Dadirri: Deep Listening And Still Awareness

This meditation is inspired by Dadirri — a practice of deep listening and still awareness, shared generously by Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, a Ngangikurungkurr woman from the Daly River region.

Dadirri emerges in nature. It invites us into quiet, into patience… into a way of being where we are not trying to fix or change anything.

Simply listening.

Listening to the sounds around you…
Listening to the subtle movements within you…
Listening with your whole being.

Transcript

The practice of Dadiri Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that this practice is inspired by the wisdom of Miriam Rose Angangmo Bauman, Who has generously shared Dadiri, Deep listening and quiet, Still awareness, As a gift to all people. I want to offer this with deep respect for the practice's origins in Aboriginal culture, And as we move into this practice, Know that we do so not to take it or use it, But to gently receive it with humility, Respect and care. This practice is designed to be done somewhere in nature, Which could be in the bush, Under a tree, At the beach, Or even in your back garden, And of course it would be fine to listen now and do the practice silently later in nature. So beginning by finding a place in nature, Somewhere you feel drawn to, Somewhere you won't be disturbed by others, By other humans anyway. Take your time arriving, There's no rush, And when you've found your spot, Allow your body to settle, Sitting, Or perhaps lying down, Letting the ground hold you, And allow your gaze to soften, Or you might gently allow your eyes to close. Before anything else, Take a moment to acknowledge the land you're on, Silently, Or in your own words, Offering respect and gratitude to the traditional custodians of this country, The people who have cared for this land for thousands of years, Acknowledging their deep connection to this place, Their wisdom, Their listening, And notice that you are here now, Held by the same earth, Now gently beginning to open your awareness, No need to think about the environment, Just sensing it, What sounds are here already, Birdsong, Wind, Distant movement, Letting the sounds come to you, Without reaching, If your eyes are closed, You might allow them to open, And with a soft gaze, Resting the eyes on what is here, Colours, Shapes, Textures, Three-dimensionality, Light, And shadow, No need to name, Just seeing. Feeling the contact between your body and the earth, The air on your skin, The temperature, The breeze, Letting yourself be touched by the world, And moving to the sense of smell, Noticing any sense, Earth, Leaves, Subtle or intense, Just receiving, Letting all of this happen naturally, No effort required. You might want to pause the recording at this point, Or otherwise here are some words of Miriam Roses about Dardiri. She says, When I experience Dardiri, I am made whole again, I can sit on the riverbank or walk through the trees, There is no need of words, A big part of Dardiri is listening. The contemplative way of Dardiri spreads over our whole life, It renews us and brings us peace, It makes us feel whole again. So now, Rather than choosing, Simply wait, Let something in the environment find you, It might be birdsong, A leaf moving, Light on bark, The feel of the breeze, A cloud drifting, No need to try, Just wait and allow, And when something finds you, Rest your attention there, Gently, Softly, Can you let it be with you, And you with it, As you stay here, Beginning to listen more deeply, This listening is not just with your ears, But with your whole body, Letting the boundary between you and what you're noticing, Soften. If you wish, You might lie down, Allowing the earth to fully hold you, Letting the ground support you and feel your weight, Your warmth, Let it know your breathing, Your heart beating, Your presence, And in return, Sensing the life of the earth beneath you, No effort, No doing, Just being, Just listening. This is Dardiri, Inner, Deep listening. Quiet, Still awareness, Allowing yourself to rest here for a while, Nothing to achieve or produce, Nothing to change, Simply aware, Simply present, Simply being here. When you're ready, You might like to gently begin to widen your awareness more, Moving the body a little, Knowing that you don't have to leave the experience here, But you can carry it with you, Maybe later it might even feel good to give some expression to what you experienced, Maybe through journaling, Drawing, Movement or sound, Just remembering that the expression is not the practice, The heart of the practice is the being. Some more words from Miriam Rose, There is a deep spring within you and within this land, When you listen in this way, You are made whole again, There is no need for words, Just this quiet, Still, Listening. Indigenous poet Noel Davis suggests starting the day with a little blessing, Let tiny drops of stillness fall gently through my day. As we come towards the end of the meditation, Perhaps you might like to offer a quiet thank you. A thank you to the earth beneath you, Holding you, Supporting you. A thank you to the creatures and life around you, Seen and unseen. A thank you to the First Peoples of this land, Their wisdom, Their care, Their deep listening. And also a thank you to yourself for taking this time, For being here, For listening. Not separate from all of this, But part of it, Part of this living breathing system, Held within it, Belonging to it, Just noticing that, Resting in that, As you go about your day. Thank you.