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The Knoxville Community of Mindfulness
The Knoxville Community of Mindfulness
practicing mindfulness, loving-kindness, and compassion

Unconditional Love, Part 6
​Class Resources

Instructions Before Class 1


Class Details

Sundays October 19, November 2 & 9, December 7

(No Class October 26, November 16, 23 or 30)

2:00-3:30 pm Eastern


How to Join the Class on Zoom:

All four classes use the same Zoom link. 

Please bookmark this link so that you can find it. The direct link (no passcode required) is: 


https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86426017821?pwd=axorP8qPWf2bTH51lZxjkOaPUDMqRI.1 


To join from another Zoom account, you will need:

Meeting ID: 864 2601 7821

Passcode: 633897


Prior to the 1st class
  1. Reread chapter 2 of Makransky's Awakening Through Love.
  2. Bring to class at least one note about a passage that you don't understand.
  3. Practice the meditation on pp 51-54 as often as possible.

Class 1 October 19, 2025

Osprey Feeding Chicks; Yellowstone National Park; July 2024; LSB

Class 2 November , 2025

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  • UCL p6 class 1.MP3
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  • UCL p6 class 1.MP3
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Homework

  • Continue to practice the Letting Be meditation in Chapter 2, pp. 51-53 of Awakening Through Love.
  • Devote at least two meditation periods to "Inquiring into the Arising and Dissolving of Phenomena," pp. 58-59.  Follow the instructions very carefully.
  • Devote at least two meditation periods to observing thoughts and applying the wisdom phrases, "not me, not mine, not myself." Also, do this at least once a day outside of a meditation period. While you are waiting for something or someone is a golden opportunity to observe thoughts and label them.
  • Re-commit to recalling the Field of Care by feeling a quality familiar to you, such as warmth, acceptance, peace, compassion, etc. OR recite one of these meditation instructions: 
      • "You are being seen as deeply worthy of love and respect, beyond judgements." and 
      • "Every part of you loved in its very being."

    Do this 5 times a day and notice how your body-mind responds.

    Finally, during the day pause while looking at something.  Acknowledge the amazingly complex system that assembles an ordinary visual image. Then shift attention to the extraordinary fact that this image is being known.  What is it that knows that the image is being seen?
Christmas cactus. Dec 2024; LSB

Class 3 November 30, 2025

There was no audio recording of this class.

Homework

I. Explore the the following websites:

       1. https://foundations3.aaitaia.org/

           The link above goes to information about the next AAIT training class. John would like you to listen to Carla             Benson’s talk found on this page

    

        2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH10jsPl1LA

               The link above shows Melanie McGhee using AAIT with a volunteer client. ..

    

        3. Melanie McGhee on Shrink Wrap Radio

            The link above leads to three videos of Melanie McGhee: two on YouTube and a TED talk.

    

        4.  aaitaia.org

            Learn about Melanie McGhee’s non-profit from the link above.


II. Practice the meditation found on pp 58-60 of Makransky.


Alexa's Fotos from Pixsbsy
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  • UCL 6 class 3 11-9-25.MP3
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  • UCL 6 class 3 11-9-25.MP3
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Homework

Chapter 2 is the most difficult one in our text; in Class 4, we'll try to wrap it up. So please make a note of anything you don't understand, and we'll try to resolve that before we move on. 

Contemplate the heading at the top of page 39:  "Life Becomes the Struggle to Support the False Sense of Self."  Does that feel true for you?
Would you rather do something else with your life?

Are you clear about conceptual and nonconceptual practices, pp. 43-46, 66-67?

Practice the meditation on pp. 58-59 several times and bring to class any difficulty you encounter. Here are some tips:

Try grounding yourself in the Field of Care before you start looking for the source and destination of thoughts and mental images.  Above all, relax. This part of the practice is called "Inquiry" or "Investigation," but it's not like a cross-examination. After you have released into spacious awareness, begin to notice thoughts and images, and from time-to-time ask, "Can I see where this one comes from?" or "Can I see where this one goes?" Then just look. Don't think, and don't chain thoughts together. When you are aware that chaining is happening, take any of those thoughts or sentence fragments or words and casually look to see where it came from and/or where it went.

That's it.  Do it casually, like looking up from your newspaper to see what the kids are doing. Don't try to do it for every thought. Make it more like a game. You're just being present to your own experience. 

This is not about drilling down to find an answer. It's not about coming to a conclusion.  It's not about scrutinizing the process of arising and passing. 
Just keep your eyes soft. There is no need to squint. You can start with your eyes closed. Then slightly open, gazing down with a soft focus, letting in a little light as you notice thoughts and images. Finally sit with your eyes open gazing into the space in front of you. 

Class 4, December 7, 2025
​Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Welcome Yule and Joyous Kwanzaa

Jill Wellington from Pixabay
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  • UCL- p6- class 4 part 1 .MP3
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  • UCL- p6- class 4 part 2 12.7.25 .MP3
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