20 years ago I was traveling in China it was a journey of self-discovery I I
was a journey of self-discovery I I
was a journey of self-discovery I I wanted to travel the world I wanted to
wanted to travel the world I wanted to
wanted to travel the world I wanted to have as many adventures as possible and
have as many adventures as possible and
have as many adventures as possible and in the process I wanted to get to know
in the process I wanted to get to know
in the process I wanted to get to know myself during my traveling I was
myself during my traveling I was
myself during my traveling I was climbing this very very high mountain in
climbing this very very high mountain in
climbing this very very high mountain in the Yunnan Province but I miscalculated
the Yunnan Province but I miscalculated
the Yunnan Province but I miscalculated a time he would take me to get to the
a time he would take me to get to the
a time he would take me to get to the top of that mountain and by the time
top of that mountain and by the time
top of that mountain and by the time that I’ve reached the top it was too
that I’ve reached the top it was too
that I’ve reached the top it was too late at night I couldn’t go down and had
late at night I couldn’t go down and had
late at night I couldn’t go down and had to find a place where I could spend the
to find a place where I could spend the
to find a place where I could spend the night
night
night oops I’m stuck now the only place at the
oops I’m stuck now the only place at the
oops I’m stuck now the only place at the top of that mountain
top of that mountain
top of that mountain was a Buddhist monastery so I not that
was a Buddhist monastery so I not that
was a Buddhist monastery so I not that the gaze of that monastery I actually
the gaze of that monastery I actually
the gaze of that monastery I actually remember it as if it was now huge wooden
remember it as if it was now huge wooden
remember it as if it was now huge wooden gates in him I’m knocking at the gates
gates in him I’m knocking at the gates
gates in him I’m knocking at the gates and the monks take man and they were
and the monks take man and they were
and the monks take man and they were very very kind they’ve offered me a
very very kind they’ve offered me a
very very kind they’ve offered me a small room with a wooden bed and I went
small room with a wooden bed and I went
small room with a wooden bed and I went to sleep around 4:00 a.m. I woke up I
to sleep around 4:00 a.m. I woke up I
to sleep around 4:00 a.m. I woke up I hear sounds like he’s singing something
hear sounds like he’s singing something
hear sounds like he’s singing something weirds going on so half-asleep I go down
weirds going on so half-asleep I go down
weirds going on so half-asleep I go down the stairs and I find myself in the
the stairs and I find myself in the
the stairs and I find myself in the meditation hall dozens of monks are
meditation hall dozens of monks are
meditation hall dozens of monks are chanting together it was really really
chanting together it was really really
chanting together it was really really powerful and I did the only thing that
powerful and I did the only thing that
powerful and I did the only thing that our twenty-year-old adventure seeker
our twenty-year-old adventure seeker
our twenty-year-old adventure seeker could do I joined them no III I’d have
could do I joined them no III I’d have
could do I joined them no III I’d have to admit it wasn’t as if I was a hundred
to admit it wasn’t as if I was a hundred
to admit it wasn’t as if I was a hundred percent comfortable with the whole event
percent comfortable with the whole event
percent comfortable with the whole event but I thought hey what have I got to
but I thought hey what have I got to
but I thought hey what have I got to lose let’s try it out so I sat down I
lose let’s try it out so I sat down I
lose let’s try it out so I sat down I was chanting and the chanting
was chanting and the chanting
was chanting and the chanting transformed into some sitting breathing
transformed into some sitting breathing
transformed into some sitting breathing meditation we changing some walking
meditation we changing some walking
meditation we changing some walking meditation the whole thing took about
meditation the whole thing took about
meditation the whole thing took about three hours and at the
three hours and at the
three hours and at the and of these three hours I felt a
and of these three hours I felt a
and of these three hours I felt a phasing I felt transformed I felt
phasing I felt transformed I felt
phasing I felt transformed I felt connected to myself and to everyone and
connected to myself and to everyone and
connected to myself and to everyone and everything around me was incredible I
everything around me was incredible I
everything around me was incredible I was filled with with love I was filled
was filled with with love I was filled
was filled with with love I was filled with happiness I was filled with peace
with happiness I was filled with peace
with happiness I was filled with peace and not not the conditional ones you
and not not the conditional ones you
and not not the conditional ones you know it wasn’t because someone said
know it wasn’t because someone said
know it wasn’t because someone said something nice to me or because my boss
