This kind of toast is the answer to all questions, do you not agree?

To some people, the question "what is the meaning of life" is contained in a perfectly made piece of avocado on toast.

It was long good, way before instagram food peeps got on the bandwagon.

If you’re from New Zealand you’ve been putting on the marmite (NZ version) before the avocado -

Which takes the whole thing into another dimension.

And if you’re a wild culinary explorer,

A touch of hummus after the avocado.

Bacon too, of course (of course!!) if you’re so inclined (and I am).

And that is all that is needed to satisfy many souls.

For some though,

This is not enough.

They want to know why …

Not the why of toast, because such toast needs no why,

But as in,

Why are you here?

What’s the purpose?

What’s the meaning of your life?

Beyond a lovely cup of tea and slice of fruit cake, with Wensleydale cheese - of course.

Satisfaction comes from two different sources.

One - as above, is the good things in life.

Toast, food in general, cool stuff, adventures, time with loved ones.

The other, more subtle source, is well … more subtle, innit?

The ultimate of satisfaction is found in your own being,

In your own presence,

In that inner sense of quiet, calm, content wholeness,

The unspoken “all is well” that you experience when you tune into this moment in time.

It needs nothing but remembering to remember it.

And that inner experience gives EVERY outer experience so much more “quality”; it makes everything so much easier and more fun.

You find this foundation and everything makes sense.

That unseen hole you may well have is filled.

Your purpose becomes obvious.

When you find the “how” to live, the “what” to do comes.

Now - you can’t think about this -

You have to do it.

You have to taste it.

And the only time you can do that is now.

Alright?

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

If you want a helping hand to this experience -

The tools so you can remember to remember,

Any time you like -

In any moment, cutting through the thoughts and feelings that you want to ignore for the experience of goodness.

Here's how to start, with this free challenge:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

The biggest cause of stress in my life?

Someone asked me the other day what was the biggest cause of stress in my life.

It’s a great question -

Because it also relates directly to what causes you stress and overwhelm.

True. We are not so very different, underneath it all.

Let me explain:

The biggest cause of stress  in my life is all wrapped up around the little Bubster.

But it's not her, it's what goes on in my head ABOUT her.

Now I know a lot of you have kids -

You might not have done this, but seeing how huge the internet parenting forums are,

So many parents ARE doing this:

The trickiest thing was reading all those books on raising kids.

The second we got rid of all those books, the less stressed we felt.

All because we gave up what was “supposed” to be happening,

And went with what was actually happening, following our own gut feeling.

So many friggin opinions!

‘Cuse me for cussing …

But you’re never short of advice as soon as you have a wee one around.

Now I know there’s good advice out there. And we haven’t thrown everything out.

However - the cause of stress around anything in your life,

Is INTERNAL -

It’s the good old “should” that you believe.

A killer.

Tune into your own head and let “should” be a gigantic alarm,

A big wake up call that you need to be extremely careful and alert to the content of that thought.

“Should” is the source of all pressure, of all your suffering,

Because when reality doesn’t meet should, everything gets harder.

And when does reality look the way it should?

Not often!

“I’m doing it wrong” comes in, doesn’t it?

“it’s all too much, I can’t cope” follows closely.

That’s the problem, the cause of stress.

I’m doing it all wrong.

I should be like this, and I’m not.

Such a good skill to be able to examine your own thoughts and freely choose what you listen too and when.

To be mindful of your own self talk and realise when you create your own stress.

Then choose for something else.

It will change your life. It might even save it.

And that’s something I show you exactly how to do when you come and learn Ascension meditation,

Along with the so simple tools to freely let go, disconnect from the should, and all those other pesky thoughts.

https://www.thebrightpath.com/course/first-sphere-united-kingdom-richmond-north-yorkshire-1

Go well,

Arjuna

PS.

Oh, it’s really fun too.

The most relaxing, enjoyable practice I’ve ever found. Promise!

https://www.thebrightpath.com/course/first-sphere-united-kingdom-richmond-north-yorkshire-1 

Who stole my baby?

I spent the last 4 days on my own.

Man solo, left to his own devices, what could possibly go wrong?

Famous last words!

Don’t worry - I survived.

And the lawns even got mown and the floors vacuumed.

Good job it wasn't the other way around, huh?!

But when my little bubsy came back -

I was a little shocked.

You see -

She was different.

Someone must have done a swap.

4 days! And she’s all changed, a new mini me.

How does that happen so quick?

My first response was a bit - “I want the old bubsy back! Don’t ever grow up!”

Impossible to freeze time isn’t it?

No matter how hard we try.

Life is change.

And that is a huge source of inner troubles -

Clinging to the old.

When you have kids, all of a sudden life is completely different.

Isn’t it?

Your sense of freedom definitely takes a big change.

(I’m typing this with one hand as bubsy’s in the sling asleep and her little head keeps flopping around)

Especially mums - because they’re at the pudgy little coal face.

You have to step into a new role, a new you, immediately.

That can be hard.

But it’s the clinging to the old version of you that causes the suffering.

You used to freely do this and that, and now you can't.

The new you isn’t worse though - or better.

