In this Best of Awake in the World epside Michael introduces Case 12 of the Mumonkon, "The Master". He ties waking up with social action and the teachings of the Burmese Monks who visited the evening prior. A funny and lively talk with practices you can use in your life. Recorded Oct 5, 2010. The Awake in the World podcast is brought to you by the generosity of our amazing Patreon supporters, making it possible for us to keep Michael's archive of teachings available to the public.| Michael Stone
What lessons can global pluralism teach? Youth-led and policy-driven models can guard religious freedom. The post America’s Interfaith Problem Isn’t Denominational: Learning from Southeast Asia appeared first on Public Square Magazine.| Public Square Magazine
The Ten Ox-Herding Pictures mirror something of the Hero’s Journey, but they also include a bit more Lacanian honesty than Campbell’s popular monomyth.| Samsara Diagnostics
As the new academic year is fast approaching, the Society is programming an exciting line-up of lectures for the 2025-26 Lecture Series, which will commence in September. We are delighted to announce that one of the first lectures that opens the series will be delivered on Thursday, 18th September at 6.30pm BST by Nicolas Revire,…| Royal Asiatic Society
NEW YORK (RNS) — With federal funding cuts impacting food pantry resources across the nation, faith leaders in New York pledge new collaborations to sustain the city’s food banks and soup kitchens. The post NYC faith leaders look to coordinate as federal cuts strain pantries and soup kitchens appeared first on RNS.| RNS
Good. Continuing to come from the core, to come from the source, to come from radiant awakeness itself, the unmanifest, the infinitely, boundlessly, spacious, notice that this energy of awakeness is loving and joyous, it's previous to manifestation, it's previous to all problems. Its mood is exuberant celebration, creative joy, and love without limit. It does not say no to anyone or anything. And so, tune into that love and joy, and feel the energy of it. Feel the energy of it radiating out f...| Deconstructing Yourself
The trail that begins in Brooklyn and leads to an ashram in the Far East was most famously travelled by author Elizabeth Gilbert, who wrote about it in her wildly popular book Eat, Pray Love. But she was of course not the first to take that journey, as Americans have been finding appeal in the ... Read more| LIFE
In this Best of episode Michael describes how the Buddha met fear, mapping out how concentration practice unfolds, then offers a mind-opening view of rebirth and reincarnation.| Michael Stone
During a workshop in France, Michael teaches on the 3 characteristics — a teaching found in both the Yoga and Buddhist traditions. This talk is in both French and English. Recorded in Antibes, France, on October 26, 2013. The Awake in the World podcast is brought to you by the generosity of our amazing Patreon supporters, making it possible for us to keep Michael's archive of teachings available to the public. To become a patron, visit: patreon.com/michaelstone.| Michael Stone
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) Program in Religious Studies supports promising PhD students or recent graduates (within 1 year of graduating with PhD and in an teaching or independent research position of some kind) to pursue targeted scholarship in Process-relational philosophy in substantive dialog with any aspect of South Asian traditions and praxis. Projects that engage the Jain tradition are particularly welcome. The post UCI Process Studies & South Asia Fellowship 2025-26 ap...| Center for Process Studies
A community talk at Tassajara Monastery with Michael Stone & Zen teacher Paul Haller. They each share some of their biography and field Q&A about practice. Paul shares from his 40 years of Zen practice. Recorded at the Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery, California. The Awake in the World podcast is brought to you by the generosity of our amazing Patreon supporters, making it possible for us to keep Michael's archive of teachings available to the public. To become a patron, visit: pat| Michael Stone
On May 15, Harry Falk announced on the Indology mailing list that Johannes Bronkhorst had “left this world”. In the following weeks the mailing list (and, I am sure, other online forums) has been virtually monopolised by people remembering the man and his endless contributions to Sanskrit studies and connected fields. In fact, Johannes has been extremely prolific (Greater Magadha was written in just one semester!) and his contributions have been impactful with almost no comparison.| The Indian Philosophy Blog
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Body Reportedly Cremated Before Inquiry Fueling Suspicions of Chinese Involvement in Arrest and Death of Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche 21 April 2025 – Global Tibet groups voice vehement condemnation following reports of the cremation of Tulku Hungkar Dorje Rinpoche, a highly revered Tibetan leader, without family consent. Rinpoche is reported to have died...| Tibet Action Institute
In this thoughtful and powerful talk, Michael unpacks the transformative act of sharing the untold stories—the ones that challenge the status quo. He weaves together pressing global issues like climate change, economic disparity, and the erosion of human connection, offering 12 actionable steps toward crafting a new narrative of what it means to live with purpose and presence.| Michael Stone
Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara talks about the Lotus Sutra and the parable of the burning house. Even in the world of the dharma we can get caught up with playthings and forget that we're living in a burning house. It looks like we’re living in a comfortable place, but half the world is starving. It can be hard to see the suffering that is all around us. Read the notes and transcription: https://michaelstoneteaching.com/burning-house-betrayal-as-innovation-by-roshi-pat-enkyo-ohara/?highlight=bu| Michael Stone
We have had a few sweltering days in the Reading Room this week, but thankfully the weather has cooled off significantly, so it is a great relief. While the Society’s lecture programme is taking a recess over the summer months, we continue to be open for research visits. Indeed, summer tends to be the busier…| Royal Asiatic Society
Probe's Paul Rutherford looks at the purpose of life from his Christian perspective as well as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Hollywood.| Probe Ministries
Michael teaches a one-day introduction to meditation workshop on how you can turn anything into a practice, even a bike lock. Sometimes awake, sometimes asleep; sometimes sun, sometimes moon.| Michael Stone
Recently I wanted to explore a fascinating passage of the Daoist founder Zhuangzi, where the text recommends “sitting in oblivion” or “sitting and forgetting” (zuòwàng 坐忘). That passage bears striking similarities to mystical practices and experiences from around the globe. Continue reading Is Asian philosophy footnotes to the Buddha?→| The Indian Philosophy Blog
I ended up giving a brief (10 minute) impromptu talk at Edge Esmeralda today, and this is a transcript of what came out: Hey, everyone, can you hear me okay if I speak at this level? Great. So, yeah, I’m Matt Segall and I am a philosopher. I teach in this wonderful graduate program in San Francisco […]| Footnotes2Plato
TIBETAN MOVEMENT PRACTICES Lu Jong, Tog Chod & Tsa Lung are exercises with immediate health benefits. They are also preparations for higher spiritual studies in Tibetan Buddhism. All place a focus on working with energies that come from ‘within’ – this is why they are also called ‘Inner Body Meditations’. What does that mean? It […]| What's Up & What's Not …
First up, a jam-packed Tibetan Lu Jong Workshop in NYC. WHEN: Saturday, June 24th WHERE: Three Jewels NYC ~ 61 4TH AVE, 3rd FL TIME: 1:00 to 3:30pm FEE: $30 early bird ends June 21 | $35 after June 21 How do I register? CLICK HERE Curriculum The Five Elements movements […]| What's Up & What's Not …
Tibetan tantric yoga, laid down by the tantric tradition of master Pundit Naropa and Lama Marpa Lotsawa, is a practice that has been done by Indian and Tibetan yogis for centuries. It is not…| What's Up & What's Not ...
