Feeling Feelings With Ann Hince

Professional speaker, author & spiritual teacher Ann Hince and I chat about various topics surrounding feelings, awareness, healing and the body:

  • Ann’s story and bio
  • being introduced to Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

When I was 19, I woke one morning to find my mother dead face down in our bathroom. Twenty years later the tears from that trauma were still just under the surface.

It took one 15 minute session with a strange technique to remove the charge from that event and be able to tell the story with no emotion. That one session set me on a journey to not only release the trauma from past memories, but to get beyond that, into the subconscious mind to release tension stored deep in my body, simply using the power of my awareness.

Much of the time, society tells us, and therefore we tell ourselves, that we shouldn’t be feeling what we are feeling. I have found that seeking out our truth, what we truly feel, and accepting those feelings, is the key to inner peace.

Once we change our inside, our outside changes.
As within, so without.

  • experiences working with EFT
  • me theorizing on physical tapping prompting and signaling one to feel the body
  • practicing with qi and meridians with Denny K Miu
  • [me brain farting and Freudian slipping]
  • Ann’s story about using EFT to overcome a fear of needing to inject her cat [which I wonder, but did not ask — and without implying and applying to Ann’s actions — is it possible to use this (and/or in other similar) technique(s) (or in conjunction with other methods) to bypass a healthy ethical reluctance to preform a questionable action?]
  • how addressing an area of avoidance in the body can initially be perceived as a non-feeling void and then open into pain
  • Ann’s version of (non)meditation
  • feeling feelings
  • how EFT could apply to a current blockage
  • holding and releasing tension
  • using EFT on collective trauma
  • kundalini and internal body awareness
  • insight

“Who knows, knows who knows. Who knows knows who doesn’t know. Who doesn’t know doesn’t know who doesn’t know. Who doesn’t know doesn’t know who knows.”

[or another translation:]

One who sees
sees who sees,
sees who doesn’t.
One who doesn’t see
doesn’t
see who sees
or who doesn’t.

Theragatha Stanza 61 – Saying of the Elder Vappa
  • (the sound of) internal tension in the fascia releasing and gradually rebalancing physical components and x-rays showing this
  • breath and subtle body awareness
  • noticing and relating how others breath and posture
  • various levels of awareness illustrated with group explaining their experiences of Ann playing charka tones
  • feeling (into) truth
  • using law of attraction not so much for manifestation but as a evolutionary tool for understanding
  • healing triggers
  • cellular and crystal holding memory
  • weeping as release
  • deeper awareness facilitating deeper healing
  • facing pain
  • programming to resist and avoid fear and pain
  • (self)honesty
  • changing the/our world with releasing tension to reveal light, to let go of trauma, to let go of fearing the future, and to release burdens
  • depth of life
  • those who see, those who don’t see and those who see once they’re shown
  • pushing away, healing feelings around relationships, drifting apart, and status change in relationships as well as how observing others can reveal internal material to address
  • Ann’s book A Pathway To Insight
  • https://annhince.com
  • https://www.facebook.com/AnnHinceWisdom
  • Ann’s Youtube Channel

Related book: Hands of Light: A GUIDE TO HEALING THROUGH THE HUMAN ENERGY FIELD By Barbara Ann Brennan


Audio: Internal Body Awareness Healing With Ann Hince

Or listen via Insight Timer (app or website)

Continue reading “Feeling Feelings With Ann Hince”

(Holistic) Physical Therapy, Buddhism, Sobriety And Alternative Education With Melissa Mayer

[5/2/2022 UPDATE: Uploaded overlooked mp3 for the non-youtube podcast version]

Physical therapist and writer Melissa Mayer joins the podcast to talk about her life, work, and various topics of mutual interest like Buddhism, sobriety, travel, healing, service work, meditation and education. From Melissa’s bio

I have been practicing physical therapy for over 13 years in traditional practice settings. Yet, every moment of those times questioned if the environment was truly serving the individual.  Unfortunately, the answer was often no.  Therefore, I went on a self educated path of ‘self help’ books, lectures, energy therapy, holistic health, positive affirmations, etc.  Through practicing yoga, meditation, energy clearing, and more I have experienced healing myself which reiterated the fact that healing involves more than just externally addressing the symptoms.  If we want to be the best versions of ourself then we need to go deeper and seek internal awakening which leads to a shift in consciousness.  As Albert Einstein says, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it’.  

