Practice Discussion

I offer meditation advice and support for three kinds of people:

Beginners, who are interested in establishing a practice
Those who already have an established sitting practice, who want to discuss things that come up
“Advanced” practitioners — who probably need to recommit to a practice that has lapsed as the demands of life have intervened

The first step is to book an initial meeting, an hour long for the price of a half-hour, where we can discuss your needs and make a plan. Then, I recommend packages of four or eight half-hour sessions — or you can book them one at a time as needed. Depending, I recommend meeting weekly, biweekly, monthly, or irregularly.

In our initial meeting we will discuss your practice and I will offer physical and psychological tips and tricks; I will write up some notes in an email for you afterwards.

I will also always be available by email to hear about how your practice is going.

I do ask for payment, as it helps with establishing commitment; but there are several price tiers, and money should not be a barrier.

For a long-winded description of what this is, what it is not, who I am and why I do this, see below ❤️.

What This Is:

Paradoxically, seated meditation is simultaneously good for nothing and one of the most beneficial things humans can do. I have practiced it for several decades and recommend it almost without reservation.

If you are a beginner, wanting to establish a seated meditation practice, the most important thing is to start, and to continue. I will help you design and maintain a schedule that is realistic for you. Often overlooked are the physical aspects of what is, arguably, a physical practice; I will help you find a comfortable posture that you can maintain, and support you in maintaining it. I will also guide you in an assortment of structures for maintaining mental stability during meditation.

If you have an established practice, you will have noticed that all kinds of things happen in the course of a period of sitting; I have experienced a lot of them, and we can talk about it.

If your practice has lapsed, you may need encouragement, which may be as simple as a friend to walk beside you on the Way, and I will be that for you.

What This Is Not:

It is not “spiritual teaching”. My feelings on spirituality and teaching are here.

It is not “meditation instruction”. Seated meditation is, in Gary Snyder’s words, as natural for humans as circling to a hawk, or napping to a cat. It is your birthright, and needs not be taught.

It is not energy healing, divination, channeling, or any other kind of magic. Nothing wrong with those things! But they’re not my bag.

Who I Am and Why I Do This:

I have been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for something over 40 years, first in the Advaita Vedanta tradition (under a man named Jean Klein), then starting about 25 years ago in the Sōtō Zen tradition, in which I was lay ordained 20 years ago and entrusted to teach some 10 years ago. None of this has granted me any special powers! But it may have made me more patient, curious, and compassionate. In any case, I have experienced a lot of the main roads, shortcuts, and cul-de-sacs of practice, and talked to a lot of people about it. My view is that each person must forge their own path in practice, and find their own unique results; and yet paradoxically the most important thing is the support of others walking also, each down their own path. So that is what I aim to do.

Becoming a Student:

It is also possible to enter a formal student-teacher relationship, which is a slightly different sort of thing. If you have met with me a few times and are curious about such an ongoing relationship, there is more information here.