#Awareness Archives - Madhu Bazaz Wangu
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#Awareness

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Posted on September 23, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Attention and Awareness, Flourishing, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds
1 Comment

Do not confuse the whispers of the Authentic Self with the voice in your head. Perhaps you’ve not yet separated yourself from the chain of thoughts and still unconsciously identify with that voice that is loud, pessimistic and never stops talking. Begin to be more attentive. Learn to differentiate between that critic’s voice (harsh and unproductive) and gentle nudges of your Self that are unexpected, productive and wise.  When you make “focus on the breath” a daily routine, you’ll experience the presence of Awareness, presence of your higher Self. The whispers of your Authentic Self are from the one who is within you, who knows you, knows you more than you know yourself. This Self provides you freedom from your separate ego self. You may believe that your small ego self...

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Thursday, September 17, 2026

Posted on September 16, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Creativity, Imagination, Well Being
1 Comment

Spending some time with yourself makes the time you spend with others more pleasurable and playful. Similar to nourishment; solitude is one of the basic necessities. When you’re alone, at first you confront distractions from past and future floating in your mind. You mull over them. This is followed by self-enquiry. More often than not, you realize whatever recent “wrong” happened did not have much to do with her, him, or them, but with you. The negativity feel is ultimately a reflection of your own inner landscape. Slowly the thought settles and you’re back to your normal self. Only in silence can you mull over things and be fair to yourself and others. When you sit still quietly, pondering what you have encountered, how it has affected you, and how you have...

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Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Posted on September 14, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Journaling, Meditation, Originality, Spirituality
2 Comments

The day you don’t get time to meditate do this: two to three times a day, pause, take an inhale, then a long exhale and bring your mind to the present moment. Become aware of your body and senses. What do you see around you? What do you smell? What sounds do you hear? You are fully alive to the present moment! When you are Here and Now your awareness is one with you. With practice you learn to be with your inner Awareness. When you bask in the self-recognition of your aware self you feel the warmth of loving-kindness and peace. Present moment has two levels: the immediate one, the one we are familiar with. A bundle of our experiences—past and future in which we are constantly entangled. At this level we are not truly...

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Thursday, September 10, 2026

Posted on September 9, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Attention and Awareness, Spirituality, Well Being
2 Comments

Read this sentence“It is hard to clear 10-15 minutes in my daily schedule to sit still in silence and solitude.” How silly does it sound? Do you chat on the telephone, surf the internet, watch television? How long do you spend on any one of these passive diversions? Then, why do you find it difficult to find 10-15 minutes of quiet? Why do you think that it is a waste of time, especially now when you know it’s benefits? Sitting quietly provides time to settle the sediments of your mind and to become aware that something in you is aware of you being aware of these sediments. Reflect on this for a few minutes and know that as soon as you are aware your mind brings you to the present moment. That reflection makes...

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Thursday, May 14, 2026

Posted on May 13, 2026
in #Authentic Self, #Awareness, #Neuroscience and Meditation, Flourishing, Imagination, Spirituality, Well Being
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Red Roses, Ashby Ponds, May 2026 The Fourteenth Dalai Lama’s insight that both science and spirituality share common goals to “pursue truth and serve humanity” is shared by avant-garde neuroscientists as well. A mind free from disturbance alleviates stress and suffering, a goal shared by science and meditative paths alike. Apart from contemplative calm and composure there is more practical potential within each and every one of us. Such a life is best described as flourishing or a life of Utter Wellness.  Aristotle proposed the goal of life as the “Right Mean,” a quality between extremes such as risk-taking and cowardice, between self-indulgence and ascetic denial. He also stated that we are not virtuous by nature but we can become so by self-monitoring. Self-monitoring means the practice of noting our thoughts and acts in silence and...

