What is Meditation?

What is meditation? It's like "coming home." Meditation is a strenuous and rocky path. It demands the utmost discipline and moves us forward on our chosen path.

There is no easy or even royal path among all the different meditation methods. Each one requires only work, hard work. There is no end to the path and the search, no state in which we can say, "Now I've reached my goal." (And enlightenment only lasts about 14 days.)

A good meditation program is similar to a physical exercise program. Both require hard work, concentration, and discipline. And an essential component of any type of meditation is doing one thing at a time.

PS: I wrote this text in the spring of 1997, and it hasn't lost its relevance.

Photo: Master Horst Lindenau meditating in a Japanese Zen garden in SW England.

Live this life - there is no second one

You are a creative being, and you are always independent.
You just have to be clear and aware of it.
You have to want it and accept it. Be happy to be you.
And then dream daily of your infinite possibilities.
Reach for this life. There is no second, no better one.

Corfe Castle with old cemetery, Dorset, UK, 2007

Meditation for beginners

Last night during yoga class, the question arose as to whether there are specific, practical, basic rules for meditation. I think so, and they are essential.

1. Beginners should never use burning candles. The risk of the fire getting out of control is simply too great. I personally experienced this 15 years ago when a good friend of mine caught fire in Berlin.

2. Why not sit on an ordinary kitchen chair to meditate? Quite simply, there's always the danger of falling asleep, and then it would be fatal to fall off the chair.

3. Why not meditate lying down? For a similar reason to number 2, except that it would only be in a deep sleep in this case. And as we all know, sleeping is not meditation.

4. American meditation books say you should turn off the television before the session begins. Well, I don't want to go that far. That's common sense. But the phone and cell phone should already be turned off. It would be a shame to be interrupted by a sales call during the most beautiful meditation.

Have fun in the next session!

Life is like a river

Life is like a river. With one start and one end. It is always better water quality found if the river is in motion. Keep moving yourself.

Tantra Yoga

"Scriptures and mantras—to hell with them.
My teacher released me from practising meditation.
With women and wine, I'm fine.
I walk the path to salvation in dance steps,
a young prostitute on the altar with me.
I eat meat and drink many strong drinks.
My bed, a soft, warm fur—

And all without a penny of money!
A better religion—who could think of one?"

Tantra Yoga allows you the greatest freedom and gives you personal responsibility for yourself
and your environment.
This mantra dates back to around 600 BC in India.

You are what you eat

A vegetable stir-fry is easy to prepare, inexpensive, and a healthy and tasty meal. If the ingredients are seasonal, home-grown and harvested, all the better. And yet, a hearty German roast pork (vegetarians may forgive me) is of equal value. 

It all comes down to the spiritual connection between me and the food. Of course, a rather bland ready-made meal from a can can't compete with a vegetable stir-fry.  

Nevertheless, it should be noted that there are yogis who live on a handful of rice a day. And it's well known that a humble meal surrounded by loved ones is far more satisfying than the most expensive food in times of discord and discontent. The way to a person's heart is through their stomach.

https://longevity-art.blogspot.com

 Hi everyone, the name of this blog will now be Longevity-Art. This is more specific and makes it clearer to new readers. Thanks to all so far for your interest. Please spread the word and keep coming back. You're happy to leave comments, too! All the best!

 https://longevity-art.blogspot.com

Fat people are good savers

Fat people are good savers. They always deposit more than they withdraw. But what seems sensible in the financial realm spells disaster when applied to one's body. From Club 115, we know there are NO DIETS. 

There is only one way to avoid becoming overweight and even fat. This path is based on the understandable and straightforward formula: 

What goes in must also go out. In other words, if I consume x calories, I must also burn x calories. Anything x+ calories I supply to the body leaves it with a reservoir. If this reservoir becomes too large, it initially becomes unnoticed, but later becomes visible and noticeable, resulting in obesity.