Kirstie writes from her own experience.
Scroll down to select and enjoy Kirstie's reflections and musings to help spark your own ideas, discussions and wisdom.
Is it all Nature? Does it all belong?
20th October 2025
As humans, we judge our experiences all day every day – perhaps not consciously or intentionally. It’s habit. Examples include - I did well; I bombed; that doesn’t belong there; I shouldn’t have said that; is that natural? I think too much; humans should be doing better; sheep are stupid compared to dogs. What might some of your judgements be?
The comparing mind and the judging mind - natural, yet if left unchecked, how useful (or 'skilful', as some Buddhist say)?
From a wider perspective, whatever is ‘here’ (whatever ‘happened’) belongs – because its here (happened). And nothing is ‘outside’ of nature (what do you know that is ‘outside’ of nature?): therefore it’s all Nature.
We are never outside Nature.
In our meditation practice, we can notice and ‘touch into’ our tendencies to compare and to judge. But watch out – if we ‘judge’ ourselves for these tendencies, then we are reinforcing/empowering the judging mind. Judging the judging mind. Not easy, huh!
Meditation practices are often simple – but not ‘easy’. Yet the wins are worth it, for many of us.
To feel some space between ‘me’ and the judging mind; between ‘me’ and comparing mind. To see the interplay of forces play out (rather than being unconscious to it all and carried along on auto-pilot).
This difference can be a portal to increased understanding, expanding peace, and wiser navigation of life. Some warm humour helps too: to have that space to feel for ourselves and to laugh at the humanness of this human journey (with deepest respect for our suffering, too); to realise more and more that ‘I am not my thoughts’ and ‘I don’t have to believe every thought/feeling/belief I have’.
We cannot see our tendencies and pattens when we are in the thick of them (like being deep inside a fog). Meditation and everyday mindful moments clear a path through the fog.
Why is mindfulness relevant to modern life?
Kirstie Templeton 6/4/25
1 Pause
Without the 'pause', we race through life planning, avoiding, hoping, memorising, fretting. Many of us on auto-pilot, conditioned by our past and culture. Slow down and pause: be HERE & NOW, get off auto-pilot & get in the driving seat. This is your life.
2 Relax
Noticing our habitual tensing, bracing, and striving felt in the body, is a key step. Sensing the undercurrents of anxiety or tension. With kindness, inviting a softening and releasing. Letting go in this way brings us down to earth and out of survival mode.
3 Open
We tend to habitually contract around our hopes, fears, & beliefs. Here, we are opening to things as they really are with kindness and curiosity. Touching the life that's here. The good, the bad, and the mysterious. Awake and receptive, receiving our truth in the wake of reality.
4 Savour
Given the pace of modern life, we may rarely savour the fullness of pleasant or insightful experiences & we often try to avoid pain. Learning to savour and marinade in the sensations and insights - only so far as we are able. Heart, body, mind can align, communicate and know.
5 Respond
A frantic life can make us more reactive & guarded, at the whim of events around us. Being more grounded and spacious, in tune with our inner life, we can more readily respond with courage, wisdom and authenticity to the life that's here.
Yes - with care
Meditation and compassion practices, undertaken with like-minded people, and weaved into our own daily life routines, can be a valuable tool for many of us. We look after our teeth regularly, let's look after our mind/heart/body system. Formal and informal practices mean there is flexibility depending on your personal needs as life unfolds.