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 16, 2018 • 49min
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: A Moment in Time
Can you see each thing in your life—whether objects or the people around you—as a moment in time? The mind is like a tourist constantly taking photos; meditation allows for the coming and going of everything. What's happening is really just a moment in time. Recorded on November 8, 2011.
Dec 9, 2018 • 1h
So, What Really Matters?
Michael Stone begins talking about the death of his mentor, maverick psychologist James Hillman. When death comes the only thing that's important is your heart, not your accomplishments. So what really matters? Recorded on November 1, 2011.
Dec 3, 2018 • 56min
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: Samskara and Neuroplasticity
Drawing on research with people who have healed from stroke, Michael Stone compares the Sanskrit term "samskara" with modern neuroscience and ties this into the genetic level of meditation practice. "Meditation turns genes on and off in each moment restructuring genetic code." Recorded on October 18, 2011.
Nov 25, 2018 • 1h
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: The Flow of Attention, Waking from the Dream
The mind in concentration is like a flame in a windless space. Michael describes what happens in the mind when concentration is so focused that hindrances and distraction don't arise. Michael parallels this process with the Occupy movement. Recorded on October 11, 2011.
Nov 18, 2018 • 1h 13min
Sandokai, Part 3: Remember One-ness in Everything You Do
Michael gives a talk on the Sandokai during the 2011 autumn intensive. Michael talks about taking the meditation group to sit in court and bear witness, remembering one-ness in everything you do, and not taking things so personally. Recorded on Sept 26, 2011.
Nov 11, 2018 • 1h 13min
Sandokai, Part 2: Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness
The most esoteric practice is being a human. Michael talks on the relation between the absolute and relative, religious life and the everyday mess we're in. What does it mean to have Buddha mind? Do you have it? Do you place it somewhere else? Recorded on Sept 25, 2011.
Nov 4, 2018 • 1h 11min
Sandokai, Part 1: Practice is Transmitted Through Intimate Relations
Michael talks in detail on the Chinese poem "Sandokai" during a 5-day Intensive at Centre of Gravity. Can you remain human? Can you see the way "one-ness" and "difference" support one another? Can you go beyond transcendence and drop deeply into this world? Recorded on September 24, 2011.
Oct 28, 2018 • 43min
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: Making the Unwanted Wanted
What is meditation? How do you settle your attention on a moving field? Michael talks on the second line of the 3rd chapter of the Yoga Sutra and how most of the world is operating in the realm of non-thinking. How do we do that? Recorded on Sept 20, 2011.
Oct 22, 2018 • 48min
Yoga Sutra, Chapter 3: The Other Shore will Come To You
Centre of Gravity re-opens after summer break with a talk on the Yoga Sutra and Michael talks on meditation and also how to practice without making the other shore separate from us. Recorded on Sept 12, 2011.
Oct 19, 2018 • 1h 7min
Lotus Sutra, Part 20: Forgiveness as the Heart of Practice
The Deepest Practice a Bodhisattva can ever do is to listen deeply. The deepest thing we can ever experience is having a change of heart. Last evening at Bellwoods location. Recorded on July 12, 2011.
