realms – 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

Another Buddhist forum post shutdown: (Buddhist) origin of tobacco and its relation to Native American use(?)

Another closed forum post, this time closed with an extremely brief reason given of it not being specific enough. Full question/post titled “Buddhist origin of tobacco and its relation to Native American use“: Can anything wholesome, helpful, wise and skillful be mentioned about the (Chinese and/or nearby regions) origin(s) of tobacco and how it mayContinue reading “Another Buddhist forum post shutdown: (Buddhist) origin of tobacco and its relation to Native American use(?)”

What are thoughts? Are dreams like thoughts?

The recent 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 I don’t know.Continue reading “What are thoughts? Are dreams like thoughts?”

Chán, Zen And Yi Jin Jing | (3/30/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu)

For this month’s regular open-audience, open-discussion “Ask Us Anything” — continuing discussions about meditation and related topics — Denny and I reprise Zen, dig into Chán and primarily present Yi Jin Jing in light of its importance for linking body and mind. Show notes are as follows: (From Denny with the bulk of his notesContinue reading “Chán, Zen And Yi Jin Jing | (3/30/2021 — “Ask Us Anything – LIVE” With Denny K Miu)”