Every moment is an opportunity for freedom.
Mindfulness meditation gives us the tools to, at any moment, detach and take a different course of action. All we need to do is take one mindful breath.
This talk will discuss the possibility of freedom in every moment and give you some ideas on how to attain that freedom throughout the day.
Click to listen!
Read MoreIn this talk, we discuss how the difference between expectation and reality is often the source of significant discontent.
Life trains us to search for ideals: the perfect partner, job, life, outcome. Unfortunately this almost never arises and even if it did, it would be fleeting. Thus there is a real potential for ongoing and almost contentious self-inflicted suffering.
Thankfully, happiness is closer than you think. By embracing mindfulness we can begin to see and address the impact of our expectations.
Click to listen!
Read MoreThe enlightened person stubs their toe once, the untrained person stubs it twice…the first time on the rock, then again when they ruminate about stubbing their toe.
When we apply our mindful attention to pain, we see that it is merely another sensation to observe.
Whether it is physical or emotional, 'pain' presents itself through a collection of sensations, each of which can be observed, and investigated.
If we observe the sensations and feelings that arise when our expectations are not met, we may find that our suffering reduces or is entirely eliminated.
Click to listen!
Read MoreTrue happiness in life comes from acceptance; embracing reality for what it is, both the good and the bad.
This isn't to say we shouldn't take action to better ourselves, we should. But we should also learn to live with things as they are. This way we will be capable of appreciating the joys we have already attained.
Without acceptance, we cannot live in the present. Rather we ruminate on the past, or fret about the future; neither state is conducive to ongoing happiness.
Click to listen!
Read MoreWe have a tendency to judge our worst moments against the highlight reels of others.
We see all of our flaws, hear all the doubts, and live through the darkness, yet we compare ourselves to the external projections of others.
We fear failure, yet this fear ironically causes our performance to drop.
This talk will show you that it's only through acceptance and action that we can hope to push through our fears and take the actions necessary for success.
Click to listen!
Read MoreConsider the following: if you were to gradually replace all of the parts of your body until nothing ‘original' remained, can you still claim to be you?
This talk breaks down the philosophical thought experiment 'The Ship of Theseus' and relates its implications back to cell division and the nature of the mind over time.
Click to listen!
Read MoreThe simple truth is that it doesn’t matter how much you meditate.
The prestige of your lineage and the books you have read do not matter.
The amount of time you sit, or don’t sit, is irrelevant.
Your philosophy, beliefs, traditions, and practices may have benefits, but in terms of mindfulness - unless those things allow you unfiltered access to the present moment, they are not serving their function and are likely a distraction.
All that matters is the present moment. This talk will ask the questions, ‘Are you present? Are you observing reality as it is, for what it is, right now?’
Click to listen!
Read MoreFor the rest of the day, when you notice an intense emotion, thought, mood, memory, or other mental phenomena, take one mindful breath.
That is a long, slow, deep breath, in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Then recognise that you are, at any time, free to make a different decision should you choose to do so. Give it a try.
Click to listen!
Read More