something nice to me or because my boss
something nice to me or because my boss offered me a raise not at all it was
offered me a raise not at all it was
offered me a raise not at all it was stead of that it was more as if as if I
stead of that it was more as if as if I
stead of that it was more as if as if I found an internal undercurrent river
found an internal undercurrent river
found an internal undercurrent river that is flowing within me and the water
that is flowing within me and the water
that is flowing within me and the water of this river it is it is filled with
of this river it is it is filled with
of this river it is it is filled with with this unconditional love and
with this unconditional love and
with this unconditional love and happiness and and peace and meditation
happiness and and peace and meditation
happiness and and peace and meditation is a bridge so that I could swim in this
is a bridge so that I could swim in this
is a bridge so that I could swim in this amazing river within me and it felt so
amazing river within me and it felt so
amazing river within me and it felt so good in fact it felt so good that I’ve
good in fact it felt so good that I’ve
good in fact it felt so good that I’ve asked the monks whether I could stay
asked the monks whether I could stay
asked the monks whether I could stay there for a longer period of time so
there for a longer period of time so
there for a longer period of time so that I could learn more about this
that I could learn more about this
that I could learn more about this mindfulness meditation and the things
mindfulness meditation and the things
mindfulness meditation and the things they’re doing I just I was thirsty to to
they’re doing I just I was thirsty to to
they’re doing I just I was thirsty to to get in touch with more of that
get in touch with more of that
get in touch with more of that experience and again they’ve agreed and
experience and again they’ve agreed and
experience and again they’ve agreed and I stayed mindfulness meditation when we
I stayed mindfulness meditation when we
I stayed mindfulness meditation when we think about it usually we think about
think about it usually we think about
think about it usually we think about the experience of being present being
the experience of being present being
the experience of being present being here and now which is very important
here and now which is very important
here and now which is very important obviously but we sometimes forget the
obviously but we sometimes forget the
obviously but we sometimes forget the quality of that presence and the quality
quality of that presence and the quality
quality of that presence and the quality as part of mindfulness meditation is a
as part of mindfulness meditation is a
as part of mindfulness meditation is a compassionate one it’s a it’s a it’s a
compassionate one it’s a it’s a it’s a
compassionate one it’s a it’s a it’s a quality which is filled with kindness
quality which is filled with kindness
quality which is filled with kindness and gentleness and openness deep deep
and gentleness and openness deep deep
and gentleness and openness deep deep acceptance towards whatever is happening
acceptance towards whatever is happening
acceptance towards whatever is happening it’s a very different way of approaching
it’s a very different way of approaching
it’s a very different way of approaching life and during my time at the monastery
life and during my time at the monastery
life and during my time at the monastery I’ve learned about mindfulness
I’ve learned about mindfulness
I’ve learned about mindfulness meditation I’ve learned that it’s it’s
meditation I’ve learned that it’s it’s
meditation I’ve learned that it’s it’s part of the traditional Buddhist
part of the traditional Buddhist
part of the traditional Buddhist teaching which is a psycho spiritual
teaching which is a psycho spiritual
teaching which is a psycho spiritual journey it’s a journey that is taking us
journey it’s a journey that is taking us
journey it’s a journey that is taking us into positive transformation really
into positive transformation really
into positive transformation really powerful stuff
powerful stuff
powerful stuff and I’ve learned that as part of that
and I’ve learned that as part of that
and I’ve learned that as part of that journey mindfulness meditation is filled
journey mindfulness meditation is filled
journey mindfulness meditation is filled in its original intention in its
in its original intention in its
in its original intention in its original context filled with wonderful
original context filled with wonderful
original context filled with wonderful aspects of life such as happiness and
aspects of life such as happiness and
aspects of life such as happiness and hope and meaning in life and savoring
hope and meaning in life and savoring
hope and meaning in life and savoring and gratitude and love wonderful
and gratitude and love wonderful
and gratitude and love wonderful wonderful dimensions of being alive and
wonderful dimensions of being alive and
wonderful dimensions of being alive and I’ve learned all those as part of my
I’ve learned all those as part of my
I’ve learned all those as part of my practice of mindfulness meditation back
practice of mindfulness meditation back
