Awakened consciousness is none other than our own true nature. It’s never anywhere but right here. You can’t get to it somewhere in the future. The part of you that imagines it’s somewhere in the future will never be ready for it. So, let all of that go and give yourself to your meditation always with the fundamental position that this is it. This is the moment of awakening.
—Craig Hamilton

In this episode, Craig explores one of the great paradoxes of the spiritual path.
While spiritual practices like meditation can help prepare us for awakening, true awakening is about recognizing that the essence of who and what we are is already enlightened.

Craig explains how this transformative realization can shift your relationship to spiritual practice, allowing you to stop pushing your awakening into the future and embrace your true nature in the present moment, right now.

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

This is a concentration practice that you can have in your spiritual toolkit for when you're in a period of intense distraction with a lot on your mind. If you ever have difficulty staying focused during meditation, you can turn to this practice to help you deepen your focus, your absorption, your ability to be fully present and focused on the practice. — Craig Hamilton

Welcome to part three in our series on the foundations of meditation!
Many of us struggle with maintaining focus during our meditation practice, leading to inconsistent and frustrating results. This often happens because we skip over the essential foundations that support and shape our meditation.

That’s why Craig is dedicating time to examine these pillars of practice in our “Foundations of Meditation” series.

In "Foundations of Meditation - Part Three: Concentration Practice," Craig explores the importance of developing a reliable concentration practice to support our ability to focus during meditation.

If you ever struggle to stay present and attentive during meditation, you’re not alone. In our world of constant distractions, many of us find it increasingly challenging to give all of our attention to anything.

Concentration is a valuable tool, especially during times of intense distraction or when the mind feels overwhelmed. By incorporating concentration exercises, you can enhance your ability to stay present and fully absorbed in your meditation.

This episode introduces a simple concentration practice that can provide immediate and noticeable improvements in your meditation focus and consistency.

Join Craig and learn why having a reliable concentration practice can be a valuable tool in your spiritual toolkit.

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

“When we are on a path of spiritual awakening, we are going to be required at some point to take a leap of faith. The spiritual path is a path of learning to trust in something that we cannot see, that our mind cannot know, that we cannot control. From one point of view, trust and faith are the entire path.”
—Craig Hamilton

In “The Leap of Faith: How Trust Transforms Your Spiritual Path,” Craig explores the concept of trust and the leap of faith often associated with spiritual awakening. The journey of spiritual transformation is closely tied to our ability to trust in a mystery that our minds can never fully grasp. But for many modern seekers, the idea of spiritual faith is laden with skepticism and doubt.

In this episode, Craig examines the fundamental questions: Who or what exactly are we being asked to have faith in? In an unpredictable cosmos, what can we truly trust? He explores what living a life of deep faith and trust looks like in practice and addresses why fear and resistance are natural responses. He also addresses how these emotions play a role in our spiritual journey.

Additionally, Craig shares an approach to meditation practice that can help cultivate the kind of trust and faith that supports a spiritually awakened life in action.

This episode includes a contemplation exercise, which can also be done as a journal exercise, so you may want to have a piece of paper and a pen ready before you tune in.

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

“From one point of view, the only reason our thoughts are a distraction in meditation is that we're interested in those thoughts. We're more interested in thought than we are in what's beyond thought. We're more interested in the mind than in discovering who we are beyond the mind. So, the key to liberating ourselves from the prison of the mind is to become genuinely interested in that which is beyond thought entirely. When we fall in love with the unknown, the mystery of awakening will overtake us.”
—Craig Hamilton

Starting a meditation practice often means dealing with an endless stream of thoughts. It can feel almost impossible to break free from this thought stream that seems to dominate both our meditation and our life. We might even see our mind as a wild, unruly animal that needs to be tamed.

But what if there’s a different way to understand our mind and thoughts? One where the endless thought stream no longer captures and dominates our attention.

In “A Mind Like Water,” Craig explores one of the most liberating meditation practices we can undertake: the practice of allowing our mind to flow freely without giving it any attention.

As we awaken, we start to see that thoughts are not reality—they’re just constructs in our mind. When thoughts lose their grip on us, we can let our mind flow like water and allow the thought stream to do what it does.

Maybe you’ve already had a glimpse of what it feels like to have a free, fluid, and flowing mind. In this episode, Craig will demystify that experience and guide you in cultivating a mind like water, creating a completely new—and awakened—relationship to life.

We've also included a 12-minute guided meditation to help you experience this for yourself. Be sure to tune in when you can find a quiet space and won’t be interrupted.

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

“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

“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

“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

“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