Podcasts about Impermanence

This week we talk about the misguided idea that if it's meant to be, it should be easy, and if it's hard, it's a sign that something is NOT meant to be. While there's some validity to certain experiences like this, it isn't universally true. In this episode, I share ways you can actually differentiate if your suffering is an indication of misalignment, or if it's a part of the universality of the human experience. Plus I'll share one practice you can start today to connect with that discomfort and keep moving forward, instead of fearing and being stuck in it.You will learn:// Why discomfort doesn't mean we are misaligned or that it's not meant to be… and what it ACTUALLY signifies// Why we tend to fear discomfort in the first place// How to know the difference between difficulty that comes from being misaligned on our path, and the universal challenges of the human experience// One practice you can start today to connect with discomfort instead of fear it - and move towards opennessResources:// Episode 9: Impermanence, Death, and Other Sexy Things// Episode 44: The Power of the Pause// Episode 63: Being Human is Hard - The First Noble Truth// Episode 100: How to Know You're Making Progress// Episode 156: Savoring When Suffering Is Not Present// If you're new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You'll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.// Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can't wait to see you there!// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I'd love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here  or on Spotify by clicking here.

You may have heard of "impermanence" as an important theme in meditation. In this guided practice, Toby Sola introduces us to the ease of flow state with two simple but profound techniques: exploring impermanence directly by noticing changes in our body sensations, and using labels to hone concentration.   Toby Sola is dedicated to helping you create a feedback loop between your meditation practice and your ability to make the world a better place. Toby has been teaching meditation for two decades and has refined his craft through years of monastic training and close collaboration with the world-renowned teacher Shinzen Young. He is an award-winning designer and founder of the Brightmind Meditation app. Note that this meditation includes longer pauses of complete silence to give you time to spend in contemplation and practice the techniques introduced. If you want more time, feel free to pause the recording as you go.    The transcription of this guided meditation will be online at Mindful.org next week.  Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter:  mindful.org/signup Show Notes Find more from Toby Sola here. Go Deeper If you want to learn more about flow state, focus, and facing impermanence, here are more articles to explore:    Flow State: How to Get in the Zone  Find Your Focus: Own Your Attention in 12 Minutes a Day  Not Just Marking Time: How Rituals Help Us Face Impermanence with Mindfulness and Gratitude  For more practice, here's another meditation to try: A Guided Meditation to Rest in the Flow of Effortlessness. And more from Mindful here: More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

In this episode, Bhante Sathi explores the intricate relationship between time and desire through the lens of Buddhist teachings. He explains how desire arises, evolves, and often fades once fulfilled — yet rarely brings lasting satisfaction. Drawing on Pali concepts like Tanha (craving) and Chanda (interest or inclination), Bhante highlights how our desires can be shaped by culture, ego, and personal perception, and how awareness plays a key role in relating to them skillfully. Whether desire feels positive or negative, its true nature lies in how we engage with it.

Letting go requires radical mindfulness—understanding that nothing we hold, including our bodies, possessions, or memories, is truly ours or permanent. In this podcast, Bhante Sathi explores the benefits of “letting go” by freeing ourselves from suffering caused by attachment and unrealistic ownership. Through mindfulness, anyone can embrace each moment without clinging to past pain or comfort, leading to true freedom and peace.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that the penultimate stanza in Praise to Shakyamuni Buddha contains two important meditations: causative phenomena are transitory, and they do not exist as they appear.‘A star, a mirage, the flame of a lamp,An illusion, a drop of dew, or a bubble,A dream, a flash of lightning, a cloud—See conditioned things as such!'Rinpoche explains that the transitory nature of phenomena encompasses gross, subtle, and extremely subtle impermanence. Gross impermanence can be seen in how a flower wilts throughout the day or the ageing of our bodies over time. The changes that occur minute-by-minute and second-by-second are more subtle. Then, the changes within a second are extremely subtle. In reality, these changes are occurring minute-by-minute, second-by-second and even within the second, but we have a hallucination of permanence. We believe the concept of permanence. According to our projection, this beautiful body or this beautiful flower will always be like this.Rinpoche highlights that there's a huge difference between following the thought of impermanence as opposed to permanence. If you practice mindfulness of this stanza, immediately you find peace in your heart. The minute you reflect on impermanence, desire is stopped. All your problems cease because you have no reason to cling to objects or get angry. In this way, you're giving yourself freedom to achieve liberation. Conversely, when you follow the concept of permanence, you're putting yourself in the prison of samsara. Thus, meditating on this stanza is unbelievably important.Rinpoche details how phenomena don't exist as they appear. It's like an illusion. They exist in mere name, merely imputed by the mind. They do not exist from their own side.Rinpoche talks about the extremely subtle borderline between whether the I exists or doesn't exist. It's not completely nonexistent, but it's like nonexistent. He says it's easy to think it doesn't exist and fall into nihilism. Many famous meditators in the past either fell into nihilism or eternalism because they were unable to see the middle way. Rinpoche praises Lama Tsongkhapa for making the clearest explanation of the right view and clarifying the extremely subtle point of dependent arising. He says that this is one of the special qualities of Lama Tsongkhapa's teaching.Rinpoche urges us to practice recognizing the hallucination as hallucination. He says that if you hold onto things as true, then that becomes the basis for all the other delusions and the cause of samsara.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

The concepts of Dukkha and suffering are some of the most misunderstood terms in the Buddhist world, so let's go back to the basics: What is Dukkha, and why is suffering so closely connected to it? In this podcast, Bhante Sathi discusses the often misunderstood concept of Dukkha, its relationship with suffering, and how mindfulness can be used to observe pain and discomfort without attachment when faced with the impermanent nature of life.

