Pariyatti

Beyond Day Ten: Practical Advice on Establishing a Vipassana Practice by Corinne Bilyayev is a guide for old students who are committed to continuing their practice at home. In this interview the author shares her personal experience and practical application of Dhamma principles. Corinne Bilyayev · July 26, 2026 · 1 hour 19 minutes

The Equanimous Mind (2nd Edition) chronicles the author's first ten-day Vipassana meditation camp experience at the end of 2010 and the life-changing impact it has had on his personal and professional life since that time. Interview with Manish Chopra · 2021 · 1 hours 16 minutes

Meditating in Troubled Times a lecture by Paul R. Fleischman, M.D. Dr. Paul Fleischman · Massachusetts, USA · 2020 · 74 minutes

Meditating in Troubled Times a lecture by Paul R. Fleischman, M.D. Dr. Paul Fleischman · Cologne, Germany · 2017 · 74 minutes

Here is an audio clip of Essentials of Buddha Dhamma in Meditative Practice from Pariyatti's resource library:

Here is an audio clip of "As the seed is, so the fruit will be..." from Pariyatti's resource library:

"Footprints in the Dust enables us get to know the Buddha as a human being a deeply compassionate and wise person who not only actualized the path to enlightenment but also shared the way to accomplish that path with countless others so that they too may gain supreme peace. We learn of the challenges Gotama faced many similar to our own and how he dealt with them. We see his responses when praised and blamed, when confronted with crises within the Order and disputes among kings and couples. We see how he guided monastic and lay disciples with their diverse personalities and dispositions. In getting an insider s glimpse into how his wisdom and compassion manifested when engaged in situations that we too may experience, we learn how to work in a constructive way with whatever life brings us. This is an inspiring and engaging book that you will read and reread many times. —Bhiksuni Thubten Chodron, Dharma teacher, author, and abbess of Sravasti Abbey Ven. S. Dhammika · August 25, 2024 · 1 hour 56 minutes

Pariyatti Presents... Realizing Change, An Interview with Ian Hetherington Ian Hetherington · September 10, 2023 · 1 hour 04 minutes

Yuval Noah Harari is an historian, philosopher, and the author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (among several other bestselling titles). His books have sold over 40 million copies in 65 languages, and he is considered one of the world s most influential public intellectuals today. Yuval Harari · August 14, 2022 · 1 hour 04 minutes

Daughters of the Buddha - Interview with Ven. Bhikkhu Anālayo Ven. Bhikkhu Anālayo · June 8, 2024 · 1 hour 23 minutes

This was a public talk with a Q&A session that Dr. Ravindra Panth gave called 'The Revival of Pilgrimage in India'. Dr. Ravindra Panth · April 22, 2017 · 1 hour 04 minutes

This is a Pariyatti Presents... event recorded Nov. 16th, 2025 with Paul R. Fleischman, interviewed by Kory Goldberg, titled 'Safety of Meditation, pt. 2 of 2'. This is video six of 'The Power of Small Changes' interview series. Paul R. Fleischman · Nov. 16, 2025 · 1 hour 49 minutes

This is a Pariyatti Presents... event recorded Nov. 9th, 2025 with Paul R. Fleischman, interviewed by Kory Goldberg, titled 'Safety of Meditation, pt. 1 of 2'. This is video five of 'The Power of Small Changes' interview series. Paul R. Fleischman · Nov. 9, 2025 · 1 hour 55 minutes

This is a Pariyatti Presents... event recorded Oct. 19th, 2025 with Paul R. Fleischman, interviewed by Kory Goldberg, titled 'Living as a Meditator in the Confusing, Pressured, and Tumultuous World'. This is part four of 'The Power of Small Changes' interview series. Paul R. Fleischman · Oct. 19, 2025 · 1 hour 46 minutes

This is a Pariyatti Presents... event recorded Oct. 5th, 2025 with Paul R. Fleischman, interviewed by Kory Goldberg, titled 'Building a Sustainable Practice'. This is part three of 'The Power of Small Changes' interview series. Paul R. Fleischman · Oct. 5, 2025 · 1 hour 42 minutes

This is a Pariyatti Presents... event recorded May 25th, 2025 with Paul R. Fleischman, interviewed by Kory Goldberg, titled 'How the Brain and the Body Make Vipassana Possible'. This is part two of 'The Power of Small Changes' interview series. Paul R. Fleischman · May 25, 2025 · 1 hour 44 minutes

