Awake In The World Podcast

Michael introduces the first section of the Lotus Sutra where the Buddha casts a light from the centre of his eyebrows and wakes up 18,000 worlds. Is this a reminder that the light of the awakening goes everywhere, leaving nothing out. Maybe we can put off enlightenment in order to serve others. Recorded on March 8, 2011.

Michael teaches the basics of Mahayana Buddhism, defines what a Bodhisattva is, and explains the context of the Lotus Sutra. This talk has a good description of the history of Mahayana Buddhism as it applies to waking up ourselves and others, until every blade of grass is free. Recorded March 1, 2011.

Roshi Enkyo gives a morning dharma talk during a weekend retreat with Centre of Gravity. Recorded at Hart House, Toronto on February 26, 2011.

An incredible talk by Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara on Zen poetry and practice during her annual visit to Centre of Gravity. Enkyo Roshi is the abbot of Village Zendo in Manhattan (www.villagezendo.org). Recorded at Hart House, Toronto on February 25, 2011.

After surviving "the dry place", slowly our relationship transforms and appreciation arises. Appreciation leads to love and finally to letting go. Recorded on February 22, 2011.

Michael teaches the in-person ethics course on the wise use of energy (brahmacharya) - encountering all with respect and dignity. Recorded February 17, 2011.

Cathleen Hoskins, Psychotherapist/Philosopher, gives a lecture on the work of Martin Heidegger, philosophy, interconnectivity and being. Martin Heidegger is widely acknowledged as an original and important, yet controversial, philosopher in the 20th century. Recorded at Centre of Gravity in Toronto on February 15, 2011.

Michael begins talking about the reasons for bowing. Then he dives into what it's like to be caught in the dry place during relationship with practice and with others. Fear and its transformation. How to heal the wounds of abandonment. Recorded February 8, 2011.

Michael teaches the ethics course and discusses not-stealing, right after his computer is stolen at the NYC airport. Not taking what is not given freely and being satisfied with what we have. Recorded February 3, 2011. Please note, the recording cuts off at the end.

Michael goes through detailed instructions on sitting meditation posture and talks about lineage. Then he discusses our urges to run away when commitment arises and how commitment has departure built into it. Recorded Feb. 01, 2011.

Drawing on Norman Fischer's essay Michael explores how the honeymoon period of practice comes to an end and about the ten obstacles that show up which we tend to miss in deep practice. Psychologically, there are so many ways we get caught in practice and can't see how we are caught. Recorded Jan. 25, 2011.

Drawing on Norman Fischer's essay on monastic practice & it's maturation, Michael talks about 8 stages that we all encounter during any relationship. Also, how we get wounded & repeat our relational wounds in our relationship with our body, with others & with our spiritual practice. Recorded Jan. 18, 2011.

Drawing on Instructions to the Cook, Michael offers a talk on the teachings of the insentient. The snow and silence are teaching us. Can you give attention to the way the insentient teaches us? Recorded December 29, 2010.

Michael offers an introduction to the the five day silent New Year's Retreat. Michael talks about what can show up on retreat, and Dogen’s idea of the Way Seeking Heart. Recorded December 28, 2010.

Michael talks about how the person in us who is sick has the resources to take care of the parts of us that are not sick. This paradox is the entry point of maturing meditation practice. Recorded December 21, 2010.

Michael begins talking about the snow and the differences between people and birds, and then ends up speaking about the map of what to look for in meditation practice over time. Recorded Dec 14, 2010.

Annual Poetry Evening. Erin Robinsong, Sarah Selecky, Michael Stone read from their favourite poems. A wonderful evening of words to support practice. Recorded Nov. 30, 2010.

Michael talks about the G20, the power of shared attention, and how letting go of fixed views opens us up to community. When we are attentive to suffering we are more tender and connected. A self connected with others is a political self. Recorded November 16, 2010.

A talk by Michael on how even the best meditators have old wounds that need attention. He talks about how we need support for working with old patterns of our psychology that spiritual practices may not reach. Recorded Nov 09, 2010.

A talk and group exercise for working with thorns when they begin to grow on the branches of our practice and in our lives. Recorded Nov. 2, 2010.