I’m on the plane for a brief trip to visit my young adult son. I’m excited about it. I’d left one work task to do enroute. Not ideal, but it happens. I’m usually pretty focused on the plane, I’ll get it done. Opening my backpack to start...
by Tim Burnett & Robin Boudette, October 2021 Engaging with Difficulty THE BUDDHIST ROOTS OF MINDFULNESS & COMPASSION 2021 In October 2021, Mindfulness Northwest Executive Director and Guiding Teacher Tim Burnett and his long-time collaborating teacher, Robin...
Definition: Reification: to make something abstract more concrete or real; to consider or represent something abstract as a material or concrete thing; to give definite content and form to a concept or idea. We humans come equipped with an amazing mind – a mind that...
Tim greatly enjoyed this conversation with Dr. Jennifer Ghahari of Seattle Anxiety Specialists on the value of mindfulness (and compassion) training for wellness and managing anxiety....
This core meditation for our Mindful Self-Compassion program connects compassion practice with a feeling of equanimity. Loosely based on the Tibetan Buddhist Tonglen meditation, Giving and Receiving Compassion involves inviting the feeling of receiving all that you...
The practice of Affectionate Breathing is a core Mindful Self-Compassion practice. This practice "warms up" the core mindfulness practice Awareness of Breathing by bringing elements of self-kindness and inviting a feeling of being nurtured by the breath. Affectionate...
Open Awareness is the practice of stabilizing attention with a broad, wide-open focus that allows mental objects, sensations, and sensory experiences to come and go. All mindfulness-based practices are oriented towards stabilizing attention. Sometimes a stable...
In this core meditation practice, we direct attention to the sensations associated with breathing as our bodies inhale and exhale. This practice is a powerful tool for grounding in our experience of the present moment. Other breath practices like Breath Counting and...
Listening meditation is included in our Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program. It's a great practice for looking at preferences,conceptualization, and how easily our mental habits can "drive the bus" of perception and evaluation. In Listening Meditation we...
The Body Scan is a mindful tour through your body. This practice deepens awareness of the body, strengthens attention, and supports a more grounded, present-centered feeling for life. The Body Scan can also reveal stresses and emotional issues that you haven't become...
In strengthening the ability to be present and grounded, "anchoring" attention with felt present-moment experience is deeply helpful. While many practices do this using breath as the object of attention, the anchoring meditation helps you explore other options. These...
The R.A.I.N. practice is a 4-step process for meeting the challenges of life in a spacious, curious, reflective way. The four steps of rain are: (1) recognize, (2) accept and allow, (3) investigate, and (4) non-identification with the challenge. We've been amazed by...
