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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.
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
Uncoupling The Senses: Patanjali’s Yoga – Sutra (in French translation)
Michael explores Patanjali’s teaching on pratyahara in both meditation and daily life. We don’t really understand why things happen in our life, and yet we hold so much in our bodies. He talks about settling the self, the fact that
Your Life Is A Wide Open Field: Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutra (in French translation)
Michael translates Patanjali’s teachings on ethics, posture, steadiness, and not holding onto anything. He also speaks about greed, anger and non-duality. Recorded in Antibes, France. (translation: Cecile Payne).
SIT UP HERITAGE CBC Regina Interview
Michael Stone is interviewed by CBC Regina about SIT UP HERITAGE – an outdoor urban day-long retreat in Regina’s Heritage Community.
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