Appropriateness—an admittedly unsexy term, but with very sexy implications! Appropriateness has everything to do with showing up freshly in each moment of life and doing something we’ve never done before because we’ve never encountered precisely this same moment. As our mindfulness practice deepens, we respond to the moment less from our habituated programs of the past and more from a place where we surprise even ourselves.
What could it mean to see the “World in a Grain of Sand”, or to live “Eternity in an hour”? In this extended meditation, Thomas points out the “Ground of Being”, a classic territory in contemplative practice.
The soul’s need is overwhelming. There are no lengths it would not go to to get the sustenance it needs to flourish. In these days of quarantine, take a moment—take many moments—to come back to yourself and be honest about what really drives you. What really feeds you. Then risk it. Watch these ibexes for inspiration .
In these Covid times, we have all lost things that we didn’t plan to lose. Many of us probably spend more energy than we’d like fearing further loss. In this episode, acquaint yourself with the fear that surrounds the experience of loss and learn to include it more fully in the wholeness (and holiness) of your life.
Life is full of second chances. The Dharma is all about second chances. Just now, if you didn’t meet the last moment with full presence and full awareness, life will offer you the next moment to get it right. It’s as if Reality itself is not content until you fully receive the “Great Gesture”, right now. Always right NOW.
It’s World Autism Month! In honor of all of our neurodiverse loved ones, Thomas shares a story of a dharma teaching from his brother, Joseph, who is on the autistic spectrum. Join us in this episode for a practice inspired by one of the many superpowers that people with autism have to offer to the world. Also, if you have any leads on helping Joseph make new and meaningful connections, please email us at info@mindfulnessplus.org .
In these times of quarantine, it can be easy to get bogged down in one care, one concern, one worry after another. When we enter that “mind” of fretting, there is no end to our troubles. How about cashing in all of the cares in the world for one single care? Would you do it? Would it even be possible to stop worrying and let something else within us tend to all of our cares? Come and see!
Living bacteria were first observed through a microscope in the year 1670. This discovery led to the development of Germ Theory and a revolution in human health. There is another kind of subtle infestation in human experience that deprives us of an inherent sense of freedom and joy. But there’s good news! We all have the capacity to disinfect; to become healthy and whole again. This discovery too has led to a whole new order of human happiness.
We’re launching season 4 one month earlier than scheduled in support of your practice and in order to meet the current global crisis in full awareness. We find ourselves—all of humanity—suddenly thrust into a “school of hardship.” What qualities will we “gather” during this time? What garden will we grow? Let your in-tention guide your a-ttention and see who you become. Next live practice call will be Wednesday, April 1st, 7-8pm Mountain Time! To register: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcominge...
We cannot wake up alone. We need each other. In this post-season bonus episode, Thomas and his wife, “Glo”, share some of their experiences and insights working and living in “cohort life.” For those Mindfulness+ listeners who are interested in really taking their practice to a new orbit, check out the Spectra program at lowerlightswisdom.org/spectra .
To be alive is to be in exchange with all things—an endless round of giving and receiving. When we receive something precious, we naturally move to reciprocate and give back to it. For the season 3 finale, we invite you to support Mindfulness+ in whatever way you can and help us continue to provide this resource for the happiness of all beings. Donate at www.mindfulnessplus.org/donate .
Loch Kelly, one of the great teachers of our time, shares his insights and open-hearted awareness with the Mindfulness+ community in this opening and enlightening interview. He has a new book by Sounds True, The Way of Effortless Mindfulness—a superb handbook for any sincere student. Do you want to save yourself a lot of grief and unnecessary strife in your meditation practice and in life? Then pay close attention to what Loch has to share. Learn more at lochkelly.org...
Loch Kelly, one of the great teachers of our time, shares his insights and open-hearted awareness with the Mindfulness+ community in this opening and enlightening interview. He has a new book by Sounds True, The Way of Effortless Mindfulness—a superb handbook for any sincere student. Do you want to save yourself a lot of grief and unnecessary strife in your meditation practice and in life? Then pay close attention to what Loch has to share. Learn more at lochkelly.org...
