meditation — Make Space for What Matters

Just Like Me.

j u s t l i k e m e | “If we learn to relate to others from the perspective of our shared humanity, we could extend our empathetic concern to strangers and even those whom we find difficult to relate to. Buddhist – derived compassion meditations use phrases such as “Just like me, others too wish to attain happiness and overcome suffering” constantly, almost in the fashion of a mantra: ”just like me, just like me…” Plus, as a consequence of relating to others through our common humanity, we are graced with no end of opportunities to get out of our own head, a key both to compassion and to our personal happiness, as we have seen. “ – Thupten Jinpa .

Being, ConnectedDeniz GunizFebruary 26, 2020meditation, mindfulness, compassion, self compassion, Thupten Jinpa, interconnectedness, connectionComment

The moon cannot be stolen!

A Zen Master lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain.

One evening, while he was away, a thief sneaked into the hut only to find there was nothing in it to steal. The Zen Master returned and found him. "You have come a long way to visit me," he told the prowler, "and you should not return empty handed. Please take my clothes as a gift." The thief was bewildered, but he took the clothes and ran away.

The Master sat naked, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, " I wish I could give him this beautiful moon." .

BeingDeniz GunizJanuary 14, 2020hapiness, friends, love, dreams, meditation, gratefulness, gratitudeComment

ALIGN | Movement Meditation Sessions

We believe the healing and transformational power of dance. Bundled with present moment awareness, body awareness and observation of our underlying emotions, we create a space for contemplation. It’s not only a work-out, but also work-in. And that’s what matters!

CreativeDeniz GunizDecember 9, 2019dance, flow, movement, meditationComment

Dance, I love you!

If there’s one piece of advice that I could give everyone today it is this one by Elizabeth Gilbert:

“Dance. Right now. Stand up out of the chair that you are seated in, or the bed that you are brooding in, or the couch that has taken you captive. Put on some music and dance. Yes, even though you don’t feel like it. Dance. Dancing is free. It is available at any moment.

Eight Pieces of Brocade

With a 15-Minute exercise routine, you can maintain good health, fight disease, and enhance the quality of your life.

I’ve come across this fantastic set of energy, breathing and stretching exercises, so-called “8 Brocades”, also known as “Ba Duan Jin” in Chinese, as part of the Tai Qi and Qigong class I’ve attended in New York.

After a quick research, I’ve found out that “Ba Duan Jin”, developed 1000 years ago by Marshal Yueh Fei, was an ancient Chinese exercise and fitness practice for improving healing, vitality, and longevity. According to historical writings, Yue Fei entered the army at 9 years old and rapidly rose within the ranks and by 26, he was a general. He developed Eight Brocades to support his warriors’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance.

Becoming Present

“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

becoming present x breathe : According to Thich Nhat Hanh, breathing meditation is the most simple and basic meditation technique but also the most useful. Why? Because we’re always breathing. You can literally practice this anywhere, anytime, even if it’s for 15 seconds. The main crux of this technique is that you simply focus on your breath. .

Zen Stories: Two Monks and a Woman

Two monks while practicing their walking meditation happen to come across a woman with a long kimono. The woman tries to cross a very muddy road, but she’s not daring to step into the mud. So, one monk picks her up, carries her across the road through the mud, puts her down. The monks then continue to walk on in silence for another four or five hours, practicing noble silence…

Being, WellDeniz GunizJuly 27, 2019Mindfulness, mind, zen, story, zen-story, meditation, silence, living-in-the-past, thought-patternsComment

BeLief

It’s kind of an obsessive interest of mine that I often enjoy and appreciate some peculiar words more than others only because they would have not one, but multiple meanings. Regardless of any specific language…

Take a moment and...

Take a moment and pause! We wish our friends in the US a Merry Christmas and happy holidays…

Last year, today, we attended the Christmas Mass at Princeton University’s beautiful Chapel together with our friends and had a very peaceful evening….

Take a moment and...

Beginner's Mind

Resilience is the new happiness!

Mindfulness @ Work

True Self

Take a moment and...

As part of my quest to have a better and deeper understanding about the meditation practice and apply it to my daily life, I mostly try to reach out as much sources as possible. This is because I believe every time I come across a new material that catches my attention, whether it be a book, article, video, or podcast, I either learn something new or gain a new perspective.

Being, WellDeniz GunizOctober 23, 2018meditation, present moment, awareness, mindfulness, creativityComment

Take a moment and...

"This is described very clearly in a famous Buddhist fable. An aged Chinese monk, despairing at never having reached enlightenment, asks permission to go to an isolated cave to make one final attempt at realization. Taking his robes, his begging bowl, and a few possessions, he heads out on foot into the mountains.

Being, Editor's ChoiceDeniz GunizFebruary 28, 2018mindfulness, meditation, silent meditation, silence, sitting meditationComment

You are how you breathe!

Here's a friendly reminder! If the way you breathe in your daily life is the least of your concerns, or it is the one thing that you’re paying almost no attention to, just like practically anybody else, please take a nice little breath from your Nose with a capital N and think twice!

Take a moment and...

"There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says,“Morning, boys, how's the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes,“What the hell is water?” "

Make Space for What Matters.