15:29:23 From Elizabeth Wood : Hi! I have a question, please, regarding equanimity.

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1 15:29:23 From Elizabeth Wood : Hi! I have a question, please, regarding equanimity. 15:34:22 From melorello : i also have a question about this 15:34:42 From jennahollenstein : I also think some of the language they use in Buddha s Brain is cooler than some of the warmer language a lot of Buddhist books use. 15:36:06 From Elizabeth Wood : yes, Jenna. I've noticed that too. 15:36:30 From jennahollenstein : Neuroscientists! 15:36:47 From Kimberley : Thanks, Jenna science vs spirit maybe :) 15:37:43 From jennahollenstein : Jon Kabat Zinn manages to stay warm while being scientifically accurate 15:37:49 From jennahollenstein : not an easy line to walk 15:38:10 From Kimberley : I have a semi-related question. 15:38:47 From Carrie Norton : have you found that you rediscovered your juice? 15:38:50 From janejensen : I can so relate to the lack of ups and downs and it being more even. Took some getting used to. 15:39:56 From Greg Bronswinkel : It seems meditation brings some sense of alonenes and a genuine mind of sadness to all experiences but is always also accompanied by tremendeous joy and confidence 15:41:07 From Jesse Combs : On p. 115 of Buddha's Brain is talks about the "the neutral feeling tone" coming about as practice deepens and the mind grows steadier. Is this a sort of goal to shoot for as we develop equanimity? 15:41:52 From emilybeaulieu : I can relate also, jane. It is lovely to feel even but did take adjustment because i was definitely used to that pendulum swing. 15:42:41 From janejensen : I used to be very type A, and I missed that person at first. I think I actually missed the stress it was such a big part of my life. I ve let that go now. 15:42:50 From lisaconsiglioryan : So with the regards to feeling flat, I think this is what I have been feeing lately. I m relatively new to meditation and am hoping to get to a state of balance. Thanks for bringing this to share, Mary Ellen. Greg, I believe I m feeling very alone and sad as I move through and it s comforting to know that joy and confidence is is also able to be felt in time. My heart feels so open and I m dealing with the vulnerability. 15:43:34 From jennahollenstein : Lisa, I still feel that way, but I also remember feeling this intensely when I first started practicing.

2 15:43:45 From emilybeaulieu : lisa, for me that vulnerability kind of comes in waves. i will have stretches where there is that genuine joy more often than not and then stretches where everything makes me weepy. 15:43:58 From emilybeaulieu : (this is a weepy week so far haha) 15:45:00 From janejensen : When I first started meditating regularly and dealing with the reality of impermanence, I had a long bout of what s the point. For me, this passed, but it took some time. 15:46:03 From Isabelle Taylor : Reallly great question! I have that happen all the time and I'm a huge introvert. :) 15:46:21 From melorello : Yes Jane! Same! Was type A the parts of my personality that vanished left a void. Lisa and Greg I have noticed a lonely feeling too - but I always know I prefer the current state to the type A state- 15:48:12 From Wini : Thank you Amanda. Pwerful offering. XO 15:48:52 From Sarah B : Thank you for sharing that Amanda, and for putting it so beautifully 15:48:53 From Berna Lee : Thank you Amanda, thats very great insight =) I feel it too 15:48:59 From Isabelle Taylor : Thank you, Amanda! That was such a brave and wonderful offering. 15:49:03 From emilybeaulieu : Thank you for sharing, Amanda :) 15:49:05 From Eléna Foucher : Thank you for sharing, Amanda. Lovely. 15:49:19 From melorello : beautiful, Amanda! 15:49:55 From Ashley : Thank you Amanda. I appreciate your sharing and the idea of a soft path. 15:50:15 From Jesse Combs : Thank you for your honesty and presence of mind Amanda! 15:50:26 From ariela.rosenstein : thank you amanda and jenna, your words really resonate. 15:50:26 From Kimberley : I love the term softer path than you Amanda! 15:50:28 From lisaconsiglioryan : Thank you everyone for your insights the flatness is extremely painful I feel as if I lost myself, I m not me. Amanda, may thanks for sharing with us, your softer, truer path and how that feels. 15:50:41 From Maureeen : yes, thank you Amanda 15:50:48 From Greg Bronswinkel : Beautifully expressed Amanda! Thank you so much for sharing that!

3 15:51:14 From melorello : tears of gratitude 15:55:18 From jennahollenstein : I think what Amanda was talking about also touches on our topic of renunciation, and letting go of the things that stand between us and our true experience and our relationships with others. 15:59:03 From susanbiggs : my cat always comes around when I meditate 15:59:04 From emilybeaulieu : wendy, that is most mornings with my cats who, i think, are convinced they re children! 15:59:31 From Kimberley : Cats are zen masters :) 15:59:38 From Jesse Combs : Makes me want to upgrade my OHP membership to acccess that Pets and Meditation forum! 15:59:45 From emilybeaulieu : ha! 15:59:54 From Wini : wendy sounds like your sweet dog is such a good teacher. <3 15:59:56 From Michele Gare : Ha - but good thought Jesse! 16:02:51 From wendy : Competence or confidence? 16:03:47 From Jack Beglin : Hi Jenna and Amanda there is a lot of wisdom in this ability to renounce the things that prevent us from living directly in the current of life - I find myself constantly repeating the same old behaviours and thougts that I know are no good for me even as I m doing them. It takes more effort to break these cycles of thought - behaviour in-order to jump into freshness, I myself am wrestling with this cocoon 16:04:09 From Kimberley : Confidence not competence 16:04:22 From jennahollenstein : We all are, Jack 16:04:46 From amandabray : ^ What Jenna said. 16:04:47 From Jack Beglin : : ) 16:04:53 From emilybeaulieu : Agreed, Jenna 16:05:27 From Jack Beglin : thanks for aknowlaging that, sometimes I feel like i m alone in these matters 16:06:22 From lisaconsiglioryan : We are with you on this, Jack!:) 16:06:38 From jennahollenstein : I know. It s so tricky. We all struggle and all think we are alone in that to some degree. This is why I think the practice and it s effect on our ability to be vulnerable and open while also having stability is so so important.

