How Do I Know I am in Meditative State

Q: Dear Todd, it's 3:44 am and right now in the present moment I can't sleep due to stress and anxiety. But I'm aware and accepting of that fact. I'm not fighting it. Is this considered being in a meditative state? Awareness? For a positive or a negative? I hope this made sense... I am after all sleep deprived at the moment. Thank you TODD ANSWERS: Much of meditation is…

Why am I Not Seeing Any Results from My Meditation?

Q: Dear Todd, I have been trying meditation for at least a couple of years, reading books and blogs, and studying Buddhist teachings, yet I feel no different than I ever have. I want to feel a connection, I want to feel safer, loved, and be in communion with my spirit. What am I doing wrong? TODD ANSWERS: I wonder what kind of meditation you’ve been doing because different kinds…

People Don’t Like Me Even If Try

Q: Dear Todd, most people don't like me, no matter how friendly & kind I am to them. Some people don't like me in the 1st instance without even knowing me. Others pretend to like me. At work today I was told by one of my colleagues I'm making them look bad just because I was getting on with my work. They all keep staring at me when I notice…

Path to Peace The Right and Wrong Way to Practice Introspection

Introspection is a natural activity that humans have been doing since we've been around. Today however, we have very little time in our waking lives to think, reflect and ponder. This has led us to forgetting how to do this very important and necessary practice. In this podcast, I talk about why some people feel depressed after reflecting on something difficult in their lives, and I share how we can…

Your Suffering Comes From Others Suffering

Q: Dear Todd, what if your suffering comes because you see the suffering of other people and animals and the earth? I have everything I will ever need and am in a place of safety and comfort so do not suffer for my own circumstances. But it kills me to see the suffering of others and I do everything to help others and animals. TODD ANSWERS: I would say change…

Do Video Games Count For Being in the Present Moment?

It’s not hard to see parallels between meditating and playing video games. Both activities force participants to step out of their head, to temporarily forget their mind-made illusory self, and to become free from thoughts and worries.But there are also some key differences between meditation and video games, which I will get into in this article.Do Video Games Count as MeditationGaming, swimming, running, rock climbing, making art, dancing and watching…

When the Present Moment Becomes Boring

From Path to Peace With Todd Perelmuter Newsletter Weekly Writings from the Desk of Todd Perelmuter Boredom may feel like a natural emotion or viewpoint, but nothing could be further from the truth. Boredom is born out of a resistance to the present moment. It is not a natural state to be bored. Boredom does not naturally arise out of a beautifully still, silent moment. Has any wild animal ever…

Can Bliss and Trauma Coexist in the Same Moment?

Q: Dear Todd, not every moment is pleasurable, in my opinion. When your car slides off the edge of an icy logging road and time slows down, you're going to feel instinctual, epigenetic fear coursing through your body. Maybe there's a yogi who experiences bliss during traumatic events, but I would guess that at that point, you're ready for Nirvana. And is that really Nirvana if you experience trauma, fear,…

Nothing is Working Out in My Life

Q: Dear Todd, lately nothing has worked out for the last year and a half. People are so unreliable and narcissistic. Very disappointing. The many many esoteric videos, GIFs, and blurbs I’ve read and practiced along the way awareness, meditating, letting go, realigning, non-judgment, helping others, forgiving, asking guides/angels for help, trusting the Universe…none of that has panned out. Today I sit here disappointed, disillusioned, sad and angry because now…

Path to Peace To Compete or Not to Compete, That Is the Question

Is life a competition or a cooperation? What is the best way to achieve in life? If some people get ahead by cheating and competing, would we be fools to "play by the rules?" The truth is, whether we see the world as a competition or a cooperation has less to do with the world and more to do with how we see the world. If we feel separate from…