On 8/1/18 I donated my kidney to my husband.  It was a transformative and miraculous experience. I am grateful my husband and I recovered well and presently experiencing radiant health.  This transformative experience led me to write a book about the subconscious work I did in preparation leading up to this event and a divine wake up in which I felt more connected than ever to myself and to spirit.

It has been my mission ever since to continue the journey that led me here and help others seeking healing, self growth, transformation and an expansion of humanity as a whole.

More notes on some of our chat, not necessarily in this order:

  • [pre-show I ask about living very close to Camp Hero of the alleged infamous Montauk Project]
  • a kind of John Mayer joke
  • my request for Melissa to give a bio and say a little about her life and work
  • ‘Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.’ —A Course in Miracles
  • three main views I seem to encounter about physical therapy:
    1. just like any other prescription
    2. those who sort of people please, or do it for the practitioner(s) more-so than themselves
    3. folk who find it too constraining/limiting
  • traditional health care, physical therapy and more holistic care
  • healing arts/work at places requiring rent, at yoga studios, and from home
  • various aspects of meditation and Buddhism
  • our tales around giving up alcohol
  • India, Africa and Sri Lanka travel experiences
  • child rearing:
  • what donating a kidney is like
Find Melissa Mayer online:
Audio: (Holistic) Physical Therapy, Buddhism, Sobriety And Alternative Education With Melissa Mayer

Or listen via Insight Timer (app or website)


Audio only version

Continue reading “(Holistic) Physical Therapy, Buddhism, Sobriety And Alternative Education With Melissa Mayer”

P̶o̶d̶c̶a̶s̶t̶ | Regenerative Crops

Perhaps due to interesting circumstantial happenstance — interesting to me anyway, and choosing here to omit the details (which aren’t that interesting) — I came across, reached out to and connected with The Crop Project in October 2021 about doing a podcast. After connecting a few more times since then (and again now choosing to omit (uninteresting) details), as of today, a podcast does not seem likely.

While revisiting their website before connecting today, I noticed not only two (new) podcasts with Gimlet Media but The Crop Project had also gotten the New York Times treatment! What does this say about Integrating Presence? Ha!


So (just dealing with the surface level now) Integrating Presence may not (have) be(en) a good match for a podcast with The Crop Project other than that regenerative crops being seemingly ideal for the food part of self-care, medicine and healing. Their New York Times treatment did after all appear in the Style section under Self Care.

Anyway, here’s an edited version of my notes on some topics of interest when initially brainstorming about a potential podcast back in October:

  • general education about regenerative agriculture
  • the money and parties involved [and just a guess but I wonder if this curiosity affected a podcast not panning out]
  • relationship to meditation: organics in self-care, mindfulness of eating
  • “regenerative” as replacement for overused buzzword “sustainable”
  • regeneratively-farmed vetting and/or certification processes
  • best sources for kelp with all the (micro) plastic (particles) and Fukushima (I like Trader Joe seaweed snacks and I take Icelandic kelp for iodine)
  • [rather not mention carbon because I haven’t researched much — open to discussing off podcast]
  • how to transition away from Monsanto(-like) industries and worldviews of food
  • agriculture related trends possibly including: Foodscaping (aka Edible Landscaping); Permaculture; Organic Gardening; Beyond Organic; ElectroHorticulture; Biodynamic Agriculture;
  • co-ops and farmers markets
  • more corporations seemingly moving somewhat from just profits to moral superiority and how to still offer better products and choices without the righteousness [and just another guess but I wonder if this bullet point, and possibly the one immediately below, also affected a podcast not panning out]
  • publicly traded socially responsible funds are kind of a joke [imo] — where a difference can really be made is in private equity, but if not an accredited investor it’s hard to invest and know about all the money connections
  • discuss business and marketing side, particularly with ‘distributing profits more equitably across the supply chain’ and ‘building regional infrastructure’
  • sharing of resources for consumers
Newspaper clipping sent by my Mom!

