Presence is the sense of being fully in the present moment, attentive yet relaxed within ourselves and in relation to others. It is an embodied sense of being okay with, and kindly related to, whatever makes up our life in the here and now. It naturally has qualities of compassion and nonjudgment that nourish us and help us to bring fresh, attentive energy into our relational lives. In this workshop we will practice a three-step method to help to cultivate and reveal this natural way of being: The first emphasizes a relaxed mindfulness of breath, body, and the senses. The second is to recognize and rest in the open, knowing quality of the heart and mind. The third is for these to work together to form a grounded yet open awareness that becomes intimate with, yet not overwhelmed by, life. Here the thinking mind and emotions no longer hijack the quality of our being present, but are tenderly held within and eventually become part of the life force of presence itself. We learn to let go of fixations and relax into a more full and balanced way of being alive. Presence is no longer a practice we do, but a way we are.
This workshop will combine reflection, guided and silent meditation periods, and time for discussion at the end. All levels of experience are welcome.
Matthew Daniell is the guiding teacher of NSIMC. He has been practicing Buddhist meditation since the 1980s, including over a decade in Asia, where he practiced Zen intensively in Japan, Tibetan Buddhism in India, and Insight meditation in Burma, India, and Thailand. Read more about Matthew on his teacher page.
The fee for this program is $48 ($45 cash or check). To register and pay online, click below; if paying by cash or check, send an email to northshoreimc@gmail.com.