Jean Esther, MSW has been practicing meditation since 1975 and teaching in the dharma since the early 90’s. She is one of the Guiding Teachers at True North Insight in Canada and teaches locally in the Northeastern US. Trained in Jungian transpersonal psychology and Somatic Experiencing she has been a practicing psychotherapist in Western MA since 1981 with a specialization in the healing of trauma. Her passion is attuning to and supporting the liberating intersection of body, mind and heart and helping others of all ages do the same.
When we begin to see the arising and passing of thought as not me, not my, and not mine, there is room loosen the grip of grasping and aversion. We can begin to see thought truly as one of the six sense doors.
We expand or awareness of our interconnectedness as humans when we practice Metta for both the "Neutral Person" and the "Difficult Person". Sometimes the Difficult Person can be ourselves. The end of this Guided Practice offers a compassion practice for oneself.
When we bring mindfulness and non-identification to difficult mind states such as the hindrances they become less of an obstacle and more of doorway to freedom.
These instructions include a brief overview of resting in the body as an anchor, as well as a beginning exploration of the relationship of thought and emotion followed by an introduction to open awareness practice.
An unexpected love story. When love and wisdom come together from our practice we meet our lives with the courage to live our fullest selves. Knowing how deeply our lives intertwine.
What derails us on and off to cushion? This talk is an invitation to investigation perfectionism, the vulnerability that lies beneath it and the power of practicing with the 10 paramis in daily life.
These instructions highlight how to identify feeling tones in meditation, practice, and the importance their identification plays in the release from being lost in aversion, desire, and disconnection
