Noticing Practices
Contemporary Mindfulness
Contemporary mindfulness is a relatively new method of training the mind to release distraction and become aware of the present moment. While the practice of “moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness” is not identical to the definition used by the historical Buddha (and Buddhists in Asia for millennia), it is now in wide use in both the East and West.
Contemporary mindfulness is very useful within the frameworks of Western medicine, psychotherapy and self-improvement. If you are working within these frameworks and have been recommended a practice of mindfulness, I strongly recommend that you practice the contemporary form of it. If you wish to circle back around and learn a more traditional version of mindfulness after you have accomplished your treatment goals, the Almanac will be here.
Here is a video explaining contemporary mindfulness by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Alexander Technique
Alexander Technique is a Western method of expanding awareness, often used by performers, athletes and medical professionals. It is accessible, powerful and easy to learn for most people, and provides immediate benefits to most practices at the beginner and intermediate levels.
Alexander Technique is typically best learned in-person, as there are important somatic elements to understanding it. However, if you prefer online learning or can not access quality in-person instruction, my friend Michael Ashcroft has created a truly excellent course, which you can access here. The site also contains a trove of excellent written content.
Michael has a great playlist of videos discussing Alexander Technique and related concepts here.
Hakalau
Hakalau is a traditional Hawaiian form of meditation that also belongs to a family of vision-based meditation practices known as kasina. While hakalau involves substantive concentration, it is not, fundamentally, a practice of recollection. Rather, Hakalau is an expansion of the space of attention. One begins by looking upward, settling one’s gaze on a point in space, then slowly gathering peripheral objects - which are normally indistinct - and incorporating them into attention. Hakalau is a powerful augment to Understanding practices and can be paired with somatic Being practices to directly experience the act of self-boundary-construction.
Forrest Knutson has a simple and high-quality explanation of Hakalau here.
Situational Awareness
Situational Awareness is a skill that simultaneously trains the mind’s powers of observation, intuition and judgment. Historically, it has emerged from and evolved in military, martial and civil service traditions.
Situational awareness is a foundational practice for martial artists of all varieties, and makes up the cornerstone of many of the specialized contemplative traditions and practices developed within martial arts.
Kasina
Coming soon.