Practicing the Intention to Understand

When I was in training at a major psychiatric hospital, the psychology department brought in Dr. Larry Rosenberg to teach us a psychologically oriented meditation called Insight Meditation, also called Mindfulness Meditation. Dr. Rosenberg was a former professor of social psychology from Harvard University. Unlike his contemporary, Dr. Timothy Leary, who used mind-altering drugs to expand his consciousness, Dr. Rosenberg followed the spiritual path of transformation through meditation.

At the time, another of his contemporaries, former clinical psychologist and Harvard professor, Dr. Richard Alpert, who later became known as Ram Dass, also turned to the spiritual step of meditation. Dr. Rosenberg gave us the following quote as an introduction to the essence of meditation. It is also an excellent description of what needs to happen to undo repression and open ourselves to our feelings.

"By watching ourselves in daily life with the intention to understand rather than judge, in full acceptance of whatever may emerge, we encourage the deep to come to the surface and enrich our life and consciousness with its captive energies. This is the great work of awareness and the door to freedom."

Meditation can help us find our power and freedom to truly love and enjoy life. Dr. Rosenberg also indicated that this type of meditation was also referred to as the practice of wholeheartedness. We can learn how to truly savor and enjoy every moment of our lives by being fully present in whatever we are doing. Thus, whatever we are doing, whether it is doing dishes, eating a delicious meal, working, or taking a shower, we do it wholeheartedly with full awareness. Living life this way involves living our lives with heart, spirit and soul. We embrace life and live it to the fullest, instead of living life half-heartedly as though we are half-asleep.

• Today, practice the notion of watching yourself in daily life with the intention to understand rather than judge and notice what happens. Direct this nonjudgmental awareness TWARD OTHERS as well.