by Eric Harrison | Apr 26, 2016 | General Articles
Stress is a slow but very reliable killer. It exacerbates the effects of most diseases and chronic conditions. It delays recovery from illness and it makes us age more quickly. Like nicotine it seems to affect all the systems in the body. Stress also makes us anxious... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Apr 25, 2016 | General Articles
Stress is a very physical event. We feel stress most clearly in our muscles, particularly in the neck, shoulders, back and face. We even use the words ‘stress’ and ‘tense’ interchangeably. “I feel tense’ means the same as “I... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Apr 23, 2016 | General Articles
Many people assume that because I teach meditation I am probably a Buddhist. This is a natural mistake to make since the two are often confused. However meditation is a practical skill. Buddhism is a conservative Asian religion. There is no automatic connection... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Jan 27, 2016 | General Articles
Until recently, people spoke about ‘meditation’ but hardly ever used the word ‘mindfulness’. This was a jargon word found only in the context of a certain kind of 10-day Buddhist retreat. Then, around 2005, the situation changed dramatically. As a teacher, I get phone... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Apr 4, 2016 | Magazine Articles
After a climactic night of meditation, the Buddha became fully ‘awakened’ at the moment of sunrise. This word invariably implies a kind of fresh morning radiance in the soul. We imagine an awakened person as having a continuously serene and joyful state of... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Apr 4, 2016 | Magazine Articles
‘To thine own self be true’, said Shakespeare, quoting a proverb that had its roots in ancient Greece. ‘Know yourself’ said Socrates, who argued that self-understanding is essential for happiness, wisdom and the pursuit of any knowledge... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Apr 4, 2016 | Magazine Articles
Our need for truth is hard-wired into the psyche. We make distinctions every day between true and false, and try to clarify those situations that are ambiguous. We seek out the certainties and good evidence that make all the difference between success or failure in... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Apr 4, 2016 | Magazine Articles
Years ago, I went deep underground with some caving enthusiasts. After two hours of scrambling, crawling, and abseiling, we decided to switch off our lights and listen. A deep dry cave is more profoundly black and silent than anywhere on the surface of the earth. In... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Apr 4, 2016 | Magazine Articles
Fifty years ago, I lived in a remote seaside village in New Zealand and Harold was my best friend. His parents had abandoned him and he was being raised by an elderly eccentric called Lou Batt. Lou was an old-time socialist and free-thinker, who had bummed round the... Read more
by Eric Harrison | Apr 4, 2016 | Magazine Articles
Do you want peace or bliss? Tranquility or excitement? Serenity or ecstasy? It is not easy to have both. The fanatics, such as drug addicts and hermits, will strive for the extremes. Most of us will have more moderate aspirations. A harmonious, well-ordered life is... Read more