Mindfulness: the Quiet Catalyst

Changing the world around us to our liking -- even down to the people walking past our window -- happens about as often as spotting a shooting star in broad daylight. But Mindfulness enables us to clearly 'see' (while genuinely helping us understand from the 'inside out') what is occurring in the present moment -- i.e., as it occurs -- rather than becoming confused and/or lost in our own stubborn thoughts, emotions and reactions.  Consider: Mindfulness strips away our reactive haze, empowering the precious clarity of awakened 'view' to unmask itself.  Just a conscious breath away, it is the space in which our life authentically happens. (Length: 17 minutes) Written and shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the teaching faculty at Naropa University (Boulder, CO) with musical accompaniment by San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega. contact: [email protected]

Sometimes, as our teachings and practices 'sink in', what takes root is a particular 'cue' of sorts . . . a thoughtful idea that now resides in the mind . . . a comfortable, transformative arising 'Dharma insight' . . . a key that works to divert an approaching mood or methodologically helps in a moment of confusion or anxiety. For some it might be a vision, an insight, a concept . . . for others a quote or a recollection of a place, person or experience bringing about a 'knowingly' calmed sense or feeling. It's a Gnosis, a direct intuitive perception and, regardless of the form it chooses to present itself, it is a clear, mindful and empowering truth . . . and it is ours, a 'product' of our evolving consciousness. This presentation leads us to consider the operational presence of these Dharma Doorways, and in so doing, to perhaps identify those of our own. (Length: 19 minutes) Written and shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the Contemplative Psychology teaching faculty at Naropa University (Boulder CO), with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega. contact: [email protected]

Beneath the Bodhi tree, as the morning star rose, the veil of human illusion dissolved like mist. The boundaries of Siddhartha’s skin vanished, revealing the universe not as separate fragments, but as a single, luminous tapestry where every creature's sorrow and every flower's joy flowed together. In that breathless moment, the heavy burdens of desire and fear fell away, and he stepped out of the cycle of shadows to awaken as the Buddha—his mind as vast and unshakeable as the sky. Here is a luminous account of the 'suchness' experience of the Buddha's enlightenment, as related by the Avatamsaka (aka Flower Garland/or Adornment) Sutra . . .  -- In the Sutra's spirit, as you share in it, please consider how your own consciousness has access to the same boundless ‘potentials’ Siddhartha embodied under the Bodhi tree; let your imagination soar.  (Length: 13.5 minutes) Written and shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the Contemplative Psychology teaching faculty at Naropa University (Boulder CO), with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega, in collaboration with Chris Rossbach. contact: [email protected]  

Reflection upon a foundational Diamond Sutra verse yields a clear and relevant message to those on the Mahayana path: Each and every sentient being is equally worthy of our attention, caring, cherishing, virtuous intentions and actions. This understanding -- from which the great mind of Equanimity, compassion's fertile ground, arises and abides -- is profoundly empowering.  Feel free to allow your most inclusive visions to emerge and clarify, discover and embrace perspectives beyond your (no longer) comfortably confining mind boundaries, let your imagination soar . . . Sentient beings come in all bodies, shapes, colors and sizes . . . from unwanted insects to the beloved being(s) standing before us.  (Length: 11 minutes) Written and shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the Contemplative Psychology teaching faculty at Naropa University (Boulder CO), with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega in collaboration with Chris Rossbach. contact: [email protected]

Indra’s Jewel Net is a profound metaphor from Hindu and Buddhist philosophy representing the infinite, intra-connected and interpenetrating nature of all reality.    For your consideration, here are some characterizations of trees as they are: vital arboreal participants in the essence of Indra's metaphorical jewels.   Each tree, as part of the ecosystem reflects the entire universe  (just as each jewel in Indra's Net reflects every other jewel and the net as well), accordingly, every individual tree reflectively contains the entire forest environment, i.e., their 'Net'.     While separate entities, no tree is isolated; each is a microcosm of the whole, encompassing the sun, rain, earth,  sky, etc. within its interdependently shared existence.   (Length: 14 minutes) Written and shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the teaching faculty at Naropa University (Boulder, CO) and curator of the Tibetan Buddhist study/practice group 'Chenrezig Project' . . . with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega. contact: [email protected]  

