The following talk was given at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California.

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I talked about the value of recognizing what's happening, what's happening here and now,

but not just recognizing, once we've recognized it, to take some time

to be with whatever it is you've recognized, to find if there's a better way you can be attentive to it.

Can you recognize it so that you're not judging it or judging yourself,

you're not aversive or clinging to something,

so that the recognition, the way of being mindful of what's happening

feels pleasant to you, it's enjoyable for you.

It's a nice way.

It's nice to be just present and open in a nice simple way.

To not be for and against your experience, but rather just to be present for it.

So one of the things we're trying to do with mindfulness practice is in fact to discover a way

to be present, a way to be mindful that feels satisfying, independent of what it is that we're being

mindful of.

So something what we're being mindful of might be very difficult and painful. It might be very

pleasant and nice. There's a natural tendency for human beings to prioritize the pleasant, hold on to it and indulge in it,

and to avoid and resist and maybe push away, close down around the unpleasant. People might be fine practicing with the unpleasant to find

a way to be with it in a nicer way, with an easier way. But if they're having pleasant

experiences, then they will, I don't need to practice with that.

I just want to enjoy it.

But the two go together to learn how to be present in a relaxed, open way that is not for or against the experience,

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