Welcome to our newsletter, dear readers, • Our first new library item this month is a chapter on the divine play of Hindu/Buddhist deity Chinnamasta, one of the ten goddesses from the esoteric tradition of Tantra, and a ferocious aspect of Mahadevi, the Hindu Mother goddess. Chinnamasta indicates a transcendence of the ordinary and portrays| The Matheson Trust
Now, notice something very interesting. From the place of being the stillness that knows, is the energy of the body—this tingly, dancing energy of feeling alive, is that really separate? It's different, it's in motion, but is it separate somehow? Is it a totally separate thing from this awakeness? Feel—is it somehow totally separate from the awakeness? It's just in our imagination that the body energy and the awakeness are seen as two different things. That's a thought. When you're just i...| Deconstructing Yourself
People complain about the “voice in their heads.” Often, advanced meditators say they’ve lost it, and their life is better for it. But more recent research shows a large percentag…| Qualia Computing
By John Stapleton “Spiritual truth is not something elaborate and esoteric, it is in fact profound common sense. When you realize the nature of mind, layers of confusion peel away. You don’t actually “become” a buddha, you simply cease, slowly,... Continue Reading →| A Sense of Place Magazine
Slightly abridged transcript: Maitreyabandhu: So what we’re going to do this evening is have a conversation—obviously between Matt and me—about process philosophy and Buddhism. Really simply,…| Footnotes2Plato
Along the eastern sea coast of China, the Guanyin Altar, Zhoushan, is a unique Buddhist temple Opened in 2020, it fuses tradition with modernity and differs greatly from the traditional Temple of Heaven and Wong Sin Temple we visited. Enjoy details in photo and musings in this blog!| Charamana Consulting
By Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D. In a world that often feels fragmented and fast-paced, the idea of wholeness can seem elusive. We may feel disconnected from ourselves, others, or the greater rhythms of life. Buddhist psychology, as integrated into Depth Hypnosis, offers a transformative perspective: wholeness is not something we achieve—it is something we rediscover within ourselves. Unlike many modern psychological frameworks that focus on fixing problems or eliminating symptoms, Buddhist psycholo...| Sacred Stream
By Isa Gucciardi, Ph.D. The intersection of Buddhism and psychedelics is a meeting point between two profound modalities of exploring the nature of reality. Though they arise from different traditions, these approaches both aim at unveiling deeper truths about the self, the mind, and the universe. By examining this intersection, we can uncover a rich dialogue between ancient wisdom and contemporary experiences. The post Article: Buddhism and Psychedelics: Two Paths to the Same Truth appeared ...| Sacred Stream
Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife profiles The Being of Light and the Near-Death Experience . Did you enjoy reading this post, we have more!| Near-Death Experiences and the Afterlife
For by their fruits you shall know them. ~Matthew 7:16The Bible teaches that we know who people are by their fruits. I’ve been thinking about that lately. By what characteristics do we measure people? What| Galen Pearl
Welcome to our monthly newsletter, dear readers, Our first new library item is an introduction to “the most famous of early modern litanies”, the Litany of Loreto. We present some recordings of sung versions of this originally Latin prayer, the ritual recitation of Divine and Marian epithets, which is rooted in ancient and late antique| The Matheson Trust
For qualia to arise, you need to both individuate from “Universal Consciousness” and also make partitions within you. This causes a kind of double universal Yin-Yang of oneness and sepa…| Qualia Computing
Our current minister of defence had made a public speech last week, stating that the US's image has "changed from liberator to great disruptor to a landlord seeking rent." Considering that Singapore has traditionally tried to stay as politically neutral and ambiguous as possible, it feels like some tide has turned. This is on top...| Winnie Lim
The four noble truths and eightfold path of Buddhism are crucial aspects of Buddhist philosophy and key teachings of the Buddha. Siddhartha Gotama Buddha – the Story of the Buddha leaving the Palace The Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion was called Prince Siddhartha Gotama. Siddhartha Gotama was sheltered from the suffering of the world ... Read more The post The Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of Buddhism appeared first on Philosophyzer.| Philosophyzer
