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"When most people hear the word meditation, they often think of transcendental meditation or similar practices used to evoke the relaxation response...In the practice of mindfulness, you begin by utilizing one-pointed attention to cultivate calmness and stability, but then you move beyond that by introducing a wider scope to the observing, as well as an element of inquiry. When thoughts or feelings come up in your mind, you don't ignore them or suppress them, nor do you analyze or judge their content. Rather, you simply note any thoughts as they occur as best you can and observe them intentionally but nonjudgmentally, moment by moment, as events in the field of your awareness."
Jon Kabat-Zinn Ph.D.
| Mindful Quotes |
There is more to life than increasing its speed.
-Mahatma Gandhi |
It takes a calm mind to perceive beauty.
-Henry David Thoreau |
Troubles, like babies, grow larger by nursing.
-Unknown |
People aren't disturbed by things, but by their opinions about things.
-Epictetus |
This Stress Reduction and Relaxation Training class is modeled after the internationally acclaimed program from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. The heart of this innovative eight week program is an opportunity to train systematically and intesively in mindfulness practices. Instruction is given in a variety of mind-body awareness exercises. Through these practices, stress, pain and illness come to be seen as aspects of life that can be faced and worked with in ways that increase internal stability, calmness and clarity.
Research has shown mindfulness can provide lasting physical and psychological symptom reduction, as well as positive changes in perception, attitude and behavior. As this training employs a a unique and practical approach, we ask that you be willing to commit yourself to practicing with a cassette tape for approximately 30-45 minutes each day, six days a week, for the duration of the eight week session.
The class meets once a week for two and a half hours for eight weeks. Also included is an all-day Saturday session during the sixth week. The program is offered three times a year: Winter, Spring and Fall.
Nurses: The California Board of Nurses has agreed to let you receive 30 contact hours for completing the eight-week program (California BRN Provider #13220).
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In this form of meditation, we train ourselves to see reality exactly as it is, and we call this special mode of perception mindfulness. This process of mindfulness is really quite different from what we usually do. We usually do not look into what is really there in front of us. We see life through a screen of thoughts and concepts, and we mistake those mental objects for the reality. We get so caught up in this endless thought-stream that reality flows by unnoticed. We spend our time engrossed in activity, caught up in an eternal pursuit of pleasure and gratification and an eternal flight from pain and unpleasantness. We spend all of our energies trying to make ourselves feel better, trying to bury our fears. We are endlessly seeking security. Meanwhile, the world of real experience flows by untouched and untasted. In mindfulness meditation we train ourselves to ignore the constant impulses to be more comfortable, and we dive into the reality instead. The ironic thing is that real peace comes only when you stop chasing it.
From Mindfulness In Plain English, by Venerable Henepola Gunaratana
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