Within the process of Vipassana meditation, the meditator develops and rests within a capacity to remain calm and clear towards the entire display of visceral, cerebral and environmental content. - Josh Summers

Just as sounds arise and cease naturally within the field of awareness, when attending to their body, the meditator begins to perceive the same impersonal display of sensations arising and ceasing within the stillness of the mind. - Josh Summers

When we shift into a vipassana lens of practice, there are no distractions. Each experience the meditator encounters becomes the practice, itself - an experience to see clearly and relate to with compassion. - Josh Summers

"Meditation is not a matter of trying to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss or tranquility, nor is it attempting to become a better person. It is simply the creation of a space in which we are able to expose and undo our neurotic games, our self-deceptions, and our hidden fears and hopes." - Chogyam Trungpa

"We do not confront the world; rather, the world confronts itself, temporarily masquerading as each of us." - David Barash

"This mind of ours is already unmoving and peaceful. Our practice is simply to see the Original Mind." - Ajahn Chah

"Try to be mindful, and let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any surroundings, like a clear forest pool. All kinds of wonderful, rare animals will come to drink at the pool, and you will clearly see the nature of all things." - Ajahn Chah

Just as a musician learns musical etudes to develop and refine their capacities for musical expression, a contemplative can learn meditative etudes - exercises that nurture the capacities of the Heart/Mind.

Many thanks to all the listeners and members of the River Bird Sangha. We look forward to reconnecting in September.

"I would say that cognitive empathy is a strength that needs to be built, cognitive empathy being the ability to look at things from the perspective of other people. And one thing the explain-excuse conflation does is undermine cognitive empathy." - Robert Wright