Studying And Practicing With “The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta — An Analysis Of The Bases Of Power”: Unpacking Hindrances And Another Translation Reading (2 of 7)


Article shortcut: https://tinyurl.com/basesofpower


Series introduction:

While I reference some non-Buddhist material most everything in the notes and podcasts for this series on The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta are solely my effort to relate considerations, questions, experiences, explorations, suggestions, interpretations and practices involved and associated with this sutta.

This series comes via seven categories/blog posts/podcasts:

  1. Introduction; the key encapsulation/encoding/summary paragraph of the whole sutta which includes and weaves in the four powers; and a reading of one of two translations for the sutta
  2. Unpacking of the hindrances and the other of two translations for the sutta
  3. A (type of) situational awareness
  4. 32 parts of the body
  5. Perceptions of night, daytime and light
  6. “Psychic Powers,” practice combinations and miscellany
  7. Summary, findings, observations and comparisons

In more detail, the four Iddhipāda — sometimes translated as bases of psychic power, basis of psychic power, bases of power, base of spiritual power, wings to success, paths of accomplishment, accomplishments, or roads to power — are:

  1. chanda: desire; enthusiasm; purpose; wish
  2. viriya: persistence; energy; effort; will
  3. citta: intent; consciousness; knowing mind; mental development; devoting mind to; heart-mind
  4. vīmaṃsā: investigation; inquiry; discernment; discrimination; reason; interest; intelligent curiosity; [(perhaps a new contribution, or for chanda:) balanced and helpful enthrallment, fascination]; feedback and fine tuning, adjustment; learn from doing; circumspection

Along with aiding our even mundane accomplishments and mastery, perhaps the Iddhipāda play a significant role in approaching will — the way one decides on and initiates action — and at the core of The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta is an analysis of will along with instructions for its training, development, and use.



As for this second part of the series here is the portion of the sutta addressing hindrances followed by my general notes I draw on for the podcast episode (with italics and bold and bracketed text usually added by me):

“And how is desire [chanda] overly sluggish? Whatever desire is accompanied by laziness, conjoined with laziness, that is called overly sluggish desire.

And how is desire overly active? Whatever desire is accompanied by restlessness, conjoined with restlessness, that is called overly active desire.

And how is desire inwardly constricted? Whatever desire is accompanied by sloth & drowsiness, conjoined with sloth & drowsiness, that is called inwardly restricted desire.

And how is desire outwardly scattered? Whatever desire is stirred up by the five strands of sensuality, outwardly dispersed & dissipated, that is called outwardly scattered desire.

And how is persistence [viriya] overly sluggish? Whatever persistence is accompanied by laziness, conjoined with laziness, that is called overly sluggish persistence.

And how is persistence overly active? Whatever persistence is accompanied by restlessness, conjoined with restlessness, that is called overly active persistence.

And how is persistence inwardly constricted? Whatever persistence is accompanied by sloth & drowsiness, conjoined with sloth & drowsiness, that is called inwardly restricted persistence.

And how is persistence outwardly scattered? Whatever persistence is stirred up by the five strands of sensuality, outwardly dispersed & dissipated, that is called outwardly scattered persistence.

And how is intent [citta] overly sluggish? Whatever intent is accompanied by laziness, conjoined with laziness, that is called overly sluggish intent.

And how is intent overly active? Whatever intent is accompanied by restlessness, conjoined with restlessness, that is called overly active intent.

And how is intent inwardly constricted? Whatever intent is accompanied by sloth & drowsiness, conjoined with sloth & drowsiness, that is called inwardly restricted intent.

And how is intent outwardly scattered? Whatever intent is stirred up by the five strands of sensuality, outwardly dispersed & dissipated, that is called outwardly scattered intent.

And how is discrimination [vīmaṃsā] overly sluggish? Whatever discrimination is accompanied by laziness, conjoined with laziness, that is called overly sluggish discrimination.

And how is discrimination overly active? Whatever discrimination is accompanied by restlessness, conjoined with restlessness, that is called overly active discrimination.

