Mindfulness and meditation, rooted in ancient Buddhist and Eastern teachings, are experiencing a modern renaissance. This resurgence is propelled by renowned meditation teachers who have reintroduced these profound practices to the Western world after years of deep study in Asia. At The Mindful Steward, we delve into how these practices have been transformed and integrated […] The post 16 Of The Most Respected Meditation Teachers Of Modern Day appeared first on THE MINDFUL STEWARD.| THE MINDFUL STEWARD
Paul Deussen understands very well that the first teaching of Advaita Vedanta is viveka–discrimination, separation, or telling apart. What is to be told apart from what? Deussen writes, “This aim [in essence, moksha] the Vedanta reaches by separating from the soul (the Self, atman) everything that is not soul, not Self, and is only transferred […]| Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
Proposition 1: The Observer Observation implies an observer. Argument: It must be established that all objective experiences are simply observations. Initially, it may seem as if a thought, a feeling, a sensation, or a perception is, somehow, just an independently existing event. But this is not true. A little reflection shows that a sight never […]| Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
Where is there existence, where is non-existence; where is unity, where is duality? What need is there to say more? Nothing emanates from me. –Janaka, Astavakra Samhita The Ashtakvakra Samhita ends gloriously with this verse from Janaka. It is, indeed, a statement about ajata vada. Hence, it is the ultimate teaching. In direct experience of […]| Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
In Astavakra Samhita, Astavakra states, “Cultivate indifference to everything” (X.1). With the help of the direct path teaching of Atmananda, we can easily grasp what “everything” means. By “everything,” we mean “experience” or “direct experience.” When we ask, “What sorts?” we then come to a very simple, and provisional, taxonomy: perceptions (the world); sensations (the […]| Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
The opening verse of Drig Drisha Viveka states: Form is the seen, the eye is the seer; that eye is the seen, and mind is its seer; thoughts in the mind are seen by the Witness which alone is the Seer, but can never be the seen. —Drig Drisha Viveka, trans. and commentary by […]| Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
Ramana Maharshi’s “Who am I?” is such a wonderful text. Consider just one brief line of inquiry. A Dialogical Summary His interlocutor asks him about when Self-realization will occur (Question 4). Not until the idea that the world is real has been removed, replies Bhagavan. There can’t be?, queries the disciple. Nope, says Bhagavan. Why […]| Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
The reason our ego disappears when we investigate it in this way is that it does not actually exist even now, but merely seems to exist when we are looking elsewhere instead of at ourself alone. –Michael James, in reference to the teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi (my emphasis) There’s something very peculiar about the […]| Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
Michael James has written a number of excellent long form essays (for example, here and here) about the ajata doctrine, the highest or ultimate nondual teaching according to Gaudapada, Ramana Mahar…| Andrew Taggart, Ph.D.
Levels of stress and worry have increased globally in recent years. This emotional strain paired with workplace pressures can negatively affect employee wellbeing and be detrimental to an organization’s performance. [...] Read More... from Meditation Without Expectations™: A novel meditation program The post <strong>Meditation Without Expectations™:</strong> A novel meditation program appeared first on Research Outreach.| Research Outreach
Book blurb: "In Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, Dan Harris and his friend Jeff Warren, a masterful teacher and “Meditation MacGyver,” embark on a cross-country quest to tackle the myths, misconceptions, and self-deceptions that stop people from meditating." Click to read book's marketing description, plus my commentary. The post Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics appeared first on Jeff Warren.| Jeff Warren
Think about a time when you were most in the zone, most in flow – not only with some central object of concentration, but with the whole wide world around you. The post At the Still Point appeared first on Jeff Warren.| Jeff Warren
When it comes to meditation, the CEC has a split-focus: we explore meditation as a life skill, and we explore meditation as a transformative path. Although each may use the same technique, they involve two very different approaches and intentions.| Jeff Warren
