The Living Process. Practices in Experience and Existence

Meaning and the Intimate Moment with Russell Delman on The Living Process, host Greg Madison E33

May 23, 2025

Russell Delman, a respected teacher in Zen Buddhist meditation and Feldenkrais, shares profound insights on living a meaningful life. He explores the quest for significance beyond survival, discussing how our identities and connections shape our experiences. The conversation highlights the transformative power of presence and gratitude in everyday moments. Additionally, Russell emphasizes the value of embracing both joyful and painful experiences fully, advocating for a holistic understanding of identity that transcends physical limitations.

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INSIGHT

From Survival to Meaning Creation

Meeting basic survival needs provides implicit meaning through safety and continuation of life.
When these needs are met, people face a crisis where they must create personal meaning actively.

INSIGHT

Meaning: Identity vs Experience

Meaning can arise from self-identity, belonging to groups, or personal achievements, but these are distinct from direct experience.
True meaning also comes from being fully alive in the present moment beyond narratives and identities.

ANECDOTE

Gratitude for Being Alive

In a gratitude workshop, a participant pointed out the missing doorway of gratitude for just being alive.
This insight highlighted the importance of appreciating presence itself, not just positive experiences.

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Meaning and the Intimate Moment with guest Russell Delman on The Living Process, episode 33 with host Greg Madison. In this episode Russell and I share another deep connection discussing the meaning of 'meaning' and what is the path of a meaningful life? In exploring this topic we touch on those moments in life where living itself feels like 'enough' and the intimate feeling of such moments. We also talk about the role of the physical body in these profound experiences, touching on Focusing, Zen practice and everyday living. Russell navigates the edge between Guided Inquiry, Feldenkrais, Zen meditation, and their integration into the practice of The Embodied Life, a learning programme offered by Russell and his wife Linda, influenced by over 50 years of immersion in these practices and his direct relationship with Feldenkrais, Gendlin, and principle teachers in the Zen tradition. Russell DelmanRussell Delman is a well-known and valued teacher within the disciplines of Zen Buddhist meditation and Feldenkrais. He is also known in the Focusing world as a unique embodiment practitioner who integrates all three of these practices in his international training of The Embodied Life. He and Gene Gendlin also shared a warm friendship and Focusing partnership for many years. Russell’s exploration of the crucial importance of awareness in body/mind perspectives and psychology began in 1970. His subsequent journey included gestalt, yoga, the first Feldenkrais trainings, work at The Esalen Institute, Focusing, and many mind-body experiences and teachings. For more information on Russell’s extensive training programmes see The Embodied Life: https://theembodiedlife.orgEpisode 33: Russell Delman. https://youtu.be/Xa1z2o320pAThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links:https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/Living Process on the FOT Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx3FqA70kQWuHCHmEiZnkn1VcrRIPbcvk#experiential #thelivingprocess #focusing #spiritualawakening #Russelldelman #feldenkrais #gendlin #zen