Oren Jay Sofer teaches mindfulness, meditation and Nonviolent Communication in both secular and Buddhist contexts.

Oren has practiced meditation in the Theravada Buddhist tradition since 1997, beginning his studies in Bodh Gaya, India with Anagarika Munindra and Godwin Samararatne.

He is a long-time student of Joseph Goldstein, Michele McDonald, and Ajahn Sucitto, and a graduate of the IMS – Spirit Rock Vipasanna Teacher Training.

Oren is the author of Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent Communication, a practical guidebook for having more effective, satisfying conversations.

He is also co-author of two books on teaching mindfulness to teens and adolescents: The Mindful Schools Curriculum for Adolescents and Teaching Mindfulness to Empower Teens.

Oren first became interested in contemplative practice in high school, when he picked up a little book called The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.

He went on to complete a degree in Comparative Religion from Columbia University, and later spent two and a half years of living as an Anagarika (renunciate) at branch monasteries in the Ajahn Chah Thai Forest lineage.

Today, his teaching combines classical Buddhist training with the accessible language of secular mindfulness.

Learn more about Oren Jay Sofer: https://www.orenjaysofer.com/
Follow Oren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orenjaysofer/
Check out Oren's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/orenjaysofervideo

00:00:42 – Welcome to Oren Jay Sofer
00:03:53 – Introduction from Oren
00:07:04 – Why do we communicate?
00:12:27 – Conditions that determine which path we take during difficulties (based on work of Marshall B. Rosenberg)
00:15:01 – Three foundations of mindful communication training
00:21:01 – Leading with presence
00:22:56 – Practices to be able to lead with presence
00:28:50 – Participant question: Can you say more about awareness of the center-line?
00:32:15 – Guided presence practice
00:46:39 – What is intention and why is it important?
00:51:58 – Principles of intention
00:59:50 – How do we know if the message sent is the message received?
01:03:31 – Three ways to listen
01:08:32 – Interactive communication practice
01:20:40 – Participants reflect on interactive practice
01:24:28 – Training our attention to focus on what matters
01:27:45 – The power of identifying needs
01:31:08 – How do we say what we actually mean?
01:38:00 – Oren’s last remarks and final participant reflections