Podcasts about Middle Way

Being in pain makes being present extra challenging.  On a physical level, being in the present moment while our body is in pain is often extremely unpleasant. There is a part of us, understandably, that wishes we could escape from it entirely.  At the same time, the experience of pain itself can be overwhelming—to our senses, our thoughts, our emotions. It can feel like drowning, when what we long for is just a moment of peace to rest in.  In today's guided meditation, longtime meditation teacher and pain expert Vidyamala Burch offers a tender practice to find a middle way—one that doesn't lean into denial or give in to overwhelm, but rather allows all that is happening to be gently met, as Vidyamala says, with “wholeness, integration, and kindliness.”    This meditation is part of our Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement series, where we're sharing guided practices from the women featured in our 2025 special edition of Mindful magazine.  If you'd like the transcription of this guided meditation, it will be online on Mindful.org next week.  Curious about the many benefits of being a member? Learn about our  subscription tiers and join Mindful here. Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter, where we share compelling insights and actionable ideas to enrich your everyday life. Connect with us at mindful.org/signup. Show Notes Find more from Vidyamala Burch here. You can learn more about Vidyamala's story and how she came to be a leader in the mindfulness movement on Mindful.org, where we interviewed her for our 2025 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement feature. 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.  

Being in pain makes being present extra challenging.  On a physical level, being in the present moment while our body is in pain is often extremely unpleasant. There is a part of us, understandably, that wishes we could escape from it entirely.  At the same time, the experience of pain itself can be overwhelming—to our senses, our thoughts, our emotions. It can feel like drowning, when what we long for is just a moment of peace to rest in.  In today's guided meditation, longtime meditation teacher and pain expert Vidyamala Burch offers a tender practice to find a middle way—one that doesn't lean into denial or give in to overwhelm, but rather allows all that is happening to be gently met, as Vidyamala says, with “wholeness, integration, and kindliness.”    This meditation is part of our Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement series, where we're sharing guided practices from the women featured in our 2025 special edition of Mindful magazine.  If you'd like the transcription of this guided meditation, it will be online on Mindful.org next week.  Curious about the many benefits of being a member? Learn about our  subscription tiers and join Mindful here. Stay curious, stay inspired. Join our community by signing up for our free newsletter, where we share compelling insights and actionable ideas to enrich your everyday life. Connect with us at mindful.org/signup. Show Notes Find more from Vidyamala Burch here. You can learn more about Vidyamala's story and how she came to be a leader in the mindfulness movement on Mindful.org, where we interviewed her for our 2025 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement feature. 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.  

Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work.Donate paypal.me/stevenwebbSteven's courses, podcasts and links: stevenwebb.ukLength: ~14 minutesVoice: Steven WebbStyle: Guided stillness, compassionate reflection, deep internal releaseEpisode Description:This meditation is for the quietly overwhelmed soul—the one who gives everything, yet still feels like it's not enough. It's for the parent who lies awake wondering if they did enough. For the artist, the leader, the healer, the helper… who, even in the applause, hears the whisper of inadequacy.This is not a space to strive or fix. It's a space to be. To sit in the truth that you are already whole. That you were never meant to carry the weight of saving the world alone. This meditation holds you between two truths—the longing to do more and the knowing that you've already done enough.The Heart of the Practice:From a Buddhist lens, this meditation rests in what's often called the Middle Way. It is the space between indulgence and denial, between the ego's hunger and the heart's silence. In the Zen tradition, the Middle Way is not a compromise—it's a complete letting go of the need to grasp either extreme.This practice was born from a deep personal truth. Whether you're a rock star or a school teacher, a politician or a quiet carer—if you carry any degree of authenticity and humility, there will always be a sense that more could be done. That someone, somewhere, needs more of you. That you're still not quite enough. This meditation invites you to stop chasing that shadow. It reminds you that being alive, aware, and honest is already more than enough.Why This Meditation Matters:Speaks directly to the modern ache of “never enough”Helps you hold both the striving self and the silent witness with compassionTeaches the power of not choosing sides between ego and emptinessProvides a space for deep nervous system release and emotional softeningInspired by ancient Zen teachings, yet deeply grounded in everyday lifeAccessible for those in any life situation—no background in Buddhism requiredWhat You'll Experience:A guided settling into the breath and bodyA gentle witnessing of the “small mind” that wants to prove itselfA compassionate resting in the “big mind” that wants nothing at allA powerful affirmation of enoughnessSilence that heals not by effort, but by presenceBenefits of This Practice:Reduced emotional overwhelm and performance pressureIncreased sense of inner worth and self-compassionReconnection with your quiet centre of peace and presenceA new relationship with both ambition and acceptanceLong-term inner stability, especially in high-responsibility livesYou are not here to be perfect. You are here to be whole.Sit with me in the middle. You'll find yourself again.

In the luminous tapestry of today's conversation, we welcome the venerable Robert Thurman, a scholar, author, and advocate of Tibetan Buddhism. Robert Thurman, renowned for his dedication to the teachings of the Buddha and his efforts to bridge Eastern wisdom with Western understanding, graced us with profound insights and enlightening anecdotes.The dialogue began with Thurman's evocative recollection of ancient India, a land brimming with spiritual richness, transcending time and geography. He posited that Jesus might have journeyed to India, absorbing the profound spiritual sciences there. This blend of historical musings and spiritual traditions set the tone for a discussion that seamlessly wove past and present, highlighting the timeless relevance of spiritual exploration.Thurman's journey into Tibetan Buddhism, a path not tread lightly, was marked by his initial attraction to Indian Buddhism.Upon his arrival in India in 1962, he discovered the Tibetans as the true custodians of Buddhist wisdom, owing to the transformative historical upheavals that India had undergone. His narrative was imbued with both humor and deep reverence as he recounted how the Tibetans, having preserved their monastic traditions, became his spiritual guides. This realization propelled him into the heart of Tibetan Buddhism, leading to a lifelong commitment to compassion and enlightenment.One of the most captivating segments of our dialogue was Thurman's exploration of the fierce Buddhas. Often misunderstood, these fierce deities embody a protective and transformative energy, akin to a mother's ferocious love in shielding her child from danger. Thurman emphasized that these fierce Buddhas help practitioners confront and conquer the darker aspects of their subconscious, leading to profound spiritual liberation. "The purpose of deep spiritual psychotherapy," he explained, "is to conquer those negative things in the unconscious, so they don't drag you in a bad way when you're reborn."SPIRITUAL TAKEAWAYS:Compassion as the Core of Enlightenment: Thurman reiterated that the essence of Buddhism lies in compassion and understanding. True enlightenment is not just about personal liberation but about alleviating the suffering of all beings.Interconnectedness of Life: The dialogue underscored the Buddhist belief in the interconnectedness of all life. Thurman's teachings remind us that our actions ripple through time and space, influencing countless lives.Embracing Fierce Compassion: The concept of fierce Buddhas teaches us that true compassion sometimes requires a fierce, protective stance. This fierce compassion is essential in confronting and transforming the negative forces within and around us.Thurman's reflections on the Buddha's enlightenment journey provided a nuanced understanding of spiritual awakening. Contrary to popular belief, the Buddha's path was not a straightforward ascent to enlightenment but a deeply human journey marked by trials and realizations. His initial indulgence in severe asceticism, followed by the rejection of both self-indulgence and self-mortification, culminated in the Middle Way. This profound balance, Thurman emphasized, is the essence of Buddhist practice.The conversation ventured into the realms of metaphysics and the nature of reality, with Thurman sharing insights into the Buddhist perspective of time and existence. He illustrated how advanced meditators can perceive the universe in its micro and macro dimensions, experiencing a reality that transcends conventional notions of time and space. This perspective resonates with the modern scientific understanding of the universe as a vast, interconnected web of energy and consciousness.In our concluding thoughts, Thurman's wisdom resonated deeply, offering a beacon of clarity and hope. His teachings remind us that the path to enlightenment is accessible to all, grounded in compassion, interconnectedness, and the courage to confront our inner and outer challenges. As we navigate our spiritual journeys, let us embrace these timeless truths and strive to awaken the Buddha within us.Please enjoy my conversation with Robert Thurman.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/next-level-soul-podcast-with-alex-ferrari--4858435/support.

Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha (“the awakened one”), was a spiritual teacher who founded Buddhism in the 5th or 6th century BCE in South Asia. His core teachings include the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path, emphasizing mindfulness, ethics, and liberation from suffering.

Welcome! Today, I'm joined by Brett Chikowski and Conner O'Rourke, cofounders of Middle Way Marketing, a digital marketing agency specializing in healthcare practices. They help businesses with Google Ads, social media advertising, website design, and much more. I asked Brett and Conner to share their insights on running effective Google Ads and we also ended up having a really helpful discussion on website design—what works, what doesn't, and what you need in place before running ads. In this episode, we cover: The must-haves before running Google Ads to ensure successWebsite dos and don'ts, whether or not you plan to advertiseA surprising place they recommend putting contact forms on your siteHow to choose the right keywords for Google AdsAverage monthly ad budgets and cost per click in our industryWhy customer lifetime value matters when calculating ROIHow long it typically takes to optimize Google adsAnd moreI hope you enjoy this conversation with Conner and Brett!SHOW NOTES:Middle Way Marketing homepageMiddle Way Marketing Free Consult Middle Way Marketing Instagram @middlewaymarketingMarketing Breakthrough Session with Michelle - $49Today's episode is brought to you by Jane — a clinic management software and EMR. We all know that choosing the right EMR can feel a bit overwhelming, especially when you're just starting out. You're trying to juggle both your practice needs and your budget, and that's not always the easiest combination. That's why Jane came up with the new Balance Plan. It includes the essential features you need to keep things running smoothly in your clinic, without the extra stuff you don't. 1:1 telehealth, unlimited support, email reminders, and more are included, no matter which plan you choose. So, if you're looking for an EMR that helps you focus on your patients, not your costs, Jane is here for you — just like a part-time assistant. Plans start as low as $39 a month in the US. Visit jane.app/pricing to learn more — and if you're ready to get started, use my code ACUSCHOOL1MO at sign-up for a 1-month grace period on your new account.Support the showCurious about Acupuncture Marketing School, the online course for marketing beginners? Join me inside! Click here to learn more.

On this West Virginia Morning, months of anticipation will come to a head this week as the Jefferson County Planning Commission reviews revised plans for a water bottling site in the rural community of Middleway. The post History Meets Local Activism And Trouble For Silica Laws, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Meliea of Lunar Aligned brings us a reading for the Lunar New Year 2025.  The year of the Snake represents growth, flexibility, and tolerance. Amidst the heaviness of the year's beginning there is hope, and with these tools we can find the balance between being a doormat or a steamroller. With the Chariot as our guide, Meliea encourages us to put our energy into what we're for more than what we're against to move things forward.If you'd like to join Meliea for regular readings and inspiration for cyclical living, send her an email her and she'll send you a link to her Voxer channel. Referenced:Fairy Deck | Radleigh ValentineInteract with Lunar Aligned via:Email |  Web | Instagram | Facebook | TikTokContact UsSupport the showSupport the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Web | Email |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

Welcome to Mediocre Mystic - the podcast where we invite you to reconsider both mediocrity and the way it makes the world go ‘round, and spirituality and the way it works in mysterious ways. If you have survived fundamentalism, welcome to this wholly irreverent space. A sanctuary of sorts, for those of us who have broken free from all kinds of toxic high demand groups.Wrestling with our deconstruction and reveling in our reconstruction, we explore many perspectives sharing stories from all walks of life. Creating functional beauty and discovering practical magic right in the midst of the messy, the muddled, and the mundane. Join us, as we unashamedly and unabashedly cherry pick ancient and modern practices, to find out what works best for us in our daily lives. As we build this community, we look forward to gathering each episode and breaking digital bread together.Mediocre Mystic (Grace) is proud to partner with Lunar Aligned and Quieted Mind. Meliea Black of Lunar Aligned shares intuitive tarot and oracle readings. James Buckley of Quieted Mind offers guided meditation and dharma talks. Mindful Maraschino episodes feature practices from YOU. These collaborations make for a rich feed full of practices to cherry pick what works best for you - one or all!Contact UsSupport the showSupport the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Web | Email |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

The need to prove our point of view as the right point of view is deadly to our spirituality. Take a listen thanks!

Sermon for the Third Sunday After the Epiphanywww.asecfw.org

January 2025 | Pastor Michelle preaches the second sermon in a series on the history and theology of Methodism, expounding on Wesley's mother Susanna's impact on his middle way of faith, friendship, and "Catholic spirit."

Michael Meade looks at how a living system tends to be most complex in the middle or at the center, while being most open at the edges. Being at one side of a bridge of change opens possibilities of crossing over and reaching a place of greater understanding on the other side.   Yet the actual change must happen in the complicated middle which involves both loss and renewal, both chaos and creation. The creative middle way involves the power of becoming; becoming aware of new ways of being as well as coming to know ancient wisdom again.   The inner medicine of the soul is found in the moving middle where a person can truly change. An older person can be inspired by a youthful spirit, a younger person can become wiser than their age might suggest. While in touch with the golden middle way we become most aware of our true selves and more in tune with the ever renewing mysteries of life. Thank you for listening to and supporting the Living Myth Podcast. You can further support this podcast in the new year by becoming a member of Living Myth Premium. Members receive bonus episodes each month, access to the full archives of over 700 episodes and a 30% discount on all events, courses and book and audio titles. Learn more and join this community of listeners at: patreon.com/livingmyth If you enjoy this podcast and find it meaningful, we appreciate you leaving a review wherever you listen and sharing it with your friends. On behalf of Michael Meade and all of us at Mosaic, we wish you well and thank you for your support of our creative work.

On today's show, Alex Ball of Old City Acres sits down -again- with Jordan Schiebel of Middle Way Farm to discuss his newest project, Grinnell Farm to Table located in Grinnell, Iowa. We dig deep on managing a multi-farm food hub, Justins's sales in the farm and diversifying your food business to be more resilient. Jordan is a wealth of knowledge and someone I've really enjoyed watching as he's evolved his food business over the last couple of years. Folks who make the show possible... Farmhand is the only all-in-one virtual assistant built by and for farmers. Sign up for a free trial with the link in the show notes, because NOW is the best time to dial in those systems for the next growing season. ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) will offer the Business of Farming Conference on Saturday, February 22, in Asheville, North Carolina. Find out more at asapconnections.org. Since 1972 Ohio earth food has been the go-to source for soil testing, consulting, fertilizers, seed starting soils, foliar sprays and disease and insect controls. Visit them at ohioearthfood.com. ... and, as always, our work is powered by the individual growers who support us every month over at patreon.com/notillgrowers. You can pick up a copy of The Living Soil Handbook if you don't have one already, as well as a No-Till Growers hat or other merch, check out our YouTube channel, and you can ask you questions or share your insights into ecological market gardening on our free growers forum at notillgrowers.community.chat

A talk given at Berkeley Zen Center on Saturday, January 11th 2025 by Sue Oehser.