4 16:09:20 From janejensen : That s it, The Ben and Jerry s is going 16:09:46 From Berna Lee : =) =) 16:09:49 From Jesse Combs : Ben and Jerry's is the highest quality! 16:09:56 From jennahollenstein : exactly, Jesse! 16:10:08 From Kimberley : Nom nom nom... 16:10:09 From janejensen : Too much of a good thing for me. 16:12:31 From emilybeaulieu : This (step 4) has been a conscious effort of mine for the past 6mos-year. It does make a HUGE difference! 16:15:46 From joellebertolet : Emily, me, too. And it s made a difference in my quality of life that spills over to all aspects of my life. I felt a little guilty at first, but no more! 16:16:14 From emilybeaulieu : That is the hardest part the guilt about letting go of people or limiting time with those people. But over time it has gotten easier :) 16:18:21 From Wini : Susan mentioned this has to do with the container principle--thinking because these 5 steps help cocreate a space in which something of a higher energy can happen in? 16:25:29 From Elizabeth Wood : good manners show you care about another person :) 16:26:00 From Michele Sapanaro : RESPECT :-) 16:30:59 From jennahollenstein to Michele Gare(Privately) : i have a lot going on and am having difficulty focusing on this call. plus my last one wasn t good so I really want to hear her feedback and suggestions. 16:32:51 From wendy : It s wonderful to have you here Wini. It seems that you are right where you need to be. 16:34:18 From Kimberley : You rock, Wini!!! 16:35:18 From melorello : Wine you re awesome :) 16:35:32 From Jesse Combs : Thank YOU Wini! 16:35:34 From LauraCox : grateful you are here, Wini! 16:35:38 From lisaconsiglioryan : So grateful you are here, Wini! xo 16:36:23 From Jesse Combs : Yeah, I was wondering how to walk that line between being elegant and being perfect. 16:37:14 From Kimberley : Thank you Jen. I come up against this often. Thanks for sharing.

5 16:38:39 From Wini : Thank you everyone for your loving-kindness--it is so tender to recieve. I am most grateful. 16:39:41 From jennahollenstein : Talking about being ourselves, I am thinking of the documentary Crazy Wisdom about Chogyam Trungpa and how so many of his students described his greatest gift as just being himself with them. 16:39:51 From melorello : Wini I am so grateful for your example, I am dealing with health stuff and it can feel endless and disheartening. Thank you for being an example that his too shall pass, xo 16:40:08 From emilybeaulieu : To Jen regarding perfectionism I have been asked numerous times since before starting this class, to go teach meditation to clients at my work. (I work at a mens secure substance abuse program) Today, a counselor asked what the hangup was and I said I just wasn t ready yet. His response was that there is no perfect time and I should jump in because I will never be as perfect as I would like to be and they will be grateful for the presence that I offer. It is hard to let go of that need to be perfect, isn t it? 16:40:17 From Wini : Thank you Jen too--i can teach from Wini not as Susan/Jenna--I too was doing htat--trying to be who I was not :) 16:40:47 From Kimberley : Great perspective Emily! 16:44:34 From wendy : Susan, I notice that you listen very neutrally. I have a tendency to show every emotion on my face or to nod in agreement when listening. Does this detract from teaching/transmitting the practice? 16:45:40 From Isabelle Taylor : Hi! I'm all set for now. Thank you though! 16:46:32 From Laura Castor : Thanks for your question, Wendy. It is something I wondered too. 16:46:33 From wendy : Thank you 16:53:03 From michelle w : Good question! 16:54:01 From Berna Lee : For the scenario, do we assume they had meditation experience before or beginners? 16:54:21 From wendy : So can we ask our partner how they re doing before we start? 16:54:39 From ariela.rosenstein : we can share a couple smiles :) 16:55:09 From Michele Gare : i'ts magic of a different kind 16:55:13 From Michele Gare : *it's 16:55:19 From Michele Sapanaro : Are we all going to be doing this at the same time? 16:55:29 From Kimberley : Ha ha ha Michele :)

6 16:55:43 From jennahollenstein : yes, michele, this will all be happening simultaneously 16:55:46 From Michele Gare : yes Michele - you get sent to breakout rooms at the same time 16:55:51 From Michele Gare : but two to a room 16:56:01 From Michele Sapanaro : Great! Thanks 16:56:02 From janejensen : Berna: Your English is better than most. 16:56:22 From Kimberley : You are always very clear Berna! 16:56:24 From wendy : Your English is perfectly clear Berna Lee. 16:56:43 From ariela.rosenstein : you have amazing english. thanks for sharing your insights! 16:56:53 From Michele Sapanaro : This sounds like a virtual miracle Michele Impressive!!!!!!!! 16:57:08 From michelle w : Berna, I would love meditation instruction from you:) 16:58:30 From Sarah's ipad : im here!!! ive been listening ad just got access to chat! been here the whole time 16:58:35 From Berna Lee : thank you so much! I am very grateful to have this chance to learn from our great teachers and our sangha! 16:58:56 From janejensen : Should we use a timer or will you break in when the 10 minutes is up and tell us to switch? 16:59:09 From Susan Piver : Use a timer, Jane. 16:59:15 From janejensen : Thank you 16:59:24 From Susan Piver : you are welcome! 17:00:09 From Isabelle Taylor : Thank you!