Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg 146a3q

For episode 264, Soren Gordhamer returns to the Metta Hour for our ongoing Anxiety Series.  In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and different researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. This is the fifth episode in the series.  Soren Gordhamer is the founder and host of Wisdom 2.0, the premier conference exploring living with greater mindfulness, wisdom, and comion in the modern age. He is also a Co-Founder and General Partner of Wisdom Ventures, along with Jack Kornfield and Yung Pueblo, which invests in companies creating a more just and comionate world. Soren is also the founder of the Lineage Project in NYC, and also spent a year on the Global Walk for a Livable World, a three-and-a-half world walk. He and Jon Kabat-Zinn also co-hosted the Mitigation Retreat, which was a free 3-month course held every weekday offering meditations and teachings during Covid.  Soren is the author of numerous books. His latest, The Essential: Discovering What Really Matters in an Age of Distraction, was released in May of 2025.  In this episode, Sharon and Soren speak about: The context for cultural anxiety  The development of social media Becoming aware of our stories Do we need a new narrative? Redefining our worth Revamping our North Star Harnessing all our energies Dismantling our armor How shame drives mental health The point of vulnerability  Dalai Lama meeting formerly incarcerated Living from a place of lack Ram Dass’ somebody-ness Soren walking the world The role information plays in anxiety Soren closes the conversation with a guided meditation. To get a copy of Soren’s new book, The Essential, visit his website right here. Listen to Soren’s first appearance on the Metta House from 2020 right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 263 of the Metta Hour, we are continuing our Anxiety Series with a re-release of a conversation with Dr. Richie J. Davidson, PhD, that originally aired in 2023. In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers, and different researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. This is the fourth episode in the series. Richie Davidson is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Founder and Director of the Center for Healthy Minds. He is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. A friend and confidante of the Dalai Lama, he is a highly sought-after expert and speaker, leading conversations on well-being on international stages such as the World Economic Forum, where he serves on the Global Council on Mental Health. Richie’s course The Science of Flourishing: Well-Being Skills for Daily Life. Save 20% off the course using the coupon code METTA20. In this episode, Sharon and Richie discuss: • How Richie came to this path • Meeting Daniel Goleman and Ram Dass • How Danny Goleman brought Sharon to her first retreat • The term “Mental Health” • Innate Goodness • Believing in Growth Mindset • A vision of possibility for ourselves • The role of systemic oppression in mental well-being • Intergenerational Resilience • Richie’s four pillars of well-being • Personal mental hygiene • “The road to Lhasa goes up and down” - Mingyur Rinpoche • The value of community and teachers in mental health  • Richie driving Mingyur Rinpoche • Contemplative Neuroscience • The Science of Flourishing Course • Richie’s new book project • The conversation closes with a guided meditation led by Richie. To learn more about Riche’s work or his different books, you can visit his website and check out the Center for Healthy Minds. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 262, Sharon speaks with Scott Barry Kaufman as part of the Metta Hour Anxiety Series. In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times.  Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., is a cognitive scientist and humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential. He is founder of the Center for Human Potential and founder of Self-Actualization Coaching. Scott is the author of eleven books, including Rise Above, his forthcoming book set for release in 2025. Scott is also host of The Psychology Podcast— which has received over 30 million s.  In this conversation, Sharon and Scott speak about: • Having growth motivation • Shifting the narrative of anxiety • Scott’s childhood experiences • Curiosity versus grit • How to shift out of fear • Creating space around anxiety • Welcoming our beautiful monsters • Broadening the Window of Tolerance • Experiencing a sense of bothness • Scott’s new book, Rise Above • Victim versus empowerment mindset • Learned Hopefulness • Finding the light within • Pros and cons of sensitivity • The blessings of gratitude and awe The episode closes with Scott leading a Tonglen practice. You can learn more about Scott’s work right here and check out his new book, Rise Above, right here. Check out the first two episodes in the Anxiety Podcast Series with Dr. Jud Brewer right here and Dr. Jenny Taitz right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 261, Dr. Jenny Taitz returns to the Metta Hour for our Anxiety Series.  