Special PODCAST:
This talk explores ways you can more mindfully be with physical stress and suffering.
You'll learn about the inevitability of sickness and pain in your life and some fundamental teachings and strategies for being fully present in difficult times.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the relationship between desire and liberation.
You’ll learn how your desires can be informed by fear as well as by compassion, kindness and love and how liberation may simply be the absence of any and all desires.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores some elemental teachings on desire and it’s relationship to addiction.
You’ll learn how stress is part of the human condition, how you tend to get caught in reactive patterns to stress, the key to finding inner peace and some thoughts about the practices that lead you to greater freedom.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
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please signup here.
Robert Frost said, "In two words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life...It changes."
This winter here in the mid-Atlantic is so warm the trees never went dormant. The slightest warming results in fresh pollen. A few days ago the spring peepers at the pond were so loud I had to shout over them to be heard. The fox look surprisingly plump for mid-winter.
I’ve have been working on a talk about change recently and started paying particular attention to my reactions. Some changes I love and some freak me out.
Transcendent of the flux of change lies a capacity to observe without judgement and to react without fear.
May we all come to know that place more intimately.
If you’re looking for powerful retreats where you can get away and and take a deep dive, here are a few programs I’m offering at Kripalu Center:
This is a "blow out the tubes" intensive where you’ll explore a range of practices and a powerful form of transformational breathwork, all in the context of social silence and a great community.
What is the most reliable and direct way to tap into inner knowing? It has a lot to do with the kinesthetic intuition - how your body holds information. This five day immersion takes you through practices that help you calm and clear your mind, formulate the questions most important to you and powerfully develop your capacity to both listen and interpret what arises.
For yoga teachers working toward their 500-hour professional training certification, this is an immersion into using meditative language in asana as well as an experiential training in simple and profound meditation techniques.
For more information and to register, click the banner to learn more:
Henry David Thoreau refused to pay poll taxes for six years because he objected to money going to the war and to support slavery.
For this he was jailed.
His good friend, writer and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson allegedly came to visit him and asked: "David, what are you doing inside this jail?
Thoreau responded: "Ralph, what are you doing outside this jail?"
I’ve made some comments on politics in this newsletter and in some dharma talks, notably a talk called "How to Keep Your Heart Open During the Election".
I got some feedback. Some of it was trolling with a truly nasty edge, some was tinged with anger and exasperation, but a lot was thoughtful. I’ve done my best to understand the points of view from each person and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be in dialog.
There’s a story of someone asking a wise, non-dual teacher, "What do I do about others?"
The teacher responded, "There is no other."
I take that to mean that any perception we have of others is simply a reflection of ourselves.
It’s been hard sometimes to listen fully and ensure that I have heard what another has said and to contemplate their message fully without judgement. The result, though, is that I feel more enriched and full.
I despair at the escalating levels of anger, violence and intolerance in our culture.
The more reactive I get, the more I need to find a place of inner stillness and steadiness.
If I’ve offended you in any way with my unskillful rhetoric, I ask your forgiveness.
It’s my hope, even in these times of escalating discord, we can continue to let go, forgive and look for commonality.
I recently gave a talk entitled "Forgiveness and Letting Go as a Spiritual Practice."
It explores the ‘science’ behind forgiveness and a reflection you may find helpful.
A week on retreat. The Meditation Hall at the Forest Refuge.
Off for breakfast. The Eagles are now in active egg-tending mode.
Punked out Mergansers.
Gull invasion. This time of year they show up to eat the early hatching larvae.
Fat Feasting February Fox.
A shot of Wild Turkey at sunrise.
Morning shift change.
This is short clip with images and impressions from my winter retreat.
You’re gonna die.
And get sick. And probably get old.
A great yogi once said, "The greatest wonder in the world is that everyone dies. The second greatest wonder in the world is that no one thinks they will."
How do you want to live, knowing you will die?
That’s the meat of this talk. If you only have a few minutes, it starts off with a few short jokes if you’d like a little hit of humor in your day.
For the Website, follow this link for the podcast, and this link for youtube.
To receive a monthly newsletter,
please signup here.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the reality of change and how you can shift your relationship to what is happening in your life.
You’ll learn how change is an essential fact of reality, how you can learn to embrace change and what it means to live in a world that seems to be changing faster and faster.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This is short clip with images and impressions from my winter retreat.
If you’d like to here more of the nitty gritty, here’s my talk, "Four Things I Learned on My Winter Retreat"
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTuM1TzZNZo podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?mt=2 Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores how to find freedom in relationship to sickness, old age, death and embracing ‘reality-based’ practices.
You’ll learn how deeply investigating these phenomena helps you to savor and celebrate this life and to re-dedicate yourself to live your life fully.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the transformative power of forgiveness and letting go.
You’ll learn about the consequences of not letting go, how to motivate yourself to change, the technology of forgiveness and what it means to cultivate a forgiving heart as a personal practice.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores four insights I had from my annual winter retreat at the Forest Refuge.
You’ll learn about how to use inquiry to explore what it is you truly know for certain, how to see more clearly into your conditioning, how to turn directly to that which is between you and feeling free and a way of exploring the nature of ‘self'.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
To receive a monthly newsletter,
please signup here.
