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I got this very interesting message from my very intuitive friend, Maitland Kalton, on messenger this morning after I viewed a video he tagged me in months ago that I never got to watch! Good thing I got to watch it because he sent the following message full of gems that just came to him in a cave at a Theravada Buddhist temple good for walking or sitting meditation close to our home that I think is special to both of us.

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Hi Vern. Thanks for looking at that old video (What is the point of life?). Listening to it after some 4 to 5 months, I was reminded of this that I channeled at the rear cave area at Wat Tam Seua on Monday…

Everything that you are and ever will be is within the bounds of these walls as it is also within your own heart. The sheer simplicity and peace within is an expression of all that is in you and everywhere. Breathe it in slowly and deeply and as you exhale, let the bonds of the outer world leave you. Just be with the silence and your own breath. You are temporarily part of the movement and life in this place just as each and every plant and insect is the same…in transition from one moment to the next. Each step, each moment has no essential meaning or purpose other than to lead to the next one and so on. That is all there is to reflect upon. This is the assignment I am giving your subconscious mind – to reflect on the simplicity of life and reflect this in your work. Bring this peace and inner tranquility when you work in all ways, from your videos to your writing and other expressions of your heart and soul in the days and years to come. Never leave this place in your heart – be here forever as you seek the fullest expression of the form you have taken temporarily for the betterment of your own existence and nothing more. The rest follows naturally without effort or purpose – it just unfolds, orchestrated by me at my will as befits the needs of the moment and nothing more. Seek not purpose or fulfillment beyond this message. Seek only the revelation of what you may bring to this world as a gift before you depart it. Seek no attachment to a specific outcome and let that be my concern, not yours.

Now hold your breath one more time and release with it the attachments of your life till this point. Breathe in again now free from the past and be free always.

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I have been in book writing mode for the last little while. Three years? I love the idea of Amazon and being able to publish instantly in ebook format without having to worry about actually printing a book on paper, editors, and the rest of it.

I wrote a book about two years ago, “Meditation for Beginners – a 22 day course” that is picking up at Amazon and finally doing pretty well. I am not sure why book sales tend to ramp up there over time after release… I can only guess that, as more websites try to sell it to make commission – it results in more sales. Don’t be discouraged if you write a book at Amazon and it doesn’t take off immediately. It might take a year or so.

Two days ago I started another book with a topic in the meditation space, this one about – mindfulness. I haven’t chosen a name for it yet. It will an introduction to mindfulness, have some exercises, and have some of my experiences told in first person.

I used mindfulness early on, in conjunction with meditation. Using both, I think the benefit was compounded – and I was able to progress quickly through some of the meditation experiences that seem to take others years to reach.

Meditation and mindfulness together are a tag-team of sorts. Meditation is the focus on a very small sense object like the subtle feeling of breath on the inside of your nostrils. Meditation excludes all other objects. Mindfulness is similar, and yet the focus is bigger. Much bigger. Mindfulness includes all that is going on at the moment. Mindfulness includes, not excludes.

Mindfulness is something that new students don’t seem to grasp quickly. I’ve talked with many people that wonder if they’re doing it “right’.

I think the problem is that many of them read an in-depth book on the subject, filled with new vocabulary and they lose sight of the point. Mindfulness is exceptionally easy… there is little effort required. To continue on in mindfulness requires a lot of effort – but, it isn’t substantial effort – it’s easy effort. Refocus the mind on being mindful of the moment. It’s like a redirection of the mind to be present instead of thinking about the past or future.

So, this book will be a basic guide for meditation that anyone – beginner or those with some knowledge, can use and grasp the concept quickly.

Do you practice mindfulness alongside your meditation practice? Without a meditation practice?