Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

Joseph Goldstein meets us at the constellation of self, the duality of self, and the need for mindfulness.

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This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein gets into: 

Duality and how it relates to our meditation practiceThe fundamental split of object and subjectLimitations from perceiving ourselves as separatePersona and the identification we have with the worldThe progression from fullness/oneness to constrictionHaving compassion for the shadow sideHow fear desire, and attachment, make us more attached to our sense of selfBeing imprisoned and conditioned by dualistic perceptionThe integration of mind and body and love for all experience as the connectorFrom the ego center to the zero centerBeing totally honest with what is happeningMindfulness as the tool to stop identificationThe power of renunciation and restraint

This 2005 dharma talk was originally published by Dharmaseed

?As long as we are identified with that sense of self in the mind, that identification creates fear, attachment, separation, comparing. If there?s an ?I?, if there?s a self, then we have to defend it, we have to protect it, we have to gratify it, and our whole lives revolve around this particular identification.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein discusses how working with fear is absolutely essential in our practice of understanding, opening, and accepting.

This 1983 dharma talk was originally published on Dharmaseed.

This week on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein teaches us about: 

Releasing tension through awarenessThe body as an energy systemOpening up to the Buddha natureWorking with fear and emotional painResistance and unwillingness to be uncomfortableBecoming open to pain and discomfortInsecurity and the fear of being judgedHow the fear of feeling certain emotions keeps us bound to negative habitsHow openness allows our hearts to be touchedDeath and fear of the unknownBeing okay with being afraidHaving space for fear without demandsLovingkindness as the antidote for fear

?What we?re doing in our practice is learning how to work with those experiences which often cause trouble, which often cause resistance, which we?re afraid of.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Offering instruction for metta practice, Joseph Goldstein explains the many flavors of loving-kindness that we can try.

This 2018 talk was originally published on Dharmaseed.

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This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein explicates: 

The unconditional quality of mettaHelping each other see our individual lovelinessUsing mantra to evoke the feeling of loving-kindnessMetta as a tool for deep concentrationExperimenting with the different ways metta can be applied in meditationThe three aspects of practicing of loving-kindnessA 12-minute guided metta practice to settle into the feeling of well-wishing

?There are two main purposes for doing metta meditation. One is metta, or loving-kindness, which can be used as a vehicle for developing concentration. So, not only for the metta quality itself, but it is a technique or a method for developing strong concentration, even to the point of absolution.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Guiding us in three short, guided meditations, Joseph Goldstein helps us break down our identification with the body and the self.

This talk from the Insight Meditation Society was originally published on Dharmaseed.

 In this episode of Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein guides us in: 

Accessing deeper meditative states outside of a retreatTurbo-charging our practice through shorter meditations we can do in our daily livesFinding the mental areas where our mistaken sense of self is createdListening to sounds and considering the ?knowing? rather than being a ?knower?Breaking through the identification we have with the bodyDirectly experiencing bodily sensations and their changing natureWatching our thoughts and being aware in their moment of arisingEnlivening our understanding of the Buddha?s teaching through a combination of practices

?This exercise allows us to see the selfless nature of thought and gives us the ability to choose which are helpful, which are not. Which do I act on, which do I let go of.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Focusing on equanimity and compassion, Joseph Goldstein teaches about staying open and responsive to collective and individual suffering.

This talk from the Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on Dharmaseed.

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This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein divulges : 

How to stay open and responsive while experiencing both individual and global challengesCompassion and equanimity as tools to work with difficultiesThe definition of equanimity and seeing all things as a wholeEquanimity as the basis of wise discernment and skillful responsivenessRe-framing difficult experiences as an opportunity to practice opennessAn invitation to look within rather than blaming outside forcesExamining what emotions are underneath our reactionsLetting go of the illusion of being in controlAccepting our feelings instead of allowing them to limit usFreeing ourselves through the awareness of impermanenceHow compassion arises out of our willingness to come close to sufferingSorrow as the near enemy of compassionHaving humility on our path to explore equanimity and compassion

?Equanimity gives us the foundation, the ability to approach the suffering without reactivity. And compassion, precisely arises out of the willingness to come close to suffering.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein describes the steps along the Buddha?s path to awakening, helping us see the significance of the Buddha in our own lives.

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This dharma talk from The Insight Meditation Society was originally published on Dharmaseed.

In this episode, Joseph Goldstein lectures on:

The sacred journey of the Buddha?s lifeThe Buddha as a universal archetype for awakeningConnecting the Buddha?s journey with our own journeyMaterialism and the wheel of becomingDiscovering the real value in our livesReflecting on the inevitability of deathThe uncertainty of the time of deathWhat actually matters when we reach our endOur own calls to destinyGiving up a conventional way of viewing thingsOur own power over the way we areConfronting the forces of Mara Relative and absolute bodhicitta

?In order to awaken to the hidden possibilities of life, we need to renounce, we need to be willing to give up our ordinary or conventional way of viewing things. Things are often not what they seem to be. If we stay just on the surface, we are often living in ignorance and illusion.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Explaining the ways our minds can be seduced, Joseph Goldstein teaches us how to let go into non-clinging.

This 2007 talk was originally published on Dharmaseed.

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In this episode, Joseph Goldstein teaches listeners about:

Letting go into the wisdom mind of non-clingingAwakening to the nature of the mindWorking with the hindrances of mindNoticing how the mind can be seducedSkeptical doubt and being frozen in indecisionThe ways that doubt can masquerade itself as wisdomTelling ourselves that it is okay not to knowResting in experience rather than being caught in thought loopsInvestigating our aversions and their hold on the mindSeeing everything with perfect wisdomTransforming our attitudes about our aversionsBeing inclusive to our difficult experiences

?Struggle is a great feedback because it signifies non-acceptance of something. Because if we were accepting, we wouldn?t be struggling. Whenever we?re in that sense of striving, of struggle, of tension, take that as a feedback, not as a problem. That?s telling us something. That?s saying something is going on in the body, in the mind, in the emotions, in the thoughts, in our external experience, something is going on that we?re not open to, that we?re trying to exclude, and that?s why we?re struggling.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Taking a journey through the Buddha?s history, Joseph Goldstein reveals how we can relate the Bodhisattva?s experiences to our own lives.

