Developing internal sources of fulfillment (Jhana and Brahmaviharas) Knowledge of mind nature and interconnectedness, non self (insight) Ethical behavior (jhana + insight)

Dukkha co-arises dependent upon craving. To stop dukkha, stop craving. This us the 3rd noble truth of buddhism

Dukkha is strain and stress and suffering in the mind created by the mind.

Insight is direct knowledge of mind nature that leads to cessation of dukkha.

The following is an excerpt of one of my logs mentioning Zhan Zhuang and Brahmacharya, written in 2021. There has been recent interest in Zhan Zhuang practice in the groups I am a part of. My teacher is all about the Zhan Zhuang and even though it was of my own accord that I started […]

Fear is interesting. Fear is something that keeps people in line, keeps people doing the things they are told to do, keeps people within the “norm” of society. Fear motivates the drive to the job that’s killing one’s soul every morning, fear holds our tongue when we would like to tell it how it is, […]

There is a recurring theme that I have encountered in my participation at places where dharma practice is discussed – mostly in online fora concerned with awakening. It is very clear to me that what people commonly refer to as “4th path” is not the same thing as realization. They are related, sure, but I […]

I had a very insightful drive back from Arizona, with some  of those big ones that stick in your memory.  I was driving along experiencing a degree of pain in my ass and legs from the continual sitting in one position, and I started to investigate the nature of the pain. I used my previous […]

Jim D. – 6-day solo retreat at Cochise Retreat center with my guidance and direction “I had the good fortune to spend a week meditating with Sam. This was in the context of a personal vipassana retreat at a local retreat center. Sam was my spiritual friend and mentor during this time. Having a long […]

I recently spent two weeks at Cochise retreat center as a volunteer, and after about a week there Henrik, the president of dharma treasure and the current resident yogi, asked me to do a retreat there. Henrik and the monk sat at the table with me while I wrote the following retreat blurb (draft). Cultivate […]