April 19, 2011
Meditation & Mindfulness
We each have a limited amount of attention to devote to the situations with which our lives present us. When these demands outstrip our attention, we fall back on habit to get by. Though useful in a pinch, habit often functions as a crutch which can interfere with empathy, understanding, and creativity, and can lead to compulsive behavior, fixation, stress, and stagnation. And habitual behaviors are tricky to address directly, because they are the most obscure to our awareness.
Fortunately, the expansion of our attention – and a corresponding reduced reliance on habit – is something that can be trained with practice, and the various techniques known loosely as Insight Meditation and Mindfulness Practice do exactly this. Though these techniques are well-known for reducing stress, improving empathy, and strengthening the mind, their benefits are innumerable, because they can apply to every facet of life where our actions and reactions are brought to bear.
We’ll start by introducing the concept of mindfulness and share some reflections on our own meditation practice, and then lead the group in some basic exercises. The tools are surprisingly simple, and their benefits especially valuable during tense times like the end of a school year.
