Living Awake: Making Things Happen

Making Things Happen is about transforming intentions into reality with clarity and presence. In these four sessions, Ken introduces frameworks and practical tools for effective action, explores the inner blocks that hinder progress, and emphasizes mindful engagement with each step of the process. Through insights, exercises, and group discussions, students learn to align action with authentic purpose and navigate life’s complexities with greater awareness and skill.

1. Learning to Live Without Struggle

Ken begins this session by highlighting the importance of living without struggle, explaining that “the true way of Buddha is to train so that these skills are useful at any time.” He guides students to set practical, achievable goals that support living an awakened life. Topics covered include willingness, capacity, and know-how as foundational components for effective action.
2. Four Keys to Realizing Intentions

In this session, Ken redefines success beyond societal standards, explaining that “success… is simply the ability to implement your intention.” With this perspective, he introduces the four foundations of success—interest, persistence, attention to conditions, and creativity. Topics covered include exploring obstacles, balancing inner and outer resources, and using creative questions to foster clarity.
3. Uncovering What You Really Want

Ken introduces a transformative tool, the Kreitman Uncertainty Principle, which states, “if you control the process you can’t control the result, and if you go for the result you can’t control the process.” Using this principle, he guides students to distinguish between what they genuinely want and what they think they want, through practices like the Five Whys. Topics covered include identifying true motivations, setting priorities, and recognizing internal blocks.
4. Stay in Your Own Experience

Ken emphasizes staying grounded in experience, urging students to pay attention to physical sensations and emotional clarity. “The practice of meditation,” he quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh, “is the study of what is going on. What is going on is very important.” He outlines practical steps from attending to committing to action, with tools for balance, feedback, and direct perception. Topics covered include creating symbols, generating ideas, and aligning with lived values.

Living Awake: Making Things Happen

1. Learning to Live Without Struggle

2. Four Keys to Realizing Intentions

3. Uncovering What You Really Want

4. Stay in Your Own Experience