Friday, August 13, 2021

What do you see? Mindfulness (Insight LA)

What do you see here? A bird? Pay attention.

A brilliant Tibetan Buddhist meditation teacher was famous for pointing to an image of a bird flying in a clear blue sky and asking, “What do you see?”

The answer would usually be, “A bird.” The teacher would then point to the sky and ask, “Why didn’t you acknowledge the sky, since it makes up 99% of what you see?”

This is simply how the mind works. It is conditioned to pick out objects and their movement. If we were to look out over an open field, our attention would be drawn to objects and movement appearing in that open field.

What do you see when you close your eyes?

When we turn inward in meditation, the same thing happens. The mind notices movements, objects, mental formations, and so on without including the open field of space and stillness that these contents inhabit.

It gets interesting when we focus on the space in which contents arise; with practice, we can recognize the subtle formation of said contents.

Ever wonder what happens before we notice something? Before something appears, how many layers, how many subtleties, how many impressions can be known?

Can we teach ourselves to become sensitive to these subtleties? By the time we “see” something, it has manifested in a myriad of subtle formations. These subtle formations offer unique chances to choose to abandon or nurture our attentional involvement with more ease.

On the other hand, if we see the world as already formed and concrete, it can be harder to dismantle.

Urgyen Rinpoche often said, “The difference between samsara [the cycle of rebirth] and nirvana is simply the direction we are looking; looking outward, we are in samsara, looking inward we are in nirvana.”

Rinpoche was pointing to the opportunity, here in each moment, to abide in the space in which things arise and the ability to catch and free ourselves if need be.

Being with subtle mental formations and appearances as they arise can be a conscious co-creation of natural processes and the choice to be present and allowing.

Whether or not we have learned how to open to what’s happening influences how it’s ultimately experienced.

The good news is that there is always the opportunity to connect with wisdom from the outset and gather insights along the way.

Ultimately, the goal is to use this keen gentle awareness to be mindful of these subtleties, which can guide and benefit us and the countless others in this world we share. - Cayce Howe

Connect with Cayce Howe at the next offering of Essentials of Mindfulness beginning Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021 and on retreat for Fearless Heart Friday, Aug. 27-Sunday, Aug. 29.
Register now at insightla.org for upcoming Special Events, Retreats, Affinity Groups, and Practice Groups.
Featured Special Event: "The Original Body Scan: 32 Parts of the Body Meditation, Discovering Freedom within the Body" with Dr. Christiane Wolf, MD, PhD, Bob Stahl, PhD, Mary Grace Orr, and Marcy Reynolds. The 7-day retreat starts Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021 and ends Friday, Aug. 20, 2021
More Upcoming Retreats [in-person] Anapanasati Half-Day: The 16-Steps of Breath with Eric McCullum, MA Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021 | 9:00 AM-1:00 PM PT
In-Person Event: Benedict Canyon Retreat House
Fearless Heart with Wendy Block, LCSW and Cayce Howe 3-day retreat starts Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 and ends Sunday, Aug. 29
People of Color Sangha Practice Group with Thomas Davis, Tere Abdala, and Alisa Dennis, PhD
Weekly group meets Fridays, 7:00 PM-9:00 PM PT
"Walking the Buddha’s Path Together: Clear Wisdom for Modern Times" with Lisa Kring, LCSW, weekly group meets Sundays, 9:00-10:30 AM.
Sunday Morning Practice Group with Trudy & Friends led by Joslyn Hitter (Special Guest Teacher) Weekly group meets Sundays, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
"Reconnecting With Your Self-Compassion Practice" with Angelike Dexter, JD and Heidi Shaw, LCSW (Requires completion of an MSC or SC-MSC course) 6-week course starts Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, 6:00-7:30 PM.

Around the Community Check out these upcoming events and opportunities organized by community members and friends of InsightLA.

200-Hour Meditation Leader Training Program @ Sage Institute Sage Institute’s 200-Hour Meditation Leader Training is a comprehensive program designed to train experienced practitioners to share basic meditation skills with others.

This certification program is ideal for experienced practitioners working in the fields of psychology, yoga, health, and wellbeing, as well as spiritual guides or ministers from from any tradition, or others who would like to share basic practice techniques with their students, clients, or community. Next cohort begins Aug. 23, 2021

Expand your learning with others. Affinity Practice Groups Practice groups are a supportive environment for you to maintain and strengthen your practice in community. Affinity Groups Affinity groups are for community members to connect and practice with others of a shared identity/experience.

Check out other offerings: PROGRAMS | MBSR & MSC | RETREATS | PRACTICE & AFFINITY GROUPS Help our community grow by forwarding this email to a friend!

Connect with Cayce at the next offering of Essentials of Mindfulness beginning Thursday, August 26 and on retreat for Fearless Heart Friday, Aug. 27-Sunday, Aug. 29

Let's connect.

Register now for these upcoming Special Events, Retreats, Affinity Groups, and Practice Groups.

Featured Special Event

The Original Body Scan: 32 Parts of the Body Meditation Discovering Freedom within the Body

with Christiane Wolf, MD, PhD, Bob Stahl, PhD, Mary Grace Orr, and Marcy Reynolds

7-day retreat starts Saturday, August 14, 2021 and ends Friday, August 20, 2021 | Meeting times vary; see daily schedule

More Upcoming Retreats

[In-Person] Anapanasati Half-Day: The 16-Steps of Breath with Eric McCullum, MA

Saturday, August 14, 2021 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM PT | In-Person Event: Benedict Canyon Retreat House

Fearless Heart with Wendy Block, LCSW and Cayce Howe

3-day retreat starts Friday, August 27, 2021 and ends Sunday, August 29, 2021 | Meeting times vary; see daily schedule

More Special Events and Series

THIS WEEKEND

TODAY
People of Color Sangha Practice Group with Thomas Davis, Tere Abdala, and Alisa Dennis, PhD

Weekly group meets Fridays | 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PT

Walking the Buddha’s Path Together: Clear Wisdom for Modern Times with Lisa Kring, LCSW

Weekly group meets Sundays | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM PT

Sunday Morning Practice Group with Trudy & Friends led by Joslyn Hitter (Special Guest Teacher)

Weekly group meets Sundays | 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM PT

UP NEXT

Reconnecting With Your Self-Compassion Practice with Angelike Dexter, JD and Heidi Shaw, LCSW (Requires completion of an MSC or SC-MSC course)

6-week course starts Monday, August 16, 2021 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Around the Community

Check out these upcoming events and opportunities organized by community members and friends of InsightLA.

200-Hour Meditation Leader Training Program @ Sage Institute

Sage Institute’s 200-Hour Meditation Leader Training is a comprehensive program designed to train experienced practitioners to share basic meditation skills with others. This certification program is ideal for experienced practitioners working in the fields of psychology, yoga, health, and wellbeing, as well as spiritual guides or ministers from from any tradition, or others who would like to share basic practice techniques with their students, clients, or community.

Next cohort begins August 23, 2021

Learn More

Expand your learning with others.