Integrating Presence

[Brief notes before the ai assisted summary that Ajahn Dhammasiha requested audio only and requested I kept my camera on so he could see me while we talked and recorded on Dec 1, 2025. I also didn’t edit out anything and there’s lots of my stammering. Apologies if any of this comes off as tooContinue reading "Ethics, Joy And Insight For The Buddha's Favorite Meditation | Ānāpānasati Series With Ajahn Dhammasiha"

Things change and I’m due back in Denmark earlier than originally planned. In this fortieth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we delve into the areas of worship, respect and inspiration. How can some activities like pujas (easily) get attributed to worship whenContinue reading "Worship, Respect, Inspiration | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #40"

(Ai assist:) Saw Myint (a 52-year-old woman originally from Myanmar, now living in Sydney, Australia) shares her personal journey of healing from childhood trauma and mental health challenges through practical, non-religious insights inspired by Buddhist teachings. Saw Myint is a qualified mortgage broker with a background in accounting who has also ventured into property development.Continue reading "Wake Up! Nothing Lasts Forever: Saw Myint’s Practical Steps to Release Stress And How Certain Concepts Of Impermanence Can Help Heal Trauma And Build Balance"

March 2, 2026 Update: Things have changed and I've relinquished my retreat slot to a practitioner eager to return to winter retreat and take my place and am in UK for a short time until returning to Denmark If you only have a chance to listen to this podcast or meditate, please meditate

Asoka and I explore identity, self-exploration, and a 120-day Peace Walk by Buddhist monastics promoting inner peace and compassion. We emphasize themes like non-duality, ethical practice, and the importance of inner peace as a foundation for external harmony, alongside challenges in modern society, including technology and political conflicts.

[Note: There will likely be no Meditation Q and A with Wendy Nash for February and March 2026. Perhaps consider it a type of delayed winter holiday break] In this thirty-ninth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we delve into Hiri and Ottappa.Continue reading "Hiri and Ottappa | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #39"

(Ai assist:) Enter Laura Geller and Willie Kunert—a married couple who met at Oberlin College almost 20 years ago, began meditating together as undergrads, lived in Southeast Asian monasteries, and now combine deep Buddhist practice with psychotherapy. Laura (an assistant teacher under Beth Upton in the Pa-Auk tradition) and Willie (hospice chaplain, grief therapist) shareContinue reading "Ānāpānasati with Heart, Parts Work & Grief | Ānāpānasati Series With Laura Geller & Willie Kunert"

This is the tenth chapter “The Buddhist Teachings On Desire” from the book: Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto (Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya) Published by Buddhadhamma FoundationCopyright © Buddhadhamma Foundation 2021Translated by Robin Philip Moore Editor: Bhikkhu Kovilo, typesetting: Bhikkhu Gambhīro Download this e-book in PDF, EPUB and MOBIContinue reading "“The Buddhist Teachings On Desire” Chapter 10 From Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life"

In this thirty-eighth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we to delve into the influence of language in meditation. Recently a podcast guest mentioned a turning point when a teacher described the breath as: oh so delicate. There’s also an exercise some insightContinue reading "Language | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #38"

[ original unedited version: https://youtu.be/rJlxn1OZkms ] (Ai assisted:) In this fourth episode of the anapanasati series Integrating Presence welcomes meditation teacher Jacques Rutzky for a deep, personal conversation on mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati) and its role in daily life. Jacques shares his 50+ year journey into meditation—starting at age 16 in Detroit, discovering the PaliContinue reading "Breath as an Anchor & Refuge for the Digital Age | Anapanasati Series With Jacques Rutzky"

(Ai assist:) A short, unscripted solo reflection on some subtle patterns showing up at the intersection of Western Dhamma practice, language, and politics — especially in the California scene. Topics touched on: No finger-pointing, no conclusions forced — just honest observations offered with metta Ai cleaned transcript with some extra edits by me: I'd beenContinue reading "(A)Political Notes Mostly Reflected In The California Dhamma Scene"

(Ai assist:) Executive coach and deep Dharma practitioner Brian Newman shares his journey into the Pa-Auk Sayadaw meditation lineage and the transformative power of strong samatha (concentration) practice. Brian explains how the need for unwavering presence in his coaching work led him to meditation, quitting alcohol, and eventually discovering that the ancient maps of theContinue reading "Faith, Persistence, Nimitta, Waiting For Jhana And The Four Elements | Anapanasati Series With Brian Newman"