Following up my talk on psychedelics and mysticism, Osheen Dayal of the Canadian branch of MAPS just interviewed me on …Continue reading →| Love of All Wisdom
In this poem, Mel Waldman considers life and its tribulations over coffee. The post Before Erev Yom Kippur appeared first on The Lehrhaus.| The Lehrhaus
And since what we're doing is the activity of the bodhisattva of compassion, while we're doing this let's also chant the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, which we were doing before. We'll just do it a little softer. We're continuing the tonglen, so we have to leave enough room to breathe in, to breathe in all that suffering. The post Brahmaviharas and Tonglen appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
Meditation Nonduality and the Ego with Jake Orthwein - Deconstructing Yourself| Deconstructing Yourself
In a noisy, chaotic world, today’s guest shows us how to breathe deep, slow down, and invite God into every moment. Prayer isn’t just words for Christians. It’s the heartbeat of a life anchored in Jesus. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Z sits down with Sarah Molitor, wife, mom of seven, and author of Any Given […] The post Any Given Moment: Prayer Changes Everything | Sarah Molitor appeared first on Natural Living Family | A Bible Health Ministry.| Natural Living Family | A Bible Health Ministry
Thank you for indulging in my year of discussing how mental health issues showed up in my life and how I’ve managed to become a healthier version of myself. I wanted to close out the year with a few resources that supported me over the past six years just in case you planned on working … Continue reading Mental Health Matters: Resources| K E Garland
Intro Dear friends, Welcome to our W3 Poetry Prompt, which goes live on Wednesdays at The Skeptic’s Kaddish. You may click here for a fuller explanation of W3; but here’s the ‘tld…| The Skeptic's Kaddish 🇮🇱
(or: meaning is antimemetic) I'm lying in my living room and my coffee table's freighted with stuff. Lots and lots of books, loose notecards, baggies, coasters, a hat, a plastic bag, a notebook, a water bottle, an XBOX controller, a couple shoe horns. So very much| Joe Cecil
I. Defining connection I seek connection but I don't know what it is and I want to. At a meditation retreat this summer, I attended a series of classes or workshops about "spacious connection." I've attended other similar courses with this group before. I've read a lot about social skills| Joe Cecil
There is an often neglected discipline in the Christian life: Meditation. Meditation should be the duty of every serious Christian man and woman. “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day …| Aliens and Pilgrims
These autumn afternoonsI find myself in the gardenstanding amongst the flowers.Not deadheading. Not weeding.Not harvesting. Not scanningfor aphids. Just standing therea few moments, hands hangingempty at my sides. It lasts onlya minute or two before I returnto work with a clarity, an attunement,that felt impossible before.I want to plant an inner garden.One I visit without […]| A Hundred Falling Veils
Discover the transformative power of silence as a path to presence, clarity, and inner strength. Embrace stillness to awaken wisdom and authentic power.| Life Inspiration
It's a pretty good deal.| mindbodygreen RSS Feed
[Epistemic Status: Speculating on a key implementation detail within the paradigm of the Brain as a Non-Linear Optical Computer (BaaNLOC) – specifically, how the optical function of beam splitting could be used to compose the contents of a conscious simulation scene with principles of cel animation and holography. In particular, this may explain both how […]| Qualia Computing
The Off-Season WLC Skill Practices are mini-challenges intended to help you fine-tune different aspects of your health and wellness. Offered between Challenges, these weekly practices address fitness, nutrition, stress reduction, productivity, and personal connection — because health is about far more than food and the gym (and we could all use a little practice) Take a 10-Minute Walk Alone Each Day This Week Simple Instructions: For the next seven days, take a 10-minute walk each day (with...| Whole Life Challenge
I have always hated yoga. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate that it could help me with nagging hip pain and do wonders for my general state of mind. But I have found every single second I have spent practicing it to be excruciating. My body aches and complains of discomfort, but worst of all is my mind. To refer to my mind during yoga as a “monkey” would be an understatement.… The post 5 Unexpected Ways to Achieve the Benefits of Mindfulness appeared first on Whole Life Challenge.| Whole Life Challenge
