The OneMind Meditation Podcast with Morgan Dix: Meditation | Mindfulness | Health

Do you know how to practice mantra meditation? It’s a lot easier than you might think. However, there are a few things you need to understand before you get started. First, you need to know the different between free and focused awareness. Then, you need to know where to put your attention while you’re chanting. And then, it’s often helpful to get a sense of what you might experience when you practice mantra meditation. In this episode, I share some of my recent experiences in practicing mantra meditation as well as some tips on how to practice. How To Practice Mantra Meditation Recently, after 14 years practicing a style of free awareness meditation that comes from the Advaita Vedanta tradition, I started experimenting with a mantra. It’s a tibetan Buddhist mantra which goes like this: Om Mani Padme Hum. So this six-syllabled Sanskrit mantra is associated with the tibetan Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion. According the Wikipedia, The first word Om is a sacred syllable found in Indian religions. The word Mani means “jewel” or “bead”, Padme meaning the “lotus flower”, the Buddhist sacred flower, while Hum represents the spirit of enlightenment. As I was originally taught, the most important thing in practicing a mantra, is your intention. To give all of yourself and bend your mind completely to the chanting of the mantra, whether silently or out loud. While your chanting, it’s also important to keep in mind the core meaning of the mantra…in this case, compassion. Show Notes If you enjoyed this podcast, you may also like the Meditation for Life Mini Course Learn more about free awareness meditation with How To Free Your Mind & Discover Deep Peace Take a self-paced introduction to meditation and explore the Meditation For Life Core Training Program Leave us a rating & review on iTunes The post OM067: How To Practice Mantra Meditation appeared first on About Meditation.

What is a mindful pregnancy and why is it important? Pregnancy is such a blessing, heralding new life and the miracle of creation. But it’s also a time of tremendous stress. That stress, if left unchecked, is potentially dangerous for both mum and baby. So how can you mitigate stress and cultivate a mindful mindset during pregnancy to keep calm and carry on. In this 2-part episode, we talk with long-time meditator and new mum, Aterah Nusrat about how to nurture a mindful approach to pregnancy. In part 1, we explored Aterah’s own spiritual journey, which started in a moderate Muslim household. Eventually, her spiritual interest led her to embrace and practice the perennial enlightenment teachings from the East. In part 2, we explore in depth the relationship between mindfulness and pregnancy. As a brand new mother, Aterah has had ample time to reflect on the importance of bringing a mindful mindset to the ‘beautiful ordeal’ which is pregnancy, giving birth, and post partum. Mindful Pregnancy Medical professionals are clearer than ever about the deleterious effects of chronic stress. In general, stress-related illness is responsible for a huge portion of our medical costs. Our information saturated, do-everything now culture has everyone on edge. Relaxation is becoming a lost art! This is especially troublesome when you’re pregnant. You suddenly have a brand new array of concerns related to the health of the fetus in your belly. Will she make it to term? Are you eating all the right things? How are you going to manage work and time off? And how on earth are you going to deal with actually giving birth?? According to the folks at WebMD: Some stress during pregnancy is normal, just as it is during other times of life. But if stress becomes constant, the effects on you and your baby could be lasting… ‘the kind of stress that’s really damaging is the kind that doesn’t let up,’ says Susan Andrews, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist and author of the bookStress Solutions for Pregnant Moms: How Breaking Free From Stress Can Boost Your Baby’s Potential. In fact, constant stress could alter your body’s stress management system, causing it to overreact and trigger an inflammatory response. Chronic stress may also contribute to subtle differences in brain development that might lead to behavioral issues as the baby grows, she adds. About Aterah Nusrat Aterah Nusrat is Program Manager at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine based jointly at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. She earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College in London and a BSc in Chemistry and Environmental Science from the University of Kent. Aterah has pursued meditation and mindfulness practices for over 20 years, nurturing her spiritual interests through Islam and eastern enlightenment teachings. In her spare time, when she isn’t climbing the steep learning curve of parenthood, she enjoys reading science fiction with her husband and cruising the green ways of her local neighborhood. Show Notes Connect with Aterah through her website Explore one of Aterah’s favorite pregnancy resource Check out a survival guide for new moms The post OM066: Mindful Pregnancy, Birth, & Postpartum appeared first on About Meditation.

