Podcast Summary
Effortless Mindfulness: Effortless mindfulness goes beyond focusing on breath, inviting a deeper exploration of consciousness and awareness that observes thoughts and emotions.
Key takeaway from this conversation with Locke Kelly is the concept of effortless mindfulness, which goes beyond conventional mindfulness practices like focusing on the breath. Effortless mindfulness involves turning the gaze inward to understand the awareness that observes thoughts and emotions, leading to a more integrated and embodied mindfulness experience. This perspective challenges the common belief that mindfulness is just about focusing on a specific object, and instead encourages a deeper exploration of consciousness. Additionally, Locke emphasizes the importance of letting go of the need to fully understand complex concepts like non-duality and instead approaching them with curiosity and a sense of humor.
Meditation perspective shift: During meditation, shift from being the thinker to the observer of thoughts to expand awareness and connect with interconnectedness and non-dual awareness.
During meditation practice, it's essential to understand that there is a difference between being the thinker or the observer of thoughts. This shift in perspective, often referred to as "location, location, location" instruction, allows us to move from a focused awareness to a more open, aware state. This transition can be seen as a move from choiceless awareness to a wider, bird's-eye view, where we recognize that we are the awareness itself, not just the thoughts or sensations. This understanding can lead to a more compassionate and connected perspective, where we recognize our interconnectedness with all things and act from a place of non-dual awareness. Ultimately, this practice helps us move beyond the limitations of a small self and connect with the vast, open awareness that is our true nature.
Meditation and self-perception: Through meditation practices like concentration, choiceless awareness, and unhooking from conceptual thinking, one can shift perception of self from separate to interconnected, leading to calm, understanding, and benevolence.
During meditation, focusing on effortless awareness can help shift the perception of self from a separate entity to an interconnected part of the experience. This can be achieved through various practices such as concentration exercises, choiceless awareness, or unhooking from conceptual thinking. The location of awareness is not limited to the head, but can be felt throughout the body, leading to a sense of embodiment and a deeper connection to oneself and the world. This shift towards effortless awareness can bring about a sense of calm, understanding, and benevolence, making it a valuable tool for daily life.
Awake consciousness: Accessing awake consciousness involves a shift in awareness from focus on thoughts or objects to a more spacious, embodied feeling, which can lead to a sense of balance, open-heartedness, and expanded awareness.
The speaker describes a deep, connected consciousness that feels loving, compassionate, and non-judgmental. This consciousness, which can be thought of as "awake consciousness," is not something that can be transmitted directly but can be pointed to through language and experience. The speaker's words are described as "psychoactive," meaning they have the power to affect others' consciousness and help them access this state. The process of accessing this consciousness involves a shift in awareness from focus on thoughts or objects to a more spacious, embodied feeling. This shift can lead to a sense of balance, open-heartedness, and expanded awareness. For those who may find the concept difficult to understand, the speaker suggests trying practices such as the speaker's app or "glimpse practices" to help relax and access this consciousness over time.
Non-dual awareness: Non-dual awareness is the realization that the ultimate sense of one's mind is not dualistic but one, not separate from the world, and can be practiced for healing, open-heartedness, and a more connected sense of self.
Non-dual awareness, also known as non-duality, is a concept with various definitions across different meditation systems and religions. It refers to the realization that the awareness is not dualistic, but rather the ultimate sense of one's mind arising as thoughts, feelings, sensations, and the body in the world. This awareness is not other than the relative, meaning it is not separate from the world. Non-dual awareness is not about oneness or emptiness, but rather acknowledging that there is something here, but it's not the only reality. This awareness can be practiced and learned, leading to healing, open-heartedness, and a more connected sense of self. It can be combined with traditional psychotherapeutic modes to treat the root of suffering rather than just the symptoms.
Non-duality awareness: Non-duality invites us to move beyond dualistic identification of self and world, see interconnectedness and impermanence, and access a more spacious and inclusive awareness through practices like 'look for the looker'.
Non-duality is a concept that goes beyond the Western psychological and philosophical maps, inviting us to move beyond the dualistic identification of self as subject and the world as object. It's an awareness that includes and welcomes all experiences, allowing us to see the interconnectedness and impermanence of all things. This doesn't negate the need for practical actions in daily life but offers a shift in perspective, inviting us to be more present and embodied, and to open up to a more spacious and inclusive awareness. Practices like "look for the looker" can help us expand our awareness and move beyond the limitations of a small self-consciousness. There are various tactics to access this awareness, and it's essential to find what works best for each individual.
Mindfulness practice: Becoming aware of present moment sensations, feelings, thoughts, and body without judgment leads to connection, non-duality, love, compassion, and deeper understanding of consciousness
The practice of mindfulness involves becoming aware of the present moment, including sensations, feelings, thoughts, and the relationship between them and the body, without judgment. This awareness can lead to a sense of connection and non-duality, where one realizes that the thinker and the thought are not separate. Love and compassion are also integral parts of this practice, as they stem from a feeling of safety, connection, and non-judgment. The practice involves small glimpses of awareness throughout the day and trusting in the non-conceptual flow of experiences. The ultimate goal is to move from recognition to realization and familiarization, taking the practice off the cushion and into daily life. The practice requires letting go of conditioning and allowing oneself to connect and feel, leading to a deeper understanding of consciousness and ultimately, unconditional love and compassion.
Awakened Awareness: Experiencing opposite feelings and practicing openness can lead to healing and dissatisfaction alleviation, accessible to anyone, though not an easy journey, around 70% successful
The path to awakened awareness or "awake self" involves stepping out of one's normal self, experiencing feelings opposite to one's defaults (such as unburdened instead of burdened, benevolent instead of selfish, awe instead of cynicism), and being curious and open to the experience. This process, which can be facilitated by practices like conditioning and introspection, can lead to healing and a sense of dissatisfaction being alleviated. This experience is not limited to a select few, but is accessible to anyone. It's important to note that the journey is not easy, but it can be simplified by trying out different practices and approaches, and by keeping an open mind. Additionally, around 70% of people who commit to this process are successful in making the connection and finding this awake awareness.