Special AUDIO:
This talk explores how cultivating moment-to-moment, sustained attention is the doorway to transformation.
Concentration is the lens while mindfulness is the film or the chip that 'notices' what is there.
Concentration with deep relaxation can lead to not only profound states of awareness, but the arising of insight, allowing you to seeing deeply into the nature of reality.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special AUDIO:
This talk explores the nature of the thinking process and points to who you are beyond your thoughts.
You'll learn about how thoughts harden into beliefs and a formula for examining what you believe is true. You'll also learn how to shift your attention to who you are as awareness itself.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special AUDIO:
This talk explores how to work with the five mind states that make it impossible to be present.
You'll learn strategies for transforming your relationship with 1) aversion, 2) craving, 3) worry, 4) sloth and torpor and 5) doubt and self-criticism.
Drawing on real-life stories, this talk can help you more quickly recognize these states and find creative ways to access wisdom and compassion.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special AUDIO:
This talk explores what gets in the way of 'clear-seeing' and how you can work with the obstacles that naturaly arise when you pay attention to what is present.
You're learn about 'clear-seeing,' the practice of recognizing what is present.
Additionally, you'll learn about seeing what gets in the way of being free, seeing yourself through the transformational process and finally, seeing how you can incline the mind toward seeing the good in all things.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
This morning was in my usual technical flow after I give a talk.
Mike or Bob give me a usb thumb drive with the recorded talk. I pop it into GarageBand on my mac and do some minor editing. I trim the beginning and end, put on a musical intro and ending and adjust the sound levels.
I upload the mp3 files with copy to a website called “Libsyn” (liberated syndication). They host the talk and port it over to iTunes.
I was uploading the talk “On Feeling and Healing" from last night. On the control panel on Libsyn I noticed that since I started posting these talks, there have been over 200,000 downloads.
In the Buddhist tradition the teachings are offered freely. I love that technology helps make these talks and meditations available to those who are interested.
I have heard from people around the world with different comments. Sometimes there is an unexpected donation in my paypal account with some kind words.
Sample comments: "You are on the commute with me every day to work." "I have no real community around me and your talks help accompany me on my journey." "I don’t listen all the time, but when I’m going through a rough patch, your talks help calm me down and give me hope." and my favorite: "I’m so thankful for your talks on iTunes. Nothing else helps me fall asleep so deeply." I’m here to serve!
You can subscribe via iTunes ( http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?uo=4 )
or listen online ( http://jonathanfoust.libsyn.com/webpage )
or catch the audio on my youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHDVc7mqJEl3iIv901uKG-Q )
If you feel drawn, do add a comment or a rating on iTunes.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
November 20, we will be shooting the pilot for “One with Everything,” a show based on awareness, presence and transformation. Link: http://www.onewitheverything.tv
"Can a late-night talk show be enlightening and entertaining while also helping us to learn and transform ourselves? We’ll find out on the new show, One With Everything.
Join us for cinematic evenings of down-to-earth, candid interviews and experiences with comedians, neuroscientists, yogis and musicians – those who share in the basic belief that we are more than what we appear to be.
The show will also feature a spectacular house band, engaging audience participation, and special musical guests."
Your host (who will wear a better shirt for the taping.)
This venture is a mastermind of Matt Oestricher, incredibly talented musician and visionary. link: http://www.mattoestreicher.com/bio/
When Matt shared with me his vision and asked me if I would host, I told him I “had a great face for radio” and stalled for months. With his kind persistence, I've thrown myself in absolutely love everyone on the program and the whole unfolding process. We have an amazing band, producer and kind and creative folks excited to make this happen.
The house band working on a number.
Welcoming Dr. David Varga for an interview in our run-through. He’ll be doing the science segment. Link: http://contemplativeneurosciences.com/aboutme/home.html
With Bernadette Birney, yoga teacher. Link: http://bernadettebirney.com
Daryl Davis is a jazz musician who played in the south and befriended member of the Ku Klux Klan.
An absolutely amazing story and life.
Krishna Das is our musical guest. We go way back. Link: www.krishnadas.com
Last month we did a walk-through to get a sense of blocking and get some audience feedback.
November 20th we’ll be at the Bijou Theater in Bridgeport Connecticut. Link: http://thebijoutheatre.com
I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but I’ve got to sign off and … get working on my monologue!
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special AUDIO:
This talk explores how you can sensitize yourself to more quickly recognize the Three Characteristics of Reality and transform your relationship to stress and suffering.
You'll learn how these elemental qualities of existence pervade every moment and how, by seeing clearly into impermanence, your relationship to impermanence and how impermanence infuses your sense of self, you can hold your relationship to each moment with wisdom and compassion.
This talk is from the Fall 2014 Retreat with fellow teachers Anam Thubten, Tara Brach and Pat Coffey.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
What a week with my fellow teachers at the IMCW Fall Retreat at Pearlstone Retreat Center. Adam Thubten, founder and spiritual director of the Dharmata Foundation shared his wonderful presence with us. The result was a blend of both Theravaden and Tibetan practices and teachings with both depth and laughter.
Pat Coffey, Anam Thubten, Tara Brach, Erin Erinselover and Jonathan Foust
The incomparable La Sarmiento and Janet Merrick supported the teachers and 97 full-time practitioners.
Anam was gifted with a Halloween hat on the last morning. He’s definitely a wizard.
Final sharing with Anam at the end of the retreat. He’s a true dharma brother.
In our final ceremony, La offered a song to the group, not knowing she was going to hit a big speed bump.
YouTube Link: http://youtu.be/s3PNnkZta2E
All the retreat talks will be up on dharmaseed. My talk, on the “Three Characteristics of Reality,” is HERE.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special AUDIO:
This talk explores why awareness of the body is core to your meditation practice.
You'll learn the about the relationship of the body to the mind, emotions and states of consciousness as well as strategies for how to practice mindfulness of the body. You'll also learn how practicing awareness of the body can lead to deep insights in the three characteristics of reality.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
I am just back home after leading a daylong retreat "The Questions That Can Heal and Set You Free".
I feel refreshed, inspired and touched by a day with such kind and thoughtful folks.
If you have thought about taking time out of your busy life for a daylong retreat, here are five reasons I think it’s one of the best investments you can make:
1. You make a clean break from your routines and habits.
Sometimes spiritual practice is not so much about what you do but what you don’t do.
Imagine a day without email, voicemail, reading, writing, web, movies, Facebook and twitter. Add to that the possibility of not speaking for a day. Just the practice of consciously stepping back from these activities for a day can be transformational.
When you get lost in routine, it’s easy to forget what’s most important.
Stepping away helps you remember.
2. You hang out in non-ordinary experiences and non-ordinary states.
Having put aside external stimulation for the day, a retreat allows you to immerse into new experiences and practices.
Have you ever meditated for hours in one day? The way a daylong retreat is designed and paced allows you to experience what happens when you intensify your attention.
Ever spend a day in silence? The supportive structure makes it possible.
A retreat helps you to sustain a level of attention that is simply not possible in a busy, distracted day.
The results can be quite extraordinary.
3. You meet and hang out with like-minded people.
When you join in a day of intensive practice, you’re joining in with some extraordinary people.
You’re in the mix with those who value these practices and are actively exploring how they can apply the principles of mindfulness in their relationships and work.
The Buddha described engaging into spiritual practice as “swimming upstream.” You are swimming against your own conditioning but also swimming against the conditioning of the culture. Our culture is not really interested in slowing down and exploring what it means to be truly free.
A retreat provides the optimal space for not just your own internal dive, but a sense of real intimacy with those you may find inspiring.
4. You return to your daily life with new tools.
After a hours of practice you come away with new techniques and refined skills you bring back into your daily life.
