My work since 2006 through UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center (uclahealth.org/marc) emphasizes making mindfulness teachings accessible to all, regardless of background, yet without losing depth practice. In recent years I have been teaching on Natural Awareness— the effortless, objectless, and spacious side of awareness practices. Socially engaged Buddhism is a thread woven through many of my talks-- how can we end suffering both internally and externally? Having worked with teens and young adults for many years, some of the talks are geared to young people. Finally as a mom of a tween, I'm deeply inspired by the transformative power of daily life and family practice.
This session offers an overview of equanimity, the quality of even-mindedness, balance, and non-reactivity. We discuss how it is cultivated, hear some stories about it, and do a guided equanimity practice.
Since so many of us struggle with self-judgment, what practices and tools will help us find more self-compassion and cultivate more joy? In this talk we explore the roots of self-judgment, and the ways in which mindfulness, loving kindness, and the recognition of our shared humanity and inner goodness can work together to alleviate the critical mind and promote joy and resilience.
This first day instructions guides students who are just starting out with their practice. We learn to find our meditation anchor and work with distraction.
This talk explores the basics of mindfulness from the perspective of attention, attitude, and intention. It touches briefly on the five hindrances and includes a story about an exploding egg. Good for beginners!
For those interested in natural awareness, this session includes several short meditations called Glimpse Practices to help us access our expansive, luminous nature.
Using guided imagery, we practice loving kindness expansively. We start with ourselves and ultimately include the whole world. The lake is a metaphor, image, and guide.
This talk details the Spectrum of Awareness Practice-- a map for exploring how many types of awareness meditations fit together. We explore how to move from narrow, focused awareness, through an investigative awareness, to open awareness, and to natural awareness-- an open, spacious, awareness of awareness.
