Comment from Steve
Time: June 27, 2007, 9:44 pm

I have been listening to your Guided Meditations for calmness, awareness and love. It seems to be helping.
Thank you

Comment from Stacey
Time: October 9, 2007, 4:49 pm

Can you please tell me what Bodhipaksa means..? I know what Bodhichitta means and Bodhisattva, but what does bodhipaksa mean?? thanks

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: October 9, 2007, 5:15 pm

Did I forget to say what my name means? Phonetically it’s Bodhipaksha (there’s a dot under the “s” which makes it a “sh” sound) and it means Wings (paksha) of Enlightenment (bodhi).

Comment from c.
Time: December 10, 2007, 9:28 pm

hi,

I want to thank you for your guided meditation for stress reduction cd. i’ve been struggling with insomnia and depression for some time and listening to your cd at night has been a life saver, truly. Your voice is incredibly soothing and I feel guided and oddly safe. your good intentions really come through. I’m very grateful to you for this.

Can you tell me what other cd’s you “narrate” (for lack of a better word)?

thank you,

c.

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: December 11, 2007, 7:32 am

Thanks for the kind comment, C. It’s always good to hear from people who have benefited from what we do.

If you check out Wildmind’s online store you’ll find my other CDs listed there.

All the best,
Bodhipaksa

Comment from Tracy
Time: February 16, 2008, 7:57 am

Hi Bodhipaksa,

I wanted to thank you for your guided meditation cd. I have been using it almost every day for about two years and I have found it truly wonderful and beneficial. It has allowed me to slowly open my heart more and more and to become more and more alighned with my higher self. It is like a good friend that is always there to turn too with it’s calm reassurance.

Thank you for shining a bright light in my life,

Much love, Tracy xxx

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: February 16, 2008, 4:51 pm

You’re very welcome, Tracy, and I’m really delighted to hear of the benefits you’ve been experiencing.

Comment from Erik Iwersen
Time: March 16, 2008, 12:08 am

Hello Bodhipaksha,

I used to be a student at the U of M in Missoula, circa 2001-2. It has been several years since I have been back or spoken to anyone who introduced me to Buddhism. I just wanted thank you (and Satayaloka, Saramati, and co.) for teaching me how to meditate and exposing me to the path of Buddhism. I doubt that you would remember me, I’m sure you had hundreds of students at the time, but the impact that you and Saramati and Satyaloka had on me is something that has changed me for the better ever since. I am a special education teacher in Chicago, and a regular practitioner of meditation. I have been practicing with a group out here called the New Kadampas, a Tibetan tradition, and my life is far richer because of this practice. I would never have known of meditation or the Buddhist path had it not been for you guys. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and your practice with me. I owe you a great debt of gratitude. Please continue to spread the word. Thanks.

Erik Iwersen

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: March 16, 2008, 4:51 pm

Hi Erik,

It’s great to hear from you! I have a picture of a tall guy with fair hair (and maybe glasses) come to mind when I hear your name. I wonder if that’s you?

Anyway, good luck with your practice, even if luck doesn’t have much to do with it!

With metta,
Bodhipaksa

Comment from PJM
Time: May 12, 2008, 5:07 pm

i first found your guided meditations on Itunes. i have just completed the UMass MBSR course. i liked it so much i took it twice in a row. But I wanted to investigate other meditative approaches, so I discovered your stuff. I have suffered from clinical depression off and on since I was 16 years old (40 years ago, and was hospitalized 3 times as a result.) I think meditation can be an amazing tool in the treatment of depression in conjunction with exercise or medication etc. For me it tends to require a multiple pronged approach. However, the fact that meditation does not bring the side effects of medication with it and can engender better physical health makes it a very important tool. I live outside of Boston. i was just wondering if you run any in-person workshops? i went to dartmouth, and both my parents used to live in NH so i’m used to driving all over the place up there.
Overall, i think the website is very well done. I think the melding of eastern thoughts and techniques with western analytical processes (by the scientists) are one day going to conquer depression.

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: May 13, 2008, 1:58 pm

Hi PJM,

I’m really pleased to hear that you’re finding meditation to be useful in dealing with depression.

At the moment the only face-to-face teaching I’m doing is in prison and at Aryaloka Buddhist Center in Newmarket, NH. But my friend and colleague Sunada (who teaches our online courses at present) is running classes in Cambridge. I’m sure she’d be delighted to work with you.

See http://www.bostontriratna.org for details.