Just different.

And as soon as you embrace that change, as soon as you do -

The easier, the more fulfilling everything in your now is.

Now being the operative word for whatever your life situation:

As it is, right NOW.

The truth is though -

There is part of you that never changes, even in a complete upheaval of life.

When you get to know that, any change, any uncertainty becomes easily sail-able.

As in, you can sail through anything in life.

With a big grin on your face.

No more drama.

The whole purpose of meditation and mindfulness, that is.

And so it's well worth practicing.

If you wanted to learn the simplest, most powerful meditation tools in the universe?

Here's how:

https://www.thebrightpath.com/course/first-sphere-united-kingdom-richmond-north-yorkshire-1

Be great to have you.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Remember - if you’ve learnt already, and it doesn’t matter if this was a billion years ago,

It’s completely free to repeat, as many times as you like.

I love that, because the course makes a billion times deeper sense when you hear it again.

And you get to meet all the cool people in your area too:

https://www.thebrightpath.com/course/first-sphere-united-kingdom-richmond-north-yorkshire-1 

Sleep less, die earlier

Did you do better today?

Did you maximise your day?

In our world there is a full scale attack on “doing nothing”,

On resting, kicking back.

Everything is about productivity - doing, achieving, going, ticking off goals.

Everything. Everything is measured, with fitness trackers and mobile phones everything can be put down to a number.

Did you do better today?

Did you maximise your day?

Even meditation and mindfulness, the ultimate of doing nothing.

A quick check of the internet and it’ll tell you how good it is for productivity, getting stuff done.

There’s no time nor space left for just chilling.

Being busy - frantic - has become such a badge of honour,

Resting and sleeping has become associated with being lazy, slothful, weak.

People feel guilty if they seem to need more than 8 hours sleep every night.

“I’m wasting time” is how I used to feel.

“If I slept less, I’d be able to get so much more done” …

How about you?

Now I’m all about living a full rich life, creating projects and doing things and enjoying ticking them off.

But when I teach any kind of mindfulness or meditation it is so obvious how exhausted people are.

Even 10 year old kids, knackered.

Inter-related with all this extreme tiredness is anxiety, worry, overwhelm that is through the roof.

Something is wrong when lack of sleep is such a problem that in the UK it costs £30 billion in lost revenue.

Again - a number that represents lost productivity … but sometimes thats the only number that makes sense.

All of your health, your abilities to think clearly and creatively, your relationships …

All of your life suffers when you don’t get enough rest.

Now - don’t panic about this.

This isn’t an excuse to stay awake thinking about it.

But it is an excuse to ask yourself:

When are you going to do something about it?

Read this:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/24/why-lack-of-sleep-health-worst-enemy-matthew-walker-why-we-sleep

Then do something about it.

If you need help, then learn to meditate - and do it every day.

It will not only help you get better sleep,

If you’re not sleeping so well, it’ll give you more rest so you can cope with that lack of sleep.

Getting more sleep and rest could be the single greatest thing you do for yourself -

And your loved ones.

Don’t wait until it’s an over the top, obvious problem.

When you’re snapping at your kids, resenting everything, being worried and stressed about everything, just getting through the day via chocolate, coffee, and reaching for the gin.

Or go ahead and ignore it. Up to you.

Any questions? Just ask. I'm here to help.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Now I know all about meditation and mindfulness, I don’t know how I lived without it.

Here's a free guide to help you get going:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Seriously. I don’t know how people live without it.

Perhaps they’re not really living, just getting by.

Want to do something about it?

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Don't stop = Hammer time

I am so sore.

I went for a run yesterday.

I know, what was I thinking?

It’s been a while too, so I now have extra unused to running soreness.

Interesting thing though -

As I was running up one of the many hills around here.

Ooh - but let me get carried away for a moment …

Positives for living on top of a hill?

Great views.

Little chance of flooding.

Feel superior to my fellow human, as I look down upon them from on high.

(not really, just joking)

Negatives?

What goes down must come up.

As in, back up the hill to home, cups of tea, and sanctuary.

So there I was, running -

I thought, I’ll take a little breather just around this bend.

And then there were pedestrians!

Just strolling -

My pride wouldn’t let me stop within their viewing.

So I staggered on …

“Just around THIS corner” I said,

And you know how it goes -

People everywhere -

And all of them stopping me from stopping.

Part of me is all “urggghhhhh” but the bigger part of me is “hurrah!”

That is so weird when you have opposing teams in the same head.

Shows how messed up our heads are.

It just reminded me of the power of doing anything with other people.

Where people can support you to not stop,

To keep going.

Meditation and mindfulness is no different.

It can be a lonely activity, being there all alone (violins?)

So a community of good is worth it’s weight in gold.

All the ancient texts from London to Japan -

Mis-quoting MC Hammer now … I must be delirious from running aches …

Say the exact same thing.

Keep good company.

And a finer group of good people in the world wide Ascension community you will not find anywhere else.

Supportive, honest, inspiring, humble, down to earth, and funny.

These guys crack me up all day long.

Like to be a part of such a community?

Come on in, the first step is learning the simplest most powerful tools for peace in the universe.

