A question that all meditators confront is how to stabilize the qualities we experience in our natural state – serenity, spontaneous realizations, freedom from conditioning, and a natural simplicity and ease. These qualities often appear only as fleeting experiences, easily disrupted by the pressures of daily life.

In other words, we tend to know them as temporary states, not enduring traits. A state is transient, a trait is stable. The work of meditation is the transformation of momentary states into abiding traits, so what was once a passing glimpse becomes a resilient way of being.

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We are born with a simple, clear, and open awareness. Yet, this pristine consciousness is short lived. As we navigate life, our experiences – linked to external approval or criticism – progressively reduce our scope of consciousness to limited ways of perceiving reality, ingrained habits, and automated reaction patterns.

Unbounded curiosity, exuberance and awe, novelty, and spontaneous creativity give way to the ordinary, known, and mundane. Our lives become conditioned, molded and contracted by the weight of accepted norms and a subtle system of praise and critique. What once seemed expansive and open is replaced by a seemingly “functional” existence, as the natural vitality of an expansive life fades into the background. Join me in discovering how we find our way to home to a natural freedom from the known.

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www.elliottdacher.org
Aware, Awake, Alive on Amazon

We have all experienced moments of circumstantial calmness – whether through a relaxing walk in nature, immersion in art and beauty, or through music, yoga, intimacy, meditation, and other such events that can calm mind and body. These moments offer a respite from the overactive mind, afflictive emotions, and daily challenges. We seek out these desirable circumstances, valuing them greatly.

However, all circumstances are impermanent. They may last moments or longer, but their nature is transient. In time they will pass. Why? Because all phenomena and experience are transitory. When circumstances change so does our mental state – more calm, less calm, no calm, or back to our usual stress. Circumstance-based calmness, while pleasant and helpful, is fragile and fleeting. Join me in this Podcast to explore how circumstantial can be replace by a pervasive and stable serenity.

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Aware, Awake, Alive on Amazon

A peak experience is a fleeting moment of profound inner peace, harmony, flow, and oneness. It’s T.S. Eliot’s image of children playing innocently in the apple tree, Wordsworth’s moment of splendor in the grass, or you and I “lost” in nature, wonderment, exuberance, beauty, art, intimacy, dance, or, music. It’s when the music, the playing, and the musician become one.

Most individuals have had a peak experience, but missed its meaning. What on the surface appeared to be a pleasant moment was in actuality a precious glimpse of one’s true nature. Join me in this discussion and practice

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Shantideva, a famous 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk, shared with us a very wise realization: "All the suffering in the world comes from seeking pleasure for oneself. All the happiness in the world comes from seeking pleasure for others." When we desire that others be free of suffering and attain happiness, we swiftly lose our ego-based-self-cherishing and self-centeredness. In that precise moment a spontaneous feeling of peace, connection, and contentness, no longer obscured by our personal “I,” reveals itself from the center of our being. It may be brief, but if we catch it we will know it by heart.

Please join me in this discussion and the special practice of Tonglen, Sending and Receiving.

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"Self-liberation on arising" describes the natural dissolution of thoughts, feelings, and sensations when the mind refrains from grasping, elaborating, or fixating on them. Mental appearances arise and pass naturally, but fixation extends their lifespan, leading to suffering and distraction. This cycle detaches us from present experience and immerses us in past stories. By observing mental activity without entanglement, we allow these fleeting appearances to dissolve like writing on water—momentary and transient. True mental stillness arises not from suppressing thoughts but through understanding their ephemeral nature, fostering lasting peace, clarity, and freedom.

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"This Precious Life" explores the human journey from the expansive, limitless consciousness of childhood, to the constricted identity shaped by societal demands and ego, and in fortunate ones the return to the precious essence of an expanded conscousness. Eastern traditions highlight this second phase of life where one turns inward, rediscovering the vast possibilities and serenity beyond the ego. This awakening, often triggered by pivotal life moments, aligns with the Hero’s Journey—a path toward reconnecting with our inner self, a natural compassion, awareness, and deeper sense of purpose, ultimately shaping a precious and meaningful life.

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This podcast explores the distinction between two aspects of self: the essential self, characterized by unconditioned awareness present from birth, and the personal (ego) self, a constructed identity shaped by experiences and societal conditioning. The ego self narrows our expansive consciousness into patterns and beliefs, obscuring our natural state of openness and wonder.

Despite this conditioning, moments of connection to the essential self can arise, such as during experiences of flow, presence, or deep connection with nature, art, or others. These moments reveal our innate wholeness but are often fleeting and overlooked, as the ego quickly reasserts itself. Understanding and stabilizing these glimpses into the true self can lead to a more fulfilling and centered life. Join me in discussing and practing the "gap."

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Welcome to my Podcasts

On my website below you will find many resources and a sign-up link to our Sunday morning Zoom teaching and meditation. Everyone is invited.

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www.elliottdacher.org
Aware, Awake, Alive on Amazon