Comment from Atula Shah
Time: August 4, 2008, 6:13 am

Hello Bodhipaksa,
I am practising Buddhist, & find your website really amazing & very helpfull to my path. I have been practising sitting & walking mediatation, now after attending a 10day Vipassana Mediatation course here in Nairobi(that is where I am from)as taught by S.N. Goenka it is truly changed my prespective to life & people aroundme, events & issues.
Thank you for the guidance that you have shared in your mediatation sites. The Posture site was helpful as I am difficulty with sitting postures as I need back support & to practice Vipassana one has to sit upright without support.
With Metta
Atula

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: August 4, 2008, 9:27 am

You’re very welcome, Atula.

Comment from me
Time: November 4, 2008, 10:11 pm

My only complaint is that you don’t have more CDs! I actually started with Kabat Zinn CDs but stumbled across you in a random Amazon search. Now I prefer yours over any I have and listen to one every day. You have the perfect voice for leading meditation. I also like how I feel comfortable even though I am not Buddhist because they seem adaptable whatever your beliefs. More please! I have them all!

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: November 5, 2008, 12:33 pm

Well thank you, “me,” for your kind comment. I have a couple of CDs coming out through Sounds True next year, and another through “One Spirit” (although it’s just a kind of “selected highlights” from the ST sets). And I’ve recorded another CD for publication through Wildmind, but just haven’t gotten around to getting it pressed yet. So your wish will come through before too long!

Comment from Rachel
Time: December 15, 2008, 11:02 pm

Hi,
I have been listening to your guided meditation for stress reduction and your guided meditations for calmness, awareness and love CDs for a while now. I suffer from fairly severe anxiety and I have found your meditations to be immensely helpful particularly at night when things seem to worsen. I just wanted you to know that you are doing a wonderful thing, and for a number of us it has been truly life-changing. Keep it up Bodhipaksa, go well!

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: December 16, 2008, 10:32 am

Thank you for your kind comment, Rachel. I’m very pleased to hear that the techniques I’ve been taught are helpful to you as well. I offer gratitude to the practitioners of the past 2,500 years who have passed on these meditations.

Comment from beckie
Time: May 1, 2009, 8:11 am

Greetings,
I have been studying Buddhism mostly independently with the help of books, cds, and the internet. I recently had the opportunity to attend a retreat on wisdom and lovingkindness at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA. I have great interest in metta meditation and I am looking for a ‘sitting group’ in my area, which is the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. I see that you live in NH, so perhaps you can help to guide me to a nearby group or give suggestions on how I might ‘start’ an informal sitting group.
mettta

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: May 1, 2009, 9:17 am

Hi Beckie,

I don’t know of any sitting groups in your area. I guess you’ve already tried Google and haven’t found anything, or presumably you wouldn’t be asking. The closest group I know of isn’t very conventional — it’s the dharma group that meets in the State Prison for Men in Concord on Thursday afternoons. Getting involved there is a very viable option — it’s a friendly group and at the moment it’s mainly run by a couple of women, Lori and Candace. I’ll be joining in a few weeks once a study group I lead on Wednesday mornings comes to an end.

Apart from that, the only other place I know of is Aryaloka, in Newmarket. I do some teaching there from time to time and they are excellent folks.

I’ve never started an informal sitting group from scratch so I’m not sure how useful my opinions would be. If I was going to do that myself, and if I was at your level of experience, I’d probably advertise locally and start by having a group that listened to CDs, rather than trying to teach or lead the practices myself. Once the group was a bit more consolidated and some mutual trust had built up would be the time, I think, to start experimenting with leading meditation.

If you have any questions about the prison group or Aryaloka, feel free to email me. A reply to the notification email should get to me.

Comment from sandy
Time: May 1, 2009, 3:28 pm

just back from a family retreat, which also gave sophie and i a chance to have smritiratna and amodhavira do our mitra ceremony at dhanakhosa – 14 years late as smriti said. we remember one of our early retreats which you lead with fondness and are delighted to see you having fun.

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: May 1, 2009, 8:02 pm

Ah, I remember that retreat. It was a work retreat, wasn’t it. With a lot of people from Sheffield in attendance. 1995? It’s good to hear your news, and I also heard this morning that Smritiratna was doing the former Dharmapala’s (re)ordination. Congratulations all round!

