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Joseph Goldstein On: Karma, Rebirth, And Other Planes Of Existence

Mar 11, 2024

Join Joseph Goldstein, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and a renowned meditation teacher, as he dives deep into karma and rebirth. He explains why karma isn't a rigid force dictating our lives and discusses the intriguing connection between it and free will. Goldstein shares his personal journey of embracing these complex concepts over time, advocating for a compassionate approach to mindfulness. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the fluid nature of consciousness on the path to enlightenment.

01:21:08

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Joseph Goldstein

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Quick takeaways

Karma is not deterministic but a guide for future actions, emphasizing the influence of present choices on outcomes.

Practicing kindness and generosity shapes karmic outcomes positively, illustrating the profound impact of simple acts of goodwill.

Openness to esoteric teachings like rebirth expands with verified experiences, emphasizing the value of exploring beyond immediate understanding.

Deep dives

Understanding the Buddhist Cosmology

The podcast episode explores the willingness of the meditation teacher, Joseph Goldstein, to discuss esoteric concepts like karma, rebirth, and other realms of existence. He explains why he has become more open to discussing these mystical ideas as he has aged, emphasizing that karma is not a deterministic principle governing all aspects of life. Goldstein delves into the connection between karma, past lives, free will, and the importance of skeptics maintaining a mindset of the willing suspension of disbelief.

Enlightenment and Belief Systems

01:22

Immaterial Consciousness

01:18

Agency within Conditioned Existence

00:58

Understanding Karma as Cause and Effect

01:49

Intro

4min

Celebrating Ten Years of Insight

6min

Karma and Compassion: Navigating Existence

24min

Journey from Skepticism to Mindfulness

4min

Awakening Through Consciousness

23min

Understanding Karma and Mindful Living

5min

Exploring Free Will in Buddhist Philosophy

20min

Meditation and Milestones

6min

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We explore the intellectual and practical aspects of these mystical and esoteric concepts.

Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Insight Meditation and The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation. Joseph has studied and practiced meditation since 1967 under the guidance of eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet and he leads Insight Meditation retreats around the world.

In this episode we talk about:

Why Joseph has become more comfortable talking about these concepts as he’s gotten older
Why karma should not be seen as a deterministic principle that rules every aspect of our lives
The connection between karma and past lives
What he thinks about the concept of free will and how it relates to karma
And why skeptics would do well to adopt a mindset characterized by the “willing suspension of disbelief”

Additional Links:

Joseph’s Dharma Seed Talk: Understanding Karma

Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master

Free Will by Sam Harris

IMS’s Forest Refuge Program

The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies

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