Here is an excellent place to get started:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS. Yeah, yeah, Nah, yah!

Stop what you're doing

A question from a reader:

“I don’t seem to be making any progress with meditation …”

There’s more to it than that, but I can stop you right there.

Meditation/mindfulness and progress don’t go together.

It’s not about achieving anything.

But no wonder you get confused.

Since you were little you were told to go and do and get -

And good stuff that is too.

Life is about doing and getting.

Meditation/mindfulness - whether eyes open or closed - however, is the opposite.

It’s about doing absolutely nothing.

Stop - do nothing - achieve nothing - strive for nothing.

That is all ^^^

Just for a moment, or several moments.

Rest, be secure in this moment.

End your anxiety, your panic, your overwhelm, your mad dash to get somewhere.

Just be here.

Find sanity in the middle of getting and going - then you’ll really start to fly with the minimum of effort and the maximum of fun.

Stopping allows you to do more with less angst.

OK?

Let now be enough.

Job done.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Of course a tool is a very handy thing -

When you’ve spent your whole life going,

A tool to help you to stop is extremely useful.

If you'd like to know more about simple simple tools you can use,

Head this way for my free guide to 108 ways of being more present and mindful:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

If you had the power to remove someone’s pain, would you?

Have you seen the video of that guy,

Who stops his baby from crying by chanting OM?

I did, and yup …

It didn’t work for me either. She cried harder. Ha!

And I’m a monk.

I must say I’m a bit disappointed in the absence of monkly (no spell check, not monkey, no) super powers.

Guess I didn’t read the fine print when I signed up, huh?

Yesterday I talked about the power of being really present with your relationships,

How it can even make a demanding squawking bubba monster into a happy, giggling angel.

However:

It doesn’t work all the time. It’s not a cure all.

Everyone would love the super power to make our loved ones’ problems vanish.

Unfortunately, there is no such thing.

But - and so many people do this - taking on, say, your kids’ anxieties is a recipe for disaster.

Feeling their suffering as if it was your own is understandable,

I get that.

It actually doesn’t help them, or you.

This may sound selfish, but actually it’s the opposite:

The best thing you can do for someone who is freaking out about anything,

Is get super calm and present.

Is NOT get wrapped up in it.

It’s not a super power, it doesn’t magically vacuum away their troubles -

But it helps you respond, not react, in a clear way,

So you can do the very best thing for them - from stability and perspective not emotion and exhausting yourself.

It also shows them they also have a choice.

They can get all wrapped up in what is wrong, what is concerning them,

Or they can take a step back and learn to not dwell in it.

They can learn to get present, calm and happy too - no matter what the past or future may contain.

(the past and the future = those mysterious things we think so much about but can do so little with)

Getting good at choosing the “how” is the end of stress. The end of it.

And it’s part of what I teach you in this free challenge to being more mindful -

Which also means you get on my email list and get super regular inspiration and tips like this one:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

It is kind of a super power - mindfulness, awareness, the controlling of your mind.

It makes every part of your life easier and more fun.

It removes the worry and doubt and struggle.

What if that ^^^ was true?

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Calming a raging beast child the quick, easy way

A valuable lesson yesterday I did learn -

Regarding a grumpy child and how to make her less demanding, really quick.

Want to hear it?

I was feeding bubsy.

Actually no, feeding bubsy is like feeding a lion … I imagine.

You throw food in the general direction and stand well back, get safe as quick as possible.

Bubsy feeds herself and if you get in the way, you're a casualty.

I was tired, I had a busy, productive day ...

And I just wanted to switch off for a moment or two.

Bubsy was happily mooshing food in her forehead and I thought,

“I'll just see what's happening on Facebook”, as you do.

About ten seconds into Facebook she gets all agitated, which makes me agitated too.

“Can't you see I'm doing something really important here?” - shouts everyone wrapped up in their Facebook cocoon.

I throw the bubsy beast another scrap - she's happy, I turn back to the book of face.

Do you know what happens next?

Of course you do.

When I'm on my phone she gets agitated. When I'm off it, she's happy.

And it only takes me 12 goes to realise this.

Happy bubsy is a happy peaceful me …

So I stop fighting and chuck the phone out of my reach and out of temptation.

I rest my head on the table and just look at bubsy.

No effort - and she's completely different. Happy and content.

All she wanted was me to pay attention.

And it's the same with all your kids, no matter how old they are.

It's the same with your partner too.

They just want you to show up.

Checking out on your phones be one thing - but make sure you're not switched off and thinking about something else either.

That's more subtle and possibly just as common.

They know that too.

Fully be with them. Right here, right now.

And you'll enjoy peace and a really happy alive relationship.

You'll end so many arguments and hassles - I promise you.

Ultimately when you give them a little you'll get more peace for you.

And that's what you wanted in the first place - right?

So pay attention!

Job done, and you’re welcome.

Making your life stress free since 2003.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

If you like that, you’ll want to be on the "HOW to" workshop I’m doing soon - 22 October.

Saying “be more present” is one thing,

Getting the right tools and the right understandings to make it an easy, simple habit is another.

