Meditation – www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog Fri, 13 Jun 2025 11:02:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 Sleep Restfully All Night Using this Meditation Sleep Guide https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/meditation-for-sleep/ https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/meditation-for-sleep/#respond Tue, 20 May 2025 04:58:21 +0000 https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/?p=1090

Sleep Restfully All Night Using this Meditation Sleep Guide

Struggling with sleep-related issues? Meditation can help. Here’s a complete meditation sleep guide to start sleeping restfully all night, every night! Learn some sleep support tips too.

There may be many reasons why you are reading this article. Chances are that you are struggling with sleep issues. Maybe you find it hard to fall asleep or you are not satisfied with the quality of your sleep or you are sleep-deprived. Or maybe you are looking for aid like meditation to help you sleep better.

Meditation has improved my sleep in many ways. In this article, I will be discussing how a breathwork and meditation practice create the inner conditions needed for a truly restful night. Meditation can not only help to let go and fall asleep but also to get high-quality restful sleep.

Why your sleep matters

Sleep is an important state of rest and rejuvenation and a source of energy for the body and mind. Haven’t you noticed that when you are sleep-deprived you feel more tired, grouchy, irritable, and crazy?

Adequate sleep is very important: when you’re asleep your brain wave frequencies change, and neural firing decreases. Better sleep can lower stress and improve your memory, mental clarity, focus, immune system, and also reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Though healthy sleep has more to do with the quality of the rest, quantity also is important. Sometimes we might notice that our sleep patterns are disturbed for many reasons, some times wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep. We end up not getting enough sleep. This affects our memory, daytime activities, and productivity. 

Insomnia and the alarming sleep statistical data

Insomnia—poor sleep or sleeplessness—is a sleep disorder that has many causes, including an overactive mind, stress, anxiety, depression, hormonal changes, chronic pain, sleep apnea, etc. Lack of sleep, in turn, can worsen these conditions, causing a depleting and vicious cycle of sleep deprivation and daytime fatigue.

A 2016 study by the Center For Disease Control and Prevention shows that 50 to 70 million adults display some form of sleeping disorder, with men reporting a higher rate of insomnia than women.

Studies and statistical data from the American Sleep Association say about 10-30 percent of adults have insomnia and difficulties with falling asleep and/or staying asleep. Around one-third of adults report typically getting less than 7 hours of sleep every night. Given the fact that adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to function best, it’s not surprising that more and more people explore different sleep support techniques and sleep meditations are becoming most popular.

Meditation for sleep: how it works for improving your sleep

Achieving restful sleep can be hard especially if you are battling stress and anxiety—it can simply be hard to quiet your mind. Most of the issues around sleep begin with your overthinking processes at night. This is where meditation can help. When we settle the mind with meditation, it is easier to wind down, let go, and relax.
According to the Sleep Foundation, “If insomnia is at the root of your sleepless nights, it may be worth trying meditation. The deep relaxation technique has been shown to increase sleep time, improve sleep quality, and make it easier to fall (and stay) asleep.”

Meditation is the delicate and effortless art of doing nothing. It is the skill to take a deep rest while being conscious and alert. 

There are many science-backed benefits of meditation including an increase in melatonin which improves the quality of sleep. Research on various meditation techniques like the SKY Breath Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation, and Vipassana meditation, have been shown to improve the quality and quantity of sleep, how quickly you fall asleep, and how long you can stay fresh and energetic during the day.

Independent research on SKY breath meditation indicates that SKY practitioners spent 13% of their total sleep time in a deeper restful SWS state (stages 3 & 4 sleep), whereas the control group spent only 4% time.

How SKY helps with aging-related sleep quality

Watch this video where Ronnie Newman, Director of Research, Art of Living Foundation explains how SKY Breath Meditation can help you relax and improve the quality of your sleep.

When we reach about 40 years of age or so, we actually spend less time in the deeper stages of sleep than those who are younger than us. Studies have found that with SKY Breath Meditation practice is that it seems to turn back the sleep clock, such that people who are in their forties begin to experience sleep as they did at a younger age. As a result, they have significantly more time in the deeper stages of sleep than their peers.

This mudra will bring down feelings of nervousness and calms down the agitated mind.

Can sleeping be meditating? Are 20 minutes of meditation equal to 4 hours of sleep?

These are some commonly asked questions.

Both meditation and sleep bring deep relaxation to you, that is why at some level they both seem similar but they are very different. Read here 7 interesting ways they both differ.

The quality of the rest that you get during meditation is definitely more profound. Therefore it is being said that the rest that you get during 20-30 minutes of meditation is almost like four hours of sleep. Over a period of a few years of regular meditation practice, you may require less sleep. But it is not at all advisable to drastically or intentionally cut down your sleep. If that happens naturally, let it happen.

