Podcasts about deconstructing yourself

This week's show is with Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, MD MSPH, a retired emergency medicine physician who works to improve the global relationship of science, clinical practice, mental health and the public to the phenomena that might be referred to as spiritual, meditative, energetic, mystical, psychedelic, magical, and related phenomena. To those ends, he is currently the founder, philanthropic supporter, and volunteer CEO and Board Chair of the Emergence Benefactors registered charity, and chief organizer and co-founder of the global Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium. He is currently involved in neurophenomenological research of advanced meditative states with colleagues at Harvard and has been a participant in numerous fMRI and EEG studies of advanced meditators, including at Harvard, Yale, U Mass, and Vanderbilt. He has published scientific articles in Pediatrics, Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Journal of Medical Toxicology. He is the author of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, co-author of The Fire Kasina, and co-founder of the Dharma Overground. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Esquire, Vice, Wired, BBC Radio 4, Evolving Dharma, American Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Modernity, Dan Harris' 10% Happier Podcast, Slate Star Codex Blog, Buddha at the Gas Pump, Meaning of Life TV, Deconstructing Yourself, Spiritual Explained website, Guru Viking, Buddhist Geeks, Cosmic Tortoise, Startup Geometry, Imperfect Buddha Podcast, and many others. In this conversation, Lian and Daniel explore what awakening really means, weaving between the modern non-duality and Neo-Vedanta ideas such as "you're already awake" and the more structured progressive paths, filled with stages, techniques, and deepening insights. They gently reveal the hidden challenges and the powerful gifts each path offers, opening up a conversation that's both timeless and deeply relevant. Lian shares how awakening can happen spontaneously, profoundly reshaping lives, while Daniel draws from his extensive experience in various spiritual communities and traditions. Together, they explore the subtle nuances of spiritual growth, shadow integration, and the vital practice of staying present to this very moment. Their personal experiences effortlessly blend with mythic and traditional wisdom, highlighting the beautiful paradox of human growth. They also discuss practical tools like the five Buddha families, attachment styles, and why working with our shadows is essential. Daniel stresses how important personalised practice and honest community feedback are on this journey. Their conversation gently challenges the seductive myth of spiritual perfectionism, offering instead a grounded, compassionate invitation towards continual transformation and deeper self-awareness. We'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment wherever you are listening or in any of our other spaces to engage. What You'll Learn From This Episode: How clearly seeing the strengths and limits of modern non-dual teachings and progressive spiritual approaches helps you create a spiritual practice that's deeply meaningful, nourishing, and aligned with who you really are. Why recognising and embracing your shadows—those hidden emotional patterns and parts of yourself—is essential for reclaiming your wholeness, bringing more emotional freedom and a deeper sense of authenticity. How using personality frameworks like the five Buddha families and attachment styles can help you personalise your spiritual journey in a way that genuinely honours your unique nature. Resources and stuff spoken about: If you want to focus on Daniel's scientific work related to spirituality and the organisation he helps support: Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium The EPRC YouTube Channel Emergence Benefactors If you want to focus on Daniel's work related to meditation practice and its effects: Daniel M. Ingram YouTube Channel Mastering The Core Teachings of Buddha For Books: Fire Kasina: The Fire Kasina Meditation Site for books and more on meditation Daniels Personal Website: Integrated Daniel Daniels Online Community: The Dharma Overground Emerge Wiki: emergewiki.org Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union. This is for the old souls in this new world… Discover your kin & unite with your soul's calling to truly live your myth. Be Mythical Join our mailing list for soul stirring goodness: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly Discover your kin & unite with your soul's calling to truly live your myth: https://www.bemythical.com/unio Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode released each week here and on most podcast platforms - and video too on YouTube. If you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your device every week automagically. (that way you'll never miss a show).

What you need to know about awakening… it's not all love and light! This week's show is with Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, MD MSPH, a retired emergency medicine physician who works to improve the global relationship of science, clinical practice, mental health and the public to the phenomena that might be referred to as spiritual, meditative, energetic, mystical, psychedelic, magical, and related phenomena. To those ends, he is currently the founder, philanthropic supporter, and volunteer CEO and Board Chair of the Emergence Benefactors registered charity, and chief organiser and co-founder of the global Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium. He is currently involved in neurophenomenological research of advanced meditative states with colleagues at Harvard and has been a participant in numerous fMRI and EEG studies of advanced meditators, including at Harvard, Yale, U Mass, and Vanderbilt. He has published scientific articles in Pediatrics, Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Journal of Medical Toxicology. He is the author of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, co-author of The Fire Kasina, and co-founder of the Dharma Overground. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Esquire, Vice, Wired, BBC Radio 4, Evolving Dharma, American Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Modernity, Dan Harris' 10% Happier Podcast, Slate Star Codex Blog, Buddha at the Gas Pump, Meaning of Life TV, Deconstructing Yourself, Spiritual Explained website, Guru Viking, Buddhist Geeks, Cosmic Tortoise, Startup Geometry, Imperfect Buddha Podcast, and many others. In this conversation, Lian and Daniel explored the challenges and pitfalls associated with spiritual awakening, particularly the dark nights of the soul that many seekers face on their path.  This is ancient wisdom that in some modern western spheres has been forgotten and is now being remembered - which you'll hear can be surprisingly controversial. We'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment wherever you are listening or in any of our other spaces to engage. What you'll learn from this episode: Spiritual awakening can lead to significant challenges and disruptions in life - historical texts have long acknowledged the challenges of spiritual practices. Recognising this means we can seek traditions that include guidance and remedies for difficult experiences. Community support and normalisation of experiences can help individuals feel less isolated in their difficult spiritual experiences, and provide help in navigating them. Resources and stuff spoken about: If you want to focus on Daniel's scientific work related to spirituality and the organisation he helps support: Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium The EPRC YouTube Channel Emergence Benefactors If you want to focus on Daniel's work related to meditation practice and its effects: Daniel M. Ingram YouTube Channel Mastering The Core Teachings of Buddha For Books: Fire Kasina: The Fire Kasina Meditation Site for books and more on meditation Daniels Personal Website: Integrated Daniel Daniels Online Community: The Dharma Overground Emerge Wiki: emergewiki.org Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union. This is for the old souls in this new world… Discover your kin & unite with your soul's calling to truly live your myth. Be Mythical Join our mailing list for soul stirring goodness: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union: https://www.bemythical.com/unio Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode released each week here and on most podcast platforms - and video too on YouTube - if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode).  