Here’s the link should you to come:

www.facebook.com/fayelouiseattheretreat/photos/a.356050227907859.1073741829.350167835162765/829651093881101/?type=3&theater

I know Faye the organiser was saying there were only a few seats left, so if you want one, jump in!

If you don't have Facebook, or are feeding a raging bubba beast at the moment, just hit reply.

I'll help you out!

How do you know you’re meditating right?

Ahhhh …. coffee is at hand -

Don’t panic, everything is alright.

So - one of the most asked questions I get is:

“How do I know I’m doing it right?” …

As in meditating right.

That is one of the sweetest things about having a proper technique.

The breath is wonderful, apps like Headspace and Insight Timer are wonderful -

But a valid technique will actually teach you how to use it as you use it,

It'll give you the experience you need to get where you want to go.

And the breath and apps and much of meditation teaching aren't so good at doing that.

Ascension is - and since I have you here, you might be interested in a course I’m doing?

www.thebrightpath.com/course/first-sphere-united-kingdom-richmond-north-yorkshire-1

I promise it'll be well worth your while.

But! Back to the question:

What should you be experiencing?

Well - this is very subjective and best explained with you, in person, and not in an email like this.

However:

Those times when you’re present, perhaps you’re doing dishes, perhaps you’re taking a bath at the end of a long day.

Perhaps you’re staring into a cup of tea, out the window and taking in the view.

That moment where you are gazing into the flames of a roaring fire …

You are at rest, relaxed ... and yet awake, aware and content in that, feeling self-contained, present to your own sense of being and presence.

Perhaps quiet, perhaps not, tuned in, all is well - all is as it should be.

And then there are the meditations where it’s the opposite.

There are so many thoughts!

Well done.

For that is simply your body letting go, healing the stresses of the day, “defragging”.

Meditation can be both, at the same time - as long as you don’t fight your thoughts.

There is no need. No need at all.

Meditation means you become more aware, it isn’t about stopping your thoughts.

It’s about shifting your judgement off them.

It’s about non-resistance to what is.

Acceptance of this moment, just for this moment.

Fascination and familiarisation with everything in this moment in time.

When you don't fight, you can rest.

When you rest, you can watch and notice the unchanging part of your inner experience.

That is worth it's weight in gold.

And that is all I’m going to say on the matter.

You’ll just have to close your eyes and gently explore for yourself!

But do let me know if you have any questions.

I love to help.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

That Ascension course that I fully recommend you learn because it makes everything so simple, and obvious?

Here’s the link once again:

www.thebrightpath.com/course/first-sphere-united-kingdom-richmond-north-yorkshire-1 

How to be as free as a monkey

Free as a monkey?!

OK - if you insist - how about as free a bird?

Make more sense to you?

Down to business then we shall get:

The most wonderful moments of your life were when you were totally present to them.

This moment, now, is the secret to enjoying the fullest, the most effective, stress free, happiest existence possible -

As free as a monkey bird.

It is THE foundation for a life well lived.

The past is gone - you can no longer do anything about it.

The future? Not here just yet - it really is unknowable.

Life with a capital L is right here, right now.

Don't miss it by dwelling in on what you should have done or being anxious for what might happen.

Don't spoil it either for thinking how now should be different.

How now brown cow?

What is here is all you have.

What are you going to do with it?

Find contentment in now, for contentment is the same as loving what is.

Loving what is? The path to freedom.

Loving what is isn't being a doormat - it's also loving your voice, your choice, your action.

Different yes it is to grasping for change that cannot come now, grasping for what “should be” ...

That is a path of suffering.

Be content, be present, focus on what you CAN do, what you DO have rather than what you insist you should / could / would have.

Don't just nod your head -

“Yup, heard it all before"

You’re right - there is nothing new under the sun.

What is new is you actually getting the experience that all the wisest women and men of this world have talked about for millennia.

Give up the glamour of new knowledge. Choose to have the experience.

Be here now. Be filled with presence -

Then your life has truth and permanence at its core, rather than solely the chasing of dreams.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Dream chaser?

Certainly don’t go giving them up,

Just make sure you colour them with reality.

Colour each step to them with satisfaction and contentment.

And that is wholly within your power to claim.

Here’s a wonderful way of doing just that:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Is ending stress the most revolutionary thing you could do?

Have you ever wondered how -

It’s mad that as a society we’re better off than ever before …

We have so much material wealth …

And yet our minds are crazier than ever?

Perhaps now that just the sheer fact of surviving is really quite simple -

We have more time to think about what is wrong …

More time to ponder the shoulds, the regrets, the worry and the guilt,

To get angry about the small stuff,

To be consumed by unrealistic ideas of perfection.

How about you?

The fact is that quite possibly - and this may just be the conspiracy wild part of me talking here …

(but I kinda like it)

“The man” WANTS you to worry.

It’s better for the status quo, it’s better to keep you separate and bickering, it’s better to keep you distracted and self-consumed.

If that is so,

vvv

“To be calm becomes a kind of revolutionary act.”

