Taming The Mind- An Overview Of Meditation Practice And Theory

This course is intended to introduce the concepts of meditation theory that most inform my own practice- concepts that come up again and again in my live sessions, guided meditations, and discussions with students. It is my hope that a student who is brand new to the practice will take from this course a solid foundation to begin to practice from the first listen, and will deepen and benefit their practice through subsequent listens, and lead them to their own investigations of the rich world of spiritual theory. I also believe that some seasoned meditators may benefit from the distillations and connections drawn, to edify an already devoted practice. The course addresses a bit of the why and how of meditation, and hopefully begins to get to the what. One definition of meditation could be: setting aside time and space to cultivate the mind toward greater well-being; and further, to position ourselves to see more clearly what is true, good, and beneficial to our lives and the lives of the people around us. Each day will have a presentation of material followed by a short guided meditation. Please join me in this exploration of a skillful practice that I love.

Leçon 1: Why Do We Meditate?

The first teaching considers the motivation behind meditation practice. It addresses the intention for well-being that underlies spiritual practice in the context of the three major categories of the noble eight-fold path: Widsom, Virtue, and Concentration. After the teaching, a short guided meditation will focus on the practice of establishing the posture of the body and the mind.

Leçon 2: How We Meditate

This teaching goes into some detail about what we actually do in meditation, with an emphasis on working with awareness of the breath and body, and the cultivation of good will, which extends directly out of the intention for well-being established in the first teaching. The guided meditation that follows this teaching will build upon the first meditation, bringing in some of the new concepts learned.

Leçon 3: What Else?

Having addressed the why and how of meditation, there were just a few things that still needed saying, so this is a kind of an epilogue to this relatively short presentation. The course is tied together with some reflection on the topics of mindfulness, concentration, and awakening, and will close with another short guided meditation inspired by these teachings.

Reviews

Great course, full of insightfull ideas and deep content. 3 days that can certainly turn into many more as I will definitely listen to it a few more times as I let the words to sink ink slowly with time and attention.

Thank you an extremely interesting and helpful course which I will definitely use aspects of to enhance my daily practice.

A great course. It helped me deepen my meditation practise. Mark also have a very nice and calm voice. I will do this course again.

A lot of Buddhist wisdom presented concisely by someone who has studied and absorbed the teachings to the extent that he can offer us a light-hearted choice of techniques he plainly delights in himself. I needed to play each lesson two or three times, and although the meditations led us through a clear path I felt there were a lot of opportunities offered to choose how or whether to dance with the possibilities. Shall be going through the course again, I’m sure I shall gain something different each time.

I find this course helpful . I think it should be first before starting other meditation course. Thank you 😊

A beautiful and foundational primer about the basics of mindfulness meditation. Mark has a lyrical and soothing way of speaking about the concepts, both able to hold the complexity and make it seem simple. This little offering is a gem!

Thank you Mark for sharing these insights with us. There is so much content one can learn but to focus on the practice is key. This course gives the foundation and justification for dedicating oneself to this practice. 🌈

A concise and practical introduction to meditation with a few aha-moments even for one who has been meditating for a few years. Highly recommended !