Everyday Sublime Podcast | Body, Mind + Beyond (Josh Summers)

Originally recorded on March 4, 2023, I share Herbie Hancock’s story of playing a “wrong chord” during a Miles Davis solo, and what Hancock learned about music and life from that experience. For me, Davis’s response is the very essence of creative generosity, and it says something about what it means to bring a spirit creative generosity to ourselves and others in our practice.

***NEW Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training*** – Purifying Water | The Flow of Qi Cultivation, click here=====>

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

In preparation for the winter holiday season, Josh reflects on the Buddha’s insight of conditionality, or karma, and how this helps release ourselves and others from vicious cycles of blame. Learning to listen to the nature of conditionality is at the core of the Buddha’s path of liberation.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

Morning practice is often recommended as the foundation of a contemplative path. In this talk, Josh offers reflections on the importance of practicing in the morning.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

Oren Jay Sofer | Your Heart Was Made for This

I welcome Insight Meditation and communication teacher, Oren Jay Sofer, back to Everyday Sublime, to discuss his new book: Your Heart Was Made For This – Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity and Love.

In the face of overlapping multiple crises – from personal, to collective, to environmental – it is very easy to feel overwhelmed and despairing. Oren’s new book is a true handbook for the modern contemplative, providing reflections, stories, and practices so that we can meet and face the moment of our times with a wise and compassionate heart.

As he says early in the book, “If we do not shape the heart, the world will do it for us, and the world does not have our highest welfare in mind.”

Note: Your Heart Was Made For This is a wonderful companion for teachers, offering themes, reflections and practices for your mindfully-based classes.

Order your copy of Your Heart Was Made For This =======>>> HERE

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠⁠⁠www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.net

In this talk, I discuss practice as a form of improvisation and suggest ways of working with “forms” of practice as a way of developing one’s skills at improvisation. I conclude with a Sufi story about a duckling, leaving open the question of how improvising in practice reveals our true nature. 

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Originally recorded on July 8, 2024, Josh offers reflections about how to apply meditation and retreat practice to the fire of everyday life activity. All too often we are told to “be as mindful as possible,” and the Buddha has some better advice for us – advice that he gave to his son Rahula.

LINKS mentioned:

Sign up for our FREE Everyday Vitality practice pack for effective (and simple) ways to improve the vitality of your body, energy and mind.

Josh and Terry share 4 guided practices:

Self-Massage for Circulation + Energy Flow (10min)

Daily Mobility for Joint Suppleness + Longevity (15min)

Dynamic Flow for Integrated Stability + Coordination (30min)

Soothing Flow for Relaxation + Inner Renewal (30min)

=====>>>>www.joshsummers.net and sign up for your pack of Everyday Vitality practices.

Everyday Strength: 4 Weeks to a Stronger You! Join Josh and Terry for a four week strength training program as a foundation for an integral life practice of yoga, energy work and heart-based meditation. ======>>>>>Everyday Strength Series.

In this talk, I share a patchwork of dharma reflections, exploring some everyday conundrums and synchronicities – appreciating the sublime in the innocence of a niece and a godson.

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Originally recorded on April 22, 2024, Josh reflects on the parallels between artistic and spiritual development. He explores a maturing relationship to tradition. How do we draw from the world’s wisdom traditions and channel their pathways of heart in our own lives? And how might we consider cultivating a devotional practice to a personalized expression of the divine?

Join Terry and Josh for weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

For replays of our 2hr workshops in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, click here =====>

For our popular 50hr trainings in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Meditation, click here =====>

The students were discussing the famous statement uttered by Lao Tzu: “Those who know do not say; those who say do not know.” When their teacher arrived he offered some helpful analysis in the form of a simple dialogue. 

In this talk, Josh reflects on this wonderful story and its implications for meditation practice. 

NEW – Yin Yoga and Qi Cultivation Training (4 Weeks, June 2023)

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

As part of a Mother’s Day reflection, I recount the harrowing story of getting robbed in the middle of the night on a train in India, and how a “spiritual” mother appeared to both save me and subsequently change the course of my life. I conclude with a meditative prompt for honoring and appreciating our spiritual ancestors.

Click HERE ===>> for more on Yin Yoga and Qi Cultivation Training 20hrs

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Recently, one of my sisters and nieces visited us in Maine from Brooklyn, New York. It was a wonderful visit, but on the second day, Uncle Josh ate his niece’s last chocolate-covered graham cracker and there was a price to pay. 

In examining the anatomy of the cookie monster, I expose my own blind-spots and biases and suggest how dharma practice can help bring us to a more balanced relationship to the strong currents of views and opinions that often flood through our minds.

In this talk, I mention a book by Ajahn Sucitto, Parami, which can be downloaded for free here. 

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

For replays of our 2hr workshops in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, click here =====>

For our popular 50hr trainings in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Meditation, click here =====>

The Buddha once said: “Nothing whatsoever should be clung to as ‘I’ or ‘mine’.” In this talk, analyze this statement as an important signpost on the map of practice. 

As Georg Feuerstein put it: “The sense that ‘I’ can go beyond where ‘I’ am right now is the place from which to start your practice.”

Free Practice Etude | Just Savasana

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

In this talk, Josh continues to unpack the experience of waking up, exploring how consciousness often awakens to being entangled with some part of experience (usually thoughts), and to explore what it’s like when consciousness relaxes into itself, embracing the entire field of perception.

A free guided meditation accompanies this talk here: Practice Etude – Meditation Without Grasping

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

This solstice season, let us give you the gift of practice. In this episode, I describe our portfolio of practices and how they integrate into the process of awakening body, energy, heart and mind.

To receive this gift of practice, please sign up for our Sublime Winter Solstice Celebration – 10 practices of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and meditation.

Until 12/31/22, register for FREE here: A Sublime Winter Solstice Celebration

FREE 4-part Practice Pack: Everyday Vitality – Feel better today as Josh and Terry Summers guide you through 4 simple practices to move your vital energy, including massage, mobility, Yin and Yang yoga. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode of Miles On The Path, we tackle the vital theme of how to love thy neighbor amid today’s political polarization and social tension. Join Josh Summers and guest Miles Sherts as they explore how pragmatic skills from Insight meditation Conscious Communication help us step out of egoic conflict. Together, they address how to honor feelings and needs, even in contentious situations, using Josh’s experience with his neighbor as a backdrop. As the U.S. presidential election approaches, this conversation offers invaluable tools to cultivate calm, connection and compassion in a divided world. Tune in to discover how to navigate conflict with grace, re-center within your heart, and develop the skills necessary for fostering understanding and kindness in your everyday interactions.