What does a mindful approach to pregnancy look like and why is it important? Pregnancy is such a blessing, heralding new life and the miracle of creation. But it’s also a time of tremendous stress. That stress, if left unchecked, is potentially dangerous for both mum and baby. So how can you mitigate stress and cultivate a mindful mindset during pregnancy to keep calm and carry on. In this episode, we talk with long-time meditator and new mum, Aterah Nusrat about how to nurture a mindful approach to pregnancy. In part 1, we explore Aterah’s own spiritual journey, which started in a moderate Muslim household. Eventually, her spiritual interest led her to embrace and practice the perennial enlightenment teachings from the East. Over the last 23 years, Aterah has logged thousands of hours of meditation and several hundred thousand prostrations. All this has served to help her build a powerful mindfulness practice. In part 2, we explore in depth the relationship between mindfulness and pregnancy. As a brand new mother, Aterah has had ample time to reflect on the importance of bringing a mindful mindset to the ‘beautiful ordeal’ which is pregnancy, giving birth, and post partum. Mindfulness And Pregnancy Medical professionals are clearer than ever about the deleterious effects of chronic stress. In general, stress-related illness is responsible for a huge portion of our medical costs. Our information saturated, do-everything now culture has everyone on edge. Relaxation is becoming a lost art! This is especially troublesome when you’re pregnant. You suddenly have a brand new array of concerns related to the health of the fetus in your belly. Will she make it to term? Are you eating all the right things? How are you going to manage work and time off? And how on earth are you going to deal with actually giving birth?? According to the folks at WebMD: Some stress during pregnancy is normal, just as it is during other times of life. But if stress becomes constant, the effects on you and your baby could be lasting… ‘the kind of stress that’s really damaging is the kind that doesn’t let up,’ says Susan Andrews, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist and author of the book Stress Solutions for Pregnant Moms: How Breaking Free From Stress Can Boost Your Baby’s Potential. In fact, constant stress could alter your body’s stress management system, causing it to overreact and trigger an inflammatory response. Chronic stress may also contribute to subtle differences in brain development that might lead to behavioral issues as the baby grows, she adds. About Aterah Nusrat Aterah Nusrat is Program Manager at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine based jointly at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. She earned a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology from Imperial College in London and a BSc in Chemistry and Environmental Science from the University of Kent. Aterah has pursued meditation and mindfulness practices for over 20 years, nurturing her spiritual interests through Islam and eastern enlightenment teachings. In her spare time, when she isn’t climbing the steep learning curve of parenthood, she enjoys reading science fiction with her husband and cruising the green ways of her local neighborhood. Show Notes Connect with Aterah through her website Explore one of Aterah’s favorite pregnancy resource Check out a survival guide for new moms The post OM065: From Islam To Enlightenment And Back Again (Mindfulness And Pregnancy Series) appeared first on About Meditation.

What is Vipassana meditation and how do you practice it? According to many, Vipassana meditation is the actual practice that gave rise to the Buddha’s enlightenment over two and a half thousand years ago. Today, Vipassana is considered one of the most popular forms of Buddhist meditation. In the West, it was popularized by contemporary American Buddhist teachers like Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg, and Jack Kornfield. So what is Vipassana meditation? In simplest terms, it can be described this way: Vipassanā-meditation uses mindfulness of breathing, combined with the contemplation of impermanence, to gain insight into the true nature of this reality. For this episode of the OneMind Meditation podcast, we connected with long-time meditator and Whole U. founder Shannon O’Brien to learn all about Vipassana meditation. Shannon just returned from a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat—her 3rd Vipassana retreat—and we were fortunate to chat with her while her experience was still fresh. Exploring Vipassana While Shannon humbly claims little expertise or authority in the realm of Vipassana meditation, she was able to offer us an in-depth view of this revered practice from the authority of her own experience. She described the general arc of the retreat and three core steps or phases that you traverse over the 10 days. She described them as: Step one – morality (shila) Step two – mind mastery (samadhi) Step three – wisdom through mind purification (pana) And this arc was all in preparation for the final step, which is metta. According to Wikipedia, metta can be defined as: …benevolence, friendliness, amity,friendship, good will, kindness, close mental union (on same mental wavelength), and active interest in others. The cultivation of benevolence (mettā bhāvanā) is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism. In the Theravadin Buddhist tradition, this practice begins with the meditator cultivating benevolence towards one’s self, then one’s loved ones, friends, teachers, strangers, enemies, and finally towards all sentient beings. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this practice is associated with tonglen (cf.), whereby one breathes out (“sends”) happiness and breathes in (“receives”) suffering. Finally, we explored another key concept in the Vipassana practice called Sankhara. Roughly translated, these are the deep tendencies of our brains and minds to construct our sense of reality based on our fears and desires. They are mental constructs that exert a powerful influence on your choices and thus the direction of your life. The beauty of attending a retreat is that you have the chance to see your sankhara’s clearly. With diligent practice, they become transparent to you. As a result, you’re often able to see reality more clearly, unobstructed by your normal mental constructs. About Shannon O’Brien Sannon O’Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. LLC. She founded Whole U. after six years working at Harvard and MIT, where she advised both undergraduate, and graduate students. Shannon is the Producer and Host of Whole U. TV, which inspires viewers to “Live a balanced, purposeful life.” Shannon conducts assessments with Whole U. clients, helping them find the clarity, confidence, and connections to pursue their life’s work. Shannon studied communications and media for 18+ years, earning degrees from Boston College; ICU in Tokyo, Japan (as a Rotary World Peace Fellow); and Harvard University-earning a Master’s in Technology, Innovation and Education. She was born in the US, grew up 10 years in Europe, and has since traveled to 35 countries – continuing to open her mind to new people and cultures. In this episode, I talk with Shannon O’Brien about: How yoga and sivasana introduced her to meditation Why (and how) she sees meditation as a quest for self understanding What is Vipassana meditation? What are the three basic steps you go through on a Vipassana Retreat The game-changing power of strong determination or stillness The illuminating and refreshing effect of letting go What are Sankharas and why are they important? Show Notes Check out Shannon’s website Whole U. Watch Whole U. TV Explore the Vipassana Website Watch S.N. Goenka’s daily dialogues Watch Shannon’s 2014 interview with About Meditation cofounder Morgan Dix   The post OM064: How To Practice Vipassana Meditation appeared first on About Meditation.

What is flow? According to Dr. Greg Cartin, a sport psychology consultant who works with professional athletes, artists, and performers, it’s a unique intersection of skill and challenge where the challenge at hand is just a hair more demanding than our actual skill level. These are the conditions that give rise to flow states, when we are so immersed in the moment that any trace of self-consciousness falls away and we are oblivious to the passing of time. In this episode, Greg talks about the psychology of flow states and how mindfulness informs his work coaching pro athletes on their mental game. Mindfulness & The Psychology of Flow States Everyone knows that at the highest level, athletes need to hone their mindset as much as their bodies. But how do you do that? And what do flow states have to do with it? According to Greg, nowhere is this mental game more pronounced than in professional golf. Pro golfers have an abundance of down time, when they are alone with their thoughts. How they relate to that time often determines the final outcome of their performance. That’s where Greg’s mindfulness work comes in. Using new therapeutic models which feature mindfulness at their center, Greg helps pro golfers and other athletes and performers to be ok with whatever they’re thinking. He summarizes his approach like this. By not constantly fighting the negativity, we are able to free up our minds to focus on the task at hand. Through this process we are able to increase our chances of achieving optimal performance. This is the true benefit to my clients. The ability to perform at your best while experiencing normal human thought. Embracing Present Moment Awareness In other words, he helps his clients to embrace present moment awareness through mindfulness. Because in that space of presence, there is no fear or anxiety, the two major obstacles to performance. There is only the task at hand. I invited Dr. Greg Cartin onto the show because of his inspired approach to mindfulness coaching. Although Greg mostly works with high-performing athletes, I believe his insights and approaches are universally applicable. And, I think you’re going to find them useful in your own life. In this episode, Dr. Greg Cartin and I talk about: How he got into mindfulness How he helps athletes develop a mindset steeped in mindfulness The trust relationship that he establishes with his clients The nature of flow states How flow is an essential part of his coaching The relationship between mindfulness, flow states, and ordinary consciousness How your thoughts, no matter how good or bad, don’t need to affect your “game” Show Notes Contact Dr. Greg Cartin: http://mindfulmindset.com/ Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler Thoughts Are Not The Enemy by Jason Siff Unlearning Meditation by Jason Siff Whiplash the movie Trying Not To Try: The Art and Science of Spontaneity by Edward Slingerland The Psychology of Enhancing Human Performance: The Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment Approach by Frank Gardner and Zella E. Moore Leave a Review in iTunes The post OM063: The Science & Psychology Of Flow States with Dr. Greg Cartin appeared first on About Meditation.

