Stephen Snyder

Stephen Snyder, a seasoned Sensei with deep expertise in various Buddhist traditions, discusses his extensive meditation journey. He highlights the profound connection between breath awareness and jhana, revealing its transformative effects. Vulnerability emerges as a key theme, showcasing how raw emotions like anger can catalyze personal growth. Snyder also explains protective meditations in Theravadan practice and delves into the unique stages of shikantaza, emphasizing cessation as pivotal for awakening. His insights blend spirituality with practical emotional work.

Stephen Snyder discusses the importance of working with personality material post-awakening and the blindspots in Buddhism. He shares insights on fear and anger, healing core wounds, and converting the superego. Stephen reflects on leading meditation retreats, the impact of electronics on concentration, and the subtle power of taking a dharma name.

Join Stephen Snyder, a seasoned Dharma teacher in Zen and Theravadan traditions, as he delves into his 50-year meditation journey. The discussion unwraps the gradual and direct paths to awakening, exploring personal identity reshaping through meditation. Snyder emphasizes the balance between effort and effortlessness, sharing insights on techniques like jhana practice and Anapanasati. He also addresses the significance of authenticity in spiritual pursuits and highlights the transformative nature of cessation in meditation, offering a fresh perspective on awakening.

Senior meditation teacher Stephen Snyder discusses topics like 'not-self,' the true nature of the self, and self-transcendence. He explores why contemplative teachers behave badly, the fear of emptiness, and maintaining practice in everyday life. Snyder also touches on the purpose and limitations of meditation, the threat of change, and practices for self-transcendence.

Stephen Snyder, a meditation teacher and author who mastered the Pa Auk Sayadaw system, shares his remarkable journey. He reflects on his childhood meditation practices, vivid past life memories, and the profound awakening he experienced at 28. When a serious stroke struck in 2018, Stephen encountered what he calls the Vajra body, leading to transformative realizations about consciousness. He emphasizes the importance of integrating psychological work with spiritual practices and discusses recognizing awakened qualities in others.

Join Stephen Snyder, a meditation teacher and author, and Mark Mininberg, Zen master and Dharma heir, as they delve into the intricacies of spiritual awakening. They discuss their podcast series, exploring how they select teachers and the importance of rigorous training. Reflecting on enlightenment as a shared experience, they caution against overinflated claims from some teachers. The duo also emphasizes genuine mentorship and the necessity of vulnerability in spiritual growth, offering insightful perspectives on the evolving landscape of meditation teachings.

In this engaging discussion, Stephen Snyder, a Buddhist meditation teacher and author, shares insights about personal transformation and the intricacies of spiritual awakening. He highlights the need to address personality structures and trauma even after enlightenment. Reflecting on Zen masters, he warns against ignoring ongoing practice. Stephen also explores advanced meditation techniques, like kasina and skeleton practice, emphasizing how confronting challenging emotions can unlock compassion and authenticity. His experiential approach to retreats boosts student success rates.

Stephen Snyder, a meditation teacher and author, explores the profound practices of the Brahma Viharas in his new book, 'Buddha's Heart.' He shares his journey of awakening, revealing how heart practices helped him overcome early deficiencies in meditation. With a critical view of the American Zen community, he discusses the risks of awakening without a developed heart. Snyder emphasizes the transformative power of forgiveness and how combining deep jhana with heart practices can lead to spiritual insight and improved relationships.

Relationship and sex expert Stephen Snyder discusses the importance of restoring vitality in your sex life. They explore the rules of desire, gender differences, mindfulness, and improving intimacy through emotional connection and living in the present moment.

Theravada meditation teachers Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder discuss their training with Pa Auk Sayadaw, including traditional concentration practices. They explain the distinctions between momentary, access, and absorption concentration, emphasizing benefits of purifying the mind. They share insights on daily practice, mindfulness, and detaching from suffering.