In this episode, recorded in March 2023 for the Deconstructing Yourself podcast hosted by Michael Taft, we look at the similarities and differences between Tantrik Shaivism, Tantrik Buddhism, and Vedanta. Alongside Michael - spiritual teacher, bestselling author of "The Mindful Geek" and co-founder of The Alembic in Berkeley - we debunk a few myths and misconceptions about these spiritual paths. The discussion then leads us to some of the most unique and key teachings of non-dual tantra, such as the concepts of 'fullness of emptiness' and beneficial possession, comparing them to other prevalent spiritual philosophies from India. Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings, and courses at tantrailluminated.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's show is with Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, MD MSPH, a retired emergency medicine physician who works to improve the global relationship of science, clinical practice, mental health and the public to the phenomena that might be referred to as spiritual, meditative, energetic, mystical, psychedelic, magical, and related phenomena. To those ends, he is currently the founder, philanthropic supporter, and volunteer CEO and Board Chair of the Emergence Benefactors registered charity, and chief organizer and co-founder of the global Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium. He is currently involved in neurophenomenological research of advanced meditative states with colleagues at Harvard and has been a participant in numerous fMRI and EEG studies of advanced meditators, including at Harvard, Yale, U Mass, and Vanderbilt. He has published scientific articles in Pediatrics, Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Journal of Medical Toxicology. He is the author of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, co-author of The Fire Kasina, and co-founder of the Dharma Overground. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Esquire, Vice, Wired, BBC Radio 4, Evolving Dharma, American Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Modernity, Dan Harris' 10% Happier Podcast, Slate Star Codex Blog, Buddha at the Gas Pump, Meaning of Life TV, Deconstructing Yourself, Spiritual Explained website, Guru Viking, Buddhist Geeks, Cosmic Tortoise, Startup Geometry, Imperfect Buddha Podcast, and many others. In this conversation, Daniel and Lian explored the intersection of magic, spirituality, science, and healthcare. Daniel shares his personal journey and the three aspects of himself that led him to explore this integration within and without via the work of the Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium, which aims to bridge the gap between the clinical mainstream and the emergent world. The conversation explores the importance of understanding phenomenology, establishing diagnostic categories, and conducting epidemiological studies. As well as the topics of neurodivergence and shamanic sickness, highlighting the need for understanding and support in these areas, and the challenges of recognising and relating to unusual experiences, as well as the tension between regulation and accessibility in alternative healing practices. Finally, Daniel shares his vision for the future, where knowledge and capabilities in these areas are equitably distributed and supported by scientific research. We'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below or share in our fb group. What you'll learn from this episode: The integration of magic, spirituality, science, and healthcare can lead to transformative experiences and intentional healing. Understanding phenomenology and establishing diagnostic categories are crucial for bridging the gap between the clinical mainstream and the emergent world. Epidemiological studies can provide insights into the impact of transformative experiences on mental wellbeing and society. Special projects related to military, security, space, and big data require careful consideration and ethical approaches. Normalization and connection with others who have had similar experiences can be healing and provide support. Understanding and support for neurodivergence and shamanic sickness are important in the context of spiritual and mystical experiences. Recognizing and relating to unusual experiences can be challenging, but pattern recognition and training can help healthcare professionals provide better care. There is a tension between regulation and accessibility in alternative healing practices, and it is important to find a balance that allows for both safety and inclusivity. The vision for the future includes a global clinical mainstream that has a sophisticated understanding of alternative healing practices and the ability to provide equitable access to knowledge and support. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: If you want to focus on my scientific work related to spirituality and the organization I help support: Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium The EPRC YouTube Channel Emergence Benefactors If you want to focus on my work related to meditation practice and its effects: Daniel M. Ingram YouTube Channel Mastering The Core Teachings of Buddha For Boo For Books: Fire Kasina: The Fire Kasina Meditation Site for books and more on meditation Daniels Personal Website: Integrated Daniel Daniels Online Community: The Dharma Overground   Be Mythical Join our mailing list: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly "How do you think the concepts of morals and ethics influence our daily lives, and what role do you believe storytelling plays in shaping our understanding of empathy and ethical decision-making?" UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union: Doors opening soon! To get your special invitation register HERE. Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper   Follow us: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube   Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode).

This episode is an interview recorded in late 2023 for the Deconstructing Yourself podcast, founded and hosted by Michael Taft. Michael, a seasoned meditator, meditation teacher, and author of the bestseller "The Mindful Geek," as well as co-founder of The Alembic in Berkeley, engages in an in-depth conversation about my latest book, "Near Enemies of the Truth," which addresses the complexities and misconceptions around spiritual clichés and platitudes. Together, we explore the nuances of the term 'enlightenment,' its meanings in both English and Sanskrit, the differences between awakening and liberation, and what embodied liberation truly entails, alongside the implications of karma and samskara.Discover a treasure trove of guided meditations, teachings and course at www.tantrailluminated.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In celebration of How Minds Change, my new book, turning one-year-old, in this episode Michael Taft interviews David McRaney about how minds do and do not change, the process behind writing a book about it, and what he has learned since writing it and promoting it.Michael is a meditation teacher, bestselling author, and  a mindfulness coach – and he specializes in secular, science-based mindfulness training. If you are interested in a science-based, secular book about meditation and and mindfulness, I highly recommend his book,The Mindful Geek, snd I recommend guided meditation with him. He offers that at The Alembic in Berkely. You can join them virtually, over the internet. Links below.I also recommend his podcast, Deconstructing Yourself. It is all about entheogens and neurofeedback and brain hacking. If you are a Carl Sagan loving, science endorsing, evidence based sort of person – a nerd, geek, or skeptic or humanist who wants to know more about meditation and deep dive into what we do and do not know about it – that's what his podcast is about. Sam Harris will be a guest on there soon, and I think many of you will love that episode.Deconstructing YourselfThe AlembicMichael TaftHow Minds ChangeDavid McRaney's TwitterYANSS TwitterShow NotesNewsletterPatreon

Read the full transcript here. How does nondual meditation differ from other forms of meditation? Is nonduality the sort of thing a person can just "get" immediately? What value is provided by the more effortful, less "sudden" forms of meditation? Is there such a thing as full or complete enlightenment? And what would such a state entail? To what extent do nondual meditation teachers agree about what nonduality is? Are glimpses of enlightenment available to everyone? How long does it usually take a person to stabilize their ability to return to a nondual way of seeing the world? What are some common ways people get "stuck" while learning nondual meditation? How important are meditation retreats? Though the paths themselves are obviously quite distinct from one another, do all forms of meditation ultimately share a common goal? How are all of these things related to spirituality or religion?Michael Taft is a teacher of nondual meditation and host of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast and website. He is the author of The Mindful Geek, and co-founder of The Alembic, a Berkeley-based center for meditation, movement, citizen neuroscience, and visionary culture. Having lived all over the world and practiced deeply in several traditions, Michael currently makes his home in California. Email him at michaeltaft@gmail.com, or learn more about him at his website, deconstructingyourself.com.Jeremy Stevenson hails from Adelaide, Australia, and has a PhD in clinical psychology with a dissertation focused on the effects of self-compassion on social anxiety. During his PhD he became intensely interested in meditation, sitting several shorter retreats which eventually culminated in sitting longer retreats, including a 3-month retreat in Nepal. He is now working as a clinical psychologist as well as doing research work for Spark Wave. His ongoing meditation interest is the perplexing skill of nondual mindfulness. Email him at jeremy.david.stevenson@gmail.com, or listen to his previous episode on this podcast here. [Read more]

