In the process of surrendering, I forgot how to motivate myself and others. While avoiding the destructive competitiveness of our society, I lost my own motivation to grow and influence positive change. There is a deeper truth discovered through meditation that is difficult for others to see. People do need to come to dhamma in …
Category: Personal Experiences
A Community for our Dhamma Family
Baby Hannah is 10-weeks-old! William is almost 3-years-old, and loving being a big brother. We enjoyed the family cocoon we created over the holidays, but then it was time for Maria and me to return to work. Life is busy and it's easy to get caught up in the daily minutia, but we want to …
Balancing Social Connection and Goenka Vipassana
Balancing inward growth and outward growth is challenging. There are certainly benefits to shutting everything down for 10+ days to practice Vipassana. By slowly releasing agitating emotions, we become more open, peaceful, and compassionate. We start to understand ourselves more deeply while opening the door for deeper and more meaningful relationships. Unfortunately, just like when …
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A Goenka Dhamma Community For My Family
Eight years ago, Maria and I got engaged with the intention to raise a dhamma family. The volition to sit two hours a day together and the volition to raise children together seemed to be in conflict. We dreamed about being part of a community of meditators that could support our family and our practice. …
Let’s Start From Scratch
I'm a practical dreamer. I like to fantasize about the outstanding possibilities for humanity, and I'm willing to confront the big challenges that stand in the way. Recently, it has been extremely difficult to curate an optimistic vision with so many barriers. The fundamental challenge we're facing is the division. Twenty-five years ago, we felt …
Modeling a United Community
As I prepare for my 8th year of teaching high school science, I once again ponder the message I want to share with my students to inspire their dreams. Our communities continue to be divided, and without a vision to unite our efforts, it's difficult to get teenagers to invest in the future. We push …
Converging Two Divergent Worlds Into One Life
I'm trying to unite my Vipassana and worldly lives and it feels a bit vulnerable. Before Vipassana, I lived a successful life but I hadn't found satisfactory answers to some of life's big questions. Twelve years ago, I sat my first 10-day Goenka course and learned a completely new lens to view life. For nine …
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Individualism is Causing Unhappiness
As part of an individualistic society, I'm wired to pursue my own success and happiness. When I'm having difficulty sorting through strong disorienting emotions, meditation is a fantastic tool that allows me to sort out my feelings and set a positive course forward. Conversely, when things are going well, I feel entitled to enjoy my …
Finding Stability and Balance Outside of Dhamma
Is meditating 2 hours a day the solution to all of my problems? Is it the solution to all the world’s problems? I had never meditated before my first Goenka 10 day in 2010, and it opened a new and amazing door where I could explore and grow as a person. From 2011 to 2018 …
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Living Vipassana 