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One of the best life coaching books available.The Enlightened Response, by Ross Page, is an invaluable resource for Life Coaches and for anyone interested in books on Life Coaching, stress management, goal-setting, communication, relationships and lifestyle balance. As well as many mind management techniques, meditation techniques and goal-setting techniques, the Enlightened Response focuses on various life coaching skills. Thr Enlightened Response helps you to create the life you want - moment to moment, choice by choice. Warning: This book could seriously damage your erroneous perceptions of life. Only buy it if you think you can handle being continually happy. “The Enlightened Response is a DIY Life Coaching manual. It is a down-to-earth, practical approach to getting the best out of our lives.” Lynn Hitchcock, Grant Hitchcock Associates Up-side: This book could change your life for the better.Down-side: Umm... can`t actually think of a downside! What`s it all about? Of course now we`re going to tell you why this is a great book. More objective readers` views follow this next brief section. Our view: The Enlightened Response is a life coaching book packed with meditation techniques, stress management ideas and goal-setting tips. We ask children to choose Enlightened Responses when we plead with them to `think before they act`. We expect our doctors to prescribe Enlightened Responses based on objective diagnosis of our symptoms. We hope that our leaders will choose Enlightened Responses, based on awareness of the facts, before they spend our taxes or plunge us into war. We can all become life coaches in our own lives through careful and objective observation, heightened awareness of reality, vibrant visions of our future and judicious choice of Enlightened Responses. ‘…a simple step by step process creating the awareness that leads to an amazing life.’ The Enlightened Response is about Life Coaching, awareness and personal power. It is learning to seize those moments, just before we make decisions or take action. Every second of every day presents yet another opportunity to choose responses that can bring us success in all facets of our lives - in business or pleasure, home or office, training course or golf course. REACTION IS HABITUAL RESPONSE IS EFFECTIVE ENLIGHTENED RESPONSE IS POWERFUL AND CREATIVE So why choose Enlightened Responses? They can help you:
Understanding this one simple process can change your life forever: Self Observation
Awareness
Creative Expectation
Enlightened Responses Reading this book would be a really enlightened response.A more objective view of this book Readers Comments, Reviews and Press Releases Julie Townsend, Brighton I found the book very difficult to put down !!! I just had to keep reading. There was so much in there that I have taken forward and now use in my everyday life. It was incredibly thought provoking and just made complete sense to me. I have utilised what I gained from this book both in my personal life and in the business arena. Additionally, I am currently studying to be a Life Coach and the book has also aided my studies immensely. Best £10.00 I`ve ever spent!! Carl Sims, Namaste Magazine Immeasurable damage has been done to both our inner and outer worlds by a culture where materialism reigns supreme. The Enlightened Response offers us practical tools for increasing our awareness, assisting us to relearn that we can consciously choose the way in which we interact with the world and our fellow inhabitants. The first step is to get to know ourselves – who we really are - enabling fulfilment of the true potential within each and every one of us. The Enlightened Response will take to you to a new level of understanding. An essential read for the rapidly changes times in which we live. Tina Darby, Institute of Development Studies, UK I have read the book and immediately used it in a `Self Discovery` workshop where we explored habitual behaviour and the power of `enlightened responses`. So in terms of its practicability (from a facilitator`s view) and its readability (with and without supporting training) it’s a winner in my eyes! Becky Vaughan, West Sussex "When you know you are human but you`ve forgotten you are also divine, this book is a gentle reminder of how to keep a cool head and make choices from the heart.” Leatham Green, Head of Organisational Development, ESCC `It is always exciting when you come across someone or something that changes your view of life. To describe Ross and this book insuch a way, is no exaggeration.` PRESS RELEASE – Lynn Hitchcock, Grant Hitchcock Associates Have you ever said the wrong thing? Are you too busy to stand still for just a moment to listen to the birds singing in the trees? Are you disappointed when it rains in April? Perhaps, you need The Enlightened Response. The Enlightened Response is a DIY Life Coaching manual. It is a down-to-earth, practical approach to getting the best out of our lives. It encourages us, through careful observation of ourselves, the world around us and each other, to have more realistic, less disappointing expectations and to choose more positive, more ‘enlightened’ responses. It shows us how to learn to accept responsibility for our own behaviour towards others, and to change the self-centred, habitual or reflex reactions that have been so deeply ingrained. No two people are alike and no two people will have shared exactly the same experiences. Ross Page shows us how to become more aware of this basic fact and to use this to be more tolerant in our relationships. ‘My relationship with you, is in me, not in you’ - Ross Page in The Enlightened Response Ross Page is a man who has travelled the world and has truly experienced life. This easy to follow book, and the suite of dynamic, personal development workshops also available, are a culmination of his own personal and professional experiences developed to help others create the lives they dream of. Now, you have a choice:
