In this talk, Jack Kornfield, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and Spirit Rock Meditation Center, talks about seeing things in a fresh way, or seeing anew, and how it connects to beginner’s mind and contentment.
Seeing anew is about cultivating a beginner’s mind. Whether we are beginners in our mindfulness practice or long time practitioners, meditation is a constant reminder to return to a fresh slate – to new eyes. Mindfulness and meditation practice continually calls us to step out of our habitual thought patterns and beliefs and to rediscover a renewed way of seeing; from there, our potential for insightful discovery may deepen.
Letting Go to Start Anew
Jack Kornfield’s talk on ‘Seeing Anew’ draws us into the possibility of letting go of self-limiting, fearful ways of thinking and being so that we can begin again. He explains that this begins with forgiveness before proceeding to the art of letting go – letting go of limited views and opinions about the world and our self.
Stress, anxiety, and fear are part of our shared experience. Letting go is a skill we can hone, and with it our capacity for renewal. Practicing mindful release of our conditioned thoughts and beliefs may make room for more love, acceptance, and healing.
Cultivating Contentment
With continued practice, we begin to move more naturally into this fresh way of seeing and being. Contentment and inner harmony can become more present as we are less often caught or lost in the old thought patterns that once weighed us down so heavily. Anytime we are caught up in outdated ways of being, we can call upon our beginner’s mind to bring about a fresh way of seeing.
More from: Jack Kornfield