The Off-Season WLC Skill Practices are mini-challenges intended to help you fine-tune different aspects of your health and wellness. Offered between Challenges, these weekly practices address fitness, nutrition, stress reduction, productivity, and personal connection — because health is about far more than food and the gym (and we could all use a little practice). Get Up 30 Minutes Early Every Day This Week Simple Instructions: Each day, set your alarm to wake you 30 minutes earlier than no...| Whole Life Challenge
Mindfulness is growing rapidly, but there's one thing missing from the conversation that helps make meditation a habit that sticks, Ed Halliwell writes. The post The One Thing You Can Do to Make Meditation a Habit appeared first on Mindful.| All Articles About Mindful Living Skills - from Mindful.org
In this guided meditation, Kim Armstrong walks you through a simple practice to expand your capacity for gratitude in the everyday moments of life. The post A 12-Minute Meditation for Cultivating Daily Gratitude appeared first on Mindful.| All Articles About Mindful Living Skills - from Mindful.org
When your schedule (and your mind) never seem to rest, here are three simple ways to feel more present in everyday life that don't take much time.| Mindful
Learning how to be present with an un-agitated heart. Meditation teaches us to be wiser with what’s difficult. Embodying our meditative practice by learning how to stop and see clearly.| Michael Stone
Michael offers a talk on the teachings of the insentient, how the snow and silence can hold hidden lessons. Can you give attention to the way the insentient teaches us?| Michael Stone
Take a moment to notice where in your body this emotional state or mood is most present. What physical sensations let you know that you're experiencing this feeling? See if you can observe how the emotion shows up in your body—how it's expressed through sensation and physical experience. Recorded December 2017. The Awake in the World podcast is brought to you by the generosity of our amazing Patreon supporters, making it possible for us to keep Michael's archive of teachings ava| Michael Stone
On a flight recently, I found myself talking to the passenger next to me. It took me a while to initiate; I wanted to speak up and had plenty of opportunity, but something held me back. But I did end up talking to him, and I found a particular approach| Joe Cecil
I read a fair number of meditation books. In the last three years since I started meditating, I read about 15-18 such books. Searchless Responsiveness is one of the densest. It has five "interstitials" — stream -of-consciousness interludes between themed sections. These are a page or two long,| Joe Cecil
Amid these times of continuous disruption and tumultuous change upon change, what defines a Future-fit Leader is the capacity to ‘dance with change’ rather than struggle against it. The good news is that the wisdom we need to thrive amid rising complexity is all around and within us, accessible for free, at any time, and […]| The Nature of Business
Meditation is to the mind what aerobic exercise is to the body. The post Meditate first appeared on Rick Hanson, PhD.| Rick Hanson, PhD
What are the Lurianic Kabbalistic intentions? How do Lurianic kavvanot work and how does one read the baroque pictorial notations of a Lurianic siddur? This is a very technical interview, very deta…| The Book of Doctrines and Opinions:
Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday from Loch Eigheach and a peaceful rest of the week, with love from Xenia xxx Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr. Wordless Wednesday Xingfu Mama’s Whatsoever is Lovely Challenge 2025 Week 35 Jez Braithwaite’s Water Water Everywhere #278| Tranature
Stepping onto the English shore after the Norway voyage, I thought of Prema Chödrön’s words in Embracing the Unknown. She writes that the uncertainty of transition is not to be feared, but welcomed — for it is in that open space, the Bardo, that transformation begins. Tibetan teaching describes Bardo as the state between deathContinue reading "Embracing the Unknown: A Reading in Bardo by Pema Chödrön"| Rebecca's Reading Room
By keeping things fun, interesting, and consistent for youngsters, we can make mindfulness a lasting part of our children's lives. The post Solving the Attention Crisis Through Mindfulness appeared first on Centre for Mindfulness Studies.| Centre for Mindfulness Studies
Happy New Year! To start off 2024 I wanted to write a slightly different type post. This post will include five of my favorite self-care tools that have been part…| Acupuncture & Dry Needling, Santa Monica, CA
Join Nassim Haramein as he merges spirituality with physics, redefining our understanding of consciousness and the universe. In this episode, we explore the profound impact of visualization and the uncharted territories of human evolution.| The Mindvalley Podcast With Vishen Lakhiani | Listen Now
Meditation Talking about Deity Yoga with Peter McEwen - Deconstructing Yourself| Deconstructing Yourself
