Buddhist Therapy, Life Coaching, Dharma Training
  • 🏠
  • Teachings, Blog, & Audio
    • Stream-entry Buddhist Blog
    • Achieving Stream-entry
    • Your Questions Answered
    • Session Audio Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • Work With Me
    • Buddhist Happiness Coaching
    • Buddhist Path Training
    • Rates and Session Info
  • Reviews
  • About
  • Contact
  • 🔎️



The Stream-entry Buddhist Blog

Long-format Pāli Canon-based Teachings and Essays



by Upāsaka Michael Turner

(f.k.a. Anagārika Pasannacitta)


Buddhist Therapist, Life Coach, and Dharma Trainer

 — One-on-One Buddhist Training by Request — 



practical teachings. insightful answers. penetrating essays.
click here to subscribe

DISMISSED: "YOU WON'T BECOME A STREAM-ENTERER" — A dismissal letter from a Buddhist stream-entry teacher to his student for wrong views, violent entertainment, and incorrect practice — and explaining the deeper meaning of Buddhist renunciation.

4/19/2025

2 Comments

 
⚲ this post has been pinned to the top of the blog
This is my final teaching letter to a student who is choosing to remain misinformed on what Buddhism is, the importance of contemplation, and how meditation should be practiced if stream-entry is ever to be genuinely experienced.
Attaining achieving stream-entry is hard. Here's how to do it. Become a stream-enterer.

Becoming a Stream-enterer is hard. Here's how to do it.


​As a teacher dedicated to guiding my students toward spiritual progress, I sent a detailed letter to a middle-intermediate Dhamma practitioner and meditator explaining why I am dismissing him from my program.  In this letter, I explain the importance of correct and sufficient practice and I outline and detail the harmful nature of the various Wrong Views he subscribes to that are hindering his spiritual progress, such as his attachments to violent entertainment and modern interpretations of the Dhamma, his desire for shortcuts to enlightenment, his reliance on "insight meditation" (vipassana), and his clinging to the myth that the jhānas equate to stream-entry or any other stage of Buddhist enlightenment.  I also took the opportunity to explain what Buddhist renunciation truly means for those who are dedicated to achieving stream-entry, a.k.a., awakening; and the critical importance of yonisomanasikāra in the development of Right View and progress along the Buddhist path.
​

Teacher's Note

​Why I am sharing this private letter publicly?
​

In short: because people want awakening, but they are going about it all wrong.

I am sharing this letter with others not only because it brings light to what Buddhism actually is — beyond the misrepresentations of Buddhism that are overwhelmingly prevalent today — but also because it serves as a clear manifesto of the approach that I follow in my instruction of the early Buddhist texts (EBT) to my students; with the emphasis being on learning and cultivating the views and practices that slope them toward stream-entry, or beyond.  My intention is to provide potential future students with a clear understanding of what they can expect from me and my guidance as someone who successfully coaches veritable stream-enterers.

While reading this, it is absolutely necessary to understand that what I teach, and how I teach it, reflects my understanding of where each of my students are along the Buddhist Path and what each one of them needs to hear and do in order to make further progress toward nibbāna.  I don't teach them how to get to stream-entry or arahantship as much as I teach them how to make continuous progress from where they are on the spectrum of spiritual development, gradually taking them to higher and higher attainments along the Buddhist Path.  In support of that, I don't teach "generally" to any of my students; I teach precisely to each of my students based entirely on their individual needs and abilities. Accordingly, I am holding the student that this letter is directed at to a set of standards that are uniquely appropriate to his level of experience, his current place along the Path, and his personal hindrances — these standards should not be taken to apply to all (or any) of my other students.

For additional information on my approach and my teachings, please see this page.
​
(the student's name has been changed for confidentiality) ​

Read More
2 Comments

Meditation, Suffering, and The Dark Night of the Soul—Awakening Explained

4/18/2025

1 Comment

 
Dispelling misunderstandings about meditation, vipassana retreats, the jhānas, stream-entry, proper Buddhist path practice, insights into dukkha, and the Dhamma.
Meditation & Dark Night of the Soul Explained

Understand Meditation Dukkha Ñāṇa & The Dark Night of the Soul



This article is about stream-entry, also known as awakening. However, to effectively address this topic, I will first introduce a concept referred to as the "dark night of the soul," an idea that the meditation industry has adopted to describe the emotional or psychological distress practitioners experience after a period of intensive meditation or following a profound spiritual awakening attainment (stream-entry) and the potential pitfalls and dangers of attending extended vipassana meditation retreats.  We will explore the Buddha's approach to teaching enlightenment found in the suttas to understand the roles of meditation and the jhānas, along with their connection to stream-entry, the "dark night of the soul," and the "dukkha ñāṇa" phenomena.  If you are sincerely interested in attaining stream-entry, this article will be of value to you on your journey.​

Read More
1 Comment

The Four Elements: Understanding The Buddha's Teachings on Nonself & Anattā

12/25/2023

3 Comments

 
Understanding how to practically apply the Buddha's teachings of the Four Elements of earth, water, fire, & air.
The Four Elements and Their Relevance in 21st Century Buddhism: the practical application of the Buddhist teachings on the Four Elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air to our practice today.

