Meditation Changes Everything
Craig Hamilton
We’ve all heard that meditation is good for us — studies show that it reduces stress, improves concentration and makes us more resilient to life’s challenges. But what if these benefits are just the tip of the iceberg? What if meditation could actually change everything?
Pioneering meditation teacher Craig Hamilton has been practicing meditation for 40 years and teaching it over the past two decades to students in more than 90 countries. In this podcast, Craig reveals how this powerful, ancient practice can transform every aspect of human life. He shares key insights from his personal practice as well as on-the-ground research at the leading edge of spiritual practice and inquiry. As a listener, you’ll discover a mix of in-depth talks from Craig on key aspects of meditation, his responses to common questions from students and guided meditations, so you can experience a variety of meditation practices for yourself.
If you appreciate what you hear in the podcast, Craig invites you to download his free ebook, Unlocking the Power of Meditation, to learn about the five common mistakes most of us make in meditation and how you can avoid them. Download your free ebook at 5meditationmistakes.com.
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Top 10 Meditation Changes Everything Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Meditation Changes Everything episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Meditation Changes Everything for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Meditation Changes Everything episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Natural Meditation: Being Yourself Without Effort
Meditation Changes Everything
11/15/24 • 22 min
“One reason meditation is such a powerful tool on the spiritual path is that it’s a safe place to completely give up control. You can sit down, and just let go...and let go...and let go. You can let go of every attempt to control reality, every attempt to control your inner experience, every impulse to control how you feel, every attempt to control the mind. This radical practice of relinquishing control in meditation is a very direct way to start to get a taste of what it means to be truly natural.” —Craig Hamilton
Spiritual teachings often describe the goal of the path as entering into a “natural state”—a way of being that’s utterly easeful, uncontrived, and completely genuine. This natural state allows us to simply be ourselves, without effort, flowing with life as it unfolds.
But how do we achieve this profound simplicity? Though it sounds like it should be easy, being natural is often challenging in practice. Most of us have spent a lifetime cultivating habits of control, striving to shape reality to fit our will. How do we let go of these tendencies and truly embrace a natural way of being?
In this episode, Craig shares an approach to meditation designed to easefully open the door to this profound naturalness. By learning how to let go of any attempt to control your experience, you’ll discover what it means to surrender to life without resistance.
The podcast includes a guided meditation, so please set aside a quiet space to be fully present and open to this transformative journey.
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
Discover More about Craig’s Awakened Life Membership Program
https://craighamiltonglobal.com/awakened-life/
Freedom from Spiritual Materialism: Coming to the End of Wanting
Meditation Changes Everything
05/28/24 • 22 min
“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 Hamilton
In 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
A Transformed Life: Meditation as a Catalyst for Exponential Growth
Meditation Changes Everything
09/19/24 • 39 min
“When we're in touch with the higher spiritual potential of our lives, it’s natural that we want to express that potential as fully as we possibly can. We’re no longer worried about what that will demand from us or what others will think about us. Our heart is now yoked to this greater possibility that we’re called to realize. We’re awake to the great mystery of universal consciousness and that is going through a process of higher evolution that we have to participate in to be true to it.”
—Craig Hamilton
Most of us are on the spiritual path not just to feel differently but to show up differently in the world. So, what does spiritual awakening really look like in a human life?
In this episode, Craig explores the concrete ways in which meditation and spiritual awakening can transform our everyday lives beyond the inner experiences of peace, clarity, or love. While those moments are inspiring, the real transformation happens when awakened consciousness influences how we show up in the world.
Craig discusses how meditation can be a powerful tool for unlocking enlightened qualities like strength, wisdom, and courage, shaping the way we handle life’s challenges.
Tune in to “A Transformed Life: Meditation as a Catalyst for Exponential Growth” to learn how spiritual awakening can revolutionize your everyday life.
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
Four Portals to Enlightenment: A Guided Meditation Workshop
Meditation Changes Everything
05/14/24 • 65 min
“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 Hamilton
Welcome 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
Open Heart, Spacious Mind: The Practice of Unbounded Freedom
Meditation Changes Everything
11/01/24 • 24 min
“Spiritual awakening brings us into direct contact with reality. When we’re awake, our lens is no longer distorted, and our heart is no longer shut down and defended. We are now fully here, which means that our awareness is fully present, our heart or feeling sense is fully available, and all of our humanity is able to show up in each moment.” —Craig Hamilton
In this episode, Craig dives into a profound question: What would it mean to be fully in contact with life? Is it possible to meet each moment with a truly open heart and mind? Most of us understand the value of being open-hearted and open-minded, but years of conditioning often lead us to stay guarded, clinging to certainty.
Can meditation help us unlock the secret to genuine openness? Imagine living with an undefended heart, where the need for self-protection has fallen away, leaving us free to meet each moment of life with our whole self.
Craig explores this possibility and offers insights into how this shift is possible. He also leads a guided meditation to help expand awareness and dissolve old limitations, bringing us into a full-hearted embrace of the present moment.
