I am a graduate of the Ottawa Mindfulness Clinic’s Training Program for Health Care Professionals.
The OMC Program has a number of requirements, including: participating in the 8 Week Mindfulness Core Program, completing book reviews and a reflection paper. What follows are some reflections and insights while completing the program’s requirements and in the months following the Core Program.
I registered for the Ottawa Mindfulness Clinic program with the following intentions: 1) re-Awakening mySelf by deepening my meditation (mindfulness) practice; 2) come to a deeper understanding of Buddhist Psychology through the practice of right mindfulness.
Each of the 8 weeks of the Mindfulness program flowed into the next with formal and informal practice, exercises, research and assignments, all grounded by the Program’s Five Skillful Habits.
While reading Thich Nhat Hahn’s book Transformation and Healing: Sutra on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness, I noticed that Buddhism’s Four Establishments of Mindfulness: body, emotions, mind and objects of mind, coincide with Cognitive Therapy. As well, an 8 week mindfulness program offers a framework for developing and practicing mindfulness. In my experience, with mindful awareness of body, emotions, mind and objects of mind, the heart and head become engaged.
While reading Transformation and Healing, I became intrigued with the Buddhist concept of impermanence. Through class dialogue and reading Dr. Monteiro’s 2003 article in the Mindfulness Bell, I realized impermanence as one of the Three Dharma Seals of Buddhism. Indeed, an awareness of impermanence can create ease through many of life’s transitions. As well, an awareness of impermanence facilitates the mindful process of settling into and moving through sensations.
Continuation of practice is essential to living with ease, clarity and presence in each moment. This insight, as well as the OMC’s Five Skillful Habits as Buddhism’s Five Mindfulness Trainings became clear during a 5-day experiential retreat with Thich Nhat Hahn.
Through the practice of right mindfulness and a deeper knowledge of Buddhist Psychology, I have a richer appreciation for both my therapy and mindfulness practice.
I have come full circle, for the moment, committed to living skillfully, ethically and authentically, while moving forward personally, professionally and globally one breath, and one step at a time.
