josh dippold

Dharma Questions: Miscellany — Part 3

This irregular “Dharma Questions” series deals with “dharma” meaning both the truth of the nature of reality and some Buddhist teachings. Amongst other things these questions can be:
• thought experiments
• borderline musings not meant to be answered
• from laziness of not contemplating or researching them yet

There’s 19 (groups of) questions. Here’s a sampling of two:

How do sankhārā [formations/mental formations/volitional formations] come from ignorance? What is the process?

How does effort for vitakka wax and wane? How does vitakka turn into, or allow, or go along with vicāra?

Resources for Abhidhamma — Advanced Buddhist Thought, Inquiry, Analysis and Psychology

After auditing the now public Abdhidhamma and Development of Buddhist Thought, part of Mid-America Buddhist Association’s Diploma in Pali and Buddhist Studies (DPBS) I was inspired to create this post. (If interested in checking out ongoing classes at MABA, please email to request free auditing, or please enroll). Here’s some Abhidhamma resources, some of whichContinue reading “Resources for Abhidhamma — Advanced Buddhist Thought, Inquiry, Analysis and Psychology”

Irregular Inquires — Questions For Regular Contemplation: Ethics

“Whenever you want to do [while you are doing, and having done] a bodily action [verbal action, mental action], you should reflect on it: ‘This bodily action [verbal action, mental action], I want to do [are doing, and have done] — would it [is it, was it] lead to self-affliction, to the affliction of others,Continue reading “Irregular Inquires — Questions For Regular Contemplation: Ethics”

Types Of Samadhi (From Early Buddhist Texts)

“Monks, these are the four developments of concentration. Which four? There is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to a pleasant abiding in the here & now. There is the development of concentration that, when developed & pursued, leads to the attainment of knowledge & vision. There is the development ofContinue reading “Types Of Samadhi (From Early Buddhist Texts)”

An Integrating Presence Meditation at Fat Cat Longevity Wednesday May 5, 2021

Join meditation 7:00-7:45pm Wednesday, May 5th at Fat Cat Longevity [https://facebook.com/freyflow] downstairs next to Peace Love Coffee at Mary’s House of Healing, on Main St in St Charles, MO. We plan to start with brief instructions along with a discussion before and after. Our semi-formal meditation possibilities include a combination of: compassion and loving-kindness (open) awareness 5 simple qigong breathingContinue reading “An Integrating Presence Meditation at Fat Cat Longevity Wednesday May 5, 2021”

Mindful Practice Of Body, Qi And Mind – 1st Annual Review | (4/27/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu)

For this month’s regular open-audience, open-discussion “Ask Us Anything” — continuing discussions about meditation and related topics — Denny and I review the 63 consecutive weeks of online practice Denny continues to lead. The original (amended) show notes are as follows: (From Josh): (Depending on temperament and experience level, some may find this chat tedious,Continue reading “Mindful Practice Of Body, Qi And Mind – 1st Annual Review | (4/27/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu)”

The Buddha’s Images For The Five Clinging Aggregates

“What is your definition of self,” is often one of the first questions I ask someone once it is clear they are serious about seeking, and/or clear about their spiritual path, or even someone heavily seeped in philosophy. From what I innerstand, while the historical Buddha never simply denied that there’s a “self” directly andContinue reading “The Buddha’s Images For The Five Clinging Aggregates”

F̶̶̶o̶̶̶r̶̶̶ ̶R̶̶̶e̶̶̶s̶̶̶e̶̶̶a̶̶̶r̶̶̶c̶̶̶h̶̶̶ ̶P̶̶̶u̶̶̶r̶̶̶p̶̶̶o̶̶̶s̶̶̶e̶̶̶s̶̶̶ ̶O̶̶̶n̶̶̶l̶̶̶y̶̶̶:̶̶̶ ̶”̶T̶̶̶r̶̶̶a̶̶̶n̶̶̶s̶̶̶c̶̶̶e̶̶̶n̶̶̶d̶̶̶e̶̶̶n̶̶̶t̶̶̶a̶̶̶l̶̶̶ ̶M̶̶̶e̶̶̶d̶̶̶i̶̶̶a̶̶̶t̶̶̶i̶̶̶o̶̶̶n̶̶̶”̶ ̶M̶̶̶a̶̶̶n̶̶̶t̶̶̶r̶̶̶a̶̶̶ ̶V̶̶̶a̶̶̶r̶̶̶i̶̶̶a̶̶̶t̶̶̶i̶̶̶o̶̶̶n̶̶̶s̶̶̶?̶̶̶

8/30/2022 UPDATE: Please see: https://integratingpresence.com/2022/08/30/cease-and-desist-letter-for-blog-post-referencing-tm-org/

Dharma Questions: Miscellany — Part 2

There’s more or less 17 questions. Here’s two:

Why do the Ānāpānasati instructions omit details on how to bring mindfulness to the fore and calm bodily formations?

What is the root condition (and causes) for (each of the) unwholesome roots of greed, ill-will and delusion (lobha, dosa, moha)?

An Integrating Presence Meditation at Fat Cat Longevity Wednesday April 7, 2021

Join meditation 7:00-7:45pm Wednesday, April 7th at Fat Cat Longevity [https://facebook.com/freyflow] downstairs next to Peace Love Coffee at Mary’s House of Healing, on Main St in St Charles, MO. We plan to start with brief instructions along with a discussion before and after. Our semi-formal meditation possibilities include a combination of: concentration compassion and loving-kindnessContinue reading “An Integrating Presence Meditation at Fat Cat Longevity Wednesday April 7, 2021”