What Is Meditation? | 11/2/2022 “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #02

We primarily address what meditation actually is while spiraling up, around and back on this topic to also include, amongst others: examples of what is and isn’t meditation; mind training; intention; familiarity with the mind; heart qualities; wisdom; aspiration; samatha; ego; Chittamatra or Yogācāra via the statement “emotions are thoughts”; scoundrels; conceit; foolishness; belonging; emotional mirroring; etc.

Negligence and Misdeeds for Sagacity

This October 10th, 2022 Insight Timer live event addressed verse 50 of the Dhammapada as wisdom for potential clearing, activation and advancement: Not the perversities of others, not their sins of commission or omission, but his own misdeeds and negligences should a sage take notice of VERSE 50 OF THE DHAMMAPADA Thanks to Ellen forContinue reading “Negligence and Misdeeds for Sagacity”

Wisdom Snippets: The Four Brahmaviharas For Each Of The Four Noble Truths

I’ve seen and heard various other Buddhist teachings matching up with the Four Noble Truths [and if I remember any to significant degree and/or come across them again perhaps I’ll add them here] but it occurred to me the Four Sublime Abidings might also pair up with the Four Noble Truths:

Dharma Questions: Miscellany — Part 7

The Heart 1 of Prajna 3 Paramita 4 Sutra 2 Bodhisattva 5 Avalokiteshvara 6, while deeply immersed 7 in prajna paramita, clearly perceived the empty nature 8 of the five skandhas 9, and transcended all suffering. Shariputra 10! Form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. So it is with feeling, conception, volition, and consciousness. Shariputra! All dharmas 11 are empty in character; neitherContinue reading “Dharma Questions: Miscellany — Part 7”

(Buddhist) Mudras

Wikipedia calls Mudras — or hand positions — symbolic or ritual gestures. For serious meditators I would suggest going beyond this and investigate the energetic properties and effects of such hand positioning, especially noticeable in meditation. We already know it’s instinctual to place a hand to the injured area when one gets physically hurt. Why?Continue reading “(Buddhist) Mudras”

Wisdom Snippets: (Do It Yourself Buddhadharma) Encouragements And Empowerments

For a moment put aside the notion party poopers Buddhists focus way too much on suffering, perhaps even more noticeably affectatious as soon as they get up from sitting around on meditation cushions. For now even shelf the more recent “socially engaged Buddhism” and turn toward some notions the historical Buddha put forth as empowermentContinue reading “Wisdom Snippets: (Do It Yourself Buddhadharma) Encouragements And Empowerments”

Dharma Questions: Abhidhamma (With Beth Upton)

[10/3/22 UPDATE: This post was originally published on 8/4/2022. Since then I decided to ask Beth Upton back to address some of these questions and had to change the blog post publishing date in order for WordPress to push this out as a new podcast. I told Beth beforehand I’d do an extra audio introContinue reading “Dharma Questions: Abhidhamma (With Beth Upton)”

(Discerning) Deception

The short description for this August 29th, 2022 Insight Timer live event, also listenable unedited in full at https://join.wisdom.audio/HhKz: Not so much specifics on how to directly discern deception but looking at the importance of doing so then going deeper and broader than the surface manifestations of deception along with a blast of categories andContinue reading “(Discerning) Deception”

On Relics, Design, Wealth And Merit Of The Shwedagon Pagoda In Myanmar Burma

I was invited to read and share comments on academia.edu paper / presentation Myanmar people’s belief system of the Shwedagon Pagoda by panhtwa myosein My comment: Learned a lot from this work, thanks. In the introduction I’m unclear on the meaning of “as well as the living in the view of reality.” Other questions: HowContinue reading “On Relics, Design, Wealth And Merit Of The Shwedagon Pagoda In Myanmar Burma”

Thoughts, Emotions & Trauma | 9/29/2022 “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #01

Regular, current and past visitors to Integrating Presence may recall the monthly series “Ask Us Anything” I did with Denny K Miu from August 2020 until January 2022 — partially including and continuing on with Lydia Grace as co-host for awhile until March 2022. For a few months thereafter I did various Insight Timer liveContinue reading “Thoughts, Emotions & Trauma | 9/29/2022 “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #01″