Ep206: Art of Teaching Meditation - Dean Sluyter 3

39 snips

Jun 16, 2023

Guest

Dean Sluyter

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Meaning Behind Dean's Name

Dean Sluyter traced the origins and meanings of names, revealing deep historical connections.
His own name reflects a medieval role and Dutch heritage, connecting him to a traditional occupation.

ADVICE

Make Learning Fun

Teach students that knowing stuff is fun rather than a chore.
Use etymology of names and language history to spark curiosity and engagement.

ADVICE

Prefer Simple, Clear Writing

Use simple Anglo-Saxon words for clarity and impact, following Hemingway's style.
Encourage students to read their writing aloud to improve style and coherence.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

In this episode I am once again joined by Dean Sluyter: meditation teacher and best-selling author of several books including ‘The Dharma Bum’s Guide to Western Literature: Finding Nirvana in the Classics’. In this episode Dean challenges unexamined assumptions about meditation, reveals how to teach meditation well, how to communicate technique and spiritual ideas in plain language, when and how to effectively use Sanskrit or Tibetan terms, and considers whether or not meditation teachers need to know where the paths they teach lead. Dean also shares his passion for language and literature, lists his favourite authors, recalls his time teaching English at the illustrious Pingry School, and gives his top tips for how to write well. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep206-art-of-teaching-meditation-dean-sluyter-3   Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Harry Potter and the Summer Solstice 04:13 - Dean’s life and work 05:34 - The beginning of Dean’s love for literature 10:12 - Fascination with etymology 10:56 - The meaning of names 12:19 - Dean’s name and background 15:12 - Knowing stuff is fun 15:59 - 1066 and the rich English vocabulary 17:22 - How to write in a post-Hemingway world 19:52 - Monetise your neuroses 20:22 - Dean’s psychedelic sadhu period 22:32 - Getting hired at the Pingry School 23:59 - Inspiring teenagers to read classics 25:30 - Curriculum vs mission 27:07 - The importance of writing well 27:49 - The Pingry Manual of Style 30:05 - Style and writing well 34:11 - Steve and Charles Dickens 37:25 - Dean on Joyce, Nabokov, 41:29 - Did Hemingway have a near death experience? 43:37 - Dharma Bum’s Guide to Western Literature 45:55 - How to teach meditation 47:26 - Precision in language when teaching meditation 50:24 - Using Sanskrit and Tibetan terms 52:04 - Bad translations of śamatha and vipaśyanā 53:03 - Unexamined assumptions about meditation 55:58 - This is it 56:34 - Teaching meditation is simple 58:18 - Do meditation teachers need to have meditation experience? 01:00:17 - Do meditation teachers need to be enlightened? 01:00:41 - How Transcendental Meditation works 01:04:27 - Mindfulness in schools 01:06:46 - Teaching from experience 01:09:36 - The death of Dean’s first wife 01:12:18 - Imitate, assimilate, innovate … Previous episodes with Dean Sluyter: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/163-dharma-bums-guide-to-western-literature-dean-sluyter - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep189-effortless-awakening-dean-sluyter-2 To find out more about Dean Sluyter, visit: - https://deansluyter.com/ …  For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James