Free yourself from unhelpful thoughts and emotions and learn to live peacefully in the present • Provides practical exercises, meditations, and reflections centered on mindfulness, breath, and immersion in nature to simplify your life and anchor you in the present • Learn to use your body as a tool for raising consciousness, work with occurrences like tiredness, illness, and pain as spiritual teachers, as well as identify and release addictions, including harmful thought patterns • Can be integrated with any religion or spiritual teaching with examples pertaining to everyday experiences in the Western world Offering a synthesis of spiritual teachings viewed through the lens of modern personal experiences, Darren Cockburn provides practical insight into how to cultivate a peaceful mind, live skillfully, and nurture a spiritual connection through the power of the present moment. The author shares practical exercises, meditations, and reflections, revealing how to free yourself from becoming lost in unhelpful thoughts and emotions, while bringing acceptance to what life presents you with. He explains how to generate true mindfulness through connection to your breath as well as immersion in nature. He details how to use your body as a tool for raising your level of consciousness as well as how to weave exercise, diet, breathing techniques, and sexuality into your spiritual practice. He explores how to work with occurrences like tiredness, illness, and pain as spiritual teachers for enriching your presence of mind and being. The author explains how simplifying life where possible will also bring a better understanding to all types of existing addictions, including harmful thought patterns, providing precious breathing space for our overly busy minds. In addition, he shows how a stable practice of mindful presence can enhance the quality of communication with others, be it with family, with friends, or at work. Alongside an introduction to meditation techniques and supportive wisdom teachings from Buddhist and other spiritual traditions, Cockburn provides useful guidance on successfully integrating a regular spiritual practice into your day-to-day activities. He also includes pointers on how to create your own unique and personal structure in order to support your ongoing spiritual practice, the fruits of which will ultimately be a peaceful, calmer, and more connected experience of life.

1 Introduction Characteristics of Presence Ego Presence & Mindfulness How to Cultivate Presence The Origins of Presence Presence & Religion How Our Thoughts ChangeThe Prompts to Write This Book Using This Book Points for ReflectionOptional Learning Activities 2 BodyLooking After Our Bodies Working with Tiredness & Illness Managing Pain through Presence Exercise & MovementThe Breath Sexuality Points for Reflection Optional Learning Activities 3 People Land of Presence Love & Control Knowing Our Triggers Creating Space & Letting Go 'Difficult' People & Situations Presence through Communication True Listening Solitude & Loneliness Friendship 61 Changes to Personal Relationships Understanding Our Impact on People Points for ReflectionOptional Learning Activities 4 Meditation Time, Duration & Frequency Meditation Posture Location, Entrance & Exit Meditation Technique Presence Meditation Presence Meditation -- Stage One -- Thought Presence Meditation -- Stage Two -- Breath Presence Meditation -- Stage Three -- Exclusively Present Meditation Challenges Reflection & Planning Teachers, Groups & Religious Movements Mini Meditations Motivation Presence Meditation - Quick Reference Guide Points for Reflection Optional Learning Activities Meditation 5 Internal Hindrances & The EgoSensory Desire Ill Will Sloth & TorporRestlessness & Worry Doubt Hindrances Summary Application outside of Meditation The EgoResponding to Difficult Feelings Worldly ConditionsTriggering the Hindrances in OthersHindrances during Sleep Points for Reflection Optional Learning Activities 6 Simplicity Balancing Simplicity with Wisdom & Compassion Simple & Repetitive Activities Simplicity & Assets The Simplicity ParadoxTechnology & Messaging WaitingAssets, De-cluttering & Physical Spaciousness Streamlining Simplicity of the Present MomentPoints for Reflection Optional Learning Activities 7 Addictions How Addictions Are Created Gaining Freedom from Addictions The World's Biggest Addiction Relating to Addictions Addictions Attracting Addictions Points for Reflection Optional Learning Activities 8 Stillness, Spaciousness & Nature Stillness of the Body Space between Objects SilenceSpace between Hindrances SleepNaturePoints for Reflection Optional Learning Activities 9 Acceptance How to Accept Working with ResistanceRelative & Absolute AcceptanceOptions for Cultivating Acceptance Acceptance of Our Relative Self The Four A's Cycle Points for ReflectionOptional Learning Activities 10 Work & Service Conflicting & Complementary Views The Three Modalities of Awakened Doing Concentration Identifications at Work Reviewing Work & Service Points for Reflection Optional Learning Activities 11 Teachers, Religion & Study Spiritual Teachers & Religious MovementsSpiritual Retreats Studying Spiritual Teachings Time & Motivation to Study Points for Reflection Optional Learning Activities 12 Structuring Our PracticeCreating a Presence Inventory Striking the Right BalanceJournalling & Writing Practising with Others Progress & Measurement Creating Time for Structured Practice Anchoring Our Practice Points for Reflection Optional Learning ActivitiesAfterwordAcknowledgements Notes BibliographyAbout the Author