Kevin: One way to understand Equanimity is as the allowing of experience to flow freely, without resistance or clinging. This is a crucial skill that we can learn to develop through practice. But as we go deeper, we may begin to discover more deeply rooted tensions and holdings — bound to fundamental beliefs and ways of … Continued
Kevin: In the course of our practice, we may uncover a false dichotomy we’ve been carrying, often unconsciously: that non-dual realization (seeing the non-separate wholeness of, well, everything) rejects personal experience. As though fully embodying compassion, empathy, and love in the relative world requires holding onto a solid, separate “me,” and as though transcending form demands … Continued
Kevin: The brain is a metabolically expensive organ! Despite accounting for only about 2% of the body’s mass, it uses roughly 20% of the body’s total energy. To conserve that energy, it constantly makes predictions about what’s coming next — giving more attention to what’s unusual or unexpected, and less to what’s familiar or ordinary. … Continued
Kevin: Does it sometimes feel like our practice pulls us into the weeds? It’s easy to get tangled up in fancy concepts and language, chasing insights and believing that the deepest rewards of practice depend on mastering all the various traditions, techniques, and modalities. This pursuit of the “right” path can lead us to wander a … Continued
James: Do you ever feel like you’re waiting for something to begin, but you don’t know what it is? Maybe the start of a new life where everything makes a kind of sense, and you can set down your phone without a feeling of something unreclaimed. Or to speak the ineffable poem of your heart … Continued