"Change is so universal, it's a universal law. We know that it is nature's way and that it is the way of being human." These words open a heartfelt exploration into one of life's most challenging constants—the inevitability of transformation.The wisdom woven throughout this episode transcends simple platitudes about "embracing change." Instead, Dr. BethAnne acknowledges the genuine grief that accompanies transitions while offering perspectives that help us remain open to life's continuing gifts. This episode explores practical and spiritual approaches to navigating life's inevitable transitions.• Change is accelerating in our modern world due to information overload and global transformation• Sudden endings (like theater productions) require intentional closure through journaling and reflection• Personal vulnerability creates powerful connections and opportunities for growth• When facing unexpected health challenges with loved ones, balance grief with presence• "Mono no aware" - the Japanese concept of sensitivity to life's transience• Embracing change requires faith in life's process and our capacity for resilience• The most difficult changes often lead to our greatest personal evolution• Life itself becomes our partner in transformation, providing unexpected supportWhether you're facing major life transitions or simply feeling the weight of our rapidly changing world, this episode offers both comfort and courage for the journey. Listen now to discover how authenticity, grit, and light can transform your relationship with change and help you find unexpected beauty in life's evolving path.Join us next week for an all-new episode of Your Heart Magic and more psychology, spirituality, storytelling, and heart wisdom.--Your Heart Magic is a space where heart wisdom, spirituality, and psychology meet. Enjoy episodes centered on mental health, spirituality, personal growth, healing, and well-being. Featured as one of the best Heart Energy and Akashic Records Podcasts in 2024 by PlayerFM and Globally Ranked in the top 5% in Listen Notes.Dr. BethAnne Kapansky Wright is a Licensed Psychologist, Spiritual Educator, and Akashic Records Reader. She is the author of Small Pearls Big Wisdom, the Award-Winning Lamentations of the Sea, its sequels, and several books of poetry. A psychologist with a mystic mind, she weaves perspectives from both worlds to offer holistic wisdom.FIND DR. BETHANNE ONLINE:BOOKS- www.bethannekw.com/books FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com/drbethannekw INSTAGRAM - www.instagram.com/dr.bethannekw WEBSITE - www.bethannekw.com CONTACT FORM - www.bethannekw.com/contact

When you read the writings of the ancient sages and saints whether from the East or the West. They keep circling back to one truth. One non-negotiable reality.The law of impermanenceIt's like an invisible thread, woven throughthe fabric of life, quietly shaping every experience we have… every role we play, every attachment we form to what once was—and is no more. Highlights of the Episode- What the Sufis and Christian Mystics said about Impermanence- What is formless Presence#LiveOnPurpose #IntentionalLiving #FromBurnoutToBreakthrough #StillBecoming #SacredRest #LivingToBE #NervousSystemHealing #SlowLivingMovement #FaithOverFear #FromDoingToBeing #HealingInStillness #SpiritLedLiving #RealConnectionMattersInformation:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.reinogevers.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Books:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sages, Saints and Sinners⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Deep Walking for Body Mind and Soul⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Walking on Edge: A pilgrimage to Santiago⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Wouldn't you like your view to be clear? Who wants obstructions in the way when they are trying to see? It is the same in life as in windows, we want to see what we are looking for, not clutter. But what can you do when there are obstructions? Fight reality or complain? Maybe there is another choice. Send us a textSupport the showBe Encouraged podcast is practical, in the moment, thoughtful encouragement.

In this episode, Bhante Sathi explores how true meditation transforms us from self-centered individuals into universal beings grounded in mindfulness, compassion, and loving-kindness. He explains that through consistent practice, we begin to see the impermanence and interconnectedness of all life, letting go of ego-driven reactions and embracing deeper, more meaningful relationships. Meditation, he reminds us, is not an escape from life, but a path to living with wisdom, peace, and an open heart.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche bestows the oral transmission of The Heart's Utmost Need (previously known as Heart-Spoon) by Pabongka Rinpoche. He says that he received the transmission of this very effective teaching on the nature of life, impermanence, and death from Ribur Rinpoche. Ribur Rinpoche received it from His Holiness Trijang Rinpoche, who received it directly from Pabongka Rinpoche.Lama Zopa Rinpoche shares his personal experience of supporting an ex-monk while he was dying. He says that the line in the text—“When I become as rigid as earth and stone”—was exactly how the man's body felt. He also explains how the ex-monk knew how to transfer his consciousness but couldn't accomplish this because of his attachment to shak (the butter that rises at the top of butter tea). His guru knew this, so he sent someone to tell him that there was better butter in the Tushita pure land. Rinpoche says that we can also help a dying person by telling them that whatever they are attached to (friends, cats, etc.) is better and more abundant in the pure realm.Rinpoche advises that it's important to mention the name of a pure land (Amitabha pure land or Tushita pure land), as it gives the person something to hold onto. Rinpoche says that Amitabha pure land is the easiest one for ordinary sentient beings to be born in because the bodhisattva, Rim of the Spoke made so many prayers in the presence of the Buddha, Tathagata Essence of Jewel for sentient beings. In the case of Tushita, you need very pure morality to be born there.Rinpoche invites a discussion by asking whether it's virtue if you generate a motivation of bodhicitta, but when you do the actual meditation, you're spaced out. He concludes the discussion by clarifying that there's no wisdom there. It's ignorance. It doesn't lead to liberation; it only becomes an obstacle for liberation.In continuing the oral transmission, Rinpoche discusses holy substances and relics that are placed in the mouth at the time of death. He says that these substances are very powerful in preventing rebirth in the lower realms. He also talks about three types of holy grass.Rinpoche concludes by explaining the preparations for sutra mahamudra and tantric mahamudra. He highlights that guru devotion is the root of path. Strong devotion, in turn, depends on strong purification and extensive merit.Rinpoche explains that having studied the whole Madhyamika subject and knowing it by heart, if there's no strong guru devotion, extensive merit, and powerful purification, then it cannot click in your mind. It's there, but you can't recognize it. However, with intensive devotion, powerful purification, blessings, and imprints from past lives, you can realize emptiness just by hearing two or three words. At that moment, when all the causes and conditions are there, everything clicks, and you can realize emptiness.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Ep. 194 (Part 2 of 2) | Frank Ostaseski, Zen hospice pioneer, founder of the Metta Institute, and author of The Five Invitations, speaks with us about the profound wisdom and potential for transformation that is unleashed in the process of dying. “Suppose we imagine death as an unprecedented opportunity for transformation, he says, adding, “so why wait until we are dying?” In attending over a thousand people in hospice, Frank has often seen them experience a real sense of discovery in the dying process; there is a time of acceptance, a time of letting go, and then a deeper state of surrendering to something larger. The walls that prop up the self start tumbling down, Frank explains, and a larger connection emerges that is always there.Frank would like to see the process of dying brought out of the closet—shared about, learned from, and not reduced to a medical event. It's important to meet death with don't-know mind and trust the dying process to teach each of us what we need to know, he explains. And some of what we can do right now to open ourselves to the wisdom of death is pay attention to how we end things, and to how we love. This far reaching discussion delves gently into the divine mystery of death and dying, touching on radical acceptance, transcending self, don't-know mind, everyday compassion and boundless compassion, grief as an expression of love, and creating rituals to mark this passage and all passages. We are left feeling unexpectedly comforted and liberated at the same time. Recorded December 5, 2024.“Grief is a way we continue to love someone… a natural response to the experience of love.”Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2What qualities do people need to be with the dying? (00:27) Boundless compassion needs everyday compassion (02:09)Don't wait to tell people that you love them (03:55)Grief is a way we continue to love someone, a natural response to the experience of love (06:06)There are subtler experiences after surrender: tracking consciousness as the brain stops (06:38)Gratefulness and a deep sense of belonging to something larger (09:52)Cultivating don't know mind; meeting dying with don't know mind (12:47)Terminal lucidity (17:49)Practices we can do now: how do we meet endings? (19:54)Impermanence is not later; it's in this very moment (22:35) Cultural changes Frank would like to see (26:15)Proximate karma (30:00)Better drugs than sedation: psychedelics could help us meet the profundity of the experience (30:37)Bathing the body after death: a wonderful tradition that can fundamentally shift our relation with death (33:45)Resources & References – Part 2Frank Ostaseski's website: https://frankostaseski.com/Frank Ostaseski, The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living FullyMetta Institute, founded by Frank Ostaseski, to provide innovative programs and trainings that foster mindful & compassionate end-of-life careFrank Ostaseski, founding director of the San Francisco Zen Hospice...