practice of mindfulness meditation back there at the monastery and this is where
there at the monastery and this is where
there at the monastery and this is where I’ve started conceptualizing my positive
I’ve started conceptualizing my positive
I’ve started conceptualizing my positive mindfulness I didn’t think about it as
mindfulness I didn’t think about it as
mindfulness I didn’t think about it as positive mindfulness back then but I
positive mindfulness back then but I
positive mindfulness back then but I started thinking about it now positive
started thinking about it now positive
started thinking about it now positive mindfulness is nothing to do with making
mindfulness is nothing to do with making
mindfulness is nothing to do with making you feel good or forcing you to be happy
you feel good or forcing you to be happy
you feel good or forcing you to be happy not at all none of that in fact
not at all none of that in fact
not at all none of that in fact mindfulness meditation is always about
mindfulness meditation is always about
mindfulness meditation is always about the same kind of practice you just bring
the same kind of practice you just bring
the same kind of practice you just bring your awareness to the here and now you
your awareness to the here and now you
your awareness to the here and now you have that compassionate attitude that’s
have that compassionate attitude that’s
have that compassionate attitude that’s the practice but something about the
the practice but something about the
the practice but something about the intention the vision the context of the
intention the vision the context of the
intention the vision the context of the practice which one now we know as part
practice which one now we know as part
practice which one now we know as part of psychological research we know that
of psychological research we know that
of psychological research we know that it has a huge impact on the outcome of
it has a huge impact on the outcome of
it has a huge impact on the outcome of the practice I was amazed by that
the practice I was amazed by that
the practice I was amazed by that intention of positive beautiful Love
intention of positive beautiful Love
intention of positive beautiful Love Field happiness based intention and
Field happiness based intention and
Field happiness based intention and vision that I’ve experienced back then
vision that I’ve experienced back then
vision that I’ve experienced back then and I can talk about this till the end
and I can talk about this till the end
and I can talk about this till the end of times but I think it would be much
of times but I think it would be much
of times but I think it would be much much more powerful if we experience
much more powerful if we experience
much more powerful if we experience something together if we practice
something together if we practice
something together if we practice something you want to practice something
something you want to practice something
something you want to practice something together yes wonderful
together yes wonderful
together yes wonderful so we’re going to practice something
so we’re going to practice something
so we’re going to practice something called a smiling meditation I sometimes
called a smiling meditation I sometimes
called a smiling meditation I sometimes refer to as the inner smile meditation
refer to as the inner smile meditation
refer to as the inner smile meditation it’s the very famous Vietnamese Buddhist
it’s the very famous Vietnamese Buddhist
it’s the very famous Vietnamese Buddhist monk thich not Hanley’s talking a lot
monk thich not Hanley’s talking a lot
monk thich not Hanley’s talking a lot and writing a lot about this one and the
and writing a lot about this one and the
and writing a lot about this one and the particular version we’re going to
particular version we’re going to
particular version we’re going to practice today is focusing on savoring
practice today is focusing on savoring
practice today is focusing on savoring savoring the impact of a smile so let’s
savoring the impact of a smile so let’s
savoring the impact of a smile so let’s see how it feels
see how it feels
see how it feels when we smile something we frequently
when we smile something we frequently
when we smile something we frequently neglect to observe so let’s see what
neglect to observe so let’s see what
neglect to observe so let’s see what happens I invite you to have both feet
happens I invite you to have both feet
happens I invite you to have both feet on the ground sit in any way that is
on the ground sit in any way that is
on the ground sit in any way that is comfortable for you actually just see if
comfortable for you actually just see if
comfortable for you actually just see if you can have your back straight chest
you can have your back straight chest
you can have your back straight chest open so that you create space to breathe
open so that you create space to breathe
open so that you create space to breathe in to have your hands resting on your
in to have your hands resting on your
in to have your hands resting on your thighs or knees wherever they’re
thighs or knees wherever they’re
thighs or knees wherever they’re comfortable and when you’re ready let
comfortable and when you’re ready let
comfortable and when you’re ready let your eyes close we begin with a few deep
your eyes close we begin with a few deep
your eyes close we begin with a few deep inhales and exhales I kind of inhale
inhales and exhales I kind of inhale
inhales and exhales I kind of inhale that allows awareness to come into the
that allows awareness to come into the
that allows awareness to come into the body so we become aware of what’s
body so we become aware of what’s
body so we become aware of what’s happening inside and then the kind of
happening inside and then the kind of
happening inside and then the kind of full exhale that allows you to soften
full exhale that allows you to soften
full exhale that allows you to soften inhale awareness exhale softness and as
inhale awareness exhale softness and as
inhale awareness exhale softness and as you soften I invite you to let your
you soften I invite you to let your
you soften I invite you to let your shoulders relax that your eyebrows
shoulders relax that your eyebrows
shoulders relax that your eyebrows soften the cheekbones the jaw surrenders
soften the cheekbones the jaw surrenders
soften the cheekbones the jaw surrenders the whole body is softening and we
the whole body is softening and we
the whole body is softening and we create space within a space to observe
create space within a space to observe
create space within a space to observe space to witness ourselves and I invite
space to witness ourselves and I invite
space to witness ourselves and I invite you now very slowly and very gradually
you now very slowly and very gradually
you now very slowly and very gradually to allow a smile to spread on your face
to allow a smile to spread on your face
to allow a smile to spread on your face slowly feel how the muscles of the mouth
slowly feel how the muscles of the mouth
slowly feel how the muscles of the mouth move towards your eyes and a smile is
move towards your eyes and a smile is
move towards your eyes and a smile is growing and growing and as the smile
growing and growing and as the smile
growing and growing and as the smile grows bring your attention into the body
grows bring your attention into the body
grows bring your attention into the body and feel what happens inside of you now
and feel what happens inside of you now
and feel what happens inside of you now as you smile can you feel something
as you smile can you feel something
as you smile can you feel something changing now that you smile maybe in
changing now that you smile maybe in
changing now that you smile maybe in your stomach maybe
your stomach maybe
your stomach maybe your chest perhaps your throat the head
your chest perhaps your throat the head
your chest perhaps your throat the head the third eye maybe the heart opens
the third eye maybe the heart opens
the third eye maybe the heart opens maybe there’s a joyous feeling somewhere
maybe there’s a joyous feeling somewhere
maybe there’s a joyous feeling somewhere so just observe breathe into it and
so just observe breathe into it and
so just observe breathe into it and notice what happens inside of you as you
notice what happens inside of you as you
notice what happens inside of you as you smile and now again slowly and gradually
smile and now again slowly and gradually
smile and now again slowly and gradually let go of the smile at the mouth move
let go of the smile at the mouth move
let go of the smile at the mouth move back to its neutral position and as you
back to its neutral position and as you
back to its neutral position and as you do that observe again within the body
do that observe again within the body
do that observe again within the body and see did anything change compared to
and see did anything change compared to
and see did anything change compared to how you felt when you were smiling do
how you felt when you were smiling do
how you felt when you were smiling do you now feel different when your mouth
you now feel different when your mouth
you now feel different when your mouth is in neutral position perhaps the
is in neutral position perhaps the
is in neutral position perhaps the feeling went away perhaps something
feeling went away perhaps something
feeling went away perhaps something changed inside of you just notice feel
changed inside of you just notice feel
changed inside of you just notice feel acknowledge what’s happening inside and
acknowledge what’s happening inside and
acknowledge what’s happening inside and on one final time slowly and gradually
on one final time slowly and gradually
on one final time slowly and gradually let us smile spread on your face let it
let us smile spread on your face let it
let us smile spread on your face let it grow and grow and grow feel the smile
grow and grow and grow feel the smile
grow and grow and grow feel the smile growing as you bring your attention into
growing as you bring your attention into
growing as you bring your attention into your body and reconnect with that
your body and reconnect with that
your body and reconnect with that feeling of smiling whatever it is that
feeling of smiling whatever it is that
feeling of smiling whatever it is that is moving within you however it is it
is moving within you however it is it
is moving within you however it is it feels and let that feeling vibrate
feels and let that feeling vibrate
feels and let that feeling vibrate inside of you let it spread throughout
