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.
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Purchase a full access pass to unlock downloads for the full interview transcripts, audio, video and separate audio meditation tracks.
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Really enjoyed this thank you..let’s live simply and respectfully.
I agree about interview format but i think it’s a catch 22..because there is a need to acknowledge the responses from the person being interviewed …
I need a small clarification…..with reference to what prof mark said yesterday that the subject is breathing and if the mind wavers off that ,it needs to be brought back to the breathing slowly and gently, as opposed to what joseph said today that the subjects of awareness can change! inputs please….
Hi. Both of them are right. Breathing is not the only object of meditation, but –as far as I understand– is the main one. You can meditate having your inner sensations or the outer sounds as objects. Hope this helps.
HI Aditya,
As human beings, the only objects we can be aware of are: the five senses (tactile, sight, smell, sounds and taste), thoughts (including mental imagery) and emotions/feelings. We also know that we are aware, Mindfulness practice is paying attention to all of these in the moment, intentionally and with an attitude of kindness. However one starts first by practicing on body sensations (breath sensations) such as movements of the abdomen when breathing, then when practised, Mindfulness can move to thoughts, mental imagery and feelings. At later stages Mindfulness can move to awareness itself.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes,
thank you for pointing auto the pitfalls.
Thank you for the opportunities you have provided by giving this wonderful month long Seminar with so many wonderful speakers. Today with Joseph Goldstein was particularly helpful
Thank you so much for the opportunity to be a part of this mindfulness summit. I teach T’ai Chi and have included deep breathing or mindfulness as part of the practice. It has made such a difference in my own life that I love sharing what it can do for my students. I’ve encouraged all of them to take part in this seminar; particularly as I am not an expert in this area and find it a wonderful opportunity to hear from known authorities in the field. It isn’t easy; but it is certainly worth it. The meditation session of each meeting so far have been a wonderful bonus!
I have not received any mail today, is supposed to?
You only got an email on the first day, they won’t be sending daily reminders. Just remember to go the website each day.
I didn’t see an email. I think since it’s every day, just come back every day. If you have a busy schedule, set a reminder (or a few) for each day, so that you don’t miss a talk or moment to meditate. 🙂
I did not receive any mail either ~ happy to participate with day 2.
Simple & easy ~
This is really an amazing process!
What I got out of today’s lecture:
– keep it simple and easy
-don’t worship the pot; worship the tea
-the study of mindfulness is an adventure; there will be highs and lows. It’s all part of the process
-there’s a reason it is called “the practice of mindfulness”…I need to practice
Thank you so much for this opportunity!
In gratitude from Tampa, Fl – Maria
Very helpful summary Maria.
The quote Joseph said was “Worshipping the teapot instead of drinking the tea!”
― Wei Wu Wei
Just wanted to point this out because drinking the tea is very different from worshipping the tea.
Maria you mentioned the highlights of the conversation that are staying with me also! Also,, I’m vacationing over at Clearwater Beach for the month of October, we’re neighbors! Lol Enjoy the summit, I plan on participating the whole month of my vaca????????
Thank you Melli for this wonderful experience.
Maria, I really like your list. I also need to practice!
I would like to add to your list:
-Mindful communication: be mindful of your speech
-Liberation through non-clinging (22:28min “All the practices, all the methods, all the different traditions, they are all in the service of non-clinging”)
-Everything is subject to the law of change.
Thank you!!!
I’m with you Maria. I loved this interview and the guided meditation. It felt, in a sense, like he was narrating the process I would likely go through as I meditated on my own…seemingly giving permission for all of it as just part of the experience.
Thank you for the recap!
ahha moments, followed by a reassuring encouragement that it takes practice to embody the ahha . Thank you.
So much to learn. Finding an undisturbed space and time, as well as ‘letting it be easy’ is harder than it sounds. Great information and practices yesterday and today, so the awareness (mindfulness) process has begun!
Thank you for today’s adventure. I am enjoying the interview format, since it encourages gentle exploration. Having a day to experience each stage does make it an engaging adventure. How many of us have resources that we have not actually used? Thank you for thinking of using the summit in this way and of benefiting mindfulness charities too for those who can pay to have unlimited access. I really appreciate the effort that has gone into this and see what you’re doing as a real blessing. Today’s perspective has taken me deeper into considering what mindfulness is and I move forward with a sense of curiosity and adventure. See you all again tomorrow. 🙂
Thank you, be simple and easy. Great advice!