As much as Tibetan Buddhism is an intrinsic aspect of the Himalaya, so too are those mysterious beings known to the world as the Yeti.  Recalling the devastating earthquake(s) that struck Nepal more than 10 years ago (April 2015), here's a "might have been" tale for your consideration. (Length: 16 minutes) Written and shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the teaching faculty at Naropa University (Boulder, CO) and founder/curator of the Tibetan Buddhist study/practice group 'Chenrezig Project' . . . with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega. contact: [email protected]  

This time of year can be difficult for many -- obligatory family gatherings, stress, pressure, stale relationships, contrived cheer, awkward communications, discomfort. But consider: perhaps there's no more fertile setting for meaningful Dharma practice -- and the profound rewards that accompany it -- than with and within our own families.   -- Herein, a tale in which a modern day Bodhisattva provides thoughtful perspectives regarding some not-so-uncommon holiday challenges . . .  (Length: 17 minutes) Written and shared here by Mark Winwood, an adjunct faculty member at Naropa University (Boulder, CO) and founder/curator of the Chenrezig Project; with music composed and performed by the renowned SF Bay-area musician Bobby Vega in collaboration with Chris Rossbach. contact: [email protected]

Ignorance, Anger, Confusion, Greed, Jealousy, Arrogance, Cynical close-mindedness, Laziness, Disturbances, Wrong views, Low self-esteem, Fear . . .  *** In Buddhism they are known as Kleshas, mental hindrances that cloud our mind, setting the stage for unwholesome (i.e., self-grasping sourced) intentions and actions. Unwelcome stimulants, they are persistent -- sneaky, lurking, powerful -- like highway robbers, always ready to pounce . . . contaminating our perspectives while bringing about unfavorable moods, motivations and vulnerabilities. But, while cunningly virulent, their nature is impermanently transient . . . they're just thoughts; fleeting, here one moment then gone the next, at times stubborn but neither fruitful or necessary. Significantly, each of us holds the means of disempowering our Kleshas' destructive effects: embark on the path of Lojong, the contemplative and empoweringly practical 12th century Tibetan/Mahayana mind trainings. All are welcome. (Length: 12 minutes) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Written and shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the teaching faculty of Naropa University in Boulder, CO ([email protected]), with musical accompaniment by San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega. Note: Naropa is not involved with these Elegant Mind podcasts.

"Omniscience" -- defined by Merriam-Webster as "having infinite awareness, understanding and insight; possessed of universal or complete knowledge." Otherwise known in our Mahayana perspectives as perfectly evolved wisdom, compassion and a  complete understanding of everything that could ever be understood in order to fully awaken; to become a brilliantly pure 'helper' of other beings . . . aka Buddhahood. Fact or fiction?  Fairy tale, wishful thinking or Buddhist contemplative mind-science?  Is this each sentient beings' (yes, including yours) attainable potential, our embryonic "True Nature" . . . or an imaginatively egoistic dream-scape?   Some are doubtful, others skeptical or cynical, and then there's those who simply knee-jerk into ridiculing the notion. But perhaps -- for the thoughtful -- doubt serves as a prolific gateway along the path . . .  (Length: 13 minutes) The Elegant Mind is shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the teaching faculty at Naropa University in Boulder, CO with accompanying music composed and performed by the San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega.  (contact: [email protected])  

Direct Experiential Realization, often identified in Buddhist thought as requisite 'kin' to the Awakening Mind; slippery to describe with words alone . . . not referring to intellectual understandings or belief systems, perhaps best understood as authentic, unmediated experience(s) of reality. Join us in an accessible discussion of Direct (and Indirect) Realizations; we unpack 'wisdom' notions from the Heart Sutra; the non-dual perspectives reflected within the Avatamsaka (aka Flower Garland) Sutra, the role of intellect and related practical how-to's included-in and emerging-from Shamatha (calm abiding) and Vipassana (insight) meditation practices. (Length: 25 minutes) The Elegant Mind is shared here by Mark Winwood, a member of the teaching faculty at Naropa University (Boulder, CO) with accompanying music composed and performed by the San Francisco Bay-area musician Bobby Vega.  (contact: [email protected])