Website for Miles Sherts: https://www.practicalpresence.org/

Books by Miles: Conscious Communication, The Tyranny of the Ego, Human Nature

Chapters: How To Love Thy Neighbor | Miles On The Path

04:46 Navigating Polarization and Conflict

07:26 Personal Conflict: The Gun Range Situation

10:20 The Role of Ego in Conflict

13:32 Conscious Communication Skills

16:18 Demonization and Dehumanization

19:13 Recognizing and Managing Emotions

22:18 Playing the Edge: Sensation and Emotion

24:53 The Importance of Self-Awareness

27:30 Differentiating Between Sensations, Feelings, and Stories

30:38 The Power of Vulnerability in Communication

33:40 Loving Thy Neighbor: A Challenge

36:37 The Need for Connection and Belonging

39:19 Final Thoughts on Conflict Resolution

In this dharma talk, I reflect on a teaching from my dharma mentor Jack Engler: “the entirety of the spiritual path is a path of mourning.” This talk is an attempt to explore that reflection in light of the practice and experiential dynamics that occur when we let go of grasping at views, perceptions, orientations and practices, etc. 

Jack Engler’s article: Practicing for Awakening (part 2)

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Recorded on December 18, 2023, Josh shares a Christmas story that weaves the humor of family dysfunction with the spirit of healing, repairing and caring for all valuable relationships in our life. 

This is the final episode of 2023. Thank you so much for listening and for your support. We look forward to sharing more Everyday Sublime with you in 2024.

Happy Holidays to all!!

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Winter’s Essence Workshop | 2.5hr Extended Practice with Josh and Terry Summers:⁠ Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Qi Gong and Deep Rest

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.net

In this episode, I am excited to share an introductory talk about our second module in our Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation training: Refining Metal | The Wisdom of Qi Cultivation.

In October, we’ll be teaching this module LIVE, exploring the energetic and meditative dimensions of Qi Cultivation. The Chinese word for spirit is “shen.” In Chinese Medicine our spirit resides in our heart. With practice, we gather, channel, flow and settle our spirit within the heart, awakening and deepening our capacity to wake up, grow up and clean up. 

NEW THIS FALL: Refining Metal | The Wisdom of Qi Cultivation (Part 2 – Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training)

NOW On-Demand: Gathering Earth | The Foundations of Qi Cultivation (Part 1 – Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training)

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Originally recorded on February 12, 2024, Josh shares a dharma talk that weaves reflections on cancer, the psychology of tribalism, cognitive bias and the invaluable role of practicing pauses to bring an unbiased attention to the immediacy of experience. 

***NEW Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training*** – Purifying Water | The Flow of Qi Cultivation, click here=====>

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

For replays of our 2hr workshops in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, click here =====>

For our popular 50hr trainings in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Meditation, click here =====>

In this talk, I reflect how, on a vipassana meditation retreat in Myanmar, I became compulsively obsessed with finding the perfect height for my meditation cushion; I explore what this behavior reveals about the “clinging” mind.”

“An attachment is an emotional belief that without a person, thing or experience you can’t be happy.” – Anthony DeMello

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

I am delighted to welcome Insight Meditation teacher Chas DiCapua on the podcast to discuss a wide-range of topics, exploring how the dharma can help us meet the tragedies of our “now” – an interrelated group of crises of ecology, nationalism, racialization, and, in some ways, masculinity. 

Chas has been practicing Buddhist meditation for almost 30 years. He has trained with Burmese meditation masters, western monastics of the Thai Forest tradition and senior western vipassana teachers. He has spent over two years in silent, intensive retreat.

Chas has served as the Insight Meditation Society’s Resident Teacher at IMS since 2003. Chas is a graduate of the four year joint Insight Meditation Society / Spirit Rock Teacher Training Program. He teaches retreats at IMS and at various centers and sanghas throughout the country.

As a way to address the wide spread suffering that is endemic in many partnered relationships, Chas explores how the dharma can be practiced in relationship, including how the masculine and feminine energies manifest in relationship, in spiritual practice, and in the world.

If you’re local to Maine, Chas is also the guiding teacher at the Open Door Sangha of Portland, Maine.

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

Recorded on July 31st, 2023, Josh offers reflections on the convergence of personal and collective dukkha. In the face of such challenges, our commitment to practice nurtures the resilience and sensitivity of the heart.

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

In this episode, I share Jung’s famous story of the Rainmaker. I suggest ways in which this story offers insight into the direction of the spiritual path. But when there was a prolonged drought in China, and the Rainmaker was fetched, this is what happened…

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this talk, I explore some common views about meditation and thinking, and I encourage bringing inquiry to the views of practice that we may be clinging to. Releasing views is somewhat like voluntarily jumping into free fall. The self will grasp, but in releasing the grasping, we align with the Buddha’s famous teaching: “Nothing whatsoever should be clung to as ‘I’ or ‘mine’.”

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Originally recorded on April 15, 2024, in this dharma talk, Josh offers a fresh perspective on how to cultivate an ethical commitment within your meditation practice. 

Instead of referencing an orthodox list of do’s and don’ts, Josh uses each of the five training precepts in Buddhism as a way to open to a deeper exploration of your heart’s desire.

Many members of the sangha have expressed ambivalence or uncertainty around what their heart’s deepest desire is, and this talk is an introduction to a way of practicing to really listen in a way that allows your heart’s desire to speak.

***NEW Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training*** – Purifying Water | The Flow of Qi Cultivation, click here=====>

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

For replays of our 2hr workshops in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, click here =====>

For our popular 50hr trainings in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Meditation, click here =====>

“Enlightenment is an accident, but some activities make you accident-prone.” - Krishnamurti

In this talk, Josh offers reflections on the most important element of a personal spiritual practice.

Weekly Online Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Meditation Classes with Josh Summers and Terry Cockburn, PLUS access to our replay library of workshops, classes and tutorials. https://joshsummers.net/classes/

Functional Mushrooms from Mushroom Revival for health and vitality: Revive your health with the help of functional mushrooms in every form. Always organic, non-gmo, vegan, gluten free, lab tested, and super potent. Always 100% mushroom fruiting bodies and never mycelium on grain. A sub 5 second routine to 10x your health.

In this dharma reflection, Josh draw’s on his and others’ observations of bird life in the natural world, and weaves these reflections into a broader meditation about the role of images and reflections in the practice of the dharma.

NEW – Yin Yoga and Qi Cultivation Training (4 Weeks, June 2023)

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Originally recorded on January 15, 2024, in this dharma reflection, Josh introduces the Buddha’s metaphor of “crossing the flood to the other shore,” as a way of articulating the process and experience of waking up. 

In this talk, Josh mentions a book by Ajahn Sucitto, Parami, which can be downloaded for free here. 

For 2024, Josh will draw from Ajahn Sucitto’s reflections on the cultivation of heart qualities (paramis) as we all face the floods of our time: climatic, social and personal.

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.net

In this talk, I reflect on some of the parallels between tending the fire of a woodstove and tending the conditions of a meditation and yoga practice.

In gratitude for your support, Terry and I would like to give you a special series of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and meditation practices. Each day, from December 12th to December 21st (the Winter Solstice), we will share one specially curated practice from our 2022 year of teaching – just like a Yin Solstice advent calendar.

To receive this FREE gift of practice, please sign up for our Sublime Winter Solstice Celebration – 10 practices of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and meditation.

Until 12/21/22, register here: A Sublime Winter Solstice Celebration

Originally recorded on June 10, 2024, Josh returns to the podcast, reflecting on personal updates: the death of his niece and the relationship that formed with his neighbors while building a chicken coop together. 

LINKS mentioned:

Sign up for our FREE Everyday Vitality practice pack for effective (and simple) ways to improve the vitality of your body, energy and mind.

Josh and Terry share 4 guided practices:

Self-Massage for Circulation + Energy Flow (10min)

Daily Mobility for Joint Suppleness + Longevity (15min)

Dynamic Flow for Integrated Stability + Coordination (30min)

Soothing Flow for Relaxation + Inner Renewal (30min)

=====>>>>www.joshsummers.net and sign up for your pack of Everyday Vitality practices.

Practice with Josh + Terry Sumers: Classes in Yin + Yang Yoga, Qi Gong and Meditation.

FREE Practice Pack: Everyday Vitality – 4 Ways to Feel Better Now.

In this episode, Josh and Miles explore the problem of being somebody and the role of the ego in creating internal conflict and external turmoil. We highlight the importance of addressing the cause of suffering and turmoil rather than focusing on the symptoms. We also touch on the concept of the ego as an avatar or projected image of oneself and the consequences of identifying with this false sense of self, along with the repression of shadow aspects and the process of uncovering and integrating them. 

Miles emphasizes the importance of recognizing and healing the shadow, as well as the need to be fully present and aware in order to transcend the ego. We conclude this chat discussing the potential for collective awakening and the role of consciousness in transforming humanity.

Miles Sherts is an Insight Meditation teacher and communication coach.

Miles Sherts | Conscious Communication: 

https://joshsummers.net/miles-sherts-conscious-communication/

Website for Miles Sherts: https://www.practicalpresence.org/

Books by Miles: Conscious Communication, The Tyranny of the Ego, Human Nature

Originally recorded on June 24, 2024, Josh reflects on his niece’s memorial and ways of honoring and remembering the gifts of noble friends.

LINKS mentioned:

Sign up for our FREE Everyday Vitality practice pack for effective (and simple) ways to improve the vitality of your body, energy and mind.

Josh and Terry share 4 guided practices:

Self-Massage for Circulation + Energy Flow (10min)

Daily Mobility for Joint Suppleness + Longevity (15min)

Dynamic Flow for Integrated Stability + Coordination (30min)

Soothing Flow for Relaxation + Inner Renewal (30min)

=====>>>>www.joshsummers.net and sign up for your pack of Everyday Vitality practices.

Everyday Strength: 4 Weeks to a Stronger You! Join Josh and Terry for a four week strength training program as a foundation for an integral life practice of yoga, energy work and heart-based meditation. ======>>>>>Everyday Strength Series.

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with Practices from Josh and Terry Summers

In gratitude for your support, Terry and I would like to give you a special series of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and meditation practices. Each day, from December 12th to December 21st (the Winter Solstice), we will share one specially curated practice from our 2022 year of teaching – just like a Yin Solstice advent calendar.

To receive this gift of practice, please sign up for our Sublime Winter Solstice Celebration – 10 practices of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and meditation.

Register here: A Sublime Winter Solstice Celebration

Greg Burdulis, a former Buddhist monk, leads you to be calmer, happier, and kinder. He listens, questions, teaches, and trains. He works with individuals and couples using somatics, Buddhism, and humor.

Greg leads a meditation+discussion session for 60-90 minutes each Monday at noon EST.  As his guest, you can attend the first month for free. Just email Greg@thePowerofPresence.net for the link.

Greg’s website:  https://thepowerofpresence.net/

Note from Josh:

When I practiced in Burma, there was an American monk, U Punnasiri (Greg Burdulis) who struck me as an exemplary role model of practicing with every moment.

I couldn’t help notice the devotional care Greg brought to washing his monk’s bowl, or the deliberate reverence he brought to adjusting his robes, or to the seemingly superhuman way he would sit absolutely still in the afternoon, sometimes upwards of four hours without moving a limb.

In Burma, I knew nothing about Greg other than what I could observe in silence. But he inspired me deeply, illuminating a potential I knew that everyone possessed.

After that two-month retreat, I returned home, and Greg stayed on for a few more years before he disrobed and ultimately returned to the States. Over the years, we’ve kept in touch, and I consider him a real dharma brother.

With great honor, I taped a conversation with Greg for the podcast in which we had a heart to heart about the highs and lows of practice. Greg unflinchingly shares about depression, jealousy and other difficult conditions he has encountered in his life after the monastery. We also talk about the sublime beauty and liberative potential available in every moment of practice.

This is a conversation that sweeps through the messy reality of waking up, growing up and cleaning up.

In this very personal episode, I am joined by Perdita Finn. Perdita and her husband Clark’s work with their organization The Way of the Rose has had an enormous impact on my own practice.

Perdita and I both felt we were joined by the presence of my niece, Adelia (8) who left this earth all too soon. (For this reason alone, this is an episode unlike any other I’ve done).

Together we explore the significance of loss, the power of the rosary as a spiritual practice, and the importance of motherhood and collective healing in navigating the complexities of modern life. Perdita emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of spirituality that transcends conventional frameworks, inviting listeners to reconnect with their desires and the mysteries of existence. We delve into the themes of reincarnation, intergenerational healing, the power of prayer, and how listening to children can reveal deep truths about our past and how ancestral connections can guide us in the present. The discussion also touches on the importance of manifesting desires through spiritual practices, the creativity that arises from prayer, and the revolutionary potential of women's voices in shaping new narratives. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for a collective reimagining of our stories and connections to foster healing and transformation in our lives and communities.

Perdita Finn is the co-founder, with her husband Clark Strand, of the feral fellowship The Way of the Rose, which inspired their book The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary. They are currently at work on their next book together Circles Not Lines: Spiritual Community Beyond Patriarchy.  To find out more about her devotion to “ecology not theology” visit www.wayoftherose.org

In addition to extensive study with Zen masters, priests, spirit workers, and healers, she apprenticed with the psychic Susan Saxman, with whom she wrote The Reluctant Psychic. Perdita Finn now teaches popular workshops on Getting to Know the Dead. Participants are empowered to activate the miracles in their own lives with the help of their ancestors and recover their own intuitive magic. Her book Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World is an intimate journey through her recovery of these lost ways. She speaks widely on how to collaborate with those on the other side, on the urgent necessity of a new romantic animism, and on the sobriety that emerges when we claim the long story of our souls. Her next book is The Body of My Mother.

She lives with her family in the moss-filled shadows of the Catskill Mountains.

Chapters

11:08 The Impact of Loss and Grief

16:57 Reimagining Spiritual Practices

22:52 The Power of the Rosary

28:59 Motherhood and Collective Healing

39:06 Exploring Reincarnation and Intergenerational Healing

44:52 The Power of Prayer and Ancestral Connection

54:20 Creativity and the Role of the Rosary

59:25 Revolutionary Conversations: Women and Change

01:06:19 Imagining New Stories for a New Era

In this talk, I reflect on a passage from Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, and how practice, itself, generates an internal creative tension that is necessary for growth and transformation.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode, I speak with my friend and former Buddhist monk, Greg Burdilis about our time practicing together in Burma. We discuss the highs and lows of life on an intensive vipassana meditation retreat.

Greg and I plan to have more conversations about deep practice and we welcome your questions. Email me at josh@joshsummers.net if you would like us to explore a topic or theme.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode, I republish a conversation I had with Robert Wright on his Nonzero Podcast. Bob and I discuss my struggles with cognitive empathy in everyday life. Not my struggle with the concept, mind you. I know that the ability to imagine another person’s perspective is enormously important in communication and relationships.

We explore my struggles with practicing cognitive empathy – especially when I’m under a lot of stress and/or seeing things through distorted lenses. I talk about how easily distorted perception feeds into cycles of conflict and misunderstanding, even with the ones we love the most.

Bob is now working on a new book loosely tilted, The Radical Power of Cognitive Empathy, and I encourage all globally-minded Yin practitioners to check out his Nonzero Newsletter on Substack.

In this episode, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Don Goewey (Executive Director of the De Mello Spirituality Center). We discuss DeMello’s significance as a spiritual figure of the 20th century, and how he offers a unique view of eastern and western spirituality. Don and I reflect on DeMello’s dharma, the experience of seeing one’s shadow, and the rude awakenings that occur when everything falls apart.

DeMello Spirituality Center

Books mentioned by Anthony De Mello:

Save 30% with checkout code: Sublime30 (expires 8/20) A Year With Anthony De Mello: https://beyondword.com/products/a-year-with-anthony-de-mello-waking-up-week-by-week

Awareness; Stop Fixing Yourself; The Way of Love; The Song of the Bird

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

In this episode, I am joined by my friends and colleagues Linda Modaro and Nelly Kaufer to talk about their new book, Reflective Meditation - Cultivating Kindness and Curiosity in the Buddha’s Company.

Order your copy of Reflective Meditation, by Linda Modaro and Nelly Kaufer

Linda Modaro’s website: https://satisangha.org/

Nelly Kaufer’s website:  https://pinestreetsangha.org/

What is Reflective Meditation? Nelly begins an answer by saying, “A big difference is that we really mean it when we say you're free to do whatever happens when you meditate; which means let your thoughts in, let your emotions in. if something just feels really awful that's going on internally, you're free to get up, you're free to take a walk; you really have freedom to let it go where it goes. And also to contain it as you need, which is really, as is becoming more known, trauma-informed.” - Nelly Kaufer

In this conversation, Miles Sherts and I discuss the relationship between insight meditation and intuition. We explore the distinction between insight meditation's focus on impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and emptiness, and the idea of intuition and clairvoyance. Miles emphasizes the importance of being present and aware of the prompts and intuitions that arise in daily life. We also delve into the illusion of ego and the role of awareness in transcending the ego's influence. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the problem of victim psychology and the need to question and transcend the identity of victimhood.

Takeaways:

• Insight meditation cultivates awareness and insight into the nature of reality, while intuition and clairvoyance are more personal and psychological insights.

• Being present and aware allows us to receive intuitive prompts and act on them, leading to a more functional and worry-free life.

• The ego is an illusion that creates the image of a separate self, and its constant maintenance drains our energy and prevents us from experiencing true happiness and effectiveness.

• The ego's identity as a victim is a common pattern that perpetuates conflicts and oppression. Recognizing and questioning this victim mentality is essential for personal growth and societal change.

• Setting personal boundaries and protecting oneself is important, but it is crucial to differentiate between setting boundaries and perpetuating a victim identity. Victimization is a substitute for our real power and keeps us trapped in a cycle of disempowerment.

• Leadership without victimhood is essential for creating positive change.

• Unplugging from the ego allows us to tap into our innate power and feel a sense of empowerment.

• Practicing unhooking from thoughts and finding spaciousness within the mind can lead to a deeper understanding of our true nature.

Miles Sherts is an Insight Meditation teacher and communication coach.

Miles Sherts | Conscious Communication: 

https://joshsummers.net/miles-sherts-conscious-communication/

Miles' website: https://www.practicalpresence.org/

Books by Miles: Conscious Communication, The Tyranny of the Ego, Human Nature

Recorded on August 14, 2023, I give an upcoming preview of new Yin Yoga classes and training Terry and I will be offering in Fall ‘23. 

Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Trainings: 

NEW THIS FALL: Refining Metal | The Wisdom of Qi Cultivation (20hr Yin Yoga Training)

NOW On-Demand: Gathering Earth | The Foundations of Qi Cultivation (20hr Yin Yoga Training)

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

On the phone recently, a friend shared a comment from their therapist: “Until you stay in the same place for three years, you’re never going to address and heal your shtuff.” The therapist didn’t say “shtuff,” but the comment is relevant to anyone interested in the fruits of contemplative practice.

But, as a sangha member emailed to me, the challenge of staying in place – physically or metaphorically – is that all too often when we try to pause, we get overwhelmed by the various floods of worry, anxiety, fear or worse. What to do?

In this talk, I speak to ways in which dharma practice attunes us more vividly to this challenge, and how it offers a way through this formidable challenge.

***NEW Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training*** – Purifying Water | The Flow of Qi Cultivation, click here=====>

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

For replays of our 2hr workshops in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, click here =====>

For our popular 50hr trainings in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Meditation, click here =====>

Originally recorded on May 6, 2024, Josh offers reflections on the confusing relationship between renunciation and practicing one’s heart’s desire. Often seen in conflict, the practice of renouncing unfulfilling activity for the pursuit of one’s deepest desires is an ongoing evolution itself. 

FREE: 4 Simple Ways To Feel Better Now!

Sign up for our FREE Everyday Vitality practice pack for effective (and simple) ways to improve the vitality of your body, energy and mind.

Josh and Terry share 4 guided practices:

Self-Massage for Circulation + Energy Flow (10min)

Daily Mobility for Joint Suppleness + Longevity (15min)

Dynamic Flow for Integrated Stability + Coordination (30min)

Soothing Flow for Relaxation + Inner Renewal (30min)

Winter's Essence | Talk + Workshop

Recorded live on December 4, 2023, Josh reflects on the spiritual essence of winter as manifest in nature and within his family of origin, and how the season of winter offers a crucible of transformation, surrendering to harsh realities, cultivating gratitude for life at all and embodying a creative expression of compassion. 

Winter’s Essence Workshop | 2.5hr Extended Practice with Josh and Terry Summers: Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Qi Gong and Deep Rest

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠⁠⁠www.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.net

Join Our Election Session Livestream, November 5, 7pm EST  – Root deep in your spiritual values as we face the most consequential election of my life. When you join our Newsletter, we will send you a link for the Zoom event a day and then an hour before. 

Join Josh + Terry’s Newsletter: Yin + Yang elements of Yoga, Energy Medicine, meditation and beyond.

See you then and enjoy this preview of our Election Day Conversation.

Summary

In this conversation, Josh Summers and Miles Sherts delve into the intricate relationship between spirituality and democracy, exploring how practices like meditation can inform our understanding of democratic engagement. They discuss the role of ego in personal relationships and political dynamics, the historical context of Buddhism in political landscapes like Burma, and the importance of personal experiences in navigating political tensions. The dialogue emphasizes democracy as a spiritual practice that requires ongoing effort and awareness, particularly in the face of polarization and conflict.

Miles Sherts: https://www.practicalpresence.org/

Books by Miles: Conscious Communication, The Tyranny of the Ego, Human Nature

Takeaways

• Democracy and meditation both require constant practice and effort.

• Ego can hinder both personal relationships and democratic engagement.

• The political landscape of Buddhism in places like Burma is complex and nuanced.

• Personal experiences can shape our understanding of political tensions.

• Democracy should be viewed as a spiritual practice that fosters inclusion.

• Navigating political polarization requires empathy and open-heartedness.

• The practice of democracy involves recognizing our shared humanity.

• Ignoring the outside world can detract from our spiritual practice.

• Emotional responses to political events can be integral to our practice.

• Healing in a polarized environment requires understanding and connection.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Spirituality and Politics

10:06 Emotions and Spiritual Practice in Political Contexts

15:00 Democracy as a Spiritual Practice

21:54 The Challenge of Inclusivity in Democracy

22:52 The Intersection of Democracy and Meditation

25:46 Ego and Relationships: A Deeper Connection

28:58 Personal Stories: Bridging Political Divides

In this talk, Josh explores the important role of relaxation, rest and receptivity for the development of calm clarity in Yin Samatha-Vipassana Meditation.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with TWO FREE weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

Recorded on August 7th, 2023, Josh offers some thoughts on practicing with deliberate slowness. This talk includes reflections on the spirit of improvisation with simple practices like “walking hands” and “half-breath” meditation.

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

In this talk, I reflect on the heart-rending story of a mother who lost her young son, experienced inconsolable grief, and what happened when she met the Buddha. Kisagotami’s story is nearly identical to my teacher’s teacher’s story, that teacher being the great Buddhist master, Dipa Ma.

Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master

May the grief of loss crack open our hearts into immeasurable compassion.

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this short practice from our all NEW Yin Yoga and Qi Cultivation Training, Josh introduces the foundational dynamic of Yin Pranayama which optimizes the biochemistry of the blood for better distribution of oxygen to the cells, tissues and organs, gathers the Qi in the lower Dan Tian or Hara, and supports the healthy functioning of the Yin organs (Kidney, Liver, Spleen, Lungs and Heart).

If you enjoy this practice, you may also be interested in the acupuncture-based massage protocols that are an integral part of the Yin Yoga and Qi Cultivation Training. As an acupuncturist of twenty years, I’m really excited to share these practices that support balancing and mitigating the conditions of exhaustion, inflammation, stress and anxiety.

Click HERE ===>> for more on Yin Yoga and Qi Cultivation Training 20hrs

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

The Zen teacher Charlotte Joko Beck said that when “nothing is special, everything can be.” In this talk, Josh reflects on how everything that arises in our practice can be received as a perfect learning opportunity.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode, I try to speak to the implacable heaviness many are feeling in the face of the overwhelming number of ongoing disasters in the world. What, if at all, does the Dharma have to offer?

Fluid Yin Yoga and Meditation: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode (#207), Josh reflects on the four foundations of practicing Yin Yoga, and how the first two foundations – safety and relaxation – inform the development of the meditation process.

This dharma theme closes with a prompt from Josh: What does it mean to practice non-grasping in meditation?

Further reflection:

“Great genial power, one would almost say, consists in not being original at all; in being altogether receptive; in letting the world do all, and suffering the spirit of the hour to pass unobstructed through the mind.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Join Us in Practice and in Conversation: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

Originally recorded on June 17, 2024, Josh reflects on a few of Death’s lessons, nihilism, quitting caffeine, moods of depression and the rainbow nature of self.

LINKS mentioned:

Sign up for our FREE Everyday Vitality practice pack for effective (and simple) ways to improve the vitality of your body, energy and mind.

Josh and Terry share 4 guided practices:

• Self-Massage for Circulation + Energy Flow (10min)

• Daily Mobility for Joint Suppleness + Longevity (15min)

• Dynamic Flow for Integrated Stability + Coordination (30min)

• Soothing Flow for Relaxation + Inner Renewal (30min)

=====>>>>www.joshsummers.net and sign up for your pack of Everyday Vitality practices.

Everyday Strength: 4 Weeks to a Stronger You! Join Josh and Terry for a four week strength training program as a foundation for an integral life practice of yoga, energy work and heart-based meditation. ======>>>>>Everyday Strength Series.

In this talk, I announce the time and schedule changes to the River Bird Sangha’s programming and how to channel the support of the sangha to realize the dharma within your own experience.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this old Buddhist parable, we are presented with a description of the human predicament. In the face of being caught between death and something worse, how does our practice serve us to live, as Munindra put it, “the life fully?”

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode, I reflect on the roots of anger in my own conflicts and share the tools I’ve learned from mindfulness-based modalities to de-escalate tensions and nurture harmony. I share from my own challenges and difficulties with practicing wise speech, and how Active Reflective Communication is my go-to model for any generative and important conversations.

Fluid Yin Yoga and Meditation: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In the first dharma talk of 2023, Josh offers a meditative reflection on the relationship between reflective listening and the development of skillful intentions in practice. He offers some key meditative prompts that explore the initial stages of tuning into the conditions of your life that may deserve some focused intention.

On January 14th, you’re invited to a special 3hr Winter’s Yin Practice with Josh and Terry that harnesses the energy of Winter to listen deeply to the intentions emerging within the reflection of Qi Gong, Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation. If you can’t attend live, all participants will receive lifetime access to the recording of the practice.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

FREE 4-part Practice Pack: Everyday Vitality – Feel better today as Josh and Terry Summers guide you through 4 simple practices to move your vital energy, including massage, mobility, Yin and Yang yoga. 

Kamala Masters is one of the founders and teachers of the Vipassana Metta Foundation on Maui. She teaches retreats in the Theravada tradition at venues worldwide, including being a Guiding Teacher at the Insight Meditation Society at Barre, Massachusetts. Practicing since 1975, her teachers have been the late Anagarika Munindra of India and the late Sayadaw U Pandita of Burma, and Sayadaw U Tejaniya of Burma with whom she continues to practice. Kamala has a commitment to carrying and offering the purity of the teachings of the Buddha in a way that touches our common sense and compassion as human beings, and allows the natural inner growth of wisdom. She lives on Maui where she raised four children, and is now blessed with seven grandchildren. Kamala practiced both insight and loving kindness meditations intensively under the guidance and preceptorship of Sayadaw U Pandita, in the USA, Australia and in Burma as a nun and a lay woman. 

Kamala Masters’ website: www.vipassanametta.org

Summary

In this conversation, Josh Summers and Kamala Masters explore the profound teachings of Insight Meditation, reflecting on their shared experiences with influential teachers like Munindra, Jack Engler and Sayadaw U Pandita. They discuss the importance of compassion, equanimity, and the role of generosity and ethical conduct in deepening one's practice. Kamala shares her journey to the Dharma, the significance of Nibbana, and the challenges of navigating inner conflict and reactivity in a troubled world, and the necessity of self-compassion and the ongoing journey of understanding the self and the nature of suffering.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

08:31 Meeting Munindra-ji and the Importance of Generosity and Ethical Conduct

15:50 Munindra's Role as a Teacher and the Development of Insight

25:00 The Role of Sila in Insight Meditation

35:20 The Challenges and Benefits of Deepening the Practice

46:53 Uncovering Hidden Habit Patterns through Mindfulness

48:23 The Transformative Journey of Insight Meditation

48:53 Understanding Non-Self and a Healthy Sense of Self

50:44 The Role of Compassion in Navigating the World

01:02:39 Cultivating Equanimity and Addressing Reactivity

01:23:15 The Ongoing Nature of the Spiritual Path

In this special episode, I am honored to be joined by my first – and most significant – dharma teacher, Rodney Smith. Rodney spent several years as a Buddhist monk in Burma and Thailand, working notably with Ajahn Buddhadasa, Krishnamurti and Nisargattada Maharaj. He disrobed as a monk in 1983 and, after returning to the West, started working in hospice care and teaching vipassana meditation throughout the U.S.

For over thirty years, Rodney was a guiding teacher at the Insight Meditation Society as well as founding teacher of the Seattle Insight Meditation Society. 

Over the many years of sitting retreats with Rodney at IMS, I found him to be one of the most challenging, provocative and passionate teachers I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting. In our wide-ranging conversation we explore dharma practice and the heart’s completion right now. 

Archive of Dharma Talks by Rodney Smith.

Books by Rodney Smith:

Lessons From the Dying

Stepping Out of Self-Deception

Awakening

Touching the Infinite

We’re sharing the first talk of our new training: Refining Metal | The Wisdom of Qi Cultivation. Josh reflects on the question: How do we cultivate wisdom in our practice? What is the relationship between refining our awareness and our ability to express compassion and wisdom in our lives?

NEW TRAINING: The Chinese word for spirit is “shen.” In Chinese Medicine our spirit resides in our heart. With practice, we gather, channel, flow and settle our spirit within the heart, awakening and deepening our capacity to wake up, grow up and clean up. 

NEW THIS FALL: Refining Metal | The Wisdom of Qi Cultivation (Part 2 – Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training)

NOW On-Demand: Gathering Earth | The Foundations of Qi Cultivation (Part 1 – Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training)

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

In this episode, I offer a few reflections on the passing of my dear companion, Ozzie. On February 15, 2023, Ozzie died peacefully in our arms, in front of his hearth, and as I try to convey in this short talk, the dharma of his life continues to open and deepen for me.

Fluid Yin Yoga and Meditation: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode, I welcome Donna Brooks back to the podcast to talk through the experience of grief and how embodiment practices support our capacity to navigate this challenging emotional landscape. 

Donna Brooks’ website: www.originalbodywisdom.com

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Like sharpening a knife, training awareness to see clearly involves a number of skills that refine over the course of practice. In this talk, I share some of my favorite ways of cultivating a calm and open state of embodied presence. Included: Short Guided Meditation.

NEW TRAINING: The Chinese word for spirit is “shen.” In Chinese Medicine our spirit resides in our heart. With practice, we gather, channel, flow and settle our spirit within the heart, awakening and deepening our capacity to wake up, grow up and clean up. 

NEW THIS FALL: Refining Metal | The Wisdom of Qi Cultivation (Part 2 – Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training)

NOW On-Demand: Gathering Earth | The Foundations of Qi Cultivation (Part 1 – Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training)

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

In this episode, I share voices from the River Bird Sangha on the theme of non-violence in practice and society. Together, in a circle of practice, I suggest ways we can all feel empowered by a connection with common ground.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode, I talk with the Swiss yoga teacher Elisa Malinverni about her wonderful new book, Yoga for Recovering Addicts, Stories of Hope and Ways of Self-Healing. Elisa’s clear and nuanced writing explores an integral path to recovery for all manner of addiction.

“In my book, we’re all addicts. The only difference is, some of us have addictions that society labels as strengths and advantages, such as workaholism, fitness-addiction or orthorexia. Some of us weren’t as lucky and ended up with a coping mechanism that society demonizes. The stigma only causes more pain that begs to be alleviated.” – Elisa Malinverni (Yoga for Recovering Addicts)

To purchase the book on Amazon: Yoga for Recovering Addicts – Stories of Hope and Ways of Self-Healing by Elisa Malinverni

The questions that have gripped me for the last twenty or so years of my practice are these: What is the relationship between yoga practices and Buddhist meditation, and what does Qi cultivation, as described within Chinese Medicine, have to do with yoga and meditation? 

In the opening talk for our new course, Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training, I share my practice odyssey – as a yogi, as a meditator and as an acupuncturist – exploring the relationships amongst Yin Yoga, meditation and Chinese Medicine. These stories shape the principles and practices of this training. 

Click HERE ===>> for more on Yin Yoga and Qi Cultivation Training

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

In this talk, I share three points of advice for anyone embarking on a silent meditation retreat, either at a center or from home. My advice comes down to: 1) set the schedule and forget time, 2) kiss the moment, and 3) notice the negative.

I hope this talk supports your practice. Special thanks to the members of the River Bird Sangha for supporting this free podcast.

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

In this talk, Josh discusses the process and energy of Recognizing, Realizing and Releasing conflicts and challenges as they arise in our practice and life.

Free When You Subscribe: Join our newsletter and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Qi Gong and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. www.joshsummers.net

In this episode, I speak with Insight Meditation teacher and communication coach, Miles Sherts, about his approach to “conscious communication.” This is one of the most elegant approaches to generative communication that I have found.

We discuss how many people, and especially couples, get into arguments about “what happened” or about “truth.” Putting the “truth trap” aside, Miles explains why he suggests people focus on their feelings and needs, and I share just how difficult that pivot in conversation can be.

We also explore the problem with morality and why Miles advocates a shift from morality to integrity. 

Miles and I are planning a series of episodes that will explore a variety of interrelated themes, spanning from Insight Meditation, to Conscious Communication, to the problem of egoic identity, the culture wars and existential collapse. I’m looking forward to sharing this series with you and encourage you to pick up either of Miles’ very helpful books on Conscious Communication.

Miles Sherts’ website: www.practicalpresence.org

Miles Sherts’ books: Conscious Communication; Conscious Communication for Couples

In this episode, I speak with my friends and colleagues Linda Modaro and Nelly Kaufer about their wonderful new book, Reflective Meditation. We talk about many themes of their approach to meditation, including: listening, journaling, and improvisation. 

Reflective Meditation is now available in print and as an e-book in the United States, and for a limited time the e-book is available for $1.99. Click ====>>> HERE for your copy.

I recommend this wonderful book to all friends and students who are interested in a creative and personal approach to the path of waking up.

Reflective Meditation - Cultivating Kindness and Curiosity in the Company of the Buddha

Linda Modaro: https://satisangha.org/

Nelly Kaufer: https://pinestreetsangha.org/

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Originally recorded on February 26, 2024, I offer ways of tending to your external and internal environment for establishing conditions conducive to simplicity, contentment and calm. Practice is life, without any separation. Vacuuming, laundry, bills and email are all part of a comprehensive practice. And when approached in this spirit, every moment of the day becomes an opportunity for practice.

After this talk, I offer a guided meditation for brightening the heart in preparation for insight meditation.

***NEW Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training*** – Purifying Water | The Flow of Qi Cultivation, click here=====>

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

For replays of our 2hr workshops in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, click here =====>

For our popular 50hr trainings in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Meditation, click here =====>

Originally recorded on April 1, 2024, in this talk, Josh reflects on his history with bead-based practices, ie. mala mantra, and suggests ways of beginning to integrate this practice into your own.

***NEW Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training*** – Purifying Water | The Flow of Qi Cultivation, click here=====>

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

For replays of our 2hr workshops in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, click here =====>

For our popular 50hr trainings in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Meditation, click here =====>

In this special episode, I speak with Joseph Goldstein, meditation teacher and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society. We reminisce about our relationships with Michael Brooks and Jack Engler, two very influential individuals in the dharma world. Joseph shares his experiences working with Michael as a mentor and discusses the integration of spirituality and activism in Michael's life. Joseph also discusses his time with Jack Engler and how Joseph guided Jack through the stages of insight on the very first three-month retreat in North America in Bucksport, Maine. The conversation then shifts to Joseph's experiences in India and Burma, where he studied with his renowned teachers Munindra-ji, Dipa Ma, Mahasi Sayadaw and Sayadaw U Pandita. We compare experiences we had while working with U Pandita and the importance of deepening one's practice in a single method before integrating other practices. We also explore the concept of One Dharma and how to navigate the multitude of Dharma streams available in the West. Our conversation concludes with Joseph’s advice for aspiring meditation teachers.

Links mentioned:

Insight Meditation Society: https://www.dharma.org/

Joseph Goldstein’s book: One Dharma

The Buddha’s Playbook, by Michael Brooks and Josh Summers

The late Michael Brooks’ podcast: The Michael Brooks Show

The late Jack Engler’s essays on the Progress of Insight: Practicing for Awakening Part 1, Practicing for Awakening Part 2

On Dipa Ma: Dipa Ma, The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master

On Munindra: Living This Life Fully, Stories and Teachings of Munindra

In this talk, recorded on November 13, 2023, I share a small collection of personal vignettes in which my senses deceive me, creating emotional convictions that are ultimately inaccurate. I raise the question: What do these experiences suggest about the nature of self, the nature of truth and the nature of conviction?

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠⁠www.⁠⁠⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠⁠⁠.net

Until I spoke with Amiel Handelsman, I had mistakenly thought that the term “meta-crisis” referred to the overarching sense that the world is in a massive crisis of overlapping calamities, all threatening our survival. But after speaking with Amiel, I realized that I was thinking of the poly-crisis. Amiel explained to me that the meta-crisis refers to an underlying crisis of all the crises on fire. The meta-crisis is a crisis of consciousness or being – a root crisis in terms of how individuals and collectives will rise to meet the challenges that besiege the world today.

I was heartened to welcome Amiel Handelsman back on Everyday Sublime to share his thoughts on how personal development, and systems of personal development, like the Enneagram, can help frame a generative response to the metacrisis. In short, we need to grow up, clean up and wake up to deeper capacities of our being to deal with the multi-horrific poly-crisis.

Amiel has a professional background in leadership, management and executive coaching along with a strong foundation in the Integral Theory of Ken Wilber among other frameworks.

Amiel is also launching his own excellent podcast: How My View Grew, which looks at the origin stories of big ideas about humanity's challenges. 

I highly recommend subscribing to Amiel’s show. I always learn a LOT from my talks with him.

Click here======> to subscribe to How My View Grew.

Amiel’s website, click here======>

First Episode with Amiel, Deracialization + Anti-racism click here======>

Book mentioned: The Wisdom of the Enneagream (Riso and Hudson)

Here is Amiel’s description of his show, How My View Grew:

“If you’re weary of political polarization, nothing is more refreshing than nuanced thinking: ideas that reveal the complexity of what’s wrong in the world and how to make it better. But where does such thinking come from? Often, it’s from someone changing their mind—letting go of an old perspective and growing into a new one. Join executive coach Amiel Handelsman as he interviews nuanced thinkers about the origin stories of their big ideas. Each story offers a window into one of humanity’s greatest challenges like climate change, democracy, the culture wars, the wealth gap, Ukraine, and Israel. In weeks between interviews, Amiel offers tips for training your mind to navigate complex topics and difficult conversations.”

In this episode, I am joined by psychotherapist and author Nancy Van Dyken whose book, Everyday Narcissism – Yours, Mine, and Ours, sheds some fascinating light on this ubiquitous condition of the psyche. EN, or everyday narcissism, isn’t clinical Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It’s a fragile psychology that is conditioned by the way so many of us were raised by family and by culture. 

If you’re interested in more stable relationships, better boundaries and how to heal shame, I highly recommend Everyday Narcissism.

Nancy Van Dyken’s website: https://healingrelationships.com/

Purchase a copy of Everyday Narcissism.

Elisa Malinverni returns to the podcast to talk about her book, Yoga For Recovering Addicts. In this episode we explore some common manifestations of the “grasping mind.” We discuss the dynamics of perfectionism, impostor syndrome, screen addiction and more.

Elisa’s book available on Amazon: Yoga for Recovering Addicts – Stories of Hope and Ways of Self-Healing.

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NEW THIS FALL: Refining Metal | The Wisdom of Qi Cultivation (20hr Yin Yoga Training)

NOW On-Demand: Gathering Earth | The Foundations of Qi Cultivation (20hr Yin Yoga Training)

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Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net

Originally recorded on April 8, 2024, in this dharma talk, Josh offers ways for you to create your own mantra to use with any bead-based form of meditation practice. 

A mala, rosary or bead-based garland by any other name is a wonderful way to strengthen your capacities for concentration, kindness and peace.

Grab your beads, listen to this talk, and develop your custom-tailored mantra practice.

***NEW Yin Yoga + Qi Cultivation Training*** – Purifying Water | The Flow of Qi Cultivation, click here=====>

Join our Yin Yoga-based practice sangha – weekly LIVE classes + Library of Yin Yoga, Yang Yoga, Meditation + Qi Gong, click here =====>

For a FREE copy of my e-book, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga, click here =====>

For replays of our 2hr workshops in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qi Gong, click here =====>

For our popular 50hr trainings in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Yin Meditation, click here =====>

In this week’s practice story, I continue to explore the famous Buddhist parable about the tiger and the snake, and I suggest how the core images of this story symbolize the central dharma themes of our practice and life.

Practicing Yin: Join our newsletter, Practicing Yin, and get your copy of Josh’s new FREE ebook, The What, Why and How of Yin Yoga along with two Free weeks of Yin Yoga, Fluid Yin Yoga and Yin Meditation classes with Josh and Terry. ⁠www.⁠⁠joshsummers⁠⁠.net