contemplation – Page 2 – Integrating Presence

June 2022 Insight Timer Live Events: Cultivating Discernment; Formless Realms; You Teach Me; Matrix Or Truman Show?

*Ask For (A) Change*
Where I continue exploring a format change for the monthly “Ask Us Anything”: 1) give and ask of each other advice; 2) needed changes individually & collectively; and 3) continuing the themes of speaking up & inquiring/investigating to spark curiosity & enthusiasm
https://integratingpresence.com/2022/05/31/ask-for-a-change

*(Jhanic Factors And) Formless Realms Contemplation/Mediation*
Addressing the politics and emotional charges often associated with Jhana & nimitta before talking about jhanic factors then placing this aside for a guided meditation/contemplation based on “The Shorter Discourse on Emptiness (MN 121)” involving village, wilderness, earth and the four formless states
— https://integratingpresence.com/2022/06/12/podcast-jhanic-factors-and-formless-realms-contemplation-meditation

*Cultivate, Develop, Train And Progress Discernment*
We all need discernment, but how? Let’s look at some ways to cultivate, develop, train and progress discernment. While there’s much to discernment, one key: “. . . one listening well gains discernment” ~from Āṭavaka’s Questions —
https://integratingpresence.com/2022/06/06/podcast-cultivate-develop-train-and-progress-discernment

*You Teach Me*
A (brief) experiment where (you) the audience teach me anything you’d like. It could be from the spiritual journey, inner work, everyday life, work, play, groups, family, friends, enemies, frenemies, relationships, etc. I may fill in gaps with how to approach others for knowledge, teachings, etc — https://integratingpresence.com/2022/06/26/podcast-you-teach-me

*Is Your Awakening Journey More The Matrix or The Truman Show?*
A brief 15 minute or so more lighthearted approach to the sometimes intense and weird moments of awakening via The Truman Show and Matrix films as reference points — https://join.wisdom.audio/oxBs

*Blocks, Paths, One-Way, (Super) Highways and Byways*
Let’s briefly explore these plus matrixes, nodal/access points, gates, portals, vehicles, crafts, dream-walking, teleportation, hitchhiking, ride sharing, mass transit, migration, flight, and other travel terms literally, figuratively, metaphorically & in the context of the “Ask Us Anything” format — https://join.wisdom.audio/mfSD

Death Contemplation And Meditation

The description for the April 14th “Death Contemplation & Meditation” Insight Timer live event: Unwise, unskillful choices can come from an unconscious fear of death. The most profound contemplations and meditations on death protect us and help us appreciate every moment Some revised notes: Benefits of Death Contemplation And Meditation: In/for (formal) meditation practice: ‘…canContinue reading “Death Contemplation And Meditation”

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,Continue reading “Multi-month Pāramitā (Perfections) Challenge For March 2022”

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

*Brief Readings on Truth*
Your truth is great. What is truth though? For 15 minutes or so I read profound axioms, quotes, and snippets about truth

*Death Contemplation and Meditation*
Unwise, unskillful choices can come from an unconscious fear of death. The most profound contemplations and meditations on death protect us and help us appreciate every moment

*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..’

*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

*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

Observations And Questions For The Book “The Search For The Buddha”

I heard about The Search For The Buddha by Charles Allen from puredhamma.net and thought I’d give it a go since I haven’t read a paper book in awhile (my excuses being the time investment and poor eyesight maybe from reading too much prior.) I also chose to do so since I currently spend aContinue reading “Observations And Questions For The Book “The Search For The Buddha””

Multi-month Pāramitā (Perfections) Challenge For February 2022

Sangha, criticism, the two truths, service to others, emptiness, generosity, conduct, non-clinging, non-harming, energy, the three unwholesome roots, and clarity round out the main topics for February 2022, month six of “The Pāramitā Challenge”. See also Months 1-3, Month 4 and 5. Instructions are to journal contemplations resulting from observed intentions, opportunities, and actions toContinue reading “Multi-month Pāramitā (Perfections) Challenge For February 2022”

Multi-month Pāramitā (Perfections) Challenge For January 2022

Meditation, concentration, contemplation, intoxicating substances, cravings, awakening, wisdom, and future Buddhahood round out the main topics for month five of “The Pāramitā Challenge” in January 2022. See also Months 1-3 and Month 4.

In addition to contemplating topics about the Pāramitās or Perfections, so far, this challenge also includes precepts, the (10 Abodes from the) 52 Stages of the Bodhisattva Path and Bodhisattva vows.

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.

What are thoughts? Are dreams like thoughts?

The January 11, 2022 Insight Timer live event description explaining the title questions: Let’s powwow for 30 minutes or so on these two questions from my “Distortions and Dreams” event to address any parallels between thoughts and dreams. We may even do some mindfulness of thinking meditation To save time, the short answer is IContinue reading “What are thoughts? Are dreams like thoughts?”

Multi-month Pāramitā (Attainments/Perfections) Challenge For December 2021

Apparently November 2021 was a break so December is month 4 of “The Pāramitā Challenge” (which I previously wrote and spoke on the first three months.)

This month includes the Pāramitā on diligence, the Right Speech precept (also doubling as a past Insight Timer live event) and the middle stages of the 10 Abodes from the 52 Stages of the Bodhisattva.

Multi-month Pāramitā (Attainments/Perfections) Challenge For August, September And October 2021

When presented with “The Pāramitā Challenge” I accepted and here we are. In addition to the Pāramitās or Perfections, so far, the challenge also includes precepts and the 52 Stages of the Bodhisattva Path and Bodhisattva vows.

So far, 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.

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 shoot from the hip with a lot in this recording and will often use a Theravada lens and a lot 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.