Christopher is a returning guest. You might enjoy checking out his previous sessions -- #336, #328, #292, #283, #273, #184 and #175 — in the archives. 

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER

Christopher Gentile lives in Syracuse, New York, where he works as an audio engineer and content curator at Waking Up, the meditation app founded by Sam Harris.

As with many of us, he first sought meditation in order to deal with anxiety. His practice quickly ramped up during retreat in Thailand.

In the beginning, I practiced with various guided meditations on Youtube and the like. Later I was teaching English in Thailand and decided to study vipassana at Wat Chom Tong monastery during the school break.

Practice became completely lifechanging. Yes, difficult, uncomfortable, and intense, but after sticking with the program--walking, sitting, walking, and sitting all day long--I had a breakthrough a couple weeks in. My practice really caught fire after that.

I found Shinzen's approach via Youtube and his website in 2017. My current daily practice involves many techniques, mainly Focus In, Focus Out, Focus on Flow, G.U.S., and Do Nothing.

He shared some of the benefits he’s garnered from practice.

Practice has radically re-wired my mind and my understanding of who I am.  It has brought focus, clarity, and confidence. The biggest benefit I’ve experienced is the ability to remain unshaken in very stressful life situations. I’m less reactive. Also, there’s just something fundamentally fulfilling in having insights into the true nature of mind, sensory experience, and consciousness. Every aspect of my life is impacted by the integration of mindfulness.