This is a Pariyatti Presents... event recorded May 4th, 2025 with Paul R. Fleischman, interviewed by Kory Goldberg, titled 'The Psychological and Social Wellsprings of Vipassana'. This is part one of 'The Power of Small Changes' interview series. Paul R. Fleischman · May 4, 2025 · 1 hour 45 minutes

Epilogue: Manjushri’s Burden from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 20 minutes 58 seconds

Ch. 14 - Time Past and Time Present from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 34 minutes 47 seconds

Ch. 13 - The Essence is Anicca from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 53 minutes 16 seconds

Ch. 12 - The Great Blind Sea Turtle from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 39 minutes 01 seconds

Ch. 11 - The Path of Power from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 24 minutes 23 seconds

Ch. 10 - The Great Elder from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 24 minutes 24 seconds

Ch. 9 - A Taste of Stillness from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 20 minutes 53 seconds

Ch. 8 - Unmeasured Time from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 46 minutes 54 seconds

This a Pariyatti Presents... event of the Realizing Change Series: Sébastian Bernier's Story. Sébastian Bernier · December 2, 2022 · 1 hour 4 minutes

Ch. 7 - No Way Off This Path from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 29 minutes 48 seconds

Ch. 6 - Why the Buddha Sat Under a Tree from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 26 minutes 45 seconds

This a Pariyatti Presents... event interview with Rivers Cuomo, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the band, Weezer. He is interviewed by Kory Goldberg, co-author of Along the Path. Rivers Cuomo · February 18, 2024 · 54 minutes

Ch. 5 - Right Effort from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 24 minutes 40 seconds

Ch. 4 - Noble Silence from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 30 minutes 25 seconds

Ch. 3 - A Peacock is More Than a Bird from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 35 minutes 28 seconds

Ch. 2 - Siva’s Smile from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 29 minutes 34 seconds

Ch. 1 - The Dharma of an Aerospace Engineer from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 27 minutes 13 seconds

Introduction from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner by Eric Lerner · 2025 · 7 minutes 38 seconds

It has often been said that Western Buddhism is distinguished from its Asian prototype by three innovative shifts: the replacement of the monastery by the lay community as the principal arena of Buddhist practice; the enhanced position of women; and the emergence of a grass-roots engaged Buddhism aimed at social and political transformation. These three developments, however, have been encompassed by a fourth which is so much taken for granted that it is barely noticed. This last innovation might be briefly characterized as an attempt to transplant Buddhist practice from its native soil of faith and doctrine into a new setting governed by largely secular concerns. For Asian Buddhists, including Eastern masters teaching in the West, this shift is so incomprehensible as to be invisible, while Western Buddhists regard it as so obvious that they rarely comment on it. narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2025 · 22 minutes 32 seconds

This talk by Patrick Given-Wilson was given for the European Dhamma servers' meeting in Spain, June 2024. The talk is followed by a Q&A session. by Patrick Given-Wilson · 2024 · 62 minutes 2 seconds

In the Holy Books are many sermons, long and short, full of advice to the average layman. Notable amongst these is the Sigālovāda Suttanta, known as “the Layman’s Vinaya” which details correct behaviour for the good layman. Excellent though all such sermons are, none can surpass the brief simple appeal of the words to Nakula’s parents, which advise the cultivation of four things: Saddhā, Virtue, Generosity and Wisdom. by Kassapa Thera · 2024 · 63 minutes 6 seconds

Dr. Panth, a Buddhist scholar, was the inaugural speaker for Pariyatti Presents.... Watch his talk The Revival of Pilgrimage in India.

Parents and Children: Transmitting the Buddhist Heritage across Generations by Ven. Medagama Vajirañāṇa Nayaka Thera by Ven. Medagama Vajirañāṇa Nayaka Thera · Narrated by Ethan Christy · 2024 · 29 minutes 121 seconds

This short introduction to Vipassana talk was given on June 29, 2024 at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia. by Patrick Given-Wilson · 2024 · 32 minutes 48 seconds

"The Global Vipassana Pagoda in Mumbai was built to mark the birth centenary year of Sayagyi U Ba Khin, the Burmese Dhamma teacher of Shri Satya Narayan Goenkaji. The monument is built in the Myanmar style of the Shwedagon pagoda, as a token of gratitude to that country where the essence of the Buddha’s teachings was maintained in its pristine purity, and from where it is now spreading throughout India, and via India to the rest of the world. Our Dhamma teacher Shri S.N. Goenkaji became the vehicle to make this happen. He was also our inspiring guide for every important aspect of this building project. Tremendous volition and effort went into the building of this staggering monument and it is interesting and educative to explore the journey. narrated by Bikram Dandiya · 2024 · 23 minutes 35 seconds