Matthew Lumsden is my special guest on this August 2025 It's All Possible Podcast. Matthew a lawyer by profession is the author of "Shibui, The Persimmon Principles" his book on the Japanese Culture of Shibui. Matthew and I met during his days as a global leader at the Australian arm of global investment firm Vanguard and we have stayed connected ever since.Matthew has been passionate about Japanese culture and their way of life for many years which led him during his high school years to spend time living with a Japanese family as part of an exhange program and later working in Japan.In typical Matthew style, he spent time back in Japan recently researching for this incredible book, Shibui.Matthew is a person of possibility through and through. This means he is human and on his way to discovering his purpose he pushed the limit career wise which ended up in burn out and the internal conversation of "am I living my true purpose". It was this burn out that led to the breakthrough of Matthew going back to his passions and writing the book Shibui.In this podcast Matthew opens up about how he has used the concepts of Shibui to shape his personal and business life. He also openly discusses his journey to burn out and how we can fall into the traps of a driven life and what to do to ensure we come out of it in a better position.We then discuss the essential elements of Shibui which are Simplicity, Subtlety, Impermanence and Imperfection and how they can be applied to our personal and business lives. I hope you enjoy Matthew and the concepts of Shibui. Shibui is available online and at all good bookshops and Matthew can be found on LinkedIn , Instagram and Tik Tok and at https://www.shibuiadvisory.com/ 

Our Guest Is Chef Travis Limoge.He Joins Us From Mexico…. Where He Recently Moved To Launch Some New Projects…He's Currently Working On A New Physical Location For His Concept Pirata…In Saladita…Aiming For A 2026 Relaunch….He's The Founder Of Cocina Pirata…A Creative House Of Activism…Which Includes De La Costa, A Non Profit Organization Focused On Building Infrastructure For Local Farms….Vianda, Bridging The Gap Between Local Producers And Community… While Creating A Vibrant Economy….Milpa, Representing A Way Of Life…Working Solely With Products From Local Farmers…And He's The Host Of Cocina Pirata Podcast.We Talk About:✅ Leaning Into Impermanence✅ Allowing The Universe To Lead Our Lives✅ Using Our Collective Purchasing Power To Make A Positive Difference On Our Planet✅ How Slowing Down Can Actually Speed Up The Path To Your Purposehttps://www.instagram.com/haveyoueatenyetpodcast/?hl=enhttps://www.tiktok.com/@haveyoueatenyetpodcasthttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsxzx6an6DeVHLcIfN05MUg

During a workshop in France, Michael teaches on the 3 characteristics — a teaching found in both the Yoga and Buddhist traditions. This talk is in both French and English. Recorded in Antibes, France, on October 26, 2013. The Awake in the World podcast is brought to you by the generosity of our amazing Patreon supporters, making it possible for us to keep Michael's archive of teachings available to the public. To become a patron, visit: patreon.com/michaelstone.

Episode 253: Return To The Mat | What if coming back to your practice didn't require perfection, only presence? In this honest and heartfelt solo episode, Shayla reflects on her own journey of reconnecting with her yoga practice after a season of disconnection. Through personal stories, mindset shifts and gentle invitations, she reminds you that your mat is always waiting and you are always allowed to begin again.This episode is an invitation to release the pressure to “do it right,” get clear on your why, re-enchant your rituals and build a gentle re-entry plan rooted in intention, not obligation. Whether you've been away for a week, a month, or a year, this is your permission slip to return; with softness, with love and with grace.Connect with Shayla✨ Aligned Access: Bonus Episodes & Exclusive Content on PatreonActivate Align Expand Guided Journal & PlannerActivate Align Expand ProgramActivate Align Expand Affirmation DeckInstagram: @shaylaquinn YouTube: www.youtube.com/shaylaquinn TikTok: @shayla.quinn Website: www.shaylaquinn.com Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/shaylaquinn Learn more about TYIL Program