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In this Episode, Joseph teaches on:

The history of Siddhartha GuatamaArchetypes and myths within the Buddha?s journeyConnecting individual experiences into universal principalsJoseph Campbell?s description of the Buddha?s life stagesCalls to destiny and the illusion of having a selfThe profound truth of impermanence and changeAnxiety and unease from trying to posses thingsFacing realities such as death and diseaseOne of Joseph?s first major insights into his mindRenunciation and getting out of the seduction of appearancesMeditation and recognizing vastnessExamining what is a hindrance and what is skillfulThe great struggle and developing a courageous heartThe Bodhisattva?s three watches of the nightThe great awakening and working for the good of others

?In this archetypal level, the Buddha?s life reveals to us aspirations in our own. It helps us find a deeper meaning, a deeper purpose, a fuller context for our own life choices. On this archetypal level, it connects the Buddha?s journey with our own.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein joins Rohan Gunatillake to share the meditative story of how he first learned to integrate his spirituality into everyday life.

This episode was originally aired on Meditative Story, a podcast that combines the emotional pull of first-person storytelling with the immediate, science-backed benefits of mindfulness practice ? all surrounded by breathtaking and cinematic music. You can find Meditative Story on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!

 Joseph Goldstein shares a personal story about:

One of the most transformative moments in Joseph?s lifeThe beginning of Joseph?s enlightenment journeyIntegrating the spiritual gifts Joseph learned from the East into his everyday life in the WestLearning to embrace the uncomfortable feeling of not-knowingHow Joseph first connected with Ram DassJoseph?s first job teaching a meditation classSaying yes and allowing opportunities to present themselvesA guided mindfulness practice

?It?s as if my life exists as two separate strands. One is the strand of my practice, which feels clear and stable. The other is how that practice will manifest and how I can ever hope to apply it to the world. Spiritually, I am flying high. But I have no idea where to land.? ? Joseph Goldstein

About Joseph Goldstein:

Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and loving-kindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, where he is one of the organization?s guiding teachers. In 1989, together with several other teachers and students of insight meditation, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

About Rohan Gunatillake:

Rohan Gunatillake is a writer, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Meditative Story. By artfully crafting meditations to compliment each guest?s story, Rohan blends mindfulness with narrative to create a unique listening experience, encouraging listeners to use someone else?s transformative moment as the basis for their own. He?s also the founder of the best-selling app Buddhify, and author of Modern Mindfulness: How to Be More Relaxed, Focused, and Kind While Living in a Fast, Digital, Always-On World.

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Discussing the differences between knowing, awareness and wisdom, Joseph Goldstein helps deepen our insights into the nature of body and mind.

This 2007 talk was originally published on Dharmaseed.

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This time on Insight Hour, Joseph lectures on:

The Satipatthana SuttaThe four foundations of mindfulnessOvercoming suffering and attaining freedomHow wisdom combines awareness and investigationStruggling as the manifestation of non-acceptanceGrounding in awareness of different sense objectsAttuning to the patterns and conditioning in our mindsThe attitudes and judgements we have about experiencesThe ability to learn about our minds in any situation

?Wisdom arises out of awareness and it combines the qualities of investigation, of what the Buddha called right understanding/right attitude. With mindfulness as the platform, that is the foundation. Without mindfulness none of this happens.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Going through questions submitted by meditators on retreat, Jill Shepard asks Joseph about discernment and other Buddhist practices.

This episode was recorded as part of a three-month retreat at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published by Dharmaseed

In this episode, Joseph answers questions on:

What it means to waste your sufferingTurning attention inward and looking at the cause of sufferingAttachment, resistance, and false perceptionSelf and anatta (not-self)The wholesome and unwholesome roots of all skillful actionsLooking honestly at our intentions and motivationsHonoring the presence of our emotions versus being caught by themThe message we can receive from angerDiscernment and bringing mindfulness into loveLiberation through non-clingingWorking with doubt and the inner voice that fools and seduces usSurrendering to the DharmaHow practice prepares us for growing old

?It?s really important to be honest about the range of our own motivations because if we?re not honest about it, we?re not going to see it. If we don?t see it, we may very well be acting on the unwholesome motivations.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Describing how perceptions and constructs shape our experiences, Joseph Goldstein teaches on the concept of self.

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In this episode, Joseph describes:

The liberating jewel of the Buddha?s teachingsThe Self as the fabrication of our mindsThe relief of selflessnessAbandoning unwholesome qualitiesUsing Buddhist psychology to understand how The Self is createdRecognizing, naming, and rememberingPerception in the service of mindfulnessSeeing the frame instead of the pictureHow concepts can limit our understandingDivision and the concept of spacePast, present, future, and the concept of timeThe constriction within self-imageProjection and self-assessmentAge, culture, race, and other created constructsWhen concepts can be useful

?Our perceptions are concepts about what we are experiencing. This overlay on experience very often conditions how we feel about that experience. And, one of the startling things about all this, is that often our perceptions are inaccurate and yet they are conditioning the experience we are having.?? Joseph Goldstein

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In a world that often feels like it's teetering on the edge, it's not surprising that so many of us grapple with feelings of instability and overwhelm. 

On Tuesday, December 19th, join acclaimed Buddhist meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Ethan Nichtern for a free online conversation on staying grounded, available, and engaged, even when the world is on fire.