1) Choose long-term vs quick fix

Changing the patterns and quality of sleep depends on the quality of your mind and your overall lifestyle, therefore it requires much more than doing a simple meditation in bed. So rather than using meditation as a quick fix or as a sleeping aid just before going to bed, I would recommend that you create a meditation routine to reap its immense benefits. This may prove to be a permanent solution to your sleeping problems. Regular meditation practice can improve the quality of your mind and thus the overall quality of life and thus the quality of your sleep too.

The Art of Living’s SKY Breath Meditation course, for example, isn’t designed to send you to sleep at the moment, but it is designed to change your relationship with sleep and your life. It uses a specific rhythm of the breath that brings harmony to all rhythms of nature including your body and mind’s rhythm. By getting rid of the deeply rooted stress and unresolved impressions, and training the mind in a specific way — day by day — you gradually create an inner environment conducive to a restful sleep at night. SKY practitioners have reported sound sleep and deep rest with just 1st session of it. 

It’s recommended that SKY Breath Meditation be used in the morning or during the day for the 40 consecutive days as a trial, in addition to the single guided sleep meditation at bedtime as and when necessary. The 40-day challenge trains the mind for long-term, sustainable change that can transform your sleep and life for good.

2) Using guided sleep meditation as a quick sleep aid

Having said the above, if for some reason, you are not able to learn the SKY Breath Meditation in the near future, I would then encourage you to use any of the following guided sleep support meditation techniques:

  • Breathing exercises: This involves regulating your breath in a specific way. Our breath and mind are closely connected. So breathing techniques like ocean breathing can help you immensely in aiding better sleep.

  • Yoga Nidra or mindful body scanning: This yogic sleep technique can help you release stress from various parts of the body and gradually put you to good sleep. It can also be used as a power nap during the day. Lie down in your bed comfortably, make sure you keep the volume low, and adjust in such a way that it auto stops once finished.

  • Gratitude: The sleep-focused meditation technique like appreciation meditation and loving-kindness meditation, ask you to count on your blessings and be grateful. Reflecting on how much you accomplished during the day, can fill your heart with contentment. So instead of getting in your bed with lots of complaints in your mind, you meet your sleep in gratitude or saying prayers. 

  • Silence and stillness: A narrator or guide may ask you to lie calmly in silence and still for up to a few minutes, providing very little guidance, as a way to let go after a long and busy day.

  • Reflecting on your day: Review your day, in detail, action-by-action. This can be a great way to distract your mind from the bombardment of thoughts. Reflecting on how much you accomplished during the day, can fill your heart with contentment. This is a great way to begin powering down and can also be done prior to breathing or body scanning meditation.

How to use guided sleep meditation and what to expect?

In simple terms, guided sleep meditation is intended to involve meditating before sleep, typically while you are laying in bed after your day. If you prefer, you can practice sleep meditation on your own but guided practice usually means that you listen to an audio recording that directs you through the steps of any of the guided sleep meditation listed above. You can use a nice meditation app like Journey App or Calm or any of your favorite apps. In addition to guided meditations, Journey App has some very useful sleep support content and is quite popular. Check it out with a limited-time free trial. If you’re practicing unguided meditation progress at your own pace. 

Meditation for sleep should be approached the same way we approach any other meditation, gently, with a relaxed focus without trying to force sleep, otherwise, you may encourage more thoughts and maybe some tension. Allow yourself to be led by the guidance, not thinking too much about the technique or instructions, allow the body to relax, and allow the mind to drift off softly and gently.

Benefits of guided sleep meditation

The goal of guided meditation is to reduce the impact of worrying thoughts and tension on your body-mind complex and on your sleep and thus help you get deeper relaxation and rest. By learning how to let go and relax your body, you will start to notice improvements in your ability to fall and stay asleep.

Guided sleep meditation allows you to let go of the thoughts that are whirlpooling and thus to rest your mind. In turn, this activates your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to lower your heart rate and slow down your breathing rate. All of these changes prepare you for sleep—you may even find yourself drifting off to sleep in the middle of the meditation practice. As getting enough sleep at night affects how you feel during the day, you will also notice daytime benefits of doing guided sleep practice like more energy, freshness, improved focus and concentration, and many more.

Why maintaining sleep hygiene is very important

A has been spoken about having proper sleep hygiene in recent years, and its crucial role to improve your sleep quality as well as to wake up easier. Below are some simple sleep hygiene practices that you can use in addition to guided sleep meditation:

  • Limit the use of blue-light devices in the last hour before bed, such as cell phones and computers. Say no to YouTube videos, games, social media, and Netflix movies at night. Unplug from music apps

  • If you like you can play some soft and relaxing instrumental music in your home in the evenings to start going into a relaxing mode

  • Avoid any caffeinated drinks after 3 or 4 pm

  • Keep your bed neat and clean

  • Follow your body’s circadian rhythm. Go to bed at the same time each night (ideally by 10 pm) and use your willpower to get up at the same time each morning (ideally by 6 am)

  • Maintain the a cooler temperature in your room for better sleep

  • Allow some fresh air to circulate in your room

  • Minimize sound in your bedroom (other than white noise)

  • Eat healthily and drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day

  • Drink some warm milk with turmeric before bedtime.

