Escaping Samsara

Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude, and we are honoured to bring you a very special series of conversations with a yogic couple, who have influenced the world of modern yoga probably more than anyone else. Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor dedicated their lives to practice and study of the spiritual traditions of the East and are sharing the knowledge revealed to them humbly and graciously with their students. Show notes Mary's reflections on her first spiritual experiences Groundedness, embodiment and the connection to the environment Dropping of the breath as the beginning of Yoga The roots of Richard's subtle body teachings How far away is esoteric from ordinary? Release of the soft palate and the concept of Nada Anusandhan Meditational aspects of the asana practice, subtle body alignments and how different schools of thought encompass each other Visualisation, idolatry and guidance Role of Pranayama in removing of Samskaras and how you can make them worse Aesthetics, emotionality and beauty Tadagi Mudra Nauli in Kukkutasana Separating grains from chaff or thoughts on finding a teacher Secret to good relationship :) Ethical aspect of romantic relationship between teacher and student Ongoing process of Ashtanga community dealing with Patthabi Jois's sexual abuse Richard's take on the modern world of yoga Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal 

Bhante Panna is an American monk living in a forest monestry near Bangkok. He has a popular Instagram (@bronthepath} where he shares his life of contemplation. In this conversation we address monkhood, spiritual powers, communing with nature, ending racism, and liberation. I know you're going to like this one! Show Notes 2.50 Bhante’s spiritual awakening while climbing a mountain  11.40 The spirituality of Thailand  14.00 Bhante’s daily routine and life as a monk 24.00 How celibacy has given Bhante a new sense of freedom 27.00 The roots of African spirituality 32.30 Discussing siddhis or extra-normal powers associated with meditation  37.40 Empathy with snakes and scorpions and chilling with Nature 44.00 Black meditation matters 49.50 Liberation and racial conditioning  54.00 Cultural healing in spiritual communities 58.00 The spiritual landscape of the world today Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal 

Anthony "Prem" Carlisi has been practicing and teaching Ashtanga yoga for over 40 years. He learned directly from Pattabhi Jois in 1978 for several months in Southern California. In 1979, he was amongst the first small group of Western students to study with Jois in his home town of Mysore, India. He is considered one of the American pioneers of Ashtanga yoga, along with David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, David Swenson and Tim Miller. Prem was certified to teach the primary, intermediate and advanced series of Ashtanga yoga in 1994. He also completed a four-year course of ayurvedic study in 1984 with Dr. Vasant Lad and has been studying tantric techniques since 1990. In 2007, Prem published his first book, The Only Way Out Is In, which is his commentary on the synergy of the three life sciences of Ashtanga yoga, ayurveda and tantra. He and his partner Heather "Radha" Duplex are now based primarily in Ubud, Bali for 6-8 months of the year, and 3-4 months in Kauai, Hawaii with Pineapple Yoga. They offer daily Mysore classes in both locations, as well as trainings for teachers, intensives and workshops that deepen the understanding of Ashtanga yoga, ayurveda and tantra. Show Notes 1.40 First spiritual experiences with psychedelics 5.50 Intersection with psychedelics and traditional spiritual practices  10.00 The practice of dying while living 23.00 Tapas and purification 29.30 The sudden death of Prem’s daughter and how he dealt with the grief 37.30 How Prem lost his way and found it again 39.30 Siddhis 40.50 Advice for his younger self 42.00 Importance of meditation practice 50.00 Surrender and the Buddha’s “middle path” 54.00 Eight limbs are a foundational practice 57.00 Pranayama and when to do it 60.30 Wim Hoff technique Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal 

  In this episdoe we talk to Oliver Crossley from Yogic Physio. Oliver is a Registered Physiotherapist, Yoga and Meditation Teacher. He is a long-term practitioner of Zen Buddhism, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Vinyasa Krama Yoga in the tradition of Krishnamacharya. He is a passionate proponent of evidence-based rehabilitation and person-centred care and loves helping people get back to moving at their best. This is a different kind of episode. This time we gathered questions of our listeners on different social media platforms and asked Oliver about his opinion. This a very practical episode that hopefully will help some of you into a safer and less painful practice. Show notes Tight psoas and lower back discomfort Prolapsed discs and continuing practice Strengthening of unstable shoulder joint How to assess the seriousness of the shoulder injury Tight hamstrings and psoas and forward bends Is grabbing your ankles during backbending safe? Hand placement in Lagu Vajrasana - ankles vs. calves? Is practicing Ashtanga 6 days a week safe? Examples of conflict between traditional way of teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa and modern physiotherapy approach How to protect your lumber spine? Are there certain asanas that will more likely lead to injuries as the body gets older? Knee pain Shoulders: Strengths vs. stiffness Thigh rotation in Visvamitrasana If you want to get in touch with Oliver or find out more about his work visit https://www.yogicphysio.com Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal 

