Dharma Life Coaching and Streamentery Training Reviews.

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"Michael is a positive and hard-hitting dharma life coach who gives direct feedback which allows me to perceive situations more clearly and find solutions. Originally, I went to Michael because I was wrestling with some complex buddhist subjects, but I was also approaching the start of a new phase in my life: retirement. I wanted to discuss my questions and alleviate some of the uncertainties I felt facing this new phase. However, I was still in the job market and after a day of work, I was experiencing a lot of fatigue and stress. So that became the focus of our first session and he offered techniques to help me appreciate the transition from work mode to relaxation mode. This allowed me to see how often I press myself mentally and physically instead of being present in the moment. There were several issues that we tackled together, and I gained many new perspectives during our sessions. Michael is very creative and open and I feel comfortable discussing any subject with him. The topics that involved adjusting my energy level to engage in a project effectively are not usually the domain of a dharma coach, but Michael understood these challenges and a wide range of many other topics and could provide useful tools for change. Following our last session together, something he said triggered a major breakthrough, when an old habit pattern that I was wearing like a shield finally came undone. It was a fairly esoteric but a very real and healing experience. The subjects discussed during my sessions had to be addressed before seriously considering achieving my retirement goals. I am in a much better position to accomplish these goals now thanks to Michael's insights. Also, I realize that even if we enter the buddhist process with certain preconceived expectations, the journey will still take place in accordance with what is really necessary at the time to help us achieve our goals concretely. Michael's intelligence and competence can certainly help you on your journey.''

- C. Howell, Professor (Retired)
"With Mike's help I finally learned the process of being a practicing buddhist instead of just being a buddhist.  His understanding of the Buddha teachings and his ability to explain how to practically apply it to my life have been nothing short of life changing. He fixed my breathing meditation, which I had no idea was broken, but not just that, doing that opened the door to much deeper levels of concentration, which meant access to altered states and insights into how the six sense doors completely manufacture our entire existence.  Even better, he worked with me to start using the dharma off the cushion which changed everything.  With those two facets in place, it's like seeing the world for the first time.  I guess it's why it's called "awakening". I see the world differently now, and there is a space between "me" and everything else that gives me a deep sense of freedom.  Now when I sense the "seeds" of a negative emotion, I can actually stop what I am doing in that moment and listen to what is happening to me at that very moment - and now I've learned to not resist that feeling - but to face it and work with it and turn it into practice and so it dissipates gently and quickly. Now my dharma practice is working in really amazing ways. The quality of my life and my practice have improved beyond my expectations. My appreciation for Mike's unbelievable skills, insights, and understanding can't be expressed.  My life is different now."

- Ella Yang
"I was dealing with some really heavy stuff and I stopped being able to use the dharma and I stopped meditating. A coworker recommended Michael.  He was kind, patience, and compassionate but he is also direct and didn't let me make any excuses or buy into any of my own stories. That was nice. He helped me get in touch with perspective again and he helped me use the stress I was feeling as practice not as an obstacle to it. Not always easy to do but he helped me find new ways to use my dharma and meditation that really worked. We got back on the mat together and I learned a lot from him. I would suggest him to anybody who is having a hard time with "the practical application of Buddhism" or their motivation to meditate."

- Mike Posner
[ed. note: not the musician]
"I met Michael last year as part of the Sravasti Abbey Monastery SAFE program. I got to know him and I found myself looking forward to our interactions. I connected with his ability to interpret the dharma in ways that I never heard before. Like really useful ways that really helped my understanding of the teachings come together. I got caught up with so many concepts but he really help me to understand them in ways that makes so much sense. With his help I now understand concepts I spent so much effort trying to get before and have now put them into my practice. Also he showed me how to use the dharma teachings in my meditations, which changed everything really.  His knowledge goes far beyond just meditation and buddhism. I found that helpful as his insight on how to apply the teaching to my every day life was direct and surprisingly on point. My practice and my understanding of the dharma have come a long way since meeting Michael, and I am grateful for the impact he has had on my practice and my life. I recommend him."