"The themes of the talks are rooted in my journey, as a Christian, into Buddhism. In the mid-1980s I felt the need to ’let go’ of my own religious conditioning to enter the world of another faith. It grew from a conviction that people with an interest in religion should not remain imprisoned within one framework but should explore others. The choice of Buddhism and Sri Lanka was a natural one for me. Buddhism’s emphasis on meditation and non-violence touched my own interests as a Christian, and a visit to Sri Lanka in 1984 had left me with the feeling that my link with the island was not finished. narrated by Ethan Christy · 2024 · 34 minutes 56 seconds

Deconstructing Constructions: The Role of Saṅkhārā in the Buddha’s Discourses by Bhikkhu Bodhi . narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2024 · 50 minutes 48 seconds

"To understand ourselves, we must live with ourselves and know all about ourselves. The mind for that matter is flickering, fickle, difficult to guard and control and flutters like a fish taken out of its watery abode and thrown upon the land. Somebody causes you hurt and although the aggressor has disappeared from sight, the hurt grows within you and every so often keeps surfacing with an overpowering intensity to give you a warp. Then again, you see something that has captured your attention and your mind has instantly photographed it from every conceivable angle with a see-through lens, developed it in your mental dark-room, brought out the prints and enlargements with the skill of an expert cameraman and processor rolled into one. Similarly, all the sense faculties and the mind are of high sensitivity and respond to anything and everything exciting. If the degree of excitement is not sufficiently satisfying, you step it up with the use of drugs, intoxicants and poisons. This activity goes on unabated and makes of you a human derelict. A wise person living in his mind protects himself holding himself dear. Such a person whose senses are subdued, whose pride is destroyed and is free from corruptions, is calm of mind, speech and action and rightly knows, and is perfectly peaceful and equipoised." narrated by Tejendra Patel · 2024 · 38 minutes 45 seconds

Part 6 - Expanding Into New Frontiers from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi . narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2023 · 6 minutes 58 seconds

Part 5 - Clear Comprehension from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi . narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2023 · 5 minutes 55 seconds

Part 4 - What the Suttas Say from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi . narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2023 · 9 minutes 10 seconds

Part 3 - Mindfulness and Bare Attention from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi . narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2023 · 21 minutes 56 seconds

Part 2 - The Meaning of Sati from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi . narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2023 · 23 minutes 50 seconds

Part 1 - Mindfulness in the Buddhist Path from 'What Does Mindfulness Really Mean' by Bhikkhu Bodhi . narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2023 · 12 minutes 20 seconds

"In this article I want to focus on one particular constituency of Buddhists in present day Sri Lanka, the Bhikkhu Sangha, the Order of Monks. I intend to examine, though briefly, the problems it faces and its prospects for the future. This task is especially critical because of the central role the Sangha plays in guiding the destiny of the Sāsana, and it is clear that if the Sangha does not learn to deal with the momentous forces inundating present-day society, the future will see it increasingly relegated to the sidelines...." Narrated by Shelina Hetherington · 2023 · 38 minutes

"If Buddhism is failing to penetrate deep into the hearts of those who profess it as their faith, we have to ask ourselves why, and to ask what can be done to reverse present trends. I would like to approach these questions by first asking what role Buddhism is intended to play in our lives in the first place. I will deal with this question by distinguishing two aspects of Buddhism both stemming from the Buddha’s original teaching. I shall call these the liberative and the accommodative strands of the Dhamma...." Narrated by Shelina Hetherington · 2023 · 30 minutes

A Buddhist Approach to Economic and Social Development by Bhikkhu Bodhi Narrated by Shelina Hetherington · 2023 · 45 minutes