  • Include regular exercise such as walking or yoga in your daily routine

  • Wear comfortable pajamas like cotton that are breathable

  • Write a gratitude journal or say your prayers before bed

Start with restful sleep today: take the first step now

We hope that you find this article useful. If you like to know more about the SKY Breath Meditation, or if you would like to have a taste of breathwork and guided meditation, I recommend you join our FREE online session with a live instructor.

Enjoy your Zzzz’s! Wish you a restful sleep tonight and every night!
]]>
https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/meditation-for-sleep/feed/ 0
What is Guided Imagery Meditation? | The Art of Living https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/guided-imagery-meditation/ https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/guided-imagery-meditation/#respond Mon, 19 May 2025 05:27:09 +0000 https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/?p=877

What is Guided Imagery Meditation? | The Art of Living

Guided imagery meditations are becoming increasingly popular, but are they the right type of meditation for you? Read this article to find out!

What is guided imagery meditation?

Did you know that 55 percent of Americans report feeling stressed during the day? Although it’s normal to feel stressed out from time to time, long-term stress can put a strain on your physical and mental health, even leading to serious health issues. Therefore, it’s best to combat stress before it worsens through relaxation techniques and meditation.

One of the increasingly popular meditation techniques you’ll read about online is guided imagery or visualization meditation. Guided imagery meditations involve using all of your senses to create images in your mind that feel like real events. The idea behind imagery meditations is connecting your mind and body to stimulate changes in your blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate to lower stress levels. As a result, participants report feeling more relaxed after doing guided imagery meditations.

Despite their popularity online, guided imagery meditations are unlike traditional meditation, which focuses on resting your mind. Since meditation should be effortless and only require a gentle guiding effort of attention, it’s important to understand the best way for you to practice guided meditations. For some, this may mean resting your mind while for others it requires awareness of things that are at work.

Still, if you’re considering this meditation practice, you should understand how it works, the benefits of guided imagery, and what alternatives exist. Keep reading to learn all that and more!

How does guided imagery meditation work?

Guided imagery meditation is a relaxation technique you can practice no matter where you are. It’s a lot like daydreaming in that you simply imagine a peaceful place, such as the beach, your childhood backyard, or a cafe in Paris.

As a result, you will notice your breaths per minute reduce as you become calmer and less tense. Your heart rate may slow down as well. These are signs that the guided imagery is working.

There are many guided imagery recordings or videos online, but you can also attend a guided imagery session at a yoga or wellness center near you.

The pros and cons of guided imagery meditation

As mentioned, guided imagery meditation is much different than traditional meditation, where the mind is at rest. Guided visualization engages your mind, meaning that you don’t reap the same benefits as you typically would during true meditation.

Still, some people enjoy this relaxation technique. Before you try it, consider the pros and cons listed below!

The pros

Guided imagery can positively affect your health in several ways, but most people practice it to reduce stress and anxiety.
If you use guided imagery to relax when you are going through an especially stressful moment, it can bring immediate results. However, it may take some practice to really get the hang of guided imagery and achieve the desired effects. Moreover, regular practice can also lead to the following benefits.

Improved sleep quality

If you’ve ever spent hours tossing and turning at night, guided imagery may help you relax and unwind before bed. Letting go of your worries and stresses can help you fall asleep faster.

Some people even use this technique as an alternative to “counting sheep” because it has a similar goal — to take your mind off your worries or inability to fall asleep, helping you relax.

Decreased pain perception

If you deal with chronic illness, guided imagery may help you with pain management. Although guided imagery can’t remove physical pain, it can help take your mind off it through pleasant images. When you’re less focused on the pain, you may not feel it as intensely and experience some pain relief, even if just momentarily. 

Reduced symptoms of depression

Often, anxiety, panic attacks, and even depressive episodes are fueled by increased negative thoughts. Learning to put those negative feelings aside and focus on the positive with guided imagery may help you combat your depression or at least reduce the symptoms.

The cons

There are some cons associated with guided imagery, and some people report negative side effects. The most common issue some people have is increased feelings of anxiety. This is likely the result that people with anxiety may become overstimulated during guided imagery meditations. As a result, they may have heightened stress levels, increased feelings of depression, or other negative feelings.

