Contemplative Practices to Build Love, Resilience and the Courage to Act
What role does contemplative practice play in meeting a world in crisis? Oren Jay Sofer outlines practical ways that we can cultivate mindfulness, resolve, wonder, and empathy to build resilience, love, and strength that can transform our world.
Oren Jay Sofer teaches Buddhist meditation, mindfulness, and communication internationally. He holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University and is a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for the healing of trauma. He is the author of several books, including the book we discuss: Your Heart Was Made For This: Contemplative Practices For Meeting A World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity and Love. His teaching has reached people around the world through his online communication courses and guided meditations.
Website: orenjaysofer.com , FB and Instagram @orenjaysofer
#yoga #contemplation #oneness #meditation #joy #wonder
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: Oren Jay Sofer says that because of the pandemic he felt that something shifted for humanity in 2020 and that "interconnectedness became a reality" which I can relate to. He hopes his book, Your Heart Was Made For This will help us bring forth the beauty in our hearts. He encouraged readers to use the book like a "choose your own adventure guide," reading chapters that resonate with them, asking readers, "what do I need right now? What is the medicine I need for my heart." Also, his comments about meditation were memorable, asking us, "how do you take care of your mind?" when we do so many other things in the day, like brushing our teeth, to take care of the body. His book provides a useful guide to contemplation, tuning into our hearts, and making positive change both internally and externally to make this world a better place.
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I really enjoyed both Oren Sofer’s book, Your Heart Was Made for This, and our conversation about the important role of contemplation in taking action in a world in crisis. I appreciate his view that contemplation and action are inextricably linked, and that both are needed as we arise to meet the challenges of the world. He discussed that meditation is one form of contemplation, as running is one form of exercise, and he offered support for meditation as well as other forms of contemplation in his book. I liked Oren’s comments that meditation is a way to take care of our mind by training it, maintaining it, and exploring it. I wholeheartedly agree with his view that the future is not yet written, and I find this very hopeful and helpful.