Dear friends, In memory of Joanna Macy, who passed away on July 19th, we are republishing episode #12 of The Way Out Is In podcast series, with an introduction by Jo Confino. A scholar of Buddhism, systems theory, and deep ecology, Joanna Macy (1929 -2025), PhD, was one of the most respected voices in the movements for peace, justice, and ecology. She interweaved her scholarship with learnings from six decades of activism, had written twelve books, and laught an empowerment approach known as the Work That Reconnects. In episode 12 (November, 2021), presenters Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and lay Buddhist practitioner and journalist Jo Confino were joined by Joanna Macy to discuss the relevance of Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings to the crises we face today as a species; the energy of simplicity; truth-telling and the power of facing the truth; the grounds for transformation; impermanence; interbeing. Joanna recollects what Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings and activism have meant to her, and shares a special meeting with him in the early 1980s, during a UN peace conference, when Thay read one of his essential poems in public for the first time. Joanna's activism, forged during many campaigns, and her practice and study of Theravada Buddhism, shine through in her priceless advice about facing the current social and ecological crisis, grieving for all creation, and finding the power to deal with the heartbreaking present-day reality. She also addresses how grief and joy can coexist in one person, and how to be present for life even in the midst of struggle.Their conversations will take you from the current “great unravelling” and the “gift of death” to Rilke's poetry; the magic of love as solution; active hope; the contemporary relevance of the ancient Prophecy of the Shambhala Warriors; the possibility of a “great turning”. And can you guess her aspirations at 92? Could a swing be just the perfect place to discuss the evanescence of life?Brother Phap Huu shares a lesson in patience from Thay, and adds to the teachings of touching suffering, recognizing and embracing the truth, consumption of consciousness, finding balance, and smiling at life.  Jo reads a special translation of one of Rainer Maria Rilke's Duino Elegies, expands upon some of Joanna's core books and philosophies, and recollects “irreplaceable” advice about overwork. The episode ends with a guided meditation by Joanna Macy. Co-produced by the Plum Village App:https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism:https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation:https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Lotus in a Sea of Fire (1967)https://plumvillage.org/books/1967-hoa-sen-trong-bien-lua-lotus-in-a-sea-of-fire/ Call Me By My True Nameshttps://plumvillage.org/books/call-me-by-my-true-names/ Celestial Bodhisattvashttps://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/buddhas-and-bodhisattvas-celestial-buddhas-and-bodhisattvas Rainer Maria Rilkehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainer_Maria_Rilke Duino Elegieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duino_Elegies The Tenth Elegyhttps://www.tellthestory.co.uk/translatedpoemduino10.html The Book of Hourshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Hours Satipaṭṭhānahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satipatthana World as Lover, World as Selfhttps://www.parallax.org/product/world-as-lover-world-as-self-a-guide-to-living-fully-in-turbulent-times/ ‘The Shambhala Warrior'https://www.awakin.org/read/view.php?tid=236 The Shambhala Warrior Prophecyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14dbM93FALE Bardohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bardo ‘Entering the Bardo'https://emergencemagazine.org/op_ed/entering-the-bardo/ Maitreyahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreya Ho Chi Minhhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho_Chi_Minh Śūnyatāhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9A%C5%ABnyat%C4%81Svabhava https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svabhava Kṣitigarbhahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%E1%B9%A3itigarbha Parallax Presshttps://www.parallax.org/ Ānāpānasatihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapanasati Satipaṭṭhānahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satipatthana Quotes “Do not be afraid of feeling pain for the world. Do not be afraid of the suffering, but take it. That’s what a bodhisattva learns to do, and that makes your heart very big.” “Life is only difficult for those who pick and choose. You just take it. And that helps you feel whole, and maybe flying with the birds helps you be with the deep levels of hell. But this is life and it’s all given to us and it’s given free.” “It doesn’t take a poet; all of us can feel that there are times when a shadow passes over our mood and we taste the tears. Taste the tears. They’re salty. It’s the living Earth. We are part of this.” “All Rilke says is, ‘Give me the time so I can love the things.' As if that’s the great commandment. So I want more time to do what I’m made to do. Why else do we have these hearts with more neurons in them than our brains? Why else are we given eyes that can see the beauty of this world and ears that can hear such beautiful poetry? And lungs that can breathe the air. We have to use these things for tasting and loving our world. And if she’s ailing, now is the time to love her more.” “You are the environment; the environment is not outside of you.” “We are in a space without a map. With the likelihood of economic collapse and climate catastrophe looming, it feels like we are on shifting ground, where old habits and old scenarios no longer apply. In Tibetan Buddhism, such a space or gap between known worlds is called a bardo. It is frightening. It is also a place of potential transformation. As you enter the bardo, there facing you is the Buddha Akshobhya. His element is Water. He is holding a mirror, for his gift is Mirror Wisdom, reflecting everything just as it is. And the teaching of Akshobhya's mirror is this: Do not look away. Do not avert your gaze. Do not turn aside. This teaching clearly calls for radical attention and total acceptance.”“We all have an appointment, and that appointment is with life. And if we can touch that in each moment, our life will become more beautiful when we allow ourselves to arrive at that appointment.” “Even in despair, we have to enjoy life, because we see life as beautiful; [we see] that planet Earth is still a miracle.” “We know we are still alive, and because we are alive, anything is possible. So let us take care of the situation in a more calm and mindful way.” “Even wholesome things can become a distraction if you make them take the place of your sheer presence to life.” “Maybe this really will be the last chapter. But I’m here, and how fortunate I am to be here. And I have imagined that it’s so wonderful to be here.” “Impermanence: the fragrance of our day.”

In this episode we explore the concepts of the inward and outward facing paths. They are presented as different approaches in various traditions that, if pursued to their core, eventually arrive at a direct experience of a unified life. • Includes a guided meditation that extends the ancient neti neti practice of excluding all concepts of what you conceive yourself to be, and then re-including all so-called outer experience, thereby seeing that all is awareness and not separate from your true self. Short phrases to help you get a handle on the inward and outward facing paths:      Nothing you can name or conceive of is awareness. Nothing you could name or conceive of is not awareness.      Meditating with your eyes closed and looking within at awareness, and meditating with your eyes open and looking at the world as awareness.      “Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.” ― Nisargadatta Maharaj The song Jonathan mentioned in this episode is “Impermanence” by John Astin:  https://music.apple.com/us/song/impermanence/72793994 Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature. NEWS: Awareness Explorers has made the following top listener charts on Goodpods:  # 6 in the Top 100 awakening All time chart  # 7 in the Top 100 joy All time chart  # 5 in the Top 100 awareness All time chart  # 8 in the Top 100 consciousness All time chart  # 45 in the Top 100 meditation All time chart To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/ If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations To Support Awareness Explorers, please consider clicking the "Donate" button on any AwarenessExplorers.com page, or becoming a Patreon supporter: https://www.patreon.com/awarenessexplorers NOTE: If you are a Patreon supporter and have not been receiving our bonus material, please check to make sure that the email address you have on Patreon is an active one. To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/ You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian Photo by Vladislav Babienko on Unsplash     