Sharon and Ethan will also discuss the upcoming Dharma Moon Yearlong Buddhist Studies program and offer their insights on how studying Buddhism can help us show up more fully for ourselves and others during these challenging times.

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In this question-and-answer session, Joseph Goldstein explores skillful means for non-clinging, how to work with the comparing mind, the intricacies of walking meditation, and much more.

This dharma talk, recorded on October 20, 2023, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

In this episode of Insight Hour:

Joseph offers a series of tips on walking meditationHe responds to questions about working with the comparing mind and working with the mind that is desperate to fix everythingJoseph talks about how it is possible for a layperson to awaken and why enlightenment is all about lightening upHe explores the importance of not being attached to our beliefs or our disbeliefs and keeping an open mindFinally, Joseph offers his perspective on how the Dharma has helped him in difficult times and why the Buddhist teachings are all about skillful means for non-clinging

?So when I began to hear these different teachings, rather than frame it ? ?Which is true?? or ?Which is right?? ? just to take the teachings as skillful means. So then the question is, skillful means for what? And here is where all the traditions of Buddhism are unified, and that is a skillful means for non-clinging. That?s the essence of the free mind in all the Buddhist traditions.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein delves into the concepts of loving-kindness, compassion, and the fear of discomfort. He highlights the transformative power of loving-kindness, mindfulness, and compassion in overcoming fears and limitations, ultimately fostering genuine happiness.

This dharma talk, recorded on February 18, 1997, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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In this lecture, Joseph:

Affirms that at the depths of our hearts and minds there is a basic reservoir of goodwillDefines mett?, or loving-kindness, as the basic generosity of the heartTakes note of the ?upward spiral? of happiness that mindfulness and loving-kindness promotesReminds us to stay open to suffering andRuminates upon the empty nature of fear itself

?If you keep shining your compassion and understanding on it, your fear will soon crack and you will be able to look into its depths and see its roots.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein expounds upon the relationship between thought and emotion as it relates to both our spiritual practice and our daily lives.

This dharma talk, recorded on June 4, 2013, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

In this lecture, Joseph:

Dissects the nuanced meaning of the Pali word sati, often translated as "mindfulness"Highlights the importance of applying mindfulness to both skillful and unskillful thoughtsHelps us understand the very nature of thoughtOutlines the inherent connection between thoughts and emotional responsesProposes that we stay open to afflictive emotions without identifying with them

"When we engage with thoughts and emotions from a place of interest and a place of investigation, a place of inquiry, we can see them all arise and pass away in this open sky of the mind." - Joseph Goldstein

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Discover the transformative practice of teaching mindfulness in a new FREE 30-page ebook by Senior Buddhist teacher and Emmy award-winning musician, David Nichtern. 

With its blend of humor, wisdom, and accessible approach, The Art of Teaching Mindfulness ebook is a must-read for anyone interested in sharing the life-changing practices of mindfulness with others.

Already downloaded by over 15k people, visit dharmamoon.com/ebook to get YOUR free copy of The Art of Teaching Mindfulness!

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Joseph Goldstein investigates the links between suffering, compassion, and the concept of the self.

This dharma talk, recorded on July 2, 1994, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

In this talk, Joseph:

Breaks down the three kinds of suffering according to the BuddhaAdvises us to remain open to suffering, reminding us that avoiding or resisting pain and unpleasant mind states only serves to feed themPosits that compassion grows from letting suffering inProposes that we drop into the flow of existenceAsserts that the root cause of suffering is our deeply conditioned senses of self 

?When we?re associated with what we don?t want, it?s suffering. And when we are separated from what we do want, it?s suffering. And this is the push-pull happening throughout our lives.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein dissects the Buddha?s most simple but fundamental lessons: to avoid what is unwholesome, to perform good actions, and to purify the mind.

This dharma talk, recorded on September 26, 1991, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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In this talk, Joseph:

Acknowledges that even the most simple lessons are not easyBreaks down the three unwholesome actions of the body, the four unwholesome actions of speech, and the three unwholesome actions of mindTouches on the Hindu concept of punya, or doing meritorious actions to plant the seeds of happinessMaintains that there is a wisdom in fearing dangerProvides us with examples of wholesome actions that we can perform

?Avoid what is unwholesome, perform good actions, purify the mind. This is the teachings of all the Buddhas.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein dissects the concept of meditation from the what, to the why, to the how.

This dharma talk was recorded on July 8, 2007, at the Insight Meditation Society and was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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In this talk, Joseph:

Demystifies meditationAsks, ?Why do we meditate?? and ?How do we meditate??Emphasizes the importance of settling down the mind to achieve real clarity and stillnessReminds us that meditation is not only about blissful feelingsIdentifies the relationship between our bodies and our mindsAdvocates for the acceptance and awareness of our own thoughts

?Meditation is not about whether it?s pleasant or unpleasant. It?s about how aware we are, how mindful we are.? - Joesph Goldstein

Discover the transformative practice of teaching mindfulness in a new FREE 30-page ebook by Senior Buddhist teacher and Emmy award-winning musician, David Nichtern. 

With its blend of humor, wisdom, and accessible approach, The Art of Teaching Mindfulness ebook is a must-read for anyone interested in sharing the life-changing practices of mindfulness with others.

Already downloaded by over 15k people, visit dharmamoon.com/ebook to get YOUR free copy of The Art of Teaching Mindfulness!

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Joseph Goldstein examines the mental factor of equanimity through the lens of the Eight Vicissitudes and the brahmavih?r?.

This dharma talk from April 17, 2012, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed.