(Group Learning Program) - Chapter 6 - The Middle Way: Walking the Middle Way Throughout literature Gotama Buddha teaches and encouraging us to “Walk the Middle Way”. But what does this mean and where do we find it? In this Podcast, David will help you understand what is being shared when it is discussed to "Walk the Middle Way" exploring Chapter 6 of the book "Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment". ——-Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The BuddhaDedicated to the education of Gotama Buddha's Teachings to attain Enlightenment. https://www.BuddhaDailyWisdom.com (See our website for online learning, courses, and retreats.) Group Learning Program - LIVE Interactive Online Classes, Book, Audiobook, Videos, Podcast and Personal Guidancehttps://bit.ly/GroupLearningProgram |The Words of The Buddha - Pali Canon in English Study Grouphttps://bit.ly/PaliCanonStudyGroup FREE Book - Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenmenthttps://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/freebuddhabooks Facebook: https://bit.ly/DailyWisdom-FacebookYouTube: https://bit.ly/DailyWisdom-YoutubePodcast: https://bit.ly/DailyWisdom-Podcast Support our efforts to share The Teachings of Gotama Buddha with you and worldwide for all people using this link.https://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/supportbuddha #buddhism #learnbuddhism #buddhismclass # buddhismcourse #enlightenment #awakening #dhamma #dharma #buddha #meditation #meditationretreat #meditationcourse #meditationclass

In the last segment of UnMind, we looked at the implications of Master Dogen's expression, "the most important thing in Buddhism," from Fukanzazengi, the set of instructions for zazen he composed after returning from China. We speculated on what he could possibly have meant, by singling out one of the many points he made in the text. I suggested that it may be more useful to consider the "don'ts," rather than the "do's," such as: not thinking, notinteracting, and not distinguishing between the absolute and relative, rather than speculate upon a single bumper-sticker summation of his broader points, as the singular, "main thing to do." In other words, maybe he is pointing at something holistic, in the visceral realm, rather than the intellectual.This is in keeping with Buddhism's major teachings — that their meaning will be found in our direct experience on the cushion and in daily life, rather than in words, which can point at the truth but fail to express it in any comprehensive sense. So when we consider the least important thing in Buddhism, it may be helpful to turn to the written record of the spoken teachings of Buddha himself, beginning with the First Sermon, reputed to be what he had to say to the five ascetics he had been training and traveling with at that point in his spiritual quest. It starts out with come "don'ts." In that original dharma talk, Buddha essentially dismisses the extreme lifestyles of the rich and famous on the one hand — self-gratification writ large; and that of the ascetics themselves on the other, who had turned away from Siddhartha after witnessing him drinking goat's milk, violating their high standard of discipline, including virtual starvation. Buddha had landed in the Middle Way, after a night of extreme introspection. Here we have to reiterate that "extremism in the pursuit of moderation is no vice." In articulating the Middle Way between the usual pursuits of the lay hoi polloi and the monastic minority, Buddha indicated the futility of both lines of endeavor — self-gratification versus self-mortification. The most balanced and natural approach is nether to deny the cravings born of body, mouth and mind, nor to overindulge them. This suggests an innate trust in basic human nature — or we should say buddha-nature — our original nature, which is untrammeled by the limits and demands of biological needs and societal norms. Not exactly the noble savage, but the natural sage: a person who lives freely within the bounds of nature as well as those of society. Mr. Natural. Amongst the least important things in Zen would be concerns about our social identity. As one contemporary author's mother told him, You would be a lot less concerned about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do. We all see ourselves as the marquee character in our own movie, with all others playing supporting roles. The trouble is, everyone else sees their reality the same way, with us as the bit players. While the most important thing, or things, about Buddhism will necessarily lie within the personal sphere, the least important will be found in the social sphere. Those in the natural and universal spheres will fall in-between. For example, it is more likely that we can safely ignore developments in society that may indirectly threaten our livelihood, safety and security — such as which party is currently in power — than we can those from natural and universal sources — such as climate change, pandemics, and asteroids. The most important things in Zen revolve around personal applications of the method — zazen — and the results of such training in terms of its effects directly upon the body-mind as well as attitude adjustments regarding our misconceptions of buddha-dharma, and some that tend to have a halo effect upon social life. One major overlap is the practice of patience. Sitting upright, straight enough and still enough for long enough, we are forced to become much more patient with ourselves, our general ignorance and the monkey-business machinations of the discriminating mind — citta in Sanskrit — which serendipitously sounds like Cheetah, Tarzan's famous chimpanzee companion, making it easy to remember. Wisdom, or enlightened, mind — bodhiin Sanskrit — comes to the fore. Citta and bodhi, foreground and background mind, or analytical and intuitive mind, gradually or instantaneously, come into better balance: the original, unified mind, in which the apparent dichotomy is "not-two." Much like central and peripheral vision, which collaborate interdependently to make up the whole of the sense of vision, the two aspects of mind are not in opposition to each other. Not competitive, but complementary. The most important thing, then, would be to allow them to work in harmony. Vacillation from one to the other is the natural way that intelligence and consciousness work. The least important thing would be to worry about them as being antagonistic to each other. We do not have to "empty our mind of thoughts." In fact, if we try to, the monkey will turn into a 600-pound gorilla. We will lose that battle. Better to allow the monkey free range. It will wear itself out eventually. When citta finally exhausts its frantic coping mechanisms, it will lie down and take a nap. Then bodhi can manifest as the balancing act. The posture becomes a comfortable stretch, the breath like a sigh of relief. By relinquishing control, we sink into equanimity. The Buddhist jargon term that addresses centered balance, or settling into "calm abiding" (Skt. Shamata) — and is often defined as the platform for insight (Skt. Vipassana) — is Samadhi: usually capitalized to emphasize the veneration and importance it is accorded. While I think that — as much as possible — we should endeavor to reduce or eliminate the jargonized nature of much of the written record, it may be clarifying to characterize the method of zazen and its effects in terms of different kinds of "samadhis." The first, the traditional form of the upright seated posture of the body in zazen, we might call physical samadhi — less stress, more equipoise, or equilibrium — basically coming into alignment with gravity. The second, we might term emotional samadhi — less anxiety, more calmness. Since mind and body cannot separate, the most direct path to the "mind" is through the body. The third, mental samadhi — less confusion, more clarity — particularly regarding the true meaning of buddha-dharma, what the teachings are pointing to in reality, which is only accessible within our direct experience. Experiential truth is the only truth in Zen. But we can misinterpret what we perceive. All perceived reality is virtual. I propose that there is a fourth kind of samadhi, which I term social samadhi — less friction, more harmony — in relationships. This, of course, is what most people are looking for in the early stages of their meditative practice. But its manifestation is further down the road. It all begins with physical samadhi in zazen. Amongst the least important things, one of the most important is to avoid creating expectations of your practice of zazen. Setting expectations is the way we approach most activities we associate with learning. We hope to learn something new, to find what is missing. But zazen, and its effects, is not really gaining something new, but remembering something long forgotten, and primordial: the natural posture, the natural breath, the natural state of mind. If we imagine that there is something fundamentally wrong with our mind, and that we have to "fix" it, then we are making a fundamental error, a categorical mistake, defined as "treating abstract concepts as though they had a physical location." There is nothing fundamentally wrong with our mind, or for that matter with the entirety of existence. The only thing wrong is our interpretation of reality, our own ignorance and uninformed opinions. As Master Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and he is us." The least important things are TBD - to be determined. In your practice and daily life.As we close out the winter season of the old year and anticipate the opening salvos of the new year, let us remember that there is no such thing as a year, and practice with an open mind. Open to possibilities that lie beyond our imagination, and are right before, and behind, our original face. Don't look in the mirror for it. It is the most important thing. If you have any topics or areas of interest in Zen that you would like me to explore in 2025, please let me know. You know where I live.

