What does it mean to have a “balanced mind”, and how can mindfulness meditation help to cultivate it? Mindfulness-based meditation practice has very positive effects on the mind that are experienced as temporary states. A long term committed practice will transform these temporary, positive states into permanent traits… into new a way of being. Buddhism lists these beneficial qualities as “The 7 Factors Of Awakening”, with the culmination in that list of “equanimity”, an exquisitely balanced mind. In the below interview excerpt Vipassana meditation teacher Sayadaw Vivekananda speaks about how “mindfulness cultivates equanimity”.
Awakening is the goal of meditation. But like the old quip says “when it comes to awakening you can’t get there from here.” Therein lies the rub. If a non-dual realization if your goal then “doing a practice” implies that there is somewhere to develop, something to achieve… an obvious duality (or maybe not so obvious). Of course, meditation is a practice leading to awakening, but it is still just the finger that points to the moon of awakening. Join Dr. Dominique Cassidy and I as we explore this paradox of non-duality in our discussion of meditation and why you can’t get there from here.
What does it mean to be responsible? Ultimately, completely, and radically responsible? Does one need to have a radically responsible life in order to have a radically meaningful life? These are the questions I explored with Dharma teacher Fleet Maull Roshi, whose new book “Radical Responsibility” is launching May 14th, 2019.
Day Retreat | Sacramento Buddhist Meditation Group
Wake Up, Grow Up, & Show Up – A Meditation Day Retreat w/ Miles Kessler
In this retreat you will work on three aspects of Dharma practice: awakening to deeper meditative states, transforming temporary states into permanent traits, and how to have an impact in the world as a student of the Dharma. This daylong retreat will be a combination of sitting practice, dyadic inquiry, the “Big Mind” process, and some Aikido-based embodiment practice.
“Dharma & The Evolution Of Conflict” Tele-Summit, Free Online Global Event, March 20 – 24, 2019. Come together with Ken Wilber, Diane Musho Hamilton, Terry Patten, Wendy Palmer, Steve McIntosh, Keith Witt, Ginny Whitelaw, Greg Thomas, Fr. David McCallum (and many more) as we explore the practice and application of “Dharma & The Evolution Of Conflict”!
What does it mean to “embody conflict resolution”? In the below “Darma Bite” I continue the series of Dharma Discussions with Integral Facilitator & Zen Sensei Diane Musho Hamilton. In this excerpt from our discussion, we talk about conflict resolution in the field of mediation as compared to Aikido, and how they are in essence the same thing. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this short excerpt on “Embodying Conflict Resolution”.
This video is a recorded Dharma Talk by meditation teacher Miles Kessler. In this talk, Miles speaks about the 5 controlling faculties, as well as how the practice of mindfulness helps the mind detach from limited identification with the self.
What is your relationship to conflict? Is it something you prefer to avoid? Or do you like to lean into a good fight? Recently, Diane Musho Hamilton and I held our 3rd Community Call in our “Dharma & The Evolution Of Conflict” 3-part series. In this call, together with the global sangha, Diane & I dove into this very topic as we explored “Embracing Conflict As Path.”
