Exploring Awareness

There is a deep place of connection within each of us, that is shared by all. In today's world, distractions, conditions, and inflexible ideas pull us away from the present moment and our connection to each other. In this episode, we focus on the word RETURN as an invitation and intention to connect to a deeper sense of presence, an authentic sense of being - a return to mindful awareness and a return to a felt sense of the unity of all beings. This is about a realization and being on a path to our own awakening, to a return of our original self while at the same time shared with all in a common consciousness.

Episode 60: Exploring Awareness Of Dualistic Thinking And Its Impact Opinions, advice and judgments tend to be experienced as having to be either this way or that way with little room in between, There is your way- which you might feel is the right, usual, customary, comfortable way and then there is the other way – which may seem wrong, not usual and not comfortable. This very common tendency is called dualistic thinking. In this episode, we bring compassionate awareness to this tendency and explore how it brings reactions instead of responses. Being aware of the dynamic of dualistic thinking stops the "autopilot" reaction providing then an opportunity to see what is occurring and realize things may not be that straightforward. Going deeper, through exploring awareness, allows the unconscious to become conscious- getting to the root of unconsciousness and bias. From this place of deep awareness, life doesn't fit into boxes. Now, freedom from duality and an opportunity to act from a place of peace, joy, love and generosity arises. .

Episode 58: Are Judgements Blocking You from Peace and Happiness? Judging, putting people into categories, assigning negative attributes, sticking with first impressions, even ghosting can become a personal and community norm performed without thought or consciousness. Self judgement as well stems from our experience with families and other cultural groups who judged us and made it seem normal. In this episode, we look at the roots of judgement by becoming aware that we are judging, and then exploring the awareness of the thoughts and emotions that lead to judgment. Some definitions of mindfulness include a phrase that suggests we pay attention in a certain way "non-judgmentally". Although we can't force ourselves to stop judging by just using using our mind, we can use mindfulness techniques to explore awareness, watching judgments arise, dissolve and fall away. The freedom that comes from this practice will then give you an opportunity to respond rather than react, you will be happier and so will the people around you.

Forcing oneself to "accept things as they are" or asking others to, sets up conflict, invokes defensiveness and leads to stuck, judgmental feelings. Exploring awareness leads to a spaciousness where the present moment event is allowed to be what it is- good or bad. This is not the same as allowing bad things to happen if they can be prevented- but if an event has occurred, becoming aware opens a compassionate channel through which we can move. "What you resist – persists" and "the only way out is through". Practicing awareness though regular mindfulness meditation opens compassionate awareness so that both wonderful and adverse events can be experienced with grace.

When you're aware you're aware- that is another level of existence that has an opportunity for some real peace and love and a real authentic experience with this very precious human life. It's so precious and rare and it doesn't last that long and there are so many ways that you can use it, so why not use it for good?

What would it take to find Awe in a brick? How to experience Awe everyday is the topic of this episode. We discuss how there is a constant opportunity to connect at a deeper level and to be aware of what is happening in the present moment -as it is -without judgement, analyzing or overthinking. To allow yourself to be in the present moment and allow what's happening to happen – a sense of Awe will emerge as a wonderful feeling of connection. By taking the opportunity to be present, to be aware, there is a sense of relief that there is a larger way of being which also unearths a sense of love and peace and joy found in present moment -not from the past or future. Awe becomes the experience of seeing things for the first time, every time! The deeper we look, and the more present we are, the more Awe we discover- and we may find that we are the mystery we are looking at! In this episode, also enjoy an Awe-Inspiring guided meditation.

Episode 50: Exploring Awareness to Experience Unity Mindfulness practices and exploring awareness can lead to a deep realization and experience of Unity. When we practice the 4 foundations of mindfulness and get a sense of our true identity as pure awareness a deep realization emerges. Experiences of Unity first come and go in glimpses then become seen through a clear window. Understanding gets deeper and integrates into daily life. As conditioned beliefs and habitual thought patterns start to fall away, we begin to realize that we all share one unconditioned place unified in a field of awareness. Beyond words, the guided meditation in this episode helps one get familiar with an experience of awareness and unity.