Comment from Teresa Dorey
Time: May 15, 2009, 6:18 pm

Dear Bodhipaksa

Do you still offer a meditation mentoring service? I have been meditating for quite some time, but am quite isolated in Jersey, Channel Islands. I belong to a Buddhist group here practising with FWBO materials, but we are seld supporting. I subscribed to your service some time ago – I would be grateful if you could confirm how the support service works as I can’t remember, and how much the fees would be per month. Thank you, Teresa

Comment from Sunada
Time: May 17, 2009, 9:42 pm

Teresa,

I do offer a meditation coaching service — you can learn more about it here: http://www.wildmind.org/mindworks/med-coaching. I also teach the online courses here at Wildmind and have been doing so for the last 3 years.

Best wishes,
Sunada

Comment from Mike
Time: June 7, 2009, 5:01 pm

Hi Bodhipaksa,

Last year, as a member of the Open Circle, I was quite the smart-arse at a time when Shrijnana had her hands full and could well have done without the extra bother of dealing with me.

I did eventually realise this, and quit.

Older, and probably no wiser, but after some metta practice, and looking to take part in the Urban Retreat, I’ve now found the grace to offer an apology, which perhaps you’ll pass on.

I continue to find Wildmind very useful, with its continual improvements.

With metta,

Mike

Comment from Patty
Time: June 12, 2009, 3:45 am

Dear Bodhipaksa,
Your meditation insruction has turned my life around. Never have I experienced such comfort and peace from a human voice. So glad I have discovered you. I have also turned a few open-minded friends on to your meditations. Thank you so much! Patty

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: June 12, 2009, 7:45 am

Hi Patty,

I’m so glad to hear that you’ve found my meditation teaching to be helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share your appreciation.

Comment from Tuan
Time: July 16, 2009, 2:46 pm

Hi Bodhipaksa,

I was looking for the way to recite the Buddhist Mantras correctly, I tumble across your site. Your, information published here are quite informative. Just let you know that you have done a great service for all of us who are seeking for guidance, I thank you for that and keep up this good work.

With metta,

Tuan

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: July 16, 2009, 3:12 pm

You’re very welcome, Tuan. The mantra section is the busiest part of our site, and I’m glad to be able to pass on what I’ve learned.

Comment from kum kum bhasin
Time: August 14, 2009, 11:23 pm

I took a berathing meditation course from your website 4 years ago- i notice that you dont offer those any more- is that correct??

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: August 15, 2009, 9:27 am

Hi Kum Kum,

I’m not too sure what course it is you mean. We have four regular courses that we run every month, but we also sometimes host courses taught by other teachers. Perhaps it’s one of those that you’re recollecting?

All the best,
Bodhipaksa

Comment from Mike
Time: August 27, 2009, 6:42 am

Bodhipksa —
Your meditations are key to my daily life — every AM. Is your Wildmind orgaization strictly an online experience or do you host or lead live meditation groups?
Mike in Newburyport, MA

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: August 27, 2009, 9:36 am

Sunada teaches classes in Somerville (http://www.bostonfwbo.org). I do some teaching at Aryaloka in NH (http://www.aryaloka.org) but since I have a new baby I don’t get out much these days! I’m looking forward to getting back to teaching.

Comment from margaret
Time: September 12, 2009, 7:13 pm

Hello from Scotland I found about you whilst doing a search on Amazon one of the people who had written a review had mentioned your Scottish accent this was for me a reason to purchase 2 of your meditations discs I have recently been off work due to stress and have suffered from very painful IBS and anxiety I have suffered from panic attacks over the years and require tranquillisers to go on flights or long journeys due to claustrophobia I am desperate to find something which will help me become much calmer as I have always been a nervous and anxious person.I enjoyed reading about you and look forward to practising meditation to help me become much more relaxed in every day life

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: September 16, 2009, 9:42 am

Hi Margaret,

Thanks very much for writing. I hope the CD helps you to feel more at ease with yourself. Feel free to let me know how you get on.

All the best,
Bodhipaksa

Comment from Robin
Time: November 12, 2009, 11:29 pm

Hi,

I love the idea of teaching meditation to prisoners. I just contacted Dr. Kent Kiehl of the Mind Research Institute (in the US). He performs fMRIs on violent prison inmates who are undergoing cognitive psychotherapy and studies the results. I asked him if he knew of any studies of prisoners who have undergone any kind of relaxation therapy. He said he has heard of this in some prisons but did not know if there were any studies about it.

Anyway, I found Wildmind and you and thought I would ask if you knew of any prisons where relaxation therapies were performed (like shiatsu or reiki, etc.)?

