Following the school shooting that killed 17 high school students in Parkland, FL, I wrote this social contract to offer support for my students in a confusing time. 263 students signed it. Our children want to come together to help build a better future. Let's help them! With this Social Contract, we will build the …
Continue reading Student Social Contract Following Parkland Shooting
As Goenkaji says, whatever arises in the mind arises simultaneously on the body as a sensation. There is no separation between thoughts, emotions and body sensations. However we are conditioned in western society to experience the mind and body as separate. We go to a psychologist for our minds and a doctor for our body. People in the …
Nothing feels better than being accepted for who you are at the deepest levels of your truth. While it’s easy for anyone to appreciate our strengths, individuals who still accept and love us after understanding our darkest moments and witnessing our most hidden weakness are the people we acknowledge as our closest friends. As humans, …
It’s time to stop pretending that everything is okay. We’re trying to find solutions to specific issues like teen suicide and school shooting, but when are we going to realize that these are simply symptoms of much deeper problems. Our problem isn’t that a small number of children are struggling to cope with life in …
Continue reading Children Are Calling For Help – We Need To Hear Them
Hi, Living Vipassana readers. With permission from the New York Vipassana Association (NYVA) organizers, I wanted to share information about two upcoming talks to be given next month in New York City by Dr. Paul Fleischman. Here are the Eventbrite links with details about both talks: “Meditating in Troubled Times”— Open to the public. Friday, …
Continue reading Announcement: Dr. Paul Fleischman to Give Talks in NYC, April 13th and 14th
Although many Vipassana mediators feel significant benefits from Vipassana practice, many Vipassana mediators, particularly newbie Vipassana meditators like me, often ask: how do I integrate this Vipassana techniques into real life? Believe it or not, an interesting book introduced me to applying Vipassana techniques in work and life a few years ago, before I knew …
Continue reading Vipassana in real-life and work? Insight from a book “Charisma Myth”
This week, Ryan and I brainstormed about our family "mission statement." I find that it's helpful to be very clear on what my values and goals are and to re-visit them frequently, to help me stay focused on what's truly important. This helps me avoid getting sidetracked by things that seem valuable on the surface, …
In ancient China, a person raised a monkey. He fed the monkey 4 nuts in the morning and 3 nuts in the evening. The monkey was sad and cried. So the person gave 3 nuts in the morning and 4 nuts in the evening, the monkey was happy. The person easily outsmarted the monkey with …
Continue reading 3+4 = 4+3? Meditation Timer Experiment Report
This past weekend, we went on a ski trip with some friends in the Pocono Mountains, and it was so much fun!! Well, we didn’t end up skiing due to balmy temperatures and ongoing rain, but I’m still calling it a ski trip :). There were 4 couples on the trip, including 5 serious meditators …
I grew up in a family oriented to Christian Mysticism. My grandparents from both sides were very focused in that way, though they followed different teachers. My mom's mom was very influenced by Joel Goldsmith who became well known in the 50's-60's and formed a group called the Infinite Way, this teaching rubbed off on …
Living Vipassana 