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Peace in the Breath, Stillness in the Ground
In this guided mindfulness-of-the-body practice Michael focuses on feeling the ground, the breath, the support of the posture and a sense of buoyancy within stability.
“To Swallow Myself in Ceaseless Flow”
Michael explains Patanjali’s take on subduing the causes of suffering in their gross and subtle forms (Pada 2, 10-12) and how this differs from our modern psychological viewpoint.
The Dharma Is Like an Avocado
Based on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra (1.19) and a poem by Gary Snyder Michael talks about death, self-concept, rebirth versus reincarnation, karma, abhinivesa and “aiming for the gap.”
Religion as Conversation
Michael talks about applying a lens of Western Psychology to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra and the Dharma, and how these different thought-systems can compliment and converse with one another. At the same time we must remain aware that this process is
Tell Me, Who Is That Other?
Based on a koan (Case Forty-five from the Gateless Gate) this talk delves into the complex ways that we create a self and create an “other,” and how the two processes can be deeply intertwined.
Concealed and Wrapped in Thought
Michael explores the line from the Rig-Veda that he chose as the epigraph to The Inner Tradition of Yoga. (The recording is cut short, but we thought it was still worth a listen.)
What’s Left (When You’re Not Thinking)
Beginning with a quote from Gary Snyder, Michael teaches about non-reactivity, letting go of clinging and how awareness is revealed through practice.
The Breath Is Doing the Breathing
Michael leads a thirty-minute guided meditation on mindfulness of breathing.
The Groundless Ground
In this talk Michael describes how practice helps us become conscious of our viewpoints and can show us where we are caught. He argues that we’re waking up from restricted, self-centered views as opposed to awakening to an elusive something
The Faith to Doubt
In this talk about the first pada of the Yoga Sutra (line 20), Michael considers the relationship between faith (sraddha) and doubt, as well as the importance of enthusiasm (virya), mindfulness (smrti), samadhi and wisdom (prajna) to the project of
And Yet, and Yet
Michael gives a talk on silence, impermanence, the nature of mind and love.
Core Belief Pruning
Michael describes sitting practice as a place where we can work with our aversion, anger and blame, and where we can “prune the dead ends” of our habitual thought patterns. (Unfortunately, the recording ends abruptly, but we still felt it
About the Community Library
Michael was a great archivist and the Community Library was—and continues to be—a labour of love. Everything in the Community Library is available for free. Anyone, anywhere can have instant access to material that will help them deepen their practice and contribute to a culture of compassion and collaboration.
Libraries are places where we gather alone together. They are known to be places of refuge for seekers, as well as those who are marginalized. This library is no different. It helps us nourish our beautiful, international community without walls. Now, it will also help keep Michael’s legacy alive.