Buddhist Geeks

Author Biography:

Tina learned to meditate in 1976, at the age of 13. She has meditated daily since 1993. In 2003, she completed a year-long solo retreat, spending 8 to 12 hours every day engaged in spiritual practice. Her practices include the Theravadan Jhanas, Vipassana, the Bramaviharas, Tibetan Dzogchen Rigpa, Qi Gong, and Yoga.

In 2005, Tina attended the 2-month jhana retreat with Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, who ordained her as a Theravada Buddhist nun. During the retreat, Tina became the first American and the first Western woman to complete the entire Samatha path in the lineage of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw. Tina is the co-author of the book, Practicing the Jhanas, published by Shambhala Publications. Tina has been authorized to teach by Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw, and works as a spiritual mentor, professional coach, and OD consultant.

Website: www.JhanasAdvice.com

Episode Description:
In this episode we wrap up our discussion with meditation teachers Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder, two of the only lay Western teachers authorized to teach the jhana system of Pa Auk Sayadaw. They share the deeper purpose of concentration practice, which isn’t to attain any particular states, but rather is to serve as a purification of the mind stream, what they describe as the “thinning of the me.”
They describe the 8 jhanas as states that progressively reach toward the unconditioned, with the 8th jhana, neither perception nor non-perception, as a realm that is as close as [...]

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Episode Description:
This week we speak with Theravada mediation teachers Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder. In 2005, while on a 2-month retreat, they were the first Western lay practitioners (i.e. non-monks) to complete the traditional concentration practices of Pa Auk Sayadaw–a well-regarded Burmese jhana master. The Sayadaw encouraged them to teach what they’ve learned, and they have, as a result, starting leading retreats and have written a book entitled, Practicing the Jhanas.
In this episode they share the progressive practice that they did with Pa Auk Sayadaw, which includes all sorts of traditional practices from the Pali Canon. They [...]

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