Awake in the World Podcast

A forty-minute guided meditation on the First Foundation of Mindfulness, Mindfulness of Breathing. Recorded on June 24, 2009.

In this Awake in the World podcast guest teacher Norman Feldman unpacks part of the Buddha’s First Discourse, with a focus on the ending of dukkha and the five aggregates. Recorded on June 23, 2009.

In this talk Michael considers the first two of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness in terms of the three characteristics (impermanence, interdependence and not-self). He describes how these foundations are techniques we can use to discover and dismantle self-constructed suffering. Recorded on June 25, 2009.

In this Awake in the World podcast Michael provides some background about the “Fear and Terror Sutta” (Bhaya-bherava Sutta) and discusses the importance of mindfulness in coping with fear, dread and anxiety. This talk, shared in two parts, is an excerpt from Michael’s six-week online course, Big Heart Powers, examining topics like the characteristics of fear and anxiety, how they become embodied, common responses to fear, and the Buddha’s recommendations for managing fear. For more details and to sign up, visit: https://michaelstoneteaching.com/product/big-heart-powers/

In this Awake in the World podcast Michael provides some background about the “Fear and Terror Sutta” (Bhaya-bherava Sutta) and discusses the importance of mindfulness in coping with fear, dread and anxiety. This talk, shared in two parts, is an excerpt from Michael’s six-week online course, Big Heart Powers, examining topics like the characteristics of fear and anxiety, how they become embodied, common responses to fear, and the Buddha’s recommendations for managing fear. For more details and to sign up, visit: https://michaelstoneteaching.com/product/big-heart-powers/

Using Philip Whalen’s poem “Further Notice” for inspiration, Michael describes how to establish a consistent meditation practice and offers suggestions to help with motivation. Recorded on June 21, 2009.

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.

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.

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.

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.