In a thought-provoking discussion, DJ Cashmere, the executive producer behind the scenes, teams up with Matthew Brensilver, a Buddhist teacher experienced in addiction pharmacotherapy, and Vinny Ferraro, who teaches at various meditation centers and prisons. They explore the art of letting go, emphasizing its role in reducing stress and fostering acceptance. Soft Belly Meditation is introduced as a practical technique to embrace emotions. Listeners are inspired to navigate life's challenges through surrender, self-compassion, and mindfulness.

Executive Producer DJ Cashmere interviews Kaira Jewel Lingo, a former nun, Vinny Ferraro, a veteran Dharma teacher, and Matthew Brensilver, who blends mindfulness with addiction insights. They explore effective ways to handle anger, both in others and within ourselves. Expect practical strategies grounded in mindfulness, the significance of clear communication, and heartfelt anecdotes emphasizing empathy and personal boundaries. Discover how embracing love alongside anger can transform relationships and lead to deeper understanding.

Matthew Brensilver, teaches retreats at various Buddhist centers, discusses being present in the moment, handling memories during meditation, the brain's prediction tendencies, the benefits of retreats, and the tragedy of deferring happiness.

Today we’re gonna tackle one of the best known contemplative clichés: being in the present moment and inhabiting the now.The present moment seems to be a state we aspire towards, but are rarely given practical information about how to actually achieve. But today’s guest, Matthew Brensilver offers just that— practical information on how to achieve being present. We also explore his argument that when painful memories surface in meditation, it acts as a kind of exposure therapy that acclimates us to the things we may not want to face.This is Matthew Brensilver‘s second appearance on the show. He teaches retreats at the Insight Retreat Center, Spirit Rock and other Buddhist centers. Before committing to teach meditation full-time, he spent years doing research on addiction pharmacotherapy at the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine. Matthew is the co-author of two books about meditation during adolescence and continues to be interested in the unfolding dialogue between Buddhism and science. In this episode we talk about:What “be present” actually meansWhat to do when Buddhist teachings or meditation instructions feel out of reach and when we start compulsively self-assessing against themWhat to do when a memory arises in meditation, especially a difficult memoryThe brain’s tendency toward constant predictionThe benefits of meditation retreatAnd distinguishing between true alarms and false alarmsFull Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/matthew-brensilver-476See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthew Brensilver, a Dharma teacher with a focus on mindfulness, Vinny Ferraro, known for his meditation expertise, and Kaira Jewel Lingo, a former nun with unique spiritual insights, discuss the complexities of anger. They explore how to embrace rather than suppress anger, viewing it as a potential catalyst for personal growth. The trio offers practical strategies for managing this intense emotion, emphasizing self-compassion and mindful reflection. Listeners learn how to navigate anger through love and deeper self-understanding.