Episode 48 : Awareness of the Present Moment Plus a Mediation for Sleeplessness The actions of our mind are a wonderful gift as we enjoy past memories, solve problems and plan for the future. Taken to extremes however, our minds can come up with the details of past events so vivid, it is as if we are reliving them over and over again. Future events can be created as well, so a future scenario seems to be completely true even though it hasn't happened yet! These mental creations can lead to stress, anxiety and trouble sleeping, and trying to get rid of them can make it worse! When you become truly "aware" this is happening, a shift occurs. In this episode, we talk about how using mindfulness techniques to explore awareness can activate the "awareness mind", where we become aware of our thoughts, aware of awareness, and in that awareness find a place of peace and calm. Sometimes, recreating past and future scenarios occur when we are trying to sleep. A calm and dark room does not have the distractions that our daytime activities provide so the mind can really go. In this episode, we provide a guided meditation to help you see the thoughts and reactions for what they are, then you can "rest as awareness" and see what happens. Practicing exploring awareness during the day is a great way to prepare for those restless nights.

How conscious are you of the words that you speak? Where do the words come from and what do they represent? Words are one way to communicate, and in this episode, we explore the awareness of what is happening in our mind that generates the words we use. Words used habitually, reflexively, and not formed with awareness may not represent the inner dimension of peace, love, joy and equanimity. Consider words a sound that you make, and that there is a choice about what those sounds are and what you want to those sounds to represent. Exploring awareness and finding your base of peace, joy, love and equanimity allows a place from where the words you choose represent you're your own truth.

Looking to a Post-Covid World- what are we learning? The Covid pandemic is giving the world a long pause from routine and turning expectations upside down. Even as we may be nearing the end, this past year provided time to go inward, to see what is important, and note what may or may not have been working in life. Some did not have such a luxury and continued an even more frantic life fraught with risk and fear. Either way, the pandemic year taught us some valuable lessons and asked us to try something different, to shift perspective to experiencing life in the present -as it without resistance and then respond instead of react. Here, we discuss how this perspective change comes about using mindfulness techniques to explore awareness.

Episode 42: Thoughts are important, but do they define who you are? As we explore the various methods and issues in mindfulness and awareness, we often hear about how " you are not your thoughts". This is often said by experienced teachers to people starting out - and to the thinking mind, this does not make any sense whatsoever. If a mind is thinking, what else could it be? Defensiveness and fear arise if we start to entertain an idea that who we are isn't who we "think" we are. This whole idea can seem threatening if you haven't been meditating and practicing exploring awareness. In this episode, Frank and Lisa take this "idea" apart and use the exploring awareness concepts to bring it to awareness. Bringing all thoughts into awareness, even the thoughts about how this doesn't make sense, opens up a new sense of self that is experienced beyond thoughts. When you have realized this opportunity in human experience you too will realize that - I am not my thoughts. Nothing is going to be lost AND a new authentic freedom grounded in peace, love, joy and generosity will be there waiting for your return.

Episode #40: Are you a Human Doing or a Human Being? We "do" lots of things- that's what life seems to be all about. Many of the things we do are fun, some are not, and some just need to get done. The never ending list of things to do is always there, even if they are not written down. Meditation is probably somewhere on that list -may be near the bottom -making it seem unlikely, time consuming, and difficult to fit in the schedule. However, the essence of meditation is not a "doing" but is "being"- and "being" never goes anywhere. Sure, it can be clouded over by "doing" but "being" is a natural state. Meditation then becomes a way to become familiar with that sense of "being". Exploring the awareness of "being" clears the clouds of obstruction and allows the present moment to be what it is, even during all of doing of the things that need to get done. There is an opportunity here to wake up to the truth of being. No matter what the conditions are in the world, opening to a shift in perspective away from identifying with all of those conditions to an identification of pure presence and of pure being may provide the answer. This creates a feeling of "don't know" which could be the source of all wisdom- as Socrates famously observed, "I know one thing, that I know nothing."