And how is discrimination inwardly constricted? Whatever discrimination is accompanied by sloth & drowsiness, conjoined with sloth & drowsiness, that is called inwardly restricted discrimination.

And how is discrimination outwardly scattered? Whatever discrimination is stirred up by the five strands of sensuality, outwardly dispersed & dissipated, that is called outwardly scattered discrimination.

Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu translation of hindrance section from:
An Analysis of the Bases of Power
Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta  (SN 51:20) https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN51_20.html
Continue reading “Studying And Practicing With “The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta — An Analysis Of The Bases Of Power”: Unpacking Hindrances And Another Translation Reading (2 of 7)”

An Integrating Presence Meditation at Fat Cat Longevity (And Insight Timer Live) Sunday, April 10, 2022



Audio: An Integrating Presence Meditation at Fat Cat Longevity (And Insight Timer Live) Sunday, April 10, 2022
Lower quality version (likely not going out as a podcast due to not wanting to edit out the nearby audible background music)

Join meditation 10:30am-11:15am Central Sunday, April 10th 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.

Also, a simulcast is scheduled for Insight Timer Live again:

Calendar add and direct link to join Insight Timer Live event: Live Meditation From Fat Cat Longevity

Similar to past meditations at Fat Cat Longevity, we plan to start with brief instructions along with a discussion before and after.

Our semi-formal meditation possibilities include — but are not limited to — a combination of:

  • concentrating/gathering/unifying the mind, breath and body
  • compassion and loving-kindness
  • (open) awareness
  • 5 simple Qi breathing exercises
  • mindfulness [1) body 2) heart-mind: thoughts, emotions, moods, mind states 3) relationship to our experience]
  • We may also address some of these four aspects of meditation:


Mary’s House of Healing
524 South Main Street
Downstairs at Fat Cat Longevity next to Peace Love Coffee…
St. Charles, MO (63301)

Sunday, April 10th 2022 — 10:30am – 11:15am

Door open: 10:20am — Door close: 10:35pm

Or join via Insight Timer Live: https://insig.ht/bG3gV0Q6Qob

Cost: Fat Cat Longevity price packagesmonthly membership or generosity inspired donation

Don’t Associate With Fools

On April Fools Day I did an Insight Timer live talk with the above title and the description, “A brief chat about associating with the wise while setting aside fools (and that which comes with it)”

a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person

dictionary definition for “fool”
Some notes for this talk:
  • Expanded my definition of “fool” to include those engaging in deceit — defined as ‘the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth’ — in order to fool another
  • (comicbook) writer Warren Ellis once said something like the internet on 4/1 April Fools Day was amateur hour
  • just fun and games right?
  • 2007 Google April Fools gag of paper print out (actual of Gmail not the entire internet as I said)

“Please don’t associate with fools. Please only associate with the wise.”

from the Maṅgala Sutta

“Sakka, the lord of all the world, has offered me a boon.
May I not see or hear a fool, nor no such dwell with me,
Nor hold no converse with a fool, nor like his company.”

“What has a fool e’er done to you, O Kassapa, declare!
Come tell me why fools’ company is more than you can bear?”

“The fool does wickedly, binds loads on him that none should bear,
Ill-doing is his good, and he is wroth when spoken fair,
Knows not right conduct; this is why I would have no fool there.”

“Fair spoken, Kassapa,” etc.

“Sakka, the lord of beings all, has offered me a boon.
Be it mine the wise to see and hear, and may he dwell with me,
May I hold converse with the wise, and love his company.”

“What has the wise man done to you, O Kassapa, declare!
Why do you wish that where you are, the wise man should be there?

The wise does well, no burden binds on him that none should bear,
Well-doing is his good, nor is he wroth when spoken fair,
Knows well right conduct; this is why ’tis well he should be there.”

selection from: Jataka 480: Akitta-jātaka — The birth story of Akitti

“Who knows, knows who knows. Who knows knows who doesn’t know. Who doesn’t know doesn’t know who doesn’t know. Who doesn’t know doesn’t know who knows.”