This week's show is with Dr. Daniel M. Ingram. Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, MD MSPH, is a retired emergency medicine physician who works to improve the global relationship of science, clinical practice, mental health and the public to the phenomena that might be referred to as spiritual, meditative, energetic, mystical, psychedelic, magical, and related phenomena. To those ends, he is currently the founder, philanthropic supporter, and volunteer CEO and Board Chair of the Emergence Benefactors registered charity, and chief organizer and co-founder of the global Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium. He is currently involved in neurophenomenological research of advanced meditative states with colleagues at Harvard and has been a participant in numerous fMRI and EEG studies of advanced meditators, including at Harvard, Yale, U Mass, and Vanderbilt. He has published scientific articles in Pediatrics, Child Abuse and Neglect, and the Journal of Medical Toxicology. He is the author of Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha, co-author of The Fire Kasina, and co-founder of the Dharma Overground. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Esquire, Vice, Wired, BBC Radio 4, Evolving Dharma, American Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Modernity, Dan Harris' 10% Happier Podcast, Slate Star Codex Blog, Buddha at the Gas Pump, Meaning of Life TV, Deconstructing Yourself, Spiritual Explained website, Guru Viking, Buddhist Geeks, Cosmic Tortoise, Startup Geometry, Imperfect Buddha Podcast, and many others. In this conversation, Daniel and I explored the topic of where magic and spirituality meet, how they can seem at odds, even though magical phenomena are found in many mystical traditions, how Daniel found his way to a life and work in which they belong together, and how he sees they have an important role in understanding and working to improve mental health. We'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment below or share in our fb group. What you'll learn from this episode: Daniel's story illustrates how in many spiritual traditions, magical effects are considered almost a distraction and not something to focus on, whereas his path took him into the conscious practice of magick too - Daniel discovered Kasina and elemental practices from the ancient Buddhist texts could actually be a powerful aid in his ceremonial magic practice, showing that meditative traditions and magick can happily co-exist I love what Daniel said… “There is a there - if you get your concentration and intention right.” (very overly simplistically paraphrased!) We spoke about the seeming dichotomy between the rational, scientific worldview and the magical worldview - which just like magic and spirituality, doesn't have to be choice between one or the other. I love what Daniel said about there being no other culture in the history of the world that has this completely non-spiritual take on mental health, in the way we do in this modern culture. For this to change we probably need to create the choice and research to compare mainstream frameworks and approaches vs spiritual ones. Resources and stuff that we spoke about: If you want to focus on my scientific work related to spirituality and the organization I help support: Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium The EPRC YouTube Channel Emergence Benefactors If you want to focus on my work related to meditation practice and its effects: Daniel M. Ingram YouTube Channel Mastering The Core Teachings of Buddha For Boo For Books: Fire Kasina: The Fire Kasina Meditation Site for books and more on meditation Daniels Personal Website: Integrated Daniel Daniels Online Community: The Dharma Overground Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode each week, if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode automagically delivered to your phone every Wild Wednesday (that way you'll never miss an episode): Subscribe on Apple Podcasts/iTunes Subscribe on Android Thank you! Lian and Jonathan

Michael Taft is a meditation teacher, author, and host of the ‘Deconstructing Yourself' podcast.
 In this episode, Michael reveals why he dislikes maps of meditation, and why he believes the Progress of Insight, a widely taught meditation map in Theravada Buddhism, causes more problems than it solves. Michael also discusses his points of agreement and disagreement with the Buddhist four path model, how he defines and teaches stream entry, the common traps on the way to enlightenment, how to cut through spiritual ego, and why Michael questions if becoming an arhat is actually good for anybody. Michael goes on to explain his own meditation map, based on the teachings of Shinzen Young, and shares his takes on emptiness, jhana, fire kasina, and how life changes after awakening. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep167-maps-to-enlightenment-michael-taft-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:57 - Cons of meditation maps 06:06 - Why the Progress of Insight map causes more problems than it solves 09:50 - Disagreement with Daniel Ingram 10:37 - Controversy of claiming Arhatship 14:15 - Teaching towards stream entry 15:06 - Defining stream entry 18:16 - Do meditators really want stream entry? 20:17 - Where Michael diverges from the 4-path model 22:42 - different approaches to spiritual practice 23:24 - What changes after enlightenment? 29:01 - Stress tolerance of enlightenment 30:09 - Michael's perceptive 31:16 - Dangers on the way to stream entry 36:29 - Post-stream entry pitfalls 37:54 - Spiritual ego trips 38:35 - How Michael slices through spiritual ego 39:39 - Michael's own map of vipassana 45:35 - The failure mode of high concentration 48:05 - Differences between low concentration and insight into emptiness 51:05 - The problem with cessation 52:47 - Emptiness of self and other 54:37 - Pointing to the self 56:02 - When Michael's students achieve stream entry 57:02 - Welcome to the club 57:41 - Sutra vs Mahamudra 58:53 - Running the map backwards 01:01:21 - Emptiness and form 01:05:07 - The big temptation of emptiness and bliss 01:08:35 - Why leave emptiness? 01:13:10 - Vipassana vs vipasyana 01:15:41 - Quick fire round 01:16:13 - Wet of dry vipassana? 01:16:39 - Hard or soft jhana? 01:17:22 - Breath or fire kasina? 01:18:21 - BIT or SHF? 01:19:09 - Shinzen Young's evolution … Previous episode with Michael Taft: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep149-deconstructing-yourself-michael-taft To find out more about Michael Taft, visit: - https://deconstructingyourself.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In this interview I am joined by Michael Taft: maverick meditation teacher, bestselling author, host of the ‘Deconstructing Yourself' podcast, and founder of the Alembic community. Michael recounts his lifelong meditation journey, describes his initial reluctance to teach meditation, the writing of ‘Mindful Geek', and his divergence from Shinzen Young. Michael reveals his troubled upbringing, crippling teenage anxiety, and intense experimentation with LSD and the occult. Michael also shares a transformative mystical experience in Japan, his practice of classical Hindu tantra, and details experiences of seeing other dimensional entities in daily life. … Link in bio.

