Escaping Samsara

In this episode we're once again joined by Richard Josephson for a Dharma discussion centred around family life as a vehicle for practicing Buddhist and general liberation teachings. With over 50 years of practice experience both as a monk and a family man, Richard Josephson is perfectly placed to give a wise perspective on how we can best practice, whatever our circumstances.  Listen for insights on: Why you should or shouldn't become ordained The challanges of being a monk or nun How to find time in family life to practice well How to cultivate an attitude and find motivation to pursue the noble path How to find stillness and release from stress no matter what 

What does it mean to be truly happy? In this episode of Escaping Samsara, I sit down with teachers Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor to explore the deeper layers of practice beyond asana and into meditation and philosophy. Drawing from their decades of experience in spiritual practice, they discuss the subtle intersections of yoga, Buddhism, and embodiment—revealing how happiness is not just an emotion, but a fully integrated state of being. We dive into the challenges of modern yoga, the pitfalls of spiritual ego, and how to navigate tradition without becoming dogmatic. Richard shares candid insights on guru culture, the Westernization of yoga, and the fine line between devotion and delusion, while Mary offers grounded wisdom on cultivating joy through breath, presence, and compassionate awareness. Join us for an illuminating conversation on the art of practice, the paradox of happiness, and what it really means to escape Samsara. Check out Richard and Mary's new book: Feeling Happy: The Yoga of Body, Heart, and Mind Find more info about Richard and Mary here.

Spiros Antonopoulos and Barry Silver, artists and yoga practitioners, join forces to discuss their transformative project, Gently Down, inspired by the sacred Ganga River and the Kumbh Mela festival. They explore the power of consecration and how everyday objects can become sacred vessels. The duo shares insights on artistic expression intertwined with spirituality, emphasizing the importance of ritual cleansing and the significance of symbolic designs, like their unique silver coin. Their journeys reflect deep personal connections to yoga and the spiritual richness of Varanasi.

In this episode, we discuss the positives and drawbacks of different ways of practising Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Tiaga covers thoughts and perspectives from his diverse backgrounds studying with Ramaswami, Dharma Mittra, and his experience teaching Mysore style for over 20 years. We also cover the core Tristana method, getting into the technique of breath and bandha, and how mudra exploration can enhance a regular asana practice. So if you enjoy Ashtanga or any form of Vinyasa yoga and want a good geek-out with two long-term practitioners, prepare a cup of chai, sit back and listen in.

Ajahn Kovilo joins me from the Clear Mountain Podcast and Richard Josephson - a lay yogi living in a California temple. We discuss the intersection of yoga, Buddhism, and mysticism in general. We cover Emptiness, pranayama, and the different paths of the renunciate and the layperson and how they can both lead to awakening. This is a deep-dive discussion covering the transformative effects of sadhana in the modern world. We wonder what Samsara is and if we escape from it.

This is our 4th Escaping Samsara Bookclub and we are joined by author and teacher Daniel Simpson to discuss Gregor Meahle's "Chakras, Drugs, and Evolution: A Map of Transformative States." Daniel and I discuss our thoughts on Chakras and how they are used in new ways by modern practitioners, our drug experiences and how they affect the spiritual path, and how our subjective experience shapes our practice. Daniel Simpson Daniel makes timeless insights accessible and relevant. He’s the author of The Truth of Yoga, an engaging overview of history and philosophy. He also hosts the Ancient Futures podcast. His latest course is a year-long immersion, The Path of Knowledge – you can find out more and join us here. "In this ground-breaking book, Gregor Maehle shows how the chakras offer a blueprint for the natural evolution of life via single-cell organisms, reptiles, mammals and humans. He draws on his experiences with mind-altering plant agents and chemicals during the late 70’s and early 80’s, as well as extensive research, to objectively describe how drugs influence each chakra, including their potential but also spiritual setbacks and dangers. The author further explores whether psychoactive substances are a useful supplement, shortcut or accelerator of spiritual evolution. The book culminates in a complete map of transformative and mystical states, including their potential accessibility through psychedelics versus traditional yogic methods."

This our final episode in our exploration of sex, bindu, rajas, and Brahmacharya and the second of two episodes looking at female practitioners especially. We are joined by Tova Olsson, a scholar of religion, author, and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in education. We discuss: The reproductive model of the yogic body vs Kundalini models How Tantra relates to methods of conserving vital energies How female practitioners can understand sexual continence in spiritual practice. She holds a MA in Religious Studies and is currently working on her PhD, researching the construction of gender in contemporary tantra in Europe. She is the author of the book "Yoga and Tantra: history, philosophy and mythology" and runs the online school Saraswati-Studies, where she strives to combine an academic, critical understanding with the experience of a long-term practitioner, joining devotion and discernment.  https://saraswati-studies.teachable.com

This is the first of two episodes expanding the previous topic of Sex, Semen Retention, and Brahmacharya as it may or may not apply to women. Female practitioners of yoga don't show up in the old texts but there have been many female-specific physical practices through the ages. And who better to explain how to practice with these archaic information than Ruth Westoby. Ruth Westoby is a yoga practitioner and academic researcher in yoga studies. Ruth Westoby holds a PhD from SOAS University of London on ‘The body in early haṭha yoga’, supervised by James Mallinson and Richard Williams. Ruth is working on two book projects from her doctoral thesis that passed without corrections. Ruth has published early research findings in the peer-reviewed Religions of South Asia and numerous public articles. Ruth is Visiting Lecturer in Indian Religions at Roehampton University, teaching postgraduate theory and method in the study of religion and undergraduate courses on asian religions, cultures and ethics, contemporary issues in global religions, being human and religion, ecology and politics. Ruth collaborated with the Haṭha Yoga Project’s ‘embodied philology’, interpreting postures from an 18th-century text teaching a precursor of modern yoga, the Haṭhābhyāsapaddhati, in 2016 and 2017. In 2010 she received an MA in Indian Religions from SOAS, University of London, with Distinction. Ruth has practiced yoga for almost 30 years and in 2015 was authorized by Sharat Jois to teach Ashtanga level 2. Ruth has studied closely with and assisted Hamish Hendry and Richard Freeman. Ruth does not practice at studios that display images of Pattabhi Jois on altars in solidarity with those who were sexually abused by him. Ruth founded and chaired the successful environmental campaign for floodplain meadow restoration at Bartonsham Meadows, Hereford. www.enigmatic.yoga ruthwestoby@gmail.com Instagram @ruthwestoby

This series has been quite popular. In our climactic (pun intended) episode, we speak to Richard Freeman about sex and Brahmacharya. The context of Brahmacharya within Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga system Specific yoga poses and mudras that move sexual energy The use of mula bandha in using sexual energy to reinvigorate your body and mind How yoga can be used in all stages and spaces of life

We are happy to welcome back to the podcast Simon Borg-Olivier who has been practicing semen retention for over 30 years. We discuss how semen retention, loving relationships, and mindful sex can enhance health and spiritual practice. From Simon's bio: "I have been studying traditional forms of posture, movement, breathing and mental control for more than 50 years. Over this time I have worked as a research-based scientist, exercise-based physiotherapist and a university lecturer in several science fields. My passion for these subjects has led me to understand that the world is a very connected place. I believe that to make the world a better place people should treat each other, all life and the Earth itself in a way that acknowledges the connections between everything. I believe the best way of beginning this practise is to acknowledge and enhance the connections within yourself." Find out more here: https://simonborgolivier.com/