Amana Brembry Johnson has been a student and practitioner of multiple spiritual traditions throughout her life. Her journey of Vipassana practice and study began over 10 years ago as a result of the early People of Color Retreats offered at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She completed the Community Dharma Leaders Program at Spirit Rock in 2017 and is currently a participant in the groundbreaking Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program (SRTT). Amana leads meditation and teaches contemplative yoga that interweaves the wisdom of the Dharma with movement. She mentors and coaches practitioners who wish to deepen their practice and understanding of the ancient wisdom teachings. An accomplished visual artist, Amana creates imagery that exposes emotional and spiritual barriers of the heart as gateways into kindness, compassion and self-love.
We find ourselves in a time where avatars of delusion, diversion, distraction and fantasy have become a way of life. Maintaining clarity of vision is not a luxury. Clear view is a necessity if we are to effectively navigate the land mines of this post-truth era.
During these disorienting and unstable times, awareness of the Earth Element in the body offers both a refuge and a responsibility to be present for what has arisen and what is arising in our world today.
Life lived within the myth of a separate self that has dominion over nature, is to live a life of delusion and self-deception. This distorted mental perception can only be dissolved by the arising of wisdom.
The body is the first door to awakening. When the body is at ease, the mind more easily follows. We begin with intentional, kind attention to the body before turning awareness to an object of focus. Curiosity and investigation of the arisings and passing away of sensation in the body cultivates intimacy with habits of mind and corresponding body sensations.
