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Mindfulness & Social Action

A transcribed talk given by Michael designed into a beautiful booklet. Michael described this talk as a manifesto for how to talk about spirituality in a post-metaphysical age, used a PowerPoint presentation (the slides are included in the e-book) and said it linked together some of his clearest ideas of the time.

This is a large collection of Michael’s talks that have been transcribed by community members (including a few French and Spanish translations), as well as interviews and articles both with and by Michael. There is also a beautiful, downloadable e-book designed and produced by students.

Out of all of the texts these three are the most popular:

Books that Michael wrote, edited, or contributed to are on the Books page.

Notes on Dying 3: Death Poems

Notes on a talk by Michael Stone given at Centre of Gravity, Toronto, July 10, 2012. Virginia Woolf said, “One ought to stand outside with one’s hands folded until the thing itself has made itself visible.” Death poems are a

Heart Sutra 2: Why Other People Suck

Notes from a talk by Michael Stone at Centre of Gravity on July 9, 2012 on day 3 of a 12-day intensive. Empty A couple of days ago we spoke about “maha” – unsurpassable, limitless, greatness and another way of

Heart Sutra 1: Seeing the Background

Notes from a talk by Michael Stone at Centre of Gravity on July 9, 2012 on day 1 of a 12-day intensive. The Heart Sutra is the most chanted sutra in the Buddhist tradition. Somewhere in the world, no matter

Notes on Dying 1: What Stops You?

Notes on a talk by Michael Stone at Centre of Gravity, Toronto, June 19, 2012. Breath The stability that comes when you sit in the middle of your life. To touch that stability, to let it hold you, again and

Pranayama 2: Restraint, Mercy, Central Axis

Notes from a four-part Pranayama workshop held in February 2012 at the Centre of Gravity. Led by Michael Stone and Grant Hutchinson. Pranayama from the root pra “to fill ” Prana – energy of tree in spring (toward centre of

Pranayama 1: Practices

Notes from a four-part Pranayama workshop held in February 2012 at the Centre of Gravity. Led by Michael Stone and Grant Hutchinson. Pattabhi Jois said that pranayama practice was like plugging yourself into a 12,000 volt outlet. Some confuse the

Bodhisattva 7: Get Closer

Notes on a talk by Michael Stone at Centre of Gravity, February 18, 2012 Tonight’s talk is dedicated to Olin Winter Stone, my son, who was born on Friday at [12:08] in the afternoon while the snow was falling. Within

Bodhisattva 6: Kleshas

Notes on a talk by Michael Stone at Centre of Gravity, February 11, 2012 Cheer Chapter four of Shantideva’s *A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life* seems to have two sections, both written in the spirit of a dharma

Pranayama 4: The Goal of the Practice is Compassion

Notes from a four-part Pranayama workshop held in February 2012 at the Centre of Gravity. Led by Michael Stone and Grant Hutchinson. Dog Have you ever seen a dog leave the ocean? What is the first thing it does, particularly

Pranayama 3: Beer and Espresso

Notes from a four-part Pranayama workshop held in February 2012 at the Centre of Gravity. Led by Michael Stone and Grant Hutchinson. Posture In order to feel the anatomical detail we’re describing – mula bandha and uddiyana bandha – we

Bodhisattva 5: Jewel

Notes on a talk by Michael Stone at Centre of Gravity, Toronto, February 5, 2012 Sitting Practice Meditation practice: how to work with thinking? When doing sitting meditation it’s important to choose an object of meditation. This object is something