 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include:
 00:00 - Intro 01:57 - Looking back at ‘Mindful Geek' 03:09 - Reluctance to teach 04:49 - Secular mindfulness 10:09 - Diverging from Shinzen Young 12:52 - Michael's troubled upbringing 17:32 - Crippling anxiety attacks and discovering meditation 21:35 - Experiments with the occult 22:36 - Michael's magical explorations 25:40 - Chaos magic and massive doses of LSD 28:12 - The essence of Robert Anton Wilson 31:31 - David Chapman ruins everything 34:10 - Shapeshifting as a meditation teacher 41:36 - More on LSD 43:06 - Moving to Japan 46:46 - A transformative psychedelic experience 49:38 - Analysing Michael's psychedelic experience 54:32 - Living in the Jewel Ornament Sutra 56:48 - Seeing entities 01:00:17 - Learning to see other realms 01:04:20 - Extensive kundalini work 01:08:23 - Michael's practice of classical tantra 01:10:38 - Intensive underground retreat practice 01:11:16 - The essence of Michael's tantric journey 01:14:33 - Trauma healing and the energy body 01:17:20 - Integration and personal relationships ... To find out more about Michael Taft, visit: - https://deconstructingyourself.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Brigid Schulte is an award-winning journalist for the Washington Post and Washington Post magazine. She was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize. She is also a fellow at the New America Foundation. Brigid is a regular contributor to the She The People blog and has written for Style, Outlook, and other outlets. She writes about work-life issues and poverty, seeking to understand what it takes to live a good life across race, class, and gender. Her recent book is called “Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time“.In this episode, Eric and Brigid discuss the common struggles and strategies for dealing with being overwhelmed.Join us on Sunday, February 27th for a FREE. live Webinar: “Learn the #1 Spiritual Habit to Unlock Energy and Ease in your Life”. Eric will walk you through the process he's used for 20+ years to help himself (and thousands of others) move forward with ease, even when circumstances are everchanging and feel out of control. But wait – there's more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It's that simple and we'll give you good stuff as a thank you!Brigid Schulte and I Discuss Strategies for When You're Overwhelmed and…Her book, Overwhelmed: How to Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the TimeDefining “The Overwhelm”How our perception of time and stress negatively affect the brainThe internal and external pressures to do too much.The history of leisure and idleness and how it is nowThe two qualities of leisure: choosing the activity and having control of your timeContaminated time is when you're caught up in your thoughtsMindfulness as a powerful tool to deal with overwhelmThe challenges and learning to handle ambiguityBroadening our perspective when managing timeThe importance of planning the most important tasks in our life firstPulsing is the practice of managing work cycles Brigid Schulte Links:Brigid's WebsiteTwitterFacebookWhen you purchase products and/or services from the sponsors of this episode, you help support The One You Feed. Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you!If you enjoyed this conversation with Brigid Schulte you might also enjoy these other episodes:Deconstructing Yourself with Michael TaftTime Management for Mortals with Oliver BurkemanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Michael Taft talks with neuroscientist and meditator Ruben Laukkonen about the phenomenology of the insight experience, how the sequence of deepening meditative practices maps onto the model of predictive processing in the human brain, the Eureka heuristic, what neuroscience can tell us about the deconstructive model of meditation, the science of cessations, and much more. Ruben Laukkonen is a postdoctoral fellow at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and lecturer at Amsterdam University College. Ruben seeks to uncover an empirically grounded and experientially authentic understanding of meditation, insight, and non-duality. Using a combination of neuroimaging, machine learning, and phenomenology, he is investigating some of the rarest states of consciousness available to human beings. Ruben has an eclectic contemplative background, including traditions such as Zen, Advaita, and Theravada.Learn more at https://rubenlaukkonen.com/Help to support the Deconstructing Yourself podcast at Patreon.Or give a one-time donation: DonateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can ancient Sanskrit poetry of love and longing teach us about our own deepest spirituality? Join host Michael Taft as he explores this question with professor, author, and teacher Rick Jarow. Further topics include the tantric aspect of poetry, how landscape and nature informs and embodies our spirituality, the role of the word in transcendence, sacred passion for the divine as expressed in the poetics of longing, and much more.Rick Jarow Ph.D. is a author, teacher, and scholar of Indian languages and literature. Recently retired from his position as a Religious Studies professor at Vassar college in New York, Rick leads workshops and retreats worldwide. His books include: In Search of the Sacred, Tales for the Dying, and a new work: The Cloud of Longing: A New Translation and Eco-Aesthetic Study of Kalidasa's Meghaduta. Rick Jarow's websiteHelp to support the Deconstructing Yourself podcast at Patreon.Or give a one-time donation: DonateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Deconstructing Yourself strives to encourage, inform, and inspire your meditation practice towards ongoing awakening. https://deconstructingyourself.com No Limits Society ► https://bentinhomassaro.com/nls What is I? ► https://bit.ly/WhatisI High Level Perception ► https://highlevelperception.com

Michael Taft is a meditation teacher and best-selling author of many books such as The Mindful Geek and Nondualism. He is also the host of the podcast, Deconstructing Yourself.In this episode, Eric and Michael discuss spiritual practices and learning to deconstruct and reconstruct ourselves.But wait – there's more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It's that simple and we'll give you good stuff as a thank you!In This Interview, Eric and Michael Taft Discuss Deconstructing Yourself and …His podcast and blog titled “Deconstructing Yourself”Learning to “untangle” the concepts and emotions that can overwhelm usThe importance of “reconstructing” ourselves after the “deconstructing”Taking our meditation practice from the cushion into everyday lifeFinding what is sacred to you and bringing more of it into your lifeDefining and distinguishing between psychology and spirituality Thoughts and feelings and seeing their constructivenessVipassana practices and his work with Shinzen YoungDifferences between early and later Buddhist practices and traditionsHow real spirituality contends with the intense human conditionMichael Taft Links:Michael's WebsiteDeconstructing Yourself PodcastTwitterTalkspace is the online therapy company that lets you connect with a licensed therapist from anywhere at any time at a fraction of the cost of traditional therapy. It's therapy on demand. Visit www.talkspace.com or download the app and enter Promo Code: WOLF to get $100 off your first month.Calm App: The app designed to help you ease stress and get the best sleep of your life through meditations and sleep stories. Join the 85 million people around the world who use Calm to get better sleep. Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription (a limited time offer!) by going to www.calm.com/wolfIf you enjoyed this conversation with Michael Taft, you might also enjoy these other episodes:Michael Taft Interview (2015)Paths of Spiritual Awakening with Henry ShukmanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael W. Taft is a meditation teacher, bestselling author, and the host of Deconstructing Yourself podcast. From Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, Michael has been meditating for over thirty five years and has extensive experience in both Buddhist Vipassana and Hindu Tantric practice. Michael authored several books, including “The Mindful Geek, Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept”, and Ego (which he co-authored).Show notesSwitching between incompatible models of realityTaking it too farBuddhist modernismMahayana’s critique of Theravada traditionEmptiness and the Buddha natureOn Tantric practiceFeeling your way through uncharted territoryUprooting the seeds of the kleshasParallels between Tantric and Vajrayana practicesOn VipassanaMantra and deitiesTo find out more about Michael Taft visit Deconstructing Yourself website.Head over to www.escaping-samsara.com to discover more episodes.Feel grateful and would like to support us? Thank you!Here is our PAYPAL or  PATREON account for contributions.