Author and Podcaster Noah Rasheta explores the parallels between Buddhism and Stoicism with Michael Tremblay.Whether you're seeking practical wisdom or philosophical insight, this conversation offers tools for living more skillfully – regardless of which tradition resonates with you.From handling grief and identity to achieving wisdom, we uncover where these philosophies converge and diverge.Noah breaks down core Buddhist concepts like the three poisons (desire, aversion, and ignorance) and the practice of mindful awareness, and Michael talks about how these ideas map onto Stoic ideas about reflection and living according to nature. He shares personal stories about losing his business identity and finding peace during difficult parenting moments.Whether you're seeking practical wisdom or philosophical insight, this conversation offers tools for living more skillfully – regardless of which tradition resonates with you.(01:24) The Goal Of Life(13:11) Judging Ourselves(19:23) Habitual Responses(25:04) The Middle Way(30:44) Identity(43:37) Wisdom(54:00) Practice***Download the Stoa app (it's a free download): https://stoameditation.com/podIf you try the Stoa app and find it useful, but truly cannot afford it, email us and we'll set you up with a free account.Listen to more episodes and learn more here: https://stoameditation.com/blog/stoa-conversations/Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations: https://ancientlyre.com/

DOGEN ON ZAZENUpon returning to Japan from China in 1227, at the age of 27, Master Dogen composed the first draft of Fukanzazengi, the tract in which he outlines the principles of seated meditation, or zazen, that he had learned under the tutelage of Master Rujing. In one of the English translations, about two-thirds of the way through the text, he asks a question of the reader: Now that you know the most important thing in Buddhism, how can you be satisfied with the transient world? Our bodies are like dew on the grass and our lives like a flash of lightning, vanishing in a moment. At this point in the piece, he has said many things about the physical method of meditation, interwoven with suggestions of the philosophy, attitude adjustments and correctives to conventional wisdom that accompany the practice. So what he means to indicate as the most important thing is subject to speculation. This may reflect a translator's choice anomaly, a known issue in the art of interpreting ancient teachings. To home in on this most important thing more closely, let's look at a brief, pointed poem, “Zazenshin,” that Dogen paraphrased from a Chinese version. It means something like “Acupuncture Needle” or “Lancet” – a very sharp instrument – for or about zazen: Zazen-shin - Shohaku Okumura, trans. The essential-function of each buddha and the functioning-essence of each ancestor.
Being actualized within not-thinking.Being manifested within non-interacting.Being actualized within not-thinking, the actualization is by nature intimate.Being manifested within non-interacting, the manifestation is itself verification.The actualization that is by nature intimate never has defilement.
The manifestation that is by nature verification never has distinction between Absolute and Relative.The intimacy without defilement is dropping off without relying on anything.The verification beyond distinction between Absolute and Relative is making effort without aiming at it.The water is clear to the earth; a fish is swimming like a fish.
The sky is vast, extending to the heavens; a bird is flying like a bird. So from this we may take it that the most important thing has something to do with not thinking and non-interacting, and not distinguishing between the absolute and relative. It is pointing at something intimate, undefiled by conventional wisdom, and that has nothing to do with our reliance on common understanding, and goal-oriented efforts. To which we can only respond, “Hmmm. Thank you Dogen, for clearing that up.” MATSUOKA ON DOGENClearly, this message is about something beyond words, that language can only point at, if it is beyond thinking itself. Let's explore some more contemporary quotes from Matsuoka-roshi to see if we can zoom in on the meaning of these passages. O-Sensei simplified Dogen Zenji's instructions for his American students, condensing them into three discrete areas: posture, breath, and attention. The following are three expressions he would use frequently, addressing questions about zazen: Keep aiming at the perfect posture never imagining that you've achieved it You have to work your way through every bone in your body When your posture is approaching the stage of perfection, it will feel as if you are shoving your head against the ceiling The first, about aiming without achieving, makes Dogen's “making effort without aiming at it” a bit more concrete by narrowly defining “it” as the upright posture. This is in keeping with the Zen premise that the zazen posture is the full expression of enlightenment, not merely a means to the end of enlightenment. It also reminds us that there can be no separation of body and mind in Zen, nor, indeed, in reality. And that the natural process of Zen is open-ended, based on aspiration as opposed to expectation. The second indicates that this is going to be a steady, slow process on a visceral level, sitting “with muscle and bone,” as my senior dharma brother in Chicago, Kongo-roshi, titled one of his talks. There are a lot of bones in your body. And the bones, of course, are not separate from the skin, flesh, and marrow, the connective tissue, as Master Bodhidharma taught. “Working your way through” recalls the famous dictum from the poet Robert Frost, paraphrasing, “the only way out is through.” The third seems to contradict the first, when Sensei describes what he frequently referred to as the “sitting-mountain feeling” that eventually comes from zazen. We are to aim at it without concluding that we've achieved it, because “Zen goes deeper,” as he would often say. No matter how seemingly complete and transcendent our immediate experience, it is not the end of the process, an attitude adjustment first articulated by Buddha himself in the “Fifty False States” section of the Surangama Sutra. The main admonition is that, no matter what happens in your meditation, not to imagine that you are now completely enlightened. Even Buddha returned to meditation for the fifty years of his life following his profound insight. But this “shoving your head against the ceiling” sensation is something that I can personally attest to from my modest experience on the cushion. I suspect that when we pull back on the chin, stretching the back of our neck with strength, a specific detail of the posture emphasized by Matsuoka-roshi, it has the effect of shoving our skull against the scalp, which would then feel like the resistance of a solid, external surface like a ceiling. The entire body is a tension-compression structure, much like a camping tent, where the bones of the skeleton are the compression members under stress from the surrounding membrane of musculature, tendons and ligaments, like the canvas and ropes of the tent. HAKUIN'S GAS PEDALThe other end of the “tentpole” is the base of the spine, connecting to the coccyx, or tailbone. Hakuin Zenji, a famous Rinzai priest whose life span bridged the 17th and 18th centuries, from 1686 to1769, recommended that we push forward and down on the lower spine until we feel a bit of pain there. That sensation derives from stretching the hard tissue of the discs between the large lower vertebrae. Even more today than in his time, our posture tends to be c-shaped, sometimes referred to as a “cashew,” when we sit in the driver's seat of our vehicles on the expressway, or the chair at our desk. The natural position of the spine is an “S-shape” curve, bending the lower back in the opposite direction, like a cobra rising from the floor, dancing to the tune of the snake-charmer's flute. I call this Hakuin's gas pedal. Like the accelerator of your car or truck, if you keep your foot on it, pressing forward and down, the vehicle moves. If you let up on it, it slows to a stop. On the other hand, if you go pedal to the metal, it speeds out of control. The Middle Way again, in all its manifestations. So the most important thing, as regards the posture, at least, may be keeping these two pressure points in play while sitting. If you do so, you can't go far wrong in terms of sitting upright. Breathing and attention also come into the picture, but that may be a subject for another UnMind. Let me close this segment with a couple of aphorisms that have come to me in my practice. ME ON ZAZEN I do not claim to have the depth of insight and understanding of our ancestors, and recognize that context, while not determinative of Zen experience, certainly counts. What Buddha, Bodhidharma, the great ancestors in China, and Dogen himself managed to accomplish under relatively primitive conditions in no way compares to what we may expect to realize under relatively cushy but geometrically more complex circumstances. But as they did in their times we must do in ours — namely use what we know to inform our efforts in exploring what we do not know, and cannot know, in any ordinary sense. So, here, I want to introduce two terms that may have no counterpart in their language. PROPRIOCEPTION MEETS VERTIGOProprioception is a term from modern physiology, defined as: Perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body Vertigo is defined as: A sensation of whirling and loss of balance, associated particularly with looking down from a great height, or caused by disease affecting the inner ear or the vestibular nerve; giddiness. In terms of our experience in zazen, then, proprioception would be akin to samadhi, or at least its early stages, when, as Matsuoka-roshi said: When posture, breath, and attention all come together in a unified way, that is the real zazen. Now, if there is “real” zazen, it implies that there must be “unreal” or “fake” zazen, or the false impression that we are doing zazen when we are not, really. Samadhi is a jargon term that I hesitate to use, as it implies that I know what it means while suggesting that you probably do not. Which sets up the false dichotomy of “you and I,” “us and them,” the in-group cognoscenti versus the great unwashed. Sensei also pointed out, at the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago, paraphrasing, “When you become dizzy, concentrate on your knees.” And “When you get nauseous, concentrate on your forehead.” Or it may have been the other way around. The main point is that you probably will get dizzy, and you probably will get nauseous, in zazen. This brings up another coinage, for which I claim authorship: Let not the spiritual be the enemy of the practical I detect a vestigial strain of puritanism in the American culture that can infect our understanding and presentation of Zen, as a kind of belief system, a set of doctrines that one must subscribe to, in order to penetrate the inner sanctum of Zen's purported spiritual secrets. This is anathema to the real Zen, as I understand it. All of Master Dogen's instructions in Fukanzazengi are physical, not mental, as Carl Bielefeldt points out in his “Dogen's Manuals of Zen Meditation,” a wonderful, incisive line-by-line analysis of Dogen's two extant revisions compared to the Chinese original. So let's stay focused on the physical, and not get distracted by any woo-woo “spiritual.” If we continue sitting without expectation, implementing the two pressure points until we feel tMatsuoka-roshi's “sitting mountain feeling” of great stability — our head “pressed against the ceiling” — the body and mind will take us where we need to go. We trust our teachers' intent and wisdom, and we trust our Original Mind, as indicated in the title of Hsinhsinming, the earliest Ch'an poem chanted in Soto liturgy. If we sustain this posture — sitting still enough and straight enough for long enough — it will work its magic. Equilibrium will set in in the tension-compression system of muscle and bone of the body, leading to equipoise of the mind. Sustained for some time, the constancy of our proprioception will inevitably lead to vertigo — the flip side of solidity. “Mountains are always walking” — the planet is falling through space. There is “not even a toehold.” Emptiness is innately form, form innately emptiness. In the next segment of UnMind, we will put a cap on “Election Year Zen,” my tenth and final concluding commentary on the 2024 campaign, now that we know how it all turned out. But like a centipede, or millipede, there are surely many more shoes to drop.

