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How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
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How to Meditate: Meditation 101 for Beginners
10 Science-Backed Benefits of Meditation
What is Meditation?
Benefits of Mindfulness: Mindful Living Can Change Your Life
Mindfulness 101: A Beginner's Guide
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Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about awareness as your refuge. This is a line that I've heard from the teacher, Ajahn Sumedho, and it's part of a longer passage in one of his writings. He says, "Awareness is your refuge." awareness is your refuge. Now, since you've been with us on Mindfulness.com for some time, you're aware of this idea of awareness that we're touching into in our meditation practice.
It's the part of us that is able to know what is happening without being consumed by what is happening. It's the part of you that is aware that you're thinking without being caught in your thoughts. It's a part of you that sees, oh yeah, I'm feeling this right now, but you can create some distance from it where you're not absorbed and sucked into that experience. Awareness is in the backdrop of every single moment. And the beauty of awareness is that it's, it's unchanging.
It's not subject to the same laws of transience, as thoughts are, as emotions are, as sensations are. And when we try to take refuge in a certain emotion, like a positive emotion such as joy, we'll always get stuck and we'll always feel like we're failing because the nature of emotions is to change. The nature of thoughts is to change. The nature of the felt experience in your body is to change. And so it's a really deep inquiry to look at.
What does a more sustainable form of happiness and wellbeing look like in life? If I were to take refuge in something in my experience, what could that be when everything is changing? And that's where awareness comes in. Of course, you don't have to take any of this at face value. I mean, the whole beauty of meditation is that you get to explore this for yourself and discern, does this feel true for you? At least in my experience and the many deep meditators who have come before me, there's something about awareness that is unique to any aspect of our experience. It's steady, it's there and it can hold all of you without becoming it. And for that reason, as we spend more time dwelling in awareness of our experience, rather than the experience itself, we start to re identify our sense of self.
And that that sense of self then becomes bigger and more expansive and more spacious than the momentary experience moving through it. So take this into your meditation today and see if you can take it with you throughout your day. Thank you for your practice and let's settle into today's meditation.
Awareness As Your Refuge
Personalized support for learning how to integrate mindfulness into your life. Delivered fresh everyday by our world renowned experts. Choose meditation duration:
Duration
Your default time is based on your progress and is changed automatically as you practice.
Hi, welcome back to your Daily Mindfulness. In today's session, we're going to talk about awareness as your refuge. This is a line that I've heard from the teacher, Ajahn Sumedho, and it's part of a longer passage in one of his writings. He says, "Awareness is your refuge." awareness is your refuge. Now, since you've been with us on Mindfulness.com for some time, you're aware of this idea of awareness that we're touching into in our meditation practice.
It's the part of us that is able to know what is happening without being consumed by what is happening. It's the part of you that is aware that you're thinking without being caught in your thoughts. It's a part of you that sees, oh yeah, I'm feeling this right now, but you can create some distance from it where you're not absorbed and sucked into that experience. Awareness is in the backdrop of every single moment. And the beauty of awareness is that it's, it's unchanging.
It's not subject to the same laws of transience, as thoughts are, as emotions are, as sensations are. And when we try to take refuge in a certain emotion, like a positive emotion such as joy, we'll always get stuck and we'll always feel like we're failing because the nature of emotions is to change. The nature of thoughts is to change. The nature of the felt experience in your body is to change. And so it's a really deep inquiry to look at.
What does a more sustainable form of happiness and wellbeing look like in life? If I were to take refuge in something in my experience, what could that be when everything is changing? And that's where awareness comes in. Of course, you don't have to take any of this at face value. I mean, the whole beauty of meditation is that you get to explore this for yourself and discern, does this feel true for you? At least in my experience and the many deep meditators who have come before me, there's something about awareness that is unique to any aspect of our experience. It's steady, it's there and it can hold all of you without becoming it. And for that reason, as we spend more time dwelling in awareness of our experience, rather than the experience itself, we start to re identify our sense of self.
And that that sense of self then becomes bigger and more expansive and more spacious than the momentary experience moving through it. So take this into your meditation today and see if you can take it with you throughout your day. Thank you for your practice and let's settle into today's meditation.
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Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
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I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
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Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
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Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
This is the app I turn to when I want to feel calm and loved.
- Abby
Melli has a beautiful way of guiding and reminding us of the stillness within.
- Adrienne James
I have been on a journey of healing and learning self-love. Amidst the work, I have been using the mindfulness app for the gentle reminders, guides to the moment (especially the difficult ones).
Kelly Boys offers a fresh and illuminating take on how to step out of lifelong patterns that keep snagging us.
- Tara Brach, PhD
Truly life changing. This isn't solely meditation and mindfulness...this is about striving to be the best the versions of ourselves.
- Marisa, Plus+ Member
Relaxing and assuring beyond description... thank you, Cory.
- Babs312
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
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A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
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I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
Shamash's guidance is a gift of wisdom to help us in our busy and stressful lives.
- Paul Gilbert, PhD, FBPsS, OBE, Centre for Compassion Research and Training, University of Derby, United Kingdom
Excellent! Cory gently guides you into internal peace.
- Steve Ericson
A necessary tool for those who feel lost.
- Piper
Just want to say a big thankyou to all involved as this has had a positive impact in my daily life 🙏 Valuable teachings that have allowed me to have a better relationship not only with those around me, but with myself. Heal ourselves and we heal the world 💫✨🌍
- Marty
I start every day with Cory or Melli for my daily practice. Including this app into my practice helps me continue to build more mental focus and understanding of my thought processes. What a welcome and powerful gift.
- Oku
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