One of my favorite episodes that we’ve recorded in a long while.

Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Insight Meditation and The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation. Joseph has studied and practiced meditation since 1967 under the guidance of eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet and he leads Insight Meditation retreats around the world.

This year, IMS printed a collection of Joseph’s poetry, titled Dreamscapes of the Mind: Poems and Reflections. The book includes 21 poems and almost a dozen short verses.

We have made copies available for a suggested donation of $12 to support IMS’s Retreat Center scholarship fund (shipping to U.S. addresses only).

For a copy of Joseph’s book, visit give.dharma.org/JGpoetry 

In this episode we talk about:

• Impermanence, impersonality, and the vast spaciousness of the mind
• Mortality 
• How we can use mindfulness to be more creative
• Joseph reads one of his favorite poems (and a couple others)
• Thoughts on how to approach death
• What Joseph means by dreamscape of the mind
• Deep Dharma topics like Nirvana, rebirth, taking refuge and more

Related Episodes:

• Joseph Goldstein + Mark Epstein On: How To Handle Unwanted Experiences, How Not To Waste Your Suffering & The Overlap Between Buddhism + Therapy
• I Just Did A 10-Day Silent Meditation Retreat With Joseph Goldstein. Here’s What I Learned
• Dr. Mark Epstein On: How To Transform Your Neuroses Into “Little Shmoos”
• Nirvana | Joseph Goldstein

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Additional Resources:

• For a copy of Joseph’s book, visit give.dharma.org/JGpoetry