Finding the Stillness Within
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Ellison
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Eckhart Tolle
"Eckhart is a spiritual teacher and author who was born in Germany and educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge. At the age of 29, a profound inner transformation radically changed the course of his life. The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating and deepening that transformation, which marked the beginning of an intense inward journey. Later, he began to work in London with individuals and small groups as a counselor and spiritual teacher. Since 1995 he has lived in Vancouver, Canada. Eckhart Tolle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Power of Now (translated into 33 languages) and the highly acclaimed follow-up A New Earth, which are widely regarded as two of the most influential spiritual books of our time" (Eckhart Teachings, 2011).
If you have not read read The Power of Now, you need to do so now! The practice of presence is essential for each and every nurse. Eckhart and Oprah teamed up for a series of webcasts entitled The New Earth Web Class http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/A-New-Earth-Are-You-Ready-to-be-Awakened. If you choose to maintain one self-care practice, let this be the one! While it is not for everyone, learning to be still and present to every situation is invaluable to ourselves, our patients, our coworkers, and our families. Being peace with open listening is the most healing practice anyone can develop.
Eckhart Tolle's Website: http://www.eckharttolle.com/
The New Earth Web Class: http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/Watch-A-New-Earth-Web-Classes-on- Oprahcom
Meditation
Meditation can be simple or complex. Simple version can be sitting still and listening to the breath flow in and flow out without putting forth any effort. Just simply watching the breath. Allowing thoughts to come and go as they wish. Continually bringing our minds gently back to the breath whenever it inevitably wanders. Complex meditations can be the seventy-two names for God. The importance of the practice is in the stilling of the mind.
Erich Schiffman
Erich Schiffman has been teaching yoga for more than twenty-five years and central to his practice is the importance of remaining present and listening. Erich has recently released a guided meditation CD entitled iMeditate with Erich. He is also the author of the yoga book Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving Into Stillness and several yoga practice DVD's. This gentle, humorous yoga master makes meditation a simple practice anyone can do and enjoy.
The Practice
"Think of your meditation practice as having three phases.
The first is centering, becoming still, going within...
Let the second part of your meditation practice...
be about listening and communing inwardly...
Mentally listen inwardly as though you were wainting to hear a messge...
Part three is your transition back into the world... "( Schiffman, 1996).
Erich Schiffman's Website: http://www.movingintostillness.com/index.html
Photo courtesy of Hinnamsaisuy
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