In this lecture, Joseph:

Defines equanimity as neutrality of mind and the quality of evennessDraws a distinction between indifference of mind and spacious impartialityExamines the eight vicissitudes (gain and loss, praise and blame, fame and disrepute, pleasure and pain)Considers the spiritual implications of living in servitude to the inevitably changing conditions of our livesPlaces equanimity in the context of lovingkindness, compassion, and joy, i.e. the other divine abodes, or brahmavih?r?Reminds us that no situation is outside of our practice

?When we have equanimity, when both attachment and aversion are absent, then everything in our experiences becomes clear and undisguised.?

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In this episode, Joseph Goldstein reflects on the meaning of emptiness on the spiritual path and examines ways in which we can work toward enlightenment.

This dharma talk was recorded on April 16, 1989, and was originally published on Dharma Seed.

In this talk, Joseph touches on:

The meaning of emptinessThe such-ness of thingsThe 10,000 joys, the 10,000 sorrows, and opening ourselves up to the whole range of experienceThe Taoist dichotomy between non-action and inactionTaking interest in the phenomenon of thoughts, emotions, experiences, and situationsBeing simple and easy in our practice

?If we?re simple and easy in our practice, our lives become simple and easy. Can you be simple and easy in your practice, just with what is?? ? Joseph Goldstein

About Joseph Goldstein:

Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and loving-kindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, where he is one of the organization?s guiding teachers. In 1989, together with several other teachers and students of insight meditation, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

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Joseph Goldstein continues his discussion of bodhicitta ? the awakened heart.

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/insighthour

In this lecture, Joseph:

Reminds us that obstructions and defilements of thought are not intrinsic to the mindProvides us with a methodology for freeing ourselves from entanglement and attachmentCompares the clinging mind to ice and the luminous mind to waterRecognizes the causal relationship between mindfulness and compassion Teaches us that how we feel and respond to situations is up to usMaintains that cultivating compassion is a process that comes with daily practice

?The development of love and compassion is a wide, round curve that can be negotiated only slowly. Not a sharp corner that can be turned all at once. It comes with daily practice.?

This dharma talk from June 12, 2015, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein discusses enlightenment through the lens of the aspirational mental quality of bodhicitta ? the awakened heart.

This dharma talk from June 8, 2015, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed

In this lecture, Joseph:

Teaches us that there are two understandings of bodhicitta: relative bodhicitta, which is compassion, and ultimate bodhicitta, which is selflessnessHighlights the spiritual importance of cultivating both compassion and selflessnessRuminates on the challenges of living in our conventional, ordinarily understood realityReminds us that the ungovernability of life is the nexus between dukkha and freedomDescribes the union of emptiness and clarityRecognizes the need for a gradual cultivation of awareness

?The mind?s nature is vivid as a flawless piece of crystal. Intrinsically empty, naturally radiant and ceaselessly responsive.?

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Joseph Goldstein explores the nexus between thought patterns, sense pleasures, renunciation, addiction, and the wisdom of "No".

This dharma talk from October 24, 2012, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed.

In this lecture, Joseph:

Encourages us to examine the content and nature of our own thoughtsMaintains that our actions are conditioned by how we think about ourselves and how we think about the worldAdvocates for cultivating wholesome thoughts and letting go of unwholesome ones.Considers the rewards of renunciationEmphasizes the importance of saying ?no? on the spiritual path

?So often in spiritual practice and in our path and in spiritual scenes, we emphasize the yes. It?s the yes of acceptance, the yes of openness, the yes of receptivity, the yes of fullness of experience. So this is all an essential part of our practice. This yes is often the antidote to self judgment, self criticism, to contraction, to limitation. It?s like we?re learning to open, we?re saying yes to experience yes to the world.

But there is also a wisdom in ?no,? recognizing that some things are not skillful, are not helpful, they?re not leading to happiness or to our well being. And in these times, we can practice saying, ?no thanks,? I?ll pass on this one.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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This time on the Insight Hour podcast, Joseph Goldstein helps us understand equanimity as a fundamental state of mind and the role it plays on the spiritual path.

This dharma talk from July 22, 2023, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed.

This podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Click to receive 10% off your first month with your own licensed professional therapist: betterhelp.com/insighthour

In this lecture, Joseph explores:

The literal meaning of the word ?equanimity? in Pali and the difficulty of translationThe Great 8 Vicissitudes, or the endlessly changing conditions of gain and loss that affect each of usUsing equanimity to foster steadiness in the face of changing conditionsMaintaining a sense of humor and lightness on the spiritual pathThe difference between reactivity of mind and responsiveness of mindThe transmittable quality of equanimity

?Equanimity means understanding the difference between reactivity of mind and responsiveness. So this is a really important distinction because these two words reflect very different mindsets. Reactivity creates agitation. Responsiveness really is the basis for a balanced and compassionate engagement.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein leans on his decades of study and practice of the Dharma to answer a diverse range of spiritual and existential questions from his students and online retreat attendees.

This dharma talk from May 14, 2023, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed. 

In this Q&A style talk, Joseph answers an assortment of questions concerning:

The stages of enlightenment Being mindful of positive and wholesome mind states Realizing selflessness Concepts, the nature of consciousness, and reality Practicing mindfulness in modernity Karma and reincarnation

"We think our lives are so complicated and so confused in the modern world, in the ancient world and - at any point in time, there are only these six things happening. It's a sight, its a sound, it's a taste, it's a sensation, it's something going on in our minds. So, I like to think of all life, and the unfolding of our lives, as a six piece chamber orchestra. It's just playing the music." - Joseph Goldstein

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In this episode of the Insight Hour podcast, Joseph Goldstein delves into the nature of thought and provides valuable insights on cultivating mindfulness.

This dharma talk from May 13, 2023, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed.

