In my weekly blog, Heather’s Musings, I write about what has been happening in my life and how I am applying my mindfulness, compassion and insight practice to it. The process of writing the blog is often an opportunity for me to gain more clarity and recognise what is happening and I find it highly beneficial. My wish is that it is also helps other meditation practitioners who are on a similar journey.
The opinions and beliefs that I express in this blog are my own and do not represent the opinion of the Mindfulness Association.
I find myself facing stress in my life – once again! Practically, how can Mindfulness meditation be of use in the face of stress? If our Mindfulness meditation includes compassion and an understanding of the way stress operates within the realm of the mind and body, then there is a lot that we can do…
Compassion in Action – Love and Loyalty This week I have been struck again by the love and loyalty that people have for the Mindfulness Association (MA). So many people help us without asking anything in return – compassion in action. I find this love and loyalty touching and sometimes a bit overwhelming. Here at…
Ongoing Drama that Mindfulness Reveals Do you have an ongoing drama that Mindfulness reveals unfolding in your mind – morning, noon and night? This is one of the things I have recognised this week. An ongoing drama, for which the current episode is based in self-pity. An ongoing drama that has different episodes for different…
Mindfulness Meditation – Serendipity and Trust Last weekend I was supporting my friend Barbara Reid in a Courage to Teach CPD weekend at London Samye Dzong. I felt nurtured and deeply heard during this weekend of open speaking and listening. My trust that my mindfulness meditation practice and living mindfully guided by my values is…
Mindfulness in the Face of Change The only thing that is certain in life is that things will change. As human beings we tend to dislike change, even if the current situation is dysfunctional, because we would rather have certainty of something unpleasant, rather than any uncertainty, even if a pleasant outcome might result. Change…
The running commentary- Reflections from a meditation retreat I have just finished a week-long meditation retreat at Samye Ling with Drupon Rinpoche. In some ways it was quite hard work with four hours of teaching and 6 hours of practice per day. We began at 5.30am and ended at 8.30pm each day. So my…
Busy or ‘Be? An Insight Meditation This week I am busy again, with year- end accounts, many meetings to prepare for and attend, including our annual Board Meeting, a weekend in Aberdeen with the third year MSc students, plus all the usual work that crosses my desk. A lot of this is because I am…
This past weekend I was working at Samye Ling with Choden and Alan from the Mindfulness Association and Colette from the University of Aberdeen on the first weekend of the Insight meditation course from our MSc in Studies in Mindfulness . I always enjoy this weekend as it involves reconnecting with the MSc students that we…
This last week my husband and I dropped our only daughter off at University. It has always been part of the plan. I am delighted for the opportunities she has, I am proud at how she is settling in, but I also feel sad. The day we took her I had a lot of anxiety…