The Beginner’s Guide to Meditation

Notice. Everything.

The significant interest in mindfulness and meditation practices among Americans has tripled in recent years. According to a survey, 14% of Americans have tried meditation at least once. This growing awareness reflects a larger cultural shift toward inner awareness and mental well-being.

While it’s often hard to clear one’s mind of thoughts and be still, Dzogchen, a practice rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, has become popular for it’s ‘direct approach’ and simplicity. Unlike other forms of meditation that focus on a specific object or mantra, Dzogchen encourages practitioners to simply notice everything that arises in awareness, without judgement or attaching a story to the sensations experienced.

This style of meditation aligns with the core principles of mindfulness and well-being, which emphasize being fully present in the moment and accepting things as they are. Mindfulness meditation, is often the entry point for embodied awareness, through cultivating breath, present moment awareness and the ability to differentiate the sensations in the body.

As practitioners deepen their practice, they may naturally progress towards more advanced forms of embodied awareness, where the focus shifts from concentration to pure awareness of being. This shift can have profound insights into a deeper understanding of the nature of mind. Mindfulness and meditation offer a path to greater self-awareness, inner peace and a deeper connection to the world around you.