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As we explore the Yin and Yang elements of meditation practice, it can be useful to consider compassion and wisdom as the two wings of awakening. Listen to Episode 97 here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Retreats: https://joshsummers.net/retreats Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditation, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post The Wings of Awakening: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

In Episode 96, I explore the theory and practice of working with the phase of the meditation process known as “drifting off.” Contrary to what many think, the experience of drifting off in meditation is rich in potential insight and wisdom. Listen to it here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode The Retreat in Place: https://joshsummers.net/retreat-in-place-120620 The post Lateral Drift: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

In Episode 95, I interview Judith Blackstone about her unique synthesis of embodied awareness, spiritual awakening, and the healing of trauma. Listen to our discussion here or in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Dr. Judith Blackstone’s website: www.realizationprocess.org Dr. Judith Blackstone’s recent book: Trauma and the Unbound Body: The Healing Power of Fundamental Consciousness Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post Dr. Judith Blackstone: Healing Within Fundamental Consciousness appeared first on Josh Summers.

In Episode 94, I explore the second aspect of the Buddha’s four-fold teaching on awakening, namely the ‘origin’ of suffering: Desire. Listen to it here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post The Knowing Ungrasps Tanha: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

In Episode 93, I continue to explore the Buddha’s essential 4-fold teaching, commonly known as The Four Noble Truths. Listen to it here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha Bhikkhu Bodhi article: Meeting the Heavenly Messengers The post The Heavenly Stings: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this episode, I discuss the process of awakening in the context of the Buddha s four-fold teaching known as The Four Noble Truths. Listen to Episode 92 here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post Ungrasping This Moment: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this episode, I continue an exploration of the nature of awareness relative to the nature of objects within awareness. Listen to Episode 91 here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The Sublime Sextet: The introductory online courses that accompany our teacher training modules:  https://joshsummers.net/sublime-offer The post The Movie, The Viewer, and The Light: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this episode, I discuss the process of shifting from a thought-based level of identity to an awareness-based level of identity. Listen to Episode 90 here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Ram Das, “How Different It Is“ Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post I Am Not My Green Jumper: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

In Episode 89, I interview philosophy professor Robin Wang and we discuss her book, Yinyang: The Way of Heaven and Earth in Chinese Thought and Culture. Listen to our discussion here or in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Yinyang: The Way Of Heaven And Earth In Chinese Thought And Culture, by Robin Wang Robert Wright s Nonzero Newsletter Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post Robin Wang: Yinyang Theory in Chinese Thought appeared first on Josh Summers.

All experience, if you let it, will reveal the vast empty space from which all things arise and cease. Recognizing that open space as the source of your own awareness facilitates the emergence of an undefended Heart. Listen to Episode 88 here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post The Antifragile Heart: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

Building on the theme of wise friendship on the spiritual path, Josh explores cultivating friendship towards the Inner Critic a part of ourselves that often makes practice quite challenging. Listen to Episode 87 here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post The Critic’s Gold: Dharma Talk and Meditation appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this dharma talk, Josh explores the theme of wise friendship and how it can inform the practice of meditation. Listen to Episode 86 here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha The post Dharma Talk and Meditation: The First Step as Friendship appeared first on Josh Summers.

