Freedom beyond awakening, how it unfolds, maps and stages of the path, and finding freedom right in the middle of difficulty: working with hard emotions, painful patterns, and the places where practice and life get rough.
Shinzen Young Defines Enlightenment in Under Two Minutes November 2, 2013 - In this super-short video, meditation master Shinzen Young defines enlightenment (very accurately) in about two minutes. Tl;dr summary: You realize that there's nothing inside you called a self. The activity… Read More »Shinzen Young Defines Enlightenment in Under Two Minutes
Terror On The Cushion October 30, 2013 - by Jessica Graham When we talk about meditation, it’s often in the context of relaxation and stress relief. These have certainly been a wonderful benefit of my own practice. There… Read More »Terror On The Cushion
The Water Is Clear: My First Retreat Experience May 20, 2013 - by Dedeker Winston I watched the dense forest trees blur as the car flew along the twists and turns of some back road through the Marin headlands, and a queasiness… Read More »The Water Is Clear: My First Retreat Experience
Loving Lovingkindness May 4, 2013 - by Jessica Graham I’ve recently become of big fan of lovingkindness meditation, or as Shinzen Young calls it, "Focus on Positive." From the beginning of my practice I have been… Read More »Loving Lovingkindness
Dying with Dad, Part 6 February 27, 2013 - By Jessica Graham In this series, I have been exploring my relationship with my dad and the experience of caring for him in his final months. It’s been an amazing… Read More »Dying with Dad, Part 6Dying with Dad, Part 5 October 10, 2012 - By Jessica Graham Last month my dad would have been 55 years old. With his birthday coming up I thought it was high time I got back to my Dying… Read More »Dying with Dad, Part 5
Broken Heart/Open Heart April 27, 2012 - By Jessica Graham “Like someone is trying to slice my sternum open from the inside of my body.” “Like prickly pins in my stomach.” “It feels like… Read More »Broken Heart/Open HeartDying with Dad, Part 4 January 17, 2012 - by Jessica Graham In self-help books, recovery programs, and spiritual communities there is a lot of talk about “letting go.” We are all urged to let go. But what does… Read More »Dying with Dad, Part 4
Losing Control November 27, 2011 - by Jessica Graham [dropcap]In[/dropcap] mindfulness meditation we observe and explore our experience without trying to control, manipulate, or change it. One the first big insights for many of us is… Read More »Losing ControlDying with Dad, Part 3 October 26, 2011 - By Jessica Graham It was my dad’s birthday recently. He would have been 54 years old. Most people think that he died pretty young, but it’s amazing he lived that… Read More »Dying with Dad, Part 3
Dying and Dinner Parties September 29, 2011 - by Michael W. Taft In the long run, meditation is about creating a better life for yourself and for everyone else. Mindfulness has been used for twenty-five centuries because practicing… Read More »Dying and Dinner Parties
Dying with Dad, Part 2 August 9, 2011 - by Jessica Graham My teacher Shinzen teaches that mindfulness meditation has three parts: concentration, sensory clarity, and equanimity, which all together lead to a reduction in suffering. But sometimes people… Read More »Dying with Dad, Part 2
Dying With Dad July 22, 2011 - by Jessica Graham Part One My meditation practice has helped me with all kinds of things. I don’t lose my keys as often. I don’t have meaningless sex with strangers.… Read More »Dying With Dad