Dragons in meditation? Explore myth, imagination, and spiritual growth with us! --- Join and support the community: https://www.creationspaths.com/ Explore the intersection of **active imagination**, **spiritual practices**, and encounters with **mythological creatures** during meditation or journeying. Hosts Charlie and Brian discuss the nuances of interpreting spiritual experiences, caution against **spiritual psychosis**, and stress the importance of humility and discernment. They touch on how mythical beings, such as **dragons**, **unicorns**, and **phoenixes**, may be understood as manifestations of imagination or external spirits, and how these encounters can provide meaningful insights and personal growth. Emphasizing **spiritual technology**, journaling, and balance, they encourage listeners to engage with imagination as a tool for internal transformation while remaining grounded in reality. Thank you for Liking and Subscribing to this podcast Thank you for sharing this episode with your loved ones, friends and community --- Thank you for Tips or Donations: https://ko-fi.com/cedorsett https://patreon.com/cedorsett Substack: https://www.creationspaths.com/ For all of the things we are doing at The Seraphic Grove go to Creation's Paths https://www.creationspaths.com/ For Educational Resource: https://wisdomscry.com Guided Meditations Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV0C8kiTKv0J2QAAlD1uaIJvQ3Sr9sIqO Christopagan Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV0C8kiTKv0ISXDQkZBRB7EHrUUJgXlGN The Everything Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV0C8kiTKv0Ln3eGW-tDk2R68PM6c182O Creation's Paths Podcast: http://www.creationspaths.com/podcast Church of the Oak Podcast: http://churchoftheoak.com/ Hallowstead Podcast: http://hallowstead.com/ Social Connections: BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/creationspaths.com Threads https://www.threads.net/@creationspaths Instagram https://www.instagram.com/creationspaths/ ## Chapters: 00:00 Meeting a Dragon: A Journey Begins 00:48 Introduction to Hosts and Topic 02:00 Exploring Mythical Creatures 03:19 Spiritual Psychosis and Reality 05:18 Dragons: Myth or Reality? 06:37 The Role of Imagination in Spiritual Experiences 11:40 Understanding Spiritual Technology 16:31 Exploring Animism and Tree Spirits 16:59 Connecting with Nature Spirits 17:35 Interpreting Mythological Experiences 19:10 The Role of Active Imagination 20:02 Humility in Spiritual Practices 20:46 Personal Encounters with Mythical Beings 21:23 The Power of Myth and Imagination 22:30 Understanding Spiritual Experiences 25:53 The Middle Way in Spirituality 30:24 Engaging with the Community

Send us a textI'm thrilled to share the latest episode of the "Endless Possibilities Podcast" with you. This one is truly special, featuring the incredible journey of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, also known as David Donald. Trust me, you don't want to miss this!Here are some of the key takeaways and intriguing insights from our conversation:

Join me we reflect on Meliea's 2024 October reading of the 10 of Air card from the Angel Tarot deck. This month we reflect on what it means to accept what it is and work with what we've got building resilience. Referenced:The Gentle Tarot Deck | 3 of ThunderInteract with Lunar Aligned via:Web | Instagram | Facebook | TikTokContact UsSupport the showSupport the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Web | Email |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

(keywords) (slightly edited version)  Mahayana, Theravada, ‘Trusting In The Heart', suffering, the Middle Way, first teachings, Four Noble Truths, Pancavaggi bhikkhus, spiritual faculties, complicit, self-loathing, overwhelmed, nourished, Brahma Viharas, open-hearted state, samadhi, intoxicated, beguiling, anger, indignation, the three poisons, fear, rate of change, anxiety pandemic, conscious relationship, formal meditation, fear of losing control, Ajahn Dukkha, authentic compassion, undoing denial, who is afraid, storehouse of wholesomeness.

