Awake in the World Podcast
Michael Stone
Awake in the World Podcast is a library of talks on a wide-range of topics, including bringing mindfulness and meditation practice into daily life; personal and community issues regarding mental health; and social change. The podcasts were recorded at live events so you might hear coughing, airplanes, cars, sirens, laughter, and peoples’ questions—all part of the intimate experience. Michael Stone (1974-2017) was a Buddhist teacher, author, and mental health advocate. His legacy is stewarded by Carina Stone. Podcast funded by Patreon (patreon.com/michaelstone).
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 18, 2022 • 33min
Core Belief Pruning
Michael describes sitting practice as a place where we can work with our aversion, anger and blame, and where we can “prune the dead ends” of our habitual thought patterns. (Unfortunately, the recording ends abruptly, but we still felt it was worth sharing). Recorded November 5, 2008.
Content Warning: Michael shares a story about homophobia and violence.
Dec 11, 2022 • 55min
Best of Awake in the World: Symptoms of Trauma
This week we're revisiting a favourite Awake in the World podcast episode. Michael details fear, dissociation, and shame, and how they impact the body, mind, and relationships. Very clear talk about the strategies we use to protect ourselves and create recognizable symptoms. Michael ends with a story about generational trauma. Meditation Facilitation Program, London. Recorded on July 30, 2016.
Listen to Part 2, Healing Trauma Through the Body: bit.ly/2kke4WB
Dec 4, 2022 • 1h 13min
Best of Awake in the World: How to Work with Strong Moods
This week we're revisiting a favourite Awake in the World podcast episode. Michael discusses Chapter 5 of the Shantideva and the way negative emotional mood swings cannot hold together for very long without thoughts. How we have to inject stories into our moods to keep them afloat; and the practices for transforming anger. Recorded on February 26, 2013.
Nov 27, 2022 • 53min
A Journey Through the Wilderness
Michael begins this podcast with a quote from Marcel Proust about the path to wisdom being “a journey through the wilderness which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare us.” Michael compares yoga asana to a journey through the wilderness of the body–our “zones of preferences,” and the eight limbs of yoga as pointers to integrate our experiences while we’re on this path. Recorded on November 6, 2007.
Nov 20, 2022 • 44min
Now Is the Teaching
In this talk on the first few lines of the Yoga Sutras Michael explains that the present moment is the teacher. He argues that the “chitta vrittis” are sacred and not meant to be eliminated, but rather it’s our relationship with them that requires insight and work. Recorded on November 25, 2007.
Nov 13, 2022 • 25min
I Don't Care About Your Enlightenment
In this short talk Michael describes non-harming (ahimsa) as the natural response to understanding interdependence, and states that yoga must become a form of ecological and social awareness—otherwise it’s not helpful. Recorded on November 24, 2007.
Nov 6, 2022 • 1h 25min
The Internal Practice of Ashtanga Yoga
This wide-ranging talk, delivered in Vienna (2007), covers the internal, psychological and potentially transformative aspects of Ashtanga practice. Touching on Freud, the yamas, karma, interdependence and impermanence Michael argues for a yoga of relationship, creativity and change. Recorded on November 23, 2007.
Oct 30, 2022 • 54min
Sudden, Ready, Uninhibited
In this 2008 talk on the nature of the self Michael considers a framework of “four selves,” the Buddha’s teachings on not-self, and Hakuin’s assertion that, with practice, the self becomes wisdom and compassion–as spontaneous as “beads rolling on a tray: sudden, ready, uninhibited.” Recorded on November 8, 2008.
Oct 23, 2022 • 59min
A Journey of Return
In this talk Michael covers our tendency to compose narratives that create a separate self (and then judge it), and a paradox: we have to take care of ourselves in order to forget ourselves. Recorded on November 16, 2009.
Oct 16, 2022 • 32min
This Posture Can Support You
Michael leads a thirty-minute meditation mainly focused on feeling the body. Recorded on November 16, 2009.
