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Exploring mental constructs, Gil Fronsdal describes how we construct the relationships to our experiences. This recording from the Insight Meditation Center was originally published on Dharmaseed.org On this episode of the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil Fronsdal talks about these topics:A four line Buddhist chant in PaliThe impermanence of all constructed thingsMindfulness and the practice of noticingExploring one’s relationship to the present momentMoving our attention with a deliberate calmnessMeditation instruction as the antidote to relating negativelyOur attitudes and how they affect our experiencesNon-reactive awareness in order to avoid new constructionsIdentity and the stories we tell about ourselvesAllowing “I am” to stand by itselfAbout Gil Fronsdal: Gil Fronsdal is the co-teacher for the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California; he has been teaching since 1990. He has practiced Zen and Vipassana in the U.S. and Asia since 1975. He was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985, and in 1989 began training with Jack Kornfield to be a Vipassana teacher. Gil teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center where he is part of its Teachers Council. Gil was ordained as a Soto Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and in 1995 received Dharma Transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center. He currently serves on the SF Zen Center Elders’ Council. In 2011 he founded IMC’s Insight Retreat Center. Gil has an undergraduate degree in agriculture from U.C. Davis where he was active in promoting the field of sustainable farming. In 1998 he received a PhD in Religious Studies from Stanford University studying the earliest developments of the bodhisattva ideal. He is the author of The Issue at Hand, essays on mindfulness practice; A Monastery Within; a book on the five hindrances called Unhindered; and the translator of The Dhammapada, published by Shambhala Publications. You may listen to Gil’s talks on Audio Dharma. “To quiet these constructions is happiness. To be able to question these things, and slowly perhaps, maybe even imperceptibly, to allow these constructs to calm down, relax, not buy into them as much. Maybe not buy into them as much because we notice them.” – Gil Fronsdal See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trudy Goodman explains how we can practice compassionate presence in all moments, even those that are uncomfortable. This time on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Trudy Goodman delves into:How we often overlook the simple practices that will make us spiritually contentedMeditating while doing ordinary thingsRetreats and being in the presentBuddhist cosmology as representation of our own awakened qualitiesOffering compassion to ourselves and to othersTolerating the raw experience of being aliveGetting caught in the ideal of being a spiritual personNaming and recognizing negative experiences like hate, lust, etc.Treating the content of each moment as a chance for presence and awakeningForgiving ourselves when our heart runs wildAbout Trudy Goodman: Trudy is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats and workshops worldwide. Learn more about Trudy’s offerings at trudygoodman.com “It’s this loving, caring attentiveness that gives us the courage to come so close to experience, even experiences we most wish we could turn away from.” – Trudy Goodman See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Renowned Buddhist teacher, Frank Ostaseski, discusses death, impermanence, and the principle of non-waiting. Today’s episode was recorded as part of the Ram Dass Fellowship’s regular online gatherings. To learn more about the Ram Dass Fellowship and sign up to join a fellowship gathering near you, visit RamDass.org/Fellowship. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow  Hosted by Jackie Dobrinska, this recording from the Ram Dass Fellowship features Frank Ostaseski discussing:Creation stories and the shaping of humansWhy the breath is so important (Including a guided breath meditation!)The five invitations and how these principles are designed to help you embrace life to the fullestNavigating life transitions, coping with loss, facing serious illness, or personal crisesHeartfelt real-life stories combined with ancient wisdomHow an awareness of mortality can be a supportive companion on the journey to living wellRegarding death as a final stage of growthNot waiting as an antidote to regretThe beauty of life when we recognize and accept impermanenceAbout Frank Ostaseski: Frank Ostaseski, an internationally respected Buddhist teacher and pioneer in end-of-life care, has accompanied over 1,000 people through their dying process. Acclaimed author of The Five Invitations, Frank co-founded the first Buddhist hospice in America—The Zen Hospice Project. In 2005, he founded the Metta Institute, through which he has trained countless clinicians and caregivers, building a national network of educators, advocates, and guides for those facing a life-threatening illness. About Jackie Dobrinska: Jackie Dobrinska is the Director of Education, Community & Inclusion for Ram Dass’ Love, Serve, Remember Foundation and the current host of Ram Dass’ Here & Now podcast. She is also a teacher, coach, and spiritual director with the privilege of marrying two decades of mystical studies with 15 years of expertise in holistic wellness. As an interspiritual minister, Jackie was ordained in Creation Spirituality in 2016 and has also studied extensively in several other lineages – the plant-medicine-based Pachakuti Mesa Tradition, Sri Vidya Tantra, Western European Shamanism, Christian Mysticism, the Wise Woman Tradition, and others. Today, in addition to building courses and community for LSRF, she leads workshops and coaches individuals to discover, nourish and live from their most authentic selves.  