Theragatha Stanza 61 – Saying of the Elder Vappa

  • Why wisdom and the wise? (I read from p. 144 of Expectation Derived From One’s Own Point Of View)
  • Challenging for me
  • Voted most gullible in high school
  • Maybe unconsciously seeing school pursuits as foolish and so wanted to outdo them in a more foolish way. This is obviously not wise; better to bring whatever wisdom to one’s current state
  • Would have liked for someone directly to call me a fool back then
  • Story about my Grandpa’s dog(s) named Buster
  • In my defense we live in a culture of deceit
  • A lie to save a life — slippery slope for all manner of unwise justification for deceit

“Let no one deceive another or despise anyone in any state”

A line from the Metta Sutta

Some of my experiences on what happens when making firm resolve to associate with the wise:

  • doesn’t mean zero humor
  • transition period of discarding fools and picking up the wise
  • we let go; also sometime what one is trying to let go of can eventually let go of you

He that walketh with the wise shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be afflicted.

Proverbs 13:20 Geneva translation

7 Escape quickly from the company of fools; they’re a waste of your time, a waste of your words. 8 The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track; the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch. 9 The stupid ridicule right and wrong, but a moral life is a favored life. 10 The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends will be an outsider at their celebrations. 11 Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks; holy living builds soaring cathedrals. 12 There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again – it leads straight to hell. 13 Sure, those people appear to be having a good time, but all that laughter will end in heartbreak. Sift and Weigh Every Word 14 A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace. 15 The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word. 16 The wise watch their steps and avoid evil; fools are headstrong and reckless. 17 The hotheaded do things they’ll later regret; the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.

Proverbs 14:7-17 -MSG Translation

I mentioned, but didn’t read the pre-King James Bible Wycliffe translation of the same passage, Proverbs 14:7-17:

7 Go thou against a man a fool; and he shall not know the lips of prudence. (Go thou away from a foolish person; for he shall not speak words of understanding, that is, sensible words.)

8 The wisdom of a fell man is to understand his way; and the unwariness of fools erreth. (The wisdom of a clever person is to understand his own way; but the carelessness of fools maketh them to err.)

9 A fool scorneth sin; grace shall dwell among just men. (A fool mocketh sin; favour shall dwell among the righteous.)

10 The heart that knoweth the bitterness of his soul; a stranger shall not be meddled in the joy thereof. (The heart knoweth the bitterness of its own soul; a stranger cannot be mixed in, or mingled, with its joy.)

11 The house of wicked men shall be done away; the tabernacles of just men shall burgeon. (The houses of the wicked shall be done away; but the homes of the righteous shall flourish.)

12 Soothly a way is, that seemeth just to a man (Truly there is a way, that seemeth right to a person); but the last things thereof lead forth to death.

13 Laughing shall be meddled with sorrow (Laughter shall be mixed, or mingled, with sorrow); and mourning occupieth the last things of joy.

14 A fool shall be filled with his ways; and a good man shall be above him. (A fool shall reap the fruit of his foolish ways; and a good person that of his deeds, or of his labour.)

15 An innocent man believeth to each word; a fell man beholdeth his goings. (An innocent person believeth each and every word; a clever person regardeth, or watcheth, his own steps.)

16 A wise man dreadeth, and boweth away from evil; a fool skippeth over, and trusteth.

17 A man unpatient shall work folly; and a guileful man is odious. (An impatient person will act foolishly; and a deceitful person is odious.)

T’he very relevant 1 Corinthians 15:33 was brought to my attention after publishing:

Do not be misled: Bad companionships corrupt beneficial ethics. Malicious associations deteriorate beneficial ethical customs.

Literal Emphasis Translation of 1 Corinthians 15:33

Audio: Don’t Associate With Fools


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Multi-month Pāramitā (Perfections) Challenge For March 2022

[4/29/2022 UPDATE: Zero Pāramitā Challenge provided (to me) for Month 8 / April 2022 yet and 5/23/2022 UPDATE: same thing for the month of May and presumably ongoing unless — barring other possibilities — readers and listeners see a new Pāramitā Challenge from the source and/or a new post/podcast published on IntegratingPresence.com]

Expediency, supreme enlightenment, service to others, purity/wholeness/wholesomeness, (non-)acquisition, (non-)attachment, momentariness, loving-kindness, goodness, (discerning) Dharma, truth, integrity, helping, self-inflation and disparaging others round out the main topics for March 2022, month seven of “The Pāramitā Challenge”. See also Months 1-3, Month four, Month five and Month six.

