How has meditation helped you?
The benefits of meditation have permeated most aspects of my life. Many of these are discussed in my workshops. I can mention a few highlights here. More and more, I live in the present moment and more fully enjoy life. In addition, meditation cultivates and expands my ability to experience insight. I've learned to trust these deep feelings and let them guide my life. I am also becoming more in touch with my inner self. It provides a base from which I am more capable of loving others. Meditation continues to be an exciting process that is the corner stone of my personal growth.

I don't have time to meditate. What should I do?
The busier you are, the more you need meditation. It will sort out the negative mental activities that deplete your energy and subterfuge your efficiency. People who meditate gain time in their lives. I always took time to meditate, even during my busiest schedules as an international vice president. It pays big dividends.

I try to meditate, but my mind drives me crazy. What would help?
The process of noticing the distracting thoughts and returning to your focus is meditating. You may 'notice' and 'return' many times during a meditation session. It's all part of the process. Meditation will train your mind to serve you in a most useful manner. The mind naturally resists being trained, but will behave with time. Stay with it and be kind to yourself and your mind.

My leg falls asleep when I meditate on a cushion. Can I meditate in a chair?
Chairs work as well as sitting on a cushion on the floor. Be sure to sit in with your back straight and away from the seatback. Alternatively, if you do use a cushion on the floor, elevate your spine adequately to allow your knees to rest on the mat. Sit with your feet drawn into your perineum. To avoid cutting off circulation, place one foot in front of the other and not on top.

Allowing the mind to become more quiet is a very pleasant practice, but I wonder if my intellect will lose its edge if I continue meditating. As a research scientist, did meditation conflict with your intellectually demanding work?
A quiet mind is considerably more functional than a noisy one. I believe that the intellect improves when it resides in a healthy environment. Meditation helped and continues to help me as a scientist. The combination of insight and intellect is a powerful partnership.

Your 'personal profile' mentions that you visit with cancer patients and that you teach meditation to seriously ill patients. Do you find this depressing?
Many patients provide an opportunity for me to know the vastness of compassion. This is good work for me. I am learning to be compassionate with no expectations or conditions, and very importantly, with minimal sadness. I find that faith diminishes sadness. My faith is regularly strengthened by the faith exhibited by the patients, their family and caregivers. Many are actively fighting their disease or their loved one's disease, and are, at the same time, totally trusting in God. They also show me the value of maintaining a sense of humor.

In addition, many patients speak of key lessons and messages they have learned, and they say they would not have learned them if their present condition did not exist. They appreciate how their new insights redirect their lives in important ways. Some patients speak of the gifts they have received from their illness. They talk about a new awareness of deep friendships and how loving and caring people are. They discover how much other people value them. They have also learned how precious life is and how wonderful it is to live life fully in the present moment. Being with these people is inspirational and a privilege. I am thankful for these opportunities.

Do you have any other comments you'd like to make?
Yes, I would like to encourage all of you to make the effort to meditate regularly. I believe that all efforts are met part way with unexpected assistance. Start today. Tune into your inner strength and discipline. Be strong and firm, and at the same time, please remember to be kind and loving to yourself.