Post-election I’ve been host to quite a few emotions, among them frustration, anger and dread.
I know it’s on me to keep my heart and mind open. Wisdom and compassion are lofty goals, but require diligence and ruthless self-inquiry.
I didn’t make it to a march this month as I was on the road teaching. But I heard from many around the world who joined in demonstrations or watched closely and felt transformed. Everyone I talked to spoke how their heart was buoyed by a sense of camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose.
As much as it is important to find those who resonate with our values, we also need to remember that the ‘other’ is not the enemy.
All beings, without exception, want to feel happy, safe and free.
May we remember that ... and find our path to skillful action in these trying times.
Thursday, April 13 to Sunday, April 16, 2017
In recent years the Energy Intensive at Kripalu Center has booked up with a wait list.
I thought I’d give you advanced notice of the next one if you’d like to reserve your place. I’ve been co-leading this program with Shobhan Richard Faulds for about 15 years.
We’re not kidding when we use the word "intensive." Your day starts at 6:00AM with yoga and ends around 9:00PM most days. (Integral to your experience, though, are deep relaxations, breathing sessions and meditation. Most people feel much more alive and rejuvenated at the end of the three days.)
You’ll explore practices that are designed to raise both energy (prana) and awareness (chitta), culminating with a practice of circular breathing that can be quite transformative.
If you’re looking for a three-day program blow off stress and renew, this is a great one.
To learn more, click the banner below:
I saw a report that stated the following:
1. Think of your five best friends.
2. Average out their incomes.
3. It's probably your income.
I read that and immediately thought , "I need new friends."
The point of the report was that you resonate with those with whom you spend the most time.
If you want to be a musician, for example, hang out with people who are passionate about music. Practice together. Listen together. Learn from each other. You'll be touched by their passion and probably, at times, inspire others with your passion when they are struggling.
If want want change fundamental habits, learn anything new or develop mastery in any area, it requires:
* Sustained attention
* Associating with like-minded people and,
* Getting feedback.
What would happen if you devoted a year to cultivating non-judging awareness? That's the idea behind A Year of Living Mindfully.
The Year of Living Mindfully is not a book club. It's not discussion group. It's not me giving lectures about being fully alive.
It's about community. It's about learning techniques and practices that deepen your capacity to be with whatever arises in your life with greater wisdom and compassion. It's about sustaining attention on what it means to be fully awake.
I'm privileged to offer the ninth year of this 12-month course. If you're interested, check out this link, and sense if it's a match for you in your life.
I know what a profound difference it can make.
Applications are due March 1.
It's a blessing to start a new year off with a retreat. With fellow teachers Anam Thubten, Tara Brach and Hugh Byrne.
Weather systems of the mind. It went from this to blue skies in about four minutes.
The Eagles have landed. It looks like they are committed to this nest for their little ones.
Bottoms up. Geese feeding at the base of an island.
On the watchtower. Vigil at first light.
Another morning vigil, shot from the bank as the Potomac has been at flood stage recently.
Flying to Denver. How would you describe this scene to someone 150 years ago?
Learn more about this year's program.
This is an amazing study and I could not recommend it more highly.
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University are seeking individuals with a regular, long-term meditation practice to participate in a research study looking at the combined effects of meditation and psilocybin, a psychoactive substance found in sacramental mushrooms of some cultures. The study will investigate psychological and brain processes underlying such effects.
Volunteers must be between the ages of 25 and 80, have no personal or familial history of severe psychiatric illness, or recent history of alcoholism or drug abuse.
To discuss the possibility of volunteering or to learn more: Phone: 410-550-2253
Email: meditation@jhmi.edu
Website: www.hopkinsmeditation.com
Confidentiality will be maintained for all applicants and participants. Principal Investigator: Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D., Protocol: NA_00047665
Feel something calling but you’re not sure how to make it happen?
After a lot of hemming, hawing and seesawing, this is the year I’m called to write what I think will be a book.
Here’s how the process unfolded for me using four questions I list below:
1. I want to write what I think will be a book.
2. I know it ain’t easy and I have a pretty good idea of how tortuous this process can be. (I never heard an author say, "This book was effortless.")
3. I am a good enough writer to know I’m not a great writer. I easily get distracted or overwhelmed by other commitments I’ve got in play. I’ve never written anything this complex before.
4. If I’m going to be successful I’ll need someone who’s done this before to help me plot out how to do this efficiently, someone skilled (and patient) to coach me with the writing, cheerleaders and allies with whom I can commiserate and not least, discipline and daily focus.
If I had that? I think I can make this happen!
Here are some questions to contemplate when you’ve got a project or a goal in mind:
1. What do you really, really really want?
2. How much do you really, really really want it? What kind of pain are you willing to endure to get it?
3. What is your weakest link?
4. What are the support systems that will help you to manifest this?
If you’d like to hear more, here are the links to this talk, "Start Again: How to Refresh Your Intention and Your Attention", for the Website, follow this link for the podcast on iTunes, and this link for youtube.
To receive a monthly newsletter,
please signup here.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the role of the body in the practice of awakening.