Instructions are to journal contemplations resulting from observed intentions, opportunities, and actions to be generous, moral and ethical while arousing faith in the Triple Gem then seeing where/when confident and where/when in doubt.

Again, I’ve not taken Bodhisattva vows, and so with little instruction in Mahāyāna Buddhism, apart from maybe a smidgen of the zen stuff, there’s the benefit of beginner’s mind is a nice way to put it. I continue to shoot from the hip in this recording and will use a Theravada lens now and again plus plenty of inquiry as I ponder out loud. It may come off at times as criticism, and sometimes it may actually be, but these are mostly solo efforts at summonings what is really meant by the material.

Other than the thumping touch pad scrolling due to a sensitive mic, only a specific brief note to this month’s challenge to address an omission for the following portion:

We practice the perfect inconceivable roots of goodness, which are difficult to attain, and having supreme understanding of the Buddha’s teaching, which is also difficult to attain

While talking about verifying the authenticity of the version of the Buddha’s teachings in English we have access to today I omitted the relevance of the in-depth investigation and analysis at puredhamma.net particularly the likely significant misinterpretations and distortions of the Pali translations by early European scholars still perpetuated today that continue to color and shape our views and interpretations of the dhamma.

(Past) material for the Pāramitā Challenge is now at https://maba-usa.org/paramita-challenge.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/paramis-dave-wood.html
The Pāramīs in Theravāda Buddhism:
  1. Dāna pāramī: generosity, giving of oneself
  2. Sīla pāramī: virtue, morality, ethics, proper conduct
  3. Nekkhamma pāramī: renunciation
  4. Paññā pāramī: wisdom, discernment
  5. Viriya pāramī: energy, diligence, vigour, effort
  6. Khanti pāramī: patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance
  7. Sacca pāramī: truthfulness, honesty
  8. Adhiṭṭhāna pāramī : determination, resolution
  9. Mettā pāramī: goodwill, friendliness, loving-kindness
  10. Upekkhā pāramī: equanimity, serenity
Continue reading “Multi-month Pāramitā (Perfections) Challenge For March 2022”

Being In And Of Nature

The description for this now edited recording of the March 28th, 2022 Insight Timer live event “Being In And Of Nature”:

Weather and Insight Timer systems permitting I’ll speak to the challenges and benefits of practicing meditation in nature, under a tree and/or just simply being outdoors. Maybe some practice too

I start off with a three breath arrival meditation then address two short relevant suttas before getting into views, observations, experiences and practice tips for meditating outdoors:

“Endowed with [any of] four qualities, a monk isn’t fit to stay in isolated forest & wilderness dwellings. Which four? [He is endowed] with thoughts of sensuality, with thoughts of ill will, with thoughts of harmfulness, and he is a person of weak discernment, dull, a drooling idiot. Endowed with [any of] these four qualities, a monk isn’t fit to stay in isolated forest & wilderness dwellings.

“Endowed with four qualities, a monk is fit to stay in isolated forest & wilderness dwellings. Which four? [He is endowed] with thoughts of renunciation, with thoughts of non-ill will, with thoughts of harmlessness, and he is a discerning person, not dull, not a drooling idiot. Endowed with these four qualities, a monk is fit to stay in isolated forest & wilderness dwellings.”

Aṅguttara Nikāya
Book of the Fours
4.262. A Wilderness Dweller

“Mendicants, when a mendicant has five qualities they’re ready to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. What five?

It’s when a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the code of conduct, with good behavior and supporters. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

They’re very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s totally full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reciting them, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them theoretically.

They live with energy roused up. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.

When a mendicant has these five qualities they’re ready to frequent remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest.”