Matt Haig from “Reasons to stay Alive”

^^^

When everything is selling you that you’re lost and need something,

That you should worry about this thing and that thing, oh and this thing too,

(Buy this and you will feel happier …)

Accepting You and your life,

As you are, as it is,

Ending worry and being comfortable and content with all the uncertainties -

Is one of the boldest choices you could ever make.

Your choice for freedom -

Means you can stop being consumed by the small stuff -

And are able to focus on the things that REALLY matter,

The things that you can ACTUALLY change and put into place,

For you, for your community, for the world.

Being calm and seeing clearly is quite possibly the greatest thing you can learn to do.

Finding happiness and defeating the fear that has taken root in your own mind,

Changes more than just your life …

Your lived example makes it easier for everyone around you to do the same.

How?

How do you accept, be content, be comfortable in the middle of what COULD appear to be chaos?

How do you free yourself from fear and worry, from the whole mechanism of focusing on what could go wrong?

How do you join the calm revolution?

Get to know Now so well that you never leave it.

Learn to see the beauty of what is already within you, and all around you.

Start to give, in as many ways as you can think of, large and small.

Your thoughts are an option, not the truth - they are not you.

Switch off, relax, learn to let go and ignore the stuff that you can’t do anything about.

Fight nothing - especially not your thoughts. Fighting plays the game, accepting frees you from it.

How can I help you?

Just ask, please do.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Just picked up Matt Haig’s book and flicking through it found some wonderful quotes, such as the above.

But I like this one too:

“Every time I read a great book I felt I was reading a kind of map, a treasure map, and the treasure I was being directed to was in actual fact myself.”

― Matt Haig, Reasons to Stay Alive

You ARE the treasure that you seek.

When your Gran swears and doesn’t realise it

Yeah, housework isn’t my favourite thing in the world.

It was pretty obvious the neglect in my house,

When I found my brain -

You might recall, I totally lost it the other day.

Misplaced it.

Found it,

Down the back of the sideboard.

Bit dusty, I have to say.

Covered in, what you call them … ?

Dust bunnies -

Those bundles of dust and hair and assorted stuff,

That if they were bigger, would be rolling down the street of them western cowboy films.

Now, as a minor but interesting aside -

I have a friend whose Gran calls them “sl*t’s wool”

And the weekend day when you slob around the house in your dressing gown?

“Sl*tty Sunday”

Heh heh - That term now has a whole new, more modern, meaning, doesn’t it?

But, ahem, housework is necessary soon as I have guests over the weekend.

26 of them.

We have an advanced Ascension course -

Something you can do after you’ve learnt to Ascend so you can really make super fast tracks to end stress and live the meaning of your life.

I really am excited, even though it’ll require me to help eradicate the sl*ts wool from the large old Georgian house we’re using.

It’s been the hub of Ascension for probably quite close to 20 years now.

Sacred ground indeed.

You know that feeling when you relax,

Like you’ve been carrying something super heavy all day and don’t realise it until you put it down?

That’s right -

You can feel that kind of peace the minute you step inside the gates.

People go "ahhhhhh" when they walk in. True!

So I’m a little bit excited to have everyone here to show them how life can really be lived.

In town and like to come visit?

Well, sure!

Come on down - just bring a feather duster and help out, will you?

The other way to come and see for yourself is to attend an Ascension course.

The perfect setting for learning the tools for huge amounts of calm, focus and happiness.

And you won’t have to do any housework while you’re here.

www.thebrightpath.com/course/first-sphere-united-kingdom-richmond-north-yorkshire-1

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Why do I feel the need to always PS you?

Oh that’s right - here’s a thing, a conversation I had with another Ishaya monk recently all about this stuff.

A podcast they call it -

www.lilab.life/09-arjuna-finding-the-true-sense-of-me/

Have a listen, I’m sure you’ll find it quite lovely.

Derren Brown, master illusionist, and the harmful stories you tell yourself

A quote for you from the great mentalist / illusionist Derren Brown (from his latest book) …

You see, he’s a master at getting you to see what HE wants you to see,

Therefore missing out on what is ACTUALLY happening in plain sight.

It’s fun - it’s entertaining - it’s a show …

But your mind does that to you every single day.

Derren speaks:

_______

"Paying attention to the present moment is our most effective means of undoing the harmful and perpetuating narratives by which we live, by challenging them with the counter-evidence we notice around us."

________

To translate, what Derren is talking about is this:

We tell ourselves lies, porkies, untruths, fake news -

and those stories hurt and limit you.

It affects everything you do - and don’t do too.

Sometimes, actually in my experience, OFTEN times -

You don’t even notice this relatively steady diet of limitation.

It’s become so normal that you think that voice is the true voice of “You”.

You don’t see what is true in life, you don’t see the beauty of you, the potential -

You believe the stories filled with the negative, why you did wrong, why you can't ...

Simply because your own mind mis-directs you.

Your mind is a master at creating illusions.

Powerful illusions for sure -

But only because you give them power by believing them, only because you don't stop to examine them.

The way out of living a life of illusion? Of believing the fake news?

Get super present - then you start to see what is real and what isn’t.

Examine your thoughts -

Don’t take them as real,

Take them with a large pinch of salt until proven to be your ACTUAL experience.

