Cara Lai spent most of her life trying to figure out how to be happy, or at least avoid total misery, so she sat still with her eyes closed for the majority of her adulthood. Throughout many consciousness adventures including a few mind-bendingly long meditation retreats, she has explored the wilderness of the mind, chronic illness, the importance of pleasure, and lots of other things that she might get in trouble for mentioning here. In the past, Cara has worked as an artist, wilderness guide, social worker and psychotherapist, but at this point she’s given up on being an adult in exchange for an all-out mindfulness rampage. Her teaching is relatable, authentic, funny and sometimes crass, and is accessible for many people. She teaches teens and adults at Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, and UCLA; ultimately hoping to bend spoons with her mind. And to help people be happier.
How can I sit here when our house is burning down? How meditation, softening, and receptivity relates to activism and making real transformation in the world. The ways that hatred masquerades as fierce compassion, a deeper understanding of power and privilege, and how to lead with love.
How doubt can manifest as the belief that one is not fully on the path if they have chosen the life of the householder. Using nature as affirmation and support.
Some words on compassion; with a focus on ease, trust, letting go, being gentle on yourself and seeing how seeing our own pain can connect us to the whole world.