I am never upset for the reason I think. ~A Course in MiraclesWhat happens when we feel disturbed? The mind starts thinking. Emotions flood the body with sensation. At least that is what happened to| Galen Pearl
Here’s the scoop on mindful movement, why it works, and how you can use it at any time to reset your mind and body. Stress can build up in both... The post Mindful Movements to Reset Your Mind and Body Anytime appeared first on Mile High Fitness & Wellness.| Mile High Fitness & Wellness
Staying healthy takes consistency. Real wellness includes movement, nutrition, rest, and mindset. These four areas work together every day, whether you’re at home or on the clock. At Mile High,... The post Covering the 4 Pillars of Health at Home and Work appeared first on Mile High Fitness & Wellness.| Mile High Fitness & Wellness
Every team grows in stages…some growth is just getting started. Other teams are working through tension. Some are performing at a high level but may be close to burnout. Wherever... The post Workplace Wellness Tips for the 4 Team Growth Stages appeared first on Mile High Fitness & Wellness.| Mile High Fitness & Wellness
A positive workplace experience is no longer defined by a paycheck and a desk. Today’s employees expect more from their jobs: connection, energy, flexibility, and support for their well-being. Fitness... The post The Role of Fitness in Shaping Workplace Experience appeared first on Mile High Fitness & Wellness.| Mile High Fitness & Wellness
In this Best of Awake in the World epside Michael introduces Case 12 of the Mumonkon, "The Master". He ties waking up with social action and the teachings of the Burmese Monks who visited the evening prior. A funny and lively talk with practices you can use in your life. Recorded Oct 5, 2010. The Awake in the World podcast is brought to you by the generosity of our amazing Patreon supporters, making it possible for us to keep Michael's archive of teachings available to the public.| Michael Stone
It’s now a truism that the business, societal and civilizational landscape is radically changing under foot. So too are the life conditions for all species of life on Earth. This context R…| The Nature of Business
In a comical twist of irony, as I sit down to write about quietness, my house is anything but quiet. Sounds of bathtime shenanigans echo down the stairs to my desk, shattering the calm that I so long for at the end of a busy day. For some of us, quiet moments are hard to … Continue reading The Power of Quiet→| Bible Study Nerd
Solar Plexus Chakra healing is essential because the Solar Plexus Chakra is one of the most commonly blocked chakras.| Learning Mind
The article describes a few practical superpowers and what types of meditation should be applied in order for you to attain your own strengths.| Learning Mind
A moon garden is a mystical space that embraces the darkness and contains bright white plants and those that only bloom at night.| Garden Therapy
Social anxiety disorder is characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. People with social| Life Care Wellness
We don’t like the mess we have gotten ourselves into. This is a fact of life. The lie of the snake in the Garden was that we could make ourselves […] The post Make Your Complaint and Thank Him appeared first on GGWO Church Baltimore.| GGWO Church Baltimore
Sure. This is the dream. Husband plays video games in the next room and my phone keeps buzzing with notifications I'll just pretend to ignore. Classic Tuesday night in our house. Three years ago, I thought being a Christian wife meant having it all figured out by now. You know—morning devotions with perfectly highlighted Bible verses, praying together before bed, and definitely not stress-eating Target cookies while wondering if God actually cares about my grocery budget. Plot twist: I don'...| Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods
Good. Continuing to come from the core, to come from the source, to come from radiant awakeness itself, the unmanifest, the infinitely, boundlessly, spacious, notice that this energy of awakeness is loving and joyous, it's previous to manifestation, it's previous to all problems. Its mood is exuberant celebration, creative joy, and love without limit. It does not say no to anyone or anything. And so, tune into that love and joy, and feel the energy of it. Feel the energy of it radiating out f...| Deconstructing Yourself
Meditation Talking about Dark Retreat, Part 2 with Andrew Holecek - Deconstructing Yourself| Deconstructing Yourself
It’s remarkable how unexpected connections occur sometimes. During the COVID pandemic, when we were still living in Kamakura, I was hiking in the hills above the coast and ran into an older American who turned out to be a Catholic nun. She’d had a fascinating life in Japan working for the Maryknoll Sisters, who devote their lives to charitable service around the world.| Randomwire
