The five hindrances — sensual desire, ill will, sloth & torpor, restlessness & worry, and doubt — hinder progress in meditation and in our daily lives. These five shroud: clarity of mind, the capacity of mindfulness, wisdom, and concentration. This wikipedia table states how each are suppressed and during what stages of enlightenment they are eradicated:Continue reading “Classic Images For The Five Hindrances”
Tag Archives: doubt
Lawyering Down, Kundalini-ing Up With Kara Bitar
On July 21st, Optimization Coach and Kundalini Yoga Teacher Kara Bitar and I spoke about Kara’s journey from high powered lawyer to ill health to healing to teaching and coaching: I hold a J.D. from Duke University School of Law and practiced high-stakes corporate litigation at one of the largest law firms in the Southeast.Continue reading “Lawyering Down, Kundalini-ing Up With Kara Bitar”
Jhanic Factors And Formless Realms Contemplation/Meditation
Oops! For those joining the live *(Jhanic Factors And) Formless Realms Contemplation/Meditation* I unplugged the internet while moving seats only realizing this afterwards! Obviously I need more mindfulness! We’ll see if I schedule something live like this again Here’s the description for this June 12th Insight Timer live event: Addressing the politics and emotional chargesContinue reading “Jhanic Factors And Formless Realms Contemplation/Meditation”
Cultivate, Develop, Train And Progress Discernment
The description for this June 4th Insight Timer live event: 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 What is your intent and motivation to address discernmentContinue reading “Cultivate, Develop, Train And Progress Discernment”
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.)
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.
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.
Embodiment Coaching | (11/30/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu And Guests Lydia Grace and Elizabeth Foster)
For this month’s regular open-audience, open-discussion “Ask Us Anything” — continuing discussions about meditation and related topics — Insight Timer teacher Lydia Grace rejoins Denny and I along with friend and practitioner Elizabeth Foster for a roundtable about embodiment coaching. After introductions we speak much about the body and embodiment, especially in relation to experience and working withContinue reading “Embodiment Coaching | (11/30/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu And Guests Lydia Grace and Elizabeth Foster)”
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.
38th Parallel Structures
After someone in my local crystal and mineral community mentioned what’s called the 38th parallel structures, in late March 2019, I visited Crooked Creek Conservation area, the only one of the sites I know of immediately accessible to the public without requiring permission. Found it odd that a seemingly steady line of dump trucks wereContinue reading “38th Parallel Structures”
Why and Why Not to Question/Inquire
“…what is the benefit that Master Gotama lives for? … the Tathagata lives for the benefit and fruit of true knowledge and liberation.” SN 46.6: Kuṇḍaliya —Translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi A fool is known by three things. What three? They ask a question improperly. They answer a question improperly. And when someone else answers a question properly—withContinue reading “Why and Why Not to Question/Inquire”
Wisdom Snippets: Belief (Downsides And Solutions)
From “The Unfoldment: The Organic Path to Clarity, Power, and Transformation” (p. 41-48). Career Press. Kindle Edition. By Neil Kramer. ‘Belief is often about comfort. It is reassuring to know that a thing will be the same today as it was yesterday. We set up all kinds of routines and habitual practices in our dailyContinue reading “Wisdom Snippets: Belief (Downsides And Solutions)”
Integrating Presence 