Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

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Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

The Sharon Salzberg Metta Hour features Buddhist philosophy in a practical, common sense vernacular. Sharon’s natural wisdom, sense of humor and the ease with which she translates these teachings forge an intimate connection with the listener. From everyday experiences to pithy revelations, each podcast is a journey on the path of self-discovery. Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her forthcoming release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom, is set for release in April of 2023 from Flatiron Books. www.sharonsalzberg.com

  1. OCT 7

    Ep. 250 – Election Stress with Reggie Hubbard

    For episode 250, Reggie Hubbard returns to the Metta Hour podcast to talk about Election Stress. Reggie is a certified yoga and meditation teacher and the founder/chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga. He has taught Members of Congress, Congressional Staff, major labor unions, leading progressive organizations, and individuals from all walks of life the simple tools for managing stress and bringing peace to mind, body, and spirit. Reggie’s life work sits at the intersection of bringing more peace and balance to activists; guiding the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens; and enhancing the well-being of all walks of life. Join Sharon for a 7-day online course that helps us reclaim kindness as the superpower it truly is. Distilling over 50 years of Buddhist teaching into practical, accessible and actionable lessons, Sharon’s course points us to the core of what it means to be alive, connected, and whole. Learn more: Kindness In A Fractured World In this conversation, Sharon and Reggie discuss:Reggie’s recent health emergencyFinding agency to take actionLife is not a raceRecovery processVoting is a sacred actLife in the marginsWorking w/ intense emotionsReggie’s work with systemsBoundaries are our friendsThe sanctity of your nervous systemGrounding into the bodyLovingkindness in activismLess pointing fingers, more opening armsEquanimity supporting the processA daily wellness election checklistSharon’s Ishta Deva, Lady LibertyReggie closes the conversation with a healing sound meditation. You can learn more about Reggie’s work right here.  For Election Resources from Sharon, click right here. You can check out Reggie’s previous appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast in Episode 201 right here, that was part of our Mental Health Series. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 5m

  2. SEP 24

    Ep. 249 – Anu Gupta

    For episode 249, Anu Gupta returns to the Metta Hour to speak about his new book, “Breaking Bias: Where Stereotypes and Prejudices Come From and - the Science-Backed Method to Unravel Them.” Anu is an educator, lawyer, scientist, and the founder and CEO of BE MORE with Anu, an education technology benefit corporation that trains professionals across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors to advance DEIB and wellness by breaking bias. His first book, “Breaking Bias” is now available from Hay House. In this episode, Anu and Sharon discuss:How Anu became interested in scienceAnu’s childhood being marginalized The Dalai Lama writing the foreword for Anu’s bookWhy Anu chose to write a bookWorking with Oprah & Isabel WilkersonNeuro-decolonizationGrowth MindsetAnu’s PRISM systemThe neuroscience behind PRISMThe impact of lovingkindness meditation on AnuStereotypes: what they are and how they affectThe Night of Buddha’s enlightenmentAnu closes the conversation with a guided lovingkindness meditation. You can learn more about Anu’s work at Be More with Anu and get a copy of “Breaking Bias” on his website right here. Join Sharon for a 7-day online course that helps us reclaim kindness as the superpower it truly is. Distilling over 50 years of Buddhist teaching into practical, accessible and actionable lessons, Sharon’s course points us to the core of what it means to be alive, connected, and whole. Learn more: Kindness In A Fractured World See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 4m

  3. SEP 10

    Ep. 248 – Cortland Dahl

    For episode 248, Cortland Dahl makes his first appearance on the Metta Hour to speak about his new book, “A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism: The Path of Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom.” Cortland is a scientist, Buddhist scholar & translator, and meditation teacher. He is the co-founder of Tergar International, a global network of meditation centers, with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Cortland is also actively involved in scientific research on meditation and human flourishing at the Center for Healthy Minds. In this conversation, Sharon and Cortland discuss:What brought Cortland to spiritual practiceEastern versus Western cultural conditioningThe Tibetan culture of beingReclaiming the word “devotion”Cortland learning the Tibetan language The impetus for Cortland’s new bookThe Dalai Lama’s first visit to IMS and North AmericaThe Four Noble TruthsCortland’s first encounter with BuddhismLearning to take refugeHow long until we’re enlightened?Nurturing our inspirationsRecreating ancient traditions in the 21st CenturyYongey Mingyur RinpocheThe Center for Healthy MindsCortland closes the conversation with a guided meditation on Open Awareness. You can learn more about Cortland’s work and get a copy of “A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism” right here. Learn more about Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Tergar International right here and the Center for Healthy Minds right here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 10m

  4. AUG 27

    Ep. 247 – Fireside Chat with Joseph Goldstein

    For episode 247, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Joseph Goldstein. This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the fifth episode in this series. Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and lovingkindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, where he is on the guiding teachers’ Founders Council. In 1989, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Joseph first became interested in Buddhism as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand in 1965. Since 1967 he has studied and practiced different forms of Buddhist meditation under eminent teachers from India, Burma and Tibet. He is the author of many books, including Mindfulness and Insight Meditation. In this conversation, Sharon and Joseph discuss:The origin story of founding IMSSharon and Joseph’s first meeting in IndiaJoseph’s apartment in Boulder, COHow Joseph found Munindra, his first serious teacherWhat Joseph loves mosts about teachingJoseph’s first lovingkindness intensiveDipa Ma’s meditative lifeWhat inspired Joseph most about Dipa MaUnifying confidence and humility in ourselvesWorking with the inner critic when teachingLearning how to say “I don’t know”Dudjom Rinpoche and re-incarnationUnderstanding the basis for our opinionsEarly challenges in Joseph’s teachingThe popularization of meditationWhat inspired Joseph to pursue BuddhismTaking delight in being awakeApproaches for self-acceptanceAdvice for new retreatantsYou can learn more about Joseph’s work and many books right here and listen to his Insight Hour Podcast right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. Listen to Lily Cushman interview both Sharon and Joseph in Episode 199 of the Metta Hour right here or check-out some older conversations with Jospeh in Episode 110 and Episode 47. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 16m