Self Observation or Meditation? Left to their own devices our thoughts will often feel a need to classify themselves either positive or negative; bounce back and forth, comparing themselves with the past and postulating about the future, and cap it off with an habitual reaction. Practising Self Observation will teach us to be more objective and enable us to stand back momentarily and make enlightened decisions i.e. decisions made with a clearer understanding of the way our thought processes work. The resultant responses are more likely to be ones we have chosen, not those forced upon us by routine or custom. For the purpose of clarity I will be using the term Self Observation in this book as a generic term to cover any form of Mind Stilling, Thought Focus, Meditation, Visualisation, except of course when quoting another source or discussing a particular method which falls under the Self Observation heading. One method I will offer ONE (and only one) simple and important technique to learn and practise, and then suggest fifty ways, and thousands of variations, for using it in our daily lives. In brief: ‘Objective observation, of self and by self, will build awareness, reduce judgement, increase happiness and allow us to pause momentarily before choosing Enlightened Responses.’ Stress `We stress ourselves more about what `has happened` and what `might happen` than what `is happening`; and w e make the world and the weather and other people responsible for our stress. But have you ever noticed that when we point the finger of blame, there are actually another three fingers pointing back at us? It would seem a fair indication of where that blame lies!` Happiness `Happiness is a state of mind and not a product of circumstance` Understanding `Understanding is only a perception and bears little resemblance to reality.` Thinking and Philosophy `Our thoughts govern our lives. Therefore we can change our lives by simply changing our thoughts.` Results `The results I create are only part of the definition of who I really am. As part of my humanness I will have results that will be varied in their measurable value, including their quality, effectiveness and their impact on others. Will every new result define a new me? No, I am who I think I am and the results I produce from those thoughts are only part of what I do.` Setting Goals Monitoring progress towards our goals is of critical importance if we are to maintain momentum. Any tool or device we employ to achieve this aim should answer certain questions to be of practical use. Here are the questions I ask myself:
Frequently Asked Questions About Meditation(adapted from the "alt.meditation FAQ")General
Technique
General What is meditation?The basic idea generally associated with why people meditate is thatduring our day we are constantly subjected to sensory input and ourminds are always active in the process of thinking. We read thenewspaper, study books, write reports, engage in conversation, solveproblems, etc etc. Typically, as we do these normal activities weengage in a constant mental commentary, sort of an inner "The Drama ofMe." Usually people aren`t fully aware of all the mental thoughtactivity that we are constantly engaged in. Meditation allows all this activity to settle down, and often resultsin the mind becoming more peaceful, calm and focused. In essence,meditation allows the awareness to become `rejuvenated`. Meditation can be considered a technique, or practice. It usuallyinvolves concentrating on an object, such as a flower, a candle, asound or word, or the breath. Over time, the number of random thoughtsoccuring diminishes. More importantly, your attachment to thesethoughts, and your identification with them, progressively becomeless. The meditator may get caught up in a thought pattern, but oncehe/she becomes aware of this, attention is gently brought back to theobject of concentration. Meditation can also be objectless, forexample consisting of just sitting. Experiences during meditation probably vary significantly from oneindividual to another, or at least if different techniques areinvolved. Relaxation, increased awareness, mental focus and clarity,and a sense of peace are the most common biproducts of meditation.While much has been written about the benefits of meditation, the bestattitude is not to have any expectations when practicing. Having asense of expectation of (positive) results is likely to createunnecessary strain in the practice. As well, since meditation involves becoming more aware and moresensitive to what is within you, facing unpleasant parts of oneselfmay well be part of meditation. Regardless of the experience, themeditator should try to be aware of the experience and of anyattachment to it. Failure to experience silence, peace of mind, mental clarity, bliss,or