Cheryl Slean has been practicing meditation intensively since 1995, teaching since 2007, and is currently on the Teachers’ Councils at Against the Stream L.A. and Insight Community of the Desert, Palm Springs. She teaches classes and retreats at these centers and at other spiritual and secular venues including Seattle Insight, Mindful Schools, Refuge Recovery Centers, Santa Monica Hospital, Google LA, and many other health and wellness and business settings. She has also helped design research on the efficacy of meditation for chronic pain, and developed associated trainings for healthcare professionals. Cheryl has a Certification in Mindfulness Facilitation (CMF) from the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center, and regularly offers meditative interventions in addiction outpatient programs.
Overview of smadhi/mind training path factors of 8-fold path and how they lead to insight - wise effort, mindfulness and concentration.
Guided meditation with labeling, deconstructing body-mind experience using labels; feel, talk, image
Overview of heart qualities: Several non-traditional ways to cultivate metta - friendliness, kindness, goodwill, including self care, relaxation body scans, breaking the negativity bias by looking for and taking in the good.
Reflections on how wise mindfulness helps us let go of clinging to the past, projecting obsessively into the future, and grasping or resisting the ever-changing present. Guided meditation in open, choiceless awareness for continuity of mindfulness.
Brief overview of 1st and 2nd noble truths of clinging (suffering) caused by craving, and the process of developing understanding that let's go. Followed by guided forgiveness practice.
Dharma practice designed to reveal Dharma--the Truth of Things. When we are ignorant of this truth, and identify with our inaccurate/incomplete assumptions, beliefs and views, we suffer. How Dharma practice develops the understanding that frees us from suffering.
What supports continuity of mindfulness? A relaxed and comfortable body and mind. Cultivating Metta, friendliness, and non-resistance toward whatever is arising helps to relax the mind and body. Talk and guided Metta practice.
