Gateways to the Related Presence
Before You Begin the Practices of Related Presence
Related Presence asks for no special conditions — only you.
Sometimes it arises on its own; perhaps you’ve already touched it without even knowing.
I explored these gateways so you don’t have to wait for a “lucky accident” to meet it again.
Related Presence often appears spontaneously in life-threatening situations. But there is another path too — gentler, safer, and open to you through simple practice. As you continue, you may one day discover a switch inside yourself, a way to open into Related Presence naturally — without any exercises.
But reaching this point takes time.
Sometimes months, sometimes a year or two, or even three. I know it can feel like a long journey. And I also know: every moment you give to this is a gift to yourself.
A Different Way of Being
The gateway is a flowing, continuous process, which I now present in distinct steps to make it easier to navigate. It’s important not to view Related Presence as a goal to be achieved or an outcome to reach.
Rather, think of it as a space — a state of awareness — where you simply and effortlessly exist in your natural way of being. Without roles. Without withdrawal or merging.
In this space, your attention moves fluidly:
sometimes expanding into a sense of being present in everything, sometimes drawing inward into the inner landscape of your human identity — while remaining connected to something larger than yourself. Even within this greater expanse, you can recognize your own essence.
It is like a pulsating, narrowing and widening field of presence,
where you are simultaneously connected to the reality of your everyday life and to a larger flow that holds it all.
Related Presence is not about setting aside an hour to escape the burdens of daily life. It is not an escape — but a different way of living, breathing, and experiencing your everyday world, your human relationships, and your personal challenges with deeper aliveness.
The Steps
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1., Preparation
This short, restful practice helps you withdraw from the overwhelming flood of external stimuli — the news, the messages, the noise of tasks — that scatter your attention and drain your energy.
As your attention rests, your body and mind gently realign, making it easier for you to arrive into presence.
2., Connection
This step supports you in consciously and gently connecting with whatever you direct your attention to.
It may be another person, an aspect of yourself, an inner organ, an animal, a plant, a crystal — or simply the space around you.
Through connection, the subtle space of Connected Presence begins to open for you.
3., Dual Compassion
Here, your breath and attention will help you be present with deep empathy, both inwardly and outwardly.
Practicing Dual Compassion stabilizes the state of Related Presence, allowing you to stay rooted within yourself while remaining open to others.
You will no longer feel vulnerable or overwhelmed by compassion, because you remain steadily connected to your own inner world, feelings, and needs.
Other Paths
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Working with Shattering Experiences
This chapter explores how past pain and fear can pull us out of presence—and how gentle, non-therapeutic practices like Double Compassion can help us reconnect. Instead of trying to fix or change the past, we learn to meet our former selves with mindful attention. In doing so, identification with suffering begins to soften, and Related Presence becomes available again.
The details are below.
Eye of the Needle Meditation
Coming soon.
Little Latern Communication
Coming soon.
PRACTICES
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