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Intimacy, Transmission & Awakening- The 10 Ox Herding Pictures (Part 1 of 6)
Michael gives a series of 6 profound talks during silent retreat on the Zen Ox-Herding images & poems. You can feel the depth of this retreat in these talks that range from Buddhist philosophy, Zen koans, personal stories about Michael
What’s the Music All About?
Uncle Ian sat so still listening to records, reading, drinking water. When nine-year-old Michael Stone was with Ian, he had enough space to think about the world in new ways.
7 Factors Of Awakening (Pt.2)
Focusing on equanimity as a deep roundedness, Michael explores how to be balanced and creative without becoming indifferent. Equanimity doesn’t wear out. How joy, delight and tranquility arise in meditation. At the end Michael gets into some interesting ideas about
7 Factors Of Awakening (Pt.1)
Michael describes the basics of mindfulness practice as a practice of spaciousness, non-reactivity, and conduct in our lives. Practice isn’t so much about finding peace but discovering spaciousness. Michael talks about three layers of suffering & how “what arises” is
How Illness Deepens Us
Michael gives a talk in Wisconsin on the ways illness strengthens our heart. Dongshan was ready to die. He said goodbye to everyone. They wept and wept. Then he jumped out of the casket and gave them a teaching about
Buddhas On Blades Of Grass
One 2nd day of retreat Michael talks on another Dongshan where he asks his students if they can go to a place where there are no weeds. Michael’s commentary is that weeds are not the problem and that what we
Just This Is It
On retreat in Wisconsin Michael talks about a Zen story where a teacher describes his teaching as “Just This Is It.” Guilt, remorse, devotion, you can’t really see yourself, finding your true path.
How We Rescue Each Other
Michael begins with talking about finding simplicity in meditation practice; stepping back from the details of thinking to notice the subjective experience of awareness; and then he launches into a discussion about grieving and loss and how we can never
Master Ma Is Unwell (Part 2)
Rage, nonviolence, and embracing what’s unbearable. Michael begins by talking about embracing the limits of our lives and then explores how to be with what is unbearable without turning it into destructiveness or someone else’s problem. The last part of
Master Ma Is Unwell (Part 1)
A master is dying & a student asks him how he is feeling. Michael uses this Zen story to explore letting go of expectations and blame. He also talks about being too diffuse or too sharp in our reactivity.
Hatha Yoga (2)
Michael explains how kundalini, moksha and other Hatha Yoga terms are metaphors for awakening. He then talks about intimacy, creativity and the false self. A very clear talk about common haha yoga terms.
Hatha Yoga (1)
During a 5-day intensive Michael explores key terms from a 15th century text on yoga and talks about mental habits, yoga postures, and the ways that the habits of mind and body are actually the path. Michael explains savasana, corpse
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.