other promoted benefit of meditation is not in itself a sign ofincorrect practice or that one can`t concentrate properly orconcentrate enough to be good at meditation. Whether one experiencespeace or bliss is not what is important. What is generally consideredimportant in meditation is that one is regular with their meditation-every day- and that one make a reasonable effort, but not str ain, toremain with the object of concentration during the practice. Withregular practice one inevitably acquires an increased understanding ofand proficiency with the particular meditation technique. Some people use the formal concentrative meditation as a preliminarystep to practicing a mindfulness meditation during the day where onetries to maintain a calm but increased awareness of one`s thoughts andactions during the day. For some people, meditation is primarily a spiritual practice, and insome cases the meditation practice may be closely tied to the practiceof a religion such as, for example, Hinduism or Buddhism. How is meditation different from relaxation, thinking,concentration or self-hypnosis?Relaxation: Relaxation is a common biproduct of meditation. Relaxationitself can assume many forms, such as taking a hot bath or recliningin the Lazy-boy and watching tv, etc. Meditation is an active processwhere the meditator remains fully aware of what the awareness isdoing . It also attempts to transcend the thought process whereas manyforms of relaxation still engage the thought process. Meditationallows the body to relax and can offset the effects of stress bothmentally and physically to a potentially much greater degree thanpassive relaxation. Thinking: Thoughts generally consume energy in the process of theirformation. Constant thought-activity, especially of random nature, cantire the mind and even bring on headache. Meditation attempts totranscend this crude level of thought activity. Through regularpractice one becomes aware that they are not their thoughts but thatthere is an awareness that exists independent of thought. Descartes("I think, therefore I am") obviously was not a regular meditator! Concentration: Meditation begins with concentration, but after aninitial period of concentration, thought activity decreases andkeeping the awareness focused becomes more spontaneous. At this pointthe person may or may not continue to employ the object ofconcentrat ion. Self-hypnosis: Self-hypnosis, like meditation, involves at least aninitial period of concentration on an object. However in hypnosis onedoes not try to maintain an awareness of the here-and-now, or to stayconscious of the process. Instead one essentially enters a sort ofsemi-conscious trance. What are the different meditation techniques?Meditation involves concentrating on something to take our attentionbeyond the random thought activity that is usually going on in ourheads. This can involve a solid object or picture, a mantra, breath,or guided visualization. Typical objects employed include a candle flame or a flower. Somepeople use pictures, such as a mandala - a highly colored symmetricpainting - or a picture of a spiritual teacher in a high meditativestate. Mantras are sounds which have a flowing, meditative quality andmay be repeated out loud or inwardly. The breath is also a commonfocal point. Finally, guided visualization is also considered by someto be a form o f meditation. A guided visualization can help to bringone into a meditative state; also, visualization may be used once ameditative state has been reached to produce various results. Which is right for me?There is no "right" meditation technique for everybody. Sometechniques work better for certain people while other techniques workbetter for other people. The important thing is to find what works foryou.Is there any religious implication or affiliation with meditation?It is possible to practice meditation without subscribing to any particularreligious views. However, meditation has been and still is a central practice in eastern religions for developing spiritual sensitivity. Christians also practice forms of meditation and prayer that bringthem closer to God. Does meditation have any ethical implications?In many traditions meditation practice is a means for reinforcingethical qualities. In these traditions, calmness of mind, peacefulnessa nd happiness are possible in meditation and in life generally only ifthey are accompanied by the observance of ethical norms of behaviour. Technique What are the abc`s of meditation?There are a few recommended guidelines for meditation:
What is the best time of day to meditate?While meditation is beneficial at any time, most people who meditateagree that early morning is the best time to meditate. Part of thereason is that it is said that in early morning the hustle-and-bustleof the world has not yet begun and so it is easier to establish ameditative atmosphere. Having an early morning meditation also lets uscarry s ome of the energy and peace of the meditation into our dailyactivities. Many people also meditate either before dinner or later in theevening. Others also meditate at noon. A short meditation at thesetimes allows one to throw off some of the accumulated stress of thework-day and become rejuvenated for further activity. An importantconsideration is when your schedule will allow you to meditate. Havinga time of the day set aside for meditation helps in maintainingregularity. Should I