The experiences in our lives are determined by these subconscious undercurrents. We collect these sankaras, or past cravings and aversions, and they impact how we react to current situations. By observing sensations we can retrain the subconscious to allow us to act instead of react based on past experiences. I'm not sure if that's completely accurate but …
Category: Observations
The New Feeling Of Friendship
I used to connect with friends by riding their rollercoaster. If they needed to get drunk and let off some steam I was the first one step up and join them. If they needed to share a space where they could talk through some difficult times I met them in their energy space. There are communication …
What If Practicing Vipassana Daily Was Normal?
One of the unique challenges of maintaining my Vipassana practice is meditating two hours a day. While I find this time is well spent it doesn't necessarily fit well into my schedule. I've been wondering what it would be like if everyone was trying to fit in these one-hour meditation blocks. Would universities have set …
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Everyone Knows How To Be Kind And Giving. Vipassana Just Helps.
Everyone knows how to be kind. Everyone knows how to be supportive. Everyone know how to be giving, loving, and appreciative. Goenka says that the only way to liberation is through meditation but does this mean that the only way to live a good life is through meditation? When I was introduced to Vipassana I …
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Inspiring Change
We have more problems on this planet than we can count. War, crime, exploiting natural resources, overpopulation, famine, and on and on. All of these problems are made better or worse based on the choices we make. With 7 billion people on the planet, that's a lot of different choices. There are hundreds of thousands of belief systems …
Vipassana And Yoga
Vipassana has transformed my yoga practice but I didn't notice until I returned from long-term service. I used to participate in yoga classes the same way I did sports. I would push myself to make progress, get a good workout, and hope that my flexibility might improve. My first yoga class after 7 months at the center …
A View Of Jesus I Can Accept
Christianity is a polarizing subject so I approach this topic carefully but with a belief that it's important to discuss these thing respectfully. I've always appreciate that churches try to develop communities of highly moral people trying to make the world a better place. I've alway gotten frustrated by the need to force Jesus as the son of God …
Letting Go
What does it mean to let go or to have no attachments? I hear about the life of a monk and I wonder if this is the life I should be living. I was raised to be goal oriented and to give 100% to whatever I commit to so it seems natural to pursue the Buddha's …
Potential To Change Lives And Society?
Vipassana is hard work and it takes a long-term committment so what's the upside? Why am is so motivated by the potential of this teaching? I've spent a number of years in a number of different occupations trying to figure out how to make people's lives better. First with AmeriCorps where I helped with community gardens, food banks, …
Am I Religious?
I've been asked this question many times throughout my life and before I even have a change to think my mouth say "No" but is this still the case? I spend at least two hours a day meditating and this meditation technique was taught by the Buddha 2500 years ago. Can I still say I'm …
Living Vipassana 