Araññasutta
Numbered Discourses 5
11. Living Comfortably
110. Wilderness
  • if more folks on metaverse will nature be less crowded?
  • ease, support of nature and sharp angles, steel, glass of city
  • fearful men futilely imposing mind & control over nature
  • observation
  • how nature communicates
  • feeling joy
  • true(r) solitude
  • practice conditions
  • not dependent on nature
  • “unplugging”

Delightful are forests
Where the public does not delight.
There the passion-free delight,
Not seeking sensual pleasure. (verse 99 of Dhammapada)

Tasting the flavor
of solitude and peace,
One becomes free of distress and evil,
Drinking the flavor of Dharma joy. (verse 205 of Dhammapada)

Peaceful in body, peaceful in speech,
The practitioner peaceful and well-concentrated
Who has rejected the world’s bait
Is called “one at peace.” (verse 378 of Dhammapada)

I also mention:

Fantastic Fungi: The Spirit of Good

Other relevant stuff I did not mention:

  • Man’s other (hidden) intents in their worldly creations. For example, a house. What are the other intents other than sheltering you? Built for profit? Prestige? Legacy? Competition? What were the other intents of the workers while building? The past tenants and owners?
  • Being of nature itself. We are not separate from nature. Our body is composed of combinations of (the four) elements and returns after we shed off the body being nature
  • Food and cooking are of nature and a good way to connect with nature while indoors, as well as house plants and crystals

Other relevant suttas:


Audio: Being In And Of Nature

Or listen via Insight Timer (app or website)


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Readiness | (3/29/2022 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Lydia Grace And Joanne Muir)



Fellow Insight Timer teacher Lydia Grace once again inspired the title of this “Ask Us Anything” — live, monthly, open-audience, open-discussions about meditation and related topics.

Recently on Lydia’s Insight Timer circle Embodied Living she said of her new three month training Radical Authenticity:

“When the energy of empowerment lies dormant in our psyche, we are giving our power away.”

Fear is a biggie. It keeps our truth dormant

So…you might say

I’m waiting for the right “timing”

I’m waiting to be ready

Ok cool.

Also get honest with yourself

Is that your deepest truth and intuition speaking?

Or is that what’s easy to hide behind

To avoid really truly being honest with yourself

That the timing AND your readiness

At this point is your life

Is when you step up and CHOOSE it

And you can be stuck in waiting essentially indefinitely

Is the waiting something you will regret later?

Then it’s probably a CHOICE you need to step up you

Are you afraid of not knowing how to handle what comes a result of truly embodying your power

In your relationship?

In your body?

In your job?

The knowing HOW is waiting for you to tap INTO it when you

CHOOSE READINESS now

Your radical authentic Self

Is nowhere to find

They are waiting for you to tap in

Choose

Lean in

With the fear

Now

courage is what you choose knowing the emotions you face and may face more of

You ready?

Choose YOU

Your life and your future self THANKS you

And ps

I got a 3 month training to show you ALL the how’s (that work)

READY READY READY

Some of the topics we chat about, not necessarily in this order:

  • defining readiness
  • asking how
  • visualization
  • enthusiasm
  • readiness in the body
  • choosing readiness
  • preparedness
  • intent
  • importance
  • seriousness
  • what are you not ready for?
    • me: [consenting to the timelines of:] transhumanism and nuclear war
  • overachieving
  • order of operation
  • priority
  • discernment
  • support
  • competition
  • cooperation
  • not knowing (anything)
  • (defining) success and failure
  • perception
  • habits
  • The what’s and why’s of readiness
  • Why society defaults to not being ready
  • And a question from Ana: “Hi I have a question, please. You talked about self confidence. My son is 18 and struggles with this a lot. How can I help him?”
  • fear
  • worry
  • concern
  • care


Audio: Readiness | (3/29/2022 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Lydia Grace And Joanne Muir)

Or listen via Insight Timer (app or website)


Check out Lydia’s 20 minute Readiness Recap of this Ask Us Anything for practical pointers and takeaways from the conversation


I welcome any inspired listener(s) to take and send show notes for inclusion here by emailing them to integratingpresence@protonmail.com


Find and connect with Lydia:


Find and connect with Joanne:


Continue reading “Readiness | (3/29/2022 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Lydia Grace And Joanne Muir)”