For this episode of Into the Stream I'm joined by Catherine McGee, an esteemed Insight Meditation teacher who has had a profound impact on my own practice when it all felt a bit bland, muddy, and robotic.Catherine's gentle, soulful, and down-to-earth teaching inspired me to value qualities of the heart that I previously perceived as a bit far-fetched. Qualities such as soulfulness, devotion, richness, and beauty have all become surprisingly important to me because of Catherine's work and I'm deeply grateful to her for that.Just a heads up, this episode is will be especially appreciated by those with extensive meditation practice - we use quite a lot of Buddhist lingo here. Catherine's wisdom really shines through here (and even shines through the intermittent audio quirks). We explore:Her first (20-day) silent meditation retreat that kickstarted her pathSubtle practice pathologies in young idealistic meditatorsThe Diamond Approach and how to work skilfully with being an arse in daily lifeWays of relating to the body that hold meditators backHer views on AwakeningAnd how to keep love for the path alive over multiple decades.Catherine's BiographyCatherine has been teaching Insight Meditation at Gaia House and internationally since 1997. Her teaching emphasises working with perceptions of the body on the path of awakening and in the healing of the individual and collective crises of our times. She's an advisor to One Earth Sangha, a long term student of the Diamond Approach, and between 2014 and 2020 she collaborated with Rob Burbea in shaping and teaching a Soulmaking Dharma.Some ResourcesYou can listen to recordings from Catherine's retreats freely available online. Here's two: Finding True Refuge in a Modern World and Abiding with a Heart Imbued with Love.You can also listen to Catherine on other podcasts. Two episodes that are specifically good are Deconstructing Yourself's Soulmaking Dharma and Emerge's  Soulmaking in Climate Collapse.If you want to stay updated with future episodes (released every fortnight on Mondays), then click subscribe, follow (on Instagram) , or sign up to the newsletter.The podcast's music is Good Morning by Bonaparte and Acid Pauli, who kindly gave permission for use.

Tucker interviews Jessica Graham.  Jessica is a meditation teacher, sex, relationship, and spiritual guide for couples and individuals, international speaker, and author of Good Sex: Getting Off Without Checking Out, which has been translated into several languages, and is a best seller in the Netherlands. She is also a contributing editor of the popular meditation blog, Deconstructing Yourself, and is certified in Grief Recovery coaching. Jessica can be found on many apps including; Simple Habit, Wise@Work, Emjoy, Breethe, and Sanity & Self. Jessica has offered workshops at various centers internationally, including Esalen Institute. She has been interviewed/quoted for such publications as, Women's Health Magazine, Bustle, GOOP, Lion's Roar, The Lilly, Health Magazine, and more. She is also included in The Great Courses' Masters of Mindfulness.  In addition to this, Jessica is also an award-winning actor and filmmaker. You can connect with Jessica on Instagram @jessicaclarkgraham and at www.yourwildawakening.com. Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/teachingmeditation)

Tucker interviews Michael Taft.  Michael is a maverick meditation teacher, bestselling author, and podcaster. As a mindfulness coach, he specializes in secular, science-based mindfulness training in retreats, groups, corporate settings, and one-on-one sessions. Michael is the author of several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek, Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept, and Ego (which he co-authored), as well as the editor of such books as Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson and The Science of Enlightenment by Shinzen Young.He has often taught meditation at Google, worked on curriculum development for SIYLI, and is currently core faculty at Wisdom Labs, in San Francisco. Michael is also a featured teacher on the Simple Habit app, and an official advisor to the Therapeutic Neuroscience Lab. He was previously editor-in-chief of Being Human, and was the long-time editorial director of Sounds True.From Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, Michael has been meditating for over thirty five years and has extensive experience in both Buddhist Vipassana and Hindu Tantric practice. Michael is a senior facilitator in Shinzen Young's Unified Mindfulness system, and is a teacher of meditation groups around the Bay Area. He currently lives in Oakland, California, and is founding editor of the iconoclastic mindfulness meditation blog and podcast Deconstructing Yourself.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/teachingmeditation)

JESSICA GRAHAM is a meditation teacher, sex, relationship, and spiritual coach for couples and individuals, international speaker, and author of Good Sex: Getting Off Without Checking Out, which has been translated into several languages. She is a contributing editor of the meditation blog, Deconstructing Yourself. Jessica’s work is featured on many apps including; Simple Habit, Wise@Work, Emjoy, Breethe, and Sanity & Self. She is also certified in Grief Recovery coaching. In addition to this, Jessica is also an award-winning actor and filmmaker.  Shorter version: Jessica is pretty much a super-inspirational creative human whose story and stories will make you laugh and cringe and maybe even cry a little bit. Join us for a super nice talk about:> What is mindful sex? And how do you do it?> Meditating for a stronger foundation> Getting off without checking out> Growing up Hobbit > Is there anything sexier than loving one’s self?> Chronic pain and its relationship to sensuality> The healing power of acknowledging sickness> Why you should reach out to your favorite writers and teachers> Sexuality & Healing> C&C Music Factory ALL THINGS JESSICA > www.YourWildAwakening.com + @jessicaclarkgraham.com

I interview Michael Taft on what it takes to get your teachings and work out to your audience. Along the way, we explore his life adventures, spiritual teachings, and lessons learned as an entrepreneur and a hustler.

Michael Taft is a meditation teacher, bestselling author, and podcaster. He teaches meditation at top tech firms like Google and is a core faculty member of Wisdom Labs in San Francisco and an official advisor to the Therapeutic Neuroscience Lab. He has served as editor-in-chief of Being Human and long-time editorial director of Sounds True. Having meditated in various traditions and techniques from Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, Michael has a ton of experience (over 35 years) in training his mind. He also interviews top teachers on his popular podcast Deconstructing Yourself. In this episode, we talk about Michael's journey to the east and through advanced meditation practice, worldviews and frameworks for understanding the mind and meditation, the trials and potential pitfalls of adapting ancient methods for a modern context and the future of meditation in the West, and his general advice for finding the right meditation practice and refining it And if you enjoy this podcast with Michael, which I think you will, then I encourage you to check out his books The Mindful Geek, Nondualism, and Ego.

Mindfulness is having a much deserved moment in the world of podcasting and popular culture. Learning how to bring mindfulness into the bedroom is a skill that can improve your relationship and sex life — something most of us can benefit from. Learn how to get off without checking out in today's episode. In this episode, we discuss relationship advice topics that include: Learn how to get out of a state of fear and judgement around sex in your relationship How to bring attention to what feels good during sex and communicating this with your partner Becoming more embodied and familiar with our sensuality Loving and accepting your own body Micro-practices for more sexuality in your life Asking for what you want in bed And much more! Jessica Graham is a meditation teacher, sex, relationship and spiritual guide for couples and individuals, speaker and author of Good Sex: Getting Off Without Checking Out. She is a contributing editor of the meditation blog, Deconstructing Yourself and co-founded The Eastside Mindfulness Collective. Jessica also founded Wild Awakening, to help people become more human through psycho-spiritual evolution using meditation and self-inquiry. Jessica is also an award-winning actor and filmmaker. Full show notes and episode links at: http://idopodcast.com/227 Sign up for our 14 Day Happy Couples Challenge here: 14 Day Happy Couples Challenge Join our 5 Day Couples Appreciation Challenge here: idopodcast.com/appreciation Do you want to hear more on this topic? Continue the conversation on our Facebook Group here: Love Tribe Sponsors Native creates safe, simple, effective products that people use in the bathroom everyday, including some amazing deodorant! For 20% off your first purchase, visit nativedeodorant.com and use promo code IDO during checkout! Away: Luggage for the modern traveler—lightweight, premium features, and a lifetime warranty. For $20 off a suitcase, visit awaytravel.com/IDO and use promo code IDO during checkout. Spark My Relationship Course: For a limited time, get access to our bonus, Mastering Money Talk In Your Marriage! Visit SparkMyRelationship.com/Unlock for our special offer just for our I Do Podcast listeners! If you love this episode (and our podcast!), would you mind giving us a review in iTunes? It would mean the world to us and we promise it only takes a minute. Many thanks in advance! – Chase & Sarah

