Integrating Presence

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 charges Continue re...

This fourth in a seven part series on Studying And Practicing With “The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta — An Analysis Of The Bases Of Power” addresses the 32 parts of the body mentioned within the sutta. In the first (two) portion(s) of the podcast I speak without notes and then reference notes included in this blog post in the last portion.

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 discernment Continue reading "Cultiv...

I’ve spoke with the Galactic Historian Andrew Bartzis a few times before on his live call-in show Adventures Into Reality. But on June 2nd we chatted for quite awhile about these topics plus more: Andrew’s website: https://andrewbartzis.com Andrew’s book on Amazon: “The Galactic Historian: The World According to Andrew Bartzis“ Our other chats: Audio: “Adventure...

The description for this May 31 talk via Wisdom app and InsightTimer.com/live: Let’s play with the puns in this title to 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 & Continue reading "Ask For (A) Change"

On May 17th, healing guide Bo Bissett joined me virtually from Taiwan to talk about primarily about healing, including: Bo’s story of multiple car accidents and addiction; the importance of love in healing and how to heal. Other topics include: why more people don’t realize they’re on a healing journey; self-sabotage; subconscious programs; self-confidence vs Continue reading "He...

On April, 25th author and confidence coach Kate Heartsong and I spoke to some of the ins, outs and hows of healing and interrelating. Kate Heartsong is the empowering and life-enhancing author of two books, Humanity’s Cry for Change – Actions You Can Take to Create a New Earth and Deeply We Are One. She is also the Continue reading "Kate Heartsong: Changing Our World With&#160...

This recorded and now edited meditation — from Sunday, May 15th at Fat Cat Longevity [https://facebook.com/freyflow] downstairs next to Peace Love Coffee at Mary’s House of Healing on Main St in St Charles, MO and on Insight Timer Live — explores how and why it’s so challenging to find the breath interesting then maintain such an interest to be with...

This third in a seven part series on Studying And Practicing With "The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta -- An Analysis Of The Bases Of Power" addresses a type of situational awareness mentioned within the sutta. In the first portion of the podcast I speak without notes and reference notes included in the blog post in the other portion.

I described this (now edited) April 29th Insight Timer live event as follows: Let’s explore what can be done to transform, transmute and turn ghosting and being canceled into nourishment to support the well-being and awakening of all Cancel Culture definitions: a social environment in which publicly boycotting or withdrawing support for people, organizations, etc. Continue reading "Ghosted,...

The description for the April 14th “Death Contemplation & Meditation” Insight Timer live event: Unwise, unskillful choices can come from an unconscious fear of death. The most profound contemplations and meditations on death protect us and help us appreciate every moment Some revised notes: Benefits of Death Contemplation And Meditation: In/for (formal) meditation practice: ‘...

The description for this now edited April 26th Insight Timer live event: A few teachings on inquiry and investigation while also reviewing and asking your suggestions for the monthly “Ask Us Anything” show format fellow Insight Timer teacher Denny K Miu and I started in September 2020 to determine a potential restart, recreation and/or transmutation Continue reading "Ask Anyone Anything? Live With...

The description for the brief April 20th Insight Timer live event with the same title as this blog post was a sutta snippet: Ven. Ananda said to the Blessed One, “This is half of the holy life, lord: admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie “Don’t say that, Ananda. Don’t say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, Continue reading "F...

Professional speaker, author & spiritual teacher Ann Hince and I chat about various topics surrounding feelings, awareness, healing and the body: When I was 19, I woke one morning to find my mother dead face down in our bathroom. Twenty years later the tears from that trauma were still just under the surface. It took Continue reading "Feeling Feelings With Ann Hince"

[5/2/2022 UPDATE: Uploaded overlooked mp3 for the non-youtube podcast version] Physical therapist and writer Melissa Mayer joins the podcast to talk about her life, work, and various topics of mutual interest like Buddhism, sobriety, travel, healing, service work, meditation and education. From Melissa’s bio I have been practicing physical therapy for over 13 years in Continue reading "(Holi...

This second of the seven part series on "The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta -- An Analysis Of The Bases Of Power" digs into four types of paired hindrances: 1 sluggishness/laziness 2 overly active/restlessness 3 inward constriction/sloth and torpor 4 outwardly scattered/five strands of sensuality

On April Fools Day I did an Insight Timer live talk with the above title and the description, “A brief chat about associating with the wise while setting aside fools (and that which comes with it)” a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person dictionary definition for “fool” Some notes for this talk: Continue reading "Don’t Associate With Fools"

[4/29/2022 UPDATE: Zero Pāramitā Challenge provided (to me) for Month 8 / April 2022 yet and 5/23/2022 UPDATE: same thing for the month of May and presumably ongoing unless — barring other possibilities — readers and listeners see a new Pāramitā Challenge from the source and/or a new post/podcast published on IntegratingPresence.com] Expediency, supreme enlightenment, Continue reading...

The description for this now edited recording of the March 28th, 2022 Insight Timer live event “Being In And Of Nature”: Weather and Insight Timer systems permitting I’ll speak to the challenges and benefits of practicing meditation in nature, under a tree and/or just simply being outdoors. Maybe some practice too I start off with Continue reading "Being In And Of Nature"

Fellow Insight Timer teacher Lydia Grace once again inspired the title of this “Ask Us Anything” — live, monthly, open-audience, open-discussions about meditation and related topics. Recently on Lydia’s Insight Timer circle Embodied Living she said of her new three month training Radical Authenticity: “When the energy of empowerment lies dormant in our psyche, we ar...

This (now recorded and somewhat edited) mediation includes: Meditation Audio: Peace. Peace. Peace. Or listen via Insight Timer (app or website) Better than a thousand useless words is one useful word, hearing which one attains peace. Better than a thousand useless verses is one useful verse, hearing which one attains peace. Better than reciting a Continue reading "An Integrating Presence Meditatio...

One reason this blog post and podcast series came about could likely be due to my meditation practice becoming stale and now provides an outlet for a somewhat more advanced level where details are dived into. If and when exploring this sutta on your own, it's recommended to drop the intricate, sometimes tedious language I go into here to the fullest extent possible. It's important to remember my i...

Easy to remember shortcut to this blog post/article: https://tinyurl.com/3wayforgiveness The description for this 3/7/2022 Insight Timer Live talk (perhaps somewhat related to my previous talk The Psychology of Customer Service Apologies): For 15 minutes or so I invite discussion on forgiveness in general; from experience; as an ideal; as consideration; phrases for three-pronged forgiveness practi...

This brief Wisdom app talk on March 3rd looks at the psychology of apologies, especially pertaining to those in Customer Service followed by a call-in chat with Malcolm who relates first hand experience working in this field. My edited notes: from integrating presence and this talk is mostly going to be about the psychology of Continue reading "The Psychology of Customer Service Apologies"

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 to Continue...