Fleet Maull, a former inmate turned meditation teacher and author of "Radical Responsibility," discusses how personal struggles can fuel enlightenment. He shares insights from his time in prison, emphasizing the importance of meditation, compassion, and transformative journeys through grief. Fleet introduces neurosomatic mindfulness, highlighting how awareness of bodily sensations can enhance emotional connection. He also advocates for radical responsibility, urging listeners to embrace personal agency and cultivate positive change in their lives.
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Prison as a Turning Point
Fleet Maull's life took a turn when he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for drug charges.
This experience became a catalyst for his deep dive into meditation and public service.
insights INSIGHT
Negativity in Prison
Maull realized that negativity was pervasive in the prison environment.
He committed to radical responsibility to avoid becoming bitter and angry.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Practice and Service in Prison
Maull found ways to practice meditation, even in a challenging prison setting.
He started a meditation group, engaged in 12-step work, and co-founded the first prison hospice program.
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Radical Responsibility offers a systematic approach to personal liberation, guiding readers to shift from fear-based conditioning to habits of courage and compassion. The book provides tools and exercises rooted in mindfulness, neuroscience, and personal stories to help readers achieve their highest potential and become forces for good.
The notion of transmuting the difficult stuff in your life into something positive has become a cliche. Turning lemon into lemonades, making your mess your message, etcetera. But, as I have said many times on this show, there is a reason cliches become cliches: they’re true. And it is extraordinarily helpful, in my experience, when someone can re-language and revivify an ancient truth that has been ground into platitude through rote repetition. My guest today does just that. Fleet Maull spent many years in prison on serious drug-related charges. He used that time to fuel a deep meditation practice and public service career. He’s practiced for nearly five decades in the Zen, Tibetan, and Vipassana Insight traditions. He’s also written a book called Radical Responsibility. In this episode, we talk about how to, in his words, turn the gnarly stuff in your life into a gift (or, as an old Buddhist expression has it, how to use your struggles as “manure for enlightenment”). On that note, midway through the interview, you’ll hear Fleet reveal, in real time, and to my surprise, that he is actually in the throes of acute anguish at this very moment-- and he will talk about how this experience is fueling his practice. We also talk about: what he learned in prison about whether human nature is fundamentally good; the value of adding breathing exercises onto your meditation practice; what he means by “neurosomatic mindfulness.” Where to find Fleet Maull online: Website: www.fleetmaull.com Social Media: • Twitter: https://twitter.com/fleetmaull • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fleetmaull/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fleetmaull/ • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL_AqFCn3m6lvQTJPIx_uLg Books Mentioned: • Radical Responsibility: How to Move Beyond Blame, Fearlessly Live Your Highest Purpose, and Become an Unstoppable Force for Good by Fleet Maull: www.radicalresponsibilitybook.com • Mindfulness and Psychotherapy edited by Christopher K. Germer, Ronald D. Siegel, Paul R. Fulton: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781593851392 People are sending more virtual gifts this holiday season to avoid putting themselves (and essential delivery workers) at risk. If you're one of them, consider helping your loved ones care for their minds by giving them a subscription to the Ten Percent Happier app. We're offering gift subscriptions at a discount through the end of this month. No shipping required - your gift will be delivered directly to your email inbox. Get a gift subscription by visiting www.tenpercent.com/gift. Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/fleet-maull-308
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