(and then let them go too, because your experience will change quickly on this basis)

That is just one of the benefits of regularly closing your eyes to meditate.

The gap between what you experience to be true and real -

And what a voice in your head tells you is true and real -

Gets more and more contrasting.

You gain CHOICE - and that is a powerful thing in freeing yourself from the Matrix,

From the illusion you’ve believed in your whole life.

The end of stress and negativity, the beginning of real Life.

It’s something I recently talked in depth about with Lila, another Ishaya monk from New Zealand.

Here's the conversation if you’d like to listen to it.

I’m sure it’s worth it -

www.lilab.life/09-arjuna-finding-the-true-sense-of-me/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS. of course, if you’d like to get the tools that make choice so real and so simple,

Here is the best place to start, and it's free:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Nothing simpler for finding peace and freedom.

A quick story, a podcast and some book links too

Just a quick one today -

I have lost my brain somewhere so I have to go find it.

It could well be under my pillow where I left it last night for safe keeping before I went to sleep.

Hopefully it hasn’t rolled off and is now under the bed, covered in dust and fluff.

Or bubsy hasn’t found it and is giving it her own brand of slobbering love.

Not good for what was a small brain to begin with.

OK - so:

I was on another podcast the other day.

A ton of fun, the hostess was very cool.

Lila’s New Zealand accent took me back to my roots.

Here’s the link should you wish to have a listen.

You can even download it so you can take it with you:

www.lilab.life/09-arjuna-finding-the-true-sense-of-me

There were some fantastic questions.

Lila wanted me to come up with a book I could recommend to others.

I said “Awareness” by Anthony de Mello,

Apparently it has the ability to annoy people.

It didn’t annoy me, but it sure did make me go “wow” when I read it first, 20 odd years ago.

Anthony sure doesn’t hold any punches.

He basically says “wake up and stop sleepwalking through life”.

If you like that sort of thing then I fully recommend it.

Just make sure you grab your brain before you head up and out though.

If you want something a little more fluffy -

A touch fluffier, not fluffy like a pink unicorn fluffy,

Still straight up the line …

Narain Ishaya wrote “Chit Happens” - a nice little play on words,

And it's true - it does happen when you put yourself in the way.

Now that IS indeed a cool book.

Good questions there, all answered beautifully.

It’s a book full of wonderful guidance on how to meditate and how to live a “spiritual” life.

Tricky word “spiritual” - means many things to many different people.

And so it should.

How you live your life in awareness and fulfilled with connection and meaning and purpose and gratitude and happiness is a slightly more longwinded way of saying the same thing.

Enjoy!!!

Arjuna

PS.

Want to be more mindful?

Want to wake up and be more aware of what you're doing?

This little challenge (it's free) will really help you do just that:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

It's all about how to forget being stressed by remembering to be awake and mindful.

Super cool.

A tip to help you stop struggling

I’ve recently been asking what people struggle with -

Specifically about meditation and ending stress and just being happy,

But what I found out applies to any struggle in any part of your life.

I have a fair idea about the meditation struggles, but helping people get EXACTLY what they need is something crucial, no?

The clearer I can be about what you need, the more useful my whole mission becomes.

In the asking, it’s obvious -

And its only obvious because I used to do this myself, a lot -

One of the biggest problems you have is your own judgements about yourself -

What you’re doing wrong, how you messed up again, let someone down, let yourself down.

You know?

Everyone wants to do good and not do bad.

Yet that distinction is not that helpful.

You do "bad" and then feel bad.

It’s not motivating, it’s easier to say “I’m useless” and give up trying.

You get into that cycle of stop / start / stop - “what’s the point?”

Everyone does stuff bad - everyone makes mistakes - sometimes constantly.

Given what you say you want -

WHATEVER that maybe -

Close your eyes more, eat better, move more, be more appreciative and considerate to your partner …

It helps to consider that some choices you make are simply “unskilled”

These choices aren’t giving you what you say you want -

YET.

If you are “unskilled” then you can definitely get more skilled, right?

It becomes a straight forward matter of practicing the right things.

Sometimes you have to ask an expert what these right things are.

(Expert: an intimidating word that simply means someone who has made all the mistakes - and learned from them - so you don’t have to)

But once you set in place a small plan to do things just a little bit better than yesterday …

A little bit better, and a little bit better -

(who cares if progress is “only” a tiny amount? Do it regularly and it adds up to something sweet!)

The result is you start to feel pretty darn good about yourself.

Because everyone feels best when they feel like they’re improving.

And so much better than good/bad, right/wrong, great/useless …

Removing right and wrong from the equation takes the pressure off, cuts the self-judgement and all that stuff.

OK?

So have a little think about reframing good/bad to skilled/unskilled -

“How can I do this better?”

Be careful how you define yourself -

And THAT will require being aware of how you think about yourself -

Which meditation is (partially) all about

So - if you have any questions about this, just ask -

I’d love to help.

Otherwise, go well!

Arjuna

PS.

If you’d like to get started on learning the best meditation techniques on the planet for becoming more aware?

