Audio Recordings of Constance

Video Recordings of Constance

Constance also has 2 videos from a conversation she had at Cheetah House with students from Brown University, recorded on Sept. 2, 2011.

Please see the first and second parts: Part 1 and Part 2

To get the whole power of the presentation, it's highly recommended to watch both videos all the way through.

Beginning Meditation Practice: Awareness and Choices

Finding a basis of support, and structure and commitment are part of beginning practice.
It is very important to just become more aware of your feelings, thoughts, and choices, and learn to make nurturing choices for your body and social environment.

Daily Meditation Practice

1. Find a quiet corner of your home to sit comfortably and meditate.
2. Set a timing device to activate when your sit is done. Close your eyes or open your eyes.
3. Dedicate your practice to the wisdom and benefit of yourself and all beings.
4. Notice the arising and falling of the abdomen, or the breath at the tip of nose.
5. Note carefully and consistently for the duration of the meditation period, focusing on the breath but quickly noting objects of attention as they arise.
6. Be sure to carefully note "wandering" when the mind wanders and "thinking" when thoughts distract your attention from the sensations of breathing. Return your attention gently but firmly to the sensations of breathing.

• For more detailed instructions, this handout, by Daniel Ingram, is helpful:
  Insight Practice Instructions

Daily Honesty Practice

1. During your day, periodically bring your attention back to yourself. Ask yourself what do you need right now?
2. Do you need to drink water?
3. Do you need to eat?
4. Do you need exercise?
5. Do you need to arrange to talk with someone?
6. Do you need to relax and take a break?
7. Do you need to accomplish a goal?
8. Do you need to plan something?
9. Do you need to do something for others, so as to maintain healthy relationships?
10. What is your current feeling state?

• This Feelings handout is helpful in the very beginning and then needs to be seen through.
• This Needs list can be helpful for those that neglect their needs and do not live in balance, and it will eventually go entirely as you live spontaneously in a completely different way.

Ask yourself: What is wanted? Right now. Pause, and listen to your inner voice.

Intermediate to Advanced Meditation Practice:
Dissolution of the Ego

At this stage of practice you have established some stability to handle difficult states, and face difficult emotions, have some supports in place or have committed to placing some more supportive conditions around you.

This stage of practice can suddenly arise for people whether they are consciously looking for it or not.

At this point, you may be willing to go on retreat, and feel a pull to sit more often, and the commitment to sit arises more readily. You will need to read more about the stages of insight, see the tools page.

This is a stage that deals with egolessness, and the dissolution of the ego. Passing through this phase of the process is in my view, one of the hardest processes that any human being can go through, and yet the most priceless and rewarding.

The above meditation instructions can also continue to work, that is noting practice, but at this stage you may feel interested in using other methods of practice. Your skillset is going to need to improve a great deal to navigate the dark night territory and balance your daily life relationships and goals.

Continuing to practice diligently will bring progress and insight. And, it is very important to be gentle with yourself and others while you go through some very tough terrain.