In this podcast, Andrew changes roles and is interviewed by Michael Taft, host of the popular “Deconstructing Yourself” podcast. Michael is a sensitive thinker, and the discussion leads to some interesting places. Join Andrew and Michael for this provocative conversation.—Michael W. Taft is a maverick meditation teacher, bestselling author, and podcaster. As a mindfulness coach, he specializes in secular, science-based mindfulness training in retreats, groups, corporate settings, and one-on-one sessions. Michael is the author of several books, including the bestselling The Mindful Geek, Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept, and Ego (which he co-authored), as well as the editor of such books as Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson and The Science of Enlightenment by Shinzen Young.He has often taught meditation at Google, worked on curriculum development for SIYLI, and is currently core faculty at Wisdom Labs, in San Francisco. Michael is also a featured teacher on the Simple Habit app, and an official advisor to the Therapeutic Neuroscience Lab. He was previously editor-in-chief of Being Human, and was the long-time editorial director of Sounds True. From Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, Michael has been meditating for over thirty five years and has extensive experience in both Buddhist Vipassana and Hindu Tantric practice.

“People have suffered in one place, so they go somewhere else. When they have suffered there, they run off again. They think they are running away from suffering, but they are not. It goes with them. They carry suffering around without knowing it. If we don’t know suffering, then we can’t know the cause of suffering. If we don’t know the cause of suffering, then we can’t know its release.” – Ajahn Chah

EP144 - Getting Off Without Checking Out with Jessica Graham   Welcome to episode 144 of the Sexology Podcast! Today I’m delighted to welcome Jessica Graham to the podcast. In this episode she speaks to me about incorporating fantasy in a healthy way, how sexuality is connected to spirituality, and using mindfulness to increase your desire   Jessica Graham is a meditation teacher, sex, relationship, and spiritual guide for couples and individuals, speaker, and author of Good Sex: Getting Off Without Checking Out. She is a contributing editor of the meditation blog, Deconstructing Yourself and co-founded The Eastside Mindfulness Collective. Jessica also founded Wild Awakening, to help people become more human through psycho-spiritual evolution using meditation and self-inquiry. Jessica is also an award-winning actor and filmmaker.   As a gift to Sexology listeners, Jessica is offering one month free on Simple Habit!   Trial Code: WILDAWAKENING First, sign-up for Simple Habit at http://www.simplehabit.com Using a web browser, log into your account. Input the following link: http://www.simplehabit.com/redeem/wildawakening Download the app and enjoy! The free trial will then be applied to your mobile app as well (ios and Android) **Please note, the redeem link ONLY works on the web. Please do not try to input in the app.   In this episode, you will hear: Why are so many partners checking out during sex? Learning to incorporate fantasy in a healthy way Exercises for body awareness Incorporating healthy fantasies with your partner How sexuality is connected to spirituality Learning about the issue of orgasmic shame How women are very cut off from their pleasure Taking a look at the pleasure activism movement Using mindfulness to increase your desire   Find Jessica here: www.yourwildawakening.com https://www.instagram.com/jessicaclarkgraham https://www.amazon.com/Pleasure-Activism-Politics-Emergent-Strategy/dp/1849353263   Find me on social media: https://www.instagram.com/oasis2care/ https://www.facebook.com/oasis2care/   Work with me: https://oasis2care.com/contact-nazanin-moali-psychologist/   Bonus episode, Sex & Anorexia Nervosa: https://oasis2care.com/bonus-episode-anorexia-nervosa-sex/ Bonus Episode, Sex & OCD: https://oasis2care.com/bonus-episode-ocd-and-sex/ Bonus Episode, Sex & Depression: https://oasis2care.com/bonus-depression-sex/   Podcast Produced by Pete Bailey - http://petebailey.net/audio

In this episode, host Michael Taft shares a map of deconstructing sensory experience. This is intended to help orient you to your vipassana meditation practice; helping you to understand where you’re at, where you’re going, and what to look for next. A basic map of vipassana.Note: this is only a map, only a model. Just like a menu is not food, this model is not claiming to be reality. It’s just a handy way to help you orient your practice.This model doesn’t count for nondual meditations, high-concentration/jhana practice, etc. It is only to help you with your vipassana practice.Very important: the inclusion of “Cessation” as level 5 doesn’t mean that level 5 is the final goal of practice. It’s just something that can happen, and is included for the sake of completeness.These are not discrete or digital stages. They are analog, and shade into one another. Each stage is desirable and useful for various things. No stage is somehow better than another.In vipassana practice, however, we are usually attempting to tranverse the stack from stage one to stage four. Stage five may or may not be something that happens.When our practice is very skilled, we can also tranverse the stack from bottom to top (4 -> 1) and do what we might call “nondual vipassana” or something akin to many Mahamudra practices. Summary of StagesStage 1 - Conceptual - Thinking about sensory experience objects using words. Stage 2 - Phenomenal Object - Contacting the phenomenology of sensory experiences in the form of objects. Stage 3 - Flow / Change - Contacting the phenomenology of sensory experiences as vibration, waves, or change. Stage 4 - Pure Awareness - Noticing awareness itself with no content. Stage 5 - Cessation - Sudden collapse of awareness.Support the Deconstructing Yourself podcast via Patreon.

In this talk, Andrew discusses some common hang-ups around the topic of "concentration" in mindfulness practice & some practical tips for steadying the mind in meditation practice.

Host Michael Taft speaks with Vajrayana teacher Rin’dzin Pamo about Vajrayana meditation practice currently, adapting practices for our times, their practice of The Mind Illuminated, the role of the guru in practice, how meditation practice is like engineering (and Jiu Jitsu), and much more.Rin’dzin Pamo (also known as Charlie El Awbery) is a British born Vajrayana practitioner living in the US. They were an apprentice in the Aro gTér tradition of Tibetan Buddhism for twenty years and are an experienced Dzogchen meditator and mentor. Rin’dzin received the London School of Economics Fei Xiaotong prize for their Masters research on the Chinese tech industry. They worked on international development projects in India, Africa and the Middle East and as a program director for Amnesty International. Rin’dzin writes at VajrayanaNow.com and has recently been publicly journaling their progress through Culadasa’s system The Mind Illuminated. Help to support the Deconstructing Yourself podcast at Patreon.