This is the thirty-seventh installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion. I recently witnessed a reoccurrence of various perplexing sentiments from the (USA) West Coast Dharma scene (which even parallel general society). After running this by Wendy she rightly pointed out tinges of self-righteousnessContinue reading "(Losing) Balance in Dharma | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #37"

(Ai Assist:) Richard Shankman, author of the seminal book The Experience of Samādhi, gives a deep exploration of mindfulness of breathing (anapana), samadhi, jhana, and the fluid, often misunderstood nature of deep meditative states. Key Themes Discussed: Tone & Takeaway Warm, humble, and boldly honest, Richard dismantles dogmatic barriers while honoring tradition. The conversation isContinue reading "Breath, Light, The Inner Teacher And The Vastness Of Samadhi | Anapanasati Series With Richard Shankman"

In this thirty-sixth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we delve into trust: its aspects in and outside of formal meditation and how these interrelate and feed into each other as well as the importance of trust for so many things. To nameContinue reading "Trust | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #36"

This is the ninth chapter “The Supernatural and the Divine” from the book: Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto (Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya) Published by Buddhadhamma FoundationCopyright © Buddhadhamma Foundation 2021Translated by Robin Philip Moore Editor: Bhikkhu Kovilo, typesetting: Bhikkhu Gambhīro Download this e-book in PDF, EPUB and MOBIContinue reading "“The Supernatural and the Divine” Chapter 9 From Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life"

Global prayer for peace echoes across Bhutan: Event festivities highlight compassion, harmony, and cultural heritage, writes Jitsiree Thongnoi in Bhutan — https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/3134848/global-prayer-for-peace-echoes-across-bhutan (Ai assist:) In this swapcast episode I speak with Asoka from “Echoes and Story of Dharma” about the inaugural Global Peace Prayer Festival in Bhutan, scheduled from November 4-19, 2025. The discussion providesContinue reading "Bridging Ancient & Modern: Bhutan’s Landmark Global Peace Prayer Festival With Asoka"

In this thirty-fifth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we delve into this question from user “xXHishamXx” we received at the end of last month’s session: “Is There An Objective Purpose In Life?” including relevance to meditation practice. My short answer is answeringContinue reading "Is There An Objective Purpose In Life? | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #35"

This is the eighth chapter “Calm And Insight” from the book: Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto (Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya) Published by Buddhadhamma FoundationCopyright © Buddhadhamma Foundation 2021Translated by Robin Philip Moore Editor: Bhikkhu Kovilo, typesetting: Bhikkhu Gambhīro Download this e-book in PDF, EPUB and MOBI formats atContinue reading "“Calm And Insight” Chapter 8 From Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life"

(Ai helps sum up nicely thus:) Zen and yoga teacher Frank Jude Boccio and I chat about the intersections of mindfulness, yoga, and Buddhist practice. Frank shares his journey from the punk scene in New York to decades of teaching meditation and yoga, influenced by Thích Nhất Hạnh and Zen traditions. We explore mindfulness ofContinue reading "Death, Breath, and Awakening: From Punk To Zen And Mindfulness Yoga | Anapanasati Series With Frank Jude Boccio"

In the 34th live session with Wendy Nash, the discussion revolves around Metta, or Loving-kindness meditation. The session explores its various dimensions, practicality in daily life, and the significance of boundaries in relationships. Observations about community gestures and personal stories enhance understanding. Participants are encouraged to share experiences and strengthen their meditation practice.

In this premiere episode of the Anapanasati series, Dharma teacher Stephen Fulder shares insights from his 50 years of practice, emphasizing a heartfelt approach to breath meditation. He advocates celebrating impermanence, balancing effort with trust, and fostering kindness. Fulder highlights the breath's significance in overcoming challenges and discusses his new book and upcoming online events.

In a heartfelt reunion, meditation teacher Denny K Miu discusses his evolving political awareness and societal changes during the CO-V lockdowns with a friend. They explore Buddhist principles, the impact of globalization, immigration stories, and health tips through the N.E.U.R.O framework, emphasizing meditation, emotional intelligence, and fostering harmony amid uncertainty.

For those who’d rather not listen and/or potentially have more coherence here’s how AI edited my reflection (with slight edits from me): It's early August 2025, and I want to start with a disclaimer. Some of you might hear this and think, “That's pretty woo-woo, tripped-out speculation—cool, far-out stuff, man.” Others might think, “This isContinue reading "Is There A “Buddhist” Eschatology? Between Buddhas: A Somewhat Long View Of Cosmic Timelines"

In this thirty-third installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we delve into boundaries, especially as they relate to mindfulness, empathy, and personal/professional relationships. Wendy has mentioned previously that she often explores this theme in her work with clients and that it resonates stronglyContinue reading "Boundaries | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #33"

Ivor "Gently" shares his transformative journey from a conventional life to a spiritual path marked by significant awakenings. He explores themes like the unraveling of identity, ethical decision-making, and the importance of meditation and intuition. Ivor emphasizes individual growth, collective well-being, and accepting radical responsibility in one's spiritual quest.

