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If you meditate, chances are you may have heard of or have used Insight Timer.

This app was brought to my attention because it wasn’t just a timer—it has classes, courses, talks and most especially it has a community. Our culture and society has become more and more digitalized. Socializing is done via messaging, texting and by using likes, dislikes and emojis. We meme, we snap, we gif, along with many other nouns that we now verb—all from our phones. It’s amazing and has connected us from one side of the globe to another.

Unfortunately it has also divided us from one side of the globe to another.

What I like about Insight Timer is that it uses this technology to connect—to find likeness and community—and brings it to the practice of meditation. In our busy-ness of life, sometimes getting to a meditation group is not ideal. Sometimes it is actually not even possible depending on where we live. Old school practices may push back, and while it is true that there is nothing better than actually meditating in a group, Insight Timer elects to fill this gap of those that need a social network of meditators.

So when one of our writers brought to our attention the open call by Insight Timer for interviews and podcasts, we jumped. Was I nervous about meeting Christopher Plowman, the CEO of Insight Timer? Yes. But that quickly faded after a he popped up on our screens and began chatting about his new puppy.

You know how people will say that someone is unexpectedly down to earth despite the fact that person is a little famous? Christopher Plowman was exactly that. In just a minute we felt like we were a group of friends chatting about meditation, and the power of one idea that snowballs into a dream.

As just a small start up company, the people at Insight Timer have worked tirelessly to keep up with technology and to stay one step ahead of what we as meditators are looking for in an app that is not only functional but a bridge to those who are all looking to find a little peace, a little connection, a little understanding, and best of all, it is at no cost.

Grab some coffee or tea and listen as we talk about how Insight Timer was born and what they hope to accomplish in the future.

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Claire Parsons started writing for us here at The Tattooed Buddha with a column titled: The Bodhisattva of Power Suits, but she is not new to writing. She started her own blog called Brilliant Legal Mind and has also written two books: How to Be a Badass Lawyer, and Mommy Needs a Minute.

Claire E. Parsons is a practicing lawyer in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, and the mom of two girls. She started meditating to manage stress and curb overthinking, but the practice changed her life. Over time, she got training and began teaching other lawyers and professionals about mindfulness. Claire is also a frequent writer and speaker for these and other organizations. She has published and spoken about numerous topics, ranging from complex legal issues, to law practice, networking and marketing, as well as mindfulness and wellness for lawyers and other professionals. She writes regularly on LinkedIn and even co-authored a book this year with 19 other women lawyers about how they used the platform to network and pursue career goals during the pandemic.

We talk about meditation, her job as a special education lawyer, her thoughts on Buddhism and how she got here to this point, and how to find time to write when she has a full schedule with career and parenting.

Check out Claire's personal blog here.
Check out Claire's books: How to be a Badass Lawyer and Mommy Needs a Minute.
Check out Claire's blog on the Tattooed Buddha: The Bodhisattva of Power Suits.
Creative Confidence by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
Link to Ben Gioia

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Interested in being a guest on our podcast? Contact us at editor@thetattooedbuddha.com.

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In this podcast, we talk about how Rod found the Dharma, his journey to writing and eventually editing for both Wisdom Publications and then later, Lion's Roar.

The post Talking with Guest Rod Meade Sperry, Editor of Buddhadharma at Lion’s Roar appeared first on The Tattooed Buddha.

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Rod and I have been friends on social media for awhile now but we have never interacted (as what happens often with social media and networking).

In this podcast, we talk about how Rod found the Dharma, his journey to writing and eventually editing for both Wisdom Publications and then later, Lion’s Roar. Rod started his own independent magazine (zine) originally to highlight how Buddhism shows up in different areas of our culture.

We talk about Canadian winters, mindfulness and anxiety, how digital publishing is changing the way we get our information and more!

See Rod Meade Sperry's articles here at Lion's Roar.
Check out Rod's books here on Amazon.
Here is the book Rod brought up in our discussion: Relax & Be Aware: Mindfulness Meditations for Clarity, Confidence and Wisdom by Sayadaw U Tejaniya

Podcast edited by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio, www.trainsoundstudio.com

Love The Tattooed Buddha content? Check out our website!

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Gary walks us through some of the aspects of this process, such as wearing robes all of the time (including while he slept), eating only two meals a day and shaving his cherished beard.

The post Gary Sanders Ordains as a Temporary Monk {Podcast} appeared first on The Tattooed Buddha.

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A few weeks ago Gary Sanders went on retreat and took temporary vows to be a monk.

Gary walks us through some of the aspects of this process, such as wearing robes all of the time (including while he slept), eating only two meals a day, no dancing and singing and shaving his cherished beard. He explains why he chose to temporarily ordain, his experiences with retreats in the past and the fact that he likes to push himself. We discuss the concept of how retreats can be for the privileged, and opportunities that are available to open up these up to more people.

This was a fun conversation that could have easily gone on for much longer!

Podcast edited by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio, www.trainsoundstudio.com


Check out Dhamma Sukha American Buddhist Forest Tradition Meditation Center

Check out The Buddhist Recovery Network

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We discuss the trauma as a result, the aspects of shunning as control and being disfellowshipped, the use of fear to control, and how Buddhism and mindfulness became a path toward healing.

The post Escaping from Jehovah’s Witnesses through a Buddhist Path appeared first on The Tattooed Buddha.

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Today we talk to Gary Sanders, Rebekah Reineke and David Jones about their experiences in the Jehovah's Witness community. While Gary and Rebekah grew up within the religion, David entered (and bowed out) later on in life. We discuss the framework behind the cult, the control tactics and how they have moved on a healed.

Have you been in a similar situation and need someone to talk to? Here are a few resources:

Talk Space
Cult Escape
Leaving the Witness
Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion

Podcast edited by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio, www.trainsoundstudio.com

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Interested in being a guest on our podcast? Contact us at editor@thetattooedbuddha.com.