3 Good Questions To Ask Yourself
- Do you want to have more awareness, mindfulness, or presence?
- Do you want to clear up your pain-producing beliefs?
- Do you yearn for a sense of connection, of community, with people interested in growing?
On participation in Polishing Presence
This is an opportunity to share in a small group setting where we feel safe and have the assurance that others will listen and no one will interrupt us. It is a precious opportunity to learn, to give and to receive, to put our insights or concerns into the circle for everyone to listen, and for us to listen.
We continue our practice of awareness together by practicing deep listening and compassionate communication. When we do speak, we share from our hearts and our real experience. We can speak about what has moved us in the talk or readings, or share our joys, concerns, and insights of our practice. We speak from experience and consider how to apply what feels helpful in daily life. We follow our breathing as we are speaking and take our time so that we may express ourselves fully. We may not need to speak.
We share from our hearts and our real experience. |
When someone else is speaking, we offer our support by simply listening and bringing our full attention to the person who is speaking. We listen so deeply that we hear what is being said as well as what is not being said. We can be attentive to other ways of speaking such as body language, eyes, and tone of voice. We may have a habit to want to respond immediately, or to be comparing or thinking of a response while the other person is speaking. But our practice here is to follow our breathing and to listen. We offer each other our deep listening and receiving. If a response arises within us to something that someone has said, we may want to wait for a while to let it sink in and then respond later.
In our sharing circle, speak when the space arises from the group. The person speaking should not be interrupted and should be given the time that they need to express themselves fully. We might practice taking 3 breaths after someone has shared and leave a space to allow their words to enter us deeply.
Everyone’s experience of the practice is valuable, and there is a communal insight that can arise from our sharing. If there is a pause where no one is talking, we simply be with that pause and allow space in our circle for silence. It is important to maintain confidentiality about what is shared in the group to create a safe space for everyone.
We offer each other our deep listening and receiving. |
While questions may be asked, they may not necessarily be answered at that time, but simply held in mindfulness by the group. There is no need to feel obliged to answer all questions. It is not necessarily a linear discussion, and comments may be unrelated. We avoid bringing up intellectual, philosophical or metaphysical ideas, or focusing on theoretical issues, and we focus instead on mindfulness or awareness practice and how it applies to our day-to-day experience. This sharing time is a deep exploration, a time to listen, share and reflect.
Being aware in this way,
we look at each other and smile.
You are me, don’t you see?
Speaking and listening are one.
Ongoing Monday early evening group meets @ 5:45-7PM
New participants are welcome.
Group size: 10 maximum
- Donation $5-30/session
- Padme is available for 20-minute private meetings with group participants. $25/session
- Groups meet at Padme’s home in Penfield. Call or email for directions.
Read more about Polishing Presence
Suggested Reading: Padme's book is particularly helpful when you want to understand her perspective about meditation and awareness in more depth. At least one book about awareness and meditation is highly recommended.
Call Padme to register at 585-234-0800.
