Once upon a time there was a poor man who heard that in a faraway land, on the other side of the deep and dangerous sea, there is a place where diamonds were as plentiful as dust — one need only bend down, scoop them up, and fill one’s pockets.

Only one boat was capable of making the journey and it took a whole year from start to finish. After the long and arduous journey, the man arrived in this wondrous land. Everything that had been said about it was true! Diamonds of all sizes were strewn around everywhere — even the sand was comprised of billions of tiny glittering gems. A group of children gathered to watch the strange stranger kneeling on the ground and stuffing his pockets with stones and pebbles, but our friend was too busy to notice them.

To celebrate the end of his poverty, the traveler ordered a luxurious dinner in the most expensive restaurant in town. Feeling generous, he handed the waiter a small-sized stone and exhorted him to keep the change. Needless to say, he spent that entire night washing dishes in the kitchen to pay for his extravagance.

He quickly learned that these pebbles, each of which would be worth millions back home, were utterly worthless. Here, the currency with which people paid for goods and services was fish. In fact, few people remembered that fish were originally consumed as a food. No one was bothered by the stench which emanated from their wallets, pocketbooks and money closets. Indeed, a reeking establishment exuded the sweet aura of old money.

Once he overcame the disappointment of his lost dream, our traveler was revealed to be a most resourceful and ambitious individual. He worked hard, invested wisely, and before long he was one of the wealthiest people in the land. His businesses were headquartered in the most rancid section of old downtown and his private vaults held thousands of tons of fish.

Finally, it was time to return home. He telegraphed his family: “Am rich. We shall never want for anything in our lives. Prepare triumphant homecoming.” He loaded his fortune on a fleet of ships, and set sail for his hometown.

Family and friends, dressed in their best, awaited him eagerly at the seaport. Of course, there was nothing that could be done with his shiploads of rotted fish except sail back a few miles from shore and dump them into the sea.

But later that day, as he was undressing for bed, a few specks of dust were shaken out of his trouser pockets and sparkled on the floor of his home. He and his family never again wanted for anything in their lives.

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The soul, in its abode on high, hears wondrous tales of a faraway land. To get there, it must cross a deep and treacherous sea. Great treasures, it is told, are literally free for the taking in this place. A coin given to charity, a prayer uttered, a kind word extended to a troubled fellow — the higher realms, lacking physical bodies and a material reality, can only dream of such treasures.

The soul descends into the material world and discovers that everything that had been said about this place is true.

Diamonds litter the streets. Wherever one turns, await countless opportunities to share and bestow on another, to do, good and wholesome deeds. One need only bend down to the ground and fill one’s pockets.

Yet the value of these “diamonds” are not appreciated in this alien land. “Riches” of an entirely different sort bekon, so that when the time comes to return, many a soul finds itself lugging home shiploads of fetid fish.

But no soul can traverse our world without picking up at least a few gems along the way which enrich the heavens and make the entire trip more than worth its while…

If you are truly a Truth Seeker then listen to Marc Pasio lay it out. REMEMBER! Listen and watch as the witness. In sharing this I am not saying he is right. We have so much to confront, explore, contemplate, discover and manifest.

Warning!!! I share this video with humility. I have so much “work” left to do…….

“Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.” Henry David Thoreau

What is The Truth?  

Is Truth relative?  Sure it is.

Is Truth Absolute?  Absolutely.

“The Paradox of the paradox is that the paradox is a paradox.” Krishnamurti

How do we reconcile the seeming paradoxical nature of TRUTH?

How do we find Dharma?

Michael is a Professional Trainer with over 30 years in both the corporate setting and the personal development arena.  He is a certified Yoga teacher; a Kabbalist, an Integral Practitioner, a 15 year student and orientation guide of the Vipassana Meditation technique. 

Born, raised and educated in Rochester, NY, Michael holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from The University of Rochester and graduate study work in the area of human development/psychology from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

He obtained his Yoga Teaching Certificate from Kripalu Yoga Center in 2006   Attended and successfully completed the initial 10 day Vipassana Meditation Technique in 2007.  

My past career roles and responsibilities, my education accomplishments and endeavors and my life challenges and experience has, today, provided me the platform from which I can share and offer several services that will assist others with:

1. Connecting with “right alignment” with  one’s authentic desire for growth, transformation and healing.  
2. Guiding in the exploration/brainstorming stage of inquiry into the component parts of one’s unique, individual situation and circumstance.
3. Sharing techniques in system design, strategy and planning.
4. Assisting in the implementation and illumination stage of the process.
5. Creating ways to track and manage results! 

