Be Here Now Network Guest Podcast

Roshi Joan Halifax, a Buddhist teacher and abbess of Upaya Zen Center, shares her insights on the concept of 'blessed catastrophe' as a transformative journey through suffering. She discusses how these challenging experiences cultivate resilience and connect us to our Buddha nature. With personal anecdotes, she highlights the power of breath and intention for self-awareness. The conversation also delves into navigating life's uncertainties and the importance of altruism amidst personal insecurity, emphasizing growth through profound engagement with life's raw experiences.

Gil Fronsdal, an author and meditation teacher, dives deep into the fascinating concepts of self and non-self from early Buddhist traditions. He contrasts the Buddha’s strong self-awareness with common misconceptions, exploring psychological freedom. Gil discusses how childhood influences contribute to feelings of inadequacy and advocates for recognizing mental traps to foster genuine liberation. With insights on cultivating inner strength, he emphasizes mindfulness and the journey towards understanding one's true identity.

How does spiritual practice work when we are out in the world and not around those who are committed to being loving all the time? Eventually, we discover that everything is love. Mirabai tells her story of life after the passing of Neem Karoli Baba in 1973. Leaving her community in India, Mirabai asked the question, “How can you be in a world you are not creating and still go where there is no love?” Finding direction in the wisdom of her guru, Mirabai set out on a journey that took her and her family across the world. In her journey, she experienced and learned to see love in everyone. Learning that there really is no them and us. Instead, it is all just us and everything is love. “Never go where there is no love” – Neem Karoli Baba. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mirabai Starr, a writer and retreat leader known for her inter-spiritual teachings, delves into the lives of St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross. She reveals how their mystical experiences were shaped by their Jewish and Muslim influences, especially during the turbulent Inquisition. The conversation touches on the parallels between their spiritual struggles and practices of eastern mystics. Through poetry and personal narratives, Mirabai encourages us to transform suffering into hope, highlighting the timeless pursuit of divine connection.

This talk from Roshi Joan Halifax looks at reversing the dynamic of the defended heart, and finding strength in vulnerability. Roshi reflects on: - How our practice can confirm our inherent strength to uphold ourselves in the midst of any conditions. - To practice or realize fundamental equanimity and stay absolutely tender hearted. - "We are plagued by fear--fear in the experience of a separate and solid self. Which we need to define and defend." - At times even our own spirituality can be put out there as a defense. - Love is a meltdown that re-establishes a more unified base of brilliance goodness and sadness.   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.