Thank you for your time!

Robin

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: November 13, 2009, 11:59 pm

Hi Robin,

I’m afraid I don’t know of any programs like that.

All the best,
Bodhipaksa

Comment from Jeff Bell
Time: November 16, 2009, 10:27 pm

Hi, Bodhipaksa. Just wanted to thank you for helping spread the word about my new book, WHEN IN DOUBT, MAKE BELIEF. I’m very heartened by the response this book is getting from the Buddhist community–especially because of the immense role that Buddhist mindfulness has played in my own battles with uncertainty.

Gratefully yours,

- jeff bell
http://www.BeyondTheDoubt.org

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: November 16, 2009, 11:35 pm

You’re very welcome, Jeff. You’re doing good work and I hope your book is reaching a wide audience.

All the best,
Bodhipaksa

Comment from Lisa Lassner
Time: December 17, 2009, 12:39 pm

Hi Bodhipaksa,
I have some questions on the Opening the Mind meditation. You talk about the fact that when you are intensely focusing on something the muscles tense etc. Is this based on research? I’d be very interested in any links you have on the subject. I think this might be part of what has caused chronic tension in me my whole life.

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: December 17, 2009, 4:05 pm

Hi Lisa,

It’s just based on my experience of myself and of watching others. A lot of the physical tension that builds up in our bodies through normal day-to-day usage seems to be from “concentrating” in an unhelpful way. I’m afraid I don’t have any articles to offer, although this page, for example, describes tension headaches as being “the product of tightening muscles caused by such things as emotional stress or physical straining.”

Comment from Ben
Time: February 11, 2010, 2:52 am

Wonderful meditations. I’m new to the practice of meditation and very much appreciate your direct approach and omission of that pervasive ethereal hum one finds in so many guided meditations.

While I personally have fallen away from identification with Christianity, my wife is interested in raising our children within this theological framework. It’s been through meditation that I’m beginning to reconcile my aversion to Western theological canon with the deeper spiritual meaning underlying the dogma. As I write this, there was a brief moment I touched on the potency of mindfulness in helping guide the spiritual path of my children. Thanks for the help.

I was quite surprised to see you had lived in Montana.

Best Regards

Comment from Vienna
Time: February 17, 2010, 8:12 pm

Bodhipaksa, Hello from Montana!

I discovered your excellent CDs on Amazon and then found the Wildmind web site and learned that you have spent time here in the Empire of Montana! I live in Anaconda – twenty miles north of Butte. I’m still fairly new to meditation – it was suggested by my pain management physician for help with my chronic back pain sustained on active duty in the military in 2006. I’m developing my meditation practice with the help of my husband of 18 years who is now the chief physician of correctional medicine at the state prison in Deer Lodge. We both are admirers of your work helping our inmates lead more satisfying lives.

I’m anxious to read your upcoming new book, and thanks for all you do at Wildmind.

Best,
Vienna

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: February 18, 2010, 1:13 pm

Thanks, Vienna! I must get back to Missoula sometime. I’m long overdue a visit there.

Comment from Dee
Time: May 8, 2010, 12:44 am

I wanted to tell you that I’m pretty sure that, after many years, I’ve finally stumbled across the right ‘school’ for me. I’ve always avoided being involved with the ‘saffron robed, mala toting set’ – not because I find anything wrong with it; that particular path has simply never been my ‘cup of tea’. Although I have quite a few friends who have fully embraced the Tantric Buddhist path, and even family members who belong to a community (called ‘Mandala’, BTW), my own leanings have been towards a more western approach. Your ‘Still the Mind’ C.D. set has been a warm and beautiful introduction to what I know will become my own personal collection of valuable material – AND I’m going to immediately sign up for Wildmind Buddhism/meditation online course.

I’m quite isolated in that in 2004, after treatment for a rather deep seated brain tumour, I became physically disabled, (karma! lol) and don’t feel comfortable meditating (in my wheelchair, with all the extra paraphernalia) in a group situation. To add, I live in a ‘care’ facility, so lone practising it has been for some time. But now I feel well guided by your fantastic site, courses, and C.D.s. (I’ve previously looked at the FPMT online courses, and although they seem to be very wonderful, they’re too lengthy, too deep for my requirements).

With much gratitude
and good wishes
Dee

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: May 10, 2010, 7:16 pm

Hi Dee,

Thanks for your very kind comments. Where in Australia are you? I have a number of friends and students (not that those are mutually exclusive lists!) in Australia, and one or more of them may be able to get in touch with you. although you’re not keen on a group situation, a friendly voice or face can really help our practice.

