F.A.Q.

I teach Unified Mindfulness, a secular system of meditation designed by Shinzen Young.

U.M. is a comprehensive, robust, and refined support structure that anyone at any stage of meditation practice can rely on to deepen their insight and their ability to share it with others.

My own practice has been focused on the cultivation of Insight within a Buddhist context, i.e. awakening. Supporting others along this axis of development in a pragmatic, metaphysically neutral manner is my primary motivation for teaching.

U.M. deliberately defines its concepts and procedures solely in relation to sensory experience. As a system it is intended to be completely areligious.

However, religious practitioners, myself included, are welcomed to practice, teach, and integrate U.M.’s techniques within or outside of any religious context when desired and invited.

To begin with, it’s very clarifying to identify what your motivations and goals are for your practice, often with reference to the Happiness Grid, which is reproduced below. From there, we can select techniques and strategies to best accomplish those goals with the tools and time available.

There is no one-size-fits-all for meditation. Together we can chart a course, and as time goes on we adjust to interest, opportunity, and necessity.

In early sessions there will probably be more to discuss, so we'll likely spend less time actually practicing together.

Periodically, as new territory comes up for you in practice, we'll probably have more to talk about again, and your goals, motivation, and interests may change.

Everything is a response to context, but that's the general rhythm.

In gratitude for all the freely offered and heavily discounted instruction, hospitality, and kindness that I’ve received myself I’ve chosen to teach meditation likewise on a dāna (donations) basis.

In practice, following each session after our introductory consultation I invite you to donate according to your means to support my work and livelihood.