You’ll learn how awareness of your body helps you to be present, to heal, to access intuition and to see clearly into the nature of reality.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the importance of having clear intentions.
You’ll learn how to navigate four questions that can help you gain greater clarity: What do you really really want? How much do you really really want it? What is your weakest link? What are the systems you need to help you realize your goals.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores four things to remember when deep in practice.
You’ll learn about these powerful and inter-related inquiries: What am I feeling right now? How more fully present can I be right now? What am I noticing right now? Can I be with this … right now? This is the first evening's talk from the IMCW New Year’s Retreat.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
To receive a monthly newsletter,
please signup here.
We certainly live in interesting times.
Many years ago a swami came to the ashram I lived in and said, "The more you've got going on in your life, the more you need to be on retreat."
With all the churning and burning going on in our culture it's more and more important to find calm and clarity in order to chart your path and find your way.
Later this month Tara and I head north to do a silent retreat at the Forest Refuge in Barre, MA.
I'm immensely grateful for this opportunity to pause and I hope you too can find time, whether it be on retreat or in your daily life, to slow down, breathe, reflect and be.
Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29, 2017 (commuters welcome)
Tara Brach and Jonathan Foust Garrison Institute, Garrison, NY
For many of us, the greatest challenge each day is managing the anxiety, worries and fear that can so easily take over and run our life. When we are caught in the trance of fear, we are fixated on protecting and defending ourselves. We are living in a prison that separates us from our natural intelligence and our love for the world around us.
This weekend workshop explores a sequence of mindfulness and compassion-based teachings and practices that can help you step out of the trance of fear. In a safe and caring space, you will explore how to release the limiting beliefs that fuel insecurity, judgment and self-doubt; and how to awaken your fearless heart - the heart-space that has room for fear and full aliveness, creativity and limitless love.
The program will include didactic presentations, guided meditations, interpersonal meditations, journaling and time for questions and sharing.
To learn more, click the banner below:
When you head out on a long journey it’s a good idea to have a roadmap.
You’ve got a wide selection of guides available. Each spiritual tradition offers a map that suggests you avoid certain roads and stick to others. It’s important to find one that resonates for you.
Along the way it’s also helpful to pause, look around and make sure you’re still heading toward your destination. You want to check your engine, kick the tires and make sure you’ve got enough in your tank to keep going.
For a few years now I’ve been doing an annual review. Based on a format from James Clear (jamesclear.com), this is an opportunity to stop and ask three simple questions:
1. What worked? 2. What didn’t work? 3. What am I focused on now?
If you’d like to take a look at mine you can peruse it here: 2016 Annual Report
A Year of Living Mindfully starts in April.
Much of your success comes from sustaining attention on what is most important in your life.
In March of 2017 I’ll be offering The Year of Living Mindfully again for those living in the DC Metro area.
If you’d like to learn more you can follow this link. You’ll learn about the program, read some Frequently Asked Questions and can download an application.
This is the ninth year of the program. Please follow the link below: http://jonathanfoust.com/year-of-living-mindfully
May this year be one of unexpected pleasures for you.
There has been a lot of activity on the river as more birds settle in for the winter.
Breaking the ice on a particularly chilly morning.
One in the nest and one on watch. The eagles appear to be settling in and will hopefully lay eggs in February.
Nice beaver. A chance encounter in the middle of the river.
One of a clutch of turkeys roosting on an island.
A Bald Eagle enjoying breakfast sushi.
Full moonset.
If you look in the upper right third quandrant, you'll see I was being closely monitored as I paddled by.
There's a comedian in every crowd.
Coot yoga. You'll notice that Coots don't have webbed feet, which makes them look particularly silly when they take off.
Learn more about this year's program.
Like many, I’m troubled by the acrimony and fear in our culture right now.
It’s easy to fall into one of the classic reactive states. For many, it’s a semi-permanent state of anger, judgement and ill will. For others, distractibility, disassociation and not wanting to feel. Others report feeling frozen in fear and anxiety.
How do you break free?
The antidote seems to have something to do with cultivating the heart.
Compassion is a practice. It can help thaw the pain and open to new possibilities.
I recently offered a talk on compassion. It’s full of stories that demonstrate what can happen when you turn directly to suffering with an open heart.
To listen to this talk, Compassion and the Outer Life, follow this link for iTunes and this link for youtube.
To receive a monthly newsletter,
please signup here.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Our annual IMCW New Year’s Retreat … a great way to end and begin again. It was great to connect again and serve with Anam Thubten and teachers Tara Brach and Hugh Byrne.
Dharma talks will be online soon.
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores what can happen when you actively cultivate compassion for those around you.
You'll learn how inner awareness leads to outer awareness, how to train yourself to be aware of others' feelings and unmet needs and ultimately, how to move from compassion to skillful action.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
Special PODCAST:
This talk explores the power of self-compassion.
You'll learn about the two wings of mindfulness, the 'near-enemies' of compassion and what can happen when you take on compassion as a conscious practice.
Subscribe to Jonathan's podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-foust/id455422434?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
iTunes podcast here, online listening here, stitcher here, and Jonathan’s YouTube channel here.
