Meditation Changes Everything

“From one point of view, the only reason our thoughts are a distraction in meditation is that we're interested in those thoughts. We're more interested in thought than we are in what's beyond thought. We're more interested in the mind than in discovering who we are beyond the mind. So, the key to liberating ourselves from the prison of the mind is to become genuinely interested in that which is beyond thought entirely. When we fall in love with the unknown, the mystery of awakening will overtake us.” —Craig HamiltonStarting a meditation practice often means dealing with an endless stream of thoughts. It can feel almost impossible to break free from this thought stream that seems to dominate both our meditation and our life. We might even see our mind as a wild, unruly animal that needs to be tamed.But what if there’s a different way to understand our mind and thoughts? One where the endless thought stream no longer captures and dominates our attention. In “A Mind Like Water,” Craig explores one of the most liberating meditation practices we can undertake: the practice of allowing our mind to flow freely without giving it any attention.As we awaken, we start to see that thoughts are not reality—they’re just constructs in our mind. When thoughts lose their grip on us, we can let our mind flow like water and allow the thought stream to do what it does.Maybe you’ve already had a glimpse of what it feels like to have a free, fluid, and flowing mind. In this episode, Craig will demystify that experience and guide you in cultivating a mind like water, creating a completely new—and awakened—relationship to life.We've also included a 12-minute guided meditation to help you experience this for yourself. Be sure to tune in when you can find a quiet space and won’t be interrupted. To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on https://www.MeditationChangesEverything.com. If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s approach to meditation, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at: FreeMeditationWorkshop.com

“When we let go of our attachment to the separate self, we can begin to discover who and what we really are, which is so much bigger, so much deeper, so much more extraordinary than we could have imagined. At that point, a much larger, more meaningful life begins to unfold through us that’s no longer a personal journey of accumulation and achievement. It’s an experience of flowing with and participating in something grand. We discover that we are a fluid, dynamic piece of this much greater unfolding life process, which is the opposite of a materialistic orientation.”—Craig HamiltonIn this episode, "Freedom from Spiritual Materialism," Craig explores a common hurdle in meditation and spiritual growth: how our natural desire to achieve something through practice—like personal improvement, existential relief, or blissful experiences—can actually block our progress.True spiritual growth is about letting go, not acquiring more. This can be difficult to accept because it challenges some deeply ingrained ways we relate to life. As spiritual seekers, we aim to awaken and tap into the profound potentials of meditation. However, we often approach the spiritual path—and life itself—with a tendency to grasp, hold on to, and accumulate experiences for self-enhancement and self-confidence. In doing so, we miss the true essence of spiritual awakening.So, what's the solution? To reach our deepest spiritual aspirations, we need to approach meditation and spiritual growth differently—essentially 'wanting it without wanting it.' This might sound tricky, but in this episode, Craig shares key insights on how to shift your mindset from one of achievement and acquisition to one of receptivity and surrender. From this subtle shift, the deeper dimensions of meditation and awakening will unfold.To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on https://www.MeditationChangesEverything.com. If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s approach to meditation, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at: FreeMeditationWorkshop.com

“Meditation isn’t something we generate. It’s not something we make happen. It’s something we make room for. It’s something we open to. When you really get this, meditation will be the easiest thing you’ve ever done.” —Craig HamiltonWelcome to our latest podcast episode, "Four Portals to Enlightenment: A Guided Meditation Workshop." In this transformative practice session, Craig explores four meditation techniques—true gateways to awakened awareness—that he teaches in his courses.We recommend that you prepare by finding a quiet space where you can fully immerse yourself in each guided meditation without interruption. Over the course of an hour, we'll engage in “direct awakening” practices aimed at providing you with immediate experiences of your true nature beyond the mind.Throughout the workshop, Craig will explore the benefits and subtle differences between brief and extended meditation periods, including the potency of one-minute meditations. From relinquishing control to exploring the boundless expanse beyond the mind, you'll be invited to dive into the profound depths of enlightened consciousness.Join Craig for this special workshop and venture through four unique doorways of meditation into a deeper understanding of the self and the universe.To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on https://www.MeditationChangesEverything.com. If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s approach to meditation, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at: FreeMeditationWorkshop.com

