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Exercises in Mindfulness

S E R I E S

Exercises in Mindfulness

Tips for Zen practice

These articles are tips and suggestions for beginning and deepening our daily life practice, zazen and insight wisdom.

E P I S O D E S

E P I S O D E 41

Taking a Moment

When caught up in the hustle and bustle of life it can be difficult to remember to come back to the moment. Here are some strategies to help extend...

E P I S O D E 40

Low Impact Living

Cultivating a reverent attitude. Episode 40 of our on-going series on Exercises in Mindfulness.

E P I S O D E 39

The Sword that Slays 10,000 Thoughts

Most of us experience temporary obsessional or fixated thoughts from time to time. They are energetic and involuntary but can pervade consciousness.

E P I S O D E 38

“Is there someone else I can ask?”

Why can life be so upsetting? Cut through the mental noise in this simple exercise.

E P I S O D E 37

What is Samadhi Power?

Daily life practice gives us the key to freeing the mind.

E P I S O D E 36

Enter Sandman

What can we do about sleepiness during mediation?

E P I S O D E 35

We use it every day but are not aware of it

Exercises in Mindfulness

The Buddha Nature is closer than you think.

E P I S O D E 34

How is the Zen Practice going? Tips for 2023

With the Winter break over it’s time to get back to the training. We have some tips and tricks to get the ball rolling again and how to identify areas that...

E P I S O D E 33

Bamboo on the Mountain

A story of patient endurance

Bamboo grass has something important to teach us about the natural flow of things.

E P I S O D E 32

Know Thyself and then Get a Move On!

While the Buddha taught that the self is delusion, if we can get to know this self instead of denying it’s existence we find a powerful way to form new habits.

E P I S O D E 31

Tightening the Belt

Learn how to use the small, everyday things, to train a special kind of strength cultivated in Zen practice.

E P I S O D E 30

What is Forest Bathing?

Relieve stress, reconnect with nature and also ‘The Way’ in this healing practice

E P I S O D E 29

Cultivating being in the body and working with the emotional household

To create the mind-body connection we have to empty the heart, to empty the heart we need to fully come into the body.

E P I S O D E 28

The Long & Short of It

If we get stuck between 'this' thing and 'that' thing, dukkha (suffering or dis-ease) will certainly arise.

E P I S O D E 27

Under the Bodhi Tree

How do we find the place inside ourselves which allows us to transcend suffering? The answer is much more straight forward than you may imagine.

E P I S O D E 26

Sipping on Life

Daily life practice teaches us to de-clutch from the past and the future and to re-connect with the eternal now that is continually within us.

E P I S O D E 25

Willing Flesh

The body is the tree of enlightenment! By recognising the role the body plays in all aspects of Zen training, the practice can truly blossom.

E P I S O D E 24

Studying the Hidden Essence

In Zen practice, being able to respond in accordance with the circumstances we find ourselves in, is a highly prized skill. By learning to do this...

E P I S O D E 23

Are Precepts Needed for a Mindfulness Practice

Has secular mindfulness missed a key ingredient by excluding ethics from its curriculum?

E P I S O D E 22

Who Are You Really?

Exercises in Mindfulness

The masks we wear on day to day basis, allow us to participate in the many social interactions we find ourselves in. There may come a point, where I feel...

E P I S O D E 21

The Constant Gardener

What do weeds, plants, Zen practice and the emotions, all have in common?

E P I S O D E 20

The Lion’s Roar

The fierceness of the Zen Masters can leave us feeling uneasy, however what they are pointing us towards is the secret gift of Zen training, open to everyone.

E P I S O D E 19

Observance

Exercises in Mindfulness

Rather than praying for guidance, Zen Buddhism has its own method for producing similar results.

E P I S O D E 18

On the Contemplation of Nature

In the past Nature was something to be feared, later to be controlled and now to be saved. In Japan and other eastern countries however, nature is something...

E P I S O D E 17

Tasting the Bittersweet

‘Between a rock and a hard place’ is probably the last situation we would want to find ourselves in. In Buddhist practice however, this may be exactly where...

E P I S O D E 16

Greeting the Divinity in the Other

When we are overrun with the passions or if our mind has simply run away with us, the simple act of bowing can go a long way.

E P I S O D E 15

Cloud Water

The ideal practice for the Zen monk is to 'leave no trace'. This is a practice which develops both awareness and consideration for others and for...

E P I S O D E 14

The Great Rohatsu Sesshin

The commemoration of the Buddha's Enlightenment runs from 1st to the morning of 8th December in the NE Buddhist tradition. It is a time of intensive...

E P I S O D E 13

Getting Back Up to Speed

Simple exercises in paying attention can help invigorate a daily mindfulness practice. Here are some ideas to try out.

E P I S O D E 12

Sipping Life

Daily life practice teaches us to de-clutch from the past and the future and to re-connect with the eternal now that is continually within us.

E P I S O D E 11

The Buddha’s Advice to the Kalamas

This popular sermon to the Kalama tribe is a call to action from the Buddha to us all to evaluate our practices carefully and recognise the importance of.

E P I S O D E 10

Advice on Starting out In Daily Life Practice

The fundamentals of Zen practice for both new and experienced practitioners.

E P I S O D E 9

Is it Morbid to Think about one’s own Death?

Awareness of one's own mortality has always played a large part in religion and spiritual awakening. It was the reason that propelled Prince Gotama onto...

E P I S O D E 8

Know Thyself and then Get a Move On!

We like to think we know who we are, but self-beliefs can cover up the fact that both body and heart are changing throughout our lives.

E P I S O D E 7

Should I Go On A Retreat?

As we are in the middle of the Rohatsu Sesshin week, now might be a good time to consider the pros and cons of going on retreat?

E P I S O D E 6

Wisdom, Ethical Living and Meditation as One Practice

The Buddha’s teaching on non-self (anatta) forms the foundation for ethical conduct, which in turn supports the meditation practice that leads to Nirvana.

E P I S O D E 5

How to Pull Myself Together

Changing my own behaviour can be very hard. To do so requires harnessing the fickle energy of my desires into a unified force. How can this be done?

E P I S O D E 4

Where is your energy at?

People often describe themselves as having 'high' or 'low' energy, however this may only be a feeling rather than a reality.

E P I S O D E 3

Constructing a Wheel of Life

Teachings about rebirth aren't only about what happens after we die. They are a powerful tools for understanding our psychological and emotional...

E P I S O D E 2

Home Shrines

Being confined at home, why not consider making sacred spaces that can support our efforts walking the Buddha's Way.

E P I S O D E 1

Staying on Target

The Buddha's parable of the poisoned arrow warns against being distracted when urgent action is necessary.

More from Meditation & Mindfulness

Patient Endurance

Dr Alan Sidi explores how to transform the chaotic forces of the passions into the Buddha nature.

Skilful Restraint

The Wheel of Life teaches that restraint and awareness of impermanence can transform passions into wisdom and compassion, guiding us toward Nirvana.

Giving: an antidote to half-heartedness

The Paramitas

The Paramitas guide us to end suffering by giving ourselves wholeheartedly to the Dharma, which requires overcoming the delusion of self through practices like.

The Paramitas

The six Paramitas not only lead us out of suffering, they also bring us to enlightenment.