Turbulent Seas: Contemplative Practice is Your Safe Harbor
with Pat Coffey
It is interesting that most of the wisdom traditions have ‘practice’ aspects in addition to greater or lesser elements having to do with faith. The practice element is often offered as some manner of repetition of mind training exercise that results in benefit to the practitioner. In that sense, contemplative training is not dissimilar to building strength and health in the body through resistance, cardiovascular and flexibility training.
Science has now mapped many of the numerous benefits of mind training through various meditative practices. Researchers have shown that you can restructure the actual organic matter of the brain and alter and strengthen beneficial neural pathways. This is not news anymore. The caveat, as it is for any training, is that repetition of these mental trainings is necessary. It is not about reading the latest book on spirituality or mindfulness……It’s about practice. That is where the rubber meets the road.
Tonight, will be very practical and not so much of a theoretical treatise on Buddhism. I will offer a favored practice of mine that most directly meets and helps navigate and sooth powerful emotional and physical issues as well as enhancing feelings of joy, peace and love. Full instructions will be offered such that this evening is suitable for both seasoned and new practitioners.