Posts by Gabriel Rocheleau
Upcoming Meditation Retreat at Dharma Treasure
It’s been a while since my last update! A lot has changed since the last time I posted on UP Development. Despite the silence, I have not been inactive ; I have moved from the forest dwelling I used to live in, my relationships have evolved for the better, I’ve pursued many intellectual and professional…
Read MoreGuided Meditation – Walking Meditation
In this guided meditation, we explore the basics of walking meditation.
Read MoreWalking Meditation
So far, we have learned a basic meditation technique and a few practical concepts. With daily practice, we have applied and internalized these techniques. Now is the perfect time to expand our practice and explore a new form of meditation: walking meditation.
Read MoreMeditation setup
Before we dive into the practice, we’ll go over a few basic points that will help you get the most out of every meditation session.
Read MoreThe Society of Mind
This book aims to answer one of the most deepest questions: How can the mind appear in the brain, which is itself “mindless”? The Society of Mind paints a surprisingly clear and enlightening picture of the inner workings of the mind. Reading every chapter of this book triggered “aha!” moments, and articulated concepts that I had a vague intuition of through meditation. The framework in this book fits beautifully with Culadasa’s mind-system outlined in The Mind Illuminated. If you’re interested in taking a deeper look at the nature of “sub-minds” (called “agents” in The Society of Mind), this is a must-read!
Read MoreMaps of Meaning
This book explores the complex and deep psychological foundations underlying myth, ideology and religion. If you’re puzzled as to why religion has been of such importance throughout history, or how individuals could join destructive ideologies such as Nazism or Stalinism, this book will open your eyes.
Maps of Meaning offers a deep analysis of the narratives that structure the western world, and of the dichotomy between the objective and subjective worldviews.
Read MoreCrime and Punishment
A masterpiece by Dostoevsky, taking place at the center of a murderer’s mind. This book opened my eyes to the complexity of human motivations, and taught me that the only inescapable punishment of immoral behavior is one’s own conscience.
Read MoreThe Brothers Karamazov
Dostoevsky’s magnum opus. This book jumps from one philosophical discussion to next, exploring life’s most difficult questions with unbelievable depth and gut-wrenching clarity. This book has taught me more about humans than I could ever learn from psychology books. Freud even said of The Brothers Karamazov that it was “the most magnificent novel ever written.”
Read MoreThe Vimuttimagga – The Path of Freedom
A reference textbook, similar to the Visuddhimagga but less dense and easier to read. Less well-known than the Visuddhimagga but also contains gems of practical information not found elsewhere on many types of meditation practices.
Read MoreThe Visuddhimagga – The Path of Purification
The classic reference manual for Theravada meditation. Similar to the Vimuttimagga, this commentary compresses the teachings of the Buddha into a practical and detailed framework. A very dense read which I use as a reference when exploring certain specific meditation practices. Contains invaluable information on the Jhanas and the Progress of Insight.
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