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that human rebirth is more precious than all the wealth in the human and deva realms. It's the basis for us to achieve liberation and full enlightenment. Therefore, before death, we must free ourselves from samsara. To do this depends on bodhicitta. Rinpoche explains that without bodhicitta, we cannot practice the tantric path. By cherishing one human being, we can achieve all the qualities up to enlightenment. After that, we can offer skies of benefit to each sentient being.Rinpoche advises that if you really understand the mind and practice awareness, you'll realize that there's no inherently existent harm coming from sentient beings' side. It's your own negative mind (past karma) that has caused sentient beings to harm you back. If we analyze situations in this way, we see that the person who's harming us is only an object of compassion.Rinpoche reminds us to practice mindfulness of guru devotion. We should think about how the aspect of the guru, which is showing an ordinary aspect, is unbelievably important for us. Due to our impure minds, we can only receive guidance through this aspect. Thus, all the buddhas guide us through this ordinary aspect. When we obtain advice, we should think that this advice is all the buddhas' advice.Rinpoche continues the oral transmission of How to Meditate on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (from Pabongkapa Dechen Nyingpo's Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand). He reads parts 3, 4, and 5, which refer to an extraordinary meditation technique that will bring great progress, realizations related to leisure and fortune, and impermanence. Regarding impermanence, Rinpoche advises us to think seriously about our own death so that we pursue Dharma practice without any delay. Also, when other people die, it reminds us to pay attention to our own life and practice seriously. Rinpoche concludes by sharing some remarkable stories about the sudden death of one of the Kopan geshes, Geshe Losang Jamyang. He says that it was a great loss as he was a very humble and learned monk.From April 10 to May 10, 2004, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave extensive teachings during the Mahamudra Retreat at Buddha House in Australia. While the retreat focused on Mahamudra, Rinpoche also taught on a wide range of Lamrim topics. This retreat marked the beginning of a series of month-long retreats in Australia. Subsequent retreats were held in 2011, 2014, and 2018, hosted by the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

Handling Change: Embracing unpredictability through the lens of the welcoming prayerPrayer and Action: Why a true prayer life leads to action, and how activism should drive us back to prayerIdentity and Memory: The myth of hyper-individuality and why our identity is held collectively—by others and by GodResources Recommended:Contemplation in a World of Action by Thomas MertonThe Active Life by Parker PalmerClosing Poem: A meditation on friendship as one of life's most valuable treasures Links For Justin:Order In The Low - NEW Book with Scott EricksonCoaching with JustinOrder In Rest - New Book of PoemsOrder Sacred StridesJustinMcRoberts.comSupport this podcastNEW Single - Let GoNEW Music - Sliver of HopeNEW Music - The Dood and The BirdThe Book - It Is What You Make itHearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble

What does it mean to build a $200M startup while staying grounded in Buddhist values? In this episode, Ying Cong, co-founder of Glints, shares candid stories from his entrepreneurial journey—from navigating PR crises to letting go of ego and status. With wisdom drawn from his daily two-hour meditation practice and real-world experience, he explores how Dhamma can shape leadership, decisions, and even definitions of success.

Thanks to impermanence, everything is possible.  Contemplating impermanence helps us touch freedom and happiness in the present moment.

(Various) Brief reflections on three levels of Impermanence.

This week's episode is a special replay on a daily practice we can do to decrease unnecessary suffering - which is what this podcast is all about! It's completely natural that things end - relationships, careers, objects we adore, and more. Yet we have so much resistance when things do come to an end, often feeling like it wasn't supposed to happen. We'll talk about the concept of “little deaths” that we experience in everyday life, plus the difference between when an ending is more easily accepted vs when we have more resistance. We also dive into how our modern industrialized consumerist society encourages resistance to endings, and how to counter that. Plus I'll tell you the one thing we should spend more time thinking about to help accept the little endings for a life of more freedom.You will learn:// How our modern industrialized consumerist society feeds into our resistance to endings// How treating “little deaths” / endings with more respect and sacredness can lead to less unnecessary suffering and more joy + freedom// Why we feel the need to control our endings and how to let go of that feeling// The one thing we should spend more time thinking about to help accept the little endings (hint: it's not what you'd think!)Resources:// Episode 9: Impermanence, Death, and Other Sexy Things// Episode 77: Change is Inevitable// Episode 110: The Miracle of Being Alive// Check out this free training on What Really Matters// If you're new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You'll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.// Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can't wait to see you there!// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I'd love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here  or on Spotify by clicking here.

(Various) Brief reflections on three levels of Impermanence.

Welcome back to Sus Art Club — where creativity gets to grow slow, weird, and real. This week we sit down with Cristina Victor, a Cuban-American multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans ceramics, performance, writing, community building, and radical caretaking.We talk art school, studio scraps, dog love, and how mentorship, migration, and Miami shaped her creative voice. Cristina shares how slowing down, nurturing home, and tending plants all connect to her artistic evolution — and why being a creative sometimes means walking away from the work that no longer serves you.We get into:

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

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(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

(Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

What is the role of the creative mystics in times of great change, confusion, and upheaval? How might deeply studying impermanence resource our hearts and spirit?Awakening of The Heart by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh has been a guiding text for me. It's provided an endless stream of inspiration, encouragement, and illumination. Most notably, I'm finding strength from the lucid, gentle correction he offered in understanding the concept of impermanence. Its colloquial use often connotes a certain pessimism, an attitude of "What's the point of doing anything if everything passes anyway?"In this episode, I walk through Thich Nhat Hanh's writings on the subject, while also reflecting deeply through the lens of my path as an astrologer, a mystic, and an artist. I hope this serves and nourishes you.  Book your Human Design Foundational Attunement sessions with me. Across 2 sessions, you'll receive HD & energy work to support your deconditioning process and start living authentically.Join the waitlist for Mystics of The Wandering Stars, a 9-month immersion for rebirthing your inner mystic through the lens of the planets.For private mentorship and coaching, apply here.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.

