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
Feb 24, 2019 • 52min
Mountains & Rivers, Part 3
Mountains are actually walking. If you can understand that mountains walk, you can understand impermanence. Nothing is as solid as you think. What, in your life, do you think is solid? Your body is like a mountain and it's also like water. Recorded on January 31, 2012.
Feb 17, 2019 • 58min
Mountains & Rivers, Part 2
Michael Stone describes the way mountains and rivers influenced Dogen and the way they can teach us about our lives. Mountains and water teach us about time, flow, and solidity. Everything is nothing but a moment in time. Recorded on January 24, 2012.
Feb 10, 2019 • 1h 1min
Mountains & Rivers, Part 1
Who Was Dogen? What were his main teachings? Michael Stone introduces the teachings of 13th century Japanese Zen master Dogen and his essay, Mountains and Rivers. Dogen loses both his parents and wants to understand impermanence. Recorded on January 18, 2012.
Feb 3, 2019 • 1h 13min
Basics of Buddhism, Part 2
Michael Stone gives commentary on Buddhism and the Four Noble Truths in a series on the basic teachings of the Buddha. Craving, Suffering, Enlightenment, and the 8-fold path. Craving closes down the path. Recorded on January 13, 2012.
Jan 27, 2019 • 30min
Basics of Buddhism, Part 1
In this dharma talk, Michael Stone aims to answer the question, "What did the Buddha teach?" by focusing on the Pāli Canon—the earliest known record of the Buddha’s teachings in India. The mind is like a tourist—taking pictures of the present moment. The power of mindfulness practice is opening up to raw sensation. Recorded on January 13, 2012.
Jan 20, 2019 • 1h
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: Devotion to Present Experience
Treat each movement of the mind as something we devote ourselves to, like the beloved, and then forgiveness happens naturally. Meditation is about going to the places deeper than ourselves, the place where forgiveness comes from. The final talk on Chapter 3 of the Yoga Sutra. Recorded on January 10, 2012.
Jan 13, 2019 • 51min
Guided Meditation
Guided meditation with a focus on the subtle body, breath, palette, tongue and skull. Given during the first night of year-end silent retreat. Recorded in Midland, Ontario on Dec 28, 2011.
Jan 6, 2019 • 52min
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: The Silence Museum
Michael comes home from practice in Thailand and talks about travels, not buying things in plastic, and details about meditation techniques. Some very good meditation instructions in this talk. Recorded on December 20, 2011.
Dec 30, 2018 • 41min
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: Compassion is a Superpower
It's cool to be kind - it's the new black dress. Lovingkindness is a ratio. If it's about you, it's about clinging. If it's only about the other, you lose yourself. The best kind of love is actually conditional. At the core of every heart, even those who cause trauma for others, is the desire to be happy. Recorded on November 29, 2011.
Dec 23, 2018 • 1h 4min
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: Superpowers
Meditation opens us up to levels of experience that are non-human. Michael Stone goes through Patanjali's description of superpowers and how they happen in meditation practice. Then he talks about calmness and what can lead people into trouble if they don't have stability in practice. Recorded on November 22, 2011.
