Ep. 229 - Making Friends with the Mind with David Nichtern LIVE from the Ram Dass Summer Mountain Retreat

Buddhist teacher David Nichtern explains that making friends with the mind and internal world is the first step to relating better with the people around us.

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LIVE from the 2024 Ram Dass Summer Mountain Retreat, David Nichtern explores:

• How our minds shape the reality we experience and perceive
• The importance of positive mantra versus focusing on negativity 
• Taking comfort and refuge within our own minds
• Understanding restless, “hot” boredom versus calm, “cool” boredom
• Musical examples for how we relate to one another 
• The bridge between the everyday world and the internal, spiritual experience
• Mental patterns that destabilize us and hinder resilience 
• Becoming open to our environment during mindfulness meditation 

“Mindfulness meditation would be good because you’re developing patience and familiarity with yourself that’s accepting, not rejecting. It is, in a way, making love to yourself. It’s being intimate with yourself; it’s just you and your mind. You develop a kind of willingness to be where you are.” –David Nichtern

About David Nichtern:

David Nichtern, founder of Dharma Moon, is a senior Buddhist teacher who has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 40 years. He was one of the initial American students of renowned meditation master Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and studied closely with him soon after his arrival in the United States in 1970. He is also a business consultant with companies creating a variety of offerings integrating meditation in a larger health and well-being context. David is also a multiple Grammy-nominated and Emmy award-winning musician. David’s journey has crisscrossed with the Maharaji/Ram Dass sangha for decades. He has produced multiple Krishna Das albums and frequently joins the Bhaktettes live on guitar. He considers himself to be a first cousin and honorary member of the Bhakti community.

“If you examine the self-talk, the narrative dialing through our minds, there’s a lot of criticism, harshness towards our selves and others. We start with kindness and gentleness, that’s it, if you can’t get anywhere else, that’s really a good place.” –David Nichtern

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