Being Present

Description

Cultivate a Peaceful Mind through Spiritual Practice

By Darren Cockburn

Offering a synthesis of spiritual teachings viewed through the lens of modern-day personal experiences, Being Present provides practical insight into how to cultivate a peaceful mind, live skillfully, and nurture a spiritual connection through the power of the present moment. Darren Cockburn shares practical exercises, meditations, and reflections, revealing how to free yourself from becoming lost in unhelpful thoughts and emotions, while bringing acceptance to what life presents you with.

Find out how to generate true mindfulness, utilizing the connection to your breath as well as immersion in nature. Learn how to use your body as a tool for raising your level of consciousness and how to weave exercise, diet, breathing techniques, and sexuality into your spiritual practice. Learn to view and work with occurrences like tiredness or pain as spiritual teachers for enriching your presence of mind and being. Darren explains how simplifying life brings a better understanding to harmful thought patterns and all types of addictions. Identifying these provides the opportunity to View them afresh and release or manage them differently and thus creates precious breathing space for our often overly busy minds. A stable practice of mindful presence enhances the quality of communication with others, be it at home with family and friends, or at work.

Alongside a comprehensive introduction to meditation techniques Darren provides useful guidance on how to successfully integrate a regular spiritual practice into your day-to-day activities. You will find pointers that explain how to create your own unique and personal structure in order to support your ongoing spiritual practice, the fruits of which will ultimately be a peaceful, calmer, and more connected experience of life. Whether you are starting out or are keen to deepen an existing connection with the spiritual dimension, this structured guide provides much valuable support.

About the AuthorDARREN COCKBURN has been practicing meditation and mindfulness for over twenty years, studying with a range of teachers from different religions. Coaching and teaching groups in different contexts, he has supported hundreds of people in meditation, mindfulness and finding a connection to spirituality, with a focus on applying spiritual teachings in everyday life to cultivate a peaceful mind.

Darren also works as a business consultant supporting organizations with strategy formulation, interim leadership roles and transformation programs. Outside of his work, he enjoys reading, walking in nature, spending time with friends and his two children. In addition, he is very passionate about yoga.

“Sage Advice

I received sage advice from two very wise men regarding emotions and the ensuing eruptions often caused by those emotions. A sage is someone who is respected for their experience, wisdom and judgment. I received the first insight in Miami in September 2004 while attending a public lecture given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama on world peace and freeing the mind from suffering. During his opening remarks, His Holiness shared that he is a simple monk and very human, and that sometimes he gets angry with his staff, who lovingly care for him. He further explained that destructive tendencies like anger, jealousy and fear can only be eliminated by the strong desire to free ourselves and all beings from suffering. This is known as bodhicitta or the awakening of the compassionate mind. In order for the world to be in peace, we, as individuals, must first and foremost be in peace. We need to develop and sustain peaceful relations with those who are closest to us, our family, friends, coworkers and neighbors. This, in turn, creates the foundation for peace in the community, the state, the nation and the world at large. From this story, the Dalai Lama taught me that the key to inner peace is mindfulness.”

Excerpt from Chakra Awakening By Margaret Ann Lembo