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The joke used to be that every time Michael opened his mouth what he said was archived here. We couldn’t be more grateful for that now because it is one of the best ways Michael’s teachings will live on.
The Awake in the World Podcast is the heart of the Community Library. Talks are 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.
This podcast has been created so that anyone can have instant access to Michael’s teachings. It has been made possible due to generous donations from members of the community. In the six years that the podcast has been available, over half a million people have pressed play as a way to be more—like the name says—awake in the world.
Each podcast is between 30-60 minutes long. As always, you’re encouraged to follow along weekly as part of your practice. 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.
Lotus Sutra, Part 17
In this Awake in the World podcast episode, Grant Hutchinson and Carina Stone give a talk on Chapter 15 and 16 of the Lotus Sutra based on their study group. Seeing what is actually in our lives, not just what
Lotus Sutra, Part 16: The Empty Room
In this Awake in the World podcast episode, Mike Holboom and Christine Koch give talks on Chapter 15 of the Lotus Sutra. One day I can have such a killer exhale that I end as a puddle of bones on
Lotus Sutra, Part 15
In this Awake in the World podcast episode, Michael unpacks some parables to explore the story of an 8 year old girl who wakes up and touches every place in the Universe. There is no such thing as an atom.
Lotus Sutra, Part 14: Life is like a funeral
In this Awake in the World podcast episode, Michael talks about fear, community and how it grows. He shares a poem by Leonard Cohen and then he reads his own poem about his mother.
Lotus Sutra, Part 13: We Need Bodhisattvas
Michael talks about people who can rub our back and say “it’s ok” and everything they do is jewelled.
Lotus Sutra, Part 11: A Jewel in Your Coat
In this recently found Lotus Sutra podcast episode, Michael shares a story about a man who falls asleep at a party and someone sews a jewel in his coat. Some have done this for you too. Can you realize your
Best of Awake in the World: Lotus Sutra 9: What Ideas Do We Have Lying Around?
In this Best of Awake in the World podcast episode Michael talks about Milton Friedman, Emmanuel Levinas, and how when we don’t see another’s face, face to face, it’s easy to kill. This talk happens after Osama Bin Laden’s death
Lotus Sutra, Part 8: The Phantom City
Michael talks about the precepts ceremony, the illusion of time, decay, and the way we set up goals for ourselves, like phantom cities, only to be shocked when we realize that they’re not as real as we once thought. How
Best of Awake in the World: Lotus Sutra, Part 7: Time in the Lotus Sutra
In this Best of Awake in the World podcast episode Michael asks some important questions. How many kalpas, ages, eons, did the Buddha sit still before he could wake up? Why did it take so long? It takes a while
Best of Awake in the World: Lotus Sutra, Part 6: The Parable of the Prodigal Son
In this Best of Awake in the World podcast episode Michael uses the parable of a son who leaves his father and 50 years later the father finds ways of healing the son’s low self-esteem. You don’t have to be
Best of Awake in the World: Lotus Sutra, Part 5: Upaya & The Parable of the Burning House
In this Best of Awake in the World podcast episode Michael begins by discussing death and Japan’s earthquake. Using the image of the burning house and a father trying to save his children, he teaches how we need to leave
Best of Awake in the World: Lotus Sutra, Part 4 (Q & A)
This Best of Awake in the World podcast episode is a Question and answer period with Michael after Lotus Sutra, Part 4 talk. None of the teachings are true! Even the ones about your own life. Part 2 of 2.
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