Michael Taft, a meditation teacher, interviews David McRaney about how minds change. They discuss writing the book 'How Minds Change', visiting the Westboro Baptist Church, the rapid shift in public opinion on same-sex marriage, the power of storytelling in communication, and exploring the origin and evolution of genius.

Michael Taft, a long-time meditation teacher, author, and founder of Deconstructing Yourself blog and podcast, discusses the stages of personal development and the awakening path, deconstructing reality, and the benefits of a regular meditation practice. Show notes: http://www.futurethinkers.org/95  -------------------------------------------------------------------- Registration Now Open - A Course in Personal Evolution Take the course designed to help you create a life of meaning, purpose and impact: http://futurethinkers.org/evolution 

Michael Taft shares a map of deconstructing sensory experience for vipassana meditation practice. The stages range from conceptual to pure awareness, emphasizing sensory clarity and impermanence. The map serves as a guide for deepening awareness and concentration during meditation.

In this interview I am joined by Michael Taft: maverick meditation teacher, bestselling author, host of the ‘Deconstructing Yourself’ podcast, and founder of the Alembic community. Michael recounts his lifelong meditation journey, describes his initial reluctance to teach meditation, the writing of ‘Mindful Geek’, and his divergence from Shinzen Young. Michael reveals his troubled upbringing, crippling teenage anxiety, and intense experimentation with LSD and the occult. Michael also shares a transformative mystical experience in Japan, his practice of classical Hindu tantra, and details experiences of seeing other dimensional entities in daily life. … Link in bio.

 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include:
 00:00 - Intro 01:57 - Looking back at ‘Mindful Geek’ 03:09 - Reluctance to teach 04:49 - Secular mindfulness 10:09 - Diverging from Shinzen Young 12:52 - Michael’s troubled upbringing 17:32 - Crippling anxiety attacks and discovering meditation 21:35 - Experiments with the occult 22:36 - Michael’s magical explorations 25:40 - Chaos magic and massive doses of LSD 28:12 - The essence of Robert Anton Wilson 31:31 - David Chapman ruins everything 34:10 - Shapeshifting as a meditation teacher 41:36 - More on LSD 43:06 - Moving to Japan 46:46 - A transformative psychedelic experience 49:38 - Analysing Michael’s psychedelic experience 54:32 - Living in the Jewel Ornament Sutra 56:48 - Seeing entities 01:00:17 - Learning to see other realms 01:04:20 - Extensive kundalini work 01:08:23 - Michael’s practice of classical tantra 01:10:38 - Intensive underground retreat practice 01:11:16 - The essence of Michael’s tantric journey 01:14:33 - Trauma healing and the energy body 01:17:20 - Integration and personal relationships ... To find out more about Michael Taft, visit: - https://deconstructingyourself.com/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James

Read the full transcript here. How does nondual meditation differ from other forms of meditation? Is nonduality the sort of thing a person can just "get" immediately? What value is provided by the more effortful, less "sudden" forms of meditation? Is there such a thing as full or complete enlightenment? And what would such a state entail? To what extent do nondual meditation teachers agree about what nonduality is? Are glimpses of enlightenment available to everyone? How long does it usually take a person to stabilize their ability to return to a nondual way of seeing the world? What are some common ways people get "stuck" while learning nondual meditation? How important are meditation retreats? Though the paths themselves are obviously quite distinct from one another, do all forms of meditation ultimately share a common goal? How are all of these things related to spirituality or religion?Michael Taft is a teacher of nondual meditation and host of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast and website. He is the author of The Mindful Geek, and co-founder of The Alembic, a Berkeley-based center for meditation, movement, citizen neuroscience, and visionary culture. Having lived all over the world and practiced deeply in several traditions, Michael currently makes his home in California. Email him at michaeltaft@gmail.com, or learn more about him at his website, deconstructingyourself.com.Jeremy Stevenson hails from Adelaide, Australia, and has a PhD in clinical psychology with a dissertation focused on the effects of self-compassion on social anxiety. During his PhD he became intensely interested in meditation, sitting several shorter retreats which eventually culminated in sitting longer retreats, including a 3-month retreat in Nepal. He is now working as a clinical psychologist as well as doing research work for Spark Wave. His ongoing meditation interest is the perplexing skill of nondual mindfulness. Email him at jeremy.david.stevenson@gmail.com, or listen to his previous episode on this podcast here. StaffSpencer Greenberg — Host / DirectorJosh Castle — ProducerRyan Kessler — Audio EngineerUri Bram — FactotumWeAmplify — TranscriptionistsMiles Kestran — MarketingMusicBroke for FreeJosh WoodwardLee RosevereQuiet Music for Tiny Robotswowamusiczapsplat.comAffiliatesClearer ThinkingGuidedTrackMind EasePositlyUpLift[Read more]

Michael Taft, a spiritual teacher and bestselling author known for his work on mindfulness, delves into the intricate world of Nondual Shaiva Tantra. He highlights the connections and distinctions between Tantrik Shaivism, Buddhism, and Vedanta, dispelling common myths along the way. The discussion uncovers unique teachings like 'fullness of emptiness' and beneficial possession, while also exploring the aesthetic value of suffering in art. Taft emphasizes the importance of direct practice and engages with poetic heritage to bridge ancient wisdom with contemporary spirituality.

Join Vince Horn, who delves into Dharmic views on parenthood, and Michael Taft, a seasoned father sharing personal insights. They explore the balance of parenting with spiritual practice, discussing how their journeys shaped their perspectives. The importance of integrating meditation in daily life is emphasized, alongside the emotional skills essential for child development. They reflect on the joys and challenges of fatherhood, revealing how personal growth and spirituality intertwine. It's a candid conversation on navigating life's complexities while cultivating awareness.

Michael Taft, host of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast and author of The Mindful Geek, explores how memory palace techniques can enhance meditation practices. He shares powerful strategies for mantra memorization and discusses the challenges many meditators face. Taft highlights the intersection of mindfulness and memory, revealing methods to improve emotional awareness and spiritual growth. Listeners will discover the importance of meaningful engagement with texts, as well as the cultural shifts toward spirituality in modern society.

Meditation teacher Michael Taft discusses Buddhist modernism, tantric practice, emptiness, and the similarities between Hindu and Tibetan Tantra. They delve into different models of reality, the importance of multiple working models, and the effects of mudras and pranayama on the subtle body. They also explore relying on subtle energy and omens, coherence in terravada practice, and the influence of Yogic Tantra. The chapter ends with a discussion on meditation, awareness, and the coherence between different practices and approaches to reality.

Michael Taft, an expert in meditation and mindfulness, delves deep into the intricacies of identity and consciousness. He explores how personal experiences create an 'identity vortex' that obscures true selves. The discussion highlights the challenges of modern distractions on self-awareness and demonstrates the power of childlike analogies for deeper understanding. Taft advocates for various self-deconstruction techniques and emphasizes compassionate actions in personal growth. He also addresses the nature of consciousness, illustrating pathways to liberation and the profound unity of existence.