Melli, you are doing a great job! Thank you so much for day two. I’ve been meditating for about 5 years and have recently gone through some struggles in my life, which led me off the path of mindfulness and meditation. I was thinking of going to a retreat, but these interviews and my daily meditation practice will really help me to get back in the path. The ebb and flow, right? 🙂
I really cannot thank you and the other speakers for bringing your best, your time and energy to everyone who is watching and listening. Helping to make the world a more mindful place, where we begin to uproot ourselves of greed, hatred and delusion, and begin to cultivate a greater compassion for each other, more positivity, love and peace within our lives. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
This is synchronicity regarding the shooting in Oregon. If I can do one small difference in the world and for others experience I am grateful.
anyone caught the name of the author who wrote the teapot aphorism? thanks.
way wu way is the sound don’t know correct spelling
Wei Wu Wei is the Pinyin spelling
I think it was Wei Wu Wei. That quote has stayed with me also.
It’s Wei Wu Wei.
thanks to all.
Be mindful of your words, practise compassion and try not to be judgemental…….seems like some comments lack what is suggested.
Very lucky to be taking part. It is wonderful to quietly listen and learn from the experts. Thank you
I am very thankful, Melli! What an effort to pull everyone together. It is a lot to go through, to do this and to be willing to spread it. You are the messenger of love and mindfulness. I love the blink in your eyes, and your excitement, as you talk to Joseph Goldstein. I feel the same excitement, since I found him and his teachings fascinating.
Have a wonderful, adventurous journey.
Lots of great information to consider from Joseph….Can you imagine our political leaders following a simple and easy mantra, practicing mindfulness …? A much more balanced, focused and solution oriented society ? If mindfulness becomes entrenched in our schools, political systems etc…there could be a day! Thanks Melli ‘O your questions are thought provoking.
Enjoy your day!
Thanks for a great day 2. You can see the kindness and happiness pour out from Joseph, mindfulness clearly works for him! Simple and easy 🙂
Didn’t get my email today. Do I just log in and get access? Btw, found yesterday’s session very helpful. Thanks!
They’re not sending out daily emails. Just visit the website each day:
This is a useful page to bookmark: http://themindfulnesssummit.com/event-schedule/
I am so grateful for this opportunity to share in this incredibly generous and exciting way. “Sudden awakening , gradual cultivation”…what a gift! THANK YOU!!! Knowing I am one of the 100,000 fellow mindful practitioners participating in this Summit, gives me goosebumps. I’m very happy to be here thanks to my friend, who passed the info along. I’m committed to the 30 day challenge with everyone, as I am eager to deepen my practice and feel this unique and creative format is a very manageable and useful way to do just that. The timing is perfect too as I have been ON the mindful path for some time, but not fully IN it as I have felt I needed more support. Voila! It is clear to me, that practicing sporadically, is not truly “drinking the tea.” As a musician if I did not practice ever day I would not be growing and able to deliver, when gigs come along. It’s time to drink up.
Dear Joseph Goldstein,
I take this opportunity to thank you for your teachings.
I listen often to your dhammatalks on dhammaseed.org.
Currently listening to your explanation on the Satipatthana Sutta while reading Bikkhu Analayo’s book “Satipatthana, the Direct Path to Realization”.
45 hours of inspiration.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experiences on the path.
In gassho,
Anna-san
It’s great that something on this scale is going on, with such experienced teachers involved. Thank you.
But I’m having real trouble with the interview format. It seems to me (apart from her distracting body language there in the left-hand window) that ‘the host’ is controlling the teacher, breaking up what their flow would be, and figuring too much herself, as a Person. It seems a bit Ego-ridden. The traditional dharma talk format works so much better for me, I think. So for example, I’m happy with Jon Kabat Zinn’s little nuggets. Although they may have been spoken in response to prompts, it’s just Jon’s insight, Jon’s continuity, Jon’s presence
How much of the content of the summit has this latter kind of format, as distinct from the interview format? Could it be signposted, so that we might follow that ‘stream’ of content?.
I’m listening to the audio only, so that’s always an option if you find the body language distracting.
Listen to the audio. I don’t know what all is to come, but it’s worth listening to. If the video is distracting just sit and listen to it. or write. I like to take notes and then set them down for the meditation portions. I hope you find a way to participate that works for you!
