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Introduction to Mindfulness - Dean Amory

Art and Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation

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Two primary stages in this practice will be experienced:<br />

1: Conscious beingness aimed outward: In the beginning stage of<br />

practicing this, you will raise your consciousness and become the<br />

witness of your thoughts and all else that is going on.<br />

2: Conscious beingness resides in itself: In the latter stage you will not<br />

only be conscious and witness your mind, but you will become aware<br />

of yourself as pure consciousness. Now consciousness has no<br />

direction of focus in specific, it is just pure consciousness, pure<br />

beingness.<br />

7 Strategies for Living a Conscious Life<br />

Would you like <strong>to</strong> get more out of your life? It’s never <strong>to</strong>o late <strong>to</strong><br />

make a new choice or reverse your life’s course. One way <strong>to</strong> live a<br />

more enriched life is <strong>to</strong> be conscious of what you’re doing at every<br />

moment. This way, you stay connected with your behaviour and<br />

feelings.<br />

Here’s an example situation: You’ve decided <strong>to</strong> s<strong>to</strong>p eating pota<strong>to</strong><br />

chips and chocolate. You make a pledge <strong>to</strong> yourself <strong>to</strong> watch what<br />

you eat. But two hours later, you suddenly realize you’re sitting in<br />

front of the television, bag of pota<strong>to</strong> chips in hand.<br />

Now imagine the same scenario, yet this time you behave differently.<br />

You spend some time thinking about how <strong>to</strong> ensure you avoid pota<strong>to</strong><br />

chips and chocolate. You decide <strong>to</strong> take your junk food over <strong>to</strong> a<br />

friend’s house and leave it there. At dinner, you smile <strong>to</strong> yourself as<br />

you prepare <strong>to</strong> eat a salad and baked chicken because you plan <strong>to</strong><br />

thoughtfully focus on eating healthy.<br />

The second scenario demonstrates the concept of living a conscious<br />

life. Knowing what you want, choosing how you spend your time,<br />

and staying in <strong>to</strong>uch with your feelings are indica<strong>to</strong>rs of a conscious<br />

life.<br />

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