[Brief notes before the ai assisted summary that Ajahn Dhammasiha requested audio only and requested I kept my camera on so he could see me while we talked and recorded on Dec 1, 2025. I also didn’t edit out anything and there’s lots of my stammering. Apologies if any of this comes off as tooContinue reading “Ethics, Joy And Insight For The Buddha’s Favorite Meditation | Ānāpānasati Series With Ajahn Dhammasiha”
Category Archives: Conversations
Worship, Respect, Inspiration | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #40
Things change and I’m due back in Denmark earlier than originally planned. In this fortieth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we delve into the areas of worship, respect and inspiration. How can some activities like pujas (easily) get attributed to worship whenContinue reading “Worship, Respect, Inspiration | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #40”
Wake Up! Nothing Lasts Forever: Saw Myint’s Practical Steps to Release Stress And How Certain Concepts Of Impermanence Can Help Heal Trauma And Build Balance
(Ai assist:) Saw Myint (a 52-year-old woman originally from Myanmar, now living in Sydney, Australia) shares her personal journey of healing from childhood trauma and mental health challenges through practical, non-religious insights inspired by Buddhist teachings. Saw Myint is a qualified mortgage broker with a background in accounting who has also ventured into property development.Continue reading “Wake Up! Nothing Lasts Forever: Saw Myint’s Practical Steps to Release Stress And How Certain Concepts Of Impermanence Can Help Heal Trauma And Build Balance”
Peace Walks Inward: Peace Pilgrimage, Resolving Inner Conflict, (Authentic) Dharma Lineages, Brahma Viharas and Navigating Duality with Asoka
Asoka and I explore identity, self-exploration, and a 120-day Peace Walk by Buddhist monastics promoting inner peace and compassion. We emphasize themes like non-duality, ethical practice, and the importance of inner peace as a foundation for external harmony, alongside challenges in modern society, including technology and political conflicts.
Hiri and Ottappa | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #39
[Note: There will likely be no Meditation Q and A with Wendy Nash for February and March 2026. Perhaps consider it a type of delayed winter holiday break] In this thirty-ninth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we delve into Hiri and Ottappa.Continue reading “Hiri and Ottappa | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #39”
Ānāpānasati with Heart, Parts Work & Grief | Ānāpānasati Series With Laura Geller & Willie Kunert
(Ai assist:) Enter Laura Geller and Willie Kunert—a married couple who met at Oberlin College almost 20 years ago, began meditating together as undergrads, lived in Southeast Asian monasteries, and now combine deep Buddhist practice with psychotherapy. Laura (an assistant teacher under Beth Upton in the Pa-Auk tradition) and Willie (hospice chaplain, grief therapist) shareContinue reading “Ānāpānasati with Heart, Parts Work & Grief | Ānāpānasati Series With Laura Geller & Willie Kunert”
Language | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #38
In this thirty-eighth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we to delve into the influence of language in meditation. Recently a podcast guest mentioned a turning point when a teacher described the breath as: oh so delicate. There’s also an exercise some insightContinue reading “Language | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #38”
Breath as an Anchor & Refuge for the Digital Age | Anapanasati Series With Jacques Rutzky
[ original unedited version: https://youtu.be/rJlxn1OZkms ] (Ai assisted:) In this fourth episode of the anapanasati series Integrating Presence welcomes meditation teacher Jacques Rutzky for a deep, personal conversation on mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati) and its role in daily life. Jacques shares his 50+ year journey into meditation—starting at age 16 in Detroit, discovering the PaliContinue reading “Breath as an Anchor & Refuge for the Digital Age | Anapanasati Series With Jacques Rutzky”
Faith, Persistence, Nimitta, Waiting For Jhana And The Four Elements | Anapanasati Series With Brian Newman
(Ai assist:) Executive coach and deep Dharma practitioner Brian Newman shares his journey into the Pa-Auk Sayadaw meditation lineage and the transformative power of strong samatha (concentration) practice. Brian explains how the need for unwavering presence in his coaching work led him to meditation, quitting alcohol, and eventually discovering that the ancient maps of theContinue reading “Faith, Persistence, Nimitta, Waiting For Jhana And The Four Elements | Anapanasati Series With Brian Newman”
(Losing) Balance in Dharma | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #37
This is the thirty-seventh installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion. I recently witnessed a reoccurrence of various perplexing sentiments from the (USA) West Coast Dharma scene (which even parallel general society). After running this by Wendy she rightly pointed out tinges of self-righteousnessContinue reading “(Losing) Balance in Dharma | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #37”
Integrating Presence 