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 15, 2019 • 1h 31min
Renunciation & Relationship, Part 2
During a six day retreat in Copenhagen, Michael talks on love, betrayal, commitment, the dry stage, and letting go. These talks are based on Norman Fischer's essay on the eight stages of relationship.
Recorded in October, 2013.
Dec 8, 2019 • 1h 1min
Renunciation & Relationship, Part 1
During a public talk at the beginning of a six day retreat in Copenhagen, Michael talks on love, betrayal, commitment, the dry stage, and letting go. These talks are based on Norman Fischer's essay on the eight stages of relationship.
Recorded in October, 2013.
Dec 2, 2019 • 44min
The Glare Behind You
Michael works with a koan called "This Buddha, That Buddha," in which he talks about how to stop. Our culture needs to stop. Michael compares calming practices and insight practices.
Recorded on September 17, 2013.
Nov 24, 2019 • 35min
Oyster Swallows the Moon
Michael Stone gives a talk based on the koan "Oyster Swallows the Moon", exploring how we need to respect our hard shell, learn how to open, and practice simplicity. He also talks about consumerism and insomnia.
Recorded on September 3, 2013 in Toronto.
Nov 17, 2019 • 54min
Buddha's Last Words
In the Zen tradition, there is a saying, “Reaching the mystery is nothing but breaking through and grabbing an ordinary person’s life.” The mystical experience turns out to be this present moment. Part of a series of talks on the Buddha before Buddhism.
Recorded at Centre of Gravity on June 23, 2013.
Read note on the talk here: https://michaelstoneteaching.com/2013/06/23/buddha-before-buddhism-8-last-words/
Nov 10, 2019 • 1h 14min
Emptiness, Self, Depression & Narcissism
Michael gives a talk on the ways mindfulness meditation can help with the spectrum of mental illness and also some signs to watch out for as practice deepens. Part of a series of talks on Shantideva’s Guide to a Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.
Recorded at Centre of Gravity in Toronto on April 23, 2013
Nov 3, 2019 • 50min
Relax Your Mind
Michael Stone talks on the importance of relaxing your mind and how patience and relaxation give rise to enthusiasm. The talk is based on chapter 8 of Shantideva's Guide to a Bodhisattva's Way of Life. Ways of seeing your parents, how deep concentration arises through relaxation, and how to glide with breathing.
Recorded at Centre of Gravity, Toronto on April 9, 2013.
Oct 27, 2019 • 42min
What Can We Know?
Michael reads some core teachings of the Buddha that describe the limits of what we can know. How can we practice deeper than creating new beliefs?
Recorded in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin on April 8, 2013.
Oct 20, 2019 • 48min
Buddhism Before Religion
The Buddha’s stance is anti-religious in a certain way. He uses what’s in religious practice to undo religious belief. The Buddha creates strategies, not dogmas. The more you go back into the old texts, the further away you get from religion. What we don’t need at this moment is another religion. Instead, perhaps we could engage a living tradition, and uncover the values of these practices. This means having a conversation with the past, while being rooted in the soil of present experience.
Oct 6, 2019 • 59min
Patience is a Practice of Attunement
Long-term practice requires patience more than discipline. Practice frustrates our results oriented mind. You need patience to stay with life for the long haul. The paradoxes of karma.
Recorded on April 2, 2013.