"In Theravada Buddhist circles during the past few decades a debate has repeatedly erupted over the question whether or not jhāna is necessary to attain the “paths and fruits,” that is, the four graded stages of enlightenment. The debate has been sparked off by the rise to prominence of the various systems of insight meditation that have become popular both in Asia and the West, especially among lay Buddhists. Those who advocate such systems of meditation contend that the paths and fruits can be attained by developing insight (vipassanā) without a foundation of jhāna. If we use the Buddha’s teachings as a lens to examine the corporate economic system and its offshoot, the consumerist culture, we will see that it is ultimately detrimental to the well-being of both its masters and servants alike. Drawing upon the tools of Buddhist analysis, let us briefly sketch the inner dynamics of this system. We see in the first instance that such a social order is founded upon ignorance or delusion (avijjā, moha), namely, the supposition that material wealth and consumption are the criteria of the good life. According to the Buddhist texts, when ignorance infiltrates our cognitive systems it issues in a series of “distortions” (vipallāsa) which infect our perception (saññā), thinking (citta), and views (diṭṭhi). The Buddha mentions four such distortions: the notions that the impermanent is permanent, that the painful (or suffering) is pleasant, that the insubstantial is a self, and that the unbeautiful is beautiful. At the most basic level we perceive things by way of these distortions; when these distorted perceptions are taken up for reflection, we start thinking in terms of them; and finally, under the combined influence of distorted perception and thought, we adopt views—that is, beliefs, doctrines, and ideologies—that affirm the mistaken notions of permanence, pleasure, selfhood, and beauty." Narrated by Shelina Hetherington · 2023 · 1 hours 03 minutes

The Jhānas and the Lay Disciple According to the Pāli Suttas by Bhikkhu Bodhi . Narrated by Jonathan Nelson · 2023 · 1 hours 16 minutes

There is an old story about a young seeker who asks the abbot of a nearby monastery for guidance on how to become enlightened. The abbot declines his request but sends him to a shoemaker in a nearby village. The abbot assures him that the shoemaker will help him achieve enlightenment. The young seeker went to find the shoemaker, with one caveat from the abbot: “Learn everything you can from the shoemaker, but don't ask him anything spiritual.”... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 12 minutes 28 seconds

How long will it take to be enlightened? This is such a firstworld question. We want the truth and we want it now, to paraphrase Jim Morrison. There is no answer to that question, because it is the wrong question. And what’s more, enlightenment is not simply an answer, similar to the woman in Saks Fifth Avenue who asked how much the fur coat cost in the window who was told, “Madam, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.” Nevertheless, let’s respond with the truth rather than attempting an answer to the wrong question.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 4 minutes 41 seconds

My teacher in India eventually attracted so many students that he began to appoint assistants to lead retreats on their own. I began assisting him in 1996 and soon was made a senior assistant teacher. I led ten-day retreats throughout Canada, the United States, England, Myanmar, and India. I especially enjoyed addressing the many issues my students faced, most of whom were dealing with the daily shock of seeing into the skittishness of their minds for the first time. I was on a mission to spread the teachings, I had status and prestige within the community of meditators, and my personal practice was strong. How my life had changed!... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 5 minutes 54 seconds

Doing non-doing is a long path and is not always straightforward. To understand what you need to do and why and how is relatively easy, and in this regard I hope this little book has been a help. However, old habit patterns, especially latent tendencies, are pernicious. You may continue to be sidetracked by their beguiling beckoning to react. You may succumb from time to time. You may find the process hopeless. You may get frustrated. These reactions are also old habit patterns. It is as if you are at a masked ball, dancing with many different partners, all of whom keep exchanging their masks with each other. Still, do not give up. Have faith.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 5 minutes 54 seconds

With the death of a loved one, a grieving period is important, as is understanding how the mind works and how doing nothing with clear comprehension does not eliminate the grief. Once again, grieving is a natural condition of the mind. It is neither good nor bad. Some may be tempted to put on a happy face to demonstrate the powers of meditation. They can keep up the façade for a while. In time the effort to remain calm peters out. The suppressed grief returns in a myriad of ways later in life, when perhaps you cannot see a direct correlation between what you are presently dealing with and the death of someone close some months or even years before.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 3 minutes 30 seconds

According to Thoreau, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” I think when people read this, they focus on the word “quiet” as the problematic one in the sentence. Echoing Pascal, quiet isn't the problem, it is the inability to accept the quiet that leads to the desperation. We don't need to change our environs as much as change ourselves, because as Anaïs Nin wrote, “We see things not as they are, but as we are.”... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 3 minutes 10 seconds

In the center of Igatpuri village is a street market. Vendors sit at stalls and sell their produce. Because every vendor sits in the same location, everyone knows what they sell. So all they need announce is the price. They don’t try to out shout one another. They take turns. This creates a sort of chant, a back and forth. Except for the Hindi, it’s a revival meeting in rural Alabama. At the main corner of the market are the banana sellers. First time there, I thought “do rupee” was the Hindi word for banana.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 2 minutes 56 seconds

