Sagacious Dharma Life Coaching
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Advanced Path Training with a Buddhist Ariyapuggala
linkedin profile @ www.linkedin.com/in/bhante

My Story & My Teachings & My Style.
Hi!  My name is Michael Turner.  I am a Buddhist Ariya-puggala and I work with dedicated intermediate and advanced Buddhist practitioners to help them attain their moment of awakening.  If you want to become a streamenterer, then you've just hit the proverbial jackpot.

I am currently on a direct path toward becoming a Buddhist monk, scholar, and teacher.

Hitherto, I had been a successful and accomplished Fortune-500 business leader, business growth advisor, transatlantic board member, and advisor to several companies and organisations; while at the same time, being an advanced non-sectarian teacher-practitioner who, for years, has been training others in Buddhist streamentry, cultivating the behaviours and dedication that are in accordance of those who genuinely strive to realise the Buddhist path.

I first took an interest in Buddhist studies and meditation over 25 years ago and I currently continue to expand my studies under the direction of monastic leaders in both the Theravada and Gelug traditions.  My personal practice is that of a pre-monastic Early Buddhist with a firm emphasis on the core of the Buddha's pre-sectarian teachings (e.g., the sutta and vinaya pitaka); but, I am also one who sees practical value in the teachings found in Tibetan Buddhism (e.g., lojong and lamrim) by way of the Gelug school, and I have developed an efficient method that works them together to make rapid progress to awakening, streamentry and beyond; more on that below.

I started Being Peacefully after having helped countless numbers of people get past the intermediate and more advanced challenges associated with their meditation and dharma practice by enhancing their activities with time-tested Buddhist techniques coupled with personalised, insightful, and deeply-knowledgeable coaching and guidance for the practical application of Buddhist practices in real life.  I evolved into this "service" as a natural by-product of deep study, followed by steady practice and deep insights paired with the successful tutoring at the request of countless business colleagues and dhamma/meditation practitioners over the years.

Despite spending much of my life as a maverick corporate business leader, I am not a casual Buddhist; I am academically-oriented and have been deeply involved in study, meditation, and practical application for a long time.  I've directly experienced Emptiness and directly realised the transformative benefits of Buddhist mind training first-hand, and I have a strong motivation to help others overcome the challenges that they are experiencing along the way.

What I bring to my advanced dharma life coaching and streamentry training is direct experience and a deep and interdisciplinary expertise in meditation, insight, ethics, rationality, compassion, and happiness that fills a space between the rigours of Eastern Buddhism and the laissez-faire attitude of its Western counterpart and my focus is foremost on the practical application of Buddhism to actually achieve happiness and peace-of-mind through meditative stability, analytical insight, and dharma practice to help you make your way toward (or through) the Stages of Enlightenment.

My training style is direct and it focuses on recognising and abandoning the bad habits and views that hold you back, while at the same time, developing the skilfulness of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions to lean toward more positive and peaceful states to support a strong and productive meditation and dharma practice.  I do this by helping you cultivate your capacity for resilience, compassion, patience, generosity, kindness, and happiness; actually learning how to leverage these skills when the going gets tough will not only transform your life, but will flow into, and directly fuel your progress in meditation, insight, and wisdom.

I came to this form of practice after having spent many years balancing my Buddhist Philosophy and Dhamma studies with my daily practice, when I could have otherwise have just been spending that time working with the dhamma (both on- and off-the-cushion) and directing my practices toward attaining nirvana instead.  Once I dropped all of those very-Buddhist distractions, my progress toward awakened enlightenment accelerated rapidly.  What that demonstrated to me was that the time we spend on- and off-the-cushion should be directly conducive to actually attaining nirvana rather than to satisfying our curiosity for academic knowledge, or our attachments to sectarian views, monastic rituals, or our desire for resting in blissful altered states of consciousnesses.