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Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Posted on April 6, 2026
in #Awareness, #Neuroscience and Meditation, #Stillness, Silence, Solitude, Flourishing, Nonverbal Activities, Originality, Sharper Brain after Retirement
2 Comments

The Hopeful Immigrant, Our Friend 1978, Acrylic on Canvas What does neuroplasticity mean?  Neuroplasticity means that our brain structure changes in response to whatever training we practice. It goes on all the time. Drugs temporarily alter our brain. We feel differently until they are in our system. But meditation alters each and every nook of our brain and our body and impacts our day-to-day life.  4 Pillars of neuroplasticity are Awareness, Connection, Insight and Resilience1. AwarenessMetta (loving friendly) Awareness means knowing where your mind is and what it is doing, and bringing it back to the breath over and over again. 2. ConnectionHealthy social relationships. 3. InsightIntroducing oneself to Self and having positive self-image. It ranges from positive self-image to not ever introducing oneself to Self to extremely negative self-image. 4 ResilienceHaving the ability to recover from adversity. In order to...

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Tuesday, 10 March, 2026

Posted on March 9, 2026
in #Awareness, Meditation, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Well Being
4 Comments

Lovable Sweet Mother, Oil on Canvas, 1978 You’re learning to connect with your Authentic Self, your awareness that is nothing but joy, contentment and peace. This conscious Self knows you better than you know yourself. When awakened, it never fails to lend its ear or point you toward the right direction. You may converse with it in journaling, in meditation, paying attention to your intuitions at any time, any place. It is your personal therapist—wise and kind.  We are learning to differentiate between conceptual thought and deep awareness. We discussed how attention can be cultivated and how awareness rises when you stay embodied and live in the present. Attention on breath and being alive to the present moment is the beginning of the practice of mindfulness.  You continue to practice Silent Meditation and Body...

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Tuesday, February 22, 2026

Posted on February 24, 2026
in #Awareness, #Neuroscience and Meditation, Attention and Awareness, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds, Spirituality
4 Comments

Winter Landscape Just as plants have the capacity to bring scented flowers to life, just as black rock can crystalize into a glittering diamond, and just as an egg can grow to become a captivating peacock, you too can transcend into your Authentic Self. When you are fully present in the now, when you are embodied, and grounded, you are at your truest self. Let the intelligence of your body, your mind and your heart inform you, awaken you, and guide your day. How can you actualize this? How can you become your Authentic Self? How can you connect with and experience your inner body? By being self-aware and attentive of your surroundings with the practices of journaling and meditation.   These practices remove the masks and self-protective shields you tend to cover yourselves...

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Thursday, February 18, 2026

Posted on February 18, 2026
in #Awareness, Attention and Awareness, Imagination, Journaling, Meditation, Meditation & Journaling at Ashby Ponds
2 Comments

Still Life with Samovar from Kashmir We are not naturally mindful. But mindfulness can be cultivated and developed through the deliberate use of attention and awareness. Eventually with practice, the two faculties merge to become one. This results in an expansion and strengthening of our conscious power. We become more mindful. With the daily ritual of deliberate breathing exercises and journaling, you are training your mind to pay attention to the thing in hand as well as to “stand back” and become aware of it. When this happens, it changes everything about the way you think, speak and act. You get glimpses of your Authentic Self. What you trust, what you truly value and believe in. You begin to pay attention to the intuitive ideas that cross your mind. Your creative flow is...

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Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Posted on February 16, 2026
in #Awareness, Attention and Awareness, Creativity, Imagination
6 Comments

Paying attention and being aware of what is happening outside is important but not as important as being attentive and self-aware of our inner landscape. Such an attitude leads you to a better understanding of yourself.   Physical changes and impermanence are perpetual. When life’s transient nature registers in our mind we hear the whispers of the primordial questions, “Is that all there is?” “Is there anything permanent?” “What is authentic about my life?” “What is that which truly makes me happy?” In our younger years we pay attention to only our outer appearance, what we see reflected in the mirror. Our awareness is directed outward upon things, people, and places. With age, if we are fortunate, we turn inward towards the things that give meaning to our life, help us find a...

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