Vipassana is a beautiful path of self-discovery. We have been taught an exquisite technique that allows us to discover truth within ourselves. In my experience, my daily practice brings me tidbits of truth every so often. These tidbits need to be integrated into my previous understanding of life. This is a continuous process requiring me …
Author: Ryan Shelton
While my job description is to lead the science department and teach physics at Padua Academy in Wilmington, DE, my calling is to prepare teenagers to lead their communities towards a vibrant and healthy future. This purpose has lead to the creation of Loving Lives Delaware.
Before becoming a teacher, I explored many careers and had many adventures in search of the best way to make a difference in the world. I hiked over 1700 miles, traveled to 5 continents, managed a bakery, started a meditation center, counseled troubled teens, attended Duke, UNC, and Harvard, protected forests as a wildland firefighter, volunteered thousands of hours with Americorps, rafted the Grand Canyon, and SCUBA dived on the Great Barrier Reef.
My next adventure is starting a family with my beautiful wife in our Wilmington home. I'm sure there will be many mistakes along the way, but I hope we're able to create a loving household that's a beacon of support and clarity for others in our community. Thank you for all of your support throughout our journey.
2 Hour Requirement
At the end of every 10 day course, SN Goenka tells people they should make a strong determination to sit for 2 hours every day for one year. While I'm committed to sitting 2 hours every day, I'm not sure I like the consequence of this challenge. What if someone is unsuccessful with this strict …
The Right Rate of Change
I've often felt that the growth I observe in myself from my practice is too slow. I'm investing 2 hours a day in this practice, and sometimes it seems that my growth is at a snails pace. When I look out into the world, it seems that we're in for some troubled times ahead, and …
Why is Vipassana Cool?
I'm about to serve on my first Children's Course. I worked with kids for several years, but that was over 6 years ago. Now I'll be engaging kids in a dhamma environment for the first time. I know that one of the secrets to keeping kids out of trouble is to keep them busy, but how can …
Growth is not Exciting
A strange realization with my practice is that growth is not exciting. All of my life, and probably all of yours, I've been taught to get excited and to celebrate growth or progress. When I graduated or got a new job or reach some other milestone I would have a party and celebrate. As I …
The Rational Religion
While I've pulled back from the belief that everyone should meditate, as I now feel that it's a practice that resonates with certain people at certain times, I do feel that Vipassana can address a current void in our society. Over the last 60 years people have been leaving the church in ever increasing numbers. …
Personal Solutions
I learned long ago that in order to grow, I needed to experience things for myself. I relearned this wisdom while playing the role of teacher or a mentor. I could explain something until I was blue in the face, but my students would always return to old habit patterns. If I created a situation …
The Root of Societies Problems
Yeah, I was one of those kids that wanted to save the world. I've gone through many iterations of deconstructing and reconstructing this thought, and I'm wondering if it's time to deconstruct it again. I've grown to realize that I'm just one person among billions, that the idea of saving the world is full of …
How Do I Fit In?
Walking the path of Dhamma gives me a strange feeling of isolation. Often, I feel like I'm walking around an entire society of people with a secret. I don't want to hide this secret, but I also know that it's not a secret I can simply share with words. Instead, I need to live it, patiently …
Giving Up Sensual Pleasures
I've been observing life a bit more subtly recently causing me to revisit my attachment to sensual pleasures. Early in my career as a Vipassana meditator it was quite challenging for me to give up drinking, not because I loved consuming alcohol, but because I enjoyed the high of escaping the burdens of life for …
Living Vipassana 