Send us a textA quiet musing on the fleeting nature of creation. Drawing inspiration from the ephemeral landscape art of Andy Goldsworthy, this episode explores the essence of improvisation — something that can only exist in the now. As each improvised act is born, it already begins to fade. What remains may be a memory, or a photo, but never the original moment. A gentle reflection on presence, creative impermanence, and the art of letting go.New story or reflection drops every Sunday at 6 PM GMT on Dreamy Cappuccino (Stories, Musings, Memories).If you'd like personal guidance in your creative journey or are in need of support, check out my coaching offerings here: https://www.anjakersten.com/createfreely-coaching

Sara goes looking for healthy ambitions in certain impermanence as she rests her case on training with a deeply personal breakdown and exegesis of her story/koan of the season - Dasui's Kalpa Fire. How do we live a life worth living when society, and our own standards, aren't aligned with our values? Does Zen offer alternative ambitions to aspire to? Is it possible to diagnose our own distress while sitting smack dab in the middle of it?? Find out here!

Time Artist Title Duration Album Year 0:00:00 ProgPhonic 184 Intro 0:44 0:00:41 Biosope & Steve Rothery & Thorsten Quaeschning Kaleidoscope 4:46 Gentō 2025 0:07:14 Zio Erwin's Opera 10:14 Flower Torania 2020 0:14:05 Burntfield Empty Dream 3:26 Impermanence 2021 0:22:29 Border Hills The Dream of Flying 4:46 Border Hills 2025 0:27:15 Border Hills When Reason Sleeps […]

In this episode, I speak with Eileen Barber about her career in international development and the transformative years she spent in Colombia helping farmers improve their livelihoods. We explore the power of foreign aid programmes rooted in strong community engagement, and why it's just as important to communicate their impact back home to sustain political and public support. Eileen reflects on how shifts in U.S. political leadership disrupted this work and how she navigated a pivot toward more private-sector-oriented development. We discuss the evolving landscape of aid, and the resilience and adaptability required to keep making a difference in a changing world.Connect with Eileen on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/eileen-barber-9377916.Instagram: @at.the.coalfaceAnd don't forget to subscribe to At the Coalface for new episodes every two weeks.Help us produce more episodes by becoming a supporter. Your subscription will go towards paying our hosting and production costs. Supporters get the opportunity to join behind the scenes during recordings, updates about the podcast, and my deep gratitude!Support the show

This talk was given by Gil Fronsdal on 2025.06.16 at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* A machine generated transcript of this talk is available. It has not been edited by a human, so errors will exist. Closed Captioning: Download Transcript: https://www.audiodharma.org/transcripts/23752/download ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License

This talk was given by Gil Fronsdal on 2025.06.16 at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* A machine generated transcript of this talk is available. It has not been edited by a human, so errors will exist. Closed Captioning: Download Transcript: https://www.audiodharma.org/transcripts/23752/download ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License

 Complaining is Like Junk Food: Just as fast food offers fleeting satisfaction but lacks nourishment, complaining provides only temporary emotional relief. This episode invites listeners to reconsider the impact of their words and thoughts on their well-being. Drawing an insightful analogy between complaining and consuming fast food, Margaret highlights how we often seek quick emotional relief through negative expressions that ultimately leave us feeling unsatisfied and burdened. This discussion reminds us that while life's challenges are inevitable, our responses can lead us toward either suffering or personal growth. As the episode unfolds, Margaret introduces her new mantra: "Change is difficult. Complaining is easy." This mantra serves as a powerful reminder that while it's natural to express our grievances, we also have the opportunity to engage in deeper, transformative practices that promote healing and growth. Listeners are invited to reflect on their own experiences with change, to acknowledge their feelings of disappointment, and to consider how they can shift from empty complaints to meaningful introspection.

Kimberlyn and Leilani discuss what it means to cultivate meaningful work at work, at home, in relationships, and in their spiritual practice.Their check-ins: Kimberlyn re-experiences EFT as an healing modality; Leilani practices non-attachment through throwing ceramics elementally.Mentioned in the episode:  Brené Brown's Gifts of Imperfection; Patrick Buggy's 10 Guideposts for Wholehearted Living (An Actionable Guide); Rose Cook's, “A Poem for Someone Who is Juggling Her Life”Get exclusive content and support us on Patreon:http://www.patreon.com/WitchyWitFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/WitchyWitPodcastInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/Witchy_WitSpotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3azUkFVlECTlTZQVX5jl1X?si=8WufnXueQrugGDIYWbgc3AApple Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/witchy-wit/id1533482466Pandora:https://pandora.app.link/nNsuNrSKnebGoogle Podcast:Witchy Wit (google.com)

What gifts can we find in life's impermanence? Dr. BethAnne Kapansky Wright tackles this profound question in a heartfelt exploration of finding peace with life's transient nature.Through readings of her original works "Finding Home" and "Dancing Leaves," Dr. BethAnn reflects on the struggle and beauty of letting go – whether of places, relationships, or versions of ourselves that no longer fit. She shares her fascination with "the void" – that uncomfortable space between what was and what will be – and how it serves as fertile ground for our most significant transformations.Drawing wisdom from Japanese concepts like wabi-sabi (finding beauty in imperfection) and mono no aware (the poignant awareness of transience), she offers a philosophical framework for embracing change rather than resisting it. "We are both broken and whole simultaneously," she explains, inviting listeners to find comfort in this paradox of human experience.For anyone navigating loss, transition, or the bittersweet awareness that nothing lasts forever, this episode provides both validation and perspective. Dr. BethAnn's gentle insights remind us that finding beauty in impermanence isn't about achieving a perfect state of acceptance, but developing a practice of surrender – one that allows us to fully inhabit each precious, fleeting moment.Join us next week for an all-new episode of Your Heart Magic and more psychology, spirituality, storytelling, and heart wisdom.--Your Heart Magic is a space where heart wisdom, spirituality, and psychology meet. Enjoy episodes centered on mental health, spirituality, personal growth, healing, and well-being. Featured as one of the best Heart Energy and Akashic Records Podcasts in 2024 by PlayerFM and Globally Ranked in the top 5% in Listen Notes.Dr. BethAnne Kapansky Wright is a Licensed Psychologist, Spiritual Educator, and Akashic Records Reader. She is the author of Small Pearls Big Wisdom, the Award-Winning Lamentations of the Sea, its sequels, and several books of poetry. A psychologist with a mystic mind, she weaves perspectives from both worlds to offer holistic wisdom.Halfway To Dead, A Midlife Spiritual JourneyMidlife is freaking hard. Let's flip the script. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyFIND DR. BETHANNE ONLINE:BOOKS- www.bethannekw.com/books FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com/drbethannekw INSTAGRAM - www.instagram.com/dr.bethannekw WEBSITE - www.bethannekw.com CONTACT FORM - www.bethannekw.com/contact

