Episodes
Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity. In some traditions these four qualities are known as the "Abodes of The Heart." But what does it mean to "abide in kindness or compassion? Joy or Equanimity? Please join meditation teacher Chris Luard in an upcoming talk: The Four Abodes of The Heart.
Published 08/21/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the body, feeling tones, and mind/heart, as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, bones, and the elemental qualities of the body: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We are then invited into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. Then we rest deeply in the body and from that deep state of bodily rest, we observe the activity of the mind and heart. In this observation we...
Published 08/10/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through what is known in the buddhist tradition as the seven factors (or facets) of awakening: Mindfulness, Curiosity, Energy, Joy, Tranquility, Concentration, and Equanimity. As the practice unfolds we are invited to touch in with these qualities, which are always available, and we offer the light of awareness as nourishment to the seeds of awakening latent in our heart. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which...
Published 08/08/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the body, feeling tones, and mind/heart, as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, bones, and the elemental qualities of the body: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We are then invited into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. Then we rest deeply in the body and from that deep state of bodily rest, we observe the activity of the mind and heart. In this observation we...
Published 07/28/24
Here I offer a guided meditation designed to allow one to open their heart to our activity of our mind. We develop the capacity to rest in the body and observe the activity of the mind, without getting swept up by our thoughts and emotions. By coming to rest in the with the activity of the mind, free from judgement, our relationship to our experience of life begins to lighten. We then turn our heartfelt awareness to the hindrances. These are five mind-states which cloud our ability to clearly...
Published 07/28/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the body, feeling tones, and mind/heart, as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, bones, and the elemental qualities of the body: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We are then invited into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. Then we rest deeply in the body and from that deep state of bodily rest, we observe the activity of the mind and heart. By observing in a...
Published 07/21/24
Here is a guided meditation based on the work of Oren Jay Sofer, designed to first connect us to our needs, and second to experience the beauty inherent in the experience of having needs. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a result. If you have any questions or concerns in regards to this, or other meditation practices, please feel free to message me through my website: www.suchsweetthunder.org
Published 07/18/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the body, feeling tones, and mind/heart, as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, bones, and the elemental qualities of the body: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We are then invited into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. Then we rest deeply in the body and from that deep state of bodily rest, we observe the activity of the mind and heart. By observing in a...
Published 07/10/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the body, feeling tones, and mind/heart, as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, bones, and the elemental qualities of the body: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We are then invited into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. Then we rest deeply in the body and from that deep state of bodily rest, we observe the activity of the mind and heart. By observing in a...
Published 07/07/24
Here I offer a guided meditation where we are invited to rest in the body, and from that deep bodily rest we are invited to observe the activity of our minds and hearts, without getting involved in the content. This can be a doorway into a more spacious way of being. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a result. If you have any questions or concerns in regards to this, or other meditation practices, please feel free to message me...
Published 06/30/24
Here I offer a guided meditation into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. In this practice we explore the felt difference between contact, feeling tone, and interpretation. By coming to rest in the experience of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral we may find ourselves inhabiting a non-reactive field of equanimity. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a result. If you have any questions or concerns in regards to...
Published 06/23/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the anatomy of the body as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, bones, and the elemental qualities of the body: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We are then invited into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. By coming to rest in the experience of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral we may find ourself inhabiting a non-reactive field of equanimity. With practice,...
Published 06/17/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the anatomy of the body as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, bones, and the elemental qualities of the body: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. We are then invited into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. By coming to rest in the experience of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral we may find ourself inhabiting a non-reactive field of equanimity. With practice,...
Published 06/16/24
Here I offer a guided meditation into the feeling tones inherent in the human experience. By coming to rest in the experience of pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral we may find ourself inhabiting a non-reactive field of equanimity. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a result. If you have any questions or concerns in regards to this, or other meditation practices, please feel free to message me through my website:...
Published 06/09/24
Here I guide a meditation designed by Dr Bessel Van Der Kolk designed to nourish our nervous system with the self-generated warmth of kindness. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a result. If you have any questions or concerns in regards to this, or other meditation practices, please feel free to message me through my website: www.suchsweetthunder.org I have been practicing meditation for 38 years and has been successfully...
Published 06/09/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the anatomy of the body as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, and bones, then the elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. With practice, this meditation can lead one to a deeper sense of present moment awareness, and to recognize the not-self aspect of our physicality. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a...
Published 06/03/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the anatomy of the body as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, and bones, then the elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. With practice, this meditation can lead one to a deeper sense of present moment awareness, and to recognize the not-self aspect of our physicality. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a...
Published 06/02/24
Here I offer a guided meditation where we are invited to observe the felt experience of the body by using the metaphors of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. This can give one the opportunity to connect to the felt experience of the body and then recognizing that there is no "I" in the elements internally and externally. Based on the work of Ven. Analayo.
Published 05/26/24
Here I offer a guided meditation through the anatomy of the body as presented by Ven. Bhikkhu Analayo. In this practice we explore our experience of our body through the skin, flesh, and bones. With practice, this practice can lead one to a deeper sense of present moment awareness, and to recognize the not-self aspect of our physicality. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a result. If you have any questions or concerns in...
Published 05/20/24
In this guided meditation we are invited to explore a type of joy that might arise as a result of cultivating a deep state of tranquility. The combination of calm, rest, and joy may give awareness a strong base for resting with the mind without falling into distraction. Chris has been practicing meditation for 38 years and has been successfully teaching meditation worldwide since 2009, giving talks, facilitating retreats, and have authored two books. Chris has received formal...
Published 01/27/24
Here I offer a guided body scan with an emphasis on resting deeply. We continue on to observe the activity of the mind and invite the mind to rest. There is no closing bell at the end of the practice, so one can easily use this meditation as a sleep aid, as well as finding tranquility in the mind and heart. Chris has been practicing meditation for 38 years and has been successfully teaching meditation worldwide since 2009, giving talks, facilitating retreats, and have authored two...
Published 01/10/24
Here I offer a guided meditation in which we are invited to systematically open awareness to more and more of experience, until we rest in complete, open awareness. We then include an experience of awareness itself. Since we typically habitually identify with awareness, by recognizing awareness as just another aspect of the ever-changing field, our clinging to that identity begins to loosen, and thus, our suffering begins to wane. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may...
Published 12/17/23
In this guided meditation we are invited to explore a type of joy that might arise as a result of cultivating a deep state of tranquility. The combination of calm, rest, and joy may give awareness a strong base for resting with the mind without falling into distraction. Chris has been practicing meditation for 38 years and has been successfully teaching meditation worldwide since 2009, giving talks, facilitating retreats, and have authored two books. Chris has received formal training in...
Published 12/16/23
Here I offer a guided meditation into lovingkindness for people whom challenge us. People we may not like very much, if at all. We explore this by connecting with the challenging person's humanity, recognizing that they, just like us, want to be free from suffering and want to be happy. After this we move into offering the gift of lovingkindness in the form of phrases. Lovingkindness has a transformational, healing quality. Enjoy! Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we...
Published 12/11/23
Here I offer a guided meditation by offering the gift of lovingkindness in the form of phrases to ourself, to loved ones, to strangers, and to people who challenge us, and to the entire world. This particular set of phrases are composed in a way that allow us hold and honor the challenges of life while connecting to the kindness inherent in our hearts. Meditation can be challenging at times. Occasionally we may experience things which surprise as a result. If you have any questions or...
Published 12/11/23