It is important to understand that I do not specifically teach the Dhamma or the suttas, or the specifics of sectarian Buddhist doctrine or rituals.  I help people who already possess a strong foundation in the Dhamma/dharma, the Buddhist world view, and have a stable meditation practice to better understand how to take the teachings out of the books and off the cushion, and how to actually use Buddhism to address their daily human problems; just as the Buddha intended. It's also worth noting that I also do not singularly teach a direct path toward streamentry; streamentry doesn't work that way; but, when we get really good at observing-and-guarding our minds, and actually using the tools, techniques, and practices that are available to us through Buddhism in our moment-to-moment experiences, and when we can support those practices with the proper cultivation of skilful views, compassionate interactions, and positive mind-states, then our moment of spiritual awakening becomes natural by-product of our skilful and practical application of the Buddha's teaching. While this isn't as difficult as rocket science, it also isn't for those without a keen mind, supportive conditions, sincere dedication, ample time, and a deep commitment to study, contemplate, and practice what's on offer. 

It is worth noting that what I offer ultimately results in genuine streamentry for those so inclined.  I ask a lot of my students, and in return, they experience measurable and sustainable spiritual progress.  Be prepared to let go of some long-held beliefs, views, and practices that are, in fact, keeping you from the success that you are looking to attain.

That being said, if you are seeking instruction on how to be a "jhana junkie," or with religious rituals, or are particularly sensitive to, or defensive of, the internal beliefs or teachings of the various Buddhist traditions and sects, I may not be a good fit for you; the Buddha had no place for sectarianism and circuitous routes to enlightenment, so my focus is deeply-rooted in Early Buddhism (e.g., emphasising anapanasati, the sutta pitaka, and pure practice), and happens to be coupled with the practical and sagacious insightfulness of Tibetan Buddhist innovations, mind-training practices, and applied-dharma techniques, to actually make break-through progress to streamentry and through the Stages of Enlightenment toward nirvana.  I am pragmatic and from that perspective, all the other bells and whistles are viewed as distractions from the goal.

I guide my students away from their attachments to the alluring eddies of post-sectarian dogma, religious practices, spiritual materialism, and Buddhist metaphysics--these are all distractions and are not conducive to streamentry or spiritual enlightenment, so I strongly de-emphasise notions and practices that don't directly support the development or cultivation of the skills required to make measurable progress along the Path toward Buddhist enlightenment--because our time is rare and precious and so are the opportunities that we have to practice.

What I emphasise is developing your innate potential to be happy, patient, and peaceful through the deepening and focusing of your daily meditation and dharma practice.  With my help, you can become a veritable stream-enterer; and, along the way you will learn that while life isn't always good, it doesn't ever have to be bad, and that's one of the most valuable lessons I believe anybody can learn, especially in these troubling times of ours, and what could possibly be more important than developing your capacity to be happy?

I invite you to message me today to start a conversation.

With metta,

Michael Turner

My Dharma Teachings.

Frequently Asked Questions.

I've come here for your business consulting services.  do you still offer them?
My main interest has become helping individuals achieve greater peace-of-mind and happiness in life by way of the Dharma and meditation.  I am occasionally available to share my business acumen, taking a special interest in helping companies that are looking to do some good in the world, but, I do so for free (pro-bono) on a case-by-case basis, and not as a professional service, but rather as a community service.

If you are nonetheless still interested in learning more about my business services, you can find more information here: Sales & Business Growth Consulting, and here, SMB & Startup Collaboration and Advising.
A MAHAYANA practitioner vows not to enter into nirvana until all beings are liberated.
YET YOU CLAIM TO Teach enlightenment and nirvana?
Thank you.  This is a remarkably common misunderstanding of the Mahayana Bodhisattva Path and the altruistic intention to guide others; understanding the root texts and commentaries can help us to better understand the intent and esoteric meaning of the teachings on this concept.  My beliefs, views, and practices are in accordance with Mahayana texts and practices and are influenced by my direct experience of entering into the stages of Enlightenment.

I hear this frequently, so I have written a teaching to address the most common myths and misunderstandings surrounding the Altruistic Intention and Enlightenment, which I have published to my dharma blog.
You mention that you teach happiness, I have my doubts, but tell me more.
Yes, it sounds almost silly, but much of my success as an Enlightenment teacher is that I teach people the skill of being happy. It's something so simple, yet so utterly elusive that, surprisingly, even most practicing Buddhists struggle to find genuine happiness.

