In July I will be attending the Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) Level 2 Teacher Training Retreat and I have found out that as part of that training I will be delivering a ten-minute talk on settling the mind. I thought I would share my thoughts here about what I have learned so far from…
“A man’s Self is the sum total of all that he can call his, not only his body and his psychic powers, but his clothes and his house.” William James During one of the daily sits recently, I invited participants to bring to mind something that makes them smile. As I was guiding I…
“Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen to them” – Shakti Gawain In our mindfulness courses we have two practices which focus on sensation in the body. One of these is the infamous body scan and the other, mindful movement. As we progress through to the compassion training,…
The word tenderness is the closest translation to the Tibetan word TSEWA. Tsewa addresses self and others. Pema Chodron says it expresses itself as kindness, compassion, vicarious joy, generosity, tolerance, mental clarity, courage, resilience, unshakable cheerfulness and in many other internal ways. Tsewa is about expressing and experiencing our own tender hearts. This week I…
“While we waste our time hesitating and postponing, life is slipping away.” Seneca (Roman Philosopher) This is one of those occasions when I spend a few hours thinking about what to write in my blog. In fact, I have been procrastinating. Every time I have sat down in front of my computer, I think of…
I originally had no intention to ‘teach’ Mindfulness. After completing the Level 1 teaching course as part of my Masters in Mindfulness Studies with the University of Aberdeen the seed was planted and I now find myself in the middle of the teacher training pathway. between the Train to Teach Mindfulness Level One course (Next…
“Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life”. Epictetus (Enchiridion) Over the years, through my mindfulness training and practice, I become more aware of the gap. This gap is the space…
This week the Default-Mode Network that is my wandering mind, or undercurrent, has mainly amused itself by waiting for a strange blood clot to kill me after having the Oxford Vaccine on the 4th of April. Despite my ability to focus well on work, and to practice mindfulness – my mind is perpetually reminding me,…
“The human condition – lost in thought.” Eckhart Tolle This last week, I have noticed that I have been reflecting on Mindfulness itself. The more I am invited to share my practice with others, the more curious I become. It’s become a new habit and a new auto-pilot. It was very interesting to notice that.…