Jenny is a clinical psychologist and an assistant clinical professor in psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed her fellowship in psychology at Yale University School of Medicine and achieved board certifications in cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. In addition to treating clients in her private therapy practice, LA CBT DBT, she is the author of How to Be Single and Happy and End Emotional Eating. Her new book, Stress Resets: How to Soothe Your Body and Mind in Minutes, is now available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.  In this episode, Sharon and Jenny discuss: Jenny’s approach to anxiety Emotions are contagious The superpower of emotional regulation Cultivating an inner life Three-point check-in How to break-up with overthinking Getting grounding Cognitive diffusion Naming your inner critic Sitting with uncertainty Building a hope kit Box-breathing Lovingkindness  Doing good deeds Examining assumptions Surfing emotional urges Sharon closes with a hypothetical situation about anxiety which Jenny advises on. You can learn more about Jenny’s work and get a copy of her book, Stress Resets, on her website. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 260, we are launching a new Anxiety Series on the Metta Hour. Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. To launch the series, Sharon sits down with Dr. Jud Brewer MD, Ph.D. Dr, Jud is a New York Times best-selling author and thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery,” who blends over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training and a career in scientific research. He is ionate about understanding how our brains work, and how to use that knowledge to help people make deep, permanent change in their lives — with the goal of reducing suffering in the world at large. Dr. Jud is the director of research and innovation at Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, where he also serves as an associate professor in Behavioral and Social Sciences at the School of Public Health and Psychiatry at the School of Medicine at Brown University, and a research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In this episode, Sharon and Dr. Jud discuss: The neuroscientific definition of anxiety  Fear of the future How we simulate the future The difference between planning and worrying Anxious feeling versus thought Qualifiers for mental health diagnoses The research behind Mental Noting The antidote to anxiety is curiosity Exploring gratification to its end How much does worrying help? Thinking isn’t what changes behavior We’re wired for happiness Neuroscientists don’t talk about willpower Internet myths about anxiety Deprivation curiosity How misinformation fuels anxiety Collective anxiety Default Mode Network Five Finger Breathing Noticing our “oh no” moments Kindness and curiosity are best friends The Unwinding Anxiety App The conversation closes with a short guided curiosity practice. You can learn more about Dr. Jud’s work and get a copy of his book, Unwinding Anxiety, right here and learn more about his Mindshift Recovery App right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 259, we bring you the second half of a two-part series on the Force of Kindness. Listen to the first part of this series released earlier in February of 2025 right here. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has stated, “My true religion is kindness.” Although frequently denigrated in our culture as simplistic and weak, the quality of kindness has an inherent power to transform our worldview from one of fear and isolation to one rooted in clarity, courage and comion in action. Kindness is the fuel that helps us truly “walk our talk” of love. Recording in December or 2024 by the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Comion. In this recording, Sharon teaches on: The aspiration of kindness Brahma Viharas as a basis for aspiration Lovingkindness as Connection Our Subway Car Reflection on Interconnection The definition of Comion Sympathetic Joy Gratitude as the energizer Equanimity as the secret ingredient The eight vicissitudes The episode closes with Sharon taking some questions from the audience Sharon’s ten-day wisdom course exploring Equanimity starting March 5th. Learn more right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 258, we bring you the first half of a two-part series on the Force of Kindness. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has stated, “My true religion is kindness.” Although frequently denigrated in our culture as simplistic and weak, the quality of kindness has an inherent power to transform our worldview from one of fear and isolation to one rooted in clarity, courage and comion in action. Kindness is the fuel that helps us truly “walk our talk” of love. Recording in December or 2024 by the Drepung Gomang Center for Engaging Comion. In this recording, Sharon teaches on: The conditioning we face How our culture defines kindness The comionate witness A ministry of presence Kindness as a motivational state The emergent properties of how we pay attention Who do we pay attention to? Practicing kindness for ourselves Guided meditation on how we speak to ourselves Punitive environments cannot sustain growth How resilience is developed  Sayadaw U Pandita’s trick question Stay tuned for the second part of this series coming in February of 2025. Sharon’s ten-day wisdom course exploring Equanimity starting March 5th. Learn more right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 