Mike, just a thought…when I have similar kinds of thoughts, I sometimes remember to take the opportunity to practice with my discomfort by being curious and investigating it, as Joseph offered. Joseph’s talk was a good reminder for me.
I’m with you Mike, the constant interruption is very distracting. If the flow is continually disrupted it makes it harder, for me as a total beginner, to feel engaged with this process.
Thank you Joseph for spending time with us today. It is an honor to hear your wisdom and get to participate in a meditation with you.
I have a question: Why is it that things of the natural world seem so content just being, but people don’t? Are we just really far from our true natures (collectively), or is there some quality that is inherent in people which makes us stray? I realize this is seemingly more of a philosophical question, but more me it is more practical. I think if I have the answer, it will greatly help my practice.
Many thanks!
Thank you. A lovely interview with such a wise man.
Joining in from the Netherlands I like to express my gratitude for being part of this worldwide community and for all the work that has been done and is done by Melly and Matt. Incredible! So very inspiring! Thank you very much.
Excellent interview, very thought and mind provoking, lots of things to think about, awareness is the key, warm wishes Emily from Ireland xx
Wonderful day 2. “Be simple and easy”….
I am enjoying this summit. Thank you for the work and generosity!
I will endeavor to ‘non cling’ – I love that phrase, Thank you very much for organizing this wonderful opportunity!
Thank you for today. <3
The video unfortunately does not play. After 10 sec the page reloads, but after re starting it stops and re loads again at the same point.
Hopefully you managed to get it to work. It worked for me (2pm Pacific Standard Time) Maybe it had a glitch earlier.
Try using a different browser or restarting your computer if it’s still not working.
Thank you.
When you were talking about the many spiritual wisdoms that teach “non-clinging”, I was reminded that the non-clinging is known as “detachment” in Ignation (Jesuit) spirituality.
I’m brand new to this–I have to say I’m definitely intrigued and inspired.thank you!
Keep going on your journey. <3
I cannot watch this anymore, her constant noises are extremely irritating. What’s worse is that they’re dishonest, she constantly affirms the speaker’s point before he’s even halfway through speaking it. Half of the time he finishes he’s point she seems to completely disregard what he has said and asks an unrelated question.
I’ve read comments on here that I should not let it distract me and that I shouldn’t judge as these are ideas that mindfulness is about. But those this isn’t easy to those that are new to mindfulness, a group that the summit is – at least in part – her target audience considering the title of her first video.
You should not let it distract you. I actually only noticed them in todays video, but it’s no different than when I noticed the fan in the other room or my furnace kick on.
I think if you committed to the 31 days, don’t quit on Day 2. You can’t assume that every video will be of the same quality and additionally, you can make a strong path through yourself.
What about watching the videos and choosing to do your own meditation. Most of the videos (two so far) have been talking and conversation. No different than tuning in to a webinar or conference, except you can do this one on your own free time each day. If it’s too hard for you to meditate with the video playing then find your two moments in the day to do so outside of the summit.
I believe you and anyone else that committed to the 31 day summit is still gaining knowledge. I mean how many times do you get to speak with someone who has FOURTY years practicing meditation and ultimately mindfulness? There is some serious knowledge to be gained here.
I also see that Melli is relating her own experience and her learning. I am certain she is still on HER very own journey as well, as these journeys never really end. I think the point, maybe missed – maybe not, is to draw the same associations with the speaker (or Melli) and how being more mindful, kind, and compassionate (to yourself and others) can help you. It can help you gain closure on your past, things you might RUMINATE ON and also, help push you into forward thinking. Thinking about the current. Being in the moment.
Even in this talk alone, Joeseph says his best piece of advice is “be simple and easy.” Take the talks in at whatever level you are at. I like to make notes, though I do participate in the guided mediation at the end (you could choose to do your own meditation.) The talks are new knowledge. New seeds that can grow within your mind. Maybe it seems unrelated now and all you can do is focus on that random noise in her house, but you would be surprised what you can retain and put into action later.
I hope you continue to see the summit through. (I am not affiliated.) It’s an amazing and FREE chance to hear from people that otherwise would require you to travel, leave for extended periods of time, and in some cases maybe not gain their knowledge. It’s more than reading the books by these souls, but actually hearing them speak from the heart. Not scripted. It’s genuine and raw. And thats okay. 🙂
Some marvelous points made here, Alissa. These are things that come from obviously sitting for some time. In some ways, I agree that I did find the video distracting, but we should acknowledge the gift we are being given here. This is a “once in a lifetime opportunity that can change our lives.” Take only the good from it.
