“There’s perhaps nothing we can do that has as radical an impact on our consciousness as the meditation practice of completely letting go of the mind. Something extraordinary happens when we’re willing to still for a period of time every day and have no involvement with our thoughts. severing our identification with the mind. Because we don't have to do anything when we're meditating, it gives us a rare opportunity to simply give up any involvement with thought.” — Craig Hamilton

In this episode, Craig explores the quiet power of approaching meditation—and life—with a “beginner’s mind.”

What becomes available when we stop relating to the moment through the lens of what we already know?

As we move through life, we naturally accumulate knowledge and experience. But on the spiritual path, there comes a moment when all of our knowing must be gently set aside—so we can discover a way of being that meets each moment as if for the first time and open ourselves to the mystery that is always unfolding.

This episode includes two short guided meditations—one at the beginning and one at the end—so be sure to listen when you have uninterrupted time and space to go inward.

To access the full transcript of this episode and discover more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. You can also sign up here for Craig’s weekly newsletter.

For a deeper experience of Craig’s approach to meditation, consider joining our Awakened Life membership program which offers in-depth guidance, a meditation workshop, and a live online retreat with Craig. Register today to receive your first month for 50% off at AwakenedLifeMembership.com.

If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s meditation experiments, 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.

If you would like to share your experience of the podcast or have questions about Craig's teachings, please feel free to email us at support@craighamiltonglobal.com.

Surrender is central to every spiritual tradition. But what does it actually mean to surrender—and how do we begin to practice it in a real and grounded way?

In this episode, Craig invites us into a direct exploration of that question. Rather than approaching surrender as a lofty ideal, he points us toward a lived experience—something we can discover for ourselves through conscious attention.

The episode includes a short guided meditation to help you step into this deeper orientation and see what unfolds when you stop trying to control the moment.

To access the full transcript of this episode and to discover more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. You can also sign up there for Craig’s weekly newsletter.

For a deeper experience of Craig’s approach to meditation, consider joining our Awakened Life membership program which offers in-depth guidance, a meditation workshop, and a live online retreat with Craig. Register today to receive your first month for 50% off at AwakenedLifeMembership.com.

If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s meditation experiments, 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.

If you would like to share your experience of the podcast or have questions about Craig's teachings, please feel free to email us at support@craighamiltonglobal.com.

Meditation can lead us into some extraordinary states of consciousness—moments of stillness, spaciousness, or bliss that feel like a doorway has opened inside us. These states can be deeply nourishing, offering glimpses of something beyond the ordinary mind. But over time, even these expansive experiences can start to feel familiar. When meditation begins to drop us into the same place again and again, it’s worth asking: Are these states actually transforming us, or simply soothing us?

In this episode, Craig explores the difference between altered states and true awakening—and why confusing the two can quietly limit our growth. Through three focused segments, he examines how certain meditative states can subtly distract us from the deeper aim of practice, and how we can shift our orientation to stay more fully awake within each moment.

To access the full transcript of this episode and discover more resources, visit the episode page on MeditationChangesEverything.com. You can also sign up here for Craig’s weekly newsletter.

For a deeper experience of Craig’s approach to meditation, consider joining our Awakened Life membership program which offers in-depth guidance, a meditation workshop, and a live online retreat with Craig. Register today to receive your first month for 50% off at AwakenedLifeMembership.com.

If you’re interested in exploring more of Craig’s meditation experiments, 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.