‘Mindful Awareness’ at Psychology, Philosophy and Real Life, Page 14

Compassion meditation produces physical effects in the brain, “proving” in terms of Western science that an Eastern spiritual practice “works”. Are compassion and empathy skills which can be developed through meditation, or is this missing the point of a spiritual experience?

What does it mean to be in control of our lives? Is it at all possible, or desirable? Is it a better idea to try and let go of our need to control, or to find a way to exert influence at least over the meaning of our lives when bad times hit?

What is mindfulness? Why do we need it? And what does it have to do with therapy?

So our irritation with someone else is just our irritation with ourselves? Sometimes this is the case, but sometimes they really are being irritating! Should we eat our own projections?

We might find that when we have time and space, or when we meditate, or go for walks, or write down what we are feeling, or whatever it is that we do, we end up just listening to our thoughts, which behave like the loudest guests at the party. We might never hear from that quiet girl in the corner who looks really interesting…