Bright on Buddhism - Join us as we read and discuss 3 Very Short Sutras: the Ñanamoli Thera translation of the Anatta-lakkhana Sutta, then the Thanissaro Bhikku translation of the Kaccānagotta Sutta, and then finally, the a-sutra. Resources: Kalupahana, David J. (1986). Nāgārjuna: The Philosophy of the Middle Way. State University of New York Press.; Mendis, N.K.G. (tr., ed.) (1979). On the No-self Characteristic: The Anatta-lakkhana Sutta (The Wheel No. 268). Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved 2007-10-03 from "Access to Insight" (2007) at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mendis/wheel268.html.; Ñanamoli Thera (tr., ed.) (1981). Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha (The Wheel No. 17). Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. Retrieved 2007-10-03 from "Access to Insight" (1995) at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nanamoli/wheel017.html. Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com, or joining us on our Patreon: patreon.com/brightonbuddhism Credits: Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

“If one sees two women sitting at a crossroads, facing one another, they are engaged in witchcraft.” - TalmudFrom our witch meditation series, we know that the witch archetype is truly about people who are reclaiming their personal power. And from the quote above, I love the significance of this sense of power being found in the crossroads; the intersections. It reminds me of one of my favorite teachings in Buddhist psychology - known as The Middle Way. In the teachings of The Middle Way, we learn to embrace tension and paradox. Rather than waiting for the resolution, we become skillful at residing in the middle of it all…“Of course we can always imagine more perfect conditions, how it should be ideally, how everyone else should behave. But it's not our task to create an ideal. It's our task to see how it is, and to learn from the world as it is. For the awakening of the heart, conditions are always good enough.” - Ajahn SumedoJoin me for today's discussion and guided meditation centered on the power we find while resting in the middle.Sign up for my newsletter at https://merylarnett.substack.com/ to receive free mini meditations each week, creative musings, and more.Thank you to Nick McMahan for today's nature field recordings, sound design, and editing; and thank you to Brianna Nielsen for production and editing support. Find them at:nickmcmahan.cominstagram.com/brianna_podcastproWatch on YouTube, Make a donation, or learn more about my free offerings and live classes by visiting merylarnett.cominstagram.com/merylarnettyoutube.com/@ourmindfulnature

(keywords) (slightly edited version)  Mahayana, Theravada, ‘Trusting In The Heart', suffering, the Middle Way, first teachings, Four Noble Truths, Pancavaggi bhikkhus, spiritual faculties, complicit, self-loathing, overwhelmed, nourished, Brahma Viharas, open-hearted state, samadhi, intoxicated, beguiling, anger, indignation, the three poisons, fear, rate of change, anxiety pandemic, conscious relationship, formal meditation, fear of losing control, Ajahn Dukkha, authentic compassion, undoing denial, who is afraid, storehouse of wholesomeness.

(keywords) (slightly edited version)  Mahayana, Theravada, ‘Trusting In The Heart', suffering, the Middle Way, first teachings, Four Noble Truths, Pancavaggi bhikkhus, spiritual faculties, complicit, self-loathing, overwhelmed, nourished, Brahma Viharas, open-hearted state, samadhi, intoxicated, beguiling, anger, indignation, the three poisons, fear, rate of change, anxiety pandemic, conscious relationship, formal meditation, fear of losing control, Ajahn Dukkha, authentic compassion, undoing denial, who is afraid, storehouse of wholesomeness.

The Middle WaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tuesday 15th October 2024 Sky Dawson joins the Armadale Meditation Group on-line live for the last Rains session of 2024. Armadale Meditation Group (AMG) is designed to teach you about meditation. The classes generally begin with chanting the Metta Sutta, then receiving meditation instructions and meditating together, followed by asking questions and finally if time remains listening to a Dhamma talk. However, the layout can vary. These weekly Tuesday night teachings are happening via Zoom from Bodhinyana Monastery. “All views expressed by our Rains Retreat Guest Speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the BSWA” The BSWA is now using Ko-fi for donations. Please join us on Ko-fi and cancel your donations via Patreon. Thanks for your ongoing support! Audio teachings are available to download from our BSWA Podcast Channel (Dharma talks and guided meditations) and BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel (Rain's Retreat teachings, retreats and suttas). Videos can be viewed on our BSWA YouTube Channel. Books and articles are available on our website here.

This talk discusses how to cultivate a middle way between the having mode and the being mode. This talk was given at my weekly Dharma Live/Online class. You can sign up for free HERE.

Inspired by Reagan, the Bible, the Tao, and the Upanishads.  Audiobook.  Mature listeners only (18+).  Music by City of the Sun - Second Sun and Beautiful Chorus - Prayer of Peace.

This talk was given at the Durango Dharma Center as part of their Monday night offerings. Enjoy. 

Nāgārjuna (c. 150-250), founder of the Madhyamaka or Middle Way school of Buddhist philosophy and the most influential of all Buddhist thinkers aside from the Buddha himself, concludes his masterpiece, Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way, with these baffling verses: For the abandonment of all views He taught the true teaching By means of compassion I salute him, Gautama But how could anyone possibly abandon all views? In Buddhism Between Religion and Philosophy: Nāgārjuna and the Ethics of Emptiness (Oxford UP, 2024), Rafal K. Stepien shows not only how Nāgārjuna's radical teaching of no-view or “abelief” makes sense within his Buddhist philosophy, but also how it stands at the summit of his religious mission to care for all living beings. Rather than treating any one aspect of Nāgārjuna's ideas in isolation, here his metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics emerge as a single coherent and convincing philosophical-religious system of thought and practice. Grounded in meticulous study of original texts from classical India and China but innovating on the theories and methods underpinning contemporary scholarship East and West, this study shows how profoundly important voices from the diverse religious and philosophical traditions of the world have until now been diminished, distorted, and silenced. In opening up truly global horizons of existing and co-existing in the world, this work challenges the very ways in which we think about religion and philosophy. * Elucidates Nāgārjuna's thought in its Buddhist context, integrating his views on belief and intention, language and mind, action and attachment, selfhood and suffering, violence and peace, emptiness and Buddhahood * Presents a trenchant critique of the Christian and Western assumptions still dominating the study of religion and philosophy today * Introduces and clarifies ideas of pivotal importance to the history of Buddhist thought in India, Tibet, China, and Japan Readers may also find a related edited volume equally fascinating, Buddhist Literature as Philosophy and Buddhist Philosophy as Literature Prof. Rafal Stepien is also leading a collaborative project, " The Ethics of Empty Beliefs: Chinese Buddhist Philosophy in the ‘Period of Disunity'" that has openings for postdocs and will host several workshops on studies of Sanlun and its influences in Sinophone spheres.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Nāgārjuna (c. 150-250), founder of the Madhyamaka or Middle Way school of Buddhist philosophy and the most influential of all Buddhist thinkers aside from the Buddha himself, concludes his masterpiece, Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way, with these baffling verses: For the abandonment of all views He taught the true teaching By means of compassion I salute him, Gautama But how could anyone possibly abandon all views? In Buddhism Between Religion and Philosophy: Nāgārjuna and the Ethics of Emptiness (Oxford UP, 2024), Rafal K. Stepien shows not only how Nāgārjuna's radical teaching of no-view or “abelief” makes sense within his Buddhist philosophy, but also how it stands at the summit of his religious mission to care for all living beings. Rather than treating any one aspect of Nāgārjuna's ideas in isolation, here his metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics emerge as a single coherent and convincing philosophical-religious system of thought and practice. Grounded in meticulous study of original texts from classical India and China but innovating on the theories and methods underpinning contemporary scholarship East and West, this study shows how profoundly important voices from the diverse religious and philosophical traditions of the world have until now been diminished, distorted, and silenced. In opening up truly global horizons of existing and co-existing in the world, this work challenges the very ways in which we think about religion and philosophy. * Elucidates Nāgārjuna's thought in its Buddhist context, integrating his views on belief and intention, language and mind, action and attachment, selfhood and suffering, violence and peace, emptiness and Buddhahood * Presents a trenchant critique of the Christian and Western assumptions still dominating the study of religion and philosophy today * Introduces and clarifies ideas of pivotal importance to the history of Buddhist thought in India, Tibet, China, and Japan Readers may also find a related edited volume equally fascinating, Buddhist Literature as Philosophy and Buddhist Philosophy as Literature Prof. Rafal Stepien is also leading a collaborative project, " The Ethics of Empty Beliefs: Chinese Buddhist Philosophy in the ‘Period of Disunity'" that has openings for postdocs and will host several workshops on studies of Sanlun and its influences in Sinophone spheres.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