We needn't pause to figure out our next step in life. Life, real life, is there in the pause, in the quagmire of conflicting choices. We then choose one route and look for signs that this is the correct way to go. No doubt. “I have a good feeling about this” is more a sense of relief about finally choosing one route than a certainty that this route has been swept clean and is devoid of IEDs. Even the best choices cough up hairballs of unforeseen consequences. narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 4 minutes 04 seconds

Most everyone is possessed by their possessions. I know people who are owned by their pets. I know others who build heated garages for their prized automobiles. My aunt bequeathed me an old rocking chair to which she added the caveat that I never change its mauve covering. In those years, I moved almost every year and carried that rocker to each apartment until its springs went and you couldn't sit in it without receiving a full rectal examination. And if you think about it almost everyone carries within themselves their own version of the mauve rocker,... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 4 minutes 32 seconds

I remember a Sayadaw (respected teacher) who lived in a remote monastery in upper Burma in the vicinity of Sagaing Hills. He was elderly and blind and very much loved. I visited him, excited to both meet a living legend and pay my respects. I was told to wait until he went for his evening walk when he would be with his attendant who could serve as a translator.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 5 minutes 43 seconds

I volunteered with Mother Theresa at her Sisters of Charity palliative care hostel in Calcutta. My service was to help with the lunch meal as well as a certain undefined “nursing.” The hostel was smaller than I had expected and the number of volunteers fewer than I had hoped. I thought a larger cohort would allow me a few days to get my bearings. That was not to be the case.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 5 minutes 09 seconds

Two more salient points about mettā. Mettā must be tempered by wisdom. There is a parable from India of a kind man who came upon a frog in the middle of a busy road. Concerned that the frog might be crushed under the wheels of a bullock cart and feeling uncomfortable leaving him to his fate, he gently picked him up and transferred him safely to the side of the road from whence he had come.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 3 minutes 32 seconds

Mettā is a Pāli word meaning loving-kindness. As the mind deconditions, many positive mind states arise. The emergence of these so-called divine abodes had been held back by the continually self-reinforcing habitual patterns that you thought defined you.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 6 minutes 14 seconds

In Maharashtra a few decades ago, my elderly meditation teacher was delivering his evening discourse when a deranged sādhu rushed at him from the back of the hall. The sādhu screamed incoherently and thrashed his arms about, ready to strike him. My teacher stopped his talk…and closed his eyes. He remained seated.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 3 minutes 06 seconds

In her book, Educated, about growing up in a survivalist Mormon family where school was not an option and daily manual labor a necessity, Tara Westover relates how she found herself standing on a rooftop in England during a windstorm.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 3 minutes 43 seconds

Friendship. Where would we be without our friends? This is true for the homeless alcoholic who followed his friends’ lead, quit school, took to the road, lived high and free until he lost his health, his integrity, and the courage to turn his life around. And this is true for most of the titans of Silicon Valley who succeeded thanks to friends.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 3 minutes 43 seconds

An old proverb says that “as a man thinketh, so he is.” I’d like to alter this somewhat and proclaim that “as a man is conditioned, so he is.” Oft-repeated behaviors, beliefs, views, and thought patterns define who we seem to be. This we feel is carved in stone, because we feel comfortable with what is familiar.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 2 minutes 26 seconds

One time I chose to simply live in a small guesthouse on Gnat Agi Pagoda Road in Bahan Township in Burma. I would forego all travel. Across from my guesthouse was a tea shop from which I could watch all of Burma, past and present, pass by. Further down the road was a stitcher lady who would alter and repair my longyis. And behind her was a monastery where I could meditate.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 2 minutes 44 seconds

Matthew 21:22 promises us, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, ye shall receive.” Now I grant you that few people read the Bible these days, perhaps because they took Matthew too literally. But it doesn't matter, because today the good news of the Bible has been replaced by the Gospel according to Wellness. Pursuit of a good life has been replaced by the pursuit of the perfect life. “Everything ye pursue to become better, smarter, buffer, younger, more assertive, more caring, more inclusive, more diverse leads thee to a perfect life.”... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 5 minutes 37 seconds

Our cottage is on a small lake on the Canadian Shield. Our shoreline is very rocky, with large boulders deposited there as the glaciers retreated 10,000 years ago. Amazingly this shoreline provides sufficient sustenance for trees to grow and, in their own way, thrive. They protrude out perpendicularly from crevices between the rocks before turning upwards to catch a modicum of sunlight and spread their gnarly majesty.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 2 minutes 58 seconds

One summer I drove a truck for an oil company. Two of us installed the oil tanks for furnaces in the basement of houses. It was dirty work. The basements were often unheated. They were seldom clean. One day, it was particularly cold and rainy. We entered through the back door into the kitchen. On my way to the basement stairs I came upon the owners, two unwed older sisters having a breakfast of tea and toast. The tea had just been poured, and... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 4 minutes 51 seconds

Doing non-doing deconditions the mind so that a happy life, defined by the Stoics as true, virtuous, and natural, arises like a phoenix from the ashes of the conditioned mind. Since the real shift is within you, your new life may retain all the appearances of your old life. After all, the difference, they say, between heaven and hell is a mere sixteenth of an inch, surely an imperceptible amount of change in the grand scheme of things.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 4 minutes 22 seconds

In Korea it is considered rude to speak immediately after someone else has just spoken. Korean culture demands a slight pause to indicate the listeners have fully digested and appreciated the input. It gives them pause for thought. This promotes civilized dialogue in which everyone’s view is respected. It also calms blind reactions to some perceived fault in the argument. A pause is a conscious decision to... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 2 minutes 31 seconds

Years ago, when I would walk around my house late at night after everyone else was asleep, it felt like I had always lived there. I liked that it felt that way. As my oldest son said when he was three, “It feels as perfect as right.” I knew where the hardwood floors creaked, and I avoided those spots so I wouldn’t wake the baby who, like me, was a light sleeper. My wife and my five-year-old, he of the aphorism above, slept the sleep of the dead. I could drop a refrigerator on the creaky spots and they wouldn't stir.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 4 minutes 24 seconds

I loved the water buffalo I encountered in India. Despite their girth and their horns, they were very gentle creatures. They calmly abided all and sundry afflictions, heat, mosquitoes, and monsoon rains without so much as a by-your-leave. Other than whisking away unwanted bitey things with their tails, they endured, and they did so ever so calmly.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 2 minutes 29 seconds

I loved to go fishing with my father, because he was a terrible fisherman. He never caught anything. I was fine with this. I didn't like to put a worm on the hook. I didn't like taking the hook out of the fish's mouth, and I certainly couldn't bash the head of the fish against the seat of the boat to kill it.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 5 minutes 47 seconds

I think there is a place in our lives for tradition and even ritual. They keep our lives simple and understandable. In our family we have pancakes every Sunday and tea every evening. We go for walks together. We spend a month every summer at our cottage. We watch a movie every Friday night.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 4 minutes 14 seconds

The summer after high school, Tony, his younger brother Chris, and I set out in an old Vauxhall held together with spit and bailing wire for points west on the Trans-Canada Highway. We camped the entire way and cooked over an open fire. Once we reached the Pacific, we headed south to the Oregon hills before turning east and eventually home and university. On the way we camped near Mount Rushmore, hoping to see the famous presidential sculptures the next morning.... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2023 · 4 minutes 22 seconds

Bhante Rahula and I would meditate outside on some very flat but hard boulders because that summer was particularly hot. On this particular day, I crossed my legs and straightened my spine as usual. I closed my eyes, and almost immediately I felt nothing but subtle vibrating throughout my entire being. It appeared I had dissolved into pulsations. I felt no solidity. I had become a... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 3 minutes 00 seconds

"How to Find More Psychological Stability in an Unstable Time: The Role of Meditation" is an online Zoom talk by Paul R. Fleischman given on November 10th, 2022, co-sponsored by Connecticut Vipassana, Being Well at Yale, Good Life Center, MCDB DEI Committee, New Haven Library, Hindu Life at Yale, Buddhist Life at Yale, South Asian Studies Council, New Haven Insight and Woodbridge Town Library. This was his fifth talk about Vipassana given to the greater New Haven and Yale communities. Paul R. Fleischman · facilitated by Danielle Casioppo · 2022 · 1 hour

The more I investigate and dissect what I focus my attention on with clear comprehension, the more apparent becomes the changing nature of the mind and body. I don’t have to chase away any uncomfortable feelings or pains with alcohol or drugs or various distractions. I am less inclined to succumb to their whispered promise to stop being the person I am for this one evening and become... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 5 minutes 06 seconds