Learn simple mindful movements you can do anytime to release tension, improve focus, and reset your mind and body.| Mile High Fitness & Wellness
The popularity of meditation is skyrocketing. Today, people use it to relieve anxiety and stress. Read these must-know meditation stats for more info.| Learn Digital Marketing
reflections on a magical time called the hour of anticipation| SONYA KASSAM
In this week’s guided meditation, mindfulness educator Diana Winston walks us through a body scan meditation that’s perfect for those evenings when you need extra support winding down.| Mindful
In this Best of episode Michael describes how the Buddha met fear, mapping out how concentration practice unfolds, then offers a mind-opening view of rebirth and reincarnation.| Michael Stone
During a workshop in France, Michael teaches on the 3 characteristics — a teaching found in both the Yoga and Buddhist traditions. This talk is in both French and English. Recorded in Antibes, France, on October 26, 2013. The Awake in the World podcast is brought to you by the generosity of our amazing Patreon supporters, making it possible for us to keep Michael's archive of teachings available to the public. To become a patron, visit: patreon.com/michaelstone.| Michael Stone
What happens when you have a simple mindfulness practice that you can rely on? Something you can pull out on demand, when you feel yourself starting to lose it and you absolutely need to be grounded and calm? Here’s a story from one of my students, and how a simple practice has made a massive … Continue reading How to melt claustrophobia and panic.→| Kim Nicol
Chronic stress, substance abuse, and depression are common career pitfalls for attorneys. These can lead to burnout and malpractice, damaging an attorney’s health and career. I’ve been a lawyer since 2005, and I’m still surprised by how many attorneys shrug their shoulders in defeat and accept this a matter of course. “That’s just how it is. What … Continue reading The secrets to success that most attorneys miss.→| Kim Nicol
For most of my life I completely dismissed meditation as boring rubbish. Sure, it was ok for the hippies, flakes, and losers — but I was a real person, with a real job and a real life! Who has time to meditate? And why on earth would you want to sit around and do. . . nothing? … Continue reading (Meh)ditation→| Kim Nicol
Imagine you put on a pair of shoes. They don’t fit quite right. But you keep wearing them anyway, for whatever reason. And after a while, your feet begin to hurt. What do you do? Maybe you say to yourself, “Huh, these are the wrong shoes. I thought they were good for me, but I was wrong. … Continue reading The wrong shoes.→| Kim Nicol
I used to have this image in my mind of what meditation looked like: sitting quietly on the floor, doing nothing. And this seemed so terribly. . . boring. So it’s no surprise that meditation never interested me. Until I learned that it could look quite different. You could sit in a chair, for instance. … Continue reading What meditation looks like.→| Kim Nicol
Last fall I recorded a talk on Sustainable Success, produced by Continuing Education of the Bar. It was directed at lawyers, who often wonder if being successful means having to give up their health, personal and family life. Given the high rates of substance abuse, depression, and suicide within the profession, this is a real issue. It is no accident … Continue reading Good news for lawyers and law students.→| Kim Nicol
It’s one thing to read about meditation, and a completely different matter to actually experience it for yourself. So I’ve made a fun challenge for you to try. Here are the basic rules: Listen to this 5-minute guided meditation. Write down one word about your experience. Do this five times over the course of a week or so. … Continue reading 5 words.→| Kim Nicol
We all need to drop by the oasis from time to time. That’s where you gather your strength, rest and reflect, and replenish yourself. Because no matter how strong or determined you are, if yo…| Kim Nicol
When the world feels upside-down, it might seem counterintuitive to turn inward to create change. But that's exactly what meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg says we should do.| www.kqed.org
Sleep Deprivation is something that affects people all over the globe. According to recent research, 35-50% of adults worldwide regularly experience insomnia symptoms. Unfortunately, we often don't help ourselves when it comes to our sleep.| yogajala
Guest post by Rebecca Muir, LSW originally posted February, 2022 What if there was an all-natural vitamin that did all the following: • minimized| Life Care Wellness
Now, in this place of vast, open, awareness, ask yourself this question: What is peace? Don't answer the question with the machinery of your thinking, or with a memory or some kind of cleverness. Look into the sky of your own awareness, and see if there is peace. What is peace? The post Inquiry into the Open Sky appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
