Hands are great for hugging, shaking or doing work, but what do you with them while you are meditating? Let's talk about it.

It’s the beginning of a new year soon, and many people are excited to start new habits that will have them living a better life. Of course, many people will turn to meditation for that very thing; which is great. However, creating a consistent habit is not always easy. Today I talk about 6 ways to make it easier.

Sam Mowe is a contributor to Tricycle. Like many contributors, he shares his awakenings with the reading audience so that they can glean something from his life. Today he shares a story about a trip he took with his wife and new daughter Lila to Mount Koya in Japan. On this pilgrimage he learns about peace, acceptance and lineage.

Whether you know much about Buddhism or not, chances are good you have heard the word Karma before. Heck, it has even made its way on to TV and in the movies occasionally. But in those instances, and even in yours, the word is often used incorrectly. What do you say we learn what it really means?

Anger; it is uncontrollable. It gets us in its clutches and doesn't let go. We are helpless! Or are we? Not according to Ken McLeod. In todays Tricycle article, he talks about four ways to corral and use anger to our benefit.

Many times life can be so tough that we forget all our practices; meditation, prayer, etc.. However, even in the most difficult times our soul can lead us to hope, to places that restore our innate understanding that everything is happening the way it is supposed to, and that you will make it through to the other side. Today I read a great article by Sandy Boucher that reveals that lesson perfectly. Come listen.

I love getting mail that brings a smile to my face, and Friday I got that smile. The Fall issue of Tricycle magazine came out. It is the Buddhist review that has such wonderfully beautiful articles about how Buddhist principles can help us live calmer, more meaningful lives.

Today’s article comes from Pema Chodron, who talks about ways to avoid becoming negative and despairing when things in the world seem bleak. It is absolutely incredible. Come listen.

All this week I have been talking about way to create a consistent meditation habit. However, many of the things I have talked about were theoretical; ways to retool our thinking so that we can find a method that cuts though societal beliefs and personal conditioning. Today is going to be all about the practical. To finish off the week I am going to talk about 4 practical ways to create a consistent meditation habit.

People who wish to start a meditation practice do what many people do for almost anything; they go to the internet to see who knows the most. Unfortunately, that is not where it stops. New meditators, and sometimes seasoned ones, try to emulate the person they feel has the most knowledge. Initially this may be serving, but at some point they need to create their own practice, and not compare there journey to anyone else’s. Today I talk about that very thing.

If you have not been able to develop a consistent meditation practice then this week is for you. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned meditator, sometimes making meditation a habit can be tough. Today I want to talk about another reason you may lose your streaks, and how you can get them back.