inside of you let it spread throughout
inside of you let it spread throughout the body let it be infused within your
the body let it be infused within your
the body let it be infused within your body
body
body let your whole being being fused with
let your whole being being fused with
let your whole being being fused with that feeling of smiling and ah savoring
that feeling of smiling and ah savoring
that feeling of smiling and ah savoring that feeling you might even try to
that feeling you might even try to
that feeling you might even try to really remember that feeling imprinted
really remember that feeling imprinted
really remember that feeling imprinted in your consciousness so that it becomes
in your consciousness so that it becomes
in your consciousness so that it becomes a resource you can always go back to how
a resource you can always go back to how
a resource you can always go back to how you feel right now simple smile can act
you feel right now simple smile can act
you feel right now simple smile can act with a feeling and that resource is
with a feeling and that resource is
with a feeling and that resource is waiting for you at any challenging
waiting for you at any challenging
waiting for you at any challenging moment when you need it great I invite
moment when you need it great I invite
moment when you need it great I invite you now to reconnect with your whole
you now to reconnect with your whole
you now to reconnect with your whole body the chair where you see the room
body the chair where you see the room
body the chair where you see the room around you sound of my voice your
around you sound of my voice your
around you sound of my voice your presence my presence our presence can
presence my presence our presence can
presence my presence our presence can then take a few seconds and when you
then take a few seconds and when you
then take a few seconds and when you feel ready you can slowly open your eyes
for every three pleasant events in our
for every three pleasant events in our lives we have one that is unpleasant
lives we have one that is unpleasant
lives we have one that is unpleasant this is what we now know from studies
this is what we now know from studies
this is what we now know from studies and surveys that’s the ratio of three to
and surveys that’s the ratio of three to
and surveys that’s the ratio of three to one which means that we have an
one which means that we have an
one which means that we have an incredible potential for a lot of
incredible potential for a lot of
incredible potential for a lot of beautiful moments in our lives as long
beautiful moments in our lives as long
beautiful moments in our lives as long as we pay attention to what’s going on
as we pay attention to what’s going on
as we pay attention to what’s going on as long as we don’t let those moment
as long as we don’t let those moment
as long as we don’t let those moment just sleep under the radar of our
just sleep under the radar of our
just sleep under the radar of our attention as long as we savor them as
attention as long as we savor them as
attention as long as we savor them as long as we are mindful of them when I
long as we are mindful of them when I
long as we are mindful of them when I come back home in the evening after work
come back home in the evening after work
come back home in the evening after work I open the door and my girl she’s – she
I open the door and my girl she’s – she
I open the door and my girl she’s – she runs at me she screams daddy and then
runs at me she screams daddy and then
runs at me she screams daddy and then she jumps at me and she hugs me the kind
she jumps at me and she hugs me the kind
she jumps at me and she hugs me the kind of hug that only a two-year old child
of hug that only a two-year old child
of hug that only a two-year old child can give with her heart and soul it
can give with her heart and soul it
can give with her heart and soul it feels incredible and what I what I
feels incredible and what I what I
feels incredible and what I what I probably would have done in the past is
probably would have done in the past is
probably would have done in the past is I would have quickly had her back and
I would have quickly had her back and
I would have quickly had her back and then continued with my evening starts
then continued with my evening starts
then continued with my evening starts because you know I’m very busy I’ve got
because you know I’m very busy I’ve got
because you know I’m very busy I’ve got things to do um and these these days and
things to do um and these these days and
things to do um and these these days and doing something very very different when
doing something very very different when
doing something very very different when she hugs me the way that she does I
she hugs me the way that she does I
she hugs me the way that she does I pause I really true I post everything I
pause I really true I post everything I
pause I really true I post everything I don’t move I don’t think I don’t plan I
don’t move I don’t think I don’t plan I
don’t move I don’t think I don’t plan I don’t try I pause and I move inside and
don’t try I pause and I move inside and
don’t try I pause and I move inside and I feel her love towards me and I feel my
I feel her love towards me and I feel my
