Writings
Visit Russell Delman's Archive of articles, guided meditations, and general guidance for living in presence. Russell Delman's Embodied Life™ Newsletter goes back to 2011 and is a virtual treasure trove of spiritual and practical information. The wisdom in these writings will not only help the teachers and healers that Russell has taught but anyone looking for a fresh perspective on how to live an Embodied Life™.
Russell Delman's Most Recent Writings
Sometimes it is all too much, this life.So much unavoidable pain, just in living....(read more)
On the train to my fourth and final seminar/retreat here in Europe. I am surprised to find my heart hopeful for our collective future, despite some compelling evidence to the contrary.....(read more)
As we look around the world at this time, there are many, many examples of the energies of divisiveness that is ruled by the dictum "divide and conquer"....(read more)
To be unmoved by Life - by beauty, sorrow, joy, pain and love, in all their diverse forms - is to be dead inside ....(read more)
Story: Two birds contending over a frog. A monk who also saw this asked, ....(read more)
Most people reading this newsletter are amongst the socially secure ....(read more)
Everyone I know is interested in enhancing the experience of living - the richness of their lived experience. ....(read more)
Being grounded in our bodies AND on the planet are essential steps toward living in harmony....(read more)
From many interactions with people throughout the world, this seems to be a particularly challenging time ....(read more)
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle ....(read more)
I don't like the word meditation which can be a problem because I like to teach meditation....(read more)
The disciples were involved in a heated discussion on the cause of human suffering. Some said it came from selfishness ...(read more)
Moshe Feldenkrais was a teacher of awareness. Although mostly known for his ingeniously creative and effective approaches to movement, his greatest effect on me was on my ways of thinking ...(read more)
Knowing that you are on a meaning-filled, personal and freely chosen Path makes a huge difference in navigating your unique life. ...(read more)
Everyday I visit moments of rage, outrage and deep sorrow about the heartless destruction we are witnessing in Ukraine. ...(read more)
As I have written many times, we live in one interconnected world: We are not separate!...(read more)
Humanity is receiving another cruel lesson, another opportunity to learn Universal Loveand a reminder of our interconnected hearts...(read more)
Do you sometimes feel that the demands of everyday life - the emails, cooking, cleaning, etc. - leave you exhausted without energy for your hearts true longing? ...(read more)
Linda and I live very close to the location of the first Thanksgiving celebration ...(read more)
The Story: After almost two years of cancelled retreats and seminars, we were thrilled to be going on our European teaching tour...(read more)
We all are living our life path, whether consciously or not...(read more)
Recently, Linda, my beloved wife of 47 years, was diagnosed with a facial melanoma ...(read more)
Cultivating joy in the "ordinary gifts" of life ...(read more)
True democracy requires free minds...(read more)
During a long walk after writing my "Epiphany reflections", something inside was feeling incomplete...(read more)
The startling events in the U.S. capital yesterday inspire me to connect with you and share a few words...(read more)
Through tears and laughter: may we emerge...(read more)
Growing up, my family was not too big on celebrations...(read more)
I was surprised that so many friends and students from Europe wrote with joy, relief and hopefulness about the results of the presidential election...(read more)
We are all affected by the conditions of our planet - the pandemic, the environmental/climatic upheavals, the social/economic strife...(read more)
Once again, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. rocks my world with his energizing words: ....(read more)
The Embodied Life teachings focus on exploring our inner tyrannies that interfere with our true nature as loving, caring beings.... (read more)
Graphically witnessing the racist violence perpetuated by people in power brings so much grieving. ..... (read more)
"The great gifts of life can only be experienced through opening our hearts to 'what is'". ..... (read more)
We live in two worlds that are ultimately one world - the everyday life of linear time, ..... (read more)
We are part of an intricate, complex, fantastically interconnected web of Life..... (read more)
In this moment, I want to celebrate the great gift of embodiment AND wholeheartedly embrace the impermanence of this body. .... (read more)
My friend and icon of the New Age, Ram Das, aka Dr. Richard Alpert, died last week. He strongly influenced two eras of my life .... (read more)
A Child is Born. She might have been two weeks old or even two months. Hard to tell from the tiny hand idly touching her mother's hair or the tender foot sticking out from the blanket. .... (read more)
Hearing the term "spatial awareness", many think that it is somewhat esoteric, with little practical value.... (read more)
The Embodied Life work is based on cultivating Awareness in every day life... (read more)
Coming of age in the 60's when inner and outer revolutionary thought and action was in the air. .... (read more)
What does it mean to be intimate with our life? In many ways this is the essence of Zen. .... (read more)
Q: What is the connection between embodiment and freedom? Russell Delman: Understanding this connection goes toward the essence .... (read more)
Early in my Feldenkrais practice I was confounded by a paradoxical observation about pain and suffering. Sometimes I would work with someone who was struggling to regain function after a debilitating stroke or some other life-altering situation. .... (read more)
She was about 45 years old and claimed that she could not meditate. She had tried a few times in the past but meditation was impossible for her because her mind was just too busy. I asked her if she thought meditation was a form of mind control. She said "of course".... (read more)
One of the frequent phrases attached to The Embodied Life teachings is "Freedom Through Awareness". Rather than a philosophical idea, freedom here suggests the possibility of new behavior, and fresh responses to familiar situations.... (read more)
In the previous newsletter, I introduced a new practice for 2018 in which we will focus on 6 virtues or qualities that are essential for developing our humanity. For the morning meditation, my commitment and invitation is to practice for 6 uninterrupted hours of sitting and walking meditation, from 6:00 am to 12:00pm. As always, you are... (read more)
To paraphrase Gautama Buddha, "when we create thoughts of vengeance, blame and anger, two beings are poisoned and the one generating these thoughts eats the poison first." Blame is accusing others for our current... (read more)
Embodied Meditation has its roots in the Zen practice called Shikantaza or "just sitting". The main intention is to become intimate with our experience of being alive in the present moment. Rather than "mind control, the emphasis is on a gentle orientation... (read more)
For seven years, I have been sharing a practice in which we meditate continuously for many hours. Last Sunday, the day consisted of two, five-hour periods of sitting and walking meditation, dedicated in gratitude, to our oneness with the earth. People ask me, why ten hours in a... (read more)
I don't know! Somewhere between: "It is all too much" and "Just say 'yes'!" A cry rings out: Earthquakes, Fires, Floods, Hurricanes How do the birds sing? After bows this morning dawn subtly shimmers, a gray-white light Each breath a... (read more)
The following is a well-known Talmudic tale beloved by Moshe Feldenkrais involving two famous rabbis: A non-Jewish man approached Rabbi Shammai and said to him: "Convert me but first teach me the entire Torah as I stand on one foot." Shammai, feeling that he was not serious, sternly... (read more)
What is the cause of violence in this world? Looking broadly at both personal and international events, some kind of limited, partial self-identity is at the root of most violence. By identity, I am conflating a broad range of categories: those fixed at... (read more)
Life knows Life THROUGH human beings like you and me. From an evolutionary perspective 1) inert matter became alive, capable of reproducing itself, 2) life became sentient, capable of feeling, 3) sentient life became conscious with beginning capacities for caring and... (read more)
Visit Russell Delman's Archive of articles, guided meditations, and general tips for humility.