I find it really hard to follow, too. One thing would make the whole experience much more pleasant: Please, Melli, just stop commenting (just saying something like “yes, right”) every two seconds, it is really distracting, it interferes with the speakers talk and is totally unnecessary. Apart from that, it’s fine.
Minute 28: Be simple and easy.
I wrote that down. One that I will certainly use as a mantra.
so simple and easy yet so profound!
Thank you so much Melli for the opportunity to access this wonderful journey through your presentation during this entire month. And also thank you to everyone involved in putting it together. Melli, I love the dialog format with your natural expressiveness and enthusiastic nature in engaging with the speaker. Well done! These two days have been very rewarding, looking forward for the days to come. Blessings.
I agree. I love the format. It’s very enjoyable and heart warming to just hear this raw conversation. I have read some of the books that will likely be mentioned during this summit, but there is something so astounding and beautiful about hearing an expert or guru or someone that has just achieved a higher level of mindfulness who is speaking unscripted about what this journey means. We are all on different parts of it. This is not day two for my personal journey, but it’s day two of this wonderful summit! It’s a rare and amazingly FREE opportunity for us to open our minds. It’s certainly not every day I get to speak with someone who has been meditating for 40 years! Just simply a gift that is one of a kind.
Day 2. I am so happy to be a part of this group of “Mindfulness Adventurers”. Honoring the tea while acknowledging the pot. Simple and easy.
Oh, and thank you to today’s speaker Joseph Goldstein… truly enjoyed every minute…
What a great way to start the day. Or a great day to start the way. Love this. Thanks,
Ed
So great, really loving this so far!
What a treasure to learn from someone w/ over 40 yrs of sitting and learning from these great masters of the craft. I can’t even imagine how much patience he has acquired to achieve the focus he has demonstrated with us today!
Thank you so much. I got so much from this and loved the body awareness meditation. Best wishes to you both.
I am really glad that I signed up for this summit. What a wonderful way to start down this path, as part of a community. And though it is not a physical one, in some ways this one is even better because we are from all over, coming together in these moments of shared breathing, awareness, practice.
Thank you Melli and Joseph Goldstein for another great day with practical tips nd reminders for increased awareness. I loved the” Sudden Awakening – Gradual Cultivation ” point!
Thank you. This is a wonderful opportunity. Thoroughly engaging and fascinating xxx
This is amazing timing. I prayed for help with breathing last week. I have suffered from asthma for many years, or so i thought. In time I realised was most of the time anxiety attacks which I began having so frequently that it occured to me that no amount of inhaler was stopping asthma attacks. Because it wasnt asthma mostof the time. So after a year since I encountered burnnout, surgery and so much more turmoil all at the same time, I quit my job to get a handle on what is of real importance to me. Once I identified a glipse of what relaxation is like I aim to learn about and be mindful of when and how I was holding my breath and gently cleanse away some lingering psychological debris. Power to real deep effective nourishing breathing…. Peace, love and deep appreciation for the beauty of the body. Nothing speaks louder that the communication from ones own body, And to really listen and hear is priceless.
Hi from New Zealand. Thoroughly enjoyed today’s session thanks.. wonderful to hear from Joseph.. particularly enjoyed his notion of ‘sudden awakening, gradual cultivation’. Cheers, Lotta x
Sorry but I also found the format annoying… Please let the interviewers speak freely, and then, at the end if you have any questions then ask them. We lost the chance to hear Joseph deepen on what he was talking about because he was constantly interrupted.
I don’t think I can listen anymore either. So disappointing as the speakers are such quality! Very irritating presenter with her constant interrupting.
It saddens me to have to agree with you. Such a wealth of talent but i cant take the interview style. Perhaps if she put her video into a smaller square we could at least be focused on the teachers.
Hi
I didn’t realise that this course would provide us with such amount of knowledge and wisdom from such experts. The conversation format is wonderful, it provides the opportunity to get a very personal moment with these giants.
I also think that a conversation must unfold through deep presence from both sides. And from three sides, the listeners. When I listen without judging I get to be part of their dialogue in a higher sense. Thank you, I will try to get my dearest colleagues to commitment to this challenge.