The great poet, David Whyte tells us, “What you can plan is too small to live.” In what ways might the smallness of your planning being blinding you to a deeper grace, a greater truth? Explore this theme on today’s episode. Also, if you appreciate Mindfulness+ and what it does for you, then please donate! https://www.mindfulnessplus.org/donate
In this longer meditation, Thomas guides listeners into an exploration of their timeless, boundless nature. Sound trippy? You’ll find it’s as easy as breathing to show “your original face before your parents were born.”
Who are we really? And what ideas do we have about ourselves and others that keep us distant from them, keep us isolated? In this special episode, Thomas tells a story of an encounter he had with his grandfather recently, and the unexpected moment of Presence that shone through 26 years of estrangement.
We seem to intuitively admire the capacity for range in human beings, e.g. singers who can hit the high and the low notes, actors and actresses who can do tragedy as well as they can do comedy. What does it mean from a mindfulness perspective to have significant “experiential range?” In this episode we explore the concept and of course, delve into the terrain together through practice.
We’ve all heard about the glamorous side of a mindfulness practice: reduced stress, elevated mood, better relationships and more. But what about acknowledging the genuinely terrifying side of practice? As we deepen in our awareness practice, our fear tends to increase exponentially. Paradoxically, it is in this fear that we can find our greatest freedom.
William Blake wrote, “If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is: Infinite.” How do we cleanse these doors? How do we come to see the Infinite? Get a taste, right here.
Donald Altman, M.A. LPC, is a psychotherapist, award-winning writer, former Buddhist monk and teacher. He joins us on Mindfulness+ to discuss his path of transformation and new book on mindfulness, “Reflect.” For more information about Donald, click here . Or, order his book ....
Forgiveness can be a difficult quality to cultivate. Maybe among the hardest. In this episode, Thomas draws from Christian and Buddhist Wisdom texts to offer insight into what true forgiveness might consist of.
You may have noticed that in meditation, as in life, sometimes it’s helpful to exert effort, and other times, effort just gets in the way. We need to let go, ease up. In this episode, Thomas guides a longer meditation, pointing out the moments when it might be most helpful to “bear down and ease up.”
Father Thomas Keating (1923–2018) was a uniquely gifted human being and great Soul. In this episode, Thomas McConkie reflects on Father Thomas’s legacy, as well as invites listeners into a direct experience of the Silence that in Keating’s words, is “God’s first language.”
In this conversation, Thomas talks to his longtime dharma friend, Vicki Kennedy-Overfelt, about finding a home on the spiritual path, effort and effortlessness, and ultimately, the supreme wholeness and holiness that each one of us is. Learn more about Vicki and her community at: mindfulnessutah.com
You’ve heard about the practice of alchemy—transmuting base metals into gold. This serves as a beautiful metaphor for how we can relate to challenging experience in our day to day life. We can become an alembic—the alchemical vessel—that can withstand enough heat and pressure to transform our most challenging life experiences into pure gold.
When it comes right down to it, we practice paying attention here at Mindfulness+ because we suffer. All human beings are born into suffering. The Good News is that the Wisdom traditions offer us insight and support into walking out of suffering together. Listen in for some practical advice on how to “empty out hell” in your own life and others.
This week we dive a bit deeper into practice by taking refuge in the presence of a being whom we deeply trust. When we connect to this deep source of trust and love, we find these profound qualities and gifts arising at the center of our very own being.
When we understand how the attentional system of the mind works, it becomes much easier to train the skill of mindfulness. Explore in this episode the two very distinct qualities of consciousness we can exercise in order to be more mindful.
One of the essential principles we learn in a mindfulness practice is that abiding happiness and joy centers on how we relate to experience, not the experience itself. Listen to this story of an unexpected ray of joy beamed from none other than Leonard Cohen himself.
So much of human life is governed and divided by the lines and boundaries we somewhat arbitrarily draw across our experience. Join Thomas as he takes flight (literally) across these lines and off into the immeasurable expanse.
