I was recently asked why, if the courses we teach are secular and science-based, I regularly share links to Buddhist-based teachings? So here's a bit more about me and the why...
My background is in molecular biology. I trained to teach Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy because of the rigorous science supporting it, and because joining an 8-week MBCT course had a huge impact on me personally. I am open-minded but am not religious. I have always been very curious about humans (including me) and how we work. I love people and want to understand us better. Which brings me to the roots of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy. MBCT represents the meeting of modern psychology – CBT-based approaches – and ancient wisdom, particularly Buddhist psychology. 2600 years ago, the man who became known as the Buddha was an early human psychologist. By looking inwardly and at the world around him, he developed his view of what it is to be human, and how we can live as well as possible. The world we live in has changed a lot since then, but we humans and our brains have not… which is why early buddhist thought and modern science dovetail so beautifully and meet in mindfulness-based approaches. They’re about the same thing, what it is to be human. It’s tricky being human – we have incredibly complex brains that can make living, particularly in the modern world, challenging for us. Practising mindfulness regularly helps us work with our incredible minds more skilfully, and to reunite mind and body. This is what I am passionate about exploring (come and join one of our courses to find out more!) We received incredible teaching from CBT practitioners, psychologists, Buddhist teachers and yoga therapists during our training at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre. As part of this training, I also had my first experience of a silent retreat at Gaia House in Devon. Attending Buddhist-led retreats continues to be a highlight of my year for my own personal practice, which in turn supports me when I teach. Becoming more familiar with Buddhist psychology brings depth and integrity to mindfulness teaching – it offers a perhaps novel but enduring perspective on ‘being human’, backed up by modern science. I love this stuff, and I love always learning.
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'Remember the advice of yoga teachers: the most difficult move in yoga is the move on to your mat. Similarly the most difficult aspect of formal mindfulness practice is getting on to your chair or stool or cushion. So, if you find you have missed it for a while, why not come and sit for one minute?
Just one minute. Listen to your mind's reaction. "What? Just one minute?! That'd be no good. There's absolutely no point in doing anything unless I can do it properly..." Listen to the tone of voice that has appeared in your mind. Is it helpful or is it hindering your best intentions with its hectoring perfectionism? Come. Just come - for one minute. There's no need to try and stop the hindering voice. Carry it with you as you come and give yourself the rich blessing of one precious minute of sitting - one moment in which to remind your mind and body that there is a different, wiser, quieter voice to be heard.' ~ Mark Williams and Danny Penman, Mindfulness, a practical guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World For much of my life I have not been a good listener.
I write this knowing it is the truth but with kindness to myself, not beating myself up about it. We are a product of conditions - we were taught to read and write at school but were we taught to listen actively and deeply? Much also depends on whether good listening was modelled to us when we were growing up, and in turn whether our parents were themselves taught how to listen and so on... Mindfulness (and all the experiences it has given me - personal practice, teaching, training, retreats, reading) has made me far more aware of what truly listening to someone entails and the phenomena that get in the way of listening - the activities of the incredible human brain; our noisy external environments. I regularly remind myself of my intention to listen to understand rather than respond. Speaking and listening is a beautiful mindfulness practice and every interaction is a new opportunity. Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better do better (Maya Angelou). And remember we can begin again and again and again. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jan/25/its-time-to-tune-in-why-listening-is-the-real-key-to-communication?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR0n8CvCdJd6Kf0X8rbV8ufj1fX3JXup9fRKCPGnau7bIkRHUtfXYMBCDGk By the end of school half term we were all pretty snippy with each other yesterday so there was nothing for it but to get out of the house and into the storm. Boredom was named 😁 and eventually replaced by finding joy and curiosity in superworms everywhere...
Reminded of this today after a beautiful walk up Wittenham Clumps, from Wherever You Go There You Are:
“When we practice meditation we are really acknowledging that in this moment, we are on the road of life. The path unfolds in this moment and in every moment while we are alive. Mindfulness is more rightly thought of as a “Way” than as a technique. It is a Way of being, a Way of living, a Way of listening, a Way of walking along the path of life and being in harmony with things as they are. This means in part acknowledging that sometimes, often at very crucial times, you really have no idea where you are going or even where the path lies. At the same time, you can very well know something about where you are now.” ~Jon Kabat-Zinn During our guided mindfulness meditation session yesterday evening at Santosha Wellbeing we shared some mindful movement and a sitting practice, grounding in the breath and body, and opening awareness to the flow of sounds, thoughts, feelings, body sensations...
I read an extract from Birthright by Danna Faulds - here is the poem in its entirety. Birthright Despite illness of body or mind, in spite of blinding despair or habitual belief, who you are is whole. Let nothing keep you separate from the truth. The soul, illumined from within, longs to be known for what it is. Undying, untouched by fire or the storms of life, there is a place inside where stillness and abiding peace reside.You can ride the breath to go there. Despite doubt or hopeless turns of mind, you are not broken. Spirit surrounds, embraces, fills you from the inside out. Release everything that isn't your true nature. What's left, the fullness, light and shadow, claim all that as your birthright. ~ Danna Faulds I have been struggling with practising. These past couple of weeks it has felt like a real battle, lots of mind chatter, an undercurrent of anxiety, fear is here, and striving to feel a certain way. I also feel really tired, and I’m noticing how my not wanting to feel tired adds extra ‘suffering’.
Instead of sitting down to meditate yesterday evening I flicked through my practice diary and came across the following guidance: When arriving in stillness we only need to do two things: 1. Release expectations 2. Open your heart Also helpful to be reminded that I have been here (and many other places) before – and that ‘formal’ practice holds up a mirror to our lives right now. When I practice my ‘task’ is to gently open to what’s here and let it come and go, with self-kindness. Release the pressure. Try softer, not harder. New 4-week Mindfulness meditation course at Santosha Wellbeing in Wallingford - and an Early Bird rate until 15th February of £50 for 4 sessions. If you'd like to find out more about mindfulness or the course do get in touch.
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AuthorI'm Claire - and I (re)learn something every day from practising and teaching mindfulness... Archives
March 2022
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