Deconstructing Yourself with Michael Taft

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

Deconstructing Yourself

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Rick Steves: I think there's a default that says, oh, that's all it is. It's just the meat, rocks are hard, waters wet, when you're dead, you're dead. And yet, for many people, I think that's their default view. He says we can take on other views and it doesn't break the universe or your mind. We have to be able to see the thoughts and feelings that we're using to interact with self in world then reassemble them like tinker toys.

What goes into making "a self," and how can we bring together the many aspects of who we are? Today Dr. Rick and Forrest Hanson talk with meditation teacher, bestselling author, and podcaster (and their good friend) Michael Taft about moving from the spiritual to the secular and back again, ego dissolution, and how we can deconstruct ourselves.

About Our Guest: Michael is a meditation teacher, bestselling author and neuroscience junkie. He’s been practicing meditation for over 35 years, and is the author of several books, including The Mindful Geek.

Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction

1:30: Michael’s journey from the spiritual to the secular to back again.

5:00: LSD, yoga, and Shinzen Young

8:30: Reconciling the spiritual and the secular.

15:45: What is “deconstructing yourself?”

20:45: Ego dissolution and panic.

25:00: “Spiritual emergencies” and cautions around mindfulness.

29:20: Psychedelics and seeing the ego as an object.

31:00: Practices that help people see the empty nature of the self.

34:00: Key teachings for life’s long road.

45:00: A message to your younger self.

47:00: Recap

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