257 we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Christina Feldman. This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the seventh episode in this series. Christina is of the generation of dharma teachers that began teaching in the west in 1975 after spending some years in Asia studying and practice in both the Mahayana and Theravadan traditions. She is a co-founder of Gaia House and served as a guiding teacher of IMS beginning in its early days. She teaches Buddhist psychology in several university settings in Europe, and she teaches both traditional retreats and study programs. Christina is the author of Boundless Heart: The Buddha’s Path of Kindness, Comion, Joy, and Equanimity and co-author of Mindfulness: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Psychology, among other books. The conversation begins with a guided practice led by Christina. In this conversation, Christina and Sharon discuss: How Christina accidentally ended up in India  First encountering Tibetan refugees Christina first learning meditation Dharma as an immersive experience Sharon’s first attempts to meditate Different techniques in Christina’s early practice Goenka’s impact on Sharon Secular Mindfulness Practice versus Path Definitions of Dukkha What Christina is teaching lately Bodhi College Sharon’s work with caregivers Equanimity as embodied understanding How Christina has developed as a teacher The conversation segues to questions from the audience with a guided meditation from Christina. Sharon and Christina then take questions on specificity of intention, working with physical pain, emptiness as a practice, moving from knowing a truth to living a truth, and Christina’s yearly intentions. You can learn more about Christina’s work right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 256, we start off the year in podcasts with a conversation between Sharon and first-time guest Norma Ryuko Kawelokū Wong Roshi. Norma is a thought partner, a strategist, and a teacher. She is the abbot of Anko-in, an independent branch temple of Daihonzan Chozen-ji and serves practice communities in Hawai‘i, across the continental U.S., and in Toronto, Canada. She is an 86th-generation Zen Master, having trained at Chozen-ji for over 40 years. Norma has decades of experience in organizing, policy, strategy, and politics in Hawaiʻi, particularly in the area of Native Hawaiian issues, serving in the Hawaiʻi State Legislature and beyond. In the Fall of 2024, she released the book, “When No Things Work,” telling stories, weaving poetry, and offering wisdom at the intersections of strategy, politics, and spiritual activism. In this conversation, Norma and Sharon speak about: How Norma became an activist Taking the long multi-generational view How to face discord by seeing the whole When Norms found spiritual teachings The inspiration for writing her book How Norma approaches faith Collective versus individual work Sharon getting humid in Maui Opening to joy and goodness Methods to interrupt habits The rebuild of the Lahaina fires on Maui The episode closes with Norma leading a resonant breathing practice. You can learn more about Norma’s work right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 255, Sharon closes out the 2024 year in podcasts with an intimate conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert. Liz is the New York Times bestselling author of Eat Pray Love, Big Magic, the novels City of Girls and The Signature of All Things, and six other books of fiction and nonfiction — which altogether have sold over 25 million copies worldwide. She travels the globe giving talks and workshops that encourage people to lead brave, authentic, and creative lives, and her TED talk, “Your Elusive Creative Genius,” is among their most viewed talks ever. Liz is also the founder of both the Onward Book Club, and the Letters From Love project on Substack. In this conversation, Liz and Sharon speak about: How Liz came to her spiritual practice What love said to Liz twenty years ago Sharon’s experience doing Letters from Love  Cultivating a ministry of presence Liz’s twelve-step work with Love and Sex Addiction Two-Way Prayer The ability to receive Love is not a UPS package Earth School What is my next right action? The beginnings of resilience  Why is not a spiritual question Acknowledging the interconnection of things The episode closes with Liz leading a Letter From Love practice. You can learn more about Liz’s work right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 254, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Ruth King. This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the sixth episode in this series. Ruth King is the Founder of Mindful of Race Institute, LLC, and is a celebrated author, educator, and meditation teacher. She teaches mindfulness meditation retreats worldwide and develops meditation practitioners at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, and the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. Ruth is the author of several publications including her most recent, Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism From The Inside Out. In this conversation, Ruth and Sharon discuss: Ruth’s first invitation to meditation First hearing Jack Kornfield teach The deep calling to teach Initial misconceptions about