Surprising Connections with Spiritual Teachers

In this episode I host a dialogue between Stephen Snyder, meditation teacher and author, and Mark Mininberg, Zen master and dharma heir to Bernie Glassman. Stephen and Mark discuss their new podcast interview series, “Anatomy of Awakening”, in which they engage in peer-to-peer trialogue with other teachers of enlightenment. Stephen and Mark reveal why they chose the teachers they have featured, the degree to which various claims to spiritual attainment played a part in their selection, and how they navigated conversations with teachers from other Buddhist sects. Stephen and Mark reflect on the increase in meditation teachers who claim spiritual awakening, recall their own trainings in Zen communities in which discussion of enlightenment was taboo, and emphasise the need for rigorous training under an experienced guide. Stephen and Mark also warn about teachers who overestimate their abilities, offer suggestions to aspiring gurus, and emphasis the whole body commitment required to truly attain Buddhist awakening. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep308-anatomy-of-awakening-stephen-snyder-mark-mininberg Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:12 - Anatomy of Awakening 03:12 - How did Stephen and Mark decide which teachers to interview? 05:43 - Are these teachers enlightened? 06:13 - Enlightenment doesn’t belong to anybody 07:36 - A synergy of awakening 08:21 - How can you even tell if someone is enlightened? 09:46 - Teachers who promote themselves as teaching awakening 10:16 - No teacher is flawless 10:56 - The danger of speaking openly about awakening 12:14 - Buddhism and awakening traditions are evolving in the West 14:54 - Why are more teachers claiming enlightenment? 16:29 - Changes in American Buddhism and the New Age since the 70s 18:15 - The lost virtue of humility 19:50 The Absolute awakens to Itself 20:49 - Going public with ones’s awakening 22:59 - Holding this life in reverence 24:05 - Signs of a mature practice 26:02 - Becoming a meditation teacher 28:11 - The true job of a teacher 30:47 - Teachers should not overestimate their level 34:35 - Ways to know you are in too deep as a teacher 35:45 - Teachers need teachers 37:50 - Is there any substitute for a 1-1 relationship with a teacher 39:54 - Humility and the truth a spouse sees 41:04 - People assume their teacher is perfect 41:47 - Mark’s conservative Zen training 43:00 - Customer services spirituality 45:08 - Holding a teacher in reverence 47:13 - The pitfalls of leadership by committee 49:51 - Awakening is a whole body commitment 54:29 - Surprises when meeting enlightenment teachers 57:20 - Peer to peer trialogues 58:12 - How to find the interview series 59:24 - Host and guest 01:00:14 - Praise for the Guru Viking Podcast
 … Previous episodes with Stephen Snyder: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=snyder To purchase Anatomy of Awakening visit: - https://awakeningdharma.org/anatomy-of-awakening/ GV Podcast receives no affiliate commission from your purchase. … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James