(Ai assisted:) In this conversation, Neil Gaur shares his profound journey exploring the roots of religion, spirituality, and the connections between humanity and extraterrestrial beings. He discusses his upbringing in a Hindu family, his quest for understanding the similarities between different religions, and how ancient texts like the Sumerian scriptures have influenced his worldview. NeilContinue reading "Roots of Religion, Genetics, Hybridization, ETs And Drones With Neil Gaur"

Reflections on a balance between personal spiritual practice and selfless service as a lay resident in a Buddhist monastery in England. Key themes include emotional complexities, cultural differences between England and America regarding helpfulness, the importance of healthy boundaries to prevent burnout, and guidance from the heart in discernment.

In this thirty-second installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we plan to share our current (meditation) practices. Stuff like what they are, for how long we’ve been doing them, how they are going, why we are doing them, etc. asking each other (specific)Continue reading "Current Practice Share | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #32"

This is the seventh chapter “Supreme Peace: Nibbāna” from the book: Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto (Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya) Published by Buddhadhamma FoundationCopyright © Buddhadhamma Foundation 2021Translated by Robin Philip Moore Editor: Bhikkhu Kovilo, typesetting: Bhikkhu Gambhīro Download this e-book in PDF, EPUB and MOBI formats atContinue reading "“Awakened Beings” Chapter 7 From Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life"

Before I toss this over to AI to summarize / describe our conversation I want to take back that I said Tina “completed the grueling Samatha phase” which of course is anything but grueling. In fact, it is actually beautiful in the beginning, beautiful in the middle and beautiful in the end. I was reachingContinue reading "Depth, Integration, and Navigating Spiritual Terrain: In Conversation With Tina Rasmussen"

In this thirty-first installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we went into formal compassion practice and how it can help with demonstrating compassion in daily life Ai basically summarizes thus: This episode Compassion in Action explores how mindfulness fosters a deeper, more engagedContinue reading "Compassion In Action | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #31"

This is the sixth chapter “Supreme Peace: Nibbāna” from the book: Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto (Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya) Published by Buddhadhamma FoundationCopyright © Buddhadhamma Foundation 2021Translated by Robin Philip Moore Editor: Bhikkhu Kovilo, typesetting: Bhikkhu Gambhīro Download this e-book in PDF, EPUB and MOBI formats atContinue reading "“Supreme Peace: Nibbāna” Chapter 6 From Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life"

In this thirtieth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we explore the Eight Vicissitudes or Worldly Winds. I sometimes consider these as somewhat a psychology class crash course. While these don’t often seem to have a direct connection with formal meditation practices theyContinue reading "The Eight Vicissitudes Or Worldly Winds | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #30"

This is the fifth chapter “The Law Of Kamma” from the book: Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life by Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto (Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya) Published by Buddhadhamma FoundationCopyright © Buddhadhamma Foundation 2021Translated by Robin Philip Moore Editor: Bhikkhu Kovilo, typesetting: Bhikkhu Gambhīro Download this e-book in PDF, EPUB and MOBI formatsContinue reading "“The Law Of Kamma” Chapter 5 From Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life"

Extended version on my other site https://innerskilled.com https://youtube.com/@innerskilled albeit more relevant to the work there

The description for this Feb 11, 2025 live event: I’ll go into detail of lots of stuff from the notes of noticing and observations I’ve had around the direct experience of (group) chanting practice which doesn’t come easily and naturally to me and yet can be quite a profound practice at times AI basically summarizedContinue reading "Chanting Practice Notes"

[Note: Randi of https://toveje.dk uses her own terminology so it mixes around the standard, currently established notion of the three realm classification* of desire realm, form realm and formless realm. However, plenty still meshes and aligns with this standardization too. She brings her direct experience to bear on this sutta of which a few translationsContinue reading "Skillfully Progressing Contact Beyond The Human Realm: Sutta Study With Randi Green — At Gaia Head (AN 8.64)"

In this twenty-ninth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash — where we delve into meditation practice both on and off the cushion — we focus on the relational aspects of partners, teams, and communities. Recently, it seems we've been somewhat overlooking the more meditative dimensions of our chosen topics. While this episodeContinue reading "Partners, Teams And Community | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #29"

