Mindfulness+ with Thomas McConkie

We seem to intuitively admire the capacity for range in human beings, e.g. singers who can hit the high and the low notes, actors and actresses who can do tragedy as well as they can do comedy. What does it mean from a mindfulness perspective to have significant “experiential range?” In this episode we explore the concept and of course, delve into the terrain together through practice.

We’ve all heard about the glamorous side of a mindfulness practice: reduced stress, elevated mood, better relationships and more. But what about acknowledging the genuinely terrifying side of practice? As we deepen in our awareness practice, our fear tends to increase exponentially. Paradoxically, it is in this fear that we can find our greatest freedom.

William Blake wrote, “If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is: Infinite.” How do we cleanse these doors? How do we come to see the Infinite? Get a taste, right here.

Donald Altman, M.A. LPC, is a psychotherapist, award-winning writer, former Buddhist monk and teacher. He joins us on Mindfulness+ to discuss his path of transformation and new book on mindfulness, “Reflect.” For more information about Donald, click here. Or, order his book. 

Forgiveness can be a difficult quality to cultivate. Maybe among the hardest. In this episode, Thomas draws from Christian and Buddhist Wisdom texts to offer insight into what true forgiveness might consist of.

You may have noticed that in meditation, as in life, sometimes it’s helpful to exert effort, and other times, effort just gets in the way. We need to let go, ease up. In this episode, Thomas guides a longer meditation, pointing out the moments when it might be most helpful to “bear down and ease up.”

Father Thomas Keating (1923–2018) was a uniquely gifted human being and great Soul. In this episode, Thomas McConkie reflects on Father Thomas’s legacy, as well as invites listeners into a direct experience of the Silence that in Keating’s words, is “God’s first language.”

In this conversation, Thomas talks to his longtime dharma friend, Vicki Kennedy-Overfelt, about finding a home on the spiritual path, effort and effortlessness, and ultimately, the supreme wholeness and holiness that each one of us is. Learn more about Vicki and her community at: mindfulnessutah.com

You’ve heard about the practice of alchemy—transmuting base metals into gold. This serves as a beautiful metaphor for how we can relate to challenging experience in our day to day life. We can become an alembic—the alchemical vessel—that can withstand enough heat and pressure to transform our most challenging life experiences into pure gold.

When it comes right down to it, we practice paying attention here at Mindfulness+ because we suffer. All human beings are born into suffering. The Good News is that the Wisdom traditions offer us insight and support into walking out of suffering together. Listen in for some practical advice on how to “empty out hell” in your own life and others.

This week we dive a bit deeper into practice by taking refuge in the presence of a being whom we deeply trust. When we connect to this deep source of trust and love, we find these profound qualities and gifts arising at the center of our very own being.

When we understand how the attentional system of the mind works, it becomes much easier to train the skill of mindfulness. Explore in this episode the two very distinct qualities of consciousness we can exercise in order to be more mindful.

One of the essential principles we learn in a mindfulness practice is that abiding happiness and joy centers on how we relate to experience, not the experience itself. Listen to this story of an unexpected ray of joy beamed from none other than Leonard Cohen himself.

So much of human life is governed and divided by the lines and boundaries we somewhat arbitrarily draw across our experience. Join Thomas as he takes flight (literally) across these lines and off into the immeasurable expanse.

John T. Kesler, founder of Integral Polarity Practice and longtime mentor of Thomas joins us in season 3 for an exploration of “still point practice.” In this conversation, John and Thomas explore the practice of Trust and its role in living an inspired and contemplative life. You won’t want to miss this! Listen to a previous interview with John from season 1, "Living an Inspired Life"  S01 Living an Inspired Life