  5. AUG 12

    Ep. 246 – Susan Cain

    For episode 246, Susan Cain makes her first appearance on the Metta Hour! Susan is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Quiet, and Bittersweet, which was also an Oprah Book Club selection. She has spent the last twenty years exploring a particular realm of human nature: the quiet, the sensitive, the thoughtful, the bittersweet. Susan’s record-smashing TED talks have been viewed over 50 million times and she the host of the Quiet Life online community. In this conversation, Susan and Sharon discuss:How Susan approaches writingVIA character strength testDoes great art have to come from great painHow suffering brings us togetherSusan embracing her “differences”The Quiet Life CommunityWhy sadness is a bridge to connectionThe Dalai Lama the DarwinistMoral elevationDipa Ma telling Sharon she would teachLeonard Coen as Susan’s patron saintBeauty in the broken worldNever be ashamed of your sufferingThe history of the word “loser”Susan learning Lovingkindness meditationLovingkindness and boundariesChocolate and Brussels sproutsSusan closes the conversation with a guided reflection. You can join Susan’s Quiet Life Community right here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    57 min

  6. JUL 29

    Ep. 245 – Fireside Chat with Guy Armstrong

    For episode 245, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Guy Armstrong. This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the fourth episode in this series. Guy Armstrong has been leading insight meditation retreats since 1984 in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. His training included living as a monk for a year in the Thai forest lineage. Guy is a member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council and a guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society and is the author of Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators from Wisdom Books. In this conversation, Sharon and Guy discuss:Guy’s first encounter with meditation How Sharon reached her first retreat The mystery of being drawn to practice The three characteristics of existenceGuy’s introduction to Emptiness Mahasi Sayadaw noting techniqueMental Noting Technique Insights of anattā (Emptiness)The path Guy has taken since 1976The importance of relaxationWhat advice Guy would give his younger selfGoenka’s directive to sit two-hours a dayThai Buddhist monk Ajahn BuddhadasaThe year that Guy was a monk in ThailandBurmese Theravāda monk, Pa Auk SayadawThe episode closes with some questions from the audience on Emptiness, Dzogchen practice, Tsoknyi Rinpoche Handshake practice, the spectrum of Emptiness, “where is mind,” and the Jhanas.  You can learn more about Guy’s work right here and get a copy of his book, Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators, right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. Listen to Guy’s first episode on the Metta Hour, Episode 90, right here from 2019. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 31m

  7. JUL 15

    Ep. 244 – Valerie Mason-John

    For episode 244 Valerie Mason-John makes their first appearance on the Metta Hour to speak about their new book, “First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviors”. Valerie is a founding facilitator of Compassionate Inquiry and the author of eleven books, including the award-winning book, “Eight Step Recovery.” They are a co-founder of the training program, Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery, and work as a public speaker in the field of Mindfulness for Addiction and Trauma. In this conversation, Valerie and Sharon discuss:How lovingkindness saved Valerie’s lifeHow Valerie became the “Bully Doctor”Valerie’s journey in recoveryThe importance of community in recoveryRecovery CafeGabor Mate’s Compassionate InquiryThoughts are not factsFirst-Aid Kit for the MindThe breath is medicineWhat is still true? What can we rely on?Dharma: that which we can rely onThich Naht Hanh’s influence on ValerieHow to maintain mindfulness The role of Storytelling in Valerie’s workHow story compounds addictionPlaywriting and poetry as social justiceValerie closes the conversation with a guided meditation LOVE from their new book, First Aid Kit for the Mind. Learn more about Valarie’s work on their website right here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 8m

  8. JUL 2

    Ep. 243 – Fireside Chat with Tuere Sala

    For episode 243, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Tuere Sala. This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the third episode in this series. Tuere Sala is a Guiding Teacher at Seattle Insight Meditation Society and the founding teacher of the Capitol Hill Meditation Group. She is a retired prosecuting attorney who has practiced Vipassana meditation for over 30 years. Tuere has been teaching since 2010 and has a long history of assisting others in establishing and maintaining a daily practice. The conversation begins with a guided meditation from Tuere. In this episode, Sharon and Tuere discuss:What drew Tuere to the DharmaTuere’s work as a prosecutorFinding steadiness without fixing thingsHow sangha supports practiceSpiritual practice is not just about fixing what we don’t likeDeath is not a failureSuffering as poetry Sympathetic JoyHow gratitude cultivates energyTuere’s Christian faith The three refugesThe effects of guilt in our lives Tuere’s challenges with compassion What Tuere’s practice looks likeThe Thai Forrest Tradition Sharon’s favorite Dharma quote You can learn more about Tuere’s work on her website right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    1h 33m
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4.6
out of 5
614 Ratings

About

The Sharon Salzberg Metta Hour features Buddhist philosophy in a practical, common sense vernacular. Sharon’s natural wisdom, sense of humor and the ease with which she translates these teachings forge an intimate connection with the listener. From everyday experiences to pithy revelations, each podcast is a journey on the path of self-discovery. Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her forthcoming release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom, is set for release in April of 2023 from Flatiron Books. www.sharonsalzberg.com

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