Additionally, you may find that guided imagery meditations leave you feeling less than well-rested. This is because your mind has been active throughout the meditation process. In this case, it may be beneficial to try a different guided imagery meditation method.

If you’re concerned about these side effects, you may prefer to try a different form of meditation that relaxes your mind and puts it to rest instead of engaging it.

Alternatives to guided imagery meditation

Guided imagery meditation isn’t for everyone, and many people prefer true meditation, a practice that puts your mind to rest rather than engaging the senses. If you would like to try meditation, we recommend the following alternatives.

If you haven’t learned a meditation technique yet, guided meditation can help you get started. They are easy to access using an app on your phone, meaning you can do them anywhere and anytime. After choosing a guided meditation for beginners, relax and close your eyes. Then, follow the effortless instructions provided in the audio recording.

Our Art of Living Journey App has a collection of guided meditations you can try. Best of all, there’s a free trial so you can explore this practice without having to spend any money.

Breath meditation

Breath meditation uses deep breathing exercises and techniques to help you let go of stressful situations and feel a sense of inner peace and well-being.

Some people like to practice breath awareness mindfulness meditation, in which they observe their breathing as they inhale and exhale. Without much effort, they practice deep breathing at a comfortable pace. As simple as it sounds, your breath is powerful and can help you find deep relaxation as you let go of tension. Our SKY Breath Meditation course can help you unlock the power of your breath in just a few sessions!

Sleep meditations

Meditation is an excellent way to improve the quality of your sleep since it helps you clear your head and be more mindful of the present moment. If you struggle to fall asleep because you can’t take your mind off the problems of your daily life, sleep meditations may be a good idea. 

These specific guided meditations allow you to let go of stress while you reduce anxiety and tension in your entire body. Upon completion, you’ll find yourself feeling ready to fall asleep.    

Explore other meditative methods with The Art of Living

Guided imagery is similar to daydreaming, and while it can help you relax, it isn’t true meditation. If you want to experience the full benefits of a meditation practice and maximize the effects of your sessions, we recommend trying our SKY Breath Meditation course. 

SKY Breath Meditation is perfect for beginners, easy to learn, and can be done anywhere you go. Best of all, it’s an evidence-based practice that’s been tried and tested, so you can have the peace of mind that it works! If you’d like to learn more about SKY, we invite you to join a free intro session!

]]>
https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/guided-imagery-meditation/feed/ 0
Unlocking Inner Peace: Yoga Nidra vs Meditation Explained https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/unlocking-inner-peace-yoga-nidra-vs-meditation-explained/ https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/unlocking-inner-peace-yoga-nidra-vs-meditation-explained/#respond Sun, 06 Apr 2025 13:10:09 +0000 https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/?p=260 The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.”

Section 1.10.32 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum”, written by Cicero in 45 BC
“Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?”

1914 translation by H. Rackham
“But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?”

Section 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum”, written by Cicero in 45 BC
“At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.”

1914 translation by H. Rackham
“On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain. These cases are perfectly simple and easy to distinguish. In a free hour, when our power of choice is untrammelled and when nothing prevents our being able to do what we like best, every pleasure is to be welcomed and every pain avoided. But in certain circumstances and owing to the claims of duty or the obligations of business it will frequently occur that pleasures have to be repudiated and annoyances accepted. The wise man therefore always holds in these matters to this principle of selection: he rejects pleasures to secure other greater pleasures, or else he endures pains to avoid worse pains.”

]]>
https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/unlocking-inner-peace-yoga-nidra-vs-meditation-explained/feed/ 0
Overcoming Common Meditation Challenges: Tips for Success https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/overcoming-common-meditation-challenges-tips-for-success/ https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/overcoming-common-meditation-challenges-tips-for-success/#respond Sun, 06 Apr 2025 13:09:20 +0000 https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/?p=257 The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.”

Section 1.10.32 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum”, written by Cicero in 45 BC
“Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?”

1914 translation by H. Rackham
“But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?”

Section 1.10.33 of “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum”, written by Cicero in 45 BC
“At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat.”

1914 translation by H. Rackham
“On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue; and equal blame belongs to those who fail in their duty through weakness of will, which is the same as saying through shrinking from toil and pain. These cases are perfectly simple and easy to distinguish. In a free hour, when our power of choice is untrammelled and when nothing prevents our being able to do what we like best, every pleasure is to be welcomed and every pain avoided. But in certain circumstances and owing to the claims of duty or the obligations of business it will frequently occur that pleasures have to be repudiated and annoyances accepted. The wise man therefore always holds in these matters to this principle of selection: he rejects pleasures to secure other greater pleasures, or else he endures pains to avoid worse pains.”

]]>
https://www.artofliving.org/us-en/blog/meditation/overcoming-common-meditation-challenges-tips-for-success/feed/ 0