Cultivating Mindfulness through Deep Listening
with Valerie Brown
A Day of Mindfulness of the
Community of Mindfulness NY/Metro on July 21, 2018
at
91 Claremont Avenue, room 20-T, The Riverside Church, NY, NY 10025
“You listen not for the purpose of judging, criticizing or analyzing. You listen only to
help the other person to express himself and find some relief from his suffering.”
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh
“The first duty of love is to listen.”
Paul Tillich
Listening is a vital and overlooked life skill and the cornerstone of building trustworthy
relationships. Listening is an act of love, extending toward collegiality, agreeableness,
understanding, and compassion. It is a mindset of being rather than doing. Strong
listening skills are a critical aspect of cultivating peace within and peace in the world.
At the heart of authentic listening is the courage to be fully human, to take risks, to care deeply, and to take action even in the midst of change and uncertainty.
The basis for cultivating listening skills is mindfulness, and this Day of Mindfulness focuses on basic mindfulness skills to support, greater awareness, understanding and relational trust.
To enhance individual and collective mindful awareness, this Day of Mindfulness will largely be held in silence with the exception of a period of deep listening practice in small and large groups.
What to Bring/How to Prepare
Please bring a bring a journal for writing, a vegetarian lunch, yoga mat, and blanket for deep relaxation. Meditation cushions and chairs are provided. Please review these deep listening guidelines by the Center for Courage & Renewal before the Day of Mindfulness: http://www.couragerenewal.org/touchstones/
Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing for mindful movement. Come for all or part of the Day of Mindfulness, and please do not wear fragrances.
Tentative Schedule 10:00 am to 4:30pm
(The schedule is subject to change.)
10:00-12:30 Opening Circle: Welcome and introductions, guided sitting and walking
meditation, mindful movement, Dharma talk, individual and group reflection
12:30-2:30/3:00 pm Silent lunch-mindful eating (Bring your own veggie lunch), deep
relaxation, outdoor walking-weather permitting
2:30/3:00-4:15 pm Individual and group reflection and sharing
4:15 pm Closing Circle
About Your Facilitator: Valerie Brown, ‘True Sangha Power,' received Lamp Transmission at Plum Village, June 2018, and is a Dharma Teacher in the Plum Village tradition, and has been a member of the Order of Interbeing since 2003. She has been practicing in the Plum Village/Thich Nhat Hanh tradition since 1995. Valerie is a member of the Plum Village ARISE sangha [https://arisesangha.org].
Valerie transformed her high-pressure, twenty-year career as a lawyer-lobbyist, representing educational institutions and nonprofits, to human-scale work with leaders and teams to foster trustworthy and authentic connections. Through her writing, she seeks to foster a more compassionate and peaceful world.
Valerie is a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and as a certified Kundalini yoga teacher, she helps ‘leaders’ discover the wisdom of the body. She leads an annual transformational pilgrimage to El Camino de Santiago, Spain, to celebrate the power of sacred places.
Visit her website for more information: www.leadsmartcoaching.com
