The choice is ours on how to flow with a moment. One of the great discoveries within a meditation practice is that …. life isn’t really about oneself! Choices of reaction that reinforce personalization and drama make things about oneself which aren’t. Yet, the choice of response with patience, or with appreciation for the situation … More 3c: The flow of the moment
Meditation has two primary components: peace or tranquility and focus or concentration. If these are present and stabilized, a state of meditation will ensue. In addition to a state of meditation, states of wellness and of mind will also be present. These are vital to a meaningful and productive life. The states of wellness include … More 2a. Pratyahara and Dharana
Many benefits come with learning to create and then stabilize a meditative type of focus. In classical yogic meditation training, this begins with pratyahara and leads to dharana. These Sanskrit terms are two of the “Eight Means or Limbs of Yoga” as given a long time ago by the great Indian sage and father of … More 2c: The usually not noticed
Thoth was the Ancient Egyptian god of wisdom. Due to the vibrancy and comprehensiveness of wisdom, Thoth is also said to have brought forward the arts, philosophy, culture, civilization, and diplomacy. In all traditions, the gods and goddesses are pointing at qualities within human beings in addition to being Beings in their own right. With … More 2b: Thoth and focus
What do you pay attention to? And, what do you give attention to? – two distinct questions. What does not get your attention? Furthermore, if you were to guess, what percentage of your day has no true attention applied to it? – it is being lived habitually. Meditation requires sustained attention that is withdrawn from … More Puppy training: learning meditative attention
“In the beginning, meditation can be like a waterfall,” a wise meditation teacher once said. He was describing the cascade of thoughts that we discover inside our mind when we sit for meditation practice. And, what he was stating is fact and normal for most people. The reason for the seeming abundance of inner thoughts … More 3b: like a waterfall
Settling into meditation training can take a little time especially at the beginning. That’s because our brain and senses are wired to be out-going, to be on alert and responsive to what’s going on around us. Not that long ago, we had to be on the look out for lions, tigers, and bears; and in … More 2b. Focus, clarity, and light
Meditation training is pretty straight-forward. It has very few ingredients and those ingredients haven’t changed in thousands of years. Rather like the shape of a well which also hasn’t changed, meditation works perfectly as it is. Focus and breath are the two most important components of meditation, no matter where in the world one is … More 2a. Focus and wonder
The flow of the breath is the flow of awareness into life. Learning to consciously breathe provides that the deeper flow of one’s being is present to and through daily circumstances and events. This is key to peace of mind, less anxiety, more patience, as well as a clearer mind, calmer emotions, and an overall … More 3a. The flow of it
Mindfulness, tantra, shamanic earthiness, and the teachings of the Yoga Sutras come together in the Entry level, as well as the whole Practice of Living Awareness. The interface that the tip of the nose represents is truly profound. As we complete the week of using it as both a technique and a tool for discovery … More 2c: Event horizon
Dharana is a Sanskrit word. In meditation training, it means concentration, attention, or right focus. The concept and original teaching about it comes from the great rishi, Patanjali and his Yoga Sutras. Buddha Shakyamuni then took this teaching, used it, and achieved enlightenment. Both of these great beings, then, used this aspect of meditation training … More 2b: Dharana (concentration/attention)
We complete Step 2 and bring all the instruction together. It comes down to this: “Our insides create our outsides, and our outsides condition our insides.” The inner life creates the outer life. If we are at ease inside, ease will be the tone of the outer interactions. If we are embattled or stressed, worrisome … More Present: a meditation
Each step of The Practice of Living Awareness has layers of intended results. Step 2: tip of the nose has three levels of engagement and three intended results. withdrawal from the outer and coming in to the inner. This is classically called pratyahara (Sanskrit). Cultivating withdrawal from outer stimuli, responsibilities, and activities provides the possibility … More Attention, perspective, vipassana
Here, now. The past is gone. It is a set of energies, circumstances, people, and things that will never come together in exactly the same way again. The future does not exist. It has not yet happened, which means that the future can be what we choose. We can create it. Yet, in truth, the … More Present: a meditation in here-now
Step 2 sets the second component of meditation: right attention also referred to as meditative focus. Within The Practice of Living Awareness, this step is called “Tip of the Nose.” Step 1 established an openness to life through wonder and appreciation. Smile opens us up. Otherwise, a person contracts and tends toward small mindedness, judgement, … More Cultivating meditative attention (concentration): Step 2a