Gathering and dispersing are two concepts that are essential to our daily lives. Gathering refers to the act of focusing on particular things, while dispersing refers to the act of opening up and widening our view to take more into account. Both concepts are necessary for a balanced life, but in our modern society, the element of gathering is often overemphasized. This can lead to a contracted, pressured sense of self, which can cause anxiety, rumination, and suffering.

This week’s talk and meditation with Dr. Rick Hanson teaches us how dispersing can lead to a sense of spaciousness and openness— which can reduce neural activity in parts of the brain that are responsible for a contracted sense of self. This can result in less suffering, anxiety, and frustration. By lifting our gaze, getting a sense of vastness, and taking a panoramic perspective, we can release ourselves from neural activity and experience a sense of everything.

Click here to join the free Wednesday Meditations – which are open to everyone!

Meditation: Stillness, Openness, Kindness

Talk: Gathering and Dispersing: The Two Great Movements of the Heart

Here is a list of topics Dr. Rick Hanson covered in his talk this week:

• His recent experience and reflections upon visiting his family ranch in North Dakota
• The concepts of Gathering and Dispersing
• The influence of the environment on our consciousness
• Insights from Neuroscience, including brain activity and sense of self, and the Default Mode Network and spaciousness.
• Practices you can use every day for expansiveness, including lifting your gaze and disengaging from immediate tasks
• How to reduce suffering through spaciousness
• Why and how to step back in conflict