Mindfulness Body Scan with good review on Amazon - check it out! :)

Mindfulness for Dummies preorder now available on Amazon

Shamash's forthcoming book, Mindfulness for Dummies, is now available for  on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk for pre-order.

It's approximately 300 pages long, and includes a guided meditation CD too. All this for only $16.49.

Add to your wishlish or pre-order today :)

Are you tired, unproductive or stressed out? Maybe you're suffering from high-blood pressure, illness or even chronic pain? Recommended by medical professionals around the world, mindfulness is the latest cutting-edge meditation therapy that works to clear the mind of the distracting thoughts and mental clutter that accumulate day-to-day. Focusing on breathing and other self-control techniques, mindfulness is scientifically proven to leave patients calmer, self-aware and free from the unrealistic expectations that damage the way we all live and work. And with this expert, easy-to-follow guide, there's never been a better time to get to grips with mindfulness and the many ways it can help you lead a happier, healthier life.

Mindfulness For Dummies includes an audio CD that leads you through guided meditation exercises, including several short breathing exercises as well as longer sitting postures and walking meditations. This user-friendly CD lets you practice mindfulness effectively, safely and in your own time.

Mindfulness For Dummies includes:
Part 1 - Introducing Mindfulness
Chapter 1 - Discovering Mindfulness
Chapter 2 - Why Bother with Mindfulness?
Part 2 - Preparing the Ground for Mindful Living
Chapter 3 - Growing Healthy Attitudes
Chapter 4 - Being a Human Being, not a Human Doing
Part 3 - Practising Mindfulness
Chapter 5 - Getting into Formal Practice
Chapter 6 - Using Mindfulness For Yourself and Others
Chapter 7 - Using Mindfulness in Your Daily Life
Chapter 8 - Establishing Your Own Mindfulness Routine
Chapter 9 - Dealing with Set-Backs and Avoiding Distractions
Part 4 - Reaping the Rewards of Mindfulness
Chapter 10 - Discovering Greater Happiness
Chapter 11 - Reducing Stress, Frustration, Anger and Fatigue
Chapter 12 - Using Mindfulness to Combat Anxiety and Depression
Chapter 13 - Getting Physical: Healing the Body
Chapter 14 - Coaching Children in Mindfulness
Part 5 - The Part of Tens
Chapter 15 - Ten Top Tips for Mindful Living
Chapter 16 - Ten Ways Mindfulness Can Really Help You
Chapter 17 - Ten Unhelpful Ideas about Mindfulness
Chapter 18 - Ten Resources for Further Study (including UK, US and other global resources)

Mindfulness links

I haven't posted on here for ages, as most of my writing has been concentrated on writing my book 'Mindfulness for Dummies'.

However, I've been blogging heavily on the topic of advaita over at http://youareawareness.blogspot.com

Here some of my other links

Advaita on facebook   www.facebook.com/youareawareness
Mindfulness for dummies  www.facebook.com/mindfulnessfordummies
Learn Mindfulness: www.facebook.com/learnmindfulness

"Welcome to Seeing-Knowing.com"

Pupils to meditate in the classroom | News

Pupils to meditate in the classroom | News

Boys at a boarding school are to be given weekly meditation and stress relief classes.

The eight-week “mindfulness” course, for 14- and 15-year-olds at Tonbridge School in Kent, is designed by psychologists from Oxford and Cambridge to develop skills in concentration and combat anxiety.

Richard Burnett, a teacher and housemaster at Tonbridge who is leading the course, said: “One of the things about schools is that silence is associated with power - the teacher tells the pupils to be quiet. What you need to do is convey the idea that silence is a positive activity to be savoured and enjoyed.”

Mindfulness for Stress Reduction

This month I would like to focus on the subject of stress, or rather stress reduction. This January, you may be looking for ways of reducing your stress and better managing your level of well-being. This is understandable. A new year has begun. An opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start again.

Mindfulness is probably one of the most well-proven ways of managing and reducing stress in the world. Hundreds of research papers have shown time and again that the eight week mindfulness course lowers levels of stress, anxiety and depression, as well as many other physiological benefits. Some evidence is now showing benefits for even shorter practices. A study that hasn't been published yet, showed that mindfulness training for just 2 weeks, through the use of a computer, had greater positive measurable change in the brain compared to 2 weeks of therapy training over the same period of time (research by Professor Richard Davidson's team). This is still just anecdotal evidence, but interesting all the same.

Here, I've provided 5 tips for reducing stress by using mindfulness. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

1. Practice formal meditation daily. This doesn't mean you have to spend 45 minutes or 30 minutes. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and feel your breathing. When you catch your mind wondering off, congratulate yourself for noticing and bring the attention back to the breath. This can be for 5 minutes if you want. Obviously, the more the better. Daily discipline is the key here.

2. Practice informal mindfulness daily. This means you give your full and undivided attention and care to whatever you are doing, whenever you are doing that action. If you are washing the dishes, wash the dishes, don't start thinking about the cup of tea you may have after. Enjoy the warmth of the water, the reflection of the cutlery...continue in this way and you'll finish the day energised instead of shattered.

3. Practice mini meditation throughout the day. Do shorter meditations between activities instead of rushing from one to another. What's the hurry? Life is a miracle - it's worth slowing down and smelling the flowers. Take time to just be.

4. Go with the flow. Flow is a state of mind in which you are so fully engaged with the action that you forget that you are 'doing it'. So, let go of the idea that you are the 'doer' and let the doing flow out from your being. See wikipedia's entry on flow for more interesting facts.

5. Remember first comes first. You need to be clear what is most important in your life and focus on that. Bring mindfulness to what you're doing and avoid wasting time with petty things. The digital age we live in can sweep up all your time. Stop, take charge and decide how to spend your few precious moments on this earth. You won't regret it.

The Great Bell Chant - A Visual Meditation

This Great Bell Chant is read by one of the greatest teachers of mindfulness, Thich Nhat Hanh. This video is stunning. Give it some time to load up on your computer before playing it through on full screen.
In my opinion this is one of the most beautiful video meditations I have seen. I couldn't wait to share it! The video is more of a wish for kindness and a cessation of suffering in the world. The way it is filmed and delivered is stunning, majestic and breath-taking. Take a deep breath, turn off your phone and enjoy.

The Great Bell Chant from R Smittenaar on Vimeo.