I feel her love towards me and I feel my love towards her and I feel I love
love towards her and I feel I love
love towards her and I feel I love meeting my heart is melting and I feel
meeting my heart is melting and I feel
meeting my heart is melting and I feel her body connected to mine I just melt
her body connected to mine I just melt
her body connected to mine I just melt from inside that’s how it feels and it
from inside that’s how it feels and it
from inside that’s how it feels and it nourishes me the whole evening I feel
nourishes me the whole evening I feel
nourishes me the whole evening I feel different compared to an evening where
different compared to an evening where
different compared to an evening where she doesn’t hug me and I’ve had so many
she doesn’t hug me and I’ve had so many
she doesn’t hug me and I’ve had so many of those heart melting experiences
of those heart melting experiences
of those heart melting experiences during my time at the monastery that I
during my time at the monastery that I
during my time at the monastery that I thought wait a second this is this is so
thought wait a second this is this is so
thought wait a second this is this is so meaningful I want to share this with as
meaningful I want to share this with as
meaningful I want to share this with as many people as possible so that’s what
many people as possible so that’s what
many people as possible so that’s what I’ve done of I went back to the Western
I’ve done of I went back to the Western
I’ve done of I went back to the Western world I became a university psychology
world I became a university psychology
world I became a university psychology professor I’ve been researching my
professor I’ve been researching my
professor I’ve been researching my influence meditation for the last 15
influence meditation for the last 15
influence meditation for the last 15 years
years
years scientifically I’ve also been teaching
scientifically I’ve also been teaching
scientifically I’ve also been teaching it
it
it teaching classes and workshops and
teaching classes and workshops and
teaching classes and workshops and retreats and meditation teacher
retreats and meditation teacher
retreats and meditation teacher trainings I was trying to play with
trainings I was trying to play with
trainings I was trying to play with mindfulness meditation as creatively as
mindfulness meditation as creatively as
mindfulness meditation as creatively as I could
I could
I could always with this backdrop in context of
always with this backdrop in context of
always with this backdrop in context of the positive stuff that I’ve learned
the positive stuff that I’ve learned
the positive stuff that I’ve learned about as part of my time in the
about as part of my time in the
about as part of my time in the monastery and I thought that this is the
monastery and I thought that this is the
monastery and I thought that this is the kind of mindfulness meditation that I
kind of mindfulness meditation that I
kind of mindfulness meditation that I will find in the West I thought this the
will find in the West I thought this the
will find in the West I thought this the kind of research practice that I will
kind of research practice that I will
kind of research practice that I will find as I’ll get in touch with all those
find as I’ll get in touch with all those
find as I’ll get in touch with all those things in the West but in fact I was
things in the West but in fact I was
things in the West but in fact I was wrong I was very very wrong because the
wrong I was very very wrong because the
wrong I was very very wrong because the mindfulness meditation that I found in
mindfulness meditation that I found in
mindfulness meditation that I found in the West was very clinical it was the
the West was very clinical it was the
the West was very clinical it was the kind of mindfulness meditation that was
kind of mindfulness meditation that was
kind of mindfulness meditation that was dealing with our deficiencies trying to
dealing with our deficiencies trying to
dealing with our deficiencies trying to fix what’s wrong with us
fix what’s wrong with us
fix what’s wrong with us right mindfulness meditation is healing
right mindfulness meditation is healing
right mindfulness meditation is healing without dealing with them without stress
without dealing with them without stress
without dealing with them without stress and with our anxiety and with our
and with our anxiety and with our
and with our anxiety and with our depression and with our chronic pain it
depression and with our chronic pain it
depression and with our chronic pain it always felt to me like a bank that is
always felt to me like a bank that is
always felt to me like a bank that is offering financial advice once I get
offering financial advice once I get
offering financial advice once I get bankrupt well it really doesn’t make any
bankrupt well it really doesn’t make any
bankrupt well it really doesn’t make any sense does it why why do I need to get
sense does it why why do I need to get
sense does it why why do I need to get to this point where I’m at this
to this point where I’m at this
to this point where I’m at this emotional bankruptcy in order to get
emotional bankruptcy in order to get
emotional bankruptcy in order to get some advice instead of being supported
