Mastering Mindfulness: Noah Levine on Present-Time Awareness
Episode Overview
Mindfulness is central to Buddhist meditation and leads to direct realisation. Community plays a crucial role in Buddhist practice. Training the mind requires discipline, akin to taming a wild animal. Embrace both pleasant and unpleasant experiences without judgment. Practical meditation instructions are provided to help cultivate present-time awareness.
Mindfulness is a training, a practice, a skill. The untrained mind is like a wild monkey in the jungle.
In this episode of 'Against The Stream', Noah Levine, founder of the meditation centre and author of 'Dharma Punx', dives deep into the practice of mindfulness. Noah starts by emphasising the importance of community in Buddhist practice, encouraging participants to connect and share their aspirations for meditation. He explains mindfulness as the core meditation teaching of the Buddha, detailing its role in the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and how it leads to direct realisation.
Noah's candid reflections on the challenges of training the 'monkey mind' make the episode relatable and engaging. He draws parallels between mindfulness and training a wild animal, highlighting the discipline required to cultivate present-time awareness. Noah also discusses the importance of non-judgmental, kind, and investigative awareness, urging practitioners to embrace both pleasant and unpleasant experiences without clinging or aversion.
The episode is filled with practical meditation instructions and heartfelt anecdotes, making it a valuable listen for anyone interested in deepening their mindfulness practice. If you're looking for insights on how to navigate the ups and downs of meditation with humour and honesty, this episode is a must-listen.