Everything is made up of Earth, Water, Fire, Air (and Space) Elements – even in the 21st Century



​In this teaching we dive into the details to review the Four Elements of physical formations, what they are, and how they are relevant to 21st century Buddhist practice and cultivating our understanding of anattā, the Buddhist concept of Nonself.

Read More
3 Comments

TEACHING SERIES — VEDANĀS: What are your feelings, Why do they hurt?

1/2/2023

4 Comments

 
Vedanās: A Complete Guide to Feelings in Buddhism (and How to Actually Use This Teaching To Be Happy) 
​by Anagārika Michael Turner
​(Anagārika Pasannacitta)
Picture

What are vedanās (feelings) in Buddhism? Definitively clearing up this oft-misunderstood subject and understanding how to apply this teaching in everyday life to practically lay the foundation for contentment, peace of mind, and actual progress toward nibbāna.


​
Vedanā Series Overview
 — PART 1 — 
  • What are feelings in Buddhism?​​
  • What are the vedanās?
  • How are they connected and affected by other Buddhist concepts about who we are?
  • How is it that they can influence our moods so profoundly?
  • How can we apply the understanding of the vedanās in ways that genuinely help us to be happy all the time?
  • Can we actually avoid ever having bad days? (spoiler: yes!)

Read More
4 Comments

AUDIO: Tonglen Meditation — Benefits and Techniques to Cultivate Compassion and Awakening [Dharma Talk MP3]

7/7/2022

5 Comments

 
The Taking-and-Giving Meditation: a detailed dharma talk on how to do it and what the techniques, benefits, and results are; and using it to cultivate compassion to overcome your own pain, stress, and suffering.
Tonglen meditation to ease suffering and overcome problems

Use Tonglen meditation to ease suffering and attain stream-entry


​In this dharma talk I dive into the details of a somewhat-lesser-known meditation technique that anyone can use to overcome mental suffering, physical pain, and generate deep and transformative states of compassion and gratitude. I also cover the importance of Right Effort, determination, and good teachers, and how these are critical to cultivating resilient states of contentment and to making spiritual progress.

Read More
5 Comments

AUDIO: Mettā Meditation and Analytical Meditation - How to Do Them Correctly [Dharma Talk MP3+Transcript Included]

2/2/2022

2 Comments

 
A short Dharma talk on (1) how to do loving-kindness meditation correctly, (2) how to do Analytical meditation correctly, and (3) how they are used to make progress.
A Dharma talk on (1) how to do Mettā mediation correctly, (2) explaining how it is differs from Analytical meditation, and (3) how to do Analytical meditation correctly.

How to generate genuine feelings of love and compassion while meditating.


Most people are doing mettā meditation (i.e., loving-kindness meditation) ineffectively. Why is this?  Because there are very few people who are actually teaching others how to do it correctly, and many of them are hidden away in Buddhist monasteries.  In this article + audio dharma talk I provide clear instructions to make your practice more effective for progress toward Buddhist Enlightenment.

Read More
2 Comments

What Are the Eight Worldly Concerns and Why Must We Let Them Go?

10/29/2021

6 Comments

 
How being free of stress and anxiety means letting go of the things that you think will make you happy.
What are the Eight Worldly Concerns and how do they relate to your pursuit of happiness and your freedom from worry, stress, and anxiety.

Stress and anxiety are signs that you're doing something wrong.



​In this article, we will cover what the Eight Worldly Concerns are and how they relate to your pursuit of happiness and your freedom from worry, stress, and anxiety.

Read More
6 Comments

Five Buddhist Techniques Anyone Can Use To Reduce Anger (Right Now)

10/31/2020

7 Comments

 
When anger and other strong emotions arise, use these five approaches to skilfully overcome your suffering.
5 Buddhist Steps To Overcome Anger (Right Now)

You don't have to be a Buddhist to use these techniques to overcome your anger and move forward gracefully, skilfully, and peacefully.


​​In this short "dharma bite," I provide five concise techniques that come from Buddhism that anyone (Buddhist or not) can use in-the-moment or after-the-fact to help reduce the heat of discontentment and cool the flames of anger.  This article includes a short guided meditation.

Read More
7 Comments

Buddhist Renunciation for Laypersons Explained (a practical how-to guide)

9/27/2020

10 Comments

 
Renunciation is about wanting to put an end to Samsara: the endless cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.
Renunciation for laypeople

Buddhist Renunciation explained by a Buddhist teacher


​In this short article, we will cover what Renunciation is and what it isn't for lay-practitioners; how to cultivate it; and, why it's so important to attaining Awakening and Enlightenment.


​(Note: after you read this article, if you wish to learn more about what Renunciation means for 
deeply dedicated Buddhist practitioners, read this.)​

Read More
10 Comments
    Stream-entry Buddhist Blog
    ​by Michael Turner
    (f.k.a. Anagārika 
    Pasannacitta)

    Click to Subscribe

    The Teacher

    Anagārika Michael Turner Buddhist Stream-entry Teacher, Awakening Trainer, Stream-enterer Coach
    Michael Turner, teacher and former Buddhist anagārika.

