not-self – Integrating Presence

Current Practice Share | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #32

In this thirty-second installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we plan to share our current (meditation) practices. Stuff like what they are, for how long we’ve been doing them, how they are going, why we are doing them, etc. asking each other (specific)Continue reading “Current Practice Share | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #32”

Relationships, Creativity, And The Search For Meaning With Luka Boenisch

In this episode of Integrating Presence recorded Oct 16, 2024 [and AI assisted description] writer and creative Luka Boenisch and I explore the nature of the self, free will, and consciousness. Through a wide-ranging conversation, we chat self-inquiry, the illusion of the self, and the philosophical challenges surrounding free will and predeterminism. Luka shares hisContinue reading “Relationships, Creativity, And The Search For Meaning With Luka Boenisch”

Who Gets Wise With Practical Meditation? In Conversation With Niels Lyngsø

These are likely the first AI assisted show notes done on this site for a podcast with Danish meditation teacher/coach, author, and translator Niels Lyngsø recorded Sept 25, 2024: Topics Discussed: Key Takeaways: Quotes: Closing Thoughts: Niels encourages listeners to take a pragmatic approach to meditation and Buddhist teachings. Whether it’s 10 minutes a dayContinue reading “Who Gets Wise With Practical Meditation? In Conversation With Niels Lyngsø”

Catalysts For Awakening And Change Series: Potency And Experiences With Tim Bui

Tim Bui and I, in this Jan 14, 2024 recording, talk: potency, awakening experiences and processes, removal, identity, ego, embodiment, depression, emotions, wounds, transmutation, visions, clarity, spiritual practices, teachers, Vajrayāna Buddhism, retreats, healing, Mexico, self, not-self, existence, Buddha nature, nothingness, interconnectedness, weak(ening) goal barriers, doing, non-doing Biography High Performance Sleep Coach focused on helping purposeContinue reading “Catalysts For Awakening And Change Series: Potency And Experiences With Tim Bui”

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”

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.

Impact (And/Over) Intent | (1/25/2022 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu And Lydia Grace)

For this month’s regular open-audience, open-discussion “Ask Us Anything” — continuing discussions about meditation and related topics — fellow Insight Timer teachers Lydia Grace, Denny and I explore the alignment of intent and impact. Doing full show notes seems to take (me) a lot of time and energy so I may or may not include full notes later. IContinue reading “Impact (And/Over) Intent | (1/25/2022 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu And Lydia Grace)”

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.