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 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

00:00:44 – Sean introduces Oren Jay Sofer
00:07:18 – Introduction from Oren
00:08:43 – Oren’s experience with chronic pain
00:13:43 – What is pain?
00:19:04 – Suffering = pain x resistance
00:21:07 – Indirect and direct practices for addressing pain
00:28:52 – Question: Can this also apply to chronic mental pain?
00:29:53 – Question: Can chronic pain be traumatic?
00:32:46 – Question: How do you recommend introducing someone to mindfulness for pain in such a way that reduces potential resistance?
00:38:48 – Question: How do you help people to delineate between pain and suffering?
00:42:57 – Indirect practices for pain
00:45:12 – Orienting practice
00:52:01 – Cycling through the senses
00:53:37 – More tools for indirectly addressing pain
00:56:46 – Guided imagery practice
01:06:28 – Question: How do you remember these tools when you are ill or experiencing low energy?
01:11:07 – Self-compassion as the bridge to direct practice
01:15:14 – Direct practices for pain
01:20:10 – Tracking our resistance to pain
01:21:35 – Getting to the place where we can investigate the pain we’re experiencing
01:24:27 – Pain education
01:25:21 – How to find meaning in the pain we experience
01:28:11 – Guided practice for touching pain and noticing resistance
01:40:56 – Question: What classes or resources would you recommend that we could refer to others who experience pain?
01:43:39 – Question: Could you explain what you mean by spiritual pain?
01:47:14 – Question: Can you bring mindfulness to the spiritual component of pain?
01:49:48 – Acknowledging and embracing the totality of what we’re experiencing