Shift Cast

Jack Mangan is a long time podcaster (see link to his podcast below) as well as a fiction writer.  I met Jack through my friends at FarPoint Media when I was a fan of the Podcast Wingin' It.

I reconnected with Jack this past summer during the annual Farpoint Media Pool Party in Phoenix.  Jack and I spoke briefly at the party and we thought it would be fun to have a conversation about meditation.

Jack shares his thoughts on his experience with using music and other relaxation audio products to chill out, relax, relieve stress.  He wasn't sure if he is technically "meditating" (maybe he is maybe his isn't) but his experience to this point has made him curious enough to want to learn more about meditation practice and techniques.

Rick is does not perceive the value of meditation and is convinced at this point that meditation is just not for him.  Rick is challenged with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and finds that the meditation techniques that he has tried so far have induced stress.

I (Yooper) think that the goal of meditation practice is very simple, to reduce the number of thoughts one experiences.  Our busy lives have created a very busy state of consciousness that has been related to that of the "voice in your head".   This constant river of thoughts distracts us, and diverts our attention away from remaining focused on the present moment and the task at hand.

When I meditate, I don't attempt to eliminate thoughts, but just witness them and allow them to run their course while maintaining a gentle intention of being quiet, calm and present.  I find that the more often I experience this quiet acceptance of the voices, and have come to identify less with the voices and more as the silent witness of the thoughts.

Then, later throughout the day, when I am feeling anxious and the thoughts are flooding my mind at a very high rate, I can remember to take a breath and just seek that inner peace of the silent witness to quiet my mind and regain my focus.

There are tons of meditation techniques...finding the right one for you will help you to quiet your mind and help you focus on whatever you might like to do.

http://www.jackmangan.com/

http://www.ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com/2011/06/22/tales-from-the-archives-eight-part-one/

http://www.ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com/2011/06/28/podcast-eight-part-2/

Getting in the Gap: Making Conscious Contact with God Through Meditation (Book with CD)

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