The shrine has a mosque-like roof, white as a meringue. People, some in robes, walk in-between evergreen trees laden with jackfruit. It’s the rainy season in Bangladesh and everything is hot and wet. Muhammed Ali fixes us with a calm gaze beneath authoritarian eyebrows. Behind him, a woman sweeps around the grave of saint Lalon Shah and that of his mother. The two six-foot-long prisms are covered with patterned material and spicy smokes threads through latticed burners. Lalon’s main disciples are buried outside the small mausoleum. Ali points out one of the graves, “my father lies there. I inherited the role of caretaker from him,” he says. He takes us to the main hall. We slip off our shoes and step onto cool, white stone. Inside, devotees recline in the midday heat. Women and children sit around bags of spicy peas and rotis, their saris the colour of oak and red squirrels and emerald. Lalon Shah lived and taught here, in Kushtia, Bangladesh throughout the 19th century. He died in 1890 aged over 100 years old. “Lalon was one of the most influential mystic saints of the Indian subcontinent. He has inspired millions with his songs,” said Lalim Haque, a researcher and Lalon expert. “His lyrics are so profound he has been able to touch the lives of not only people who have a taste for music but all people.” Haque is kind and avuncular. He said Lalon’s songs, especially when heard in their original Bangla, have the power to propel people to spiritual heights. Estimated to have composed thousands of songs, Lalon and his followers went on to influence 20th century greats like Rabindranath Tagor, the Bengali poet, Allan Ginsberg and Bob Dylan. To contemporary Bangladeshis he is like Shakespeare, Martin Luther King and Ekhart Tolle rolled into one. Barely an hour goes by at Lalon’s shrine without a song being sung, day or night. The twang of the ektara, a single-stringed instrument, its sound somewhere between a banjo and a sitar, joins scurrying drums and tinkling symbols. His followers are called Bauls, they are a mystical sect found in Bangladesh and West Bengal. Some are part timers with families and jobs who don white robes and sing songs of egalitarianism on the weekends. Others are homeless mendicants, devoted to the path. Outside the shrine, there is a park with a ten-foot portrait of Lalon. It wafts with weed and tobacco. Rumana, a former lawyer, has been a full-time Baul for 22 years. She plants a clay pipe between her fingers, cups her hands and inhales. She is charismatic, intelligent and, unlike many of her companions, reveals clean white teeth whenever she smiles, which is very often. She can speak English but refuses to be interviewed until we come back with a translator saying that Bengla is the only language she can use to describe these sacred things. Listen to this unique episode. Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal 

Ajahn Achalo an Australian buddhist monk and current abbot of Anandagiri Forest Monastery in North Thailand. He was born in Brisbane and ordained in the lineage of Ajahn Chah in 1996. In recent times he has created some extensive online teachings that are proving popular on meditation apps, Spotify and the like. You can find his writings and Dharma talks on the website of the monastery. In this conversation, Ajahn Achalo generously shared his thoughts on many intricate aspects of Buddhist practice. The ease and open-heartedness with which he engaged in conversation with us is something very special. Listen in. Show notes Listening to the sound of the waves First spiritual instruction from a hippie in a new age bookstore From discovering Metta meditation to recording guided instructions for practitioners Will Metta come automatically if you practice enough Vipassana? How death mediation practice can lead to enhanced self aversion Core toolbox meditation practices, qualities of the Buddha and how to relate to them Brahma Viharas and Jhana meditation, becoming and desire energies in our practice Dangers of overestimating your results, difference between Upacara Samadhi and Jhana Role of contentment and gratitude, and the practice of celibacy The story of the forest monk Intentions in Metta meditation and the importance of carrying them into the world Exploring teachings of different schools of Buddhism, learning from Dalai Lama The story behind Nathan's Maitreya tattoo New books and the story behind Ajahn Achalo's over 3500 hrs of meditation at Bodh Gaya What constitutes Enlightenment Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal

From Ferguson to New York, and from Germany and South Africa to Australia and Brazil, Lisa Sharon Harper leads trainings that increase clergy and community leaders’ capacity to organize people of faith toward a just world. A prolific speaker, writer and activist, Ms. Harper is the founder and president of FreedomRoad.us, a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by designing forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment and common action. Show notes Lisa's Podcast about social justice and activism Milk, donuts and the first prayer at night in the middle of the Pine Barrens Deepening of the kindled interest through studies and culture Concept of religious conviction Lisa's take on slavery references in the Bible Retracing Cherokee Trail of Tears and seeking understanding in the Bible From the mind to the heart and how spirituality is only as powerful as you allow it to engage with the world around you Hearing the soul's cry, dangers of defining people, the need for silence as a space where one can here God's voice The empires of lies and the need of identifying the Truth to change them The idea of the fists and the heads Political activism, confrontation as spiritual act of worship Global awakening and the age of transition Lisa's books, podcast, consulting group Freedom Road Ms. Harper authored 5 books. You can find out more about her work by visiting https://lisasharonharper.com/ Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal

On this episode we talk to Ajahan Succito a british-born Buddhist monk and former abbot of Cittaviveka monestry in the UK. I became aware of Ajahn Succito when my teacher gave a series of talks on the Paramis – the Buddhist virtues – based on his book on the subject. I hadn’t heard of the Paramis or Succito but my teacher was so enthused by his presentation of the subject I couldn’t help but get a copy which turned out to be easy as all his books are freely available here. I worked with his Paramis book and still do to this day. My teacher also gave me a copy of Rude Awakenings, his memoir of an incredible pilgrimage on foot visiting the Buddhist holy sites in Kathmandu and North India. I met him a few times at his base at Cittaviveka monastery not far from London in the UK. I was struck by his complete lack of pretentiousness and self-regard. He spoke in the way a tree might speak to the wind and showed me that it is possible to bring the ancient teachings of the Buddha to full fruition today. Show notes First spiritual experience through Hatha Yoga practices and recognition of death University studies, psychedelics, discovering of the Eastern spirituality, travelling to India and Thailand 5th precept of abstaining from intoxicants and the use of psychedelics Buddhist Paramis and their expression in life Renunciation - moving away from sensual indulgences or differentiating wants from needs Why true equanimity is almost inconceivable From Dharma to culture Problem of compartmentalisation of meditation Tips on cultivating of Paramis and seeking wholesome states The 4 floods, body maps and experience of reality Spirituality as a natural process, environmental crisis as opportunity to awaken Visit Forest Sangha website to find all books by Ajahn Succito as well as his website to find out more about Ajahn's teachings. Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal

To us Monica is an embodiment of the yogic way of living. With around 40 years of spiritual practice she is also a Doctor of Chiropractic , Yoga Therapist and co-author of "Ashtanga Yoga, Practice and Philosophy" and "Ashtanga Yoga, The Intermediate Series". Her passion for teaching yogic anatomy unlocks this uneasy subjects to many of her students. In intensive immersions that she offers together with her husband, Gregor Maehle, Monica is also teaching chanting. Her devotion and love for the practice helps students to tap into the world of infinite beauty the moment the first OM together is chanted. We are privileged and grateful to have her on our show. Show notes Monica's first encounters with Samsara Halahala Glimpse into the Essence and discovery of Hridaya, the spiritual heart Meditation practice, meeting Maharaji Prem Rawat Starting on the path of Yoga Role of meditation in allaying the fear of death Work and discipline in a spiritual practice Surrendering, synchronicity and serendipity Tapping into emotional scars and working with samskaras through yoga practice Yoga as a form of psychotherapy? Role of ethics on and off the mat and thoughts on teaching it Embracing humanity and finding refuge in practice You can find many great articles by Monica in the blog https://chintamaniyoga.com/blog/, as well teaching schedule under https://8limbs.com/. Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal

Talking to Simon Borg-Olivier is like going snorkelling with Jacque Yve Cousteau - you suddenly find yourself in a bathyscaphe at the bottom of the ocean exploring its depth and multifacetedness of creatures you never knew existed, although in our case it's the ocean of Yoga and the creatures are different angles to view mudras, kriyas, asanas, yogic breathing and the concept of movement itself. In this fascinating talk Simon takes us on a wild ride through many different angles to view the common things - from questioning the validity of the most basic instructions like lifting your arms and drawing your shoulders down in Surya Namasakara to how almost any yogic tool can cause a different outcome based on your intention and tiniest details of your technique.   We speak about Simon's ideal practice routine, how to nourish yourself with practice in the hard time of Covid-19 caused isolation, how to stay connected while being isolated and physically disconnected, how to expand your meditative practice far beyond the formal time spent on the yoga matt. This interview offers you so many dimensions to explore, think and question your views and believes, and we felt very enriched, and once again mystified with all the new pieces of the yogic puzzle. Show notes Looking into drishti and physiological aspecs of chanting Simon's take on breathing practice Practice of kriyas - the intricacies of Nauli & Lauliki and dosha specific objectives Moving from the core Self isolation and how yogic tools can help: meditative states Meditative cleaning :) Thoughts on what makes a supportive practice vs. increasing stress level through activity Coping with isolation and finding a perspective in the info swamp Breathing waves geekery Ratios in Nadi Shodana and the subject of Kumbhaka Are you able to breathe into your chest in a relaxed way? 7 stages of Hatha Yoga treatise and Basti kriya as a prerequisite for mudra, asana and pranayama Important paradigm shifts to happen in modern postural yoga Kapalabhati, Bastrika, Nauli and the danger of misinterpretation of their purposes Shades of Kumbhaka Incredible hyperventilation experiment Words of caution and thoughts on selecting a teacher and teaching Check out YogaSynergy or his personal website for more information on Simon's teaching. Want to support the show? Thank you! Support us via PayPal