With all best wishes,
Bodhipaksa

Comment from Dee
Time: May 11, 2010, 1:18 am

Hi Bodhipaksa,

Thankyou for your kind reply. I’m a new resident of the Gold Coast in Queensland; I moved here to be closer to family. Previous to ‘the tumour thing’, when I was living in Adelaide, quite some years ago I had a bit of contact with ‘Buddha House’ (I did a few ‘learn to meditate’ courses, and some ‘Medicine Buddha’.)

It would be wonderful to speak with someone 1/1,…not only concerning practice, but the philosophy of Buddhism, the history of, as well. Books, even the I/N are wonderful resources, but they CAN lack the more personal and immediate feedback that is so beneficial. And BTW, regarding the online courses, I was going to take level 2 (which sounded the MOST appealing to me), but it would be more prudent to start at the very beginning, and enrol for level 1, wouldn’t it???!!! Yes….I think so!….I’ll do them in order. (I answered my own question!!)

Many good wishes
thank you
Dee

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: May 12, 2010, 10:07 pm

Hi Dee,

I passed your email address on to a Buddhist in Brisbane (which I think isn’t too far from you — please excuse my ignorance of Australian geography) and hopefully you’ll hear from someone there.

And it is funny how sometimes the effort to clarify a question ends up answering the question, isn’t it? I’ve noticed that many times in my own life. It does go to show that ultimately we are our own most important teachers.

All the best,
Bodhipaksa

Comment from Dee
Time: May 13, 2010, 7:56 am

Hi again, Bodhipaksa
How kind of you! Yep, Brisbane is just ‘up the road’ (by Oz standards, anyway) .
Thanks again for your kindness and support
Dee

Comment from Steve Jaunay
Time: June 23, 2010, 4:53 am

Hi Bodhi,
This is quite unrelated to this particular site, but is an attempt at personal contact with regards to my discovery of your ancestor Thomas Waddel Tragheim. There was no email contact on that site so am hoping to reach you this way – my apologies if it is inappropriate. I am researching Edward Tragheim, who is my mother’s father, a Royal Scots. I strongly suspect your great grandfather on your mothers side (Edward) is also mine along a different branch. Please contact me if you have any more information on Edward, particularly anything regarding his time in the Royal Scots. He also served in the Boer War, and won a medal of distinction in WW2. My mother’s name is Lilian so I wonder if Tom is (was) her brother “Tam”. It would be great to hear from you.
Regards,
Steve Jaunay

Comment from Serenity
Time: June 29, 2010, 10:53 pm

Hi Bodhipaksa.

I have been studying Buddhism, particularly Mindfulness, and meditation for a few weeks now. I have found this site, and your guided meditations to be an invaluable tool in my journey of discovery.

I have a question, that I’m hoping that you can shed some light on. How is autism viewed by Buddhists? When I tried to look up the info myself, I came across so much conflicting information that I’m thinking there may not be one clear cut answer. Many places spoke of bad karma, and such, but to me that would imply that any autism spectrum disorder would be a negative state, and I don’t view it that way. I view it as a difference. Not good, or bad, just different. I have two children that are autistic, as well as I’ve been diagnosed as being mildly autistic (Asperger Syndrome) myself. Neurodiversity is important to me, and I try to spend my time only on things that supports it.

Thanks for any info that you can share in regards to this matter.

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: June 29, 2010, 11:30 pm

Hi Serenity,

Buddhists, unfortunately, can be prone to the same kind of blind belief and dogmatism that you find in other religions. Saying that autism is due to “bad karma” is a statement of blind faith in the notion that anything “bad” (taking autism, for now, to be seen as “bad”) must be due to karma, and therefore is the fault of the person who has the problem. This “blame the victim” mentality is usually done in a very friendly spirit, although true believers can get very hot under the collar and resort to name-calling when you critique their understanding of Buddhist teachings. In fact, the Buddha taught that not everything that happens to us is the result of karma. The Buddhist tradition recognized several different kinds of conditionality (basically, natural laws), or which karma is just one. And the Buddha also said that you could never tell when something is caused by karma or not. So much for the true believers. (Tibetan Buddhism, by the way, ended up with a distorted view of Karma, so take what they say with a pinch of salt).