This week, we're throwing it back to an episode celebrating our rebel minds ones. And yes - that means we're celebrating YOURS, too! We'll jam on some of my fave concepts and teachings from past episodes and why each one is a rebellious act on its own. Plus, we'll review some of the most counter-culture concepts of all.You will learn:// Why the consumerist, materialistic world can never free us from unnecessary suffering// Some of the most rebellious ideas and teachings from the past 200 episodes, including:> Impermanence & non-attachement> Non-dual perspective> Compassion> Mindfulness> Ehipassiko> Unnecessary suffering> Curing vs Healing// Why the world needs each of us – in all of our wild, rebellious, crazy gloryResources:// Episode 9: Impermanence, Death, and Other Sexy Things// Episode 51: Self-Compassion// Episode 60: How to Avoid Unnecessary Suffering// Episode 82: How to Live in Polarity// Episode 122: Come See for Yourself – Ehipassiko// Episode 161: Healing vs Curing// If you're new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You'll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.  // Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can't wait to see you there! // Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I'd love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here  or on Spotify by clicking here.

There is a river of wisdom that's been flowing through human history in every culture since the beginning of civilization. It's the wise understandings of those rare individuals who were able to remember something we so often forget: who we really are as human beings. In this episode, we'll dip into that timeless stream, that many have called the Wisdom of the Ages, and explore how it flows directly into the  heart of our new project, NeuroHarmonics. This work is about more than just ideas; it's a guide that you can use to bring harmony into your own intelligence, an inner alignment that can quietly, yet profoundly transform your life. So, basically, what is the Wisdom of the Ages all about? Well, although the term may sound a bit lofty or poetic, it's far from just a throw away line. It points to something deeply real – an enduring thread of understanding that weaves through cultures, continents and centuries. It's timeless not because it ignores the changes of history, but because it speaks to something that never changes with the times; the essence of being human.  Let's look at it this way - throughout the long arc of human history, from the ancient river valleys of India and Mesopotamia to the mountains of China, the deserts of the Middle East, and the forests of the Americas, there have always been extraordinary men and women who saw the essence of life more clearly than the rest of us. They pierced the surface of things.  And even while living in the ever-shifting world of change and impermanence, they were able to reach something that they said was eternal. Their lives, their words, and often just their very presence spoke of something greater than themselves - something vast and invisible, and yet deeply and intimately known. Some became renowned spiritual teachers: Krishna, Ram, Buddha, Jesus, Moses, Mohammed. Others appeared as philosophers, sages, mystics, and shamans. Many left poems, stories, songs, and scriptures, depicting their glimpses into the higher realms of understanding. Some of their names may be less well known, but their examples are no less luminous. Of course, on the surface, these wise ones seemed vastly different. They spoke different languages, wore different clothes, lived in different lands, and practiced different rituals. But remarkably, the essence of their message was the same. To put their vast teachings into a few simple words: there is something beyond this world. Something infinite.     You can call it God. Or the Divine. Or Truth, Spirit, Source, or just the Infinite. There may be a thousand names for it—but the names don't matter. In fact, many of these teachers insisted that words can't matter. Because this Presence—this vast, formless essence—is beyond concept, beyond logic, and beyond the reach of ordinary human comprehension. Why? It's actually quite simple. For all its brilliance, human intelligence is still finite. And the finite, by its very nature, can never truly grasp the Infinite. It just can't be done. Test your own mind as an example. Try picturing a box that is so large, there is no space outside of it. Or try describing something that has no beginning and no end. Or tell me what biggest number in the world. You can't because there isn't one. Whatever number you come up with, you can always add one more and it gets bigger. So there's no such thing. That's the thing about infinity. There's no edge, no boundary, no final point. And when we try to wrap our minds around it, the circuits start to smoke and the brain just watts out. Because it's not built to contain the Infinite.    So according to the wisdom tradition, this thing that can't be understood or even named - exists. For our sake here, let's just call it the Infinite, a term that is relatively devoid of the tarnishing nature of human religious tribalism. But that's just one of the five thousand opinions my mind has churned out in the last hour. Now, what does the Wisdom of the Ages tell us about our relationship with this infinite presence, this reality that you can't define, draw or capture in a book? Well, in the simplest terms, it tells us this: we can experience it. And not only that, we can grow into it. Like a plant reaching toward sunlight, we are drawn toward that light, that warmth and that truth that seems to emanate from it.   And this idea of growth is where the Wisdom of the Ages begins. Because it's not just about belief – it's about transformation. It speaks of a journey toward inner realization, where you begin to see that you are not merely a body, not just a personality, not your thoughts, opinions, or accomplishments. You are something deeper. In essence, something sacred, something eternal that has temporarily taken human form—for the purpose of learning, of growing, of remembering. And ultimately, in a very real and quiet way... for returning. With that being said, the Wisdom of the Ages does rest on a set of core understandings—fundamental insights that form its foundation. And while these truths have appeared in every form of civilization throughout history, they are not relics of the past. Far from it. This wisdom is alive. It's woven from the highest human understandings about life—ancient, modern, and everything in between. So, let's take a brief look at some of its basic tenets. We'll touch on nine of them here, though the first one needs a little more attention than the rest.           The first core teaching is Impermanence—and at first, it can be a hard one to face. It simply says this: everything changes, and everything ends. Ourselves included. Look around with clear eyes, and it becomes obvious. From the rise and fall of empires to fleeting joys and sorrows, nothing stays the same. As the Buddha put it: “All conditioned things are impermanent. Work out your own salvation with diligence.” When we cling to what must pass, we suffer. But when we accept impermanence, we begin to live with Grace. Why does this matter? Because so much of our pain comes from forgetting that. We build our identities on outer things—titles, possessions, opinions, appearances, money—and we defend those identities as if they were permanent. But they're not. And this is what the sages warned us about. It's not that success, wealth, or recognition are wrong. It's that when we make them the foundation of who we are; we build on sand. All of it—status, stuff, praise, even the ego itself—rises and falls. Sparkles, then fades. Seems solid, then vanishes. And when our sense of self is tied to what vanishes, we suffer. We become anxious, greedy, and ultimately disappointed. We chase mirages, hoping they'll fulfill us—only to find out thatthey never really could. And worst of all, we miss the deeper reason we came here: to remember who we truly are, and to feel the joy that naturally comes with that remembrance. At least, that's what the wisdom says. Personally, I think it has a nice ring to it.   2. You Are Not Your Thoughts The second insight is deceptively simple, but not so easy to live: You are not your thoughts. From the Upanishads to modern psychology, the message is clear: You are not the mental chatter, the looping stories, or the voices of doubt and fear. You're not your résumé, your wounds, or the roles you've played. Beneath all that noise lives a deeper awareness that is luminous, spacious, and free. Most of what runs through our minds didn't originate with us anyway. We picked it up from parents, culture, trauma, media. But we end up thinking that these random thoughts are who we really are. And some of the major experts in the field haven't had such an elevated opinion of our abilities in navigating the thought field. William James for example, who is often called the father of modern psychology, once said: “Most people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” The deeper self lives in a realm beyond all that. And rediscovering it is part of waking up. 3. Stillness Is the Gateway to Higher Knowing Stillness isn't just the absence of noise. It's the presence of something greater. As the old biblical phrase goes, “Be still, and know…” In the Taoist tradition, stillness is the source of right action—what they call wu wei, or effortless movement that flows from deep inner alignment. This knowing is not vague spirituality. It's direct experience. Not a theory, but a felt presence. Stillness is where insight arises—gently, precisely, and often when we least expect it. And the Wisdom of the Ages doesn't ask for blind belief. It invites direct experience. We all know that there is a world of difference between actually eating a delicious meal and just reading the menu. 4. Love Is the Deepest Truth and Kindness Is the Highest Power  At the heart of every great tradition is this simple truth: Love is the essence of life. Not just romance or sentiment, but love as a radiant, unshakable presence. When that love moves into action, it manifests as kindness. And kindness doesn't mean weakness—it's strength under wisdom's guidance. To grow in this kind of love is to become more fully human, which is another term for more connected to the divine. 5. You Become What You Practice This one is carved into every tradition—and now verified by neuroscience: What you repeat gets stronger. In ancient terms: “As you sow, so shall you reap.” Modern neuroscience puts it this way: Neurons that fire together, wire together. This means that your attention—and your habits—literally shape the architecture of your brain. So, what you practice daily—whether it's judgement and fear, or gratitude and patience - becomes the blueprint of your inner life. 6. Gratitude Opens the Heart and Expands Consciousness The ancient ones knew it. And now neuroscience confirms it. When you begin to see life as a gift, everything starts to shift the more grateful you become of it. And Gratitude isn't just a virtue—it's a form of perception. It quiets the craving mind and awakens a deeper presence. Suddenly, you're not waiting for “more” to feel whole. You begin to see how much has already been given. And that soft opening of the heart that you feel within? That's consciousness expanding. 7. Life Is a School for the Soul This one can change your life. When you see life as a school, everything becomes part of the curriculum. Adversity isn't punishment—it's instruction. Each loss, betrayal, or hardship carries within it a hidden message, a deeper lesson.           The soul came here to grow. And when you see that, you start to see that Life isn't happening to you. It's happening for you. And nothing—absolutely nothing—is wasted on the soul. 8. Everything Is Connected—There Is No Real Separation We live in a world of apparent separateness. But beneath the surface, everything is woven together. Ancient mystics knew this. So did the early Native Americans. As Chief Seattle said: “Whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life—he is merely a strand in it.” Modern science agrees. From quantum physics to ecology to trauma healing, it all points to one truth: There is no such thing as alone. Only all one. 9. Your Attention Is Your Greatest Power The final tenet is the hidden key: Where you place your attention, determines what grows for you. In a world full of noise, mastering your attention is an act of power—and peace. When you begin to master your attention, you begin to master your life. Whatever you feed with your focus becomes stronger. Fear? It grows. Anger? It grows. Gratitude? It grows. Love? Presence? Joy? These grow too. The game of life changes when you realize:You are the gardener. And your attention is the sun. So, in essence the Wisdom of the Ages tells us that everything outside is temporary. But what is real within you does not fade. It was never born. It will never die. It simply is. And the bottom line is that as human beings, we have far more intelligence, love, happiness, and joyful sense of purpose than we have been taught by our current culture. And the wise ones would tell us that the way to access it all is to pause, breathe and listen. The universal power of this wisdom in not far away. It is within you right now, right here. You don't have to become anyone else.You just have to become who you already are. Tune yourself into stop chasing the illusion and start honoring the real. The path is ancient. But that's not what matters. What matters is that it is alive within us now. It begins wherever we are, and whenever we are ready. At least that's what they say. For me, this wisdom has been in the winner's circle since the beginning of recorded history so – I'll take the odds… Well, I guess this is a good time for us to stop this episode. As always, keep your eyes, mind and heart open. And let's get together in the next one.  