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In this talk, Joseph:

Encourages us to notice when we become aware of our own thinkingHighlights the importance of recognizing the themes of our thoughtsEmphasizes that the past and the future are conceptual modelsExamines the very nature of thought itself

?When we?re unaware of thoughts, unmindful, they have so much power in our lives, they;re really directing our lives. And yet when we are mindful of them, as I say, it is a little more than nothing.?

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Joseph Goldstein discusses the challenges of practicing liberation, awakening, and enlightenment in the context of a lay person?s life.

?The Buddha said, ?I have shown you the path to liberation. Now, liberation depends on you.? This is really true. If you don?t take your life into your own hands, not even the Buddhas can make a difference. It?s up to you.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this talk, Joseph Goldstein offers insights into:

Finding a balance between monastic renunciation and worldly pleasuresImpermanence and the inherent instability of existenceThe Four Noble Truths as they relate to the concept of Du?khaThe understanding of selflessnessTaking your path into your own hands

This dharma talk from May 12, 2023, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein explores how karma and Samsara shape our lives and shares wisdom on integrating Dharma practice into our lives.

Today's dharma talk from May 16, 2023, was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society and originally published on Dharma Seed

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In this talk, Joesph shares his wisdom on:

Applying Buddhist practice and wisdom to our daily livesBetter understanding the interworkings of the mind and how our lives unfoldHow Karma and Samsara feed into one anotherThe importance that our motivations play in Karma and Samsara

?The challenge in our practice is integrating this understanding of karma with our growing insight into emptiness, selflessness, and the selfless insubstantial nature of phenomena. Can we hold both?? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Taking a journey into the vastness of the mind, Joseph Goldstein explores the creative power of consciousness.

In this episode, Joseph Goldstein elucidates:

Consciousness as the creator of our inner and outer worlds.The suffering that can come from an uncultivated mindMental illness, obsessions, addictions and thought-loopsBeing a prisoner of our own untrained mindImpermanence, empowerment, and the potential of the inner BuddhaThe Mahamudra and taming the mindStaying mindful during defilement

?The Buddha talked of how this mind, this force or power of consciousness, can be our worst enemy or the most benevolent friend.? ? Joseph Goldstein

About Joseph Goldstein:

Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and loving-kindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, where he is one of the organization?s guiding teachers. In 1989, together with several other teachers and students of insight meditation, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

?What?s most helpful to remember, in this part of the process where we become so aware of these defilements of the mind, is that they are visitors. They are not the nature of the mind itself. And because they are visitors we don?t have to judge ourselves, and we don?t have to judge them.? ? Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein explores the five Iddhis, or fulfillments of understanding, spoken of by the Buddha, and offers four different paths which can lead one to the completion of the fulfillments.

?The Buddha spoke of five Iddhis, or five fulfillments of understanding. The first of them is the Iddhi of special knowledge, which means the knowledge or the understanding of things which go beyond the conventional realm of concepts.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph examines the following:

The term Iddhi, which is best translated as fulfillment of understandingThe five Iddhis that the Buddha placed the most emphasis on: understanding all the constituent elements of what we call self; opening to the truth of suffering; abandoning the causes of suffering; realizing the end of suffering; developing a path to the endThe four different paths which can lead one to the completion of the five Iddhis

?These are the fulfillments that the Buddha talked about, the true miracle for us, the true development of understanding. In many of the texts, one of the ways in which somebody who got enlightened would celebrate the event, one of the common refrains, which has always been very inspiring to me, they would often say, ?Done is what had to be done.? Wouldn?t that be nice? Done is what had to be done. Finished. Come to completion. Come to fulfillment. We have actually done what needs to be done. What needs to be done is the realization or the development of these five Iddhis.? ? Joseph Goldstein

This dharma talk from November 26, 1988 was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein explores the nature of Samsara, or endless wandering, and the three interdependent cycles of defilements, actions, and results that keep the wheel of Samsara rolling.

?These three Kleshas in the mind ? ignorance, craving, and grasping ? they keep us moving around and around in this cycle of Samsara. There?s no balance in our lives, there?s no rest in our lives, as long as this cycle of Klesha is revolving.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

The nature of Samsara and the profound questions it raises for us The first interdependent cycle that keeps the wheel of Samsara rolling, the cycle of defilements, or Kleshas  The three root defilements that keep the cycle of defilements turning ? ignorance, craving, and grasping The second interdependent cycle, the cycle of actions and karma The third interdependent cycle, the cycle of results How mindfulness can help us escape the wheel of Samsara

This dharma talk from October 23, 1988, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein guides us through the steps of integrating the science of meditation with the art of meditation as a way of awakening within us the heart of wisdom.

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?Through this integration, the art and the science, we really awaken in us this heart of wisdom. And the heart of wisdom means seeing the true nature of phenomena. Seeing the true nature very deeply and very profoundly. It means going from the level of concept, from the level of our ideas and opinions about things, to the nature of the reality of it.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

How our practice is about awakening the heart of wisdom within us by integrating the science of meditation with the art of meditation The steps to integrate the science and art of meditation, including opening ourselves to all aspects of experience and refining the quality of our relationship to experience How we can drop from the level of concept to the level of what?s really happening, the true nature of experience How we can further develop concentration and mindfulness

This dharma talk from September 24, 1988, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein explores the different ways that we can strengthen and sharpen the five spiritual faculties that exercise a governing role in the mind when they are highly developed.

