#048 - Sasha Chapin on Awakening, Meditation & Writing
Dec 27, 2023
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Sasha Chapin, writer and fragrance line co-founder, discusses meditation, awakening, coaching, and writing. They explore the concept of awakening and the role of the ego, emphasizing non-striving and self-acceptance. They also reflect on the impact of coaching, embracing imperfection in publishing, and the art of fragrance. The conversation highlights the importance of curiosity and passion, ultimately leaving listeners with the question of their own uncomfortable aspirations.
Awakening is an ongoing process and not a one-time event, requiring continual refinement of one's contemplative experience throughout life.
Explaining the profound psychological changes resulting from long-term meditation is challenging, likened to describing a psychedelic experience to someone who has never tried psychedelics or explaining the sensation of sex to a virgin.
Deep dives
Explaining the transformative effects of long-term meditation
Sasha Chapin, a writer and coach, discusses his dilemma of explaining the transformative effects of long-term meditation to his mother. He highlights the difficulty of conveying the deep psychological changes that can occur through meditation to someone who has not had similar experiences. Sasha also expresses his desire to write a book about awakening and the challenge of bridging the gap between the transformative experiences and the understanding of those who have not undergone such practices.
The ongoing process of awakening
Sasha and the podcast host delve into the concept of awakening, with Sasha explaining his preference for the term due to its connotation of an ongoing process. He emphasizes that awakening is not a one-time event but rather a continual refinement of one's contemplative experience throughout life. Sasha also cautions against the idea of a perfect being or a complete enlightenment, highlighting the potential dangers of adopting such a mindset.
The challenge of explaining meditation's psychological changes
Sasha discusses the challenge of explaining the psychological changes that result from meditation practice. He likens it to explaining a psychedelic experience to someone who has never tried psychedelics or describing the sensation of sex to a virgin. Sasha recognizes that while people may grasp the basic mindfulness aspects of meditation, conveying the deeper impact of long-term meditation is difficult. He plans to offer various explanations in his book, knowing that none will fully capture the essence of the experience.
Embracing the process of life without striving for an ultimate goal
Sasha reflects on the futility of constantly striving for an ultimate goal or arrival point in life. He shares his understanding that life is an ongoing process of working towards something that may never happen. He emphasizes the importance of accepting and embracing the imperfections and incompleteness inherent in life, highlighting the danger of fixating on the idea of perfection. Sasha's perspective encourages a more fluid and relaxed approach, recognizing the beauty and potential for continual refinement in the journey itself.
Sasha Chapin is a writer, coach, and the co-founder of a fragrance line. We talk about his book, awakening, meditation, Deep Okayness, coaching, writing, fragrance, and more.
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(00:54) Writing a book on meditation & awakening
(04:30) What is awakening, and is there a “destination”?
(07:48) There’s a “manager” in our head
(11:56) Aliveness & egoism
(13:40) Recognizing essential sameness; focusing on non-striving and not goal-oriented living
(23:21) Deep Okayness, self acceptance, and “The Other Thing”
(27:55) You don't shed your person — you just develop a different relationship with them
(30:26) How much impact does coaching have?
(34:03) Bypassing the illusion vs. everything is here now
(38:27) Hitting publish even when hesitating & it's imperfect
(42:43) Recognizing the neuroticism & worrying; relaxed writing
(44:56) Fragrance as an art form
(49:25) What’s the uncomfortable thing you want to do?