Learn more about Jackie’s work at asimplevibrantlife.com. “I think when we embrace impermanence a certain grace can enter into our lives. We can treasure experiences, we can feel deeply, all without clinging. We’re free to savor and touch the texture of every passing moment.” – Frank Ostaseski See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a reflection on absorbing the power of compassion, Matthieu Ricard shares his meditative story with Rohan Gunatillake. This episode was originally aired on Meditative Story, a podcast that combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with the immediate, science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice – all surrounded by breathtaking and cinematic music. You can find Meditative Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more! Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow Matthieu Ricard takes us on a meditative journey through:Exposure to extraordinary peopleThe correlation between intelligence, creativity, and human goodnessHow documentary images of Tibet inspired Matthieu to experience the far east for himselfThe smells, sounds, and sensations of entering India for the first timeMeeting Kangyur Rinpoche and experiencing an aura of peaceLeaving after his PhD to study full time with Kangyur Rinpoche in IndiaAllowing presence to permeate our mindsActualizing the Buddha natureAbout Matthieu Ricard: Matthieu Ricard is a Nepalese-French writer, photographer, translator and Buddhist monk who resides at Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery in Nepal. He is also the author of Notebooks Of A Wandering Monk. He has spent years of his life in the presence of some of the world’s greatest mindfulness practitioners and felt the weight of their powerful compassion. Learn more about Matthieu and his work HERE. About Rohan Gunatillake: Rohan Gunatillake is a writer, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Meditative Story. By artfully crafting meditations to compliment each guest’s story, Rohan blends mindfulness with narrative to create a unique listening experience, encouraging listeners to use someone else’s transformative moment as the basis for their own. He’s also the founder of the best-selling app Buddhify, and author of Modern Mindfulness: How to Be More Relaxed, Focused, and Kind While Living in a Fast, Digital, Always-On World. “We do not need words. We do not need to analyze or even comprehend. The quality of the presence is self-evident. It is best to just experience it, let it permeate your mind and become a part of you. Ultimately, it is up to each practitioner to actualize the Buddha nature dwelling within each of us.” – Matthieu Ricard See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Focusing on the ways that Buddhism points us inward, Gil Fronsdal explains the dharma in a brief and accessible way. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow In this guest episode, Gil lectures on:Emptiness within Theravada BuddhismWhat happens after our basic necessities are metHow we are versus what we doBecoming free from doctrinesThe importance of practice and heightened sensitivitySuffering and the cessation of sufferingSkillful actions and improving the quality of inner lifeThe portability of inner wealthThe limitations of obsessing over the selfCraving and how we can hold sensations without clinging“You can experience suffering in all of many forms and you can experience the liberation and freedom from it, the absence of it. The guideline here is what you can know for yourself. The inner life, the quality of your life, what you can know for yourself, that’s really what this tradition is pointing to.” – Gil Fronsdal See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In an entire episode of guided practice, JoAnna Hardy leads listeners deeper into the sensations of the body. This dharma talk was recorded at Insight Meditation Society – Retreat Center and originally published on Dharmaseed.org. In this episode, JoAnna guides listeners towards:Stabilizing the mind and slowing downPaying attention to the sensations of our bodiesNoticing the things our bodies come into contact withRecognizing pain, being with it, and redirecting our attention if necessaryUnderstanding our choice in how we have experiencesA walking meditation practiceRemaining connected to the bodies we inhabit About JoAnna Hardy:  JoAnna Hardy is an insight meditation (Vipassanā) practitioner and teacher; she is on faculty at the University of Southern California, a meditation trainer at Apple Fitness+, a founding member of the Meditation Coalition, a teacher’s council member at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a visiting retreat teacher at Insight Meditation Society, and a collaborator on many online meditation Apps and programs. Her greatest passion is to teach meditation in communities that are dedicated to seeing the truth of how racism, gender inequality and oppression go hand in hand with the compassionate action teachings in Buddhism and related perspectives to social and racial justice.  “In this flesh suit of muscle and bone, we can get to know the sensations. What do those sensations feel like without the mind telling us what they feel like? What are the sensations of pain in our body? Tingling, prickly pressure, tension, being curious to knowing it. One of the options can be that we redirect our attention somewhere else in the body.” – JoAnna Hardy See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Explaining loving kindness as the antidote to fear and aggression, Trudy Goodman guides us in two meditative practices. This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed.org In this 2017 recording from the Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Trudy Goodman leads a talk on:Loving kindness as the antidote to fearTaming our inner aggressionStrengthening the BrahmaviharasOffering Metta to ourselves and othersThe miracle of connecting to each otherThe jellyroll practiceA traditional loving-kindness practice“You are the source of life, and the mystery, and the magic of life itself manifesting as this body and everything it knows how to do and this mind and all the capacities and intelligence that it has and this ability to connect with each other in ways that are so, sometimes miraculous, sometimes painful too. But, all the abilities that we have, this is really what we’re treasuring and offering our respect and reverence to.” – Trudy Goodman See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Offering listeners insights, stories, and guided imagery, Gil Fronsdal describes the idea of the self as an anchor. This recording from the Insight Meditation Center was originally published on Dharmaseed.org This week on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Gil teaches us about:Ideas of the self as an anchorThe three characteristics of inconstancy, suffering, and not-selfThe Buddha’s views on the selfHow thinking about the self actually takes us away from the selfStaying with the flow in meditationThe suffering found within ‘me, myself, and mine’A dharma story about zen master Suzuki RoshiHow most concepts are based on relationship and comparisonThe pain in basing our joy off of the comparison to othersConventions, constructs, and rulesBecoming wise to the projections of the mindTrusting the practice“The purpose of this deep meditation is to help us to become free, help us to lift up the anchors so we’re not held back, not limited, so we don’t set ourselves up to be washed over by the floods that come.” – Gil Fronsdal ---- In a world that often feels like it's teetering on the edge, it's not surprising that so many of us grapple with feelings of instability and overwhelm.  On Tuesday, December 19th, join acclaimed Buddhist meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Ethan Nichtern for a free online conversation on staying grounded, available, and engaged, even when the world is on fire. Sharon and Ethan will also discuss the upcoming Dharma Moon Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and offer their insights on how studying Buddhism can help us show up more fully for ourselves and others during these challenging times. Visit dharmamoon.com/event for more info and to reserve your free spot! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Mindshift Podcast Returns to Be Here Now Network for an interview with Dr. Raghu Appasani on coping skills and the joy of missing out. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow In this episode of Mindshift, Shira and Jordana speak with their guest, Dr. Raghu Appasani about:Loneliness, comparison, and social mediaPrioritizing our own needsRecognizing our circle of controlShowing up authentically for ourselvesMaking decisions to be in the presentJOMO aka the Joy of Missing OutCommitting to daily acts of self-careBeing mindful of what media we consumeSetting time aside to process emotionsNegativity and cognitive biasUnderstanding our emotions and how to copeBoundaries and how to set themInsights on cultivating joyGet a copy of The JOMO Journal HERE “We have full agency and control on the joy of missing out versus the fear of missing out. When we think about what you can do for your own mental health it comes down to what can you control, what can’t you control. When you choose to not go to something or you make a decision to be in the present moment with yourself, you can make an active decision on what type of emotion or feeling you want associated with that.” – Raghu Appasani, MD About Raghu Appasani, MD: Dr. Raghu Appasani is an Integrative & Addiction psychiatrist and psychotherapist known for his innovative approach to mental well-being. With a deep commitment to evidence-based practices, he combines psychotherapy, pharmacology, nutrition, and holistic methods to provide personalized care. Dr. Appasani is also a dedicated neuroscientist, exploring the clinical