April 2022 Insight Timer Live Events: Fools; Truth; Death Contemplation; Friendship; Ghosting


Being In & Of Nature

I speak to the challenges and benefits of practicing meditation in nature, under a tree and/or just simply being outdoors. Maybe some practice too

10:15am Central Monday, 28 Mar (not April; included here due to proximity)

Direct link to join, get notified and/or calendar add the “Being In & Of Nature” event

Listen to the edited audio and see the notes for this event Being In And Of Nature


Readiness | (3/29/2022 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Lydia Grace And Joanne Muir)

“Ask Us Anything – Live” with Lydia, Joanne Muir and I

*2pm Central, Tuesday, 29 Mar (not April; included here due to proximity)

Direct link to join, get notified and/or calendar add the “3/29/2022 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Lydia Grace And Joanne Muir)” event

Listen to the edited audio and see the notes for this event Readiness | (3/29/2022 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Lydia Grace And Joanne Muir)


Don’t Associate With Fools

A brief chat about associating with the wise while setting aside fools (and that which comes with it)

6:00pm Central Friday, 01 Apr

Direct link to join, get notified and/or calendar add the “Don’t Associate With Fools” event

Listen to the edited audio and see the notes for this event Don’t Associate With Fools


Brief Readings on Truth

Your truth is great. What is truth though? I read and talk about profound axioms, quotes, and snippets about truth

8:00pm Central Friday, 8 Apr

Calendar add, share link and direct link to join Insight Timer Live event: “Brief Readings on Truth

Listen to the edited audio and see the notes for this event Brief Readings on Truth


Live Meditation From Fat Cat Longevity

For 45 minutes total I plan to give brief instructions with discussions before and after meditation. For past examples see: https://integratingpresence.com/tag/fat-cat-longevity

10:30am Central Sunday, 10 Apr

Calendar add, share link and direct link to join Insight Timer Live event: Live Meditation From Fat Cat Longevity

See the original blog post and listen to the edited audio (not currently available as a podcast) for this event:


Death Contemplation & Meditation

Unwise, unskillful choices can come from an unconscious fear of death. The most profound contemplations and meditations on death provide protection and help with appreciating every moment

9:00pm Central Wednesday, 13 Apr

Direct link to join, get notified and/or calendar add the “Death Contemplation & Meditation” event

Listen to the edited audio and see the notes for this event Death Contemplation and Meditation


Friendship: The Whole of the Spiritual Life

15min: ‘Ven Ananda said to the Blessed One, “This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie.” “Don’t say that, Ananda. Don’t say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life..’

9:00pm Central Wednesday, 20 Apr

Direct link to join, get notified and/or calendar add the “Friendship: The Whole of the Spiritual Life” event

Listen to the edited audio and see the notes for this event Friendship: The Whole of the Spiritual Life


Ask anyone anything? Live with whom? Minor (AUA) restart?

A few teachings on inquiry and investigation while also reviewing and asking your suggestions for the monthly “Ask Us Anything” show format fellow Insight Timer teacher Denny K Miu and I started in September 2020 to determine a potential restart, recreation and/or transmutation

12:30pm Central Tuesday, 26 Apr

Direct link to join, get notified and/or calendar add the “Ask anyone anything? Live with whom? Minor (AUA) restart?” event

See the original blog post and listen to the audio (edited to highlight the inquiry teachings) of this event:


Silent Standing Meditation

Silent meaning me not talking. Come stand together in meditation, virtually, for 15 minutes. I suggest choosing a comfortable, stable standing stance and meditating on one object. Suggestions: contact at the feet; body posture; or the breathing body.

10:00am Central — Wednesday, 27 Apr, 2022

Calendar add and direct link to join Insight Timer Live event: Silent Standing Meditation


Ghosted, ignored, canceled? More grist to nourish all

Let’s explore what can be done to transform, transmute and turn ghosting and being canceled into nourishment to support the well-being and awakening of all

2:30pm Central Friday, 29 Apr

Direct link to join, get notified and/or calendar add the “Ghosted, ignored, canceled? More grist to nourish all” event

Listen to the edited audio and see the notes for this event Ghosted, ignored, canceled? More grist to nourish all