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
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.
Sep 30, 2019 • 52min
The Ivory Tower of Love
It's harder to practice conditional love than unconditional love. Try loving one person for a very long time. In this podcast episode, Michael gives a talk on Shantideva. As kids, our parents are attuned to our needs. As adults, lovers can never meet us in the same attuned way. How do we deal with this?
Recorded March 19, 2013.
Sep 23, 2019 • 57min
Intensifying Relationships and the Politics of Love
Michael talks about the difference between mindfulness and being self-conscious, Shantideva's practices for exchanging your self with others, and suggestions for long-term practice.
Recorded on March 12, 2013.
Sep 15, 2019 • 1h 8min
Your Crushing Elephant Mind
What should we do with our anger? Venting anger is one of the worst ways to cool down. Outbursts of rage typically pump up the emotional brain's arousal, leaving people feeling more angry, not less angry.
Recorded on March 5, 2013.
Sep 8, 2019 • 1h 13min
How to Work with Strong Moods
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.
