Happy Mind: Meditations from the Ancient World to Modernity

We can’t tell our body to fall asleep the same direct way we can tell our arm to move or our voice to make words. Unfortunately, that isn’t how that system works. So we have to play by the rules of the going to sleep game. Tonight, the way we are going to play that game is by pretending our body is a small child. She doesn’t want to go to sleep tonight so we have to help her. We have to remind her that we are the one in charge and make sure she trusts us and knows that it is safe to let the body go to sleep. Sleep tight and sweet dreams!For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sleep is a funny thing. It is only when we let go of needing to fall asleep and thinking about sleep that we can fall asleep. This meditation involves imagining a bed time bath. Sleep is brought on by changes in your body and this sort of guided meditation helps bring about those changes. Normally, our body follows the rules and keeps with the rhythm of the day and puts us to sleep according to the regular schedule. When it doesn't, that means our thinking or emotional self is giving our body the wrong instructions. It is keeping your body in a state of alertness to protect itself. Listen to this meditation to help shift that state, to put you back in charge of your bedtime self.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A wonderful meditation practice that has been passed down through the ages is Loving Kindness or Metta Bhavana meditation. It is a compassion based practice that is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism and is also found in the ancient texts of Hinduism and Jainism. The word “metta” can be translated as friendly, benevolent, affectionate, kindness, good-will, love, or sympathy. In this brief session the focus is on generating and sharing loving kindness and other wonderful sensibilities. The longer ones are more effective and powerful but if you don't have much time or just want to get a feel for it, try this one.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An extraordinary meditation technique that has been passed down through the millennia is called Loving Kindness or Metta Bhavana. Through a sort of paradox of giving equals receiving, this meditation allows an emptying of oneself to lead to a fullness. In this shorter session the focus is on generating and sharing loving kindness and other wonderful sensibilities.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An extraordinary meditation technique that has been passed down through the millennia is Loving Kindness or Metta Bhavana meditation. This Guided Meditation is a variation on that ancient practice. It follows the more traditional method of generating and cultivating loving kindness and other wonderful sensibilities within ourselves and then extending them out to others. Through this emptying of our selves of these sensibilities, we discover in the hours and days after the practice that we are more open to receiving these sensibilities from others and more perceptive of their presence all around us.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A common meditation technique that has been passed down through the millennia is Loving Kindness or Metta Bhavana meditation. There is a reason it has stood the test of time: it works. One study done at Stanford University suggests that a loving-kindness meditation practiced even for 7 minutes can increase social connectedness. Loving kindness meditation has also been shown to help people with chronic lower back pain and Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill demonstrated that loving-kindness meditation can help increase positive emotions. In this session the focus is just on generating and cultivating loving kindness and other wonderful sensibilities within ourselves.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This track is the complete Chakra set. Proceed with caution. The eight noumenal centers of energy in the body are all activated in this guided meditation. Then you are guided through moving the energy within each Chakra, among multiple chakras and finally out into the universal Chakras.The concept of Chakras was passed down probably for thousands of years in the oral tradition of the Indian subcontinent before emerging in the various sacred texts of Buddhism and Hinduism. There are some pretty wild legends, Marvel Comics-style, of god-like beings forging spinning weapons from stars and concentrating down extreme energy rays into something lower beings could handle. This sort of mythology continued to develop right into the middle ages. By that point, things got out of hand and rather than the typical seven or eight chakras, there developed theories of hundreds or even 10s of thousands!In this exercise, we keep it simple and explore the activation of our chakras as a path to experiencing our true self and discovering our true home in the oneness with all things that comes from stillness.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is the third in the Chakra series and it encompasses activation, energizing, connection and balance. Chakras represent the centers of energy or power in the body and are believed to regulate and harmonize the physical, emotional, neurological and spiritual systems in the body. Many practitioners of Eastern medicine believe that when they are blocked or disconnected we experience negative effects in our bodies and lives. So keeping them energized, open, healthy, balanced and connected is a well worthwhile practice. For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is the second of several that you can use and is similar to the first one but longer, focusing primarily on the activation and balance of the chakras. Chakras represent the centers of spiritual energy in the physical self and are believed to regulate and harmonize the physical, emotional, neurological and spiritual systems in the body. Many practitioners of Eastern medicine believe that when they are blocked both our bodies and lives will suffer the consequences. So we do the work to keep them energized, open, healthy, balanced and connected.But are they real? There is no scientific evidence that I am aware of demonstrating the existing of Chakras. But the theory that these ancient Indian masters developed was that in our human life there is a parallel dimension to the physical one we experience. So in addition to our physical body, we have an energetic or subtle body. Just as our physical body has veins and organs, our subtle body has energy channels coursing through it and these channels connect the energy centers that are distributed throughout the body. Those centers are called Chakras.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chakra is a Sanskirt word meaning wheel. They represent the centers of energy or power in the body and are believed to regulate and harmonize the physical, emotional, neurological and spiritual systems in the body. Many practitioners of Eastern medicine believe that when they are blocked all sorts of negative side effects will manifest in our bodies and lives. So keeping them energized, open, healthy, balanced and connected is a wise practice. This is the first of several that you can use and is the shortest and most basic, focusing primarily on the activation and balance of the chakras.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One popular mantra chanted as part of the Kundalini tradition is the phrase “sa-ta-na-ma”. Sa means infinity; Ta means life; Na/death; and Ma/rebirth. This track is chanting only so that you have someone to harmonize and chant along with. You can also listen to the brief introductory track for a bit of background to the practice and then spend a few minutes chanting on your own.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One popular mantra chanted as part of the Kundalini tradition is the phrase “sa-ta-na-ma”. Sa means infinity; Ta means life; Na/death; and Ma/rebirth. Listen to a brief introduction to the practice and then spend a few minutes chanting on your own.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chanting has a long history across many cultures and spiritual traditions. They key isn’t really what you say but rather that you set your intention to chant a specific phrase for a specific period of time and that you chant that phrase for that period. It could be 3 minutes or 2 hours or whatever feels right for you (though best to start off with a shorter period and practice it often——frequency is more effective than duration in making progress). With chanting, like the other techniques, you are demonstrating your mastery so the content is less important than the general practice.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There is a Buddhist chant popular in the Japanese Nichiren tradition called “Nam myoho renge kyo.” Nam means taking refuge. Myoho means pure dharma or wonderful law. Renge means lotus flower. And Kyo means sutra. Putting this together, one way to say the meaning of the phrase in English is “May I take refuge in the wonderful teachings of the Lotus Flower Sutra.” This refers to the extraordinary Buddhist text The Lotus Sutra which is thought by many to include the definitive teachings of the Buddha. If you are not a Buddhist, another way to translate the phrase that might be easier to say but that is still true to the meaning Buddha intended is “May I take refuge in the wonderful truth of an ending to suffering and an awakening to joy and love.” The underlying message of the Lotus Sutra is no different from the teachings described by all the great masters and the essential principle of the Serena system as well: that is, that who we are isn’t who we think it is and this confusion leads to an extraordinary amount of suffering. As far back to the Egyptian book of the dead and probably even further, there is this idea that words have extra-ordinary power and that when said in the right way and with the right intention, magical effects will be revealed. This idea lingers even today in our word “spelling” and “spell” when we refer to the letters in a word.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You are not who you think you are. Use this mediation to practice remembering who you really are. When you remember that you are truly your higher self, lasting peace, health and happiness can be yours.For the companion podcast covering the theory behind why these meditations work, check out the Serena system podcast at https://goo.gl/Dxu4eo. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.