Welcome to our newsletter, dear readers, Our first new library highlight this month is an excerpt from Sonorous Desert, a book about how the sounds of the desert—sounds like wind, water, thunder, animals, and even humans—shaped the development of Christian monasticism in the Middle East. Reasons for choosing a monastic life naturally varied from person| The Matheson Trust
Each year hundreds of thousands of people flock to the nearest cherry blossom tree to see the flowers, but Jindai-zakura has been blossoming for more than 1800 years.| The Treeographer
To some people, Buddhism provides a guide to life. It... The post The Four Noble Truths: A Buddhist Path To The End of Suffering appeared first on Orion Philosophy.| Orion Philosophy
Karma is a fundamental Buddhist concept that explains how our... The post What is Karma in Buddhism? – The Power of Positive Action appeared first on Orion Philosophy.| Orion Philosophy
Listen to me read the post… “By the end of the week, we’ll have turned you into a blues band.” Gulp. I could feel the anxiety rise when I heard those words. A blues band?! Me?! I have no musical talent and my Mennonite body is rhythmically stunted from all of those “dancing is sin” […] The post Music as a reflection of life: What I learned from jazz drummer Jerry Granelli appeared first on Heather Plett.| Heather Plett
I was sad to hear that Li Jianglin 李江琳 is gone. She visited us at US Consulate General Chengdu fifteen years ago when she was passing through Chengdu. Below I added some additional material in brac…| 高大伟 David Cowhig's Translation Blog
taking a break from the Internet, except for writing work, blog posts, research, and music. not doing anything social. those of you who know me on the discord are aware i retreat into hermetic semi-seclusion 3-4 times a year. i probably won't be very active again outside this blog until after Halloween, potentially until after new year. we'll see how it goes. if you really want to contact me for some reason I'm sure it'll happen.| VILE CULT OF SHAPES
Welcome to our last newsletter of this year, with our wishes for a blessed 2025. • Our first new library addition this month is a selection from the Sutra of the Heap of Jewels, Ratnakuta Sutra, a major ancient collection of Buddhist sutras, which has been called a small encyclopedia of Indian Mahayana Buddhism. “…| The Matheson Trust
Amluk Dara, literally ‘wild persimmon hill’, is used to name a Buddhist stupa and monastic complex in the Swat valley in northwestern Pakistan. It was visited, drawn, photographed and partially excavated by Aurel Stein during his tour to Swat in … Continue reading →| Silk Road Digressions
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Culture (SISJAC), the Nara to Norwich online exhibition is now complete. The 142 exhibits illustrate t…| Silk Road Digressions
Following the IASSRT symposium, we are publishing a series of posts showcasing the papers most relevant to the Nara to Norwich project. This paper, by Hiroya Himeka, is on Silk Road textiles in Japan and was translated by Melissa M. Rinne.| Nara to Norwich
Following the IASSRT symposium, we are publishing a series of posts showcasing the papers most relevant to the Nara to Norwich project. This paper, by Oyama Yuzuruha, is on Silk Road textiles in Japan and was part of a panel organised and chaired by Melissa M. Rinne.| Nara to Norwich
Start your morning with calm and focus using our guided morning meditation for beginners, perfect for setting a positive tone for the day.| How to Train a Happy Mind
This keynote lecture by Dr. Dawa Lokyitsang on "The Dalai Lama's Future Succession: Understanding the 14th Dalai Lama and His Formidable Contributions" with responses from Tenzin Dorjee (Columbia University), Cameron Warner (Aarhus University), and Nicole Willock (Old Dominion University) took place on September 13, 2024 at the University of Colorado Boulder's Department of Anthropology. This lecture is part of the Leadership and Reincarnation of the Dalai Lamas Project (LEAD): A Research Net...|
Jeffrey M. Bracket narrates his art-suffused days after a sabbatical helped him realize that there was another vocation within and after teaching.| Wabash Center
What is Tantra? It's so confusing. Most people think it's all about sex, while other claim it's about enlightenment. This guide is backed by science..| Tantric Academy
I offer videos from two of my most important teachers – Daniel Schmachtenberger and Nora Bateson. Their lessons are about the importance of understanding – and being deeply awed and moved by – the powerful uniqueness and interconnectedness of everything in the world, including ourselves. I understand these as dimensions of wholeness, and their realization as fundamental to healing, transforming and sustaining the regenerative powers of living systems, including humanity in the conte...| Random Communications from an Evolutionary Edge
