The physical heart is the organ we are all aware of in the body. It ceaselessly circulates the blood, bringing oxygen and energy to all the cells. The body cannot survive for long without the working of this heart, located in the left chest. You may also be aware of the Anahata or heart chakra, the energy center located in the subtle body in the middle of the chest. For most people this is partially stuck or blocked, leading us to experience physical and emotional challenges. However, the most important heart is the spiritual heart, which is found slightly to the right of the body’s midline. This heart is only visible to dedicated spiritual seekers, whose path is to discover the True Self dwelling within.
Despite the power of technology to connect us with others, we live in a society of loneliness, polarization, and isolation. The social media platforms originally designed to connect us are instead driving us apart. Not to mention the global pandemic that has kept us physically distanced from our community members.
Seamos realistas, los obstáculos son parte de la vida y ninguno de nosotros tiene el manual de cómo superarlos. Por muy ideal que parezca, esquivar obstáculos no es posible; aunque puedes aprender a trabajar con la energía que los crea y superar la noción de que de alguna manera estás a su merced. Primero, identifiquemos qué son los obstáculos, por qué es importante superarlos y dónde pueden hacer que te tropieces.
Finding ways to ground yourself is a powerful way to maintain equanimity when the world around you seems to just be a bit too much. In life, the reality is that you will face challenges – perhaps health concerns, relationship turmoil, work frustration, financial uncertainty, or general angst.
As we come up on nearly 20 months of existing with a global pandemic, the holiday season approaching, and demands of everyday work and life persisting, navigating mental health can feel impossible. All of us are low on capacity, the reality is we all need more than any one of us can give. Because of these fluctuations in capacity, building a network and finding supportive practices might look a lot different this season than they have in the past.
La meditación, quizás alguna vez radical, ahora es prácticamente convencional. Personas de todo el mundo practican la meditación para calmar la mente y desestresar el cuerpo. Un estudio de investigación nacional de 2012 informó que el 8 por ciento de los adultos estadounidenses, 18 millones de personas, usaban la meditación. La popularidad y accesibilidad de la meditación sigue aumentando.
Over the last decade, meditation and mindfulness practices have taken the well-being world by storm. In countless research studies, meditation has been proven to be a profound tool to help enhance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. As a result, the wellness community has been quick to capitalize on meditation’s appeal and make mindfulness and meditation offerings a part of their services. From fitness centers to yoga studios, hospitals, spas, martial arts schools, HR departments, recovery clinics, public and private schools, law enforcement units, branches of the military, and collegiate sports facilities, meditation has become a familiar component in the curriculum. In addition, a wide variety of meditation apps can be downloaded to your mobile device for use on the go.
In a time of uncertainty – like we are living in now with the Delta variant, climate crises, and social, gender, and economic injustice – establishing a new routine is a reliable, grounding practice. A routine is like a ritual – a practice that captures our attention, and in the act of doing it, gives us a sense of control and calm.
"Dondequiera que estés, está allí del todo".—Ram Dass
On the spiritual path, silent mind is associated with inner peace, calm, and quiet. Yet these qualities, desirable as they sound, barely hint at what a silent mind is capable of. Particularly in these difficult times, everyone should realize that silent awareness has the ability to heal. Let’s go deeper into why this is true.
Follow along with Roger Gabriel, Chopra's Chief Meditation Officer, in this new article series on the Vedic Yugas.
