Mindful Living in Practice – Inner Peace and Joyful Living: A retreat with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Ritinjali and Centre for Escalation of Peace in collaboration with Pallavan Learning Systems and Vikramashila Foundation organized a retreat on ‘Mindful Living in Practice’ with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. The two-day retreat on Inner Peace and Joyful Living took place at the India International Centre on October 5 and 6, 2019.
One of the central themes of the retreat was awareness. According to Rinpoche, the key to long lasting happiness is within us. True happiness comes from the recognition and connection with our enlightened nature that already exists within us. Awareness is the key to achieving that. When we are truly aware, traits such as freedom, liberation, compassion, love and happiness automatically manifest.
Rinpoche emphasized the point that the essence of meditation is awareness. Inner peace and joy are the experiences that come with meditation but its true essence is awareness. Rinpoche cleared one of the major misconceptions regarding meditation that we have to think of nothing. According to him, that is not possible. We simply need to be aware of our thoughts, emotions and sensations without getting attached or being affected by them. He succinctly asserted that the purpose of meditation is to recognize awareness and maintain that recognition.
Rinpoche guided the participants through various meditation techniques that they can follow on a regular basis. He introduced the concept of informal meditation and explained how it can go a long way in changing our lives. While formal meditation teaches technique, informal meditation allows us to transform that technique according to the situation. Informal meditation allows one to meditate anywhere and anytime.
In conclusion, Rinpoche noted that meditation is the tool to realizing our true nature and understanding our mind. We already have awareness and wisdom within us but we need to recognize them and maintain that recognition. With the help of meditation, that recognition can be achieved. Then, we will be able to experience joyful living by understanding our true nature that is innately good and blessed with unlimited capacity, talent and potential.
His latest book, 'In Love with the World: A Monk's Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying', was launched at the retreat.
Click here to read the report about the retreat.