What I have just described are the 5 “steps” of a Macro Template of Creation itself.  This template can be applied to anything one desires.

My philosophy is both simple and complex.  I have discovered that there are effectively three ‘areas” of training, teaching and coaching and these three areas correlate perfectly with The Buddha’s Three Levels of Wisdom:

1. Imparting Knowledge:  One becomes aware from being told by another or reading a book or attending a lecture.  This is someone else’s wisdom and at this level one becomes aware.
2. Skill Development:  Once one becomes aware of “the job at hand” then one must be introduced to the skills needed to “perform the task” and best practices required to hone them.
3. Aptitude Enhancement:  There is an optimal cognitive perspective and approach to what one is engaged in creating.  This is one’s direct personal experience and a coach, teacher or trainer can, at best, be a good example.

The complexity of my approach is that I utilize multiple “maps of the territory.”  My intention is to create a holographic picture or view.  Some of the maps I use are:

• Yoga
• Kabbalah
• Meditation (especially the Vipassana Technique)
• Integral Theory
• Spiral Dynamics
• Chinese Medicine Principles
• Logo Therapy Philosophy (Viktor Frankl)

Now, each individual, business or organization is unique with individual and different needs, wants and expectations.  My approach and my work is always tailored to meet these differences through assessment, agreement and integral engagement.  

You may already be aware of this 5 phase process.    You may know it as the growth process:

1. Confusion -The Seed Level
2. Exploration – Root Structure
3. Incubation – Trunk
4. Illumination – Branches and Leaves
5. Celebration – Fruit

In the business “map” it is looks like this:

1. Goal/Objective – What is our mission?
2. Brainstorming – What do we need to account for?
3. Systems and Procedures – What is our strategy?
4. Implementation – How do we engage – ‘play’?
5. Outcome Management – What is the result?

In yoga it can be represented through The Koshas. The Koshas are described as the 5 bodies or veils of the self:

1. Physical – Body
2. Mental/Emotional – Mind
3. Energetic – Breath/Prana
4. Higher Self – Soul
5. Bliss – Spirit

In the Kabbalah Map it is called “The Four Phases”

1. Keter – Crown – The tip of the “Yud” – Phase Zero
2. Chochma – Wisdom – Yud – Phase One
3. Binah – Intelligence – Hey – Phase Two
4. Zeir Anpin – The Process – Vav – Phase Three
5. Malchut – The Kingdom – Hey – Phase Four

There are a few other five phase processes that I have found that mirror what I am sharing here.  For those of us dealing with loss, failure or a chronic condition we know it as The Grief Process:

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Depression
4. Bargaining
5. Acceptance

As someone who has had to deal with a chronic physical condition since the age of 14 I am intimately aware of the grief process and have applied the 5 phase macro template to how I have managed the challenge:

1.  Confront – What is the reality of what we are up against and how do I best line up with what I need to do?

2.  Understand – What do I need to know and learn and study?

3.  Integrate – What do I need to do and How do I best do it?

4.  Master – How do continue to implement and grow?

5.  Share – How do bestow my findings with others?

You can find the 5 phases everywhere once you become aware of it, do some inquiry and have a direct personal experience with it.  You can use it to overcome, build, create, transform, grow and heal.  It is a process and it becomes valuable over time through consistent, persistent and patient application.  I serve as a guide in introducing, orienting, exploring, testing, mastering and celebrating.

Yoga

I have been practicing and teaching yoga for over 20 years now.  I got hooked on yoga when I had landed on my personal healing path and realized what a perfect metaphor it was for my daily task of managing my condition of Type One Diabetes(T1D).  When I told one of the Master Teachers at Kripalu that I had T1D she said, “Now That Is A Yoga Pose.”  For the past two years I have been leading a small group in weekly yoga sessions.  We meet three times a week.  I tailor the session to the participants’ level and current needs.  

Meditation

I am a Vipassana Meditator.  I am not a Vipassana “teacher”.  However, I have guided many others in understanding the Vipassana technique which has been called The Buddha’s minimum training requirement for Enlightenment.  So, what I do is orient others to this technique.  The way I do it is by guiding others through a book and answering questions.  When I was at my 10 day retreat I reduced my insulin requirement  by 50%.  Just saying……If you do nothing else with me…..read this book. 

