The Four Reminders

The Four Reminders

The four reminders, or four thoughts that turn the mind, are an important preparation for death because they turn the mind from constantly looking outward to finally looking within. As with mindfulness, they provide another way to work with distraction. They bring the...
What Is a Lucid Dream?

What Is a Lucid Dream?

A lucid dream is when you wake up to the fact that you’re dreaming, but you still remain in the dream—that is, you’re dreaming and you know it. Early History The term “Lucid dream” was hinted at by the scholar Marquis d’Hervey de Saint-Denys (1822–1892), but was...
How Meditation Affects the Brain

How Meditation Affects the Brain

The world of neuroscience is revealing exactly how meditation affects the brain. I had the great honor to be invited to be subject on one of a series of studies being conducted on meditation. I was invited to the University of Wisconsin in Madison where the most...