Michael Taft, a meditation teacher and best-selling author, dives deep into self-discovery and emotional clarity. He discusses techniques for untangling our complex selves and emphasizes the importance of integrating spirituality into daily life. Michael highlights the difference between psychology and spirituality, inspired by his work with Shinzen Young. He also explores Vipassana meditation, contrasting early Buddhist practices with more modern insights. Find out how acknowledging both positive and negative emotions can shape a more fulfilling experience.
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insights INSIGHT
Deconstructing and Reconstructing the Ego
The main obstacle to engaging with the world is a tangled mess of concepts tied to reactive emotions.
Deconstructing the ego involves examining these tangles and intentionally reconstructing more skillful responses.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Integrating Spirituality into Daily Life
Bridge the gap between spiritual practice and daily life by recognizing the sacred in every moment, even mundane ones.
Integrate mindfulness into everyday activities to infuse life with a sense of purpose and meaning.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Cultivating the Sacred
Identify personal experiences of the sacred and incorporate related elements into your daily environment and routine.
Gradually increase exposure to these reminders to cultivate a deeper sense of the numinous.
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In this seminal work, Rob Burbea presents a unique approach to understanding emptiness, guiding practitioners through a structured path into deeper levels of insight. The book offers precise instructions and exercises to explore the subtleties of Buddhist teachings, serving as a lifelong companion for committed meditators seeking liberation. It balances philosophical underpinnings with practical means to realize awakening.
The better angels of our nature
Why Violence Has Declined
Steven Pinker
In this book, Steven Pinker presents a detailed argument that violence has significantly decreased over the course of human history. He uses extensive data and statistical analysis to demonstrate this decline in various domains, including military conflict, homicide, genocide, torture, and the treatment of children, homosexuals, animals, and racial and ethnic minorities. Pinker identifies four key human motivations – empathy, self-control, the moral sense, and reason – as the 'better angels' that have oriented humans away from violence and towards cooperation and altruism. He also discusses historical forces such as the rise of the state (which he terms 'Leviathan'), the spread of commerce, the growth of feminist values, and the expansion of cosmopolitanism, which have contributed to this decline in violence[1][4][5].
Sapiens
A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari
This book surveys the history of humankind from the Stone Age to the 21st century, focusing on Homo sapiens. It divides human history into four major parts: the Cognitive Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, the Unification of Humankind, and the Scientific Revolution. Harari argues that Homo sapiens dominate the world due to their unique ability to cooperate in large numbers through beliefs in imagined realities such as gods, nations, money, and human rights. The book also examines the impact of human activities on the global ecosystem and speculates on the future of humanity, including the potential for genetic engineering and non-organic life.
The Mindful Geek
Secular Mindfulness for Smart Skeptics
Michael Taft
Michael Taft is a meditation teacher and best-selling author of many books such as The Mindful Geek and Nondualism. He is also the host of the podcast, Deconstructing Yourself.
In this episode, Eric and Michael discuss spiritual practices and learning to deconstruct and reconstruct ourselves.
But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!
In This Interview, Eric and Michael Taft Discuss Deconstructing Yourself and …
His podcast and blog titled “Deconstructing Yourself”
Learning to “untangle” the concepts and emotions that can overwhelm us
The importance of “reconstructing” ourselves after the “deconstructing”
Taking our meditation practice from the cushion into everyday life
Finding what is sacred to you and bringing more of it into your life
Defining and distinguishing between psychology and spirituality
Thoughts and feelings and seeing their constructiveness
Vipassana practices and his work with Shinzen Young
Differences between early and later Buddhist practices and traditions
How real spirituality contends with the intense human condition
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