Here’s a free guide that will get you up and running, super quick:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

You're probably making the same mistake I did

When I first really started meditation, I was in my twenties.

I’d climbed mountains, kayaked some wild rivers, I'd fallen fully in love (several times), I’d taken various recreational drugs.

I’d experienced some real highs in life -

(And equally, like many people, I’d experienced some real lows).

I turned up to meditation with a head full of ideas about what life would be like -

Once I found the magic key.

I was wrong -

I was wrong about so many things, and while I hated being wrong then - it now causes me great humour.

But this time, what I thought I wanted from life - wasn't that at all.

What’s more my expectations meant I caused myself a lot of unnecessary struggle.

So if you can avoid this trap - that would make me happy.

Take a moment - and for you, honestly:

What do you want from life?

Is it to live in blissed out peace, chatting with butterflies? Floating from the ceiling and sending out love to the cosmos?

Or is it more like …

Ending stress, ending suffering, being happier with more balance and more energy?

Being really authentic and real, “here I am with nothing to prove and nothing to hide to no body”?

Maybe it’s to be able to be fully content in the world and not be too shaken when “stuff” happens?

Or to get a few things done without turning into a stressed out grumpster, your mind whirring away, unable to sleep?

Is it to love your family completely but not worry so much about them?

It’s not about the mega highs that you can get -

The feelings, the bliss, the visuals,

It's not even about stopping your thoughts.

Rather, it's about simple contentment.

Quiet joy.

The end - I say again, the END - of fear and self-doubt.

Being present and connected to the things and the people in front of you.

Freedom from being triggered and flying off the handle.

Complete love and compassion and acceptance and allowance for everyone - and yourself.

The real treasure that meditation brings to you is the simple things.

Because not only are they ACTUALLY achievable by ANYONE who wants them -

They’re lasting.

Every single moment of every single day lived freely.

Once found, they are permanent - because they are the simple things.

And that’s what I guide people to when they come and learn Ascension.

Sound good?

It’s truly simple when you know how.

How do you get started?

Getting this free guide is an excellent place:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Go well, and make yours a wonderful weekend.

Arjuna

PS.

Keep it so simple, OK?

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

And - 

Should you have any questions?

I’d love to help.

Just hit me up - you can try it. I really am here to serve. 

Bet you didn’t know this about snails (careful!)

Bet you don’t know this:

The World Snail racing championships are held every year in Norfolk.

How exciting could that be?

Well - I just gave 3 minutes and 50 seconds of my life to find out.

The 13 inch course world record is 2 minutes by Archie the snail in 1995.

There's my boy!

Youslime Bolt didn’t live up to his potential though,

I think it was a snail called Trev that came through this year.

The world of the internet …

Sometimes you end up in the weirdest places when you just put your toe down the rabbit hole.

As exciting as world snail racing is -

I need to be so careful with all of this stuff.

“Just one video”… “ooh, who's that on Facebook who I haven’t seen since I was 12 …”

Means hours can be lost.

At the end of the day I want to get stuff done.

How about you?

Well - I’m writing a book  - which I’m aiming (and on track - yersss!) to have finished before 2018 starts.

And I’m raising funds for the Felix Fund - the bomb disposal charity,

(If you’re interested in donating? Or own a hotel that could help us run some courses? The link is: www.felixfund.org.uk/support-us/ or get in touch with me, you angel!)

I also want to stay fit and healthy,

I want to have the most amazing relationship with Sumati and Bubsy,

I want to educate myself in several spheres,

I want to get time to close my eyes so I prioritise peace and profundity in life too.

I guess that’s the point of World Snail champs …

I also want to have fun and slack off too.

But you know -

“I want”’s only happen when you actually prioritise and do them.

Balance and focus -

That’s one of the things practicing Ascension meditation gives you -

Is the ability to see your life choices super clear,

And the motivation and energy and half step back perspective to actually make the choices that really count in the long term.

So if you’re interested in “getting stuff done” in a balanced, calm and fun way,

Rather than in a stressed, chaotic, unbalanced, always exhausted and grumpy way … ?

It is exactly what I teach you here:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

I really wanted Youslime Bolt to win, but alas.

Next year buddy!

That Prosecco Smile

A dentist has come out with a public health warning on excess Prosecco consumption -

Mentioning one thing I hadn't thought about -

That being the damage a lot of sparkling wine can do to the old tooths,

Resulting in, as the good dentist has warned against, a smile that is somewhat less than shiny and whole.

Yikes!

Having recently become a parent myself, I know first hand the advantageous nature of a glass of something good.

Enhances the mood doesn’t it?

Helps you switch off and kick back,

To enjoy those rare moments when you can put your feet up and enjoy doing nothing.

I get that.

What interests me is the point where something helpful becomes a hinderance,

Where it becomes about sedation -

Where you NEED it to cope, to relax, to switch off.

(And I always thought my mum just had a nose with a reddish hue,

Until she retired from work - then her nose returned to a more normal colour.)

Ya know?

What if …

You could switch off and relax as simply as you might switch off a light?

What if you could just ignore certain thoughts so you don’t need to sedate to distract yourself?

That there is one of the biggest results from learning and practicing meditation.