meditation Ram Dass giving Joseph Goldstein his first teaching job Sharon’s first teaching retreat Ruth’s first teaching in the DC area Ruth’s life as a writer Artistry and mindfulness Ruth’s BIPOC teaching & online academy The season of eldership  The process of downsizing and moving Letting go versus not holding on Nothing is permanent, perfect, or personal This episode closes with a guided meditation by Ruth. You can learn more about Ruth’s work right here and get a copy of Mindful of Race right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. Listen to Ruth’s first episode on the Metta Hour from 2018, Episode 87, right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 252, Cory Allen makes his first appearance on the Metta Hour podcast. Cory Allen is an author, coach, podcaster, and influencer from Austin, Texas. He writes daily thoughts on mindfulness and mental clarity for his large Instagram following, reaching over a million people a week. Cory is the author of two books, his most recent, Brave New You, has just been released from Hay House in 2024 in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats. His podcast And Then It Hit Me, has over 300 episodes to date. In this conversation, Sharon and Cory discuss: Meditation Barbie Cory’s origin story Opening to greater possibility Cultivating greater agency Story is everything Keeping language real Having an original mind The importance of self-trust How our faith evolves How Sharon challenges herself Intuition as an entryway to our deeper self Cory closes the conversation with a guided meditation. You can learn more about Cory’s work right here and get a copy of his new book, Brave New You, right here.  See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 252, Kristin Neff returns to the Metta Hour for her third appearance on the podcast. Dr. Kristin Neff is a pioneer in the field of self-comion research, conducting the first empirical studies on self-comion more than twenty years ago. She has been recognized as one of the most influential researchers in psychology worldwide is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. Kristin runs the Self-Comion Community, an online learning platform where people can learn the skill of self-comion with the help of others, and is author of the bestselling books Self-Comion and Fierce Self-Comion. Her new book, Mindful Self-Comion for Burnout, co-authored with Chris Germer, is now available everywhere. In this conversation, Kristin and Sharon discuss: Kristin’s personal burnout  Kristin’s definition of comion Myths of self-comion What happens in burnout Negativity bias sinkholes The necessity of positive states Healthy boundaries Loving the Inner critic  Research on Self-Comion Self-Comion Example Scenarios Kristin’s new community offering Kristin closes the conversation with a guided meditation on Self-Comion. You can learn more about Kristin’s work right here and get a copy of her new book, Mindful Self-Comion for Burnout right here. You can Kristin’s Self-Comion Community right here and take her Self-Comion Quiz right here.  See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 251, Ethan Nichtern returns to the Metta Hour to talk about his new book, Confidence: Holding Your Seat through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds. Ethan is a contemporary Buddhist teacher and the host of The Road Home Podcast. He is the author of several books, including The Road Home, and has been featured by CNN, NPR, the New York Times, Vogue, and Business Insider, and more. In this conversation, Sharon and Ethan discuss: What Ethan’s been up to the past 7 years What inspired Ethan’s new book The image of tube people The dichotomy of hope/fear The eight vicissitudes Ethan’s definition of equanimity Holding Your Seat Learning to stay with your own mind The positive sense of pride Confidence as self-respect Building confidence if trauma is present Window of Tolerance The Four Powers of Confidence Ethan’s life as a Dad Ethan closes the conversation with a guided meditation on Raising Windhorse. You can learn more about Ethan’s work and get a copy of his new book, Confidence, right here. Listen to Ethan’s Road Home Podcast right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 250, Reggie Hubbard returns to the Metta Hour podcast to talk about Election Stress. Reggie is a certified yoga and meditation teacher and the founder/chief serving officer of Active Peace Yoga. He has taught of Congress, Congressional Staff, major labor unions, leading progressive organizations, and individuals from all walks of life the simple tools for managing stress and bringing peace to mind, body, and spirit. Reggie’s life work sits at the intersection of bringing more peace and balance to activists; guiding the wellness community toward being more engaged, concerned citizens; and enhancing the well-being of all walks of life. Sharon for a 7-day online course that helps us reclaim kindness as the superpower it truly is. Distilling over 50 years of Buddhist teaching into practical, accessible and actionable lessons, Sharon’s course points us to the core of what it means to be alive, connected, and whole. Learn more: Kindness In A Fractured World In this conversation, Sharon and Reggie discuss: Reggie’s recent health emergency Finding agency to take action Life is not a race Recovery process Voting is a sacred act Life in the margins Working w/ intense emotions Reggie’s work with systems Boundaries are our friends The sanctity of your nervous system Grounding into the body Lovingkindness in activism Less pointing fingers, more opening arms Equanimity ing the process A daily wellness election checklist Sharon’s Ishta Deva, Lady Liberty Reggie closes the conversation with a healing sound meditation. You can learn more about Reggie’s work right here.  