We’ve all been there. You get the promotion, you buy the new car, or you finally go on that dream holiday. For a moment, everything is perfect. You feel a sense of peace and arrival.

And then, a few days later… it’s gone.

The "new normal" sets in, and you’re back to your baseline level of anxiety or restlessness.

We usually blame our circumstances for this. We think, “If I just had a bit more money,” or “If my relationship was just a bit more stable,” then the peace would stick.

But science tells a different story. The problem isn’t your life; the problem is your biology. Specifically, your brain is fighting a constant battle to keep you unsatisfied.

If we define presence as a strict, absolute state (like a light switch: either "on" or "off"), then the phrase "to be more present" is logically inconsistent.

If presence is binary—either fully realized or entirely absent—there can be no middle ground, no "more" or "less." This perspective aligns with certain philosophical and spiritual frameworks (e.g., Advaita Vedanta, Zen Buddhism) where presence, enlightenment, or "awakening" is seen as an indivisible, non-dual state of being.

Let’s clarify this because a profound tension between language and absolute states is worth unpacking to see why the phrase persists despite its apparent contradiction.

Addiction is a multifaceted challenge that affects millions of individuals worldwide. While many approaches aim to facilitate recovery, traditional meditation offers a powerful, time-tested practice that can aid in the healing process. This article explores the positive impacts of traditional meditation on addiction recovery, backed by contemporary research and studies.

In the Indian traditions and texts the term ‘yoga’ indicates the practice of meditational techniques.

• One can meditate on different types of yoga. Meditation is a part of Yoga.

• What most people consider yoga is actually ‘asana’.

Translated by Coleman Barks

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Many people approach meditation and yoga for physical and mental well-being, or even worldly success.

Ancient wisdom traditions suggest that the mind, and specifically the ego, plays a central role in both our suffering and liberation and for many of us, identified with the ego’ this can be a challenging concept to grasp, especially when focused on external goals.

• “The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation." ~Yoga Vasistha

• “The mind is merely thoughts. Of all the thoughts, the 'I' thought is the root thought”. “The 'I' thought is the ego. The ego is the 'I am the body idea’”. ~ Ramana Maharshi

• “I am not the mind, nor the senses, nor the body; I am not the doer, nor the enjoyer, nor the sufferer; I am the ever-free Self” ~ Ashtavakra

The human mind, in its restless pursuit of knowledge, often mistakes intellectual understanding for genuine inner growth.

This tendency is akin to a "thoughtless man" who, while intellectually engaged, remains unaware of his deeper self. The crux of the issue lies in the failure to internalize and embody principles, to bridge the gap between intellectual awareness and lived experience.

In fact, when we are convinced we are operating from an aware ego, we are likely not. We are most probably identified with a spiritual self, a rational mind, or a control self. All of these have a sense of certainty to them, and they like to masquerade as the aware ego, claiming authority and dictating our experience.

Just as "The Body Keeps the Score," the aware ego process recognizes the body as a source of wisdom and healing. By attuning to our embodied experience, we can begin to unravel the layers of trauma, cultivate self-compassion, and move towards a more integrated and fulfilling life.

Identify an Irritating Person:

• Bring to mind an image of someone you find very irritating. This could be someone you know personally, a public figure, or even a character from a movie or book.

• Allow their image to come to you effortlessly.

This article is about nurturing the "aware ego process," a concept in psychotherapy that refers to a state of consciousness where you can observe your different inner "selves / voices / parts" without being identified with any of them. This allows for greater choice and freedom in your actions and reactions.

I spent years battling my inner critic, locked in a constant struggle against that harsh inner voice. It was exhausting, demoralizing, and ultimately, unproductive.

These days instead of fighting the critic, trying to get rid of that voice, I'm learning to understand it, to acknowledge its fears, and to offer it compassion.

This shift in perspective has been transformative. I'm no longer at war with myself, but rather engaged in a process of self-discovery and integration. I'm finally learning to embrace all parts of myself, even the ones that used to scare me, and to create a more harmonious inner landscape.

This process is not always linear. You might move back and forth between stages, but each time you gain a deeper understanding and move closer to the goal.