To be fully present to what you are doing is to enjoy an integration of the intelligence that you are. When you do more than one thing at the same time your intelligence is split. This not only makes it more difficult to do the different things well, but it drains you. This is even so when you are doing something simple like washing your hands, while thinking about something else, or listening to music. Music may well be delightful and nourishing, but it will be less so when your attention is divided. To really enjoy music you need to be doing nothing but listening or dancing to it. To wash well your hands, dishes, the floor you need to be only washing them. To drive safely you need to be only driving, not talking or planning.
This is the simple heart of ‘mindfulness’. In the case of any physical activity the more deeply you give yourself to physical sensations, without being distracted by thoughts, the more effective that activity will be. Thinking about anything other than what you are doing in the moment, even the result, leaks intelligence and undermines that activity. Mindfulness practices will help you become more present in your daily life. Meditation will ground your mind more deeply in the habit of being present.
This course will provide you with a deep practical experience and a clear understanding and of both Mindfulness and Meditation in the Buddhist tradition. Drawing mainly on the Anapansati Sutta and the Satipattana Sutta and their focus on Mindfulness, it will also draw on the complementary practice of Buddhist Vippashana meditation. While primarily experiential this course will also explore the Buddhist psychology underlying these practices. It will also give you a clear taste of how to apply mindfulness to everyday activities.
Whatever your interest or experience, the clarity and simplicity of Godfrey's instruction will take you deep into the tranquility and lucidity of the meditative mind. Different mindful pathways into the meditative mind will be used, each having their own triggers and keys that you can apply in your daily life.
If you are struggling with your meditation or mindfulness, or longing to go deeper, or are simply curious about the possibilities of human intelligence, this course is for you. Instruction in sitting in different postures on different supports will be given. If you need one be sure to bring a chair, stool or firm cushion, plus a blanket.
Dates & Central European Times
December 9 10.30-13.00 and 17.00-19.30
December 10 10.30-13.00 and 17.00-19.30
December 11 18.00-20.30
December 15 18.00-20.30
December 16 10.30-13.00 and 17.00-19.30
December 17 10.30-13.00 and 17.00-19.30
This is the simple heart of ‘mindfulness’. In the case of any physical activity the more deeply you give yourself to physical sensations, without being distracted by thoughts, the more effective that activity will be. Thinking about anything other than what you are doing in the moment, even the result, leaks intelligence and undermines that activity. Mindfulness practices will help you become more present in your daily life. Meditation will ground your mind more deeply in the habit of being present.
This course will provide you with a deep practical experience and a clear understanding and of both Mindfulness and Meditation in the Buddhist tradition. Drawing mainly on the Anapansati Sutta and the Satipattana Sutta and their focus on Mindfulness, it will also draw on the complementary practice of Buddhist Vippashana meditation. While primarily experiential this course will also explore the Buddhist psychology underlying these practices. It will also give you a clear taste of how to apply mindfulness to everyday activities.
Whatever your interest or experience, the clarity and simplicity of Godfrey's instruction will take you deep into the tranquility and lucidity of the meditative mind. Different mindful pathways into the meditative mind will be used, each having their own triggers and keys that you can apply in your daily life.
If you are struggling with your meditation or mindfulness, or longing to go deeper, or are simply curious about the possibilities of human intelligence, this course is for you. Instruction in sitting in different postures on different supports will be given. If you need one be sure to bring a chair, stool or firm cushion, plus a blanket.
Dates & Central European Times
December 9 10.30-13.00 and 17.00-19.30
December 10 10.30-13.00 and 17.00-19.30
December 11 18.00-20.30
December 15 18.00-20.30
December 16 10.30-13.00 and 17.00-19.30
December 17 10.30-13.00 and 17.00-19.30