- Veronica T.
"I felt like I was in a boring rut with my meditation and was thinking about giving it up.  I am glad I didn't.  With Mike's help I learned that meditation and dharma go deeper than I ever imagined and how I can use them to practice my off-the-cushion ability to take a step back when a judgment or a strong emotion suddenly arrives. I can see them coming now, as if I see it all from a distance and I no longer react to my anger and frustration which too often had drawn me into conflicts over and over again.  I can now see the connection between meditating and everything else.  It all works now and I am getting closer.  He says it's like a super power and I agree.  I am also learning to smile again thanks to Mike.  People say I don't frown as much any more which is great.  Years of anger management couldn't do what a few months of dharma practice with Mike have done for me."

- Andy D.
"Mike taught me that there is more than just breathing meditation and I quickly became a fan of metta meditation with his help. I wish I started metta earlier. Like most people I started out with breath meditation for a couple of years and then started deepening my practice with longer sessions and different forms of meditation but my progress felt like it had really slowed down. With metta the benefits occur almost immediately and increase quickly with the more hours you do it. If you are a neurotic type like me then I recommend Mike because your meditation practice should have metta in it as a priority, because it increases positive emotions. It literally makes you more capable of feeling more positive emotions. Besides that it makes you a more empathic person. Breath meditation is good too because it calms the stress response but it doesnt increase positive emotions in the way metta does and it makes all the difference in the world. I highly recommend Mike for his meditation coaching he's great."

- Kirsten H.
"Thank you for everything. I never thought using your techniques in my meditation and in my life would bring me so much "progress"!  I gained positivity, confidence, and it has changed my outlook on myself and on life.  You helped me actually understand the point of using dharma instead of just reading and knowing it and to use it as part of my meditation and I became a lot more aware of where my thoughts are taking me, what to do with them and to do things that I didn't think were possible.  I am more relaxed, more free.  I go to people now and I am much more accessible when approached.  You literally taught me how to smile.  I can breathe again and handle my stress and problems much better now."

- Kevin T.
"When I came home from work yesterday, I felt something different and new. I saw my daughter who opened my arms with hers and said to me "good evening daddy!" with a huge smile and a tight hug. Actually, she does that every night, but yesterday I think I really experienced it for the first time. And we hugged, a real hug. And later, I cried for joy.  Thank you so much!"

- Gene S.
"My practices do something now!  I didn't know that I should be focusing to actually learn concentration.  Duh. He showed me how!  With more concentration I became more aware of how my thoughts work. I understand now the massive impact that my thoughts have on my body and my emotions and Michael's intelligence and expertise on the subject is clear and he helped me to learn how to pay much more attention to what's going on in my head as it happens without all the judgement and to apply the "appropriate antidotes" from the Buddhist practices that we talked about.  I learned to cope differently, to look into the situation, to manage stressful moments in a healthier way (speaking in public for example ...) I don't resist it any more.  I've learned how to do this nearly all the time now, with so little effort thanks to him. Now I try to understand my thoughts so I have better control over where my mind takes me. I am making breakthroughs and remarkable progress. It's unbelievable and I feel like I'm becoming a new person! I wish I knew all of this years ago."

- Jennifer E.
"My sessions with Michael were truly an invaluable experience. His deeply intuitive nature and his insights into the dharma and the business world directly helped me make many positive steps to advance my professional career and my personal life in ways that I wouldn't have expected from a meditation or Buddhist coach and he has become a trusted executive advisor to me. I can easily recommend him to anyone even remotely interested in life, work or Buddhist mentoring. I am forever grateful for the time we spent together."

- Robert H.
"Our sessions are very beneficial for me, I have been learning a lot about myself and why things are. You really listen and give me confidence and understanding. I don't feel lost in my meditations any more.  I understand the "context" now and seeing the impermanence and sunyata of experiences has really changed everything. In the end, I finally achieved my goal when it seemed impossible at the start. Using Dharma more in life made all the difference, I wish I knew this when I first started. Everyone has noticed that I'm different. I’m really happy to be able to move closer towards my peace and my well-being."

- Susan W.
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