029 -- The First Insight of Meditation; Johnathan Woodside, 08/04/22

Mindfulness Outreach Initiative

What is it like when you notice the mind lost in stories? What is it like when the mind arrives home to the present moment and sees clearly? These are the questions MOI teacher Johnathan Woodside asks us in this week’s talk as he discusses the difficulties of staying with the present moment experience of reality. He says that noticing how busy the mind is, how wild and distracted it can be, is the initial insight of meditation practice. We can easily be discouraged when we notice the business of the mind and how difficult it is to stay present. But Johnathan states that this is good news. It is a valuable insight that not everyone realizes. Without real effort, we can spend most of life lost in thought, caught up in the various stories of the mind. To help us stay present, Johnathan teaches us that it is helpful to keep coming back to the simple instructions of practice: become still, direct the attention inward, mindfully connect with the breath, and be present. It is in the simplicity of our practice that we can tap into all the happiness and joy that life offers.

If you feel inspired by these teachings, and wish to practice generosity, please consider supporting MOI and its teachers by visiting, https://mindfulnessoutreachinitiative.org/generosity/