Being Human Podcast

"The purpose of moving attention away from an unpleasant sensation (and the thoughts about it) and focusing it on your breath is not to find a way to go into denial and relieve yourself of the unpleasantness of it. The appearance of that sensation--and the fact that attention has moved to it--is an opportunity for you to continue to develop the ability to decide consciously what you pay attention to." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on July 9, 2014. Length: 30 min File size: 13.8 MB

"The process of recovery that follows the first attempt to look at yourself can be long and difficult, but that is really unnecessary. Working with attention will shortcut the torment and confusion caused by being exposed to life directly for the first time." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman on November 6, 2013. Length: 36 min File size: 8.54 MB

Today I would like to share with you the recording of the Celebration of Life Memorial Service we had here in Ojai on November 20, 2021.

The meditation that I speak of is the very simple meditation practice that I received from the Buddhists, I think it is called Shamata meditation. And it is just a matter of watching your breath. You sit comfortably, close your eyes, and watch your breath as it comes in and out of your nostrils. What you are after is to get a one-pointed, attentive experience of this physical sensation.

In this episode, we discuss how your thoughts are yours to understand and to use, but they are not you. If you have negative thoughts about a present situation and there is something you can do to change it, you are free to follow those thoughts and use them to solve the problem. But if there is nothing you can do in the moment, it is safe to ignore those thoughts and put your attention on the sensation of the breath.