When the Emperor Bindusara died in 272 BCE, he was succeeded by his young son, Ashoka the Great (304-232 BCE), who infamously became an ambitious and aggressive monarch that crushed revolts and conquered nearby city-states. On accession to the Mauryan throne, Ashoka inherited both the imperial territory that extended from Assam in the East to […]| The Confucian Weekly Bulletin
My name is Michael Taft, your host on the podcast, and in this episode, I'm speaking once again with Ken MacLeod. Ken MacLeod began his study and practice of Buddhism in 1970 under the eminent Tibetan master Kalu Rinpoche. After completing two three-year retreats, he was appointed as resident teacher for Kalu Rinpoche’s Center in Los Angeles, where he developed innovative approaches to teaching and translation. After his teacher's death in 1989, Ken established Unfettered Mind, a place for ...| Deconstructing Yourself
The moon of bodhicitta, the moon of your own deepest already existing primordial purity. And so the light of this moon is reaching out and touching you with a sense of tremendous compassion. It's very kind, very loving, it's really open; it's delighting in your presence rather than judgmental; and you feel a real sense of friendship and warmth and being known and understood. Furthermore, this moon is tremendously wise and confident. It has perfect confidence and authenticity. It is what it is...| Deconstructing Yourself
It's this radiant, vibrant display in awareness rippling with color, light, sound, feeling, energy and yet also oddly unfindable or unlocatable and even what knows it is unknown. Now when I sound this bell. What's the question? The question is what knows this sound? The post What Is Noticing? appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
Join host Michael Taft as he speaks with meditation teacher and author Andrew Holecek about "reverse meditation," the practice of using difficult experiences as the focus of our meditation, how this moves us through our perceived limits and allows us to recognize the perfection of the moment, and allows us to make any situation a profound and excellent meditation. The post Reverse Meditation with Andrew Holecek appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
Host Michael Taft talks with neuroscientist and Executive Director of the Alembic, Kati Devaney about meditation, the neuroscience of meditation, psychedelics, and more. The post A Conversation with Kati Devaney appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
ow breathing in, take the image of Avalokiteshvara into your heart. Breathe Avalokiteshvara directly into your own heart where the image plugs in and begins to radiate powerfully from your own heart. So that the energy and wisdom and compassion of Avalokiteshvara, which translates as the one who hears the cries of the world, starts beaming out from your being. The post The Wisdom and Compassion of Avalokiteshvara appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
Allowing each in-breath to be nurturing, each out-breath to return the mind to space, absolutely vast, open, uncongealed space. If it wants to re-congeal, okay, it can happen on the in-breath with the nurturing quality, but then, on the out-breath, again it just falls open to become the sky without any effort at all, zero effort to do that. The post Everything in It’s Right Place Meditation appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
And so Earth energy is rising up spreading out through the trunk and branches and leaves of the tree. This ancient, grounded, humble energy that is paradoxically both humble and noble. And the branches of the tree spread out into the vast, open sky, and the brilliant warm, healing, sacred light of the Sun is soaked up by all the leaves of the tree and runs down the branches and into the trunk. The post The Tree of Earth and Sky appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
When awareness recognizes itself, recognizes what it's always been it feels a kind of joy. It's just the joy of openness, the joy of no constriction, and also the joy of connection. There's no lack of connection and togetherness. Just notice that kindness and joy and connection radiating out in all directions, bringing relief in all directions to everyone everywhere. Kindness, peace, and ease to all beings everywhere. The post Just Ripples in the Infinite Ocean of Awareness appeared first on ...| Deconstructing Yourself
Join host Michael Taft as he talks with translator, author, and teacher Ken McLeod about the subject of Ken's new book: The Magic of Vajrayana, particularly the tripartite practice structure of guru, deity, and protector in Tibetan Buddhism. The post The Magic of Vajrayana with Ken McLeod appeared first on Deconstructing Yourself.| Deconstructing Yourself
