Adventures in Awareness

Matthew Immergut: The Mind Re-Illuminated - on Gurus, Practise & Awakening

Jun 12, 2025
Matthew Immergut, an Associate Professor of Sociology and co-author of 'The Mind Illuminated,' shares insights on the intricate landscape of meditation. He discusses his transformative journey, including struggles with addiction and the contrast between medication and mindfulness. Dive into the complexities of mentor-student relationships and the essential balance of accountability in spiritual teachings. Immergut also explores the nuanced interplay of love, morality, and consciousness in meditation, highlighting the importance of authentic engagement and community support.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Addiction Revealed in Meditation

  • Matthew describes how a hallucinated Adderall pill in meditation revealed his addiction cravings during a Vipassana retreat.
  • This insight led him to quit Adderall and deeply commit to meditation practice.
ANECDOTE

Meeting John Yates and Collaboration

  • Matthew met John Yates through a mutual friend and immediately felt blown away by John's meticulous meditation instruction.
  • Their collaboration began soon after and involved years of working closely together, mostly in person.
INSIGHT

Why The Mind Illuminated Succeeds

  • The Mind Illuminated's success stems from focused, clear instruction rather than personal stories.
  • Its staged, deliberate practice model offers a systematic approach that deeply inspires meditators.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app