The principles and understandings contained within this book make up much of the core of my philosophy and training.

One on One Consultation

If you prefer one on one work I do this.  I especially find this valuable for those who are dealing with a chronic condition.   

Group Work

I have been doing zoom sessions for over two years now and it is actually very dynamic.  There are some advantages doing yoga via zoom and, of course, there are a few draw backs.

Business or Organization Consultation

Prior to 2006 I had a 20 year career as a corporate director of training, development and quality assurance.  I assessed and evaluated current operations, created new innovative systems and procedures, developed operations and training manuals, recruited and hired employees, facilitated initial training of new employees and conducted one on one and group development training programs.  

Applying this template to a business or organization could be a tipping point.  As someone who has run their own business with over 100 employees I am aware of both the value and the potential ineptitude of a business consultant, especially someone who has never run their own business.  As with individuals, each business is unique.  I believe that it makes no sense to pay to talk to anyone who won’t be able to help me improve, grow or increase efficiency.  And you never know until they come in and start talking.  Therefore, my approach with any business relationship will be an initial session where I am able to listen to what you need and want to accomplish.  I will then provide my response and assessment.   There is no charge for this initial assessment.  I need to know what you want and you need to know what I can do.  There is value in just doing that.  Then, if we agree there is value in moving forward, we will create a next step.  The motto for our business that I was a partner in came from Buckminster Fuller:

“Total Accountability and Total Feedback Constitute the Minimum and Only Perpetual Motion System”

Every business is looking to hone their systems and processes to resemble a perpetual motion system.  In the old days it was called TQM.  If I can help you identify what it is that needs accountability and assist you in creating faster and more dynamic feedback loops, I can be of value to you and your business.  I look forward to exploring the possibilities in this ever changing world.

On Sunday November 1, 2020 at 1pm, I will be guiding a yoga session for a charity supporting Huntington Chorea.  

Overview of Huntington’s Disease

As it is an initial, one-time, class, I have designed the session to be an orientation type of approach.  Yoga is such a big and comprehensive “map of the territory” so an orientation can be done from many different perspectives.  Since, the charity is supporting a dis-ease with some similarity to the dis-ease I have been challenged with for over 44 years, I will probably emphasize the “wellness” aspect of yoga.  Since it is a first class, I will also stick to the basics of “Right Alignment” and “Discovering One’s Edge.” 

I completed my Yoga Teacher Training at Kripalu Yoga Center in October of 2006.  I engaged in this 200 hour – month long intensive training because I wanted to deepen my personal practice.  It was not my intention to become a “yoga teacher” or own a yoga studio.  I had been practicing Bikram Yoga since 1999 and was realizing tremendous benefits in managing my blood sugar levels and overall health as a Type 1 Diabetic since the age of 14.  Both conditions involve the immune system.

One of the most referred to “maps’ to understand what yoga is all about is the Eight Limb Path.  There is a beginning and there is an end.  There is an apparent starting point and there is a destination.  Yoga defined means “union.”  Ultimately it is the union with self and Source; Samadhi; The Eighth Limb.  Here is an image of the Eight Limbs:

In Kripalu Yoga there are 3 stages to the practice.  First, Right Alignment.  Second, Discovering and Exploring Your Personal Edge.  And third, Authentic Free Expression.  These three stages mirror the three levels of wisdom that The Buddha expressed.  Level One-Becoming aware of a thing or idea by being told about it or reading a book about it.  Level Two – Engaging in Intellectual Inquiry into the nature of the thing or idea.  Level Three – Direct Personal Experience of the thing or idea. 

There is a five step transformational process in Kripalu that we utilize to cultivate mindfulness and presence in the confronting of a “pose.”  The acronym is BRFWA.  I will introduce BRFWA and cycle through the process a few times. The 5 steps are: 

Breathe – Relax – Feel – Watch – Allow.

At the end of the session I have agreed to engage in a question and answer session.

Over the last six months, since the lockdown, I have been guiding a group of about 15 people in weekly yoga, meditation and map questing sessions.  We have been getting together four times a week and have journeyed through the 8 limbs.  We have also inquired into several other “maps of the territory” with the objective of obtaining a more holistic and holographic picture of The Reality of Things; Dharma.  The last 13 weeks of our work have been documented on this website under the Atwater Group Page.  Feel free to browse through this page as well as the many blogs I have written over the past 13 years. 

I look forward to guiding this session and connecting with the participants.