?So out of the continuity of attention, the defilements have less strength. Because of this, the mind becomes more peaceful. We get a taste of a genuine inner peace, a sense of calm, a sense of tranquility. From this taste of peace within us ? not peace dependent on any external situation, but actually arising within our own hearts ? because of this taste of peace, the spiritual faculty of confidence arises, strong faith arises, based on our own experience of it.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

The five spiritual faculties ? confidence, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom ? and how they exercise a governing role in the mind when they are highly developedThe various ways in which we can strengthen and sharpen those spiritual faculties: the understanding that everything which arises passes away; respect for the practice and respect for ourselves; care and meticulousness in our awareness; perseverance and continuity of attention; the suitability of conditions for practice; the sign of samadhi; balancing the factors of enlightenment; and understanding what heroic effort really means

This dharma talk from November 16, 1986, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Extricating us from dualist concepts of self and other, Joseph helps us move from the 'ego-center' to the 'zero-center' through opening to love.

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?There are so many parts of our experience which we don't like, we don't want to be there. We condemn, we judge, we push away?it can be difficult feelings in the body, difficult emotions, feelings of hatred, rage, unworthiness, loneliness, profound alienation. It can be so many things, so many parts of the mind that are the shadow side. The process of healing, the process of integration, is a willingness to open to all of those sides, to see the shadow in all its manifestation.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph dives into:

How we create the concept of duality/seperation (self and other, inside and outside, persona and shadow, etc.) Understanding our practice of Dharma as reintegrating and unifying Using mindfulness to shine light on our shadow by making the subconscious conscious Moving from the 'ego-center' to the 'zero-center' using the intermediate space of love (a very deep appreciation, respect, and openness for every moment's experience) Carlos Castaneda and the relationship between impeccability and emptiness

This episode recorded 11/29/1986 at the Insight Meditation Society was originally published on DharmaSeed

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Joseph Goldstein talks about working with and opening to fear as he pinpoints the three types of deeply conditioned fears that keep us from recognizing our own Buddha nature.

?What happens as proceed along this journey of practice is that we come to our edges, we come up to our boundaries of what is acceptable; what is acceptable in terms of physical sensation, what is acceptable in terms of mind states or feelings or emotions. And those are our boundaries at which fears in the mind begin to reveal themselves. Can we go beyond these boundaries? Can we go beyond the edges? Is there a way of working with fear and understanding it so that it is no longer a limitation for us?? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

How the practice of Dharma is a path of opening, but fear is often something that closes us down How fear is a manifestation of aversion The three types of deeply conditioned fears that keep us closed down: fear of pain, fear of insecurity, and fear of death How we can work directly with the mind state of fear through loving acceptance and discriminating wisdom

?So we learn how to open, we learn to come to our boundaries, our edges, our limitations; we see the fear that may be operating there, and we learn to work with the fear, we include the fear in our practice.? ? Joseph Goldstein

This dharma talk from November 11, 1985, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein explores the relationship of our meditation practice to the establishment of world peace by helping us understand the tendencies of the mind obstructing that peace.

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?There is a very powerful effect; it?s not just for ourselves that we practice, it is for ourselves and it is for everyone else, as well. Because as we free our minds from craving and wrong view and conceit, when we reduce this tendency, this attitude of mind to expand and grab and take and exploit, when we can purify our own minds of these tendencies, we establish peace in ourselves, and it becomes a force of peace in the world.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

The relationship of our meditation practice to the establishment of world peace How we can better understand the three tendencies of the mind that are the root causes of the conditions that obstruct peace: craving, wrong view, and conceit How the practice of mindfulness can help us uproot those three tendencies of the mind by deepening our insight into impermanence, suffering, and the selflessness of phenomena

This dharma talk from October 18, 1985, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein explores the concept of dependent origination ? the law of causality and conditioning ? so we can understand the process that keeps us bound to the Wheel of Samsara.

?In every moment of noticing, in every moment of being mindful, when there is no ignorance, when there is no delusion, when we are seeing things actually as they are, in that moment, the mind is purified; we are breaking this chain of dependent origination, we are breaking the link of it.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

The Wheel of Life, also known as the Wheel of SamsaraWhy the law of dependent origination, or the law of causality and conditioning, keeps us bound to the Wheel of SamsaraEach link along the chain of dependent originationHow cycles within the 12 links in the law of dependent origination keep the wheel forever spinningHow Vipassana practice can help us cut into those cycles and break the chain of dependent origination

This dharma talk from October 29, 1985, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein explores wisdom from the Tao and talks about how we can learn to settle back into each moment and establish ourselves in the rhythm of experience.

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?When we can settle back and allow the change, allow the process of change to unfold without interfering, without pushing the river, then we establish ourselves in the rhythm of experience. And the rhythm carries us, just as in any activity, in music, in sport, in nature; the rhythm carries the experience when it?s not interfered with. And in that, there?s a grace, there?s a harmony, there?s a balance.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

Learning to settle back and become one with each moment of experienceHow the appreciation of rhythm has to do with the full awareness of change and how we can establish ourselves in the rhythm of experienceThe difference between non-action and inactionHow the simplicity of the Buddha?s teachings leads to great spaciousnessSome of the wisdom from the Tao Te ChingThe obstacles in the way of the simple practice of settling back into each moment, including our sense of self

 This dharma talk from December 7, 1986, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein examines what happiness is and how we get it, plus he outlines the very ordered stages of progress that occur on the path of insight and wisdom. 

?There?s another kind of happiness, which is higher even than the happiness of concentration, and that?s the happiness of insight, the happiness of wisdom, when we really come to a deep and profound understanding of who we are, of what this life is about.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

The happiness born from sense pleasures, not only in this realm but in the higher realmsHow purity of conduct, through both generosity and understanding virtue, can bring sense pleasuresThe happiness that comes from concentrationThe happiness that comes from insight and wisdomThe very ordered way that the progress of insight unfolds: psychological insights, purity of view, vipassana happiness, fear of the process of existence, the urge for deliverance, the stage of equanimity, and finally, opening to the unconditioned, that which is beyond the mind

 This dharma talk from October 14, 1982, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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In this episode, Joseph Goldstein leads a powerful practice around cultivating equanimity and talks about why it?s important not to confuse equanimity with its near enemy, indifference.