For Election Resources from Sharon, click right here. You can check out Reggie’s previous appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast in Episode 201 right here, that was part of our Mental Health Series. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 249, Anu Gupta returns to the Metta Hour to speak about his new book, “Breaking Bias: Where Stereotypes and Prejudices Come From–and the Science-Backed Method to Unravel Them.” Anu is an educator, lawyer, scientist, and the founder and CEO of BE MORE with Anu, an education technology benefit corporation that trains professionals across corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors to advance DEIB and wellness by breaking bias. His first book, “Breaking Bias” is now available from Hay House. In this episode, Anu and Sharon discuss: How Anu became interested in science Anu’s childhood being marginalized  The Dalai Lama writing the foreword for Anu’s book Why Anu chose to write a book Working with Oprah & Isabel Wilkerson Neuro-decolonization Growth Mindset Anu’s PRISM system The neuroscience behind PRISM The impact of lovingkindness meditation on Anu Stereotypes: what they are and how they affect The Night of Buddha’s enlightenment Anu closes the conversation with a guided lovingkindness meditation. You can learn more about Anu’s work at Be More with Anu and get a copy of “Breaking Bias” on his website right here. Sharon for a 7-day online course that helps us reclaim kindness as the superpower it truly is. Distilling over 50 years of Buddhist teaching into practical, accessible and actionable lessons, Sharon’s course points us to the core of what it means to be alive, connected, and whole. Learn more: Kindness In A Fractured World See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 248, Cortland Dahl makes his first appearance on the Metta Hour to speak about his new book, “A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism: The Path of Awareness, Comion, and Wisdom.” Cortland is a scientist, Buddhist scholar & translator, and meditation teacher. He is the co-founder of Tergar International, a global network of meditation centers, with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Cortland is also actively involved in scientific research on meditation and human flourishing at the Center for Healthy Minds. In this conversation, Sharon and Cortland discuss: What brought Cortland to spiritual practice Eastern versus Western cultural conditioning The Tibetan culture of being Reclaiming the word “devotion” Cortland learning the Tibetan language  The impetus for Cortland’s new book The Dalai Lama’s first visit to IMS and North America The Four Noble Truths Cortland’s first encounter with Buddhism Learning to take refuge How long until we’re enlightened? Nurturing our inspirations Recreating ancient traditions in the 21st Century Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche The Center for Healthy Minds Cortland closes the conversation with a guided meditation on Open Awareness. You can learn more about Cortland’s work and get a copy of “A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism” right here. Learn more about Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Tergar International right here and the Center for Healthy Minds right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 247, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Joseph Goldstein. This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the fifth episode in this series. Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and lovingkindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, where he is on the guiding teachers’ Founders Council. In 1989, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Joseph first became interested in Buddhism as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand in 1965. Since 1967 he has studied and practiced different forms of Buddhist meditation under eminent teachers from India, Burma and Tibet. He is the author of many books, including Mindfulness and Insight Meditation. In this conversation, Sharon and Joseph discuss: The origin story of founding IMS Sharon and Joseph’s first meeting in India Joseph’s apartment in Boulder, CO How Joseph found Munindra, his first serious teacher What Joseph loves mosts about teaching Joseph’s first lovingkindness intensive Dipa Ma’s meditative life What inspired Joseph most about Dipa Ma Unifying confidence and humility in ourselves Working with the inner critic when teaching Learning how to say “I don’t know” Dudjom Rinpoche and re-incarnation Understanding the basis for our opinions Early challenges in Joseph’s teaching The popularization of meditation What inspired Joseph to pursue Buddhism Taking delight in being awake Approaches for self-acceptance Advice for new retreatants You can learn more about Joseph’s work and many books right