During difficult times such as these, one's capacity to smile at others and to experience a consistent sense of happiness has never been so important. Some people bounce back from adversity quickly, while others suffer the impact of adversity long after they've passed. Patience and resilience are not randomly-assigned traits, they are skills that can be developed, and you can actually learn to cultivate those skills to quickly and gracefully bounce back from all of life's ups-and-down, regardless of their severity--that's what learning to be Happy can do for you.  And it feels great.

It just so happens that coaching and cultivating Happiness is one of my core interests and specialties, and I can guide you to learn how to be indestructibly happy, and it also just so happens to be a skill that you will naturally develop as we progress toward and through the stages of Buddhist enlightenment. 

This isn't an emotional, foolish, or giddy type of Happiness, but a deep, unshakeable inner-happiness and sustainable collectedness that is grounded in your personal sense of well-being, peace-of-mind, and personal safety that generates a transformation in how you interact with the world around you, and consequently, the how the world interacts with you.  Additionally, it's about changing the habitual and happiness-destroying ways that we've learned to use when we come across the typical stressors in our lives.  After all, it's much easier to learn to be happier and more peaceful when we can learn how to not be so easily agitated and irritated.  And, it's also about learning to smile again. :)

If you want to be happy, you have to practice being happy; and I can help you learn this life-changing skill.

This subject deserves much more attention.  I will be posting a blog-teaching on this subject which will go into much more detail regarding my views and skills in this area.  Please subscribe to my dharma blog to be notified when it's published, or check back often.
ASKING for DONATIONS for your time and skills with the dhamma? is that Ok?
Thank you.  As mentioned above in greater detail, I do not specifically teach the Dhamma; there are many, less advanced, resources and teachers for Dhamma and sutta studies.  Additionally, all of my services and teachings are provided for free and at no charge.  If kind visitors or students wish to donate to help cover basic requisite expenses such as food, clothing, medicine, shelter, and web-hosting, they are welcome to do so, and their generosity is greatly appreciated.

Nevertheless, the question of receiving donations for these services reflects a common misunderstanding of the Buddha teachings, and one that seems to be unduly applied to those who have not taken up monastic vows.  Understanding the root texts can help us to better understand the teachings on this concept and my beliefs, views, and practices in this matter are well in accordance with the sutta pitaka, de facto and de jure.

At the highest of levels, there are countless Buddhist resources available that provide their offerings in-exchange for compensation: from the many Buddhist book and magazine publishers, both online and traditional (e.g., wisdom, shambhala, snow lion), to the countless Buddhist authors, speakers, counselors, coaches, and trainers out there, and everything in-between.  I am also not charging for the sutta-dhamma (which is of course free and available to anyone), but rather for my very specialised expertise and interdisciplinary experience with practices that use Buddhism to directly work with our human problems.  Furthermore, my approach is quite a bit more skilful than that of my counterparts and is neither gratuitous nor indulgent.  But this is not a sufficiently appropriate answer, and I recognise that.

I plan to write a teaching on this, but in the mean time, I'd respectfully refer you to the disclaimer on the top of my 'suggested pricing and donation' page coupled with Itivuttaka § 107. {Iti 4.8; Iti 111} which covers the skilful exchange of teachings for the four requisites.  This is what allows even those who are within monastic communities and under the restrictions of the vinaya rules (i.e., monks and nuns) to make requests for food, clothing, medicine, and these days, for labour, skills, materials, and money in skilful exchange for their spiritual services, offerings, and support.

It is with this perspective that I have the humble opportunity to share my skilled instruction with others: by relying on the kind generosity of others so that I may be able to cover my four requisites as I dedicate my time to the Path and to help others along theirs.

If you would like to make a donation to support what I am doing here, your donation will directly support the work I do to support and guide others who wish to attain spiritual success; your support and kindness would not go unnoticed and would be greatly appreciated.
I offer authentic and transformative streamentry training and dharma life coaching and I encourage you to message me to learn more.
Schedule a first-discussion now! It's free.
Opportunities to meet someone who can teach streamentry don't come by often.