I Heard it Like This…
Reflections of an inspired talk by Buddhist teacher Joan Halifax.

HDR photography by Alan Briskin

TEN STEPS ON THE PATH OF SELF AWARENESS
There are ten steps we all can take to enlarge our self awareness.  These steps are like strings on an instrument or notes on a piano.  We can practice them separately but when played together, we can make beautiful music.

(if you prefer to listen & meditate – there is approx. 30 seconds of silence after the bell, before Alan speaks again; but you can fast-forward if you don’t wish to meditate)

The first step to increased self awareness is ATTENTION.  What kind of attention?  Attention to an inward watchfulness.  When we practice this form of alert behavior, we bring awareness to the flow of feelings, thoughts, moods, fantasies, and sensations that lie within us.

Our interior is a kaleidoscope of mental, emotional, and spiritual activity constantly in flux.  How can we  be self aware if we do not honor this activity?  As a single note on a scale, inwardness can be an act of self absorption but it is not a single note.  It is part of a greater harmony.