That’s what I’d teach you when you learn to Ascend.

All so you can enjoy your Prosecco,

Without making your teeth run away or your nose turn red, like a demented toothless human reindeer.

Now THAT is quite a thought.

If you want to get started on meditation,

If you'd like to know more about Ascension meditation?

Head this way, I'll give you a free guide to meditation and how it ends stress and makes you happy:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Go well,

Arjuna

PS.

Remember - to repeat the Ishayas' Ascension meditation course, forever more, is free.

If you've already learnt?

Why not pop in, even for a few hours it will be WELL worth your time.

You don't know what I'm talking about?

Start here and I shall reveal all:

https://arjunaishaya.leadpages.co/sane-fb

Why inconsiderate people are amazing

Why is it that kids' toys are so darn tooting noisy?

I was driving down the street with a toy wedged somewhere in the back,

I fully knew it was there because every little bump meant it starts singing to me,

Loud.

Every bump starts it again.

Oh boy … who left that in the car??

I know who.

Cue chuntering about whose fault it is.

And where do these toys come from?

Sumati and I didn’t buy them.

More chuntering …

All kinds of relatives must have been throwing them in the house …

Like brightly coloured plastic grenades,

Then standing back, sniggering, waiting for us to blow our tops.

Ahhh … they’re really not being inconsiderate, are they?

Anyway -

Young bubsy, my progeny ... is a master at "letting go"

Something happens, she doesn't like it, then she’s over it.

Done and dusted.

Something happens to us, we don't like it, and we carry it for, oooh ...

At least a week.

Right?

To bubsy, it’s not something that’s done TO her, just something that happened.

You carry stuff well beyond the incident,

Whether that’s a mad toy driving you nuts or an argument in the swimming pool with another parent …

Because it's done TO you, someone is to blame, and you need to make sure you're right -

Even just in your own head.

And because you have built a habit of constantly re-going over the past,

It becomes so you can’t NOT go over it.

The secret to be like bubsy and “let go” is to become more present.

Then unpleasant stuff can happen,

You respond accordingly,

Then you move on.

That would be an amazing skill wouldn't it?

Such freedom there.

So if you do meet someone inconsiderate?

Consider it your chance to practice being more free.

How amazing is that?

Then you can thank them too ...

heh heh

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Of course, I reckon meditation is your way forward -

Not only for becoming more present,

But helping you let go of stuff that you’re holding onto.

Works like gangbusters.

(Whatever one of those is - but it sounds amazing!)

Head this way if you want to learn more,

A super simple, and super free guide to being more mindful:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Do you know the half step back?

How do you be?

I’m sitting here in my little office, trying not to stare out the window at the lovely trees across the way.

Oh - there I go again …

Good job I can apply my laser-like relaxed focus - IF I wished to apply it, that is.

Laser-like relaxed focus?

You got me - complete awareness on the thing, but without effort.

Spacious and relaxed, but absolute.

Let’s apply it now.

You feeling it?

Excellent. Me too. Let's go!

The half step back -

Robbie and I were talking about it the other day -

And how useful it is.

A brilliant concept is the half step back.

Wait! Before you jump back - 

It's not a physical thing, no, not at all -

More of an attitude, I guess you could say …

A sense of perspective, a touch of distance from your life.

A smidgeon of witnessing too, some mind space.

See -  when you’re too close,

When you’re mega involved in something,

Everything else goes out the window.

That can be a wonderful sensation - like in a state of flow or being in the Zone, when you’re completely absorbed …

But so often for people it’s more SO involved they don’t have a sense of perspective,

When you’re like this you forget what the whole point of life is.

You’re too easily made wobble by things that go unexpectedly.

Sense of humour is out the window quicker than a dog sneaking a tasty morsel from the kitchen bench ... 

Or quicker than a bubsy grabbing something she shouldn't really put in her mouth just as you turn your back for a single second ...

Like for me today - drove to town, a quick trip I thought …

2 hours later … you know that story right?

Every Sunday driver is out, and as I write, it’s not even Sunday!

What ARE they doing driving on their non-allocated day?

A half step back is choosing to have the insight when you’re starting to fight and get stressed -

And how actually that is counterproductive to you.

So instead with the half step back,

You’re able to accept, be fluid with what’s happening, and most of all keep your calm about you.

Keeping of your wits about you too … (love that saying).

An eyes closed practice of meditation, such as the Ishayas’ Ascension, works wonders for maintaining the half step back.

However - with your eyes open?

Well Ascension has you covered too.

If you don’t know how (yet) - you can still choose to "engage" the half step back,

Just apply it when you remember.

Let getting stressed be a good sign … a reminder -

“Oh yeah, that’s right - I don’t need to be stressed … I have an option … half step back … breathe …”

Might just save your sanity.

It did mine.

If you want to know more about how to get that?

Here's a free thing for you:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/

Let me know how you go - I’d love to hear.

Go well!

Arjuna

PS.

Here's that link again, if you'd like more half-step backness in your life.

Which is code for an end to stress and mucho happiness and laser-like relaxed focus:

https://arjunaishaya.lpages.co/houradaymindful/