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Introduction to Mindfulness - Dean Amory

Art and Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation

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Transformation and resolution<br />

The mechanism of transformation and resolution<br />

The mechanism of transformation and resolution is primarily<br />

experiential, which means that changes evolve from the immediate<br />

present experience of the emotion, rather than from our views and<br />

beliefs about the experience. Of course, mindfulness, or sati is all<br />

about being present for our experience as it arises and unfolds in the<br />

present moment. The path of experiential transformation and<br />

resolution is unique <strong>to</strong> each person and each session of MMT.<br />

Typically, there will be a differentiation of feelings, memories and<br />

word-symbols that seem <strong>to</strong> fit with the feelings that are experienced.<br />

Almost all clients will notice some form of experiential imagery that<br />

seems <strong>to</strong> resonate with the felt sense of the experience. The mind<br />

thinks in pictures and uses visual representations <strong>to</strong> organize<br />

experience. Many of us are not aware of this internal imagery, but<br />

when we focus mindfulness on the felt sense of an emotion we create<br />

the right state of awareness and sensitivity in which imagery will arise.<br />

Experiential imagery is imagery that arises from our present felt<br />

experience, rather than a visualization that we create and it provides<br />

an extraordinarily powerful medium for promoting the<br />

transformation and resolution of dukkha.<br />

The process of MMT<br />

1. Recognition<br />

The first phase of <strong>Mindfulness</strong> Meditation Therapy is primarily about<br />

learning <strong>to</strong> recognize reactions as and when they arise and replace<br />

ignorance with awareness. This is the first function of mindfulness,<br />

the fac<strong>to</strong>r of RECOGNITION. Without this most basic first step<br />

nothing can change, but with awareness comes the possibility of<br />

change. Recognition is the beginning of the transformational process<br />

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