Mindfulness Matters

Mindfulness Matters

Mindfulness Matters Archives

Obstacles to Practice: The Five Hindrances–Sloth and Torpor

posted by Dr. Arnie Kozak

I don’t feel like writing a post. I didn’t feel like exercising either. I don’t feel like sitting, too. Fortunately, I am hosting a group sit later this afternoon, so this will help me to overcome my sloth and torpor. [...]

Obstacles to Practice: The Five Hindrances–Sensual Desire

posted by Dr. Arnie Kozak

This is the final set of reflections on obstacles to practice focusing on the Buddha’s five hindrances (well not his hindrances, but the five that he set out as obstacles to meditation). The Five are a laundry list of things [...]

Obstacles to Practice: Agendas, Expectations, and Striving

posted by Dr. Arnie Kozak

Today I continue the series on obstacles to practice with a focus on affective factors that may keep us off the cushion. The other day, I talked about difficult experiences that may arise during practice–in a sense what comes to us unbidden. [...]

Obstacles to Practice: Discomfort, Pain, and Intensity

posted by Dr. Arnie Kozak

Today I continue the series on obstacles to practice with a focus on affective factors that may keep us off the cushion. Denise commented that: “My story telling mind is always trying to steer me away from the pillow! The [...]

Previous Posts

We Are All Defective, New?
I uttered these words recently: "We are all defective, new?" I offered them as a tonic, a soothing balm, a normalizing unguent. If we are all defective in some way, there is no reason to feel shame for your own particular variation of imperfection. It's no big deal. Humans beings come flawed.

posted 4:43:16pm Jun. 16, 2013 | read full post »

Introverts Revolt
I have been deep into researching introversion for my forthcoming book, The Everything Guide to the Introvert Edge (Adams Media). It's been fascinating, revelatory, and liberating. I have enjoyed reading Susan Cain's Quiet, Laurie Helgoe's Introvert Power, and many others. One thing that I hav

posted 11:52:43am May. 30, 2013 | read full post »

What's Right With America is Wrong with America
People love to hate New Jersey. In Vermont, we have bumper stickers that say "Don't Jersey Vermont." I did most of my growing up in the Garden State and recently spent some time there. It is a place of contradictions to be certain. Where I was, there is high population density and a culture orien

posted 3:18:46pm May. 20, 2013 | read full post »

Participate in Your Own Rescue
One of my students shared a story. A friend of hers was on a whitewater rafting trip in Colorado. During the trip, one of the people in the raft fell out into the river. He floundered around passively while the guide attempted to steer the raft towards him. The guide offered assistance but the man r

posted 2:36:59pm May. 05, 2013 | read full post »

Free the Mind: A New Documentary on Mindfulness
I had the great pleasure of reviewing the new film by Danish filmmaker, Phie Ambo: Free the Mind. It's a beautiful and compelling film about how mindfulness can help us to overcome fear and heal from trauma. It features of the work of pioneering neuroscientist, Richard Davidson at the University of

posted 5:26:16pm May. 01, 2013 | read full post »


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