Ron is finding meditation and his time with Adam increasingly helpful in dealing with his ‘Moral Injury’ from the war. Over time they both complete two 10-day Vipassana Meditation retreats, which are very helpful in furthering their healing process. In the meantime, Adam moves to a small lake in the Cascade foothills named Lake Joy. Ron began visiting Adam at his cabin and they continue their practice together. Read more »
It was during my first interview with Ron that I began to see more than just a friendship with Adam, but a relationship that had become very healing for both. In the next clip, I would like to flash forward briefly to a recent conversation I filmed between Adam and Ron, where we get a rare glimpse into the reality facing many soldiers in duty. Read more »
While interviewing Adam, he suggested that I meet a good friend of his, Ron. When I met Ron, I was immediately impressed by how bright and articulate he was. Read more »
At work Adam is feeling judged by some of his co-workers as ‘crazy’. He tells me how hard it is to find people he can speak to about the ‘interactions’ he is having with his ‘guides’. Read more »
In Adam’s next interview, he takes us through the time after his Vipassana and how his experiences in alternate states of consciousness continue to grow stronger. Though he has managed to stay off pharmaceutical medications through meditation, he also shares with us how increased ‘interactions’ are making it difficult to hold down his job at Whole Foods. Read more »
During the first interview with Adam he shared the struggles he faced with 4 years of doctors, medications and the side effects that resulted. He also told us about his amazing feat of cutting off the medications when he decided to attend a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat—a retreat that gave him a technique that helped him stabilize himself. Read more »
About nine months ago, out of my curiosity and interest in meditation I began interviewing individuals who had been meditating. It just so happens that 2 of the 3 people I interviewed had had ‘psychotic episodes’ similar to the experiences the shamans described to me.
Adam is one of those individuals. Read more »
In a sense, this new project began long before today. It started while I was interviewing the shaman and living with pre-industrial cultures. These were the experiences and insights that stuck with me, and have now become the catalyst for my current exploration: one that I hope provides a deeper understanding of our inner worlds.
About two years ago I decided to set aside twenty minutes a day to sit and meditate. I made this commitment simply on the basis of articles I had read that indicated a regular meditation practice is good for health and creativity. I had never taken any formal training but I had heard that one method was to just follow your breath and gently bring your attention back to your breath as your mind wandered. Read more »
In July of 2001 I traveled to Pakistan to visit a small group of animists called the Kalash. I was told that the most powerful of the three remaining Kalash Dehars (Shaman) was at a mountain camp where he spends the summer herding his goats. Read more »