    "The only thing that prevents people from awakening, stream-entry, and directly experiencing the stages of enlightenment is incorrect instruction and/or insufficient practice."

    –  Michael Turner

    Hello! My name is Michael Turner (my Dhamma name is Upāsaka Pasannacitta).

    ​I am an Early Buddhism mentor, ariya-puggala (sakadāgāmi), therapist, coach, Buddhist 
    precept holder, and I spent eight years living and working as a Buddhist anagārika, a pre-monastic renunciant. I work with dedicated Buddhist practitioners of all levels, from beginners to advanced, to help them attain measurable progress toward happiness and nibbāna. This kind of one-on-one training is uncommon for most lay practitioners.  If you are interested, please visit my coaching page or training page to learn more,  or contact me to discuss becoming a Buddhist trainee today.

    Categories
    (Spring 2020 and newer only.)

    All
    AUDIO: Dharma Talk
    Brief Thoughts
    Buddha Nature
    Buddhist Mythbusting
    Compassion
    Death & Dying
    Dukkha/Suffering
    Emptiness
    Enlightenment
    Forgiveness
    Happiness
    Impermanence
    Karma
    Meditation
    Most Popular
    Noble Eightfold Path
    Nonself
    Questions & Answers
    Real Life Dharma
    Renunciation
    SERIES: Topic Deep Dives
    SHORT: Dharma Bites
    Stream Entry
    Stream-entry
    Stress & Anxiety
    Virtue/Sīla


    Links

    Training Homepage
    Buddhist Happiness Coaching
    Stream-entry Training
    Meditation Training
     — 
    How I Teach Stream-entry 
    Your Questions Answered
     — ​
    Student Reviews
    Session Information
    About Michael Turner


If you are currently experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings of personal crisis, it is crucial that you receive immediate support from professionals who specialises in crisis intervention. For those in urgent need, please contact your local suicide prevention or personal crisis hotline. These services are usually available 24/7 and provides free and confidential support for individuals in distress. Your safety and well-being are of utmost importance. The services offered here are not psychotherapy or a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or therapeutic advice and do not replace the services of licensed healthcare providers such as doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists, etc. Once you are in a safe and stable place, we can explore how Buddhism can support your ongoing personal well-being and growth journey.
 

beingpeacefully donation
most of my buddhist students are donation-funded  -  you can fund a pro bono student by making a small donation

Zelle® is preferred as there are no fees deducted from your donation, ​but PayPal, Wise, and Bitcoin are also gratefully accepted.
​Those for able to use Zelle® I can be found via the email address in the image below:
Picture
Preferred Method



make a donation via paypal

Picture
Wise (formerly Transferwise)
bitcoin
bitcoin address
3Gc5pZjd8TQMYEWSChDS744dt1u9Yu8JPi

Alternatively, you may help me become a better teacher, practitioner, and person:
​If you would like to assist me in my studies or support my life as a devoted Buddhist please 
consider donating a dhamma e-book from my Amazon wishlist, found here:
Amazon Wishlist
my amazon.com wishlist

Anagārika Michael Turner Pasannacitta Buddhist Teacher Philosopher, Dharma Coach, Meditation Instructor, Business Leader, Success Trainer, Mentor, Leadership Adviser, Executive Mentor
Michael Turner is a sakadāgāmi and a former Buddhist anagārika. He is also a deeply accomplished stream-entry mentor, applied-dharma coach, and Buddhist therapist. He emphasises and teaches the practical application of the Buddha's teachings in our everyday lives to overcome the problems that stand in the way of making measurable progress toward Buddhist enlightenment and he is particularly adept at explaining them in ways that can be easily understood and practiced by Western Buddhists. He has been meditating and cultivating the views and techniques that generate indestructible resilience, inner-strength, and direct experience for almost 30 years and has helped countless numbers of students and peers enhance and course-correct their practice to make veritable progress along the path toward Nibbāna.


SITE MAP
​​
​Homepage
Buddhist Coaching
​​Buddhist ​Student Reviews
Buddhist Stream-entry Training
Buddhist Training Rates
​About Michael Turner
Being Peacefully Logo
My Stream-entry Coaching Manifesto
​do good. be kind. help others. be peaceful.™
​
​​Subscribe
Stream-entry Teaching Blog
Your Buddhism Questions
Session Audio Podcast
​​Make a Donation (why donate?)
Volunteer Opportunities
Terms of Use / Privacy Policy

"beingpeacefully"®, "the stream-entry buddhist"™ and all logos/slogans are trademarks in the united states and/or other countries.
website by michael turner — beingpeacefully sp © 2013, 2025 — all rights reserved.
  • 🏠
  • Teachings, Blog, & Audio
    • Stream-entry Buddhist Blog
    • Achieving Stream-entry
    • Your Questions Answered
    • Session Audio Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • Work With Me
    • Buddhist Happiness Coaching
    • Buddhist Path Training
    • Rates and Session Info
  • Reviews
  • About
  • Contact
  • 🔎️