“Spiritual awakening is a force that turns our world upside down. It reveals to us that everything we thought we knew, and every way we thought things worked, and what we thought was important was in fact a construction of our culture and our mind. It shows us that there is so much more to this existence than we ever imagined. So perhaps the most important quality that we can bring to spiritual practice is a profound humility–which is an openness to the unknown.” —Craig HamiltonWelcome to Episode 13 of our podcast series! This episode is part two in a three-part series on the foundations of meditation.In "Foundations of Meditation - Part Two: Commitment, Humility, Environment, and Posture," Craig continues our exploration of the fundamentals necessary to establish a profound meditation practice rooted in our highest potentials.During our meditation journey, we often overlook the vital foundational elements that can build a strong container for deep practice. Sometimes, the meditation feels deeply fulfilling, but at other times, we encounter challenges like boredom, lack of focus, or distraction.By grounding our meditation in these foundational pillars, we can unlock the full potential of our practice.In this episode, Craig discusses four of these practice pillars... First, he explores how two inner foundations–commitment and humility–can support you in staying consistent with your practice and open to new experiences and insights.Then, he looks at two outer foundations–environment and posture–that can help you show up fully for each moment of practice, relaxed, alert and focused.Join us and learn how these essential pillars can support your meditation experience and bring greater consistency and depth to your practice.To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on https://www.MeditationChangesEverything.com. If you haven’t already, be sure to listen to Episode 10: Foundations of Meditation - Part One, where Craig explores motivation, intention, and strategies to overcome that pesky inner critic, a common obstacle in meditation.If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s approach to meditation, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at: FreeMeditationWorkshop.com

“Meditation offers us a rare opportunity to practice having an open heart in a truly safe environment where there's nothing we need to protect ourselves from. In meditation, we can practice letting down our guard, allowing ourselves to feel life fully and completely in each moment. This opens the door to deep and profound experiences that were previously inaccessible to us.” —Craig HamiltonWelcome to Episode 12 of our podcast series! In this episode, Craig takes us on a journey into the depths of awakened consciousness, exploring the profound transformation of the heart.In “Opening the Heart: Meditation as a Doorway to Emotional Freedom,” Craig delves into the beauty of an open heart, a hallmark of awakened awareness. As we awaken to our true nature, we often find our hearts opening in ways we've never experienced, touching us with both the splendor and the struggles of the world.Many of us on the spiritual path yearn for the expansiveness of an open heart, along with the deeper sense of connection and boundless compassion it brings with it. But embracing this level of sensitivity can feel daunting, stirring up feelings of vulnerability and overwhelm.In this episode, Craig explores how meditation can serve as a sanctuary for our hearts to open. Through meditation practice, we can create a safe space to cultivate radical empathy, embracing the full spectrum of the human experience with courage and compassion.Join us as Craig uncovers the transformative power of meditation for nurturing an open heart, allowing us to embrace life's joys and sorrows with empathy and grace.To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on https://www.MeditationChangesEverything.com. If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s approach to meditation, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at: FreeMeditationWorkshop.com

“As people awaken, they become ambassadors for good. For an evolved morality that cares infinitely, and burns with a deep love for the greater good. Inherent in that care is an impulse toward oneness, unity, and wholeness. It feels like nothing is separate from me. I'm not separate from this whole. I care about the whole thing equally. That's how it manifests.” —Craig Hamilton In this episode, Craig explores one of the truly great mysteries of awakening—the profound truth of non-duality, or as it’s more commonly known: oneness. As spiritual seekers, most of us intuitively believe in the idea of oneness. Yet we live in a world that on the surface appears to be made up of separate things. The discovery of oneness or non-duality reveals to us that we are not in fact separate from the world and cosmos in which we find ourselves. Beneath the appearance of separateness and division, reality is a single, unified whole. But what does it really mean that, in its essence, everything is One? And what kind of meditation practice can open the door to this life-changing discovery? In this episode, Craig dives into the core of what non-duality really means, and sheds light on some of the most common misunderstandings surrounding the idea of oneness. He also addresses the question: “If everything has the same sacred essence, how do we account for the evil and destructiveness in our world?” Please note that this episode includes a 10-minute guided meditation. We encourage you to listen when you’re in a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s approach to meditation, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at FreeMeditationWorkshop.com.

