MeditationOpen Monitoring / Open Awareness

akaAwareness of Awareness,

Meta-awareness,

Choiceless Awareness

Shamatha with & without a sign,

Bare/Sheer/Mere/Naked awareness,

Zazen,

Dzogchen, …

Central Idea - Open Monitoring / Open Awareness

Central Idea

Aware of awareness itself

Non-interest

Vast, Spacious

Background – Open Monitoring / Open Awareness

• Open Monitoring / Open Awareness• Open to all that arises

• Not interested in the 5 sensory field

• Objects present or ‘Objectless’

• “Quiescence / Shamatha with & without a sign”

• Traditions

• Tibetan• Natural Liberation (Padmasambhava, 14th century)

• Dzogchen

• Zen• Zazen / Shikantaza (Zen Tradition)

• Questions to consider:• Are open monitoring & open awareness different?

• Is consciousness / awareness without objects possible?

Exercises – Open Monitoring / Open Awareness

• Sky / Space / Ocean metaphor

• “Focus on an explicit object in focused attention meditation”

• Invert the awareness• “…emphasize instead the watchful awareness that notices…”

• “…rest simply in open awareness without any explicit attentional selection or analysis.”

Excerpted and adapted from: Evan Thompson. “Waking, Dreaming, Being” , Chp. 2

Transcript• [00:05] Meditation bell rings

• [00:10] In the spirit of Loving-Kindness & settle your body, speech and mind in the natural state.

• [00:30] Mindfulness of Breath - Begin by bringing your attention to your breath. Take 3 deep breaths. And as you exhale, have a sense of relaxing more deeply.

• [03:00] Mindfulness of Body – Let your awareness descend into the body. Feel the firmness of resting on the ground. Face. Neck. Shoulders. Arms. Abdomen. Back. Legs. Feet. Whole Body. Then notice the space of your whole body present.

• [05:00] Gently settle into observing whatever is happening • “Space in front of you” (Excerpt From: Padmasambhava, Alan Wallace (trans.). “Natural Liberation” , Chp. 3)

• [08:00] Gently ‘invert’ your awareness, without introspection,

• “Releasing your mind, merely rest in the awareness” (Excerpt From: Padmasambhava, Alan

Wallace (trans.). “Natural Liberation” , Chp. 3)

• Meditate in silence.

• [15:00] Meditation bell rings

Relaxed, Still & Vigilant(Entspannt/Ruhig, Still & Wachsam)

Observations / Comments?Open Monitoring Meditation

Actual Text (Padmasambhava)

Actual Text (Padmasambhava)

Actual Text (Padmasambhava)

ReferencesOpen Monitoring Meditation

Open Monitoring Meditationresearch

Associated Meditation Style(s)

Open Monitoring Meditationresearch

Effect SizeMeditation Styles

Open Monitoring Meditationresearch

Associated Dependent Measure(s)(Category)

Open Monitoring Meditationresearch

Effect SizeDep. Measure Category

Open Monitoring Meditationresearch

Effect Size2016 vs. 2012