by Neil McKinlay | Nov 8, 2021 | Buddhist Teachings, Daily Life
The meditative tradition makes frequent use of the verb ‘solidify’. We have a tendency, the teachings assert, to do this. To the extent that we do solidify, we suffer. All of which seems pretty straightforward in a 1 + 1 = 2 kind of way. But what the heck is meant by...
by Neil McKinlay | Oct 20, 2021 | Daily Life, Meditation Instruction
I was watching television the other night. Hardly the activity one might expect for a bit of meditative insight, but this is the truth: I was watching television.I’d tried viewing from the couch. Laying on one side and facing the TV, I found my glasses far too...
by Neil McKinlay | Sep 21, 2021 | Daily Life, Meditation Instruction
I believe meditation has much to offer. I believe, for instance, that the practice can allow us to relax some of the gripping we do. Gripping to hopes. Gripping to fears. Gripping to expectations. Gripping to identities. All of which seems to cause a great deal of...
by Neil McKinlay | Aug 23, 2021 | Daily Life
In a few weeks I will, if all goes according to plan, return to in-person teaching. With a couple brief exceptions, this has not been part of my life since March 2020. So in a few weeks I will, for the first time in eighteen months, walk to Monterey Centre, collect my...
by Neil McKinlay | Jun 17, 2021 | Daily Life
It’s grey outside. The window to my left reveals low-hanging sky. Leaves and grass and the narrow street are all slightly dark, suggesting rain not long ago. An occasional person wanders by. Rare voices rise muted in the air. Which is the tone of this scene as a...