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?Equanimity is the mind state of impartially, not indifference. So it?s like space which contains everything impartially. And one way of coming to this space of impartiality is understanding that things, in this world, are happening lawfully. They?re not happening by accident. And so the equanimity phrase, and the development of equanimity, is closely tied in with wisdom.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode:

Joseph talks about the concept of equanimity, explaining why it?s important not to confuse equanimity with its near enemy, indifferenceJoseph explores the wisdom aspect of equanimityJoseph leads a powerful equanimity practice focused around offering phrases to a neutral person, a benefactor, a good friend, and a difficult person

?All beings are the heirs of their own karma. Our happiness or unhappiness depends on our actions, not upon our wishes.?

 This dharma talk from December 7, 2004, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein explores the Buddha?s concept of the Five Iddhis, which are the five elements of the teachings we need to bring to completion in order to truly awaken our hearts and minds.

?This Iddhi of psychic power is inferior to the Iddhi of understanding. When the Buddha was asked what the true miracle was, he said the real miracle is the awakening of people?s minds, it?s not the flying through the air or the diving in the earth, it?s the awakening of the mind, the awakening of the heart.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph shares his insight into:

The Sanskrit term, Iddhi, which refers to the particular power of something, bringing to completion a particular situationThe difference between psychic Iddhis and Iddhis of understanding and insightThe Buddha?s concept of the Five Iddhis, which are five elements of the teachings we need to fulfill to truly awaken our hearts and minds: fulfillment of special knowledge of the Dhamma; coming to a full understanding of the truth of suffering; bringing to completion the abandoning of the causes of suffering; the fulfillment of coming to the end of suffering; and the development of the path of practiceThe Buddha?s concept of the four Iddhipadas, which are characteristics that are the road to success in our practice: zeal, effort, love of the Dhamma, and inquiry.

This dharma talk from October 9, 1989, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein talks about how the tides of conceiving continually condition our lives and explores the ways we can directly experience the reality of Nibanna, the unconditioned.

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?Do we buy in? Do we buy into the content? Do we get lost in this mind-created world of ?future,? or can we see it as being as light as a momentary thought, a momentary image? Just like a sound arises. But it takes a great deal of vigilance because these thoughts, these tides of conceiving, are tremendously seductive. You know, we?ve been doing this for years, and perhaps lifetimes. But awareness is very powerful, we can actually free ourselves from this prison.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph talks about:

How the tides of conceiving continuously arise in our mind and condition our experienceThe different concepts that we solidify and make real, including our bodies, time, and the mental construct of the selfWhy the concept of the self is so deeply held and why we?re so attached to itThe four realities that can be experienced directly, including that of Nibbana, which is also known as the unconditionedThe wide range of expressions of the experience of the unconditioned that is available in different Buddhist traditions

 

This dharma talk from December 5, 1995, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein covers the basics of metta, which he calls the generosity of the heart, and shares ways we can cultivate deeper feelings of loving-kindness in our practice.

?Metta, as most of you are familiar, is a word from the Pali language, the language of the Buddha?s time, and it means loving-kindness or friendliness. And it refers to that basic quality or that basic feeling of generosity of the heart. It?s an expression of the generous heart that is simply wishing well, simply wishing or expressing goodwill to ourselves and others.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph shares his insight on:

The basics of metta, or loving-kindness, and how it refers to the feeling of the generosity of the heartHow metta can become the ground for wisdom to growThe difference between metta and desire, and why those two feelings are often confused for one anotherDifferent ways we can nurture our practice and cultivate deeper feelings of metta, including reflecting on forgiveness and gratitude 

This dharma talk from February 6, 1999, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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In this deep exploration of the union between compassion and emptiness, Joseph Goldstein breaks down the relative and absolute levels of Bodhicitta, the heart-mind of awakening.

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?The ultimate nature of Bodhicitta ? the relative level is compassion ? the ultimate level of Bodhicitta, is the empty, aware nature of the mind itself. And as one Tibetan teacher said, ?When compassion and emptiness are both present, enlightenment is unavoidable.? So this is what we practice. This what we come to realize, to cultivate: the relative Bodhicitta of compassion, the ultimate Bodhicitta of emptiness.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph explores:

Relative Bodhicitta, absolute Bodhicitta, and how these two levels are expressions of each other, not polaritiesThe different ways in which we can understand emptiness, including dropping into the effortless flow of experience, being reminded by our teachers, seeing the insubstantial nature of the self, and seeing that things are not amenable to our willThe nature of the mind, which is empty like space, has an innate wakefulness, and it is inherently pureHow the activity of emptiness is compassion

 

This dharma talk from July 9, 2003, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein talks about how wisdom arises from an understanding of the true nature of impermanence, and how experiencing the truth of change can be our doorway to freedom.

In this episode, Joseph explores:

The nature of impermanence and why going from an intellectual understanding of it to a direct experience of it can be our doorway to freedomThe different ways we can gain liberating insights into the truth of impermanence, including reflecting on death and relationshipsHow, when we begin to see the true nature of change, we start to cultivate Bodhicitta The two levels of Bodhicitta ? the relative level and the ultimate level ? and how Bodhicitta manifests as responsive compassion

?So this is really important because in talking about the impermanent nature of all this and how ultimately unsatisfying it all is, the implication is not that we pull back from experience, as some people might assume. Rather, it?s learning to not hold on. That is the implication, and that is the doorway to freedom.? ? Joseph Goldstein

This dharma talk from March 25, 2004, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein helps us understand the quality of samadhi, which he describes as embodied presence, and talks about the different methods we have available for cultivating it. 

