Buddhist Awakening is Possible.
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dharma training and buddhist coaching reviews
by students of Anagārika Pasannacitta

There isn't anything that doesn't become easier with skilled guidance.
"Like so many others have said, Michael is an amazing teacher and I am lucky to have crossed his path because his presence and experience is just what I personally needed. There's no doubt that the "eye of the dhamma" has opened inside of him. His vast knowledge of buddhism and his incredibly deep understanding of the dhamma makes clear to me that which was so much more difficult before working with Michael. He teaches with strength, confidence, clarity, and a conviction that is without a trace of doubt in the notions of rebirth, kamma, and nibbana giving me real confidence in my ability that I too can attain the state that is free of the fetter of doubt and enter into the stream as so many of his other students have before me. He helped me understand what is and what isn't "true dhamma" and he steered me away from the misguidance of mainstream western buddhism, which I didn't realize had been such a blocker to me making actual progress in buddhism for all of these years. I have never met anyone who so clearly demonstrates the understanding and insight of an actual streamenterer and I am surprised, pleased, and grateful at his sudden appearance in my life. The progress that I have made since meeting him has been nothing short of amazing and life changing."

- Andrew Smith, Corporate Financial Officer
"Michael is a truly extraordinary human being.  I've never met anyone like him and he is an amazing buddhist teacher.  I met Michael years ago as part of a Sravasti Abbey Monastery three month dharma 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., Pediatrician
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"I've never had a teacher or met another Buddhist like Michael. He is really knowledgeable, insightful and his intelligence is striking. He understands the dhamma better than anyone else I've ever met and there hasn't been a single question that I have asked in the dozens and dozens of hours that we have spent together so far that he hasn't been able to answer with deep insight and clarity to help me better understand these very complicated concepts that make up Buddhism. It's not an exaggeration to say that Michael can easily (and often does) spend an hour answering a single question, with the depth and detail that only someone who clearly has direct knowledge can do in order to give me a correct and deep understanding, transmitting his insights and knowledge to me. Who does that? In my many years of living in retreat learning from dozens of teachers I am pretty sure that not very many teachers can and I've never met one who takes the time or cares enough to actually do so. Michael really is one in a million and is in a league of his own. By helping me understand what the dhamma actually is and what the Buddha actually taught my practice has become much more focused and I understand what the purpose and goals of this practice actually are now and they go far beyond the mainstream concepts of mindfulness and happiness. He helped me understand what "fake Buddhism" is and just how prevalent it is online and even in the most famous Buddhist retreat centers in the US. I was led to believe that the idea of "rebirth" was the stuff of ancient superstition and mysticism and that it wasn't necessary to understand or consider but I know differently now. That completely changed everything in ways that I can't even begin to describe. I now see how much "Wrong View" and "fake dhamma" there is out here that is being passed off as "Buddhism" and how damaging it is to cultivating "Right View" and the Noble Eightfold Path. He taught me to really understand the deep meaning of the Noble Eightfold Path and how important each step is to cultivating our understanding and progress. I feel very fortunate to have met Michael. I am appreciative of every minute we spend together talking about the dhamma. I look up to him and he sets a clear example of what is possible when spiritual attainments are actually made and when we have a good teacher and when we are diligent in our practice. He is the real deal and I am really grateful to have him in my life. Sadhu x3!"

- Upāsaka Cittadhammo (Don Porter), Corporate Controller
"Michael is one of the best teachers I've had the pleasure of working with. His help has been and continues to be instrumental in moving me beyond my cutting edge. Before I found Michael, I felt that I was not making the progress that I could've been making. The dharma wasn't penetrating my life as deeply as I thought it would. From the first meeting, Michael's candor and faith in the Buddha's teachings really struck a cord with me. The path is right here and available, we just need to walk it. Through his vast knowledge and experience in Early Buddhist Teachings (EBT) and esoteric Buddhism, Michael makes it clear that awakening is possible in this life. Through his guidance and keen mentorship, I'm confident that I'm well on my way to awakening."

​- Pell I., High School Counsellor
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"I was dealing with some really heavy stuff and I stopped being able to practice and to use the dharma and I stopped meditating. A coworker recommended Michael.  And what a great recommendation it was. He is kind, patience, and compassionate but he is also direct and doesn't let me make any excuses or buy into any of my own stories. That is 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 understand that buddhism provides a literal framework for resilience and happiness and 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, Self-employed Software Developer
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"I must note how much Michael's care and thoughtful one-size-does-not-fill-all approach is noticed and appreciated. I most certainly find my time spent learning from him to be of value. I wish I had considered moving on from my previous teacher earlier."

​​- JRN, Medical Student
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"Mike is an exceptional teacher. 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 judgement or a strong emotion suddenly arrives. He taught me how to "recognize, reduce, and replace", and I can see my afflictions 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. Because he taught me how to really counter my negative afflictions by using the dharma instead of just knowing it, 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. Thanks Mike!"

- Andy D., Data Center Operations
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"Thanks to Michael, my practices do something now!  I didn't know that I should be focusing to actually learn concentration. No one actually told me that. Duh. Just be mindful they said. 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 deep expertise across all of the Buddhist subjects 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., Information Technology Manager
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"There's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path/understanding it. Fortunately for any student of Michael, he has done both, which provides immense value to anyone he talks to. If you're trying to learn anything, it's of the utmost importance that you are able to know what's correct and what's not correct, without this knowledge you can get stuck going down wrong paths and learning incorrect knowledge. Michael is able to help you understand things and still let you learn it with your own perspective and apply it to your life in the way that only you know how while he course corrects it and helps you gain more knowledge as you go on.

At the end of the day I came into this path to become happier me. Through Michael, I'm realizing that what matters the most is being kind and compassionate to others, and that being kind to others is ultimately being kind to myself."

- Abou Ali
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"Michael is a positive and hard-hitting dharma teacher 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 such as "emptiness" and "rebirth," 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 trainer, but Michael understood these challenges and a wide range of many other topics and could provide useful tools for change. Following our most recent 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.''

- Catherine Howell, University Maths Professor (Retired)
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"Thank you for everything Michael. I never thought using your practical dharma techniques in my practice 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.  You completely fixed my meditation and 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 Tye, Executive Coach
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"Michael, 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 nonself 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 Walker, Elementary School Teacher
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"Of all the things that Mike taught me, what stands out the most is 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 Hansome, Financial Analyst
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"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, Management Consultant
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"Michael is an excellent teacher. My sessions with him were truly an invaluable experience. His deeply intuitive nature and his keen insights into Buddhism, 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 have spent together."

- Robert H., Blogger, Digital Nomad, & Jack-of-all-trades
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Would you like to join our growing student community?

​If you are interested in working together to make veritable progress as a Buddhist, you need a trustworthy teacher.  Please visit my training page to learn more; I am available as a skilled resource to guide you.  Opportunities to meet someone who can veritably teach what I teach don't come by often.​