I have been exploring my understanding of Dharma and the role it plays in my life. According to one source I found Dharma can be defined as 'a preventive measure', 'it is something we do to avoid problems'. I chose to highlight this definition in my last blog because I liked its simplicity, but further …
Am I Done Unpacking?
When I started meditating I was overconfident and at times arrogant. Meditating every day has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Instead of driving forward into a more loving and successful life, I've found myself to be simply unpacking all of the crap inside of me. I've been putting the brakes …
In search of a different network
Does not this society belong to us as much as we belong to it? This me, whom I know as myself, is hugely indebt to the education I got, the books that I have been reading, the music I have been listening to and the people I interact with. One learns how to react to …
The “right” posture
When I attended my first 10 days retreat I was amazed to see how many options there are when it comes to choosing how to position our bodies during meditation. Of course we all sit to meditate. Some people sit simply cross-legged, other use bolster and other props adopting a kneeling position, some others …
Confessions of a Serial Meditator
An anonymous old student left the following link as a comment on my blog. It is the wonderfully engaging tale of his first 10 day course and the period that followed. I highly recommend this entertaining read. http://self.gutenberg.org//eBooks/WPLBN0002828998-Vipassana---Confessions-of-a-Serial-Meditator---Tales-of-the-Minds-by-Anonymous.aspx I'm also going to start writing only once a week. I hope to share more posts from a …
What is Dharma?
'Dhamma' or 'Dharma' is a word that I have never full understood or questioned, I just accepted it as an aspirational state of being. But what does it mean? When I say "May all beings share my Dharma" during metta, what exactly am I sharing? The word 'Dharma' means 'a preventive measure accoding' to Alexander …
An Urban Center
All of the Centers in North America so far are located in rural settings. Basically, they're all in the middle of nowhere about a one hour drive from civilization. This is great for a quiet 10-day retreat, but it's difficult to get support from the local community. What would it be like to have a Center …
Cold Clear Skies
Tonight I sat in a café facing a window. The lights inside rendered it near impossible to see out. I could only see a reflection on the window of myself and, more interestingly, a couple sitting at the table behind me. Though they sat across from each other, they did not look at each other. …
A Different Way
A group of meditators in Georgia has started a living community. They want to live a simple life together in close proximity to a Vipassana Center. They want to live cheap, grow their own vegetables, and support each other and the Center with this practice. Many aspects of this lifestyle seem appealing. The strongest appeal is the …
Living Vipassana 