Hi, this is the first post of the IDC Project blog. Things are coming together slowly, so apologies if you’re looking for something and it’s not there yet. Contact me if you’re looking for something.
Along with welcoming visitors, I thought I’d take this opportunity to thank various teachers, individuals, and groups who made this project possible.
First, I’d like to thank Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and Lama Lena Feral. These teachers are responsible for the foundation of truth on which this work is based. Without them, I wouldn’t have the insight, knowledge or courage to do any of this. I’d also like to thank a number of other influential teachers: Lama John Makransky, Dirk De Klerk, Matthew Flickstein, Ben Worth, Amma Thanasanti and Lama Tsultrim Allione for their teachings and influence over the years. Further, last but not least among teachers to thank, none of this would be possible without Bhadantacariya Buddhaghosa. It’s absurd to think any teaching or teacher does it alone. I certainly haven’t.
I’d also like to thank many others who have helped in the creation of this project. First, the Wednesday Death Contemplation group which has been instrumental in discussing, trying, and workshopping many of these contemplations. It is because of them that I began to understand these contemplations as a teacher. Likewise, Karin Meyers for her talk that inspired this project, Dr Jamie Hubbard, Jean Esther, and the Long River Tai Chi group for nudging me to do more, the Insight Meditation Community of Western Massachusetts for giving me a platform to teach this stuff, as well as Sophia Ungar for building this website (and being extremely patient with me.)
There are many others I could name. For now, this is my list. Thank you all!
I’ll be back with more posts soon.
