CONTEMPLATIVE PRINCIPLES
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the intentional, non-judgmental moment to moment awareness of present events. It is simple to describe but challenging to practice in an ongoing way. In developing our capacity for being mindful we learn to pay attention to what is happening and to develop a different relationship to what we notice so that we are not adding to it, rejecting it or being overwhelmed by it.
The purpose of mindfulness is to develop a sane relationship to experience. Most of us live somewhat distanced from the freshness of the present moment, lost in thoughts about the past or the future, judgements about ourselves and others, daydreams and plans. For most of us our moments of being truly present are few and far between. We are conditioned to run on auto pilot- our mind running a program of unchecked thoughts, beliefs, habits and reactions. This program has its own momentum and once in place can keep running indefinitely creating havoc from behind the scenes and fueling a miserable view of ourselves and our lives. By maintaining a thread of mindfulness throughout daily life we learn to look at mind and its activities with objectivity. This can bring deep change and real healing: bringing more realness into our lives and bringing us into closer touch with our deeper nature.
Friendliness
The Buddhist principle of Maitri, or friendliness is essential for successful psychotherapy. There can be a tendency to approach ourselves and our experience as a problem that needs to be solved with grim determination. By consciously choosing and cultivating friendliness towards whatever is arising we enhance our capacity to actually meet and work with whatever is there. Friendliness doesn’t necessarily mean you like your experience. It is more that you develop increased willingness to be with and see yourself as your are.
The inner critic, or superego is a common and destructive aspect in our inner life. Often this aspect is operating under the radar. In our work we will keep an eye out for self-sabotaging voices and perspectives that are unforgiving and harsh. As we invite more awareness you can begin to have more choice about what you listen to and follow from within. We will work together to cultivate the capacity to meet yourself and whatever is happening, with compassion, understanding and love.
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.”
-Thich Nhat Hahn