500 episodes
Awake in the World Podcast Michael Stone
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- Religion & Spirituality
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).
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An Old Frog Goes Plop!
In the sixth episode of our series, Michael explores how meditation can facilitate a gentle openness to life. Drawing from Allen Ginsberg’s translation of Basho’s poetry and the Buddha’s teachings on "Conditioned Arising" and "Consciousness," Michael delves into the interconnectedness of existence. According to the Buddha, even consciousness arises dependently, shaped by moment-to-moment conditions. Like a tree shedding its leaves, the mind can release its attachments to thoughts. Meditation acts as medicine, nurturing self-awareness and creating space for kindness towards ourselves. Join us to discover how meditation can help us connect intimately with ourselves and others.
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.
Follow along with the Core Teachings of the Buddha playlist as we release new episodes: soundcloud.com/michaelstoneteaching/sets/core-teachings-of-the-buddha -
Original Face
In the fifth episode of our series on the core teachings of the Buddha, Michael challenges common interpretations of nirvana and The Four Noble Truths. Drawing from "The Noble Quest" in the Majjhima Nikaya, Michael presents nirvana as something subtle and accessible within our lived experience, rather than a distant state to be attained through practice. The Buddha's awakening is portrayed as earthly and non-absolute, suggesting that nirvana is not a fixed destination but a continuous process. By literalizing religious concepts and grounding them in everyday life, the Buddha invites us to confront impermanence and let go of rigid identities.
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.
Follow along with the Core Teachings of the Buddha playlist as we release new episodes: https://soundcloud.com/michaelstoneteaching/sets/core-teachings-of-the-buddha -
Set the Raft Adrift
In the fourth episode of our series on the core teachings of the Buddha, Michael explores how to let go of rigid identities and ideologies. Drawing from Vedic culture and parables in the Majjhima Nikaya, Michael shows how to offer our concepts of self and separateness to the metaphorical fire. The Buddha teaches that our bodies and minds are interdependent and constantly changing. By letting go of fixed identities, we can embrace the present moment and the deeper truths of the Buddha’s teachings.
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.
Follow along with the Core Teachings of the Buddha playlist as we release new episodes: https://soundcloud.com/michaelstoneteaching/sets/core-teachings-of-the-buddha -
Cracks in the Coverings
In this third episode in the eight-part series, Michael explores the Buddha's teachings on transforming pain and uncovering truth. By exploring the parable of The City in the Samyutta Nikaya, Michael examines the Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths, emphasizing the importance of responding to suffering and dissatisfaction in our time.
Follow along with the Core Teachings of the Buddha playlist as we release new episodes: https://soundcloud.com/michaelstoneteaching/sets/core-teachings-of-the-buddha
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. -
The Original Fire
In this second episode on the core teachings of the Buddha, Michael delves into the Buddha’s Middle Way. Without absolute truths or a single path, how do we navigate life? Michael highlights the human aspect of the Buddha's teachings, suggesting that practice is about compassionate engagement with the present rather than seeking enlightenment. By demythologizing the Buddha’s teachings and focusing on lived experiences, this talk offers a fresh perspective for modern practitioners.
Follow along with the Core Teachings of the Buddha playlist as we release new episodes: https://soundcloud.com/michaelstoneteaching/sets/core-teachings-of-the-buddha
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. -
Before Buddhism: The Buddha’s Early Teachings on Liberation
In this first episode of an eight-part series, Michael explores the teachings of the Buddha before the rise of Buddhism as a religion. How was the world created? Is there a soul? Are the body and mind separate? These timeless questions, pondered by the Buddha, are examined against a backdrop of strict class systems, rigid religious beliefs, and gender inequality. Like Lao Tzu and Socrates, the Buddha sought ways for all people to find liberation. Michael delves into often-misunderstood Sanskrit terms, the origins of the Pali language, and insights from The Nikayas, a lesser-known Buddhist text.
Follow along with the Core Teachings of the Buddha playlist as we release new episodes: https://soundcloud.com/michaelstoneteaching/sets/core-teachings-of-the-buddha
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.