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?We settle back into the body, into the awareness of the body, and we allow the tensions and the knots, we allow them to unfold. We create the space, we create the space of awareness in which they will unwind. And this becomes a great healing process.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph talks about:

Understanding the meaning of the quality of samadhi, which is also known as concentrationHow the development of samadhi is the cultivation of embodied presenceHow ethical conduct is the foundation of samadhiDifferent ways to cultivate and deepen the quality of samadhi, including through direct awareness of a single object and through an open, choiceless awarenessThe many methods he has used in his own practice to develop samadhi, including slowing down and being mindful of your body movementWays we can contemplate the body both internally and externally, which can help us understand how our practice is for the benefit and welfare of all beings

This dharma talk from October 6, 2004, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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In this episode of Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein explores what compassion is, the wisdom that gives rise to it, and how we can manifest it in the world.

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?When compassion and wisdom are both present in our lives, even to a small extent, there?s really a remarkable transformation, because they bring a creative power to the way we live, the way we act, the way we relate. When wisdom and compassion are both there, they help us go beyond the conventional response.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph talks about:

How wisdom and compassion work togetherWhat compassion is and the wisdom that gives rise to itThe four insights that can help us keep our hearts open in the midst of the great suffering in the worldHow compassion grows and deepens within usThe different ways compassionate action manifests in the worldThe Bodhisattva Vows and the act of dedicating one?s life and practice to the benefit of all beings

This dharma talk from July 23, 2004, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein explores the path to freedom that the Buddha laid out for all of us and talks about the importance of developing and sustaining the quality of ardor in our practice. 

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?What is ardency? I think we all have some sense of it in our very worldly lives. Just think of the feeling of ardor in the great love of your life, or in the first days of the great love of your life. What is that feeling of ardor like? There?s this powerful and sustained energy that is just so full in us. And it?s characterized by tremendous warmth of feeling and passion and enthusiasm and interest. That?s what ardor means. So can we cultivate that kind of ardor in our love of the Dhamma? In our love of the truth? That?s the quality that the Buddha is saying we need that, we need that passionate interest, that passionate energy to explore and discover.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph talks about:

The path to freedom that lies in Vipassana practices and how these practices are rooted in the Buddha?s discourse, the Satipat?h?na SuttaThe deeper meaning of some of the Pali words used in that discourse and why the Buddha frequently repeats some phrasesThe importance of developing and sustaining the quality of ardor in our practiceHow reflecting on the preciousness of human birth and understanding impermanence can help cultivate ardorHow Metta practice works together with Vipassana practiceHow we begin to see that practice is not just for ourselves, but for the benefit of the whole world

This dharma talk from September 27, 2004, was originally published on Dharma Seed.

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Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg recall their early lives and initial years of mindfulness practice and share what drew them to meditation in the late sixties and early seventies.

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This podcast is being released in tandem with Sharon Salzberg?s Metta Hour Hour Podcast. Sharon is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She and Joseph are co-founders of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA. Sharon is the author of numerous books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness.

?This lasted for two years, and they were the worst two years of my practice, the most difficult. And it took me that long to realize that it wasn?t about getting something, it was about opening to what was there. But I was so attached to that wonderful experience that it was really subverting the deeper understanding of what meditation really is. So it took me such a long time, but finally, after two years of struggle, something released, let go, and I just settled back and opened to whatever was presenting itself.? ? Joseph Goldstein

In this conversation, Joseph shares about:

Growing up in the Catskills and his early encounters with death and loss ? Studying philosophy at Columbia University and living in New York City during his college years ? Joining the Peace Corps and living in Thailand ? His first encounters with Buddhist monks and the resonance of finding the spiritual path ? The ups and downs of his initial years of practice and finding his teacher, Munindra ? Meeting Sharon at her first retreat with S.N. Goenka ? The community that emerged out of the Goenka retreats ? The parallels of the evolution of his and Sharon?s path

Sharon shares about:

The difficulty of her childhood ? Her first encounter with Buddhist Philosophy in college and creating a study abroad program to take her to India ? Receiving Chögyam Trungpa?s advice on where to learn meditation ? Searching for meditation instruction across India as a young woman ? The scene at her first retreat led S.N. Goenka ? Learning how to navigate her inner life ? Meeting Joseph for the first time ? Her and Joseph?s different practice needs in their early years ? Crafting a spiritual path before there was a model for that life in the West

This episode is part of a continuing series of interviews between Sharon Salzberg & Joseph Goldstein about their lives and contributions to Buddhism. For more like this, subscribe to Sharon's Metta Hour Podcast.

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In this unique offering from the Love Serve Remember Foundation archives, Joseph Goldstein joins Ram Dass for a conversation around love, emptiness, soul, the notion of self, and much more.

NEW Meditation Series: Pause, Breathe, Be Here Now with Ram Dass, Sharon Salzberg, Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, Joseph Goldstein, John Lockley, Ram Dev, Trudy Goodman, Lama Tsultrim Allione?FREE January 16 to 25. Sit in true peace, love, and tranquility. Join thousands of people around the world for this collective meditation experience: onecommmune.com/ramdass

?And let?s not forget joy. In you is joy. In you is compassion. Peace. Emptiness. And love. Those are all in you. In you. Now, manifest them in your behaviors. And your thoughts.? ? Ram Dass

In this episode:

Joseph and Ram Dass reminisce about the early days of their friendship and how their relationship has evolved over the yearsThey respond to a question about whether there?s a relationship between love and Tao, exploring the concepts of self (and no self), emptiness, and soulRam Dass asks Joseph about the concept of dharma and they discuss the way of natureThe conversation veers into karma, free will, and whether or not everything is predeterminedThey touch the mysterious forces at work in the universe and the power of imaginationJoseph and Ram Dass respond to a question about developing compassion amidst intense polarizationRam Dass ends with a brief guided meditation

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