In this latest addition to the Metadharma series, Vince Horn is joined by Michael W. Taft to explore the (meta)reasoning around Metadharma. Why do we need another Dharma? What does Metadharma respond to that Modern and Postmodern forms of Dharma haven’t? What do we need to jettison in order for a genuine Metadharma to emerge? And how does Metadharma relate to the very real social crises we face, including the ecological emergency, runaway capitalism, an over-dependence on rationality, growing racial resentments, and systems of oppression?This is part 1 of a 2-part podcast series. Continue listening to the 2nd half of this discussion on Michael’s podcast Deconstructing Yourself:

Why Metadharma? is an unusual episode of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast, in that it’s Part 2 of a joint interview between Vince and Michael Taft. Part 1 appeared on the Buddhist Geeks podcast recently, and they continue the conversation here.The topic of these discussions is a subject that both speakers are actively developing, called “metadharma.” In brief, metadharma refers to the many different ways that the dharma is being adapted, remixed, and redefined to meet the unique challenges and opportunities of the current moment.Vincent Horn is part of a new generation of teachers & translators exploring dharma in the age of the network. A computer engineering dropout turned full-time contemplative, he spent his 20s co-founding the ground-breaking Buddhist Geeks Podcast, while simultaneously doing a full year, in total, of silent retreat practice. Vincent began teaching in 2010 having been authorized in both the Pragmatic Dharma lineage of Kenneth Folk, and by Trudy Goodman, guiding teacher of InsightLA, in the Insight Meditation tradition. Vincent has been called a “power player of the mindfulness movement” by Wired magazine and was featured in Wired UK’s “Smart List: 50 people who will change the world.” He currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina with his partner Emily Horn and their son Zander.More about the Buddhist Geeks farm here.Listen to David Chapman talk about metasystematicity here.

Host Michael Taft speaks with clinical psychologist and life coach, Douglas Tataryn, Ph.D. about meditation and psychology. Topics include his work with meditation teachers such as Culadasa, the “wake up, clean up, grow up, and look around” model, Wilber’s integral model. working with trauma and the dark night, and his system of emotional processing known as the Bio-Emotive Framework.Douglas Tataryn received his PH.D. in 1991 and worked as a professor for 10 years in epidemiology and psychosocial oncology. In 2001 he entered private practice where he applied and continued evolving what he now refers to as the bio-emotive framework, a new way of understanding the emotional system and its unappreciated role in many of our most common mental health disorders. Doug began what became a very intensive meditation practice back in 1975 and he and his wife receive and give teachings within the Namgyl Rimpoche stream of the Karma Kagyu lineage.ResourcesDr. Tataryn’s website has lots of resources, some free and some for pay: https://bioemotiveframework.comYou’ll find thought provoking interviews and video recordings with Douglas Tataryn at this link: https://bioemotiveframework.com/blog/Upset about a recent event? Use one or both of these forms to turn that upset into a better understanding and expression of how you are feeling about it. 1. This is help you find the inter-personal feelings about the situation: http://tinyurl.com/BEFstress2. This form will guide you through the core feelings related to the situation. We tend to take core feelings very personally and often feel we are the feelings instead of being someone who is having those feelings: Http://tinyurl.com/BEFCoreHear Culadasa speaking about his work with Douglas Tataryn here.Listen to more more about meditation and psychology with Tucker Peck.Support the Deconstructing Yourself podcast via Patreon.

Host Michael Taft speaks with Loch Kelly on nondual practices, contemporary forms of ancient awareness techniques, dzogchen, mahamudra, advaita, the role of psychotherapy in awakening, the need—or not—for a guru, open-hearted awareness, internal family systems therapy, and more.Loch Kelly is an author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the non-profit, Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Loch teaches in a non-sectarian lineage based in the earliest non-dual wisdom traditions, modern science, and psychotherapy.Loch Kelly’s WebsiteSupport the Deconstructing Yourself podcast via Patreon.What does nondual mean?

A discussion with meditation teacher and author Michael Taft  host of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast, about hardcore dharma, Buddhist modernism, shop talk, the soup of the sangha, and the problem of the achievement self and the blind leading the blind.  

Michael Taft, a long-time meditation teacher, author, and founder of Deconstructing Yourself blog and podcast, discusses the stages of personal development and the awakening path, deconstructing reality, and the benefits of a regular meditation practice. Show notes: http://www.futurethinkers.org/95  -------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration Now Open - A Course in Personal Evolution Take the course designed to help you create a life of meaning, purpose and impact: http://futurethinkers.org/evolution 

Nondual spiritual teacher Mukti talks with host Michael Taft about the debate between the Direct and Progressive paths of realization, working with energetics and embodiment, her childhood background in the Self Realization Fellowship of Paramahansa Yogananada, pointing out the sense of space in realization, her own experience of awakening, and more.Mukti is a spiritual teacher, whose name originates in Sanskrit and is most often translated as “liberation.” Mukti has been the Associate Teacher of Open Gate Sangha since 2004 and has been a student of her husband, Adyashanti, since he began teaching in 1996, when they founded Open Gate Sangha together. In addition to her teachings, Mukti offers talks, dialogues, silent retreats, private meetings, and online broadcasts and courses.https://www.muktisource.org/about-muktiShow Notes0:25 – Introduction2:24 – Mukti’s teaching activities and retreat offerings4:00 – How Mukti came to be involved in teaching through Adyashanti; prior experiences with Yogananda and how those impact her current work; the differences of approach between the progressive paths and the direct path teachings13:49 – Moving from a sense of a separate self into wholeness/oneness, followed by a return to the sense of distinct forms of self, other, and experience; coming back into distinction in a healthy way, seeing through conditioning that’s based in a sense of assumed separation17:39 – The mistake of interpreting teachings on the initial recognition of self as the ultimate fix; practitioners’ reluctance to attend to things that are difficult; revisiting and working with old patterns through the thinking mind and on an energetic level in the body25:37 – Whether people are more often having awakening moments and then spending a lot of time trying to integrate them, or building up to awakening through embodiment teachings30:27 – Mukti describes her awakening experience; working on the embodied aspect of holding that awakening36:19 – Physical issues like fibromyalgia and stomach issues after awakening; how some people with deep awakenings are more challenged energetically; learning ways of living that support being in harmony with the universe41:18 – Repercussions of assumptions/conclusions about one’s identity being vast and big (in other words, awareness getting reified into the self as big awareness), and how this can affect the body and make a person more porous energetically; addressing this problem in practice by noticing the space and relaxing the center51:22 – Keeping the questions open: how much structure does the self need to function well, how much might not be needed, in what ways can it be present and really work, and in what ways might it not be working; relational practice / personal relationship to spirit, orienting towards certain archetypes or aspects of Buddha nature as a way to give a format and structure to the self as an individual55:35 – OutroSupport the Deconstructing Yourself podcast via Patreon.

