa John's is showing great leadership by stepping out into the organic marketplace and testing the quality and viability of the supply chain," Ewer told the Courier Journal."They are a major influence in creating this positive change in our food system."

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According to the USDA, organic food accounts for just 4 percent of all U.S. food sales. But Ewer and Muldoon say about 13 percent of produce that is currently grown is certified organic. That number is expected to be around 20 percent in just three years.

Papa Johns customers in Lexington have responded positively to the new offerings, says Muldoon, and added that the organic toppings taste just like traditionally grown veggies used to top the pizzas of yesteryear,according to Courier Journal.

Papa Johns is the first national pizza delivery chain to announce the removal of preservatives BHA and BHT, MSG, cellulose and partially hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors and synthetic colors and high fructose corn syrup.

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Papa John's testing organic toppings in Kentucky - Fox News

The National Organic Program was established almost two decades ago by the Agricultural Marketing Service branch of the United States Department of Agriculture. The program was given the difficult task of creating a regulatory framework that would govern the principles of organic food production, but the organic certification program is complicated and, frankly, not well understood.

Click here to view the25 Foods That You Should Always Buy Organic Slideshow

Shoppers are often given the short-hand version of these principles, and as a result, typically assume organic foods are cleaner, more nutritious, and more environmentally sustainable than their conventionally-raised counterparts. While this is true to a degree, there is a lot of misinformation promoted by the food industry in order to convince customers to pay the high premium that comes with organic foods. A comprehensive meta-study conducted by Stanford University, which included the analysis of 237 different studies comparing nutrient levels and bacterial, fungal, or pesticide contamination of different fruits and vegetables, found little difference between organic and conventional foods.

Although organic foods might not be any healthier, theyre definitely cleaner but how do we know this? Well, the government tells us.

Every year, the USDA Pesticide Data Program releases a report outlining the pesticide residue on popular produce. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) takes it upon themselves to analyze the dense report and produce a Dirty Dozen List documenting which conventionally raised foods contain the highest concentration of chemical residue.

On top of the list are some surprising names who wouldve thought spinach is one of the dirtiest food items out there? So if you want to avoid chemical residues on your foods you should always buy the organic version of these 25 foods.

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25 Foods That You Should Always Buy Organic - The Daily Meal - The Daily Meal

Feng Mao Biotechnology Organic Food CO.,LTD. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Almond Drinking ... US Recall News (press release) Feng Mao Biotechnology Organic Food CO. of R.O.C is recalling Almond Drinking Powder in 600 g cans, because it may contain undeclared peanuts. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening ... and more »

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Feng Mao Biotechnology Organic Food CO.,LTD. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Peanuts in Almond Drinking ... - US Recall News (press release)