Big Book Workshop – Eduardo M. – New England Big Book Workshop Weekend – 2020

About This Speaker Tape

Eduardo, sober since 1985, leads a morning mindfulness meditation for a retreat group. He frames the practice as the 'calm' that follows the 'pause' mentioned in the Big Book, guiding participants through a somatic scan—focusing on the gesture of the body against the chair, the cool air in the nostrils, and the weight of the feet on the ground. The session is a quiet exercise in presence, designed to clear the wreckage of the mind before the day begins.

It concludes with a brief share from Cindy, who discusses her own struggle to believe she could ever meditate and the creation of a dedicated room in her home for her daily practice with her Higher Power.

Topics

Timestamps

• 0:00 Eduardo introduces himself and his sobriety date (Jan 4, 1985).
• 0:45 Mention of the Big Book (page 87) regarding connecting with a Higher Power.
• 1:15 Start of the mindfulness meditation and breathing exercise.
• 2:30 Guided body scan: focus on facial muscles, shoulders, and belly.
• 3:15 Guidance on handling distracting thoughts and sounds during meditation.
• 4:00 Repetitive mantra: 'I am here. I am present.'
• 5:10 End of meditation; Eduardo invites participants to share.
• 5:30 Cindy shares her experience with daily prayer and guided meditation.
• 6:40 The retreat committee expresses gratitude to Eduardo for launching the day.