Buddhist scholar Jayarava Attwood speaks with host Michael Taft about the history of the Pali Canon, how ideas about karma & dependent arising contradict each other, the shifting grounds under the apparent solidity of the suttas, monism vs. pluralism, meditation as a subjective or objective practice, and the fact that the Sanskrit Heart Sutra is a forgery,Jayarava is a longtime member of the Triratna Buddhist Order, who writes about the history of ideas in Buddhism. Since 2012 he has been mainly focused on revising the text and history of the Heart Sutra, and also writes about karma and how it changed over time. His blog explores the clash between modernity and tradition with respect to Buddhism. He also works in various art forms, including music, painting, photography, and calligraphy. Links Jayarava. (2018) ‘Anupalambhayogena: An Underappreciated Mahāyāna Term’. http://jayarava.blogspot.com/2018/05/anupalambhayogena-underappreciated.htmlHuifeng. (2014). ‘Apocryphal Treatment for Conze’s Heart Problems: “Non-attainment”, “Apprehension”, and “Mental Hanging” in the Prajñāpāramitā.’ Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies. 6: 72-105. https://www.academia.edu/8275423/Apocryphal_Treatment_for_Conze_s_Heart_Problems_Non-attainment_Apprehension_and_Mental_Hanging_in_the_Praj%C3%B1%C4%81p%C4%81ramit%C4%81_HrdayaOn the anupalambha meditation practice:Cūḷasuññata Sutta. Majjhima Nikāya 121. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.121.than.htmlSatyadhana. (2014) ‘The Shorter Discourse on Emptiness (Cūḷasuññatasutta, Majjhima-nikāya 121): translation and commentary.’ Western Buddhist Review 6: 78–104. https://thebuddhistcentre.com/system/files/groups/files/satyadhana-formless_spheres.pdfAnālayo. (2014). Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhism. https://www.windhorsepublications.com/product/compassion-and-emptiness-in-early-buddhist-meditation/Show Notes0:25 – Introduction2:29 – How Jayarava got involved with the Triratna Buddhist Order and learned Pali5:47 – The history of the Pali Canon; figuring out when the texts were first recorded; how accurately the original words were memorized11:45 – Fitting together the concepts of karma and dependent origination; how different Abhidhamma groups and others tried to resolve the contradictions17:07 – How rebirth became a burden to escape from, rather than a good thing; different concepts of afterlife21:12 – Differences in source texts; how translations are influenced by commentaries25:32 – History of the Heart Sutra30:19 – Jan Nattier’s discovery that the Sanskrit HeartSutra is not original but a translation from Chinese, and how often this sort of thing might have occurred with other texts; Matthew Orsborn’s paper showing errors in previous interpretations of the Heart Sutra. “It’s not saying, ‘Okay, form doesn’t exist. It’s just an illusion.’ It’s saying when you get to a certain point in your meditation, form stops arising. It’s not that there’s no form; it’s just that, for you in that moment, form doesn’t exist, or it doesn’t arise.”36:45 – Description of a meditation practice of paying attention to what’s absent; insight arising after cessation42:12 – If you do this sort of critical analysis of Buddhism and parts of it fail, what’s left? The practices and ways of talking about them; the value of practice in modern life46:11 – The problem of bundling mindfulness with religion, the usefulness of secular mindfulness; multiple ways of teaching are valuable; monism versus pluralism54:01 – Discovering the nature of subjective reality, rather than seeing reality as it really is59:16 – OutroPlease support the Deconstructing Yourself podcast on Patreon

What is the future of consciousness hacking? Organic molecules, blinky machines, good old fashioned meditation, or some combination of them all? In this episode, recorded live in San Francisco on October 24th 2018, Michael Taft of Deconstructing Yourself, Vincent Horn of Buddhist Geeks, and host Mikey Siegel of Consciousness Hacking discuss the possibilities, the challenges, and the many ways forward in the transformation of human consciousness. Audience dialogue and questions took center stage in this event, so you'll hear plenty of back-and-forth between the presenters and the audience on psychedelics, technology, and the future of meditation.Watch the full video version here: https://youtu.be/4oE6UxGmQog

Turning the tables on the usual show format, host Michael Taft gets interviewed by Erik Newton. They talk about the meaning of awakening, the paradox of suffering, the end of seeking, the value of personal experience vs. scriptural understanding, Erik’s awakening experience, new technologies of awakening, the genesis of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast, and more.Erik Newton is a lawyer and was the head of a successful family law firm, which gave him the opportunity to take part in 1000s of divorces. As the result of his experience, two things happened: one was that he created the wildly popular podcast entitled “Together” — the podcast that explores the truth of human relationships — in which Erik uses his hard-won knowledge of the many failure modes of relationships to help couples understand how come together. The second was that he had a major awakening experience.LinksKenneth Folk on DYAm I Mindful Right NowThe Cosmic JokeMasters of OblivionThe Forest Refuge Michael’s Book on Non-DualityDaniel Ingram on DYMeditation Magick Fire KasinaPopping the Bubble of ProjectionMichael’s Article on AwakeningThe Mindful GeekShow Notes3:50 – How The DY Podcast Began6:58 – The Conversation of Awakening as a Creative Journey9:30 – The Joy of Getting Inside Somebody Else’s Mind10:40 – What is “The Path”?12:09 – Where Did the Name “Deconstructing Yourself” Come From?14:48 – Deconstructing Leads to Reconstructing16:13 – Deconstruction and Reconstruction in Buddhism16:57 – Erik’s Awakenings and Emptiness Experiences18:58 – “Heaven is a Place Where Nothing Ever Happens”20:24 – The “What Next” Factor Leads Us Back to The World21:30 – The Pros and Cons of Michael’s Style of Learning and Teaching24:04 – The Value of Academia and Scripture25:24 – Everything is Partially True and False26:43 – Michael’s Time as a Seeker28:00 – What is a Seeker?28:36 – The Slow Death of the Seeker31:02 – Awakening Can Save the World32:36 – Nothing Matters and A Lot Matters34:51 – Does It Hurt to Be Aware of Suffering?36:03 – The Game of Recognizing Emptiness and Engaging Anyway37:37 – Awake People Are Still People38:46 – A Perfect Relationship Doesn’t Exist40:21 – Popping the Bubbles of Projection41:33 – Redefining Awakening Through Science43:06 – Empathizing with Critics43:54 – Teaching for The Western Mind45:42 – The Practical Impact of Awakening46:26 – Plant Medicine as a Shortcut for Awakening47:15 – Technology’s Place in Awakening51:48 – The Power of Communication Technology52:19 – Normalizing Awakening53:46 – Nudges Towards Awakening55:22 – Teaching Meditation at Erik’s Start Up56:33 – Beginner’s Mind57:18 – Goals, Motivations, and Ethics in Meditation58:42 – Waking Up in Silicon Valley You can help to create future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.

In this episode, I talk with Jessica Graham about her book Good Sex, the #MeToo movement, the power of self love and acceptance, a beginner’s guide to spiritual awakening through sexuality, mindful masturbation, aspects of puritanism in Buddhism, the meditative way to work with "love drugs," and much more.Jessica Graham is a spiritual teacher, sex and intimacy guide, and author. Jessica began studying meditating in earnest a decade ago and started teaching soon after. Jessica is also passionate about exploring sexuality and helping others heal, evolve, and awaken sexually. She is the author of Good Sex: Getting Off without Checking Out .Jessica is also an award-winning actor and filmmaker. And, of course, Jessica is the author of many of the articles on the Deconstructing Yourself blog.Read Jessica's series of posts on Mindful SexVisit Jessica's website You can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.