Nāgārjuna (c. 150-250), founder of the Madhyamaka or Middle Way school of Buddhist philosophy and the most influential of all Buddhist thinkers aside from the Buddha himself, concludes his masterpiece, Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way, with these baffling verses: For the abandonment of all views He taught the true teaching By means of compassion I salute him, Gautama But how could anyone possibly abandon all views? In Buddhism Between Religion and Philosophy: Nāgārjuna and the Ethics of Emptiness (Oxford UP, 2024), Rafal K. Stepien shows not only how Nāgārjuna's radical teaching of no-view or “abelief” makes sense within his Buddhist philosophy, but also how it stands at the summit of his religious mission to care for all living beings. Rather than treating any one aspect of Nāgārjuna's ideas in isolation, here his metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics emerge as a single coherent and convincing philosophical-religious system of thought and practice. Grounded in meticulous study of original texts from classical India and China but innovating on the theories and methods underpinning contemporary scholarship East and West, this study shows how profoundly important voices from the diverse religious and philosophical traditions of the world have until now been diminished, distorted, and silenced. In opening up truly global horizons of existing and co-existing in the world, this work challenges the very ways in which we think about religion and philosophy. * Elucidates Nāgārjuna's thought in its Buddhist context, integrating his views on belief and intention, language and mind, action and attachment, selfhood and suffering, violence and peace, emptiness and Buddhahood * Presents a trenchant critique of the Christian and Western assumptions still dominating the study of religion and philosophy today * Introduces and clarifies ideas of pivotal importance to the history of Buddhist thought in India, Tibet, China, and Japan Readers may also find a related edited volume equally fascinating, Buddhist Literature as Philosophy and Buddhist Philosophy as Literature Prof. Rafal Stepien is also leading a collaborative project, " The Ethics of Empty Beliefs: Chinese Buddhist Philosophy in the ‘Period of Disunity'" that has openings for postdocs and will host several workshops on studies of Sanlun and its influences in Sinophone spheres.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nāgārjuna (c. 150-250), founder of the Madhyamaka or Middle Way school of Buddhist philosophy and the most influential of all Buddhist thinkers aside from the Buddha himself, concludes his masterpiece, Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way, with these baffling verses: For the abandonment of all views He taught the true teaching By means of compassion I salute him, Gautama But how could anyone possibly abandon all views? In Buddhism Between Religion and Philosophy: Nāgārjuna and the Ethics of Emptiness (Oxford UP, 2024), Rafal K. Stepien shows not only how Nāgārjuna's radical teaching of no-view or “abelief” makes sense within his Buddhist philosophy, but also how it stands at the summit of his religious mission to care for all living beings. Rather than treating any one aspect of Nāgārjuna's ideas in isolation, here his metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics emerge as a single coherent and convincing philosophical-religious system of thought and practice. Grounded in meticulous study of original texts from classical India and China but innovating on the theories and methods underpinning contemporary scholarship East and West, this study shows how profoundly important voices from the diverse religious and philosophical traditions of the world have until now been diminished, distorted, and silenced. In opening up truly global horizons of existing and co-existing in the world, this work challenges the very ways in which we think about religion and philosophy. * Elucidates Nāgārjuna's thought in its Buddhist context, integrating his views on belief and intention, language and mind, action and attachment, selfhood and suffering, violence and peace, emptiness and Buddhahood * Presents a trenchant critique of the Christian and Western assumptions still dominating the study of religion and philosophy today * Introduces and clarifies ideas of pivotal importance to the history of Buddhist thought in India, Tibet, China, and Japan Readers may also find a related edited volume equally fascinating, Buddhist Literature as Philosophy and Buddhist Philosophy as Literature Prof. Rafal Stepien is also leading a collaborative project, " The Ethics of Empty Beliefs: Chinese Buddhist Philosophy in the ‘Period of Disunity'" that has openings for postdocs and will host several workshops on studies of Sanlun and its influences in Sinophone spheres.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies

(Gaia House) An exploration of equanimity, and living with purpose. This Online Dharma Hall session includes a Guided Meditation, a Dharma Talk, and responses to unrecorded questions. Bear in mind, it was offered while Nathan had a cough and a fever.

(Gaia House) An exploration of equanimity, and living with purpose. This Online Dharma Hall session includes a Guided Meditation, a Dharma Talk, and responses to unrecorded questions. Bear in mind, it was offered while Nathan had a cough and a fever.

This is an impromptu mini episode that was inspired by an experience I had while on a run a couple weekends ago. The statement that kept circling through my mind intuitively after this experience was:"We become the light when we're no longer afraid of the dark. Ironically, the dark runs from that." And that about sums up what this episode is about. The day after I recorded this episode, I read an excerpt in the book The Untethered Soul* (pp. 135–136) by Michael A. Singer that felt so aligned to the message and affirmed this idea of needing to run towards what we fear in order to set ourselves free. Here are bits and pieces from that snippet:“If anything can cause disturbance inside of you, it means it hit your model. It means it hit the false part of you that you built in order to control your own definition of reality… learn to be comfortable with psychological disturbance. Of course this will be painful. The reason you built the whole mental structure was to avoid pain. If you let it fall apart, you're going to feel the pain that you were avoiding when you built it. You must be willing to face this pain… ...The way out is through awareness. Stop defining the disturbed mind as a negative experience; just see if you can relax behind it. When your mind is disturbed, don't ask, ‘What do I do about this?' Instead ask, ‘Who am I that notices this?'… If you want permanent peace, permanent joy, and permanent happiness, you have to get through to the other side of the inner turmoil... ...You do that by letting go of the tendency to cling. You do it by not using your mind to build false solidity. You just decide, once and for all, to take the journey by constantly letting go. At this point, the journey becomes very quick. You will go through the part of you that has always been scared to death, and you'll see how that part has always struggled to hold it all together. If you don't feed that part, if you just keep letting go and don't cling, eventually you will fall behind the false solidity.” ________________*This is an affiliate link. Purchasing through affiliate links supports The Soul Horizon at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only and does not substitute individual psychological advice.

First talk from Rocky Mt. Ecodharma. August 2024. 

