We primarily address what meditation actually is while spiraling up, around and back on this topic to also include, amongst others: examples of what is and isn't meditation; mind training; intention; familiarity with the mind; heart qualities; wisdom; aspiration; samatha; ego; Chittamatra or Yogācāra via the statement "emotions are thoughts"; scoundrels; conceit; foolishness; belonging; emotional mirroring; etc.

This October 10th, 2022 Insight Timer live event addressed verse 50 of the Dhammapada as wisdom for potential clearing, activation and advancement: Not the perversities of others, not their sins of commission or omission, but his own misdeeds and negligences should a sage take notice of VERSE 50 OF THE DHAMMAPADA Thanks to Ellen forContinue reading "Negligence and Misdeeds for Sagacity"

[10/3/22 UPDATE: This post was originally published on 8/4/2022. Since then I decided to ask Beth Upton back to address some of these questions and had to change the blog post publishing date in order for WordPress to push this out as a new podcast. I told Beth beforehand I’d do an extra audio introContinue reading "Dharma Questions: Abhidhamma (With Beth Upton)"

The short description for this August 29th, 2022 Insight Timer live event, also listenable unedited in full at https://join.wisdom.audio/HhKz: Not so much specifics on how to directly discern deception but looking at the importance of doing so then going deeper and broader than the surface manifestations of deception along with a blast of categories andContinue reading "(Discerning) Deception"

Regular, current and past visitors to Integrating Presence may recall the monthly series “Ask Us Anything” I did with Denny K Miu from August 2020 until January 2022 — partially including and continuing on with Lydia Grace as co-host for awhile until March 2022. For a few months thereafter I did various Insight Timer liveContinue reading "Thoughts, Emotions & Trauma | 9/29/2022 “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #01"

This fifth in a seven part series on Studying And Practicing With "The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta -- An Analysis Of The Bases Of Power" addresses perceptions of night, daytime and light. (In the first two portions of the podcast I speak without notes and then I reference notes included in the blog post in the other portion.)

The description for this August 26th Insight Timer live event followed by my notes: Not full of cr*p. For those (interested in) practicing the Four Sublime Abidings of loving-kindness, compassion, vicarious joy/rejoicing & equanimity join this Mettāsahagata Sutta (SN 46.54) sharing where we penetrate into even higher release by examining various modes of repugnance &Continue reading "Full Of Love"

Listen to the full unedited version of Quashing Gossip with or without the Wisdom App: https://join.wisdom.audio/WdQK The description to this August 17th, 2022 Insight Timer live event and subsequent notes: Pretty much all considering joining this already know they’d like to gossip less so let’s dig into some teachings to really drive home the importance of quashing our gossipContinue reading "Quashing Gossip"

Listen to the full unedited version of this talk with or without the Wisdom App: https://join.wisdom.audio/kohr While this August 5th edited live event is quite listenable there’s still a little bit of hissing background noise remaining. The portion about hunting and vegetarianism are also edited out although the wisdom app call-in is included. (I forgot toContinue reading "The Beautiful Training (Precept) Of Non-harming"

Easy to remember shortcut for this blog post: https://tinyurl.com/crystalcontemplation Unlike the two crystals I mention using, or the cluster or matrix shown here, I suggest using only one easy to hold crystal starting off. In order to tune in more deeply, it’s probably better to pause and extend the meditation to sit longer in silenceContinue reading "Crystal Gazing Contemplation / Meditation"