Loch Kelly, M.Div., LCSW is an author, licensed psychotherapist and recognized leader in the field of meditation. He is the founder of the non-profit, Open-Hearted Awareness Institute and has worked in community mental health, established homeless shelters and counseled family members of 9/11. Loch studied Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and India, served on the New York Insight Teachers Council, and is affiliated with Adyashanti. Loch has collaborated with neuroscientists at Yale, UPenn and NYU in the study of how awareness training can enhance compassion and wellbeing. For more information, www.effortlessmindfulness.org
This evening of meditation and book signing is based on Loch Kelly’s new book, The Way of Effortless Mindfulness. In one Buddhist tradition, meditation is taught in two stages. The first is deliberate mindfulness, which includes one-pointed focus and nonjudgmentally observing the changing contents of our mind and body.
With wisdom, clarity and care, Loch Kelly offers teachings and practices that directly evolve consciousness and liberate the heart.” ―Tara Brach, Ph.D. Author of Radical Acceptance
In the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition, meditation is taught in two stages. The first is deliberate mindfulness, which includes one-pointed focus and insight meditation. The second practice is called effortless mindfulness, not because no initial effort is made, but because of the discovery of an awareness that is already awake and has natural compassion.
Effortless mindfulness is an advanced, yet simple form of mindfulness. Rather than concentrating to calm and focus your mind, we will learn to intentionally shift into our awake aware mind, which is already calm, intelligent, and able to effortlessly focus. This is an important practice to learn for your journey of awakening.
Loch’s Award-Winning Book, Shift Into Freedom, and Audio, Effortless Mindfulness Now, can be found HERE.