some advice instead of being supported
some advice instead of being supported and get this kind of advice to prevent
and get this kind of advice to prevent
and get this kind of advice to prevent the bankruptcy in the first place I used
the bankruptcy in the first place I used
the bankruptcy in the first place I used to hear from hundreds of people
to hear from hundreds of people
to hear from hundreds of people something similar to look I I like all
something similar to look I I like all
something similar to look I I like all the stuff about mindfulness but to be
the stuff about mindfulness but to be
the stuff about mindfulness but to be honest I have very little stress very
honest I have very little stress very
honest I have very little stress very little anxiety I’m not depressed so I
little anxiety I’m not depressed so I
little anxiety I’m not depressed so I don’t need mindfulness meditation and it
don’t need mindfulness meditation and it
don’t need mindfulness meditation and it took me years to realize the
took me years to realize the
took me years to realize the significance of what they were telling
significance of what they were telling
significance of what they were telling me because what they were actually
me because what they were actually
me because what they were actually saying is hey look I don’t feel bad so I
saying is hey look I don’t feel bad so I
saying is hey look I don’t feel bad so I don’t need mindfulness meditation again
don’t need mindfulness meditation again
don’t need mindfulness meditation again I don’t feel bad so I don’t need
I don’t feel bad so I don’t need
I don’t feel bad so I don’t need mindfulness meditation for them
mindfulness meditation for them
mindfulness meditation for them mindfulness meditation was something you
mindfulness meditation was something you
mindfulness meditation was something you practice to deal with some kind of a
practice to deal with some kind of a
practice to deal with some kind of a psychological difficulty some because
psychological difficulty some because
psychological difficulty some because I’m a psychological this
the result of our approach to
the result of our approach to mindfulness meditation in the West is
mindfulness meditation in the West is
mindfulness meditation in the West is what these people think because of the
what these people think because of the
what these people think because of the way we research it because of the way we
way we research it because of the way we
way we research it because of the way we think about it teach it write about it
think about it teach it write about it
think about it teach it write about it we make people think that my thumbs
we make people think that my thumbs
we make people think that my thumbs meditation is something for moments
meditation is something for moments
meditation is something for moments where you don’t feel good just google
where you don’t feel good just google
where you don’t feel good just google search for books for articles around
search for books for articles around
search for books for articles around mindfulness meditation you’ll see that
mindfulness meditation you’ll see that
mindfulness meditation you’ll see that most of them are around our deficiencies
most of them are around our deficiencies
most of them are around our deficiencies quick google survey will show you
quick google survey will show you
quick google survey will show you exactly what I’m talking about
exactly what I’m talking about
exactly what I’m talking about you search for mindfulness and stress
you search for mindfulness and stress
you search for mindfulness and stress you get thirty five million hits and
you get thirty five million hits and
you get thirty five million hits and then you search for say mindfulness and
then you search for say mindfulness and
then you search for say mindfulness and savoring or mindfulness and gratitude
savoring or mindfulness and gratitude
savoring or mindfulness and gratitude you get half a million hits thirty five
you get half a million hits thirty five
you get half a million hits thirty five million half a million that’s the
million half a million that’s the
million half a million that’s the difference I’m talking about that’s the
difference I’m talking about that’s the
difference I’m talking about that’s the gap that I would have liked to close
let’s take for example the most popular
let’s take for example the most popular mindfulness program in the West
mindfulness program in the West
mindfulness program in the West it’s called MBSR mindfulness based
it’s called MBSR mindfulness based
it’s called MBSR mindfulness based stretch with stress reduction it’s
stretch with stress reduction it’s
stretch with stress reduction it’s dealing with our stress with our anxiety
dealing with our stress with our anxiety
dealing with our stress with our anxiety with our chronic pain even the name
with our chronic pain even the name
with our chronic pain even the name itself right mind stones based stress
itself right mind stones based stress
itself right mind stones based stress reduction very clearly indicates this is
reduction very clearly indicates this is
reduction very clearly indicates this is what we’re here for to reduce your
what we’re here for to reduce your
what we’re here for to reduce your stress and if you search you will see