Exploring the pillars of motivation and intention in meditation practice to achieve true awakening. Creating a non-critical mindset for successful meditation practice. Cultivating a criticism-free approach and determination in meditation. Craig Hamilton emphasizes the importance of letting go of familiar securities for a transformative journey.

“Spiritual awakening or enlightenment is about the discovery that we don't just have a human nature and an animal nature. We have a supernature. Which means there's another dimension of who and what we are that is a spiritual essence, a super essence.” —Craig HamiltonIn this episode, Craig explores what may be meditation’s greatest promise: the remarkable discovery of our superhuman nature. We’re all familiar with the idea of human nature. It governs our behavior as individuals and as a species. But is there another dimension of who and what we are that, once revealed, can empower and free us to live an extraordinary life? As Craig explores in this episode, meditation can be the key that unlocks the door to a “supernature,” unleashing a set of remarkable higher potentials that are already latent within us. These “supercapacities” include spontaneous wisdom, deep inner strength and resilience, heightened sensitivity and empathy, and dynamic creativity.Rather than laboring to develop these capacities one at a time, we can engage in meditative practices designed to open us to the source of all of these potentials, ultimately propelling us into a profound new experience of being alive. To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s approach to meditation, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at FreeMeditationWorkshop.com.

“Spiritual equanimity is not about feeling content with the world, it’s about being content no matter what you’re feeling. It’s about being at ease whether you feel easeful or not. And we all have access to this. It’s part of our true nature.” —Craig HamiltonNearly all of us aspire to be more centered and grounded, especially when the strong winds of chaos or crisis threaten to pull us off track.On the spiritual path, this quality is often referred to as equanimity. When we learn how to access equanimity in meditation, we suddenly find we can remain centered, non-reactive and present no matter what happens to us, even when we feel triggered by events in the world. This enlightened capacity gives us the ability to navigate life’s challenges with wisdom, compassion and strength. But where does this extraordinary capacity come from? In this episode, Craig challenges the common assumption that equanimity means being detached from what happens in this world, and explains how true equanimity arises when we become rooted in something much deeper, more profound, and ultimately sacred that underlies everything that happens.Listen as Craig shares three different ways we can access this profound capacity, inviting you to step directly into the unshakeable core of who you already are.To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s approach to meditation, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at FreeMeditationWorkshop.com.

“As we get deeper into it, we begin to realize that the real benefits of meditation ultimately transcend any of our personal wants, needs, and desires and we’re really awakening and evolving as part of a greater process that's happening in consciousness and in life and in the cosmos. The real benefits are for the whole.” –Craig Hamilton For many of us, the desire for inner peace, greater wisdom or spiritual enlightenment is what called us onto the spiritual path. However, meditation teachers frequently warn us that wanting any results from our practice can actually take us off course and prevent us from accessing the extraordinary potential of genuine awakening. This presents us with both a fascinating paradox and a sacred opportunity. In this episode, Craig dives into the heart of this apparent paradox, inviting us to discover for ourselves what it means to meditate without any agenda whatsoever. During this 20-minute guided inquiry and meditation, he asks us to consider, “why does wanting something become an obstacle in meditation, and what would it be like to give ourselves to the meditation for its own sake, wanting nothing in return?” Then, he guides us into an experience of the freedom and fullness that comes from not needing anything at all.  If you haven’t already, we also encourage you to tune in to our previous episode, The Life-Changing Power of Letting Go: Part One, in which Craig creates a powerful, evolutionary context for this practice, illuminating how letting go of wanting can connect us to a deeper imperative to evolve for the greatest good. To access the full transcript of this episode and more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com.  If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s meditation experiments, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called Meditation 2.0 – The Miracle of Direct Awakening. Register for free at FreeMeditationWorkshop.com.