We encourage you to listen when you can give yourself the space to be fully present and distraction-free, so you can explore this transformative practice.
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
Discover More about Craig’s Awakened Life Membership Program
https://craighamiltonglobal.com/awakened-life/
Spiritual Freedom: Discovering Unconditional Happiness
Meditation Changes Everything
09/05/24 • 35 min
Spiritual awakening is the discovery of a sacred dimension of our own being that is unconditional, meaning it’s not dependent on something else. We’re discovering that life, existence, our very own being, who we are in our essence is sacred, divine, extraordinary, and beautiful beyond comprehension. When we accept that that’s what this life always already is, it transforms our entire experience of being alive.
—Craig Hamilton
In this episode, Craig dives deep into the true meaning of happiness. Our happiness usually seems to fluctuate depending on our circumstances or how we feel. But what if genuine happiness didn’t depend on anything outside of us?
Imagine being so deeply aligned with the fundamental "Yes" at the heart of life that nothing could overshadow your profound sense of well-being. This radical possibility, which Craig refers to as “unconditional happiness,” is the essence of true spiritual freedom. He explores this concept, showing how meditation can help us move beyond the fleeting highs and lows of conditional happiness into a stable awareness of the inherent goodness of life itself.
Toward the end of the episode, Craig guides you through a short meditation, helping you to step directly into this experience and align with the deeper truth of spiritual freedom through your practice.
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
Obstacles to Awakening - Part One: The Ego
Meditation Changes Everything
10/03/24 • 56 min
“Awakening is the discovery of consciousness without limits, of a self without limits. It's the discovery that what we are is much vaster than our mind can contain. So if we're attached to a small little story of self that we're invested in maintaining, there's no room and there's no way for us to really open to and let go into the enormity of the super consciousness that is our true nature.”
—Craig Hamilton
This episode is the first in our "Obstacles to Awakening" series, where we explore the most common challenges to deep meditation and how to overcome them. Craig begins by diving into what many view as the greatest barrier on the spiritual path—the human ego.
We’ve all heard that having a healthy, strong ego is essential for living a productive, fulfilling life. So, why, then, does the ego get such a bad rap when it comes to our spiritual path?
In this episode, Craig offers practical insights into how our attachment to self-image can hinder our growth, awakening, and even our perception of reality. Tune in to learn how to move beyond this internal obstacle and discover new ways to deepen your meditation practice and spiritual journey.
If today’s episode has you curious about what you can do to break free from the grip of the ego, you’re invited to tune in to a 90-minute online workshop Craig will be hosting called: The Key to Evolving Beyond Ego — How to Make the Change that Changes Everything. In this workshop, he'll share essential tools and practices that have helped thousands make the leap out of ego and into the kind of spiritual life they’ve always sensed is possible. Register for free at: evolvebeyondego.com.
https://evolvingwisdom.com/ie/global/integralenlightenment/free-online-class/
Foundations of Meditation - Part Two: Commitment, Humility, Environment, and Posture
Meditation Changes Everything
04/29/24 • 33 min
“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 Hamilton
Welcome 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
Opening the Heart: Meditation as a Doorway to Emotional Freedom
Meditation Changes Everything
04/15/24 • 33 min
“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 Hamilton
Welcome 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
Meditation Can Be Simple: Three Doorways to Awakening
Meditation Changes Everything
10/17/24 • 70 min
In today’s world, it can feel like there are endless options for meditation—each promising a slightly different path. With so many different meditation techniques available to us, it’s easy to feel a bit uncertain about what to actually do when we sit down to meditate.
In this episode, “Meditation Can Be Simple: Three Doorways to Awakening,” Craig clears away the noise and shares a 3-step approach that’s both powerful and easy to follow. He distills the practice of meditation into three simple instructions, guiding you toward the profound depths of your true nature.
These practices are adaptable to any stage of your journey—whether you’re brand new to meditation or have been on the path for a while. And they can be practiced on their own or all together, depending on what resonates with you.
This episode is a guided meditation workshop, so set aside some time to listen when you can relax and be fully present.
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
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FAQ
How many episodes does Meditation Changes Everything have?
Meditation Changes Everything currently has 27 episodes available.
What topics does Meditation Changes Everything cover?
The podcast is about Meditation, Meditate, Enlightenment, Spirituality, Buddhism, Awakening, Religion & Spirituality, Podcasts, Consciousness and Mindfulness.
What is the most popular episode on Meditation Changes Everything?
The episode title 'Four Portals to Enlightenment: A Guided Meditation Workshop' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Meditation Changes Everything?
The average episode length on Meditation Changes Everything is 37 minutes.
How often are episodes of Meditation Changes Everything released?
Episodes of Meditation Changes Everything are typically released every 14 days.
When was the first episode of Meditation Changes Everything?
The first episode of Meditation Changes Everything was released on Dec 9, 2023.
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