Loch was recently interviewed on the Awakin Calls Podcast, with hosts Stephanie and Jeff. They explored effortless mindfulness, the always present experience of an open awareness that naturally gives rise to compassion and service. Loch described his own experience with effortless mindfulness and how others could learn to access it.
Listen to the Interview
Nuggets from the Interview
Jeff and Stephanie listed these memorable highlights from the conversation:
- We surrender into that which is already awake.
- Loch recommended getting to this state by first moving your awareness to different locations from where it normally resides. First, notice where attention is located (for most people in their head.) Then let awareness move to the corner of the room and look back through awareness of the one who sent it.
- Feel the way you do when you get out of your car and walk into nature – notice your awareness opens and connects. So, it’s this opening.
- This open awareness gives space, peace of mind, ability to be with intense emotions, and a wisdom quality that is Now – and not projecting in to past or future.
- This can be helpful for people with ADD (which both Loch & Jeff described working with) in that there isn’t the struggle with one-pointed attention, and the spacious mind encompasses that ADD mind. Loch spoke of how this helped him be able to focus much more easily and effectively.
- Loch told a powerful story of using his “Effortless Mindfulness” in working with trauma: He gave a hypothetical example of working with a patient who is cutting herself. First you ask her if there is a part of her that wants to hurt herself. She says yes. He asks her where it is and lets her find it – which she does. Then he asks her, is there is a part that wants to heal and be connected and find love? She says yes. He asks where is that? She might say in the belly – then he asks her, “Who is aware of those two parts?” “Where are YOU located?” After she says everywhere and here, she then feels more here and present. Then she feels more compassion and connection to those two parts that had their own perspectives.
- So, with this spacious awareness, you are not stuck in witnessing – you go to an ocean of awareness that is arising like a wave and feels safe and is interconnecting. That is the real sweet spot of familiarizing with who you essentially are.
- Jeff told of Loch’s story of waking up in the morning and his mind was filled with plans, as many of us experience. Then almost immediately – Loch says to that organizer mind, “You think you’re me!” So, then he allowed that part to do what it needed to do but he was not tyrannized by the part that needs to do things.
- Open Mind, Open Heart: by opening the mind, a natural compassion and desire for service emerges.
Check out Loch’s Latest Book
The Way of Effortless Mindfulness »
