Mindfulness Over Matters, Part 1: How Living Mindfully Can Save the World

The Mind and Supermind series from SBCC School of Extended Learning (aka Adult Ed) has a 35-year history of presenting dynamic speakers and accomplished authors on cutting-edge topics of human psychology in all of its facets and implications. Among the previous speakers over the years have been Deepak Chopra, Byron Katie (creator of The Work), author and journalist Gregg Levoy, energy-based healer Judith Orloff, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus author John Gray and Tai Chi meditation master, and Living Tao Foundation founder Chungliang Al Huang.

This Monday, May 6, the series returns to its roots, even employing the word “mind” in its topic, for the spring lecture from renowned mindfulness coach Dave Mochel. The Carpinteria-based author and TEDx presenter will not only explore the concept of “unconditional well-being” – defined as experiencing health and happiness that is independent of circumstances – but also share practices through his approach to mindfulness to employ the principles on a daily basis.

“Life is messy,” Mochel explains on the website of his mindfulness consulting company, AppliedAttention.com. “You cannot control what shows up in life, but you do have a choice about where you put your attention and energy.” 

Mochel’s approach is based on principles derived from the study of neuroscience, human development, and behavior as well as lasting wisdom from major contemplative traditions. It addresses the human brain systems for learning and creating automatic behavior to ensure survival – such as tensing the body for action when it senses physical danger – and the conscious-choice one that can align behavior with values and goals, which it does by prioritizing actions that go beyond what feels familiar and comfortable. The website tells how Mindful Self-Regulation helps the systems work together, with the conscious system regulating automatic behaviors through deliberate practice.

Put another way, we are wired to seek comfort and pleasure as well as to seek meaning and purpose – but sometimes these impulses compete. Which we choose to nurture has enormous implications not only for our individual well-being but also, collectively, for societies, cultures, and the environment. As we learn to have a better relationship to stress, anxiety, distraction, and setback, we also cultivate deeper connection with others through clear, kind, and assertive communication, and effect positive change through increased clarity of values, goals, and commitments. 

“The good life is a practice of working peacefully with what is outside your control and powerfully with what is within your control,” explains Mochel, who admits to being driven in the past by restlessness, boredom, frustration, anxiety, fear, and anger – so much so that he had to be hospitalized after punching a wall. Now he helps clients, organizations, schools – including Crane in Montecito – practice the principles he learned through decades of study and immersion. 

“My work with people represents what I have learned over the last twenty-five years in the fields of well-being, neuroscience, performance, and group dynamics,” he writes on the website. “The principles and practices I teach have been distilled and synthesized from thousands of years of enduring wisdom, thousands of scientific studies, and thousands of conversations with colleagues, students, friends, and clients.”

Mochel’s talk, which takes place 7:30-9:30 pm on Monday, May 6, in the Schott Campus auditorium, 10 West Padre Street, will be moderated by Spencer Sherman, who has himself long taught “Consciousness, Science, and the Nature of Being,” a mindfulness and meditation course featuring guest speakers, for SEL. Admission is $20. For more information, call (805) 687-0812 or visit https://sbcc.augusoft.net

Mindfulness Over Matters, Part 2: Mindfulness and Intimacy

Ben Connelly, a Soto Zen teacher and Dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage, has penned a new book that connects mindfulness and intimacy, which he will discuss in a special presentation with the Santa Barbara Zen Center. The ancient and powerful practice of awareness and non-judgmental discernment that can help us ground ourselves in the present moment, with the world and our lives just as they are, comes with the risk that by focusing our attention on something (or someone), we might always see it as something other, as separate from ourselves. To close this distance, mindfulness has traditionally been paired with a focus on intimacy, community, and interdependence. In his new book, Connelly shows how to connect these two practices together – bringing warm hearts to clear seeing.

Connelly, who is based at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center in Minneapolis, will speak at 10:30 am on Sunday morning, May 5, at the MacVeagh House on the grounds of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. His talk follows Santa Barbara Zen Center’s regular 9 am sutra service and two 30-minute zazen (sitting meditation) sessions and a brief period of kinhin (walking meditation). Guests are welcome to join for all or only the talk, which will be followed by a meet-the-author tea, book sales, and signing. Call (805) 722-5562 or visit www.santabarbarazencenter.org.

Mantra Mavens 

As Sanskrit mantra singing has gone mainstream, becoming a global chant phenomenon that is also practices in many corners of our own community, Deva Premal & Miten have remained on the forefront of the forays.

Although she just turned 49 last month, Premal’s journey with mantra began even earlier – in her mother’s womb, as her father would chant the “Gayatri Mantra” daily to his unborn daughter. Almost 30 years later, Premal and Miten – who met at the Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune, India in 1990 – recorded The Essence (1998) back where she first heard it in her mother’s apartment in Germany.

Deva Premal & Miten’s blend of the sacred Sanskrit mantras with sensual, groove-based music has attracted the attention of superstars, celebrities, and world teachers – from Cher to Tony Robbins, Eckhart Tolle, and even the Dalai Lama – and legions of fans who make their concerts standing room only and propel their CDs to the top of World and New Age charts at iTunes, Amazon, and Billboard Magazine.

Deva Premal & Miten’s “The Wings of Mantra” World Tour 2019 – which arrives at the Marjorie Luke Theatre for a 7:30 pm show on Tuesday, May 7 – features the Seven Chakra Gayatri Mantra from their latest album, Deva, along with Miten’s songs of spiritual awakening, taken from his Temple at Midnight album. The singers will be accompanied by Nepalese bansuri maestro Manose and their international band featuring Joby Baker (bass/vocals/keyboards), Rishi (percussion), and Spencer Cozens (keyboards). Tickets cost $35-$108. Visit http://bit.ly/2DNIUB1-Deva.

Solidarity and Shadows

The Solidarity and Compassion Project, a monthly gathering created by psychologist and meditation teacher Radhule Weininger in the wake of the 2016 elections, takes a turn toward the dark side with its May 8 event when the theme will be Facing the Dark Side with Courage and Compassion. Weininger will be joined by David Richo, Ph.D., M.F.T., the psychotherapist, writer, and workshop leader (for decades with SBCC’s Adult Ed and elsewhere) whose most recent book is The Five Longings: What We’ve Always Wanted and Already Have, in a discussion moderated by Weininger’s husband, Michael Kearney. They will explore what Carl Jung called “the shadow,” the unacknowledged, disavowed, unconscious part of ourselves and others that has both negative and positive aspects. The presenters will discuss and interact with the audience on how the twofold shadow is both personal and collective, and how to understand and work with the shadow within each of us and in society. The event gets underway at 7 pm Wednesday at Parish Hall at The Unitarian Society, 1535 Santa Barbara Street. Admission by donation. Visit www.mindfulheartprograms.org/solidarity–compassion-project.html.

Cannabis Conferences 

Look no further for proof that the legalization of marijuana is landing locally beyond a deluge of dispensaries than the schedule for the next two weekends, eachof which will feature a deep diving conference on medical and other uses of cannabis. MediCannaCon: the Ojai Medical Cannabis Conference, which takes place on Saturday, May 4, aims to present current information to health professionals and the general public in the wake of the fact that many people are now self-medicating and need to know the benefits, side effects, and contraindications of the many types and preparations of medical cannabis. 

The faculty includes David Bearman, MD, speaking on “Cannabis in Health and Disease;” Margaret Peterson, MD, explaining “The Human Endocannabinoid System;” James D. Adams, PhD, of USC School of Pharmacy, addressing “Medical Uses of Full-Spectrum Cannabis” and “The Entourage Effect of Cannabis;” and Susan Marks, RN, BSN, PHN, discussing the “The Safe and Effective Cannabis Patient Experience.” Admission is $125 in advance, $145 at the door, for the 9 am to 5 pm event at the Ojai Valley Woman’s Club, 441 East Ojai Avenue, presented by the Ojai Herbal Symposium and Sespe Creek Collective. Visit www.OjaiHerbal.org or call (805) 646-6281.

An opportunity closer to home comes a week later, when EntheoMedicine presents the Santa Barbara Medical Cannabis Conference & Expo on Saturday, May 11, at Santa Barbara Veteran’s Memorial building (112 West Cabrillo Boulevard). The even more immersive event that runs from 7:30 am to 6 pm features keynote speakers, workshops and breakout sessions, plus Q&A, documentary presentation and book signings as well as an expo with exhibitors offering free (non-THC) giveaways, music and food. Visit www.CannabisMedConference.org for information and tickets. We’ll have more in next week’s column. 

Yoga, Uphill or On the Water

Divinitree Santa Barbara and Yoga Dance Magic are joining forces to lead a mellow and meditative mountain hike up to Parma Park, where the group will experience a movement class with Divinitree and YDM teacher Kylie Wagner. The classes use wireless headphones and begin with invigorating yet gentle yoga, activating the breath with intuitive postures, before transitioning into free form, non-choreographed movements and flowing into a dance party. The class closes with cool down stretches, restorative poses and a savasana period. No previous yoga or dance experience is necessary to attend the 9:30-11:30 am excursion on Saturday, May 4, which costs $25 in advance, or $30 at the event.

The following morning, Divinitree Yoga Studio owner Jill Agonias leads a stand-up paddleboard yoga workshop out in marina by the harbor. Agonias, a certified SUP yoga instructor through Paddle Into Fitness, leads the event that is designed for students who are new to SUP and/or yoga that starts on land with an SUP lesson and a brief overview of yoga basics and how to modify some poses while balancing on a board. Once on the water, participants will paddle around the marina before starting a slow and steady beginner-friendly SUP Yoga class, complete with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the mountains of Santa Barbara.

Visit www.DivinitreeSantaBarbara.com/events for information or registration.