Awake in the World Podcast Best of Awake in the World: Mindfulness of the Breath & Taking the Backwards Step
Sep 7, 2025
Explore how to cultivate mindfulness and settle agitation for clearer action in life. Discover the power of breath as an anchor for compassion and the importance of non-reactive presence. Engage in a guided meditation that encourages heart tenderness and community connection. Delve into Buson’s haiku to reflect on impermanence and the beauty of embracing life's sorrows without clinging. Join in a journey of transformation through meditation, fostering wisdom and understanding.
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Backwards Step To Move Forward
- Spiritual progress requires backing up before moving forward; you must settle agitation first.
- Michael Stone calls this the "backwards step" and links it to calming the heart before action.
Don't Force A Calm Heart
- Do not try to settle your heart with willpower or a single thought; the momentum of agitation is cultural and habitual.
- Take responsibility by practicing methods that cultivate real calm over time.
Shabbat Walks And Communal Rest
- Michael Stone recounts walking past Orthodox cousins going to Shabbat dinner, a peaceful family ritual.
- He uses that memory to illustrate communal rest and the value of settling together.