In Between the Bitter and Sweet: Meditation in the Stream of Life

The practice of meditation is a long journey, and one that continuously evolves as all things do in impermanence. And during the journey there will be changes that shift our perspectives, drawing us further and deeper into the practice. It's an exciting journey, full of insights, new perceptions, and views as perception changes in that impermanent field I call "My Life."This book is about the changes that have taken place over several decades of meditation, and how the journey has unfolded along with my changing perceptions. And seeing that the practice evolves in impermanence, from the perceptions that drove the journey, to the changes in those same perceptions that still drive the journey.And a look at Ego, that ancient Freudian word, I prefer to call it the Separate Conditioned Personality, who was the one who wanted to start practicing meditation in the first place in the hopes of becoming someone special and unique. (Ego is still attempting to become someone special and unique, I suspect it always will.)It's about the dynamics of practice, exploring subjects like Dana, and the reality that Dana's not just a practice of giving, but seeing if the giving is truthful or not. It's about compassion and acceptance, and exploring the dynamics of time, belief, and seeing clearly.The book speaks of a journey, one in search of a life defined by measured responses instead of reactivity and drama. And places attention on how tightly woven into this life we are, existing as impermanent beings struggling to live in an impermanent, bittersweet universe.I believe in the practice of meditation as a way to gain insight into how we engage in life, how we unfold and operate from moment to moment, and my intention is to be honest concerning the direct experience of meditation and share that as clearly as possible without resorting to entertaining stories, imagination, or probabilities.I want this book to be a public document and I've set the price as low as allowable on the Amazon Kindle platform. I never have been convinced that it's either moral or ethical to sell Dharma (wisdom) although I certainly am guilty of doing that in more ways than one in the past. Thankfully the experience of being impermanent encourages new actions.How amazing this life is as we unfold into it, and for me, the practice of meditation helps keep this perspective alive and well. It's an ancient idea, that the quality of our lives depends on the focus of our attention. And the practice of meditation certainly offers a greater understanding of how we pay attention as we travel through life.More will be revealed, more is always revealed in attention.Bryan Wagner 2/17/2025