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Appreciating What It Means To Be Human
With Paul RichesHave you ever entertained the thought that you get to the end of your life and suddenly realize what you’ve been taking for granted? When people approach death, they sometimes experience profound insights into what it really means to be human, but why wait until then? Humans have arguably the most potential of any creature in the known universe, yet many of us live limited lives, never fully appreciating what it means to be human. Most of us are endowed with miraculous bodies, amazing minds, powerful emotions, and wonderful senses, and we live on this awe-inspiring planet. Caught up in our busy lives it’s so easy to lose contact with our bodies and senses. Lost in thought, we often take the miracle and wonder of life for granted. Leonardo Da Vinci noted that a typical human, “Looks without seeing, listens without hearing, touches without feeling, eats without tasting, moves without physical awareness, inhales without awareness of odour or fragrance, and talks without thinking.” This 10-day course will take you on a journey of exploration and appreciation. Each session includes a brief talk followed by a related guided practice.
This course will take you on a journey of exploration and appreciation — not only through your body, emotions, mind, and senses but also through the interactions between them to raise awareness, and appreciation and enable you to experience insights that transform your potential as a human being.
About this course
Have you ever entertained the thought that you get to the end of your life and suddenly realize what you’ve been taking for granted? When people approach death, they sometimes experience profound insights into what it really means to be human, but why wait until then? Humans have arguably the most potential of any creature in the known universe, yet many of us live limited lives, never fully appreciating what it means to be human. Most of us are endowed with miraculous bodies, amazing minds, powerful emotions, and wonderful senses, and we live on this awe-inspiring planet. Caught up in our busy lives it’s so easy to lose contact with our bodies and senses. Lost in thought, we often take the miracle and wonder of life for granted. Leonardo Da Vinci noted that a typical human, “Looks without seeing, listens without hearing, touches without feeling, eats without tasting, moves without physical awareness, inhales without awareness of odour or fragrance, and talks without thinking.” This 10-day course will take you on a journey of exploration and appreciation. Each session includes a brief talk followed by a related guided practice.
Meet your Teacher
Paul Riches is a teacher and author who has been running weekly mindfulness sessions in the workplace since 2012. He has a BSc in Cognitive Science and is a trained Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy teacher. Paul first experienced meditation and awareness practice when he went through a difficult time in his early twenties that made a real difference to his happiness and well-being. Using insights from his own practice, Paul’s approach blends secular mindfulness, evolutionary psychology, scientific research, and the challenges of our modern lifestyles.