How can we feel present in our life, and stay that way? In this talk we explore what it means to be mindful beyond trying to remember to “pay attention.” Typically, we’ll “remember” to be present for something when it is just about to end, whether it’s a meditation or even at the end of life. The trick is to remember in the middle! Let’s look into how it really works: a practice of mindfulness is setting up the moments of awakening to happen on their own more and more. It’s not about exerting force or pressure to ‘be present.’ Rather, it’s being wise about how to set things up in a way that brings attention home, while also recognizing the truth that you are always here.
Using the flavor of appreciation in your attention makes for a wonderful experience where you are grateful for meditation and grateful for life.
Does your Meditation practice get stale? Does it still grow and grow in depth? Should you just accept plateaus? No, don’t fall for that. This talk is about real change, and what is the one thing that you MUST have in your meditation for it to keep flourishing. It wont last long, meditating like a robot or relating to yourself like a machine or a brain to hack– these aren’t pointing to this most important power in your meditation which comes from your organic nature as Being.
In this meditation we bring our attention to ‘being present.’ without assuming what that is. What does it really feel like to be present now? What is it like when we recognize our presence, and attention is close to us, not dispersed and feeling like it is far? We observe what that state is like; we focus on registering the moment. In doing so we build up a connection with that. Then it can become a force in our lives, one we don’t have to work to maintain all the time. So, let’s take a moment to sense our presence and soak in the goodness it brings into our lives, and help make that connection stronger bit by bit.
In this meditative talk we look closer into how meditation provides us with the tools to recognize that there are different channels – so to speak – that we can tune in to. Through an exercise of self-inquiry we sense that many things are going on at once in our bodies and minds. But through silent contemplation we learn to tune in to a deeper, more interior sensing, a kind of energy from which all else arises. So, let’s practice sitting down and caring about what’s here, what’s you, what’s now.
Inject power of intention into your meditation. Intention is a temporary state where we have a feeling like we can choose. In this guided meditation we repeatedly exercise the ability to insert intention into the mix of meditation at the moments that it is possible, working with the breath and the moments when we have emerged from long thought dreams.
The third part of the talk series on Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. In this conversation we delve into how our state of being present relates to arising negative or violent feelings and reactions. We ask what is our behavior like when we are in our being? In answering this we look into how we relate to life when we are truly present. How we become entangled with our ideas of who we are and how we’ve learned to differentiate between right and wrong (something I call the trial of you). As we search deeper, we realize that we become more aware (and unease) with possible negative feelings, and our sensitivity increases. Listen on to learn more about what keeps us from harming others.
The second installment of a series of talks on Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. Alan Klima discusses questions sent by listeners regarding Eckhart Tolle’s book. Join in for an interesting discussion reflecting on trust. What does it mean to find the right balance between everyday life and what we are truly seeking for? What do we need to fix right now to make a good life possible?
Part one of a series, listeners submit questions and Alan takes up some of the top things that come to mind when reading this book. The talk delves into questions like what relation our past history has to who and what we are as being, and whether or not it is necessary to suffer first in order to be free, and other issues that come to mind which all help clarify what it really means to be by looking inwardly and questioning our sense of who and what we are.
In this mindfulness meditation session learn to notice thoughts and mental activity while developing your awareness for intentionally being present. Going from the tensions in the body and hectic mind activity to subtly playing with your inner mental attitude. Sometimes we call it the wandering mind, but there really only is wondering and then it ends. Through meditation you will notice the stream of thoughts but then intentionally turn to mindfulness presence. Practicing this meditation will open the doors to that experience of simply being with your self.
Relax into this mindful body scan and start developing skills to make the experience of the body joyful and interesting to play with. We move our attention through every inch of our body kindly noticing and becoming aware of what is already there. It is a simple technique to get in touch with bodily sensations and cultivate a real sense of pleasure in the body. A meditation skill that can be used anywhere and at any time to simply look inside the body and ‘feel what it feels’ with kind and mindful attention.
Have you ever wanted to quiet your thoughts? To be able to silence all distractions, negative thinking, or simply noise in your head? This talk on mindfulness meditation as well as a meditation practice helps you develop a technique to begin to distance yourself from thoughts, but more importantly to distinguish between different forms of thought that arise constantly. By recognizing them as distinct forms of thought we can also learn to break free from them. We’re never not thinking, but thinking can become part of our meditation. Through this practice you will develop a sense of realization and acknowledgement of thoughts. It’s not about trying to stop thinking but rather to practice meditation with all the thoughts that arise.
Recognize the quality of attention, how experiencing the breath shifts and changes things so easily around. Release into the sensation of breath and allow thoughts, feelings, and tensions to be present while the breath becomes the center of attention. Explore the body through the breath and notice how much can be observed by simply focusing on the abdominal breath and appreciating the restful feeling that is already there.
A talk and a meditation. A contemplation of life. Use this training to get acquainted with and understand in your bones two meditation skills that are most important to finding a natural way to practice meditation, not forced, not pressured. Our ability to enjoy life is to accept that all is temporary and we can only embrace what we have now, here, in this moment; really embrace that. And in meditation we can also add into this the skill of watching over the continuity and sustaining the presence. These two are not just meditation skills; they are life skills for appreciating life and in this process learning what joy and beauty really are.
It’s great to train the attention to be fast and agile and play a kind of game to see how fast you can bring the attention home, or how fast you can hop off the train of the thought. It’s a great training skill with some profound effects in your everyday life, where things happen fast!
What is it like to be present? In this guided meditation practice of looking inwardly, you return to that sense of presence to find another way of feeling, another way of being. Dwelling in presence, recognizing it, checking it out. Understanding the delicate task of looking inwardly, of just being. It is there that freedom from all trouble lies. Letting go of instability, choosing not to have any trouble with anything, choosing freedom.
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Life is constantly in flux, often presenting changing situations you need to adapt to. This guided meditation is a practice in two (or maybe three) techniques for training to become flexible, adaptable. Understanding that peace of mind can already happen. Here. Now. By practicing mindful meditation we become well rounded and ready for anything. Join in!
In this whole world that is your life there are thoughts and busyness, emotions and sensations, but there’s also something else here. Something that is always present. This guided meditation points towards that awareness of life, living as you, and here all along. A meditation to recognize this and be present.
The pure pleasure of hanging out with yourself! Find the most direct way to enjoy the inwardness that meditating on a regular basis provides. Through this guided lesson you will get closer to that inner refuge that is within us. A simple way to connect yourself with what is already there and bask in the joy of being present.
Thoughts and worries can seem to distract you. By practicing this simple exercise you are reminded of the power of feeling your breath. Staying with the breath allows your inner mental attitude to brighten. Appreciating your presence. Being at home in your body and mind.
