I would love to get paid to contribute to people's lives in a way that actually helps them. I've worked in non-profits and schools, but the most meaningful tool I know to contribute to people's lives is dhamma. So how do I make a living contributing to society in a way that helps people grow in …
Month: September 2013
Finding Inner Space
As we continue our practice and navigate the sensations as they arise and pass, we find more space inside of us when we are concentrated. That space, sometimes can be felt physically. Scanning our body sometimes we feel that we are taller/longer. Another days when we are not so grounded, or "in the mood" we …
A Loving Home
Meditation has helped me learn how to love myself, but how do I extend this into a loving home, a loving family, and a loving friend network. With an established meditation practice, my mind stays present, positive, and focused. It feels like every step I take is in a positive direction, even if that step …
Reality As It Is
The fifth precept: to abstain from intoxicants, has been a part of Vipassana I have not seen the need of to try and maintain. But thanks to many of you who commented on my last post, my understanding of the importance of this precept has shifted something deep inside, which has started whispering that maybe …
Settling Into Conflict
There are times when my life is simply confusing. Some project may seem insurmountable, or some relationship irreconcilable, or some complication unsolvable, but I've learned not to roll in these concerns. The intellectual reality is that I can't currently see a direction. In the past this would make me extremely uncomfortable and I would continue grinding away, …
Right Friendship
When I started a regular meditation practice my social time was reduced considerably both by the 2 hours I was meditating in my free time, and by the reduction of events I was attending while attempting to follow my precepts. This reduced priority on relationships was always concerning to me at first. It seemed like …
Night Life
I basically no longer have a night life. When I first committed to meditating, it was a major struggle to force myself to stay at home rather than going out drinking with my friends. I just loved the excitement and adrenaline rush of getting a little crazy, and not doing so seemed like an empty …
What Is My Belief?
I've heard that one of the stages along the path is the point where you are 100% confident that Vipassana is the technique that will take you to the final goal of liberation. Since I'm not even sure exactly what liberation is, I am obviously a long way off from reaching this stage, but what …
Giving Up Alcohol
The 5th precept - abstaining from intoxicants- has always been a part of Vipassana that I have conveniently forgotten. My job, the people in my life, where I live - key elements that make up who I am, tend to revolve around alcohol. Being able to choose from time to time to enjoy a good whiskey or …
Group Sitting Persistence
I started hosting a weekly group sitting 1 year ago. My simple goal was to meet other meditators in my area, and since there wasn't currently a group sitting close by, I created one. I managed to track down about 8 meditators who had completed a 10-day course and I did my best to encourage them …
Living Vipassana 