10% Happier with Dan Harris A More Relaxed Way to Meditate | Alexis Santos
Sep 8, 2021
Alexis Santos, a seasoned meditation teacher with two decades of experience and a student of the renowned monk Sayadaw U Tejaniya, shares his journey of redefining meditation. He emphasizes that meditation is not a competition but a practice that flourishes with a relaxed mindset. Alexis discusses the power of awareness in daily life, encouraging listeners to embrace small mindful moments. He also reflects on transformative personal experiences and how mindfulness can reshape our mental habits, guiding us toward greater self-acceptance and presence.
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Checking Mental Attitude
- Regularly checking your mental attitude reveals how you relate to the present moment, highlighting wants and aversions.
- These habitual mind patterns, though natural, often lead to tension and stress.
Dan Harris's Retreat Experience
- Dan Harris initially struggled with Sayadaw U Tejaniya's open, unstructured meditation style, finding it too relaxed.
- He likened Sayadaw's "are you aware?" prompt to a swing analogy, where waking up from unawareness felt like getting farted in the face.
Daily Life Practice
- Formal meditation periods represent a small fraction of our waking hours.
- To integrate mindfulness, shift focus from specific objects to developing skillful mental qualities throughout the day.