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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.
Where’s My Treasure House?
In this Awake in the World podcast Michael relates the story of Daiju and Baso from the Gateless Gate (21) and explores the treasure of trusting yourself.
A True Person of No Status
In this Awake in the World podcast, recorded during the afternoon practice session on New Year’s Eve 2009, Michael gives a few words of encouragement around “realizing the mystery” in the ordinariness of your life.
Drawing Water and Carrying Firewood
In this Awake in the World podcast Michael speaks to a poem by Pan Yung which includes the lines, “My supernatural power and marvelous activity/Drawing water and chopping wood.” In this talk (given at the 2009 New Year’s Retreat) Michael
Your Life Is Your Life: What Nurtures You?
In this Awake in the World podcast episode, Michael begins with the poem “The Laughing Heart,” by Charles Bukowski, and talks about trusting yourself, knowing what nourishes you, and practicing in a way that allows creativity, spontaneity and eccentricity.
Emptiness Is a Pair of Glasses
In this Awake in the World podcast Michael returns to the Heart Sutra, beginning with the line, “Here, Shariputra, form is none other than emptiness…” He argues that there is no such thing as emptiness, but the philosophy of emptiness
Open, Open
In this Awake in the World podcast episode Michael begins unpacking the first line of the Heart Sutra with an emphasis on what it means to live from the heart, some background on Avalokiteshvara, and the Buddha’s teaching to Bāhiya.
The Moon In The River
In this Awake in the World podcast Michael offers encouragement to follow the path of love and to find the faith and motivation to keep practicing, even in the face of restlessness, worry, and pain.
The Fish Really Need You
In this Awake in the World Podcast Michael talks about the Buddha’s enlightenment as described in the Ariyapariyesana Sutta, plus the importance of avoiding both active and passive nihilism, interconnection as action, and how to take care of anger.
Mild, Moderate or Intense?
In this Awake in the World podcast episode Michael discusses commitment to practice, showing up, and Case 33 from the Mumonkan (What is Buddha?).
You Can’t Come Home Without Leaving First
In this Awake in the World podcast episode Michael talks about the similarities between mindfulness and homecoming.
Touch the Mobile Part Two
In this Awake in the World podcast episode Michael asks “What are you committed to?” He discusses the relationship between restraint and samadhi, as well as ethics, karma and the importance of taking action.
Touching the Mobile
In this Awake in the World podcast episode Michael considers how we tease out the parts of practice that are evolving and changeable versus the parts that are non-negotiable if we want to decrease suffering for ourselves and others.
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The Community Library will continue as long as we have supporters. The more support we have, the more we can ensure that the teachings Michael left behind can be available for free to anyone in the world.