meditate with my eyes open or with my eyes closed?Different traditions give different answers. Closing your eyes maycontribute to drowsiness and sleepiness--if that`s the case for youthen try opening them a little. Opening your eyes may be distracting.If that`s the case try closing your eyes or focus your gaze on a blankwall (Zen-style). Experiment and see what works for you and thenstick with your choice of technique. What are the physiological effects of meditation?The most common physiological effects of meditation are reduced bloodpressure, lower pulse rate, decreased metabolic rate and changes inthe concentration of serum levels of various substances. When I meditate I experience physical pain in my body. What should I do?The point of practicing meditation is to develop mindfulness.The object of meditation isn`t all that important, although the breath is a good object since it is always available, simple and peaceful. But if it`s difficult for any reason or something like pain comes up, then focusing on that is possible too. The practice of walking meditation (paying attention to the sensations at the feet as you walk from one point to another and then back again) is also very good and can be mixed in with sitting meditation over a period of an hour (35 mins sitting 25 minutes walking, say). Sensations (itching/aches/pains) can arise in the body when meditatingfor several reasons. Sometimes the cause is just an uncomfortableposture--mak e sure that your posture is comfortable under normalcircumstances. Other times the cause is that sensations in the bodyare more noticable in meditation. The body and mind are calmer andyou are able to notice more details in your bodily experience. It isoften interesting to simply observe these sensations in your body : touse them as the objects of meditation. Sometimes these sensationsjust go away without your having to move or change your posture.Remember that a quiet body contributes to a quiet mind. One technique you might try is taught by S. N. Goenka. Their web siteis: http://www.dhamma.org/. Although I couldn`t find specific meditationinstructions there, I know that the practice that is taught in thattradition is primarily awareness of the body. You learn to focus ondifferent parts of the body and "sweep" your attention through it. I have a sinus problem yet I understand that breath is a cornerstone of meditation. Any suggestions for alternative meditation instructions.Awareness of breathing can be done in a number of ways. One technique thatis taught by Burmese masters is to focus your attention on the belly anddiaphragm rather than the nostrils. To get a sense of what to pay attentionto, place your hand on your belly (about two fingers down from the bottomof your rib cage) and feel the sensations there as you breath in and out.There is typically a `rising` of the belly (in breath) and a `falling`(out breath). Try to sustain both an attentiveness in that area, butalso stay relaxed and breath as naturally as you can. This means thatif you have to keep your mouth open for any reason this is not a problem.Mind you, there is no reason why you shouldn`t meditate on the feelingof the in-and-out breath at the mouth, if that`s where you have tobreath from--except that there are no specific written instructions forthis practice anywhere that I am aware of. You could just adapt themeditation instructions for breathing at the nostrils to breathingat the mouth. Is there any method or meditation that isn`t centered on breath so Ican help me to breath better and meditate more efficiently?The point of meditation isn`t to become an efficient meditating machine!As much as anything, meditation is a question of attitude towardswhatever experience you are having.I would strongly recommend that you find a teacherif you are going to take meditation seriously. E-mail and books canhelp, but a teacher is invaluable. If you don`t have a teacher, Ican strongly recommend a book by Ven. Guranathana called "Mindfulnessin Plain English" published by Wisdom books. There are some excellentmeditation instructions there. How long should I meditate?When first learning meditation it is usually not possible to meditatefor more than 10-15 minutes. After regular practice for awhile, onebecomes able to meditate for longer periods of time. Many peoplemeditate twice-daily for 20-30 minutes each time, but the rightduration and frequency is for each ind ividual to decide. Do I need a teacher?It is theoretically possible to learn meditation from a book. Howevermost people who teach and practice meditation agree that a teacher canbe an invaluable aid in learning a meditation technique and makingsure it is practiced correctly. The beginner will usually have severalquestions which a teacher will be able to answer. Also, learning witha group of people, e.g. a meditation class, allows you to experience thebenefit of meditating with a group of people. Most people find thatthey have some of their best meditations while meditating in a group,because there is a collective energy and focus present. Various individuals and groups teach meditation. Some charge and somedo not. Many different techniques are taught, some more spiritual innature and others mainly concerned with stress-reduction and gaining alittle peace of mind. As always, the important thing is finding whatworks for you. Meditation index
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