Hello friends! 👋 Today’s post is going to be quite different from all others because this time I have a guest to interview! How exciting is that? Please meet Peace Coach Fariba, my mentor that guided me through the 42-meditation challenge.
Fariba, thank you so much for guiding me through the 42-day meditations challenge. How did you end up being a meditation coach?
I studied psychology, also was interested in art and spirituality. I was acquainted with this 42-day self-development program 3 years ago, and was accepted in the Peace Revolution fellowship in the same year. I traveled to Thailand; we meditated for 16 days in Thailand under the supervision of Monks and learned the main lessons. After that Fellowship, I became a peace Coach on the website for self-development program.
How would you evaluate my progress?
You were very interested in meditation and you wanted to know how it could have a positive effect on your life. I really appreciate your efforts to make room for meditation in your busy daily life. You, like everyone else, had challenges along the way, but you did well. The most important thing is that you have completed this program, you should know that many people who enter this program leave it unfinished, and this is a challenge that you can do this program for 42 days with a coach. I think you should be proud of yourself for did it.
What would you recommend to a person to do next who has finished such a program?
After this program, the biggest challenge is doing meditation every day. Because it seems that, doing meditation is not necessary every day or we may not be able to include it in daily activities and return to the life of before this program.
What are people new to meditations usually struggling with? Are there patterns you have noticed?
Complaining about wandering mind during meditation is everybody’s problem. The image we have of meditation in our minds is usually similar to the images we see of a smiling person sitting with eyes closed. In reality, meditation is a confrontation with the flood of thoughts that flow daily in our minds and because these thoughts have become part of our lives. In meditation, watching them as an observer is hard and a little confusing. Another problem that many face are putting meditation in their busy daily lives. They may think they do not have enough time or have more important things to do, but everyone who meditates for a long time believes that if a person doesn’t have enough time to meditate, he or she just need it more than others 🙂
How often/long do you meditate yourself? What are the main benefits you experience?
I try to do meditation for at least half an hour every day. In addition, I try to incorporate meditation into my daily activities such as walking, cooking or doing art activities. For example, I observe my mind how wants to judge others, or thinking about future and past, or focusing just on my breathing.
Meditation has helped me in many ways; being more in this present moment, less worries about future, better sleep at nights, self-confidence, before any important decision I meditate to think more clear and take a best decision to do.
What would you tell people who say they do not have time to meditate and perhaps that meditation is not well-invested time?
All of us are looking for a way to find joy and happiness. For this goal, we went many ways and did many things. As a psychologist, I saw many people unsatisfied after many goals that they achieved, and again looking for another goal to pursue. Meditation teaches us the happiness is within us. If we have it now why we should look for it everywhere else. I think this a valuable experience, with this view anyone can find it as an important job and try to place it in daily issues. I agree that starting a meditation program is hard because our mind is not familiar with this new condition and doing it for a long time is hard, but like every other skill to learn it needs to be patient and do it with daily commitment. In this way, we can bring it slowly to our life; there is no need to start with a long meditation. It is suggested to start with short meditations, then longer mediations similar to our program in Peace Revolution.
Is meditation really for everyone? I personally felt it makes me sometimes anxious rather than calm. What is your opinion here?
Ping Ping (The founder of the Peace Revolution) has a sentence that I believe in it. She said, “Meditation is a way to exercise your mind to be fit and firm.” Anyone of us needs to find still mind in every day. The problem for many people is they do not know how to achieve it, so they become exhausted and leave it. Every meditation is a single journey and we should prepare ourselves for it every day. For example, if we have a busy and stressful day, we should not rush into meditation quickly. We should give ourselves time to become prepare then do it. Furthermore, we should find how the best meditation method is for us. Personally, when my mind is so busy I writing down my thoughts after my mind gets enough free then I will start to meditate.
I heard the meditation that I was practicing during these 42 days, is called a Dhammakaya meditation. What is this exactly and how does it differ from other meditations?
Dhammakaya meditation is a method of Buddhist meditation, and means ‘knowledge of the dhamma-body’ that Luang Pu Sodh Candasaro (a Thai meditation teacher) developed. This method is popular in Thailand. It is believed that The Dhammakaya tradition is the same method using by Buddha to attain enlightenment. This method is based on focusing on the center of the body, which leads to the achievement of the Dhammakāya, the Dhamma-body, found within every human being.
Fariba, thank you so much for taking your time to do this interview. And, of course, thank you for your guidance throughout this entire meditation challenge. It definitely required more discipline than I expected, so your wisdom and kind words were much needed and motivated me in many ways!
👉 If you wish to connect with Fariba or check out her amazing art, here are her social media links:
Instagram
Instagram for Fariba’s art works
Facebook
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Sooo, we have now come to an end of the 4-part post series. I really hope you found the information shared useful and perhaps even inspiring. If you wish to take a closer look of the online programs that World Peace Initiative offers, please visit their website. I can only tell their 42-day meditation challenge is (at least for a beginner) very powerful and will foster your personal growth! 🧘♀️🧘♂️
Light and love,
Liis
Such a great interview.
Thank you The Liist and dear fariba.
Sincerely
Glad you liked it! 🙏
Loved this! Would be awesome to hear how you are doing now – did you manage to keep the practice and if not, why? Thank you, dear Liis, keel on writing! ❤️