For the longest time, I have held this idea that mindfulness practice was all about how much time I spent in seated meditation. Of course, I also cultivated mindfulness practice using walking meditation and mindful eating. But for me, it was always about sitting — about getting into the correct posture and continually returning to […]
Reflections on a Solo Retreat
Last fall, amid the pandemic, I found myself wanting to find a way to have a retreat experience outside of the home. At the time there was still not a COVID vaccine available, and we were publicly being told to shelter in place and not gather with relatives living outside of our home during the […]
Seeking The Source
There are teachers and dhamma practitioners who encourage us to find the “original mind” or the “source”. This can be a bit misleading to those who follow the path the Buddha showed us. The advice is well intended, to see that stimulus at the six sense doors leads to a feeling tone, recognition or perception […]
From the Garden to the Table
I have limited gardening experience, but I’ve always had a keen interest and appreciation for those who understand the value and benefits of homegrown food. When I was a boy, my mother maintained a garden because she understood the importance of having access to fresh, nutritious food and she appreciated the cost savings. While […]
Meditation as Medicine
Fact: Life is stressful. There is not one single person in history who has escaped the inevitable stressors of life. When we experience stress, especially when it feels unmanageable, it is a warning sign that something deeper is ailing us. Sometimes stress is inescapable; there is nothing we can do about it — such as […]
Kindness Is A Superpower
For the first week of May I attended a retreat at IMS (Insight Meditation Society), which is located about two hours outside of Boston in Barre Massachusetts. The retreat was titled, “Mindfulness, Kindness and Discovery” and it was lead by teachers Michael Grady, Susan O’Brien, and assistant Sara Schedler. After I returned to Omaha I […]