Mindfulness of Elements
Contemplating our “elemental” nature is a powerful way of breaking apart a sense of a separate self and understanding how fundamentally we are part of a flow of all things.
Contemplating our “elemental” nature is a powerful way of breaking apart a sense of a separate self and understanding how fundamentally we are part of a flow of all things.
Night time worries, sleeplessness and morning “dread” are all prevalent as we deal anxiety in our changing world. In this sharing, we will explore a neuroscience based understanding of why this is so common and how mindfulness practice offers a clear antidote. Today, like every other day, we wake up empty and frightened. Don’t open … Continue reading When We Wake Up “Empty and Frightened”
Last week we looked at Bhikkhu Analayo’s understanding of sati or mindfulness as a good friend always available to us. This week, we come back to this with a personal reflection or contemplation practice for examining– what do I do when seeking to be “mindful?” Right away from the moment of waking up in the … Continue reading Our Good Friend Sati
This sharing draws from teachings of Andrew Olendzki’s lovely short article, What’s In A Word, Sati, from Tricycle and Bhikku Analayo’s book, Satipatthana Meditation, both of which make clear that our usual understanding of the word mindfulness is inadequate for opening the true radical transformative potential inherent in the opening of a “mindful” mind. (Please … Continue reading Deepening Our Understanding of Mindfulness
“..To every grain that enters: ‘Welcome.’ To every parting mote: ‘Be blessed.’” From: Earthworms, poem by Lynn Ungar, www.lynnungar.com Please note: no accompanying talk.
Continue reading Sitting Meditation- Earthworm Meditation [5.7.25]
Classical Zen Story shared by Tara Brach in Radical Acceptance: An old woman had supported a monk for twenty years, letting him live in a hut on her land. After all this time she figured the monk, now a man in the prime of life, must have attained some degree of enlightenment. So she decided … Continue reading On Not Being a Rock in Winter
Medical Sociologist Aaron Antonosvsky studied the relationship between stress, health and well-being focusing on people who had survived extreme stress with an intact sense of coherence. His work provides another beautiful lens into the resiliency building skillful of offering generosity and service in the world.
Working with insight into change as a means of freedom through a human heart.
Continue reading Sitting Meditation- Freedom Found Through the Human Heart
Learning how to skillfully work with fear, anxiety, worry or any other difficult emotion is fundamental for resilience in challenging times. One way to do this is by exploring compassionate action, or what Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander call “Being a Contribution.“
The Buddha taught the Metta or LovingKindness Meditation as an antidote for fear. In this meditation we explore grounding in the elements of the body to turn with compassion to whatever needs to be met.
Continue reading Sitting Meditation- Mind/Heart Body Awareness