Meditation/Mindfulness & Class Info

What Is Meditation?  

There are many definitions, but here's a simple one:  attention training.  In particular, training attention for inner peace.   

Meditation usually implies doing a formal technique for a certain amount of time, and finding a technique that suits you is a helpful first step.

Focused And Open

There are focused and open techniques.  Focused techniques mean you control attention by focusing on an "object" like the breath or a word (mantra) or sounds, while letting everything else come and go.  

Open techniques mean you let everything come and go naturally, gently releasing your focus on anything in particular, possibly using some recognition or analytical processes to aid in letting go.  

Regular practice of even a few minutes a day makes a difference, and 20-30 minutes a day of formal practice, plus mindfulness throughout the day, can make a big difference over time. 

I highly recommend starting with focused techniques.     

How About Mindfulness?  

Mindfulness is present moment awareness.  It's considered an informal practice because it can happen all day long without having to schedule it.  You focus on what you are doing and let thoughts and emotions come and go.

For example, mindful walking is when you are walking and paying attention to the physical sensations of walking while letting thoughts and emotions come and go.

You can apply that same idea to any activity.  Examples include brushing your teeth, using the bathroom, showering, getting dressed, cooking, washing the dishes, working, listening, talking, etc.  

It's a continuous practice and the more you get the hang of it, the more you can apply it--even in very challenging situations.  

The combination of meditation and mindfulness is very powerful and can transform your life if you are patient.

Why Meditate?  Why Practice Mindfulness?  

People I have worked with have different motivations:

1. Most people want to de-stress, relax a little, calm themselves, be more present, be less reactive, sleep a little better, deal with pain, etc.  Research does indeed show how effective meditation and mindfulness is.  
2. Some folks want to answer deeper questions about themselves or the nature of life.  If they go slowly and gently and follow their heart, these practices can be revealing.   
3. A few folks want to get enlightened, which means learning to direct attention to inner peace.  I suggest earnest, diligent, patient and precise practice; finding a good teacher; and connecting with like-minded friends.

Inner Science

The journey that meditation and mindfulness take you on leads to peace.  Along the way, if you practice enough, you will typically encounter well-known challenges, especially in dealing with the unknown.  That's why in various traditions over the millennia, maps have been developed which explain the journey and its stages.

So, there's an inner science that you can learn--and much like the scientific approach we learn in school, this inner science usually requires a lot of observing, questioning, experimenting, assessing, learning about cause and effect, and so on.  The difference is that it is all going on in a subjective space--in you.  

Go Slowly and Gently

As with any journey, however, we must exercise some caution.  We need to travel slowly and gently when we practice meditation and mindfulness because we can experience both profound states of mind and also very challenging ones.  

Profound Experiences

Some people connect with me after having profound experiences--which can be prompted by meditation or other means, including stress, substances, near death experiences, etc.  These profound experiences can be life changing.  However, often they are often followed by significant challenges and questions.  

Challenging Territory

After a profound experience, many people tend to experience challenges such as unusual states of mind, uncertainty, confusion, fear, maybe their life situations seem unstable, meditation doesn't work anymore, etc.  

Don't Despair!

Part of what we learn in meditation practices is how to handle challenging experiences.  So don't despair.  There is hope!  Connect with a good teacher and earnest fellow practitioners.  You will get through it.  

Equanimity

Eventually we learn to no longer be moved by all the reactivity and negativity and also not long for the profound positive experiences, and in this way, our minds become very equanimous and stable.  This is a requirement for experiencing inner peace.  

Keep It Simple

If this all seems too complicated, simplify.  Be present to what is happening right now: body sensations like your feet touching the floor, breathing sensations, sounds and sights.  Let thoughts and emotions come and go.