Savoring the Moment: Easing Pain Through Mindfulness

Episode 71 · Series 4 — 2024 CyberSangha Dialogues With Eric Garland, Ph.D., and Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D. Can we ease our physical and emotional pain simply by increasing our sensitivity to natural, healthy pleasures? In Dr. Eric Garland’s MORE research, participants learned a savoring practice in which they intentionally focused on the sights, sounds, smells, and touch of a pleasant experience, such as a beautiful sunset or their connection to a loved one. In appreciating and absorbing their positive emotional response to these sensory impressions, their pain and craving for opioids lessened. Eric and Alejandro will discuss how savoring relates not only to mindfulness meditation, but also to dzogchen meditation and its experiences of oneness, or non-duality.