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Eight Stages of Practice, Part 5 – Appreciation
After surviving “the dry place”, slowly our relationship transforms and appreciation arises. Appreciation leads to love and finally to letting go. Recorded on February 22, 2011.
Brahmacharya (Wise Use of Sexual Energy)
Michael teaches the in-person ethics course on the wise use of energy (brahmacharya) – encountering all with respect and dignity. Recorded February 17, 2011.
Being With Others
Cathleen Hoskins, Psychotherapist/Philosopher, gives a lecture on the work of Martin Heidegger, philosophy, interconnectivity and being. Martin Heidegger is widely acknowledged as an original and important, yet controversial, philosopher in the 20th century.
Eight Stages of Practice, Part 4 – The Dry Place
Michael begins talking about the reasons for bowing. Then he dives into what it’s like to be caught in the dry place during relationship with practice and with others. Fear and its transformation. How to heal the wounds of abandonment.
Not Stealing (Asteya)
Michael teaches the ethics course and discusses not-stealing, right after his computer is stolen at the NYC airport. Not taking what is not given freely and being satisfied with what we have. Recorded February 3, 2011.
Eight Stages of Practice, Part 3
Michael goes through detailed instructions on sitting meditation posture and talks about lineage. Then he discusses our urges to run away when commitment arises and how commitment has departure built into it. Recorded February 1, 2011.
Eight Stages of Practice, Part 2
Drawing on Norman Fischer’s essay Michael explores how the honeymoon period of practice comes to an end and about the ten obstacles that show up which we tend to miss in deep practice. Psychologically, there are so many ways we
Eight Stages of Practice, Part 1
Drawing on Norman Fischer’s essay on monastic practice and it’s maturation, Michael talks about the eight stages that we all encounter during any relationship. He discusses how we get wounded and repeat our relational wounds in our relationship with our
Learning from the Insentient
Drawing on Instructions to the Cook, Michael offers a talk on the teachings of the insentient. The snow and silence are teaching us. Can you give attention to the way the insentient teaches us? Recorded December 29, 2010.
The Way Seeking Heart
Michael offers an introduction to the annual five-day New Year’s Silent Meditation Retreat. He talks about what can show up on retreat and Dogen’s idea of the Way Seeking Heart. Recorded December 28, 2010.
The Stages of Meditation Practice, Part 2
Michael talks about how the person in us who is sick has the resources to take care of the parts of us that are not sick. This paradox is the entry point of maturing meditation practice. Recorded December 21, 2010.
The Stages of Meditation Practice, Part 1
Michael begins talking about the snow and the differences between people and birds and then ends up speaking about the map of what to look for in meditation practice over time. Recorded December 14, 2010.
About the Community Library
Michael was a great archivist and the Community Library was—and continues to be—a labour of love. Everything in the Community Library is available for free. Anyone, anywhere can have instant access to material that will help them deepen their practice and contribute to a culture of compassion and collaboration.
Libraries are places where we gather alone together. They are known to be places of refuge for seekers, as well as those who are marginalized. This library is no different. It helps us nourish our beautiful, international community without walls. Now, it will also help keep Michael’s legacy alive.