applications of non-ordinary states of consciousness and delving into the human experience. As an entrepreneur, he founded The MINDS Foundation, a mental health NGO in India, and serves as the Chief Medical Officer at PYM Health. Dr. Appasani extends his expertise by advising various mental health organizations, including Mud\Wtr, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to improving mental health globally. He is additionally the Program Director of Nutrition/Youth/Metabolic Mental Health & Psychedelics at the California Institute for Stress & Resilience. Keep up with Dr. Raghu on his website or on Instagram. About Shira Lazar: Shira Lazar, an Emmy-nominated pioneer in digital culture and emerging trends, is renowned for her impactful web-first news brand, ‘What’s Trending’. With a knack for recognizing the pulse of the digital age, Shira has graced various prestigious platforms including SXSW, VeeCon and CES, earning her a coveted spot on Fast Company’s Most Influential Women in Technology list. As a passionate advocate for digital evolution, Shira’s insights and expertise have resonated with audiences worldwide. Venturing beyond the digital realm, Shira’s commitment to holistic well-being led her to co-found Peace Inside Live. Fusing her profound understanding of the digital landscape with a passion for inner peace and wellness, she has effectively bridged the gap between technology and mindfulness. Through Peace Inside Live, Shira endeavors to bring tranquility and balance to the fast-paced corporate world, highlighting the significance of mental well-being in today’s digital age. About Jordana Reim: Jordana Reim has dedicated her life to expanding consciousness – her own, her community’s, and humanity’s.Her teaching journey began in 2008 after her first Yoga Teacher Training with YogaWorks. She has spent the last decade refining her personal practice through travels and residencies at some of the most sacred and beautiful places on Earth including the islands of Thailand, ashrams of India and the Himalayas of Nepal. On a continual search for higher ground, the New Jersey-native shares her considerable learnings as she coaches others in corporate, group and private meditation, breathing, and other w

Joseph Goldstein joins Rohan Gunatillake to share the meditative story of how he first learned to integrate his spirituality into everyday life. This episode was originally aired on Meditative Story, a podcast that combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with the immediate, science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice – all surrounded by breathtaking and cinematic music. You can find Meditative Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!  Joseph Goldstein shares a personal story about:One of the most transformative moments in Joseph’s lifeThe beginning of Joseph’s enlightenment journeyIntegrating the spiritual gifts Joseph learned from the East into his everyday life in the WestLearning to embrace the uncomfortable feeling of not-knowingHow Joseph first connected with Ram DassJoseph’s first job teaching a meditation classSaying yes and allowing opportunities to present themselvesA guided mindfulness practice“It’s as if my life exists as two separate strands. One is the strand of my practice, which feels clear and stable. The other is how that practice will manifest and how I can ever hope to apply it to the world. Spiritually, I am flying high. But I have no idea where to land.” – Joseph Goldstein About Joseph Goldstein: Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and loving-kindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, where he is one of the organization’s guiding teachers. In 1989, together with several other teachers and students of insight meditation, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. About Rohan Gunatillake: Rohan Gunatillake is a writer, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Meditative Story. By artfully crafting meditations to compliment each guest’s story, Rohan blends mindfulness with narrative to create a unique listening experience, encouraging listeners to use someone else’s transformative moment as the basis for their own. He’s also the founder of the best-selling app Buddhify, and author of Modern Mindfulness: How to Be More Relaxed, Focused, and Kind While Living in a Fast, Digital, Always-On World. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this immersive episode, Sharon Salzberg shares the journey of her spiritual life with the host of Meditative Story, Rohan Gunatillake. This episode was originally aired on Meditative Story, a podcast that combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with the immediate, science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice – all surrounded by breathtaking and cinematic music. You can find Meditative Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more! Sharon Salzberg shares her story:Sharon’s first trip to IndiaHow disappointments and discomforts can lead to self-discoveryBeing kind to ourselves and allowing slip-ups to happenThe initial meeting of Sharon Salzberg and Joseph GoldsteinGoenka’s non-verbal advice to Sharon and how laughter can release fear and angerReorienting ourselves when we veer off courseA guided meditation"It will take a while before I learn that the skillful response to feeling anger is to feel it, and then, even to take an interest in it. I don’t have to let it carry me into action that I may regret. I already feel the lesson that life is teaching me over and over again: we all face challenges. It’s how we become who we are. You don’t have to judge yourself all the time. Give yourself a break.” – Sharon Salzberg About Sharon Salzberg: Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her forthcoming release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom, is set for release in April of 2023 from Flatiron Books. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed five million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. Learn more about Sharon and order your copy of her new book at www.sharonsalzberg.com About Rohan Gunatillake: Rohan Gunatillake is a writer, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Meditative Story. By artfully crafting meditations to compliment each guest’s story, Rohan blends mindfulness with narrative to create a unique listening experience, encouraging listeners to use someone else’s transformative moment as the basis for their own. He’s also the founder of the best-selling app Buddhify, and author of Modern Mindfulness: How to Be More Relaxed, Focused, and Kind While Living in a Fast, Digital, Always-On World. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Facing the anxiety caused by climate change, Nina Rao, Allegra Lovejoy, and environmentalist Dekila Chungyalpa, come together to find solutions. Today's podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/beherenow Nina Rao, Dekila Chungyalpa, and Allegra Lovejoy spend this episode discussing:The source of rising global temperaturesClimate migrants and refugeesThe anthropocentric effect on the natural worldDekila’s conservation workHow the value of nature has been consumed by economicsLooking to India for answers on environmentalismThe validity of anxiety surrounding the environmental crisisReinforcing our communities for survivalContemplating our relationship with natureThe privilege of having access to natureCoping with Eco Anxiety through mindfulnessJoy as a means of increasing our resilienceKinship with the environment for a conservation strategyA brief practice in grounding and compassion for the earthAbout Nina Rao: Nina Rao is a devotional singer. She tours with Krishna Das, playing cymbals, singing, and acting as his business manager. Nina has two of her own albums, “Antarayaami – Knower of All Hearts” and “Anubhav”. Nina regularly leads kirtan, workshops, and retreats in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York and beyond. Keep up with Nina on her website. “I’m not saying this is the solution for everything, but set aside land for natural habitat and wildlife. We’ve forgotten how to actually live with wildlife so we have to re-learn that, so until we do, we have to give them that space.” – Nina Rao About Dekila Chungyalpa: Dekila is the founder and director of the Loka Initiative. She is an accomplished environmental program director, with 20+ years of experience in designing and implementing global conservation and climate strategies and projects. Known as an innovator in the environmental field, Dekila has expertise in faith-led environmental and climate partnerships, biodiversity landscape and river basin strategy design, and community-based conservation. She began her career in 2001 working on community-based conservation in the Eastern Himalayas and went on to work on climate adaptation and free flowing rivers in the Mekong region for the World Wildlife Fund in 2004. In 2008, she helped establish Khoryug, an association of over 50 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries implementing environmental projects across the Himalayas under the auspices of His Holiness the Karmapa. In 2009, Dekila founded and led WWF Sacred Earth, a 5-year pilot program that built partnerships with faith leaders and religious institutions towards conservation and climate results in the Amazon, East Africa, Himalayas, Mekong, and the United States. She received the prestigious Yale McCluskey Award in 2014 for her work and moved to the Yale School of Environmental Studies as an associate research scientist, where she researched, lectured and designed the prototype for what is now the Loka Initiative. Dekila is originally from the Himalayan state of Sikkim in India and is of Bhutia origin. Stay in tune with Dekila on Instagram and at The Loka Initiative “I really believe that if we can have these dialogues where we show the the ecological interdependence, the karma of climate change, if we can show how it has happened, what karmic actions brought us here, then one of the interesting outcomes of that is that we can connect what people are already doing to environmental and climate solutions.” – Dekila Chungyalpa About Allegra Lovejoy: Allegra Lovejoy is a multifaith chaplain and writer. She is currently completing her MDiv at Yale Divinity School and holds a Masters in Environmental Management from Yale School of the Environment. She earned her BA from Princeton University in International Affairs and Public Policy, concentrating in conflict studies in the Middle East and South Asia. Learn more about Alle