But there isn’t really “a” Buddhist view on autism since it’s a newly recognized syndrome and it’s not something the Buddhist tradition had to come to terms with. I can give you my view, for what it’s worth. I think the condition is biological in cause, rather than spiritual, for one thing. When talking about any kind of “condition” that exists in a spectrum, you always get into problems of definition, since definitions demand clarity, and spectrums don’t provide clarity. I’d say that the average man is further along the spectrum towards autism than the average woman, to take one example. But I don’t think it’s a disorder for me simply to be male, just because I like collecting things, organizing my collections, and sometimes get unemotional and detached. It’s just all part of life’s rich variety. I do think there’s a point, though, where the emotional unattachment and the obsession with “things” becomes so extreme that it should be considered a disorder, because of the problems it causes for other people, and the pain and fear that the autistic person has. At the same time there can be amazing gifts, and probably a lot of talented scientists and mathematicians have been mildly autistic. I have a friend with a boy who has Asperger’s, and he does well and is in fact very talented and creative. I think he’s probably going to have an extraordinary life. Beyond that, I’ve seen kids (I once worked in an adventure playground for disabled kids) who were severely autistic (unable to communicate and locked into repetitive rocking), and I’m sure that if their parents could find a “cure” and been able to experience their child as loving them, they’d jump at the opportunity.

I don’t think the word “bad” is very useful to apply even to severe autism. Maybe it’s enough to say that it can be a source of pain and sorrow and even heartbreak, but it’s also an opportunity to test the power of a parent’s unconditional love for a child. “Bad” is often just another way of saying “this is an experience I don’t want to have.” But when we have more mindfulness and compassion, there are painful experiences that we can deal with that other people would say are “bad” but to us they’re just challenges.

Anyway, this is just my view, and it’s probably not even very coherent since it’s late. And I have to get up early tomorrow to teach, so I’d better stop here.

I’d love to hear any thoughts you have…

Comment from Serenity
Time: June 30, 2010, 3:56 pm

Thank you for answering so quickly. I think you have done a very good job in replying to my question.

People being treated fairly, and equally with kindness, and compassion has always held a place of high value in my life. Where male autistics may obsess over trains, engines, and such, females tend to lean more to the side of psychology, philosophy, and anthropology. It’s important to me that I spend my time, and energy on things that support what I’ve mentioned above. I will continue on with my research, and learning of Buddhism now that I know there is a positive place in it for me, and my sons.

And, yes, I am anti-cure (but not necessarily anti-therapy). I have one son who is considered mildly autistic (I don’t like using terms of functioning, because I feel they’re misleading, and harmful to people) and one that is considered severely autistic. It never occurred to me to become upset when I learned of their autism (and subsequently mine) because it is something that just ‘is’. Not good, or bad. It just is. Sometimes, I feel sad when I know that society won’t/can’t see them for the wonderful individuals that they are. I think that says more about others than it does of them.

Anyway, thanks again for your response. I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this subject.

Pingback from What I did today « the enemy returns: a journey with kidney cancer
Time: July 29, 2010, 11:01 am

[...] up. Wash up, light up some Triloka Ayurvedic Meditation Incense meditate with my new best friend, Bodhipaksa. He and I meet mentally every morning first thing. He is soothing, mindful, and very [...]

Comment from Glenn Spencer
Time: August 12, 2010, 2:06 pm

Was reading something you wrote, the recent bit about bridling at 99 cents for an iphone app and then happily plunking down $1.50 for a coffee. I recently added up my pizza, fish and chips and coffee bills and realized I was thowing something like six thousand bucks a year at them. No wonder I have trouble finding ten bucks to put in the pot at meditation night.

So you are not alone.

I asked myself what would Bodhipaksa do? And at a guess, came up with: Bodhipaksa would not go to war with a bad habit. He would not regard it as “bad” at all. He would spend time contemplating all the good that could come from a change in spending habits.

Is this guess accurate?

Comment from Bodhipaksa
Time: August 12, 2010, 2:15 pm

Hi Glenn,

That’s pretty much it, although this is the first time I’m aware of asking “WWBD?”. Maybe I should ask myself that question more often? Or be asked it by others.

Anyway, I think you’ve hit the nail (mettafuly) on the head. I’d think about how I would feel if I had developed an app and had someone validate my creativity and risk-taking (it is a risk to put your creative effort out there to be judged) by ponying up the 99¢. When you do that, you feel some of the glow of pleasure yourself. I think of the app developer saying “cool, someone else bought my app” and I feel happy!