By penetrating very deeply the present moment, the past and future fall away, and you become free. Fear is the demon that prevents us from letting go of the past and the future, that in turn, keeps us from spontaneously plunging into the present. ~ Joe Gifford A 95 Year Old Yogi Do you fear death? Does the promise and mystery of life have to fade with our youth? We’ve all inherited so many of ideas about what old age looks like. Those ideas color our view of life. But are you ready to have your assumptions overturned? In this episode of the OneMind Podcast, we interview the ever-inspiring Joseph Gifford. He’s 95 years old and he radiates more vitality than most people half his age. Joe is a former professional dancer. Today, he teaches symphony orchestra conductors and actors how to tap into their essence as they perform. According to Joe’s website: Joseph Gifford is a respected and honored teacher who has worked with conductors, singers, and instrumentalists for over thirty years. He brings to his students the possibility of going beyond personal boundaries, to grow into new pathways that lead to the deeper and wider dimensions of the timeless world of music. As one of his students said, “Working with Joe Gifford can be a life-changing as well as music-changing experience. His workshops offer a supportive, challenging and expansive environment, which encourages an exploration of the very essence of music itself.” A Creative Passion for Life and Meditation In 1973, Joe started down the path of meditation when he encountered the work of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who founded Transcendental Meditation. He’s been meditating ever since. In the process, Joe became a teacher of The Radiance Technique/Authentic Reiki and his meditation practice has evolved with different teachers and influences. Joseph Gifford It’s uplifting and poignant to hear Joe’s passion for meditation and the mystery of life. From Joe’s perspective, the same inspired intelligence that radiates through Rembrandt’s paintings and Beethoven’s symphonies runs through our veins too. He works to help his students access that native intelligence. I invited Joe on to the show because I wanted you to benefit from listening to someone who has lived and loved as long as he has. And I think you’ll appreciate what a enormous role meditation has played in shaping his creative passion for life. In this episode of the OneMind Podcast, Joe Gifford and I explore: The evolution of Joe’s meditation practice over the last 42 years Why he no longer fears death The influences on his spiritual development in Transcendental Meditation, Reiki, and Evolutionary Enlightenment. How meditation helps you to let go of stress and open your heart How meditation helps you to see other people clearly How meditation infuses his work coaching young actors and professional orchestra conductors and why he encourages them to meditate Why it’s so important to “not know” in the midst of your creative work The universal energy that connects great artists like Beethoven and Rembrandt to you and me How the emptiness you discover in meditation becomes fullness of being Joe’s secrets to a long and happy life The post OM062: 95 Year Old Yogi On The Joys of Life, Death, & Meditation appeared first on About Meditation.

What is the difference between meditation and mindfulness? Recently I joined fellow meditator and Showrunner Harry Duran, the host of Podcast Junkies, to discuss this question and much more. It was an honor to join Harry on his show. We explore the importance of meditation teachers and mentors, the power of going on silent retreat, the difference between mindfulness and meditation, the incredibly short time we have here on earth, and more. Here were a few highlights from the show: Key Takeaways 08:10 – Harry and I talk about EnlightenNext (my former spiritual community). 15:00 – I talk about why we started the OneMind Meditation Podcast.. 24:05 – How did I get interested in meditation? 35:45 – Why being grounded in the present moment is so powerful. 36:35 – What is the difference between mindfulness and meditation? 48:55 – Who were my mentors? 57:00 – Why we have to field test what we’ve learned from our mentors and teachers. 01:07 – What have I changed my mind about recently? I recommend Harry’s show, Podcast Junkies if you haven’t listened before. According to Harry, Podcast Junkies was born out of a genuine interest in and curiosity for a growing league of podcast hosts. It’s hosted by Harry and it features wide-ranging, authentic and sometimes candid interviews with this family of voices behind the microphone. Show Notes Listen To Harry Duran on Meditation and Affirmations Check out Harry’s show, Podcast Junkies Read the work of poet GennaRose Nethercott The post OM061: The Real Reason I Started Meditating appeared first on About Meditation.

If you haven’t listened to part 1 of this special 2-part series on Sufi Meditation with About Meditation cofounder Tom Bershad, please start here. What is Sufi meditation and how do you practice it? Aboutmeditation.com cofounder Tom Bershad has practiced the Sufi Way for over two decades. Tom started meditating as a young man when he formally took up Transcendental Meditation (TM) in the early ’70s. Now, over 40 years later, he’s logged thousands of hours of meditation. But for the last two decades, Tom has practiced Sufi meditation under guidance of a seasoned teacher. This special 2-part episode with Tom Bershad is a deep dive into Sufism and how to practice sufi meditation. In Part 1, we explore the goal of Sufism and in Part 2, Tom shares the extraordinary story of his visit to the tomb of the greatest Sufi teacher to ever walk the earth, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī. Part 1: The Goal Of Sufi Meditation In Part 1, we explore a range of questions touching on the history of Sufism, the role of the teacher, the goal of the Sufi path, and how to practice Sufi meditation techniques. We also explore the initial steps that mark the beginning of the path in the Sufi tradition. Tom share’s captivating stories about the origins of Sufism that are surprising and how it relates to Islam. He also illuminates why and how Sufism is such a universal path. Here are some of the key questions we cover: What is the (short) history of Sufism? Isn’t it an Islamic Mysticism? Do you have to be a Muslim in order to practice Sufism? What is the origin of the word “SUFI”? Is Sufism like any other path or tradition? How is it different? In Sufism, what are the basic beliefs or assumptions about REALITY that it teaches? How does the Path of Sufism work? What are the steps on the Way? Where do you learn Sufism? Part 2: Visiting The Tomb of Rūmī In part 2, we explore in more detail the meditative practices and technique that make up the Sufi Way. Tom outlines how Sufism was translated for Western values and how he met his own teacher. But the heart of this episode is the extraodinary story of Tom’s experience visiting the tomb of Rūmī, a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Rūmī is considered the greatest Sufi teacher to ever live. In the West, most of us know Rūmī through his rhapsodic poetry, a meditation on the spiritual life and divinity which has stood the test of nearly 1,000 years. Visiting the tomb of Rūmī is considered an important milestone and experience for anyone who walks the Sufi Path. Tom’s story of his visit to Rūmī’s tomb in Turkey is otherworldly. In part 2, we cover questions like: Can anyone learn the Sufi Way? What are Teaching Stories? Why is Sufism sometimes considered a context of Energy Management? What is the goal of Sufism? What is meditation like in the Sufi Way? What are the basic practices of Sufism? What are Whirling Dervishes and who was Rumi? What is the significance of visiting the tomb of Rumi for someone in the Sufi Way? Sufism – Love and Life Force I came away from this interview with an enriched understanding of this ancient and revered spiritual path. Tom conveys the essence of Sufism as a path of love. The Sufi is devoted to supporting the life force of the universe through service, devotion, and above all, love. Show Notes If you enjoyed this podcast, you may also like the Meditation for Life Mini Course Learn more about free awareness meditation with How To Free Your Mind & Discover Deep Peace Take a self-paced introduction to meditation and explore the Meditation For Life Core Training Program Leave us a rating & review on iTunes The post OM060: Visiting Rumi’s Tomb & The Sufi Way (Part 2) appeared first on About Meditation.

What is Sufi meditation and how do you practice it? Aboutmeditation.com cofounder Tom Bershad has practiced the Sufi Way for over two decades. Tom started meditating as a young man when he formally took up Transcendental Meditation (TM) in the early ’70s. Now, over 40 years later, he’s logged thousands of hours of meditation. But for the last two decades, Tom has practiced Sufi meditation under guidance of a seasoned teacher. This special 2-part episode with Tom Bershad is a deep dive into Sufism and how to practice sufi meditation. In Part 1, we explore the goal of Sufism and in Part 2, Tom shares the extraordinary story of his visit to the tomb of the greatest Sufi teacher to ever walk the earth, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī. Part 1: The Goal Of Sufi Meditation In Part 1, we explore a range of questions touching on the history of Sufism, the role of the teacher, the goal of the Sufi path, and how to practice Sufi meditation techniques. We also explore the initial steps that mark the beginning of the path in the Sufi tradition. Tom share’s captivating stories about the origins of Sufism that are surprising and how it relates to Islam. He also illuminates why and how Sufism is such a universal path. Here are some of the key questions we cover: What is the (short) history of Sufism? Isn’t it an Islamic Mysticism? Do you have to be a Muslim in order to practice Sufism? What is the origin of the word “SUFI”? Is Sufism like any other path or tradition? How is it different? In Sufism, what are the basic beliefs or assumptions about REALITY that it teaches? How does the Path of Sufism work? What are the steps on the Way? Where do you learn Sufism? Part 2: Visiting The Tomb of Rūmī (Listen) In part 2, we explore in more detail the meditative practices and technique that make up the Sufi Way. Tom outlines how Sufism was translated for Western values and how he met his own teacher. But the heart of this episode is the extraodinary story of Tom’s experience visiting the tomb of Rūmī, a 13th-century Persian poet, jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Rūmī is considered the greatest Sufi teacher to ever live. In the West, most of us know Rūmī through his rhapsodic poetry, a meditation on the spiritual life and divinity which has stood the test of nearly 1,000 years. Visiting the tomb of Rūmī is considered an important milestone and experience for anyone who walks the Sufi Path. Tom’s story of his visit to Rūmī’s tomb in Turkey is otherworldly. In part 2, we cover questions like: Can anyone learn the Sufi Way? What are Teaching Stories? Why is Sufism sometimes considered a context of Energy Management? What is the goal of Sufism? What is meditation like in the Sufi Way? What are the basic practices of Sufism? What are Whirling Dervishes and who was Rumi? What is the significance of visiting the tomb of Rumi for someone in the Sufi Way? Sufism – Love and Life Force I came away from this interview with an enriched understanding of this ancient and revered spiritual path. Tom conveys the essence of Sufism as a path of love. The Sufi is devoted to supporting the life force of the universe through service, devotion, and above all, love. The post OM059: How To Practice Sufi Meditation (Part 1) appeared first on About Meditation.

Gibran Rivera is an internationally renowned master facilitator who has devoted his life to the development of leaders and organizational transformation. Recently, he completed an inspired run of 100 days of meditation. In truth, that’s not all that strange for Gibran. He’s walked a meditation-based spiritual path for more than a decade. Instead, what’s interesting is how this recent meditation immersion parallels his journey to give up alcohol and marijuana. Something Gibran struggled to moderate for a long time. But now, thanks to a personal breakthrough supported by medicinal plants, Gibran has given up these “addictions” and experienced a resurgence in his meditation practice…and in his life. In this wide-ranging interview, Gibran and I explore spiritual practice and spiritual awakening in the context of his life as a “minority,” a social activist, politician, father, and facilitator. A Relentless Commitment To Clarity Raised in a devout Catholic family, Gibran’s story starts with his immigration to Western Massachusetts from Puerto Rico when he was 12 years old. It traverses intentional communities, spiritual awakenings, political ascent, a devastating fall from grace, and a relentless commitment to spiritual ideals and the pursuit of Self-knowledge. Among many highlights, Gibran shares the story of his encounter with a tantric spiritual master and his subsequent struggle to accept her as his teacher. He also provides in-depth insight into the potent role and potential of entheogens on the path of healing and awakening. What are entheogens? According to Wikipedia: An entheogen (“generating the divine within”) is a chemical substance used in a religious, shamanic, or spiritual context that often induces psychological or physiological changes. Entheogens have been used to supplement many diverse practices geared towards achieving transcendence, including meditation, yoga, prayer, psychedelic art, chanting, and multiple forms of music. They have also been historically employed in traditional medicine via psychedelic therapy. In this interview, Gibran Rivera and I discuss: The origin of Gibran’s commitment to social justice How spirituality influenced his early career as a social justice activist How reading Malcom X led to his first awakening How reading deconstructionist literature catalyzed his second awakening His encounter with a tantric spiritual master The definition and role of entheogens on the spiritual path How and why meditation is such a powerful tool to prepare for and then integrate spiritual experiences Show Notes Learn more about Gibran Rivera’s work Connect with Gibran directly Sign up for Gibran’s Evolutionary Leadership Workshop The post OM058: 100 Days Of Meditation With Gibran Rivera appeared first on About Meditation.