On my way to school one bitterly cold winter's day, I passed a house in the early stages of being built. The workers were framing the roof. The wind was howling, the snow was blowing, and they kept at it because that is what we all must do. We choose our path…roofer, physicist, or, like me, a solo contemplative on a hilltop in India. But we hone our craft every day, even... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 2 minutes 45 seconds

Pariyatti Presents...a panel discussion about "Maintaining Your Meditation Practice at Home: Helpful Supports and Challenges" recorded on November 13, 2022. The panel consists of meditators in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin as taught by S.N. Goenka moderated by Paul R. Fleischman. The panelists (Michal Barnea Astrog, Wayne Smith, Kory Goldberg and Marta Van Patten) share their experiences based on the questions "What helps you with your daily meditation at home?" and "What are the difficulties that you face with your meditation at home?" Michal Barnea Astrog, Wayne Smith, Kory Goldberg and Marta Van Patten · facilitated by Paul R. Fleischman · 2022 · 1 hour

I was too thin to have good quality clothes fit me well. When I wore a suit, my head looked too small. When I turned my head while wearing a collar and tie, neither collar nor tie moved. Like a compass, my tie always pointed north. If it weren't for the sleeves, I could perform a full 360-degree rotation without my suit getting a wrinkle. But in the end,... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 5 minutes 01 seconds

To be a Buddhist is to be a Stoic and to be a Stoic is to be a Buddhist. Neither is a religion. Mere belief in their precepts holds no purchase. Reciting them every morning proves futile. Both speak of universal truths and natural laws that govern human and social behavior. Both schools are empirical, which is to say they are evidence-based. And that itself is grounded or tested, even, on one’s own experience. They both conclude that... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 5 minutes 28 seconds

This is a Pariyatti Presents... interview with Bill Crecelius, the author of A Meditator's Handbook, Vipassana teacher and practiioner of Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. The interview is followed by a 30-minute Q&A session, where he answers selected questions from the audience. Bill Crecelius · interviewed by Marta Van Patten · 2022 · 1 hour 29 minutes

From my small hut atop a hill in Maharashtra, I could watch the farmers on the plains below. Late afternoon was my favorite time of day. The cow dust hour, it was called, and for good reason. The cows kicked up reddish dust as they were herded home from the pastures. The farmers sang... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 2 minutes 13 seconds

When someone says hello to me in Korean, I invariably reply “kamsahamnida.” My response is immediate and trips naturally off my tongue. Unfortunately “kamsahamnida” does not mean “hello.” It means, “thank you.” But I don’t care. To my ear, “kamsahamnida” sounds like a greeting. It sounds more like a... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 3 minutes 39 seconds

This is a Pariyatti Presents... interview with the Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi on September 18, 2022. Ven. Bodhi discusses topics such as how he became a monk, how he started his Pāli translation work, the challenges encountered, social engagement as a monk (while running the charity Buddhist Global Relief), and right speech. The interview is followed by a 30-minute Q&A session, where he answers selected questions from the audience. Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi · interviewed by Kory Goldberg · 2022 · 1 hour 32 minutes

I like to bake bread. Actually, the bread bakes itself; I simply facilitate the process. I add the flour to the yeast and water. I then knead the mixture, but even in this most tactile of experiences I am more an engaged observer than a creator. Kneading continues until the mixture reveals to my hands and fingers that the mixture is well kneaded. I do not know how long this takes,... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 2 minutes 14 seconds

Because we aren't trying to get better or happier or stronger or wealthier, our life advice no longer needs to come from style gurus and lifestyle coaches. (What is a lifestyle anyway? And why does it need coaching?) Of course, we aren't trying to get sadder or weaker or poorer either. We are simply living a more unconditioned life, a more honest life, more content with our lot. We have not exchanged one overtly conditioned mindset for another,... narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 5 minutes 05 seconds

This is an interview with Klaus Nothnagel, Pāli teacher, author, and creator of the online Pāli courses "Exploring the Path" and "Buddhasahassanamavali." Klaus Nothnagel · interviewed by Marta Van Patten · 2022 · 1 hour 32 minutes

When I was young, we were a family of four living in a small apartment. At the time, especially as a teenager, I bemoaned my lot in life and wished I lived in a far grander home like a few of my friends. narrated by Ian McCrorie · 2022 · 5 minutes 16 seconds