Category: Uncategorized
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Jon Kabat-Zinn on Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
Who is Jon Kabat-Zinn? By Elena Marlowe • Last updated: August 2025 Jon Kabat-Zinn is a scientist, meditation teacher, and founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). A professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, he brought mindfulness into mainstream medicine and psychology. His work bridges Buddhist meditation principles…
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Meditation for Stress Relief: Evidence-Based Benefits
How Does Meditation Reduce Stress? Meditation reduces stress by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. This shifts the body from a “fight-or-flight” to a “rest-and-digest” state. Cortisol levels drop, and heart rate variability improves. Mechanism Effect on Stress Response Parasympathetic activation Slows heart rate, deepens breathing Cortisol reduction Lowers chronic stress…
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Dōgen’s Shikantaza: The Zen of Just Sitting
What is Shikantaza? Shikantaza means “just sitting” in Japanese. It is the core meditation of Soto Zen, taught by 13th-century Zen master Dōgen. This practice involves sitting without a specific focus—simply being aware of awareness itself. Dōgen described Shikantaza as dropping all effort, all striving, and all seeking. Why Did…
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Alan Watts on the Art of Wu Wei and Effortless Action
What is Wu Wei According to Alan Watts? Alan Watts described Wu Wei as the principle of “not forcing” life. In his lectures, he explained it as aligning with nature’s flow rather than resisting it. Wu Wei does not mean laziness—it means acting without unnecessary struggle. In Taoist philosophy, Wu…
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Do Nothing Meditation Guide for Beginners
What is Do Nothing Meditation? Do Nothing Meditation is a mindfulness approach where you stop trying to control attention. The practice removes formal techniques. It allows awareness to rest naturally. How Does Effortless Meditation Differ from Other Practices? Effortless meditation avoids deliberate focus or breath counting. Unlike Vipassana or mantra…