Ep. 48 – The Relative and The Absolute with Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson
Nov 28, 2023
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Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson and David Nichtern discuss mindfulness, mysticism, and more, including the intersection of psychedelics and spirituality, the sweet spot between contemplative practice and engaged activism, and generational shifts of awareness.
Integrating spiritual practice, creative expression, and right livelihood is crucial for leading an integrated life.
Bringing contemplative practice and engaged activism together can contribute to positive change in politics and society.
Exploring peak experiences, such as through psychedelics, can provide profound insights and transform one's perspective.
Deep dives
The Integration of Spirituality, Creativity, and Livelihood
The podcast episode explores the importance of leading an integrated life involving spiritual practice, creative expression, and right livelihood. It emphasizes the value of having relative experiences to connect with the absolute in daily life. The intersection of politics, law, and contemplative practice is discussed, highlighting the work of the accomplished polymath Rabbi Dr. J. Michaelson. The conversation touches on a broad range of important topics through the lens of spiritual practice and aims to manifest these principles in personal and professional life.
The Intersection of Meditation and Activism
The episode delves into the intersection of meditation and activism, focusing on the need to integrate contemplative practice with engaged activism. It acknowledges the importance of bringing spiritual and ethical perspectives into political discussions and decision-making. The conversation highlights the challenges of convincing people to invest in deeper inner work while addressing their immediate needs. Various examples of individuals and groups combining meditation and activism are mentioned, emphasizing the ongoing process of integrating Dharma wisdom with political engagement.
The Exploration of Enlightenment and Different Perspectives
The podcast explores different perspectives on enlightenment and the challenges of defining it. It touches upon the distinctions between various models of enlightenment, including the Taravadan, Vajrayana, and Jewish traditions. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding the complexities of enlightenment and the need to adapt the concept to different religious and cultural contexts. It also emphasizes the personal journey of seeking enlightenment and the shift between absolute and relative perspectives in daily life.
The Tension Between Short-Term and Deep Transformation
The episode acknowledges the tension that exists between offering short-term solutions to immediate problems and the deeper transformation that comes with long-term spiritual practice. It discusses the challenges faced by organizations in the meditation and mindfulness field in finding a balance between meeting immediate needs and guiding individuals towards long-term growth. The conversation explores the delicate dance between integrity to the tradition and meeting consumer demands. It reflects on the importance of finding sustainable models that can holistically address both short-term relief and long-term transformation.
The Value of Peak Experiences
The speaker emphasizes the value of peak experiences, particularly in relation to personal growth and the exploration of different states of mind. They discuss how indulging in these experiences, such as through the use of psychedelics, can provide profound insights and teach the mind new ways of experiencing reality. They highlight the importance of integrating these peak experiences into daily life, even in the midst of responsibilities and commitments.
The Uniqueness of the Toad Medicine Experience
The podcast delves into the unique qualities of the toad medicine, 5-MeO-DMT, and its transformative effects. The speaker mentions how the medicine offers a completely immersive and indescribable experience, often leading to a sense of eco-death. While the toad venom is traditionally used, synthesized 5-MeO-DMT is now more commonly found. The speaker also discusses the lack of a well-established indigenous tradition around this medicine compared to other substances like ayahuasca. They express curiosity about the possibilities of meeting highly realized individuals in the present day and explore the concept of enlightened beings who embody both relative and absolute perspectives.
Focusing on the relative and absolute, Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson and David Nichtern explore mindfulness, mysticism, and more.
David and Jay spend this episode discussing:
- Jay’s interdisciplinary background and seizing the day
- Mindfulness and Jewish mysticism
- Spiritual and Sensual Exploration
- Relying on a joyful state of mind
- The intersection of psychedelics and spirituality
- The sweet spot between contemplative practice and engaged activism
- Economics, politics, and the elites
- Bliss states and relative experiences
- Neurodiversity and the Enneagram
- Generational shifts of awareness
Already downloaded by over 15k people, visit dharmamoon.com/ebook to get YOUR free copy of The Art of Teaching Mindfulness!
“In my actual life, having those relative experiences enables me to touch into the absolute in the midst of daily life. That’s especially true with the dharmic use of psychedelics. The experience itself, especially if it’s a long experience, has its own teaching, and it’s possible to train the mind to remember.” – Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson
