Practical Guidance On Mindful Living & Overcoming Common Obstacles – Joseph Goldstein
Practical Guidance On Mindful Living & Overcoming Common Obstacles – Joseph Goldstein
Joseph Goldstein has been a pioneer in bringing eastern wisdom to the west and is certainly one of the worlds most respected Buddhist teachers. Joseph has studied and practiced meditation for over 40 years under the guidance of eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet.
Joseph is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist studies in Massachusetts. He is the author of several practical and powerful books about Mindfulness, Meditation and Buddhism.
In this interview Joseph offers us practical guidance on walking the path to mindful living with more wisdom ease and lightness. You will discover today…
- The common challenges and pitfalls on this path and how to overcome them.
- What ‘waking up’ really means.
- The stages on the path of mindful living
- The common misconceptions and misunderstandings people have about what meditation is and what it can deliver.
- Profound and simple advice for those starting out with mindfulness practice.
Plus enjoy a 15 minute practice of mindfulness led by one of the worlds most respected teachers.
Show Notes
Join the ’31 days of mindfulness challenge’ here
Come and join the community discussions at any time on our Facebook page
Learn more about the Barre Centre For Buddhist Studies.
Check out Josephs upcoming retreats and the Insight Meditation Society.
If you want to explore Josephs books you can also check them out here.
Audio
Video
Transcript
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Purchase a full access pass to unlock downloads for the full interview transcripts, audio, video and separate audio meditation tracks.
Buy full access pass
Purchase a full access pass to unlock downloads for the full interview transcripts, audio, video and separate audio meditation tracks.
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Hello again, really grateful for the resource but disappointed that all the teachers presented here (with the exception of one man) appear to be White/Caucasian. I believe there is already an impression that Eastern philosophy and spiritual practices are being “co-opted” in the West, and if the goal is to make mindfulness and meditation mainstream, it will be important to diversify the program in order to widen your reach. Thank you for reading!!!!
I’m liking this more and more.. for me it has been a challenge to meditate and find a space. I love the techniques 🙂 thank you. And so great to understand the benefits from so knowledgeable people.
Thanks so much
I’m sitting down to this session today with a heavy heart, in light of the shooting in Oregon yesterday, and, with all senseless violence around us. I can’t seem to shake it today, not only because I live in Oregon, but because it’s become so common place in the US. Hoping this quiets my mind and calms my heart.
Wendy, I understand your heavy heart. Once again a mass shooting in the United States, once again many will will express shock and distress, once again the gun lobby will block any legislation that would change gun laws. Practicing mindfulness can help us through these difficult times.
Good morning Wendy, I too live in Oregon; and this tragedy brings back the feelings I experienced as an elementary school teacher just down the road from Thurston High School…
I found today’s talk to be especially helpful with it’s mention of right speech. It would be easy to join the dialogue that always ensues right after incidents such as these, so I am so grateful for the reminder to pause and reflect first.
I hope this session helps you as it did me.
I am surprised that anyone would expect to retain a huge resource free! Perhaps a little naive?
My comment would be the format. We seem to have the opportunity to hear from excellent and well established teachers, but I find it almost impossible to immerse myself because of the intrusive “interview”: format : The persistent ” Mmmn-Hmmnn.. Right, right …I’m loving this; this resonates, yes yes mmmhmmm, yes yes ……….. yup yup ” …….. It’s very off putting and unique in my experience of online talks and lectures , or indeed ,interviews. However, this opportunity is interesting and as for the bulk of comments, no-one needs to pay if they don’t want to.
Day 2 every bit as good as day 1. Thank you to all who have come together to share this education with all of us. To live simple and easy, accepting and non- judgmental has brought joy into my life that I never thought possible.
I agree with the last comment I really just wanted to hear the speaker and not hear the interviewer comment with the yes anhahahs.I find that very distracting.. the medication was very good I really like the focusing on sounds the body the breeding the letting not letting go but just observing thoughts
The persistent ” Mmmn-Hmmnn.. Right, right …I’m loving this; this resonates, yes yes mmmhmmm, yes yes ……….. yup yup ” …….. It’s very off putting
Perhaps it should be interviewer’s mindfulness exercise for the remainder of the month to watch such things! 🙂
I agree!
Agreed..let the speakers speak..without commentary or interruption <3
Couldn’t agree more Morag. I have already commented on this yesterday. Sure hope it changes in the next few days.
First, I want to thank Melli for providing us this unbelievably wonderful opportunity. I’m blessed and greatful to be the receiver of your generosity, care, and love. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I love the materials but get distracted too by the interview format. If I may give constructive opinion, it would flow nicer if the questions are well thought out and composed before the interview. There’s nothing wrong with reading them from a notebook.
Nevertheless, I will still make donation to this great cause.
Namaste.
I agree. I found today’s interview a bit disruptive by the interviewer. I know she means well and she’s actually asking great questions. Yet, in interviewing it’s important to be quiet, not interject or interrupt the speaker unless they go off track and time is being lost.
I finally turned it off and decided to search for more of this speaker’s resources. Perhaps tomorrow’s session will go better.
As for the comment about people being naive because of the $79…I really don’t think so. I understand that it took valuable time to put it together. I appreciate that. Yet, it was advertised as “Free” and too many things are presented as one thing and then turn out to be something else. I’m all for a donation to help. I tend to think they will get much less than they could have if there was not a set fee….just some thoughts. I appreciate the efforts to reach out to folks to educate.
Hey Miss – lighten up. That’s your mind!!! I had the same “thoughts” about the interviewer but she’s the one who is putting this whole thing on! I think a little gratitude might be in order. Sorry to sound judgmental. Just saying….
I agree!
Yeah, I thought of the interview format as a mindfulness excercise for myself! Lots of loving-kindness to you, Melli!
Yes, feedback can be really tough to swallow, but it’s true in this case. I think we’re all appreciative, just trying to constructively let the interviewer know about what’s obviously a distraction for a lot of us. Kudos to Melli for putting herself out there.
Melli – check out one of Tami Simon’s interviews on her show, Sounds True, Insights at the Edge. http://www.soundstrue.com/store/weeklywisdom She’s a mindfulness coach and very good at interviewing without distraction.
I agree!
Tho the aw, mmmm, right and right are listening techniques but in this case distruptive.
I am having the same problem/distraction with the counterpoint responses. It may be that in this type of format her audio is much “cleaner” than the interviewee and it just cuts through with so much more definition. In a normal ambient setting I believe it would be less obvious.
Personally, I’ve been enjoying this interview format. I find it more engaging. It actually helps me to pay attention and stay on track. But that’s just my opinion 🙂
yup, ummmh yeah yes this resonates. your comment is a bit off putting as well
I agree completely! I appreciate the questions that provide direction for the speaker, but the continual interruptions quite distracting and, to be blunt, annoying.
I so agree about the distraction of the interviewer! I’m trying hard to block that out and focus on the speaker.
I agree with Morag Towndrow’s observation. Very distracting and certainly not an interview for the benefit of all as I understand the term.
At the very start I noticed the nodding of the head and facial expressions of the interviewer while Joseph Goldstein was speaking. I switched to audio only and heard the constant interruptions. I felt as if I was intruding on a private interview between the two as the interviewer shared her personal opinions and experiences. Then the baby started crying.
Perhaps in the not-too-distant-future it would be best for the interviewer to get off camera and microphone until the next question is posed. This would allow the invited speaker to speak and be heard by the viewing/listening audience, for whom this program was intended.
Thank you Joseph for sharing your wisdom and great experience – simple and easy:-) Your talk about pitfalls and the ups and downs was quite restoring for me to day.
And thank you so must Melli for all the work and effort – I enjoy your sweet, bright and authentic curious attitude
Yes, thank you Melli!!
I think I missed the stages on the path to mindful living from Joseph. Could someone share. Thank you!
Maybe listen to it again while it’s still available?
We should indeed remember it is a practise. ..thank you, Joseph Goldstein, for the reminder, very comforting!
Thank you so much for taking the time to put this Mindfulness Summit together. The speakers are wonderful. This is a wealth of information that is most beneficial and very interesting.
Thank you for this oppotunity. Its great that I can watch these interviews from home. Listneing from Mexico.
Thank you so much!!!
Thank you Melli and Matt for this incredible resource! It is truly an amazing gift to have free access to this “Who’s Who” of mindfulness teachers. I feel grateful for the first two days alone and so excited about the next 29! Love the inclusion of the guided meditations by these experts. Putting this together must have been very costly in time and money and I hope you feel the appreciation of those who recognize that. Thank you again.
Thank you Melli I enjoyed Both you and Joseph today Simple and easy just love that.
I feel very proud of you for what you have achieved. I do not know anything of the people working with you but feel sure they are equally as amazing I thank them also. Have made a mental note must attend one of Melli’s workshop being an Aussie that is a real possibility Thanks again everyone wishing you all Simple and Easy Worldwide
The question of what would the world look like if everyone was practicing and living a mindful life. A world of loving kindness. A world of less judgements of ourselves and others.
Simple and easy … love the message and hope to keep returning to it throughout the moments of my day. Lovely presentation. Thank you so much for the opportunities presented in this summit.
Thank you for leaving Day 1 session on. I am slow and always go over everything more than once. It’s very helpful! Have a blessed day!
As a graduate student who cannot at this time afford many of the online workshops; I appreciate your kindness in providing this for free so much. I am very grateful that there are people like you, who are willing to give. I have already learned so much from Day 1 and Day 2.
I am in the same boat as you. I know at my University, there are several student clubs and even academic department offerings to help teach mindfulness and similar things for free. You may want to see if there are any at your University.
Thank you, very much! It´s wonderful! I am enjoying the experience!
Thank you for providing free access to this month-long summit. It comes at a time when I really needed it and is giving me valuable tools to re-energize and better understand a fledgling meditation practice I had started but abandoned. I hope to hold on to the concept of not holding on to things!
Great to have joined day 2, few of the learnings I want to share are :
1. Mindful of our speeches. So true ! Many times, we are so talkative !
2. Sudden awakening, gradual cultivation of that understanding. And I am applying this to my journey with mindfulness.
3. Naturalness – Be simple and easy with most things !
I would like to thank the organiser and the speakers again for the dedication to change our world to be a better one ! Thank you !
Hi
It’s a pleasure to be a part of this global summit … It’s completely a new concept for me but being spiritual minded sounds interesting … Looking forward for more and more enlightenment … Thanks …
Excellent webinar, thank you for the great questions, wisdom and guidance.
As someone who has been involved in the production of many knowledge-building experiences, I truly appreciate the time and effort that has gone into creating this wonderful learning experience. The fact that it is offered for free on a daily basis underscores the importance of committing to the daily practice of mindfulness.
Simple and easy resonates with me. We tend to complicate our lives so much in this hyper-connected world. We tend to connect to everything and be connected to nothing. We rarely listen, we rarely read with depth, we rarely dig deep into our souls, and rarely take time to behold the precious beauty of the world around us — a flower, a baby, a mountain, our heart beat And so if we bring all our usual distractibility, fuzzy focus, and tendency to complicate on our meditative practices it is certain that we will gain little if any insight. Hard to perceive non-clinging when hyper-clinging is present before, after, and during a practice. Keep It Simple. Embrace Easy and Enjoy Letting Go.
Wonderful interview and I highly recommend Joseph Goldstein’s book, Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening.
Be simple and Easy. Thank you, Joseph and Melli for offering such insight and wisdom.
That was amazing Thank you!
What a come-on…
Free? Ha-Ha…”G’day,” from the consultant to the largest ashram in the southern hemisphere, such as that might be.
Mrs. Melli-O has obtained access to our worldwide emails…then, on day 2, doesn’t contact the list serve participants with an automated notification or reminder of the live “interview.”
She’s also co-opted these interviewees, as the subsequent (to October 1) transcripts and audio sources are not available without a $100 or $150 payment.
I thought this was supposed to be a global event that brings contemplative people and their energies together, in the moment of a day, each day, for an entire month.
Instead, it’s a business opportunity for one (or more?) narcissist.
Follow the money, baby.
And I cannot, for the life of me, tolerate or follow The Mrs’ iterative, interruptive, mumbling responses to her interviewees.
That’s why I wanted to read the transcripts instead.
So much for the educative nature of this endeavor…
— Big Buddha
I bow in gratitude and respect to the organisers of, and contributors to this event. It is here, a gift, to be enjoyed in the present moment. So much wisdom, experience and love on offer! If we are moved and inspired by what we come across here, then we will be motivated to go forward on this path in whatever way we are able, using whatever resources we have at our disposal.
Melli – I love your interviewing style, and your interjections. They are part of the whole experience, and for me give a feeling of connectedness, being part of a conversation.
Thank you, Melli and Matt, and everyone who has shared in this. _/\_
Be simple and easy.
Joseph’s insights are helpful. Also liked his practice session, as it let me compare it with what we did yesterday.
Thank you for this forum! Enjoying the information. The sense of mindfulness as being a process is something I’ve been writing about in a free upcoming e-book and day two interview really helped me think deeper about some of the information I’m presenting. Love simple and easy! yourlifeperspective for more info. Sending love and light to all!
I’m sure all of these speakers have books and lectures available if people are looking for straight content. To me, part of the sweetness here is that they are conversations between two people with connection, give and taken, attunement, sharing. I’m honored to be able to listen to the dialogue. Thank you for this series.
Thank you for the practical tips. This summit is encouraging me to practice daily and incorporate mindfulness in all areas of everyday life. It is helpful for Melli to ask specific questions. Discussing the pitfalls and stages were helpful.
Thanks for day 2. Will gladly make the donation to harness the wealth and wisdom of this incredible speaker line-up. I appreciate Melli’s gentle, relaxed interviewing style, and especially all the work done to organise this summit. Look forward to tomorrow.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful speech. I’m so happy that I signed up with this summit!
Felt like I was in the room with Joseph Goldstein. Thanks for the practice! Great series so far!
I am absolutely loving this and it’s only day 2! We have 29 more days of this and whilst enjoying this moment having just watched the interview with Joseph Goldstein, I can imagine that by 31st October I am going to be totally ‘blissed out’. Thank you so much Melli!! xx
Thank you, very good, looking forward to tomorrow! Love “easy and simple”, what a wonderful mantra!
Loved the simple and easy mantra, that Joseph demonstrated beautifully during the interview, there was a lovely sense of ease about him.
wonderful session – the path is not easy – I loved the notion of not worshipping the teapot rather than drinking the tea
thanks Joseph!!!!!
Another great interview. I really liked the quote that Joseph said,” Mindfulness is a methodology for looking inward.” No matter what belief system or faith in God or no God is. Being able to look within in order to see what is really going on with us as human beings is something I value and have benefited from living more mindfully the last 10 years.
The interviewer needs to keep quiet as the objective is to listen to these expert…so please shut Up!
Thank you for interviewing Joseph Goldstein, my favorite part was Be simple and easy about things.
Remember, different strokes for different folks? I also kept close, keep a large vision of understanding.
Great insights, thank you!
A good interviewer knows when to fade into the background and let his/her subject occupy center stage.
“This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius . . . .” We can make it so!
Absolutely beautiful and a refreshing reminder of being mindful in our communication with others…and towards our self. Simple and easy; what a grand mantra.
I am so grateful for this offering – if I had the money I would buy the pass – I’m just going to have glean as much as I can for the 31 days, Thank you Melli.
So sorry to read all the negative comments about our host. She and all that have put this together are Australian for goodness sake! All the yes, yes… right, right … while listening is a very common cultural norm. Just let it go as background and enjoy the wisdom in the discussion. Glad that friends told me about this as taking nuggets from each session. Thanks to our hosts for the effort to assemble such a distinguished group of speakers. Cheers.
Another wonderful session. Two things I loved: “Take act without attachment to the fruit of the act,” and “be simple and easy about things.”
I had opportunity to practice Mark’s 3 min breathing space a few times today when things were not going well and found it tremendously helpful, especially not to go into a judgmental state, but just observing it and then helping me manage it by anchoring myself in the breath. Joseph’s comment today that mindfulness practice is a practice where you need to begin again and again really resonated with me. I actually came to this conclusion a while ago and found it helped me not being so punitive and encouraged me to make the most of every moment when I was inspired to do a formal practice, as I struggle to maintain the discipline of daily formal practice.
Thank you once again…..Day 2 was another engaging opportunity to learn. I am so grateful for Melli’s willingness to gather so many learned, kind and compassionate people to share in their experiences and understanding of their journey’s in this world and path to finding ourselves and the Oneness with All That Is.
Day 1 and 2 alredy done!. Just finished my first 15 min. meditation with a guide like Joseph, and feel that it necessary has to bring the simple and easy way to my life. Best wishes to all from Spain.
My big take-away: I’ve had many realizations in my short time meditating (about 5 months), that have been very moving, but the feeling hasn’t lasted. I thought that was a problem, but now realizing it’s not, that things change, that we need to continue practicing. This quote from Joseph (who was quoting someone else) is most meaningful, “Sudden awakening, gradual cultivation.” Patience, patience, patience. Thank you