Many report a residual effect of feeling less reactive, more kind and more creative in the following days and weeks.
5. You will inspire and inform your daily practice.
Most of us struggle with maintaining a daily practice. Intensive immersion helps to solidify your commitment, providing insight and often inspiration that will carry you forward. You’ll probably hear from others who are lit up about their practice and and will inspire you as well as from others who also struggle - often with the same issues you have.
Inevitably you’ll find both the inspiration and the realization that you are not alone in your endeavors to be helpful as you craft your daily meditation.
There is a saying: “The more you have going on in your life, the more you need to be on retreat.”
I find that absolutely true. When you can step away from your routines, immerse into intensive practice, be with like-minded practitioners, you’ll find inner resources available to you that were not there before.
The next retreat I’ll be leading is called “A Meditative Journey” on November 15th. This is a practice retreat. Only a few short talks to orient you to the practices and then you’ll dive into mindful movement flows, deep relaxing (lying down) body scans and sitting meditation.
For more information and to register.
http://imcw.org/Calendar/Events/vw/3/sm/613/itemid/979/Daylong-A-Meditative-Journey.aspx
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Quaker services are all about the moment. We meet in silence and members speak when they feel moved.
We held a memorial service for my father at our summer Meetinghouse in Maidencreek, Pennsylvania this last weekend. It’s a one-room unheated, simple stone building surrounded by trees.
Gathered in the comfortable silence generated by Friends, I shared the awe and inspiration I felt from my father, so beloved by many. He managed to turn the trauma of being in the tenches in WWII into a personal inquiry into creating both inner and outer peace.
An earlier post on his life here: http://jonathanfoust.com/letting-go/
Here’s a slide show commemorating him: http://youtu.be/GsLF0nwDo0g
No altar, no icons. One simple room dedicated to being present.
Preparing to bury my parents’ ashes
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
I'm up in the Berkshire Mountains at Kripalu Center this week and it's peak foliage season.
Impermanence is one of the three factors of reality and it's quite evident up here. Here are two trees in different stages of their moulting process.
Geek facts:
Lumix GH4
Panasonic Vario 100-300
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Not only is there appreciably less light in the mornings, I can’t remember a time when it’s been so consistently grey and fogged in.
Some early pre-dawn images from the river.
Geek facts:
Lumix GH4
Panasonic Vario 100-300
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special AUDIO:
This talk explores the theme of Earth Care Week and how the stress and suffering of what you see around you can be seen as a mirror of your internal world.
You'll learn how, by reflecting on the core teachings of 1) the fact of suffering, 2) the cause of suffering, 3) the cessation of suffering and 4) the path that leads to the cessation of suffering, you can change yourself. And by changing yourself, you can truly change the world.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
This week in class I talked about the classic instruction regarding “saying yes” to life.
Father Thomas Keating, one of the chief architects of Centering Prayer, described meditation as “the practice of consent,” accepting your experience to be exactly what it is.
I also talked little bit about how “no” is also saying yes… To something else.
If you encounter something overwhelming in meditation or in life, it’s wise to turn your attention elsewhere and trust that when the conditions are more supportive, you can explore this then.
When a good friend asked a well-known, powerful business leader to be on his Board of Trustees, the man replied, “Thank you so much for the invitation. I’m flattered. But I have to say no because I’m so excited about how we can transform education in the United States through my newly formed nonprofit. I’m giving this my full attention right now.”
My friend said it was the most inspiring rejection letter he had ever gotten.
Along those lines, here is a link entitled, How to Say No to Anyone (Even a Good Friend).
You can listen to the talk …
Here on iTunes
Here on Libsyn
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special AUDIO:
The talk explores some fundamentals of a meditation practice and how (sometimes) saying 'yes' to what is present can dramatically shift your relationship to the here and now.
You'lll learn my favorite definition of mindfulness, the art of 'saying yes,' how every 'no' actually means yes - and the classic instructions to more intimately deepen your mindfulness practice.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