Joseph Campbell alluded to the folk religion of Japan, Shinto - which is not really a religion - as preserving a sort of unpolluted version of humanity's spiritual past. Although developing out of Buddhism and Daoism, themselves probably originating in India - minus regional cultural additions - Shinto is a Japanese practice distinctly separate from Buddhism at its core. Whereas Buddhists see the world as suffering, Shinto observers see the world as harmonious and try to work with that harmony in daily life. Many of the Shinto practices and rituals, and its background mythos, can be compared with other faith-based religions in particular and comparative mythology in general. It preserves this sort of proof that humans, no matter where they developed, and although they may use different words, are all really interacting with the same spiritual forces. In Shinto, there is no founder, holy books, heaven or hell, supreme deity, or even moral code, though such a code is baked into the practice and at the heart of water purifications. The word itself means 'Way of the Gods', obviously sharing a relationship with Buddha's Middle Way, Allah's Way, and the Way of Jesus Christ. -FREE ARCHIVE & RSS: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-secret-teachings Twitter: https://twitter.com/TST___Radio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesecretteachings WEBSITE (BOOKS, RESUBSCRIBE for early show access): http://thesecretteachings.info Paypal: rdgable@yahoo.com CashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.com

Join me we reflect on Meliea's 2024 September reading of the 3 of Thunder card from the Gentle Tarot deck. This month we reflect on the companionship of sadness and joy. Referenced:The Gentle Tarot Deck | 3 of ThunderInteract with Lunar Aligned via:Web | Instagram | Facebook | TikTokContact UsSupport the showSupport the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Web | Email |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

James of Quieted Mind brings us a meditation to bring back warmth not only to the room, but to our souls. In the midst of a chaotic world, he helps us create peace and protect it in our corner.Interact with Quieted Mind via:Web | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeContact UsSupport the showSupport the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Web | Email |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

Listening to the song of the present moment, Jack uncovers how to dance with life's dynamic rhythms along the harmonizing path to inner-freedom.This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.“The rhythm of your breath is no different than the rhythm of the stars.” – Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack mindfully explores:The art of listening to the song of life, birth and deathWhy it can be so tough to actually “Be Here Now” like Ram DassHow love connects to the present momentAlan Watts, music, dance, and harmonizing to the universeFeeling the rhythms of your breath and bodyLearning to dance to life's dynamic musicStaying open and avoiding spiritual bypassLooking at our body and life clearly and directlyThe power of attention, noting, and spaciousness for diffusing our judgements and emotionsBuddha's discovery of the Middle Way, and why he stopped fighting himselfDealing with the unfinished business of grief, loss, loneliness, woundsHow to handle worries or fantasies that keep looping over and overChögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the tenderness and fearlessness of an Awakened HeartWhy Buddha focused on humans as ‘five processes,' rather than personalitiesLetting go of our rigid sense of self and diving into the fluidity of lifeNon-grasping and how even enlightenment is a problemDiscovering the true path to liberationDeath, dying, and a reading from the Tibetan Book of the Dead“To listen is to be awake in the present without moving away from or running away from what's actually here.” – Jack Kornfield“The only place to actually love another person, or a tree, or a living creature, or the earth itself, is when we're here in the present.” – Jack KornfieldDiscover your great joy and love in Jack's life-changing new online journey – The Awakened Heart: Discovering Great Joy and Love – Dive in here and now at JackKornfield.comThis Dharma talk originally recorded in 1991 was originally published on DharmaSeed.Join senior meditation teachers David Nichtern and Rebecca D'Onofrio for a free online discussion on the path of developing one's own meditation practice and supporting others who wish to explore this transformative path. Register for free today: The Journey of Becoming a Meditation Teacher | Sep. 19th @ 6:00pm ETSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode we're pausing to ponder the particular seed of truth on the topic of yogic energy - cherry picked by Mandi Brown.I invite YOU, cherry cobbler congregants, to drop me a voicemail or a text at 980.355.9665. Tell me about one of your own favorite practices - pretty please with a cherry on top!Interact with Mandi Brown via:Web | Instagram | Facebook  Contact UsSupport the showSupport the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Web | Email |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

Join me we reflect on Meliea's 2024 August reading of the Harvest of Stones card from the Gentle Tarot deck. I propose instead of trying to defeat the giant, we put our dukes down and shake hearts. Referenced:The Gentle Tarot Deck | Harvest of StonesInteract with Lunar Aligned via:Web | Instagram | Facebook | TikTokContact UsSupport the showSupport the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Web | Email |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

Join me as we reflect on James's meditation Return to the Breath. I propose that those of us with wandering minds take our thoughts on a walk. My husky dog, Scout, approves this message.  Referenced:Dan Brule | Breath MasteryInteract with Quieted Mind via:Web | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeContact UsSupport the Show.Support the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Email | Blog |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

On this episode we're pausing to ponder the particular seed of truth on the topic of trusting our own intuition through the practice of intention - cherry picked by Meliea Black.I invite YOU, cherry cobbler congregants, to drop me a voicemail or a text at 980.355.9665. Tell me about one of your own favorite practices - pretty please with a cherry on top!Referenced:The Traitors | Martha BeckInteract with Lunar Aligned via:Web | Instagram | Facebook | TikTokContact UsSupport the Show.Support the Show | Buy Me a CoffeeText or Voicemail | 980.355.9665 Interact with Mediocre Mystic via:Email | Blog |Instagram | X Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Subscribe & Follow | Rate & ReviewApple | Spotify | YouTubeMusic by '86 Aerostar | Logo by Bizri Creative Group

Joseph Campbell alluded to the folk religion of Japan, Shinto - which is not really a religion - as preserving a sort of unpolluted version of humanity's spiritual past. Although developing out of Buddhism and Daoism, themselves probably originating in India - minus regional cultural additions - Shinto is a Japanese practice distinctly separate from Buddhism at its core. Whereas Buddhists see the world as suffering, Shinto observers see the world as harmonious and try to work with that harmony in daily life. Many of the Shinto practices and rituals, and its background mythos, can be compared with other faith-based religions in particular and comparative mythology in general. It preserves this sort of proof that humans, no matter where they developed, and although they may use different words, are all really interacting with the same spiritual forces. In Shinto, there is no founder, holy books, heaven or hell, supreme deity, or even moral code, though such a code is baked into the practice and at the heart of water purifications. The word itself means 'Way of the Gods', obviously sharing a relationship with Buddha's Middle Way, Allah's Way, and the Way of Jesus Christ. -FREE ARCHIVE & RSS: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-secret-teachingsTwitter: https://twitter.com/TST___RadioFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesecretteachingsWEBSITE (BOOKS, RESUBSCRIBE for early show access): http://thesecretteachings.infoPaypal: rdgable@yahoo.comCashApp: $rdgableBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tstradioSUBSCRIBE TO NETWORK: http://aftermath.mediaEMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.com

In this revisited episode of The Observatory, Beau Oyler joins the show to talk about expanding his spirituality in the LDS church. Hear about Beau's journey to his awakening, growing and healing with psychedelics, living in the Middle Way, expanding spirituality within the church, and his transformational experience in the Himalayas.Timestamps[01:56] Beau in the Himalayas.[06:15] A bit about Beau. [18:35] Breaking down the orthodoxy.[21:44] The awakening. [30:49] Beau's changing perspective.[39:14] The psychedelic experiences. [57:26] The Middle Way.[67:06] Expanding spirituality. [79:48] Reflecting on the Himalaya trek.Notable quotes:“We can decide to live in fear, or we can decide to live in love.” – Scott Wright [28:05]“It isn't about the answers. It's about the exploration.” – LaRae Wright [72:02]“To see and be seen. That's what we want.” – Beau Oyler [77:59]Relevant Links:Website: www.enlisteddesign.com.LinkedIn: Beau OylerSubscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcasts.