Shows
One Heart One MindThy Will Be DoneAt the heart of contemplation is an attitude of total surrender to the Divine. This is easier said than done, of course. In our minds, we may sincerely believe that we wish to do God’s will in all things. But the moment the bitter cup is served, we often find ourselves protesting and howling at life’s unfairness. Christ’s prayer in Gethsemane is an archetype of perfect “willingness”: the willingness to experience exactly what life gives us to experience in each moment, trusting that it is for our good. And it’s not only Christianity where the virtue of “w...2025-05-2531 minOne Heart One MindThe Father’s FatherIt feels assuring to know the answers to the most important questions in life. It takes more humility to admit we might not know where we’re going, and at a deeper level, who we even are. Thomas reflects in this episode on the vulnerability of not knowing and shares a poem from Thomas Merton that shows this special kind of faith in action. And now that Thomas is all done with graduate studies, he’ll be dedicating more time to his teaching practice and the broader community. Learn more about two of his upcoming offerings: ...2025-05-0432 minOne Heart One MindPass AwayWe delve into the Gospel of Thomas this week, a treasure trove of contemplative inspiration. Have you ever gone through an experience where you simply weren’t the same person on the other side? What part of you passed away, and what new quality came into being? Give yourself some space to settle in for this one, and, as Jesus invites, “Come into being as you pass away.” Logion 42, tr. Lynn Bauman Yeshua says, Come into being As you pass away. Upcoming workshop: Thomas w...2025-04-1327 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 8: The Intention to ConsentContemplation asks us to let go of everything and simply rest in the Divine presence. But how, exactly, do we do that? In this episode, Thomas introduces more formally the method of Centering Prayer, developed by the spiritual giant, Father Thomas Keating. What we find in Centering Prayer is that attention follows intention. Each time our attention wanders, we gently renew “our intention to consent to God’s presence and action within.” Upcoming workshop: Thomas will be in Salt Lake City May 15-17 to guide students in embodied practice, meditation and all sorts of surprises! Scholarships and fi...2025-04-0632 minOne Heart One MindPutting It All TogetherThomas guides a longer, deeper practice in this episode, weaving the themes from the previous five episodes together. Whether you’re a regular listener or first-timer, this episode provides a great opportunity to internalize some of the deep principles at work in contemplation and to bring your own unique flavor to them. Upcoming workshop: Thomas will be in Salt Lake City May 15-17 to guide students in embodied practice, meditation and all sorts of surprises! Scholarships and financial aid always available.2025-03-2331 minOne Heart One MindDivine TherapyIn this two-part episode, Thomas offers guidance on trauma-sensitive practice. Any time we practice meditation or prayer that goes beyond the thinking mind, it can create an environment where intense experiences arise in the body. Which leads to part II, the Divine Therapy. We can learn to trust this purification process and be healed through our prayers beyond what we ever imagined was possible. Ultimately, God invites us not only to heal through prayer, but to become healers ourselves as we learn to bear one another’s burdens. Upcoming workshop: Thomas will be in Salt Lake Ci...2025-03-0943 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 2: The Prayer of QuietIt’s not uncommon for people who have been praying their whole lives to hit dry spells and even to wonder if anything worthwhile is happening when they pray. In this episode, Thomas explains how too much talking can drown out the “prayer of quiet,” which promises to take us to new depths in our relationship with the Divine. Upcoming workshop: Thomas will be in Salt Lake City May 15-17 to guide students through practices from his recent book, At-One-Ment. Scholarships and financial aid always available.2025-02-2331 minOne Heart One MindAtmosphereIn this inaugural episode, Thomas McConkie introduces the lost jewel of contemplation in the Christian tradition. He shares a brief spiritual autobiography, invites the listener to come see for themselves, then dives right in with a wisdom bomb from Howard Thurman: on cultivating atmosphere and spiritual presence. Upcoming workshop: Thomas will be in Salt Lake City May 15-17 to guide students through practices from his recent book, At-One-Ment. Scholarships and financial aid always available.2025-02-1633 min
One Heart One MindSunset, SunriseThe sun is setting on Mindfulness+. She lived a good, full life. But don’t fret! Where there is a sunset, there is always a sunrise. Look for a new podcast, One Heart One Mind, by Thomas McConkie on this same feed in the coming days.2025-02-1302 min
One Heart One MindEpisode 25: The Preciousness of DeathYou’ve heard something like this before—without death, we could never know the preciousness of life. When a loved one falls ill, suddenly our relationship with them is imbued with an entirely new quality. But what happens when the loved one who falls ill isn’t human? What if it’s a lake whose life we mourn? In this season finale, Thomas shares about a close friend of his who initiated him in death, and Great Salt Lake, who is now in dangerous decline. He invites us all to reconsider what personhood is, and what it might mean to open...2024-01-0325 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 24: Divine ConfusionConfusion gets a bad rap. When we feel clear, when we know who we are and where our life is headed, we often suppose that this is a desirable way to be. On the other hand, when we feel confused, it’s as if we can’t quite relax. There’s a queasiness in our body that we long to get rid of. But what if clarity and confusion are just two facets of a single gem? What if we need confusion to truly be clear, and clarity to unlock the power of “divine confusion?” Have a listen to this episo...2023-12-2722 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 23: How to Be LoveA colleague of mine recently asked me, “How do we be love?” As soon as he asked, I felt any intellectual response buckle under the weight of his question. There were no words. But I walked around with the question, and let it in deep. The following meditation arose out of that inquiry, which I’m honored to share with you here. Love and Blessings on your day. -Thomas If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a tax-deductible donation to Lower Lights School o...2023-12-2020 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 22: The Metalineage of At-One-Ment (part II)What is Metalineage? Gloria Pak returns to the studios for part II of this lively conversation. How can we take the best from all our influences without sacrificing what we take to be essential? How can the lineages and traditions that speak to us individually bring one another to a greater fullness? The conversation culminates with a question for all of us: how is metalineage living through you? How will you express your highest values in this life, leaving nothing good behind? If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, l...2023-12-1324 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 21: At-One-MentThis is a special episode. Gloria Pak visits the Mindfulness+ studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts to engage Thomas in a conversation about his recent book, At-One-Ment: Embodying the Fullness of Human Divinity. What does it mean to belong to a tradition? What does it mean to leave a tradition? If we’ve left, are there meaningful ways to continue to embody and bring forth the best of the lineages that form us? How do we engage in our “local-ness” while also making way for the universal wonder of Spirit? Listen in to this soulful exploration of a new kind of spirit...2023-12-0629 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 20: Of Hell Realms and GodsIn an immature contemplative practice, we tend to assume that the whole point is to learn to draw as much pleasure from each meditation session as we possibly can. As we become more experienced, however, we learn that it is natural to traverse many “realms” throughout the day and throughout our lives. The question becomes, can we remain as fully awake in the realm of the gods as we can in the depths of hell. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a tax-deductible donati...2023-11-2923 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 19: Updrafting: The Art of Hitching a Free RideIf meditation practice hinged solely on the effort we put into it, the hours and minutes we logged each day, we’d be in trouble. Sooner or later, we would exhaust ourselves from all our diligent efforting. But the deeper we move into this practice, the more we become aware of effortless practice—the free ride that Nature provides, if we know how to catch that updraft. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a tax-deductible donation to Lower Lights School of Wisdom. We’re grat...2023-11-2222 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 18: GroundlessnessIt is no secret that the Millennial and Gen Z cohort are losing their religion and seeking new ways to feel wonder and awe. But what is it about traditional religion that repels some? In a word, it may be certitude. What would it look like to honor all that our ancestors knew and realized, while being more open than ever to the Mystery and Unknowing of human life? The upcoming generations seem to be asking these questions intuitively, embodying new forms of wisdom on our planet. Listen to Little Moon’s moving anthem to an emergent spirituality: ht...2023-11-1521 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 17: The Meditation Teacher Who’s Right For YouSooner or later, if we get at all serious about integrating contemplation into our day to day life, we start to wonder what it would look like to have a bona fide teacher to guide us on the path. In this episode, Thomas articulates some of the principles that he has found most helpful in working with teachers of his own, as well as offering students guidance in calling in the right teacher at the right time. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a...2023-11-0824 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 16: The Art of WaitingWaiting is something we end up doing just about everyday of our lives. And what makes waiting so difficult? Perhaps it’s the belief that if we could only be done waiting, then we would finally feel better. Given the situation, it would be wise to cultivate the art of waiting. That is, when we learn to bring our highest awareness to the experience of waiting, we discover that we will never need to wait again! If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a ta...2023-11-0121 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 15: Heartfulness“Mindfulness” is a word. And words have their power. When we call this practice “mindfulness”, it sets us up to have a particular kind of experience which in some ways, can be limiting. In this extended meditation, Thomas uses the word “heartfulness” to turn the tables and open up a new dimension of experience that perhaps you wouldn’t have expected—the boundless Reality and Intelligence of the Heart. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a tax-deductible donation to Lower Lights School of Wisdom. We’re gra...2023-10-2520 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 14: Unique SelfOne of the great joys of contemplative life is that it teaches us to be who we actually are. By holding our attention inwardly, rather than being scattered about by a million different things, we nourish the best, most unique parts of ourselves. As the unique self comes into being, it becomes a gloriously original expression of Creation through which we can offer our fullest gifts to everyone and everything. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a tax-deductible donation to Lower Lights School of...2023-10-1822 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 13: Soothing the Inner-ToddlerWhen we are children, we get upset countless times a day. If we don’t get to play with the toy we want, if we don’t get to have a sugary snack on demand, we cry, we protest, we pout, we mope. In these moments, we need soothing from our caregivers to help our bodies reset. It turns out, we’re not so different as adults. We also get upset many times a day. The difference is that as adults, we often disconnect from the body through various avoidance strategies rather than just hold our “inner-toddler” through the pain. But...2023-10-1122 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 12: The Gift of Pure ListeningWhen we think about getting to know somebody, our minds often go to spending time with them, asking them questions about their life, about what they value, what they love. But the beloved Sufi poet, Rumi, offers us a surprising nugget of wisdom in this regard: you truly get to know another by what you are able to say in their presence. Check out the show and start to put this timeless wisdom into practice today. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a...2023-10-0421 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 11: The Taste of FreedomEvery few episodes, Thomas likes to take a break from the content and storytelling and get right into practice. Here he explores the way we can access a fundamental sense of freedom and joy by shifting attention in a slightly new direction. It’s so easy to do you almost won’t believe it. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a tax-deductible donation to Lower Lights School of Wisdom. We’re grateful for your support! Want more guidance from Thomas? Come to our...2023-09-2722 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 10: The Courage To Do NothingBusyness is the fashion in our modern world—the default mode of being. No matter how much we’re doing, we can always do more. At least, that’s what many of us are taught to think. But what happens when we become willing to sit and do nothing? What if we don’t assume that doing something all the time is inherently productive or good? More radically, what if doing nothing is at the very heart of actually doing something real with your life? Start cultivating the courage to do nothing right now, and discover what beautiful places it will...2023-09-2021 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 9: Grace and WorksDo we transform through consistent, effortful practice, or are we transformed by something more mysterious that we can’t control and can’t even properly understand at the end of the day? Even framing this question in terms of either/or causes us to miss the mark. Thomas shares in this episode an unexpected transformation he recently experienced in the kitchen, seemingly in spite of his years of meditation practice. Listen in and start to appreciate how profoundly things are already working out at the deepest level. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by s...2023-09-1324 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 8: Every Idea You Have Is InaccurateHave you ever noticed how many ideas you have about, well, everything? We can hardly help but form opinions, beliefs, even dogmas about virtually every aspect of life. In this episode, Thomas recounts meeting his first teacher, and the freedom he felt when his teacher nonchalantly declared that any thought he has about anything is fundamentally inaccurate. What role do thoughts and beliefs have in life if they’re all just “inaccurate?” Listen in to get a taste of this delightfully fertile polarity. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend...2023-09-0620 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 7: Great Loss, Great GainOften when we’re faced with a challenging decision, we have the experience of feeling stuck, or frozen, because we just can’t decide which direction is right for us. Thomas suggests in this episode that a powerful remedy for the feeling of stuckness in life is to more fully open up to the experience of loss. When we are willing to experience the inevitable loss that any given decision entails, we simultaneously open ourselves to the inevitable gain that comes from living the life we’ve chosen to live. If you feel fed by the show, please...2023-08-3019 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 6: Life Abundant: A Meditation on VitalityIt is a common misunderstanding in our society that meditation is primarily a practice of learning to relax. While relaxation is very much one of the fruits of this practice, it is just the beginning of the profound gifts that flow from open mind and open heart. In this episode, Thomas leads a longer meditation and points out one of the qualities that naturally arises in awake awareness—the feeling of Life itself. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a tax-deductible donation to Low...2023-08-2323 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 4: The Struggle to Not FeelThomas reprises the ever-present theme of vulnerability in this episode. As we mature in life, our capacity to tolerate more disturbing experience tends to mature as well. We start to realize how much energy we’ve spent avoiding certain experiences that have been with us all along. Mindfulness practice reveals to us a deeper capacity we have to stay present and awake to whatever is arising. In this way, we begin to let go of the struggle to not feel. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a re...2023-08-0924 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 3: Kindness of RhythmWe all come with a particular disposition—a way we like to be and move in the world. Contemplative practice helps us attune to these subtle, soulful rhythms and move with greater kindness in our journey. Give yourself some space for this episode. Find a place where you can relax and just be. Savor the experience of coming home. If you feel fed by the show, please support Mindfulness+ by sharing with a friend, leaving a review or making a tax-deductible donation to Lower Lights School of Wisdom. We’re grateful for your support! Want more...2023-08-0224 minOne Heart One MindSeason 6 TrailerHello, Mindfulness+ fans! We're excited to let you know that Season 6 is coming next week! In the meantime, if you're looking for other supports to practice, Thomas offers a monthly mini-retreat on Zoom. And if you really want to go deep, join Thomas and Lower Lights for a 7-day retreat in Scholls, Oregon, August 10th-17th. Learn more here. 2023-07-1200 minOne Heart One MindSneak Peak at Season 6: Going to Boston!How do human beings transform and become what we’re meant to become? Thomas is taking this question to graduate school at Harvard University to ask some of the best minds in the world what practices can support us in living the good life. Drawing from ancient understandings from the Wisdom traditions to modern insights in developmental psychology and neuroscience, Thomas will continue to offer intimate, guided tours of cosmos, soul and psyche from his new headquarters in Boston! Want to practice with Thomas? Join on Zoom from anywhere in the world for a mon...2022-06-0122 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 17: Building HeavenAt a time in the not-so-distant past, you might have been involved in the building of a cathedral that took so long to complete, you would have never seen the finished product of your labors. Nevertheless, your participation was absolutely vital. This is a fascinating metaphor for the new reality humanity is giving rise to moment by moment. Thomas calls it “building heaven.”2022-03-0222 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 16: Hold StrokeWhen life throws challenges at us, it tests our capacity to be open, clear and present. Thomas recounts his glory days as a high school swimmer in this episode to point out a helpful technique for practicing when the going gets tough. If we’re clear where our mindful awareness tends to break down, we can “train to remain” in a more intelligent way.2022-02-2324 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 14: Effectively SelfishIt’s not often you call someone “selfish” and mean it as a compliment. But prepare to be liberated from your misconceptions about what healthy selfishness actually is! In this episode, Thomas offers insights from the field of developmental psychology and coaches you on how to be the best kind of selfish in your life. You’ll be glad you listened. Interested in learning more about development? For information about an opportunity to join Thomas’s cohort program, go to www.lowerlightswisdom.org/spectra.2022-02-0923 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 13: Who am I? An interview with Dr. Terri O’FallonOne of Thomas’s great pleasures in hosting Mindfulness+ is the opportunity to introduce listeners to some of the teachers who have changed his life. On today’s show, Dr. Terri O’Fallon shares a few of the dazzling delights from the field of human development. Terri is a renowned expert in this area, known for her spiritual depth, vision, and kindness. She ultimately points us to the great mystery, “who am I?” Learn about her latest offerings at stagesinternational.com. For information about an opportunity to join Thomas’s cohort program, go to www.lowerlightswisdom.org/spectra.2022-02-0234 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 12: Sit Like a MountainIf you’ve been practicing meditation for some time, you may have heard the instruction somewhere along the way to “sit like a mountain.” But what does that mean? Is it just a nice metaphor? Thomas takes us right to the heart of our mountain nature in this episode, where there is always, right here, an abiding peace, stillness and stability.2022-01-2621 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 11: MetalineageSpirituality and human transformation are taking exciting turns in the 21st century. Never before have so many traditions been intersecting, influencing and evolving one another. How can we meet this moment with courage and curiosity? Thomas lays out a vision of “metalineage” in this episode—a way in which all of humanity can realize greater fullness and freedom. For a deeper dive, check out this immersive online experience, Gospel Meets Dharma: The Dance of Buddhism and Christianity in the 21st Century.2022-01-1924 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 10: “Only phonies don’t get enlightened.”Mindfulness practice is simple as it is difficult: we need to be willing to feel what we’re actually feeling. Easier said than done! In this episode, Thomas shares the experience of his grandmother’s recent passing, all that he wasn’t willing to feel, and what came on the other side of being honest with himself.2022-01-1222 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 9: New, GoneIn this episode, Thomas offers an extended, beginning-of-the-year meditation, inviting you to appreciate what has already passed—what is gone. The more fully we learn to welcome the “gone”, the greater the birth of something new in our lives.2022-01-0522 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 8: On Being CompleteTo be a human being is to be incomplete—in process. No matter where we are in this moment, we are undoubtedly on our way to becoming something else, something new. How, then, do we manage the anxiety of being “in suspense and incomplete”? Thomas points to the part of us that is already complete in this episode, even as we are becoming something more. Also, check out this new online course, Gospel Meets Dharma: The Dance of Buddhism and Christianity in the 21st Century.2021-12-2923 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 7: What SurvivesFor those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere, we’re right on the other side of the winter solstice. Traditionally, this is a time when we hunker down, take an inventory on our lives perhaps, and sense into what survives the enveloping dark. When we pay close attention, we’re comforted to discover the light that the darkness never overcomes. Also, check out Thomas’s new online course, Gospel Meets Dharma: The Dance of Buddhism and Christianity in the 21st Century.2021-12-2221 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 6: Stop LyingThe path of waking up and growing up can be excruciating, even as it can be gentle and forgiving. We continue the meditation on Advent in this episode with a reading from the Gospel of Thomas. “Stop lying”, Yeshua says. What could this mean? Is there a truth we haven’t been willing to hear, or speak? Also, check out Thomas’s new online course, Gospel Meets Dharma: The Dance of Buddhism and Christianity in the 21st Century.2021-12-1521 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 5: Extraordinary HappinessIn the Buddhist tradition, we make the distinction between “ordinary” and “extraordinary” happiness. Extraordinary happiness, simply put, is a happiness beyond conditions. Thomas shares about this teaching in the context of Advent, a time when we can bring more awareness to our “distorted values” and let in greater Light. Also, check out Thomas’s new online course, Gospel Meets Dharma: The Dance of Buddhism and Christianity in the 21st Century.2021-12-0825 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 4: Sons and Daughters of InfinityWhat does the “+” in “Mindfulness+” mean again? Thomas takes us even deeper into the territory it points to in this episode. Drawing from the words of Aurobindo, he invites us beyond the “surface mind’s” idea of reality into something altogether Unnameable.2021-12-0124 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 3: Lessons from a HealerIn this episode, Thomas invites his very first meditation teacher, David Timpson, to share about his meditation practice, his medical practice, and the profound power of the intentions of our heart. The conversation is a beautiful window into how mindfulness can transform us over the decades. Prepare to be inspired!2021-11-2438 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 1: Waves of ImpermanenceWe’re back! Thank you for joining us for a brand new season. Thomas kicks off the festivities with a close reading of a timeless text from the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. In this episode you can learn to relax your inner control freak (okay, for some of us it’s more like an outer control freak) and let go more fully into the natural ebb and flow of life.2021-11-1023 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 24: Raising All of CreationWelcome to the season finale, Mindfulness Plussers! In the midst of hurricane force winds and blackouts across Salt Lake Valley, Thomas offers a deep view on parenting. Ultimately, when we’re totally present, we raise Creation itself.2020-09-0920 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 23: Spontaneous AwakeningHave you ever had the experience of trying to meditate, only to find yourself constantly frustrated that you’re endlessly distracted? Have no fear! Thomas offers a simple, proven remedy to turn this deficit into a great strength. Your practice will never be the same. Also, join us for our home retreat, Sep. 12th: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/upcomingevents/home-retreat-a-day-of-sacred-living2020-09-0223 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 21: The PathWhat we sometimes refer to as “the path”, that is, the process of transformation, has been expressed in different ways in the Wisdom traditions throughout history. We can learn a great deal from the similarities—and differences—in these formulations that seem to be pointing to very similar territory. Listen in as Thomas compares snippets from St. Teresa’s “Interior Castle” and Master Guo An Shi Yuan’s commentary on the Oxherding Pictures of Zen Buddhism. What a joy to walk this path!2020-08-1925 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 19: Schrödinger’s GlacierIt’s time for another extended guided meditation on Mindfulness+! Thomas shares a quote from the famous physicist, Erwin Schrödinger, and invites listeners to participate in the great Mystery that mystics and sages across the ages have invited us into: What is the self? Who is aware? What is it that is aware in this very moment of the words on this screen? Come fill your heart in this exploration. 2020-08-0521 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 17: Heat WaveWe’re in the dog days of summer in Salt Lake City. Thomas shares a modern mindfulness parable on a broken air conditioner and working with discomfort. He guides listeners in becoming experts at diagnosing the suffering in their own body-mind. In the end, it is never one’s “own” body-mind. Any suffering we alleviate in “ourselves” is an alleviation of suffering for all beings everywhere in all worlds.2020-07-2224 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 16: A Rare ChanceWe live in a day and age where high quality teachings are available to anyone who is interested in the path of meditation. And yet, there remains something unique, even “rare” about the opportunity to meet and be inspired by a living master in the flesh. In this episode Thomas invites you to deepen your appreciation of the precious seed that is planted when we have such an encounter. In turn, you can set your intention on being that encounter for someone else on their own path of Transformation.2020-07-1525 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 15: The One Who KnowsIn human life, we naturally confront the question again and again, “What do I do now? Where do I go next?” Or more broadly, “what do I do with my life?” Thomas draws from the deep well of Zen in this episode to take on these often bewildering questions. From a Zen perspective, the solution is so simple, we tend to look right past it.2020-07-0822 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 14: No Body, No MindThese last 12 days, Thomas has been staring a lot at his son and contemplating newborn consciousness. Which is lucky for you! In this episode, Thomas leads an extended guided meditation, inviting you back into primordial, formless presence, aka the experience of a newborn baby. In fact, we all have the capacity to rest in this open field of formless awareness—we simply forget! We hope you’ll enjoy this practice of remembrance.2020-07-0122 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 13: Cosmic AssistanceDo you have a sense of what it means to “listen from the ear of the Heart?” When we do listen from this new place within ourselves, the results can be dramatic. Listen as Thomas recounts a recent encounter with the Imaginal Realm—what Cynthia Bourgeault calls the “realm of cosmic assistance.”2020-06-2425 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 12: Wisdom MotherWhat would it mean to see things as they truly are? Is it even possible to do so? Thomas draws from an ancient Buddhist verse to explore this Mystery in this episode. The Prajnaparamita Sutra describes the “Wisdom Mother” continuing to “instruct her enlightened children about the true nature of What is.” Take a breath, relax the body, open the Heart, and explore this practice of “Perfect Wisdom” with us. 2020-06-1723 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 11: The Mindful ReviewIn a previous episode, Thomas said that “the Dharma is all about second chances.” In this episode, he goes into much greater detail. Namely, he asks how we can learn to bring a greater degree of mindfulness to the most difficult experiences of our lives. For anybody serious about decreasing their own suffering and that of others, this practice is an invaluable tool!2020-06-1021 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 10: Duende“Duende”, a term coined by the Spanish poet, Lorca, describes the power of art to whisk us away into a world of “invisibles.” In this episode, Thomas mixes poetry and Dharma to invite you into a new realm full of magic and mystery. Is “duende” really a thing? Try on this practice and decide for yourself!2020-06-0325 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 8: Eternity In An HourWhat could it mean to see the “World in a Grain of Sand”, or to live “Eternity in an hour”? In this extended meditation, Thomas points out the “Ground of Being”, a classic territory in contemplative practice.2020-05-2026 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 4: NeurodiverseIt’s World Autism Month! In honor of all of our neurodiverse loved ones, Thomas shares a story of a dharma teaching from his brother, Joseph, who is on the autistic spectrum. Join us in this episode for a practice inspired by one of the many superpowers that people with autism have to offer to the world. Also, if you have any leads on helping Joseph make new and meaningful connections, please email us at info@mindfulnessplus.org.2020-04-2223 minOne Heart One MindBonus Episode: Collective AwakeningWe cannot wake up alone. We need each other. In this post-season bonus episode, Thomas and his wife, “Glo”, share some of their experiences and insights working and living in “cohort life.” For those Mindfulness+ listeners who are interested in really taking their practice to a new orbit, check out the Spectra program at lowerlightswisdom.org/spectra.2019-10-1631 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 21: Your Original FaceIn this longer meditation, Thomas guides listeners into an exploration of their timeless, boundless nature. Sound trippy? You’ll find it’s as easy as breathing to show “your original face before your parents were born.”2019-09-1818 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 20: My Grandfather, The LotusWho are we really? And what ideas do we have about ourselves and others that keep us distant from them, keep us isolated? In this special episode, Thomas tells a story of an encounter he had with his grandfather recently, and the unexpected moment of Presence that shone through 26 years of estrangement.2019-09-1120 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 15: The Perfection of WisdomForgiveness can be a difficult quality to cultivate. Maybe among the hardest. In this episode, Thomas draws from Christian and Buddhist Wisdom texts to offer insight into what true forgiveness might consist of.2019-08-0717 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 14: Bear Down, Ease UpYou may have noticed that in meditation, as in life, sometimes it’s helpful to exert effort, and other times, effort just gets in the way. We need to let go, ease up. In this episode, Thomas guides a longer meditation, pointing out the moments when it might be most helpful to “bear down and ease up.”2019-07-3120 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 13: The Life and Legacy of Father Thomas KeatingFather Thomas Keating (1923–2018) was a uniquely gifted human being and great Soul. In this episode, Thomas McConkie reflects on Father Thomas’s legacy, as well as invites listeners into a direct experience of the Silence that in Keating’s words, is “God’s first language.”2019-07-2423 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 12: A Dharmic Conversation with Vicki Kennedy-OverfeltIn this conversation, Thomas talks to his longtime dharma friend, Vicki Kennedy-Overfelt, about finding a home on the spiritual path, effort and effortlessness, and ultimately, the supreme wholeness and holiness that each one of us is. Learn more about Vicki and her community at: mindfulnessutah.com2019-07-1731 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 6: Immeasurable ExpanseSo much of human life is governed and divided by the lines and boundaries we somewhat arbitrarily draw across our experience. Join Thomas as he takes flight (literally) across these lines and off into the immeasurable expanse.2019-06-0520 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 5: Trust John T. Kesler, founder of Integral Polarity Practice and longtime mentor of Thomas joins us in season 3 for an exploration of still point practice. In this conversation, John and Thomas explore the practice of Trust and its role in living an inspired and contemplative life. You won’t want to miss this! Listen to a previous interview with John from Season 1, Living an Inspired Life 2019-05-2930 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 4: WildfireIt is a fact of human life that often, maybe even many times a day, we’ll experience significant disturbance that starts as a spark that sets off a wild blaze. In this episode Thomas offers practical advice and guidance for not letting these sparks connect to tinder. As we deepen this practice, we realize that living in a state of happiness beyond conditions is a real possibility in this very life.2019-05-2223 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 1: SoulcraftWelcome to season 3 of Mindfulness+! Thomas opens the new season in the afterglow of a soul-stirring gathering in Spring City, Utah. He shares a poem from Adi Al-Riga that has informed his practice and soul work over the last 20 years. May this episode remind you of your own passion.2019-05-0121 minOne Heart One MindNew! Causal Collective: Live Practice Zoom CallStarting February 6th, you can join a live call with Thomas and Mindfulness+ listeners from all over the world. Thomas will guide meditations, offer insights on different techniques and approaches, as well as discuss questions with participants. Come get your Zen on with a new online community. Register at http://mindfulnessplus.org2019-01-3101 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 26: You Are the ZendoIt’s such a human thing to wait for the right conditions and suppose that once things are finally the way we like them, we’ll be happy. In this final episode of season 2, Thomas invites the “Kingdom of Heaven” to be now, and for the Zendo to always be open.2018-12-2722 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 24: FitnessWhat can the Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, teach us about mindfulness practice? Quite a bit, actually. Thomas describes two critical dimensions of practice in this episode: liberation and virtue. Like Arnold, you can learn to exercise different muscles for that perfectly symmetrical build.2018-12-1118 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 23: The MoonIn this episode Thomas whisks us back to early 19th century Japan for an aesthetic feast in the form of a haiku. This is a poem that captured his imagination as a teenager when he was starting out on the path. Perhaps it will capture yours too.2018-12-0413 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 22: Gross, Subtle, CausalThe three natural states are described metaphorically in Hinduism as waking, dreaming and deep sleep. But what is the practical value of becoming familiar with these states, even proficient? One possible answer that Thomas suggests is Freedom and Love. Join this guided tour and see for yourself.2018-11-2720 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 19: Wisdom of the TwinI’m so happy to introduce Dr. Lynn Bauman to the Mindfulness+ community. Lynn is a renowned scholar and seasoned spiritual practitioner in his own right. In our conversation, I ask him about his conversion experience to Wisdom when he was young as well as some of his feelings about the Gospel of Thomas, for which he is widely known as a preeminent translator. Get his book here.2018-11-0840 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 11: Beginner's MindIn this episode Thomas revisits a classic teaching–beginner’s mind–and adds a polarity spin: The more deeply you plunge into the ocean of possibility, the more powerfully you find yourself living an inspired life and engaging in the world.2018-09-1222 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 6: Gospel of ThomasThe Gospel of Thomas is a surprisingly mind-jogging text that reads more like a collection of Zen koans than a book from the Christian canon. In this episode, Thomas (not to be mistaken with Thomas) shares a saying from this ancient text and ties it to a classical Buddhist teaching. In this episode, as in life, you are invited to be happy, whole, and complete.2018-08-0819 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 5: Surfing LifeOur seeking mind rejects the present moment outright and says, “not yet”. "One day I will be happy, one day I will wake up. But not yet." Awakened mind, on the other hand, simply says, “Perfect.” Thomas shares a parable from the sands of Venice Beach, California and invites Mindfulness+ listeners in this episode to surf their life.2018-08-0118 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 2: Pig Hearts, Angel WingsLife can feel effortful. Frustrating and effortful at times. The practice of mindfulness is powerful because it can help us learn to ride invisible waves; help us move with the flow of Nature rather than against it. In this episode, Thomas shares a rather shocking story about pig hearts and what that means for living a life of “Doing not Doing.”2018-07-1218 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 42: Tithe Your AttentionIn traditional Christian practice, congregants pay a tithe–one tenth of their earnings to support the church. How can we put this time-tested practice to work toward waking up? In this episode, Thomas explores the possibility of tithing your attention as a way of honoring the source of your spiritual sustenance. It’s not to be missed!2018-05-1616 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 41: MoneyA continuation of the lessons on the Energy Centers, i.e. Money, Sex, Fame, Power. This week Thomas discusses extreme monetary wealth as an unrecognized form of obesity in modern culture. Learn to recognize in this episode how much awareness you unnecessarily commit to feeling more secure, and reconnect with a profound sense of security at the heart of this very moment.2018-05-0933 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 39: Security, Pleasure, Esteem, PowerIn this episode, Thomas deepens the conversation on Energy Centers by describing the theory behind them as well as pointing them out in a very practical and personal way. You will gain insight during this episode into the areas of your life that call for more awareness and compassion.2018-01-1726 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 35: Body, Mind, Spirit YogaIt's that time again–a longer, deeper guided meditation to support your ongoing practice. In this episode, Thomas leads a body-mind-spirit yogic "stretch" to help you inhabit ALL OF YOU a little more fully, freely, and joyfully.2017-12-2713 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 33: Judge More Lest ye be JudgmentalMany a well-intentioned meditator has tried to get at the roots of the judging mind to no avail. It seems the more mindful we become, the more we're aware of our petty, judgmental, always-evaluating minds. But do not despair! In this episode, Thomas makes a key distinction for listeners between judging and being judgmental. When we realize that our judgments are never the final truth, we open up to a new space in our awareness that can appreciate life much, much more. We can even appreciate all of the judgments that so effortlessly bubble up in awareness.2017-12-0620 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 30: Still Point BuffetA continuation of last week’s episode, Thomas leads an extended guided meditation on still point practice, pointing out different qualities in awareness the way a chocolate connoisseur would skillfully point out different flavors and notes in an exotic cacao bean. Find a place to settle in and enjoy a tour of the True Self! Also, check out lowerlightsslc.org for additional resources to support your practice.2017-11-2919 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 29: Still PointLet’s face it–we are all creatures of habit. And although habit creates efficiencies in life and helps us get things done, it can also trap us in patterns of behavior that create suffering for ourselves and others. In this episode, Thomas introduces the practice of finding the “still point.” When we live in the still point, our habits start to soften and give way to greater creativity, spontaneity, and skillful action in the moment. With practice, we can all learn to live as an effortless flow of grace.2017-11-2918 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 26: HeartfulnessIn a mindfulness practice, eventually we realize the importance of opening the heart. Whereas “Mindfulness” stresses making empowering distinctions in awareness, “Heartfulness” implies sensing into the unity that lies beneath all the differences, otherwise known as “Love.” Thomas shares an intriguing piece of scientific research in this podcast and offers a practice to help you start living more fully from your heart today. Also, check out lowerlightsslc.org to learn about offerings to deepen your practice.2017-11-1518 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 25: Practicing PresenceOnce a month Thomas chooses a particular theme that has come up in discussions and offers a longer guided meditation around it. Enjoy this month’s extended meditation that will help you not just be more present in daily life, but actually have the experience of being Presence.2017-11-0818 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 24: Your Porous NatureIt’s so easy to go through life believing that we are alone and separate. Listen to this podcast as Thomas relates some touching examples of just how connected we really are. Connection is not without its risks, of course–with true intimacy always comes vulnerability. But we find that vulnerability is a small price to pay for the experience of participating in the great flow of Life.2017-11-0820 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 23: Reclaiming Your BodySir Ken Robinson, in a stirring and hilarious Ted Talk, jokes that university professors relate to their bodies as though they were simply vehicles for getting their heads around from meeting to meeting. The rest of us are not far off. In this episode you will learn about both the challenge and opportunity of remaining embodied throughout adult life. Thomas offers a simple guided meditation for unsticking awareness from the head and healing this classical body-mind split.2017-11-0818 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 21: MantraOnce a month, Thomas guides a longer meditation to give you an opportunity to go a little deeper and discover new territory in your mindfulness practice. Find a quiet place for this episode where you can sink in and let go. Thomas gives instruction on the basics of using a mantra (a word or syllable repeated to increase concentration) as well as a taste of expansive flavors of concentration.2017-10-3018 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 19: 1 DegreeMindfulness can be a challenging practice. All too often we get discouraged and feel like “I’m never going to get to where I need to be.” Listen to Thomas’s words of encouragement in this episode: No matter how challenging the practice or how challenging your life–in any given moment you are just a one degree shift in awareness from freedom.2017-10-2516 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 18: Medicalized Mindfulness: Caution: Side EffectsMindfulness practice is more popular than ever in Western culture. But how has mindfulness been westernized, not necessarily for the better? In this episode, listen to Thomas as he discusses the medicalization of mindfulness: “Take 10 minutes of body scan 3 times a week and call me in two months.” He stresses the all-important relationship with a skillful teacher combined with finding the right technique to make significant progress on the path.2017-10-2515 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 14: Reverence for LifeAs a soulful follow-up to last week's program, Thomas takes listeners on the first ever extended guided meditation on Mindfulness+. Find a place to settle in, and exercise your muscle of awe, wonder and gratitude in this luxurious meditation on the "Gift of Life."2017-10-1419 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 13: Boundless Vitality for the New YearHappy New Year, Mindfulness Plussers! To help power your next trip around the sun, Thomas guides a meditation to help you tap into the boundless vitality that animates each and every living thing. In this episode you'll get familiar with mindful awareness of the body, working with thoughts and emotions, as well as entering into transcendent qualities through the causal body, or pure awareness. Flip the on switch to life NOW.2017-10-1422 minOne Heart One MindEpisode 1: The Awareness You AreMindfulness is all the buzz these days. But what is mindfulness? And how can mindfulness benefit you personally? Join Thomas McConkie in this inaugural podcast introducing the practice of mindfulness. Thomas shares how he got into the practice almost 20 years ago and how, by doing simple daily exercises, you can reap profound benefits from this age-old practice. 2017-10-1116 min