Awake in the World Podcast
Michael Stone
Awake in the World Podcast is a library of talks 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. 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. Michael Stone (1974-2017) was a Buddhist teacher, author, and mental health advocate. His legacy is stewarded by Carina Stone. Podcast funded by Patreon (patreon.com/michaelstone).
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 15, 2019 • 1h 8min
Your Crushing Elephant Mind
What should we do with our anger? Venting anger is one of the worst ways to cool down. Outbursts of rage typically pump up the emotional brain's arousal, leaving people feeling more angry, not less angry.
Recorded on March 5, 2013.
Sep 8, 2019 • 1h 13min
How to Work with Strong Moods
Michael discusses Chapter 5 of the Shantideva and the way negative emotional mood swings cannot hold together for very long without thoughts. How we have to inject stories into our moods to keep them afloat; and the practices for transforming anger.
Recorded on February 26, 2013.
Sep 1, 2019 • 1h 13min
Powerful Emotions and S.A.I.N.
Michael talks about the birth of his son Olin Winter a few days ago and then gives a series of simple and practical practices for working with strong emotions. Based on Chpt. 4 of Shantideva, A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life.
Recorded Feb 19, 2013.
Aug 25, 2019 • 60min
Conscientiousness and the Practice of Attentiveness
A dharma "pep-talk" by Michael Stone. Has the powerful but ineffable energy of strong emotions, attachment and aversion reduced us to servitude? A gruff old man takes up yoga and experiences momentary freedom from painful thoughts. Has anyone else been gripped by sorcery lately?
Recorded on February 12, 2013.
Aug 18, 2019 • 58min
The Whole World is Upside Down
We get a gleaming new husband or wife and then they don't turn out how we think they will! What we think is stable and reliable turns out to be unreliable. Michael talks about Birds' Nest Roshi who goes out on a limb to meditate, which is safer than trying to make impermanence permanent. Recorded on February 5, 2013.
Aug 4, 2019 • 48min
You Are A Long Distance Train
Michael's powerful final talk of 2012, during silent retreat. There is a true person who is constantly coming and going from the portals of your face. Who is that true person? Recorded on December 31, 2012. Midland, Ontario.
Jul 28, 2019 • 1h 4min
Show Me Something That Isn't Medicine
Guns are horrifying, a temple in an urban world, seeing everything we encounter as medicine. Michael Stone gives the last talk at Centre of Gravity before moving to a new location. Medicine and disease cure each other, everything is medicine, so what is the self? Recorded December 18, 2012.
Jul 21, 2019 • 1h 3min
Threads of Yoga, by Matthew Remski
Matthew Remski talks about his book, Threads of Yoga, a remix of Patanjali's sutras. He reads excerpts from his own book, and also speaks about Patanjali's ideas which make up one of the most popular texts in modern Yoga culture. Recorded on December 11, 2012.
Jul 14, 2019 • 51min
Ashtanga Yoga Invocation: Steps and Counter-Steps
Listen to the sangha chant the Ashtanga invocation in detail. Michael explains how to look at the nature of thoughts and see how they change but also the way they have no power except for what we invest in them. He also talks on letting the mind rest, the jungle of habits, and seeing our habit patterns as physicians that want to heal us. Thoughts are only a little more than a cloud. Recorded on November 20, 2012.
Jul 8, 2019 • 1h 6min
Strain in the Heart
Do you have a mind that can meet what's unpleasant? Michael Stone talks about meditation, Carl Jung, what it means to be bored, and his Bar Mitzvah. One becomes a dharma student when they see that there's a strain inside themselves that they need to learn how to work with.
Recorded on October 30, 2012.
