The Mindfulness-Based Living Course (MBLC)
“Knowing what is happening while it is happening, without preference”
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is being aware of the present moment. By being aware of the present moment you begin to notice your thoughts, but not attach any emotions to them. Your thoughts become like clouds passing in the sky, which helps alleviate anxiety and depression as well as numerous other benefits.
With practice, mindfulness gives us the skills to let go of the thoughts which cause stress and anxiety. Mindfulness is knowing what is happening, when it is happening. Which sounds easy, yet delve deeper and the truth is that most of us are worrying about the future, ruminating over the past and very rarely able to be present with what is happening now. As a result, life can easily pass us by.
Participating on the mindfulness based living course taps into our capacity to be in life as opposed to ‘doing’ life. It enables us to lessen the noise in our heads, to breathe easier, sleep better and remain calmer in challenging situations. It is a method to enable us to come home to ourselves in a way that brings joy and fulfilment into our everyday lives.
What To Expect
Program activities include meditation, short talks, experiential exercises, group discussion, and home practices. The goal is for participants to learn to practice mindfulness in class and learn practices so that students can practice this in daily life.
While some difficult emotions may arise when practicing Mindfulness, the teachers are committed to providing a safe, supportive environment for this process to unfold, and to making the journey interesting and enjoyable for everyone.
MBLC includes an introductory session then 8 weekly sessions of around 2 hours each, in addition to a 4-hour retreat. Prior to registering, participants should plan to attend every session and practice mindfulness at least 30 minutes per day throughout the program.
The Course
Week 1 – Start Where We Are
We look at the mind’s tendency to get distracted by thoughts and get carried away with them, and start looking at how we can encourage the mind to settle.
Week 2 – The Body as a Place to Stay Present
We start to look at ways to anchor our thoughts in the present moment and whether we tend to focus on the positive or negative events of the day.
Week 3 – Introducing Mindfulness Support
We look at the options we have to keep the mind in the present moment.
Week 4 – Working with Distraction
We look at the tendency of the mind to get caught up in thoughts and get carried away with the past, present or future.
Week 5 – Exploring the Undercurrent
We explore the stream of thoughts running through our mind.
Week 6 – Attitude of the Observer
We explore our attitude to the stream of thoughts running through our mind.
Week 7 – Self-acceptance
We look at dealing with difficulties and being kind to ourselves.
Week 8 – A Mindfulness Based Life
How can we take what we have learnt into our daily lives and continue our mindful journey.
Prerequisites
No previous experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend the MBLC. To insure safety, participants are asked to provide background information when they register for the program.