Deep Listening

At its core Mindfulness practice is really about deep engagement. Deep listening to ourselves internally, and externally to our environment. Quieting the body-mind so that we can be completely receptive to what is, rather than manipulating, misperceiving, adding to, or taking away from our present experience. I emphasize contact with the body often in these posts. Experiencing through the body the phenomena of our experience. Our body is what contacts the world and feels. Our mind interprets these experiences and organizes them; filtering them through our concepts and perceptual constructs that have come out of past experiences. If we can move away from our thoughts and actually have a direct experience of what is occurring now a wonderful thing can happen….we are completely present and it is deeply satisfying. It is fresh and real and now.

Often when we release our hold on thoughts, or trying to figure things out and concentrate on our direct experience through the body real wisdom can arise in the mind. Instead of ruminating on an experience genuine insight begins to develop and this often comes as fully formed ideas, or concepts. We know they are true because of a grounded feeling in the body that comes as they arise in the mind. In these times when wisdom and insight arise the body-mind is unified and working as one holistic system.

We can practice deep listening by concentrating on a specific area of the body, that feels like a safe place to inhabit. For some of us with trauma there are specific areas of the body that do not feel ok to be in. Choose a space that feels ok. The hands and the feet are my favorite body spaces to use.

Next, choose a simple activity that doesn’t require a ton of brainpower, such as sweeping the floor, or eating, or knitting, walking, etc. Set your intention to completely soak into the direct experience of that activity through your chosen body part. Listen deeply with the body to that experience. Feel the subtle movements and sensations that occur in your hands/feet/legs etc, whatever body space you have chosen, as you move and engage with that activity. If you feel yourself drawn into thought, fantasy, interpretation, analysis, etc…gently release that and come back to your chosen body space with your full awareness.

We want about 80% of our awareness in our chosen body space and 20% staying in contact with the whole body to facilitate movement and safety while engaging in our activity. Try to devote 10 or 20 minutes to this exercise. Practice this often and notice your experience. There can be a deep satisfaction and wisdom that develops out of this fully engaged embodiment.