ORIGINALLY RELEASED Feb 28, 2021 Breht is joined by Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, author of "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha", to discuss what Enlightenment is in the Buddhist tradition, what it feels like from the inside, what it can and cannot offer the individual and society, spirituality and mysticism on the fascist right, perennialism, the adaptability of capitalism, tips and advice for starting a spiritual journey, and so much more! Check out Daniel's website: https://www.integrateddaniel.info/ His book "MTCB" (free): https://www.mctb.org/ Dharma Overground: https://www.dharmaoverground.org/ The EPRC: https://theeprc.org/ ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio https://revleftradio.com/ Outro Beat Prod. by flip da hood

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) How attuning to change can bring the greatest happiness

(Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center) How attuning to change can bring the greatest happiness

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Roshi Jan Chozen Bays provides a grounded and practical reflection on the teaching of impermanence. She explores impermanence (anicca) as one of Buddhism's three fundamental marks of […]

Change is inevitable in life and so is death. Of relationships, loved ones, dreams, versions of ourselves. Today I reflect on some of what I've been navigating the last several months and share some of what I've been learning along the way--about letting go, holding grief and joy together, and the urgency of living.  As my friend Joy Sullivan writes in one of her poems, "There's only time to leap."Weekly stories by email from Bonnie's HERE Connect with Bonnie: Instagram, Email (hello@bonnieweeks.com), WebsiteListen to Bonnie's other podcast Sexy Sunday HERE The music for this episode is Threads by The Light Meeting. Produced by: Grey Tanner

(Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge)