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
Sep 12, 2021 • 49min
Putting Attention Right Where Things Are Born
In this podcast Michael explores the dynamics of meditation, and the need for us to let our assumptions about what meditation is fall away.
Recorded on June 16, 2009.
Sep 7, 2021 • 1h 12min
Free to be Nobody
In this talk on the theme of freedom and discipline Michael argues that true freedom comes with unravelling the layers of self-making that are deeply habitual—including striving, intellectualizing, clinging and story-telling. Awareness of these tendencies can create space for contentment, presence and new possibilities.
Recorded on June 11, 2008.
Aug 29, 2021 • 51min
The Eyebrows Don't Know Anything
In this talk, which took place during a retreat at Sugar Ridge, Michael delves into the koan titled “Not knowing is the most intimate” (Miscellaneous Koans Case 62). He explores ideas about home and pilgrimage, stages of mindfulness practice, commentaries on commentaries, and a funny story about “the supreme power of the useless.”
Recorded on June 5, 2010.
Aug 22, 2021 • 48min
Gladness of the Heart
In this Awake in the World podcast guest teacher Norman Feldman explores metta practice and how it compliments and supports insight (Vipassana) practice, as well as allowing us to open to dukkha so we can see its origins and free ourselves.
Recorded on June 4, 2010.
Aug 15, 2021 • 48min
Shifting Our Stories
In this Awake in the World podcast Michael speaks about the power of story-telling and how the stories we construct, individually and culturally, can either heal and transform us—or shut us down. Once we get still enough to see the story-teller (ahaṃkāra) at work, we can consciously choose to shift the story towards realization and connectedness.
Recorded on June 4, 2009.
Aug 9, 2021 • 58min
The Two Darts: A Buddhist Psychology of Pain
In this Awake in the World Podcast Michael explains the teaching of “The Two Darts” (the Sallatha Sutta) and asserts that the Buddha offers a useful and supportive model for working with pain—whether it is physical, emotional, or cultural in origin.
Recorded on June 19, 2007.
Aug 2, 2021 • 40min
Ducks’ Legs Are Short, Cranes’ Legs Are Long
In this Awake in the World Podcast Michael covers the ninth part of the Genjokoan that begins, “A fish swims in the ocean, and no matter how far it swims there is no end to the water.” He argues that realization comes with knowing what nourishes you—and then “you can do you.”
Recorded on July 29, 2010.
Jul 26, 2021 • 54min
Cherishing All Life
In this Awake in the World podcast, guest teacher Trudy Goodman gives a talk on sila, the ethical foundations of the eightfold path (wise livelihood, wise behaviour, and wise speech).
Recorded on July 18, 2009 at a mindfulness for clinicians program with Leading Edge Seminars.
Jul 19, 2021 • 55min
Ordinary Mind is the Way
In this Awake in the World podcast Michael talks about the tendency we have to amplify suffering by creating a self that we think is separate and “special,” and how in our quest to be enlightened we can often get tripped up by the same instincts.
Jul 12, 2021 • 46min
Water Holding and Nestling the Moon
In this Awake in the World podcast Michael muses about the section of the Genjokoan that starts, “Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water….” Along the way he weaves in Kannon, koans, zen poetry, and Bob Dylan.
Recorded July 22, 2010.