stress and if you search you will see
stress and if you search you will see that most of the mindfulness programs in
that most of the mindfulness programs in
that most of the mindfulness programs in the West are trying to deal with similar
the West are trying to deal with similar
the West are trying to deal with similar psychological difficulties and and
psychological difficulties and and
psychological difficulties and and issues now don’t get me wrong these
issues now don’t get me wrong these
issues now don’t get me wrong these programs they are wonderful they are
programs they are wonderful they are
programs they are wonderful they are very very beneficial there are thousands
very very beneficial there are thousands
very very beneficial there are thousands of people all over the world who are
of people all over the world who are
of people all over the world who are being healed by these programs all that
being healed by these programs all that
being healed by these programs all that I’m asking is is that all is that all we
I’m asking is is that all is that all we
I’m asking is is that all is that all we can do with mindfulness meditation just
can do with mindfulness meditation just
can do with mindfulness meditation just as we harness it to reduce people’s
as we harness it to reduce people’s
as we harness it to reduce people’s stress anxiety and depression can we use
stress anxiety and depression can we use
stress anxiety and depression can we use it to create programs where people are
it to create programs where people are
it to create programs where people are invited to experience more meaning in
invited to experience more meaning in
invited to experience more meaning in life to be more hopeful to feel more
life to be more hopeful to feel more
life to be more hopeful to feel more loved to be more happy to flourish can
loved to be more happy to flourish can
loved to be more happy to flourish can we do that we do
we do that we do
we do that we do have a small number of programs who are
have a small number of programs who are
have a small number of programs who are trying to achieve that we’ve got a some
trying to achieve that we’ve got a some
trying to achieve that we’ve got a some mindfulness based compassion programs
mindfulness based compassion programs
mindfulness based compassion programs we’ve got some mindfulness based
we’ve got some mindfulness based
we’ve got some mindfulness based strength programs I’ve created what I
strength programs I’ve created what I
strength programs I’ve created what I call a positive mindfulness program
call a positive mindfulness program
call a positive mindfulness program where I brought together mindfulness and
where I brought together mindfulness and
where I brought together mindfulness and positive psychology so that we could
positive psychology so that we could
positive psychology so that we could practice mindfulness with the intention
practice mindfulness with the intention
practice mindfulness with the intention of flourishing and positive growth and
of flourishing and positive growth and
of flourishing and positive growth and positive transformation and yet the
positive transformation and yet the
positive transformation and yet the overwhelming majority of mindfulness
overwhelming majority of mindfulness
overwhelming majority of mindfulness programs in the West are asking hey what
programs in the West are asking hey what
programs in the West are asking hey what is wrong with us so that we can fix it
is wrong with us so that we can fix it
is wrong with us so that we can fix it and very very few ask what is right with
and very very few ask what is right with
and very very few ask what is right with us so that we can have more of that as
us so that we can have more of that as
us so that we can have more of that as mindfulness meditation is so popular in
mindfulness meditation is so popular in
mindfulness meditation is so popular in the West these days our task is to
the West these days our task is to
the West these days our task is to create a greater balance with our
create a greater balance with our
create a greater balance with our approach to it just as we have so many
approach to it just as we have so many
approach to it just as we have so many deficiency based mindfulness programs in
deficiency based mindfulness programs in
deficiency based mindfulness programs in the West which are important we need to
the West which are important we need to
the West which are important we need to have more freshing based mindfulness
have more freshing based mindfulness
have more freshing based mindfulness programs then when we do that we will be
programs then when we do that we will be
programs then when we do that we will be able to enjoy and to practice
able to enjoy and to practice
able to enjoy and to practice mindfulness meditation not only to
mindfulness meditation not only to
mindfulness meditation not only to reduce our stress and anxiety but also
reduce our stress and anxiety but also
reduce our stress and anxiety but also to live fully lead a meaningful life and
to live fully lead a meaningful life and
to live fully lead a meaningful life and be happy here and now thank
be happy here and now thank
be happy here and now thank [Applause]
”
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