Bernie Clark returns for a deep dive into the topic of binary, or black and white, thinking. There are many misconceptions about Yin Yoga, and many of these misunderstandings stem from binary thinking. Bernie and I discuss how to transcend binary thinking and how to better occupy the Middle Way of teaching and practicing Yin Yoga. Listen to Episode 85 here or subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Summers Sangha: Weekly Dharma Talk/Meditaiton, Yin Yoga/Qi Gong, Yin Yoga, and Yang Yoga: https://joshsummers.net/sangha Here’s the full set of interviews I’ve done with Bernie Clark on this podcast. Bernie Clark addresses common concerns and misunderstandings about Yin Yoga: https://yinyoga.com/concerns Stephen Asma: Philosopher, musician, and painter: https://stephenasma.com/monsterology Lastly, here’s my tribute episode to my friend, the late Michael Brooks The post Bernie Clark: Beyond the Binary appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this episode, I reflect on the dharma and significance of the life of Michael Brooks. Listen to Episode 84 here or in any podcast app. Show Notes: Cognitive Empathy: Remembering Michael Brooks A Conversation between Robert Wright and Josh Summers Livestream on YouTube: Thurs 8pm ET Links from the episode: The Buddha s Playbook, by Michael Brooks and Josh Summers The Majority Report s Tribute to Michael Brooks, with Sam Seder The Best of Michael Brooks Impressions Vol 1. The “Triple Gem” of Michael Brooks Dharma: The Marriage of Sense and Soul, by Ken Wilber The Inimitable Jeeves and Leave it to Psmith, by P.G. Wodehouse The Gift, by Hafiz; translated by Daniel Ladinsky Michael Brooks. Photo credit: Willie Davis, www.williedavis.com The post The Dharma of Michael Brooks appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this episode, I reflect on my conversation with Dr. Richard Schwartz on applying tools from Internal Family Systems to the process of meditation and Yin Yoga. Listen to Episode 83 here or in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode: Josh focuses on a quote from Dr. Richard Schwartz, If you can be an inner Bodhisattva it’s much easier to be an outer Bodhisattva. Find the complete interview here: Dr. Richard Schwartz: Healing the Internal Family (Episode 82) Website on Internal Family Systems: https://ifs-institute.com Blog: How to Work With Internal Parts: Welcome, Listen, Inquire, Collaborate, and Assure The Sublime Quartet: 4 introductory online courses teacher training modules Yin Yoga Teacher Training Online: Foundations Module (50hr): On-demand version Complete list of upcoming Yin Yoga Teacher Training Modules (with Josh and Terry) The post The Path of the Inner Bodhisattva appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this episode, Josh interviews Dr. Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems, one of the most popular and effective forms of psychotherapy today. Learn how to apply key insights from this model to better understand your own psychology and apply those insights to practice. Listen to Episode 82 here or in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Website on Internal Family Systems: https://ifs-institute.com For a full list of Yin Yoga Trainings and Classes: https://joshsummers.net New subscribers get 2 free practices and a series the basic elements of yin yoga. The post Dr. Richard Schwartz: Healing the Internal Family appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this episode, I reflect on my conversation with Dr. Judson Brewer, offering key applications from Dr. Jud s work on how to work skillfully with craving and various desires in your practice of meditation and Yin Yoga. Listen to Episode 81 here or in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode: Article: Why is it so hard to pay attention, or is it? Mindfulness, the factors of awakening and reward-based learning by Dr. Judson Brewer, Jake Davis, Joseph Goldstein Book: The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits by Dr. Judson Brewer Episode: Saving Ourselves From Ourselves, my interview with Dr. Judson Brewer Website: www.drjud.com The Sublime Quartet: The introductory online courses to our 4 core teacher training modules Now available on-demand: The Online 50hr Foundations Module: Yin Yoga Teacher Training Here’s a roster of all our upcoming Yin Yoga Teacher Training Modules (with Josh and Terry) The post Kissing Tanha As It Flies appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this episode, Dr. Judson Brewer explores the neuroscience and behavioral conditioning of addiction and how mindfulness helps to break the chains of those cycles. Whether the addiction is to alcohol, nicotine, smartphones, thinking, or our own illusory sense of self, this episode holds many insights for our individual and collective freedom. Listen to Episode 80 here or in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Dr. Judson Brewer, The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love Why We Get Hooked and How We Can Break Bad Habits Dr. Jud’s Website: www.drjud.com The post Dr. Judson Brewer: Saving Ourselves From Ourselves appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this final installment of my four-part interview series with meditation teacher Loch Kelly, we discuss some of the neuroscience research on the impact of non-dual mindfulness on the brain and mind. He explains the relationship between two distinct neural structures in the brain, and how non-dual mindfulness can harmonize these two networks, priming your mind for greater creativity and flow. Listen to Episode 79 here or in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Loch Kelly, The Way of Effortless Mindfulness Loch s website: www.lochkelly.org Special Offer: The Sublime Quartet The post Loch Kelly: Neuroscience of Non-Dual Mindfulness appeared first on Josh Summers.

In this third installment of my four-part interview series with meditation teacher Loch Kelly, we explore his approach to “effortless mindfulness” and self-realization. This approach gives the meditator an immediate glimpse and taste of the awakened mind. Listen to Episode 78 here or in your favorite podcast app. Links from the Episode Loch Kelly, The Way of Effortless Mindfulness Loch s website: www.lochkelly.org Special Offer: The Sublime Quartet The post Loch Kelly: Self-Realization and Self-Detox appeared first on Josh Summers.