Brief musing on my visit: via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripitaka_Koreana and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haeinsa The Tripiṭaka Koreana[a] is a Korean collection of the Tripiṭaka (Buddhist scriptures), carved onto 81,258 wooden printing blocks in the 13th century. They are currently located at the Buddhist temple Haeinsa, in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.[1] It is the oldest intact version of Buddhist canon in Hanja script. It contains 1,496 titles, divided into 6,568 books, spanning 81,258Continue reading "Visiting The Wood Block Tripitaka At Haeinsa"

A little part of what’s recently been happening in work / life / practice, etc for the past roughly two months here at the end of December 2024 https://kwanumzen.org https://musangsa.org/international/kyol-che/

In this near impromptu twenty-eighth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we explore the many facets of mindfulness of speaking, stuff like its importance and the power of words, sound and (extended) silence. How is it in theory, practice and real life. Experiences.Continue reading "Mindfulness Of Speaking | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #28"

[Partial AI assisted show notes:] On Oct 22, 2024 I spoke (again this time online) with David Johnson, a meditation practitioner with over 13 years at Dhammasukha. David reflects on his interactions with renowned meditation teachers such as Mahasi Sayadaw and Deepa Ma, as well as his evolving meditation journey. After practicing what’s considered byContinue reading "Aware Vs Concentration Jhanas, Buddhist Reconciliation And The Six R’s (To Dissolve Distractions) With David Johnson"

In this episode of Integrating Presence recorded Oct 16, 2024 [and AI assisted description] writer and creative Luka Boenisch and I explore the nature of the self, free will, and consciousness. Through a wide-ranging conversation, we chat self-inquiry, the illusion of the self, and the philosophical challenges surrounding free will and predeterminism. Luka shares hisContinue reading "Relationships, Creativity, And The Search For Meaning With Luka Boenisch"

Wendy Nash and I continue exploring meditation practices both on and off the cushion in the twenty-seventh session of the ongoing live series. While the following topics resonate to varying degrees with all of us, we focus on the more traditionally masculine themes of honor and respect as well as briefly touch on self-worth asContinue reading "Honor, Respect, Worthiness and Belonging | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #27"

Brief note mentioning just what the title says: why the podcast has been offline / not working and upcoming offline retreat time

In this twenty-sixth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion we explore attention spans drawing from our internal and external meditative and non-meditative observations to examine how attention spans seem to be quite short these days, why this may be, and what to doContinue reading "Lengthening Attention Spans | “Meditation Q & A With Wendy Nash” #26"

This is the fourth chapter “Dependent Origination” in/from the book: Buddhadhamma: The Laws of Nature and Their Benefits to Lifeby Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto (Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya) Published by Buddhadhamma FoundationCopyright © Buddhadhamma Foundation 2021Translated by Robin Philip Moore Editor: Bhikkhu Kovilo, typesetting: Bhikkhu Gambhīro Download this e-book in PDF, EPUB and MOBI formats at the followingContinue reading "“Dependent Origination” Chapter 4 From Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life"

These are likely the first AI assisted show notes done on this site for a podcast with Danish meditation teacher/coach, author, and translator Niels Lyngsø recorded Sept 25, 2024: Topics Discussed: Key Takeaways: Quotes: Closing Thoughts: Niels encourages listeners to take a pragmatic approach to meditation and Buddhist teachings. Whether it’s 10 minutes a dayContinue reading "Who Gets Wise With Practical Meditation? In Conversation With Niels Lyngsø"

In this twenty-fifth installment of the ongoing live series with Wendy Nash inquiring into meditation practice on and off the cushion I explored conceit — superiority conceit, inferiority conceit, equality/comparison conceit, how it is related to many ills internally and externally and what to do about it in formal mediation and in the world. AContinue reading "Conceit | September 26, 2024 “Meditation Q & A W̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶W̶e̶n̶d̶y̶ ̶N̶a̶s̶h̶” #25"

This is the third chapter “Three Characteristics” in/from the book: Buddhadhamma: The Laws of Nature and Their Benefits to Lifeby Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto (Somdet Phra Buddhaghosacariya) Published by Buddhadhamma FoundationCopyright © Buddhadhamma Foundation 2021Translated by Robin Philip Moore Editor: Bhikkhu Kovilo, typesetting: Bhikkhu Gambhīro Download this e-book in PDF, EPUB and MOBI formats at the followingContinue reading "“Three Characteristics” Chapter 3 From Buddhadhamma: The Laws Of Nature And Their Benefits To Life"