Meditation Being the Stillness - Deconstructing Yourself| Deconstructing Yourself
What is Yoga Nidra? It’s a magical practice often translated as “yogic sleep.” Here’s what you need to know about Yoga Nidra + how to properly practice it.| YouAligned™
REALITY: Thoughts are not the challenge. It is believing your thoughts that can lead to problems….. Somewhere, somehow, it got into our minds that this equation is true — meditation = no thoughts And perhaps, that is the end goal. But for most of us, it is not our current truth! If you are new to meditation, that is […]| At The Core
Happy summer, Philadelphia! With 10,000 acres of parks to explore, we hope everyone will take advantage of long summer days (and warm evenings!) to enjoy Philadelphia’s incredible public parks. That’s why we’ve compiled the 2025 Summer Series – a season of free and low-cost outdoor programs designed to bring people together and encourage Philadelphians toRead More The post Yoga, hikes, dancing and more: Free park activities in July and August! appeared first on Fairmount Park Conser...| Fairmount Park Conservancy
Learn more about On Presence & Vision: Join Me Live on Zoom here. Read this article and download our Free Resources at Nadia Colburn . %| Nadia Colburn
A community talk at Tassajara Monastery with Michael Stone & Zen teacher Paul Haller. They each share some of their biography and field Q&A about practice. Paul shares from his 40 years of Zen practice. Recorded at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery, California. The Awake in the World podcast is brought to you by the generosity of our amazing Patreon supporters, making it possible for us to keep Michael's archive of teachings available to the public. To become a patron, visit: pat| Michael Stone
Keep Holding On How long can you hold your breath for? Is it over two minutes? Pretty impressive–now imagine holding your breath for that long while sinking deeper and deeper below the dark depths …| NeuWrite San Diego
The state of meditation is, we could say, where we are 'Present in the moment, for no reason, without intending to be'. This is a delightfully simple and uncontrived (necessarily uncontrived) situation, therefore - it's not complicated (or sophisticated) at all. There couldn't actually be a simpler (or ‘less contrived’)…| Intrinsicspace.me
I just had my longest, and also one of my best, seated meditations. The reason it was so lovely was that I finally gave up on using a timer. Instead, I start...| Literally the Void
On May 15, Harry Falk announced on the Indology mailing list that Johannes Bronkhorst had “left this world”. In the following weeks the mailing list (and, I am sure, other online forums) has been virtually monopolised by people remembering the man and his endless contributions to Sanskrit studies and connected fields. In fact, Johannes has been extremely prolific (Greater Magadha was written in just one semester!) and his contributions have been impactful with almost no comparison.| The Indian Philosophy Blog
If you have been feeling ungrounded, out of balance, and fatigued, hematite affirmations can support you in creating balance, stability, and grounding.| All the Crystals
Can meditation change your biology? A new study suggests so. Researchers found that practicing yoga nidra not only reduces stress and improves mood but also alters the daily rhythm of the stress hormone cortisol, highlighting a powerful mind-body connection.| PsyPost - Psychology News
Meditation The Ego and Nondual Meditation - Deconstructing Yourself| Deconstructing Yourself
I’ve developed a structured meditation technique designed to enhance meta-cognitive control and attentional flexibility. It’s called BSBM Meditation, short for Body Scanning, Breath, and Mantra. This approach weaves together three core practices—body scanning, breath awareness, and mantra repetition—into a single, cohesive routine. Optionally, it can be followed by a phase of reflective meditation, as outlined … Continue reading ✨BSBM Meditation: A Multi-Anchor Practice for Meta-C...| CogZest
Support 4 stages of team growth with a wellness strategy that fits. Learn how to improve energy, focus, and connection at work throughout.| Mile High Fitness & Wellness
Nothing needs to be refused. Let the breath travel the body without picking up speed. The clouds of thought haul across the sky. Let them come and go. Let the breath move the way blood moves: let it find its own rhythm.| Michael Stone
In this thoughtful and powerful talk, Michael unpacks the transformative act of sharing the untold stories—the ones that challenge the status quo. He weaves together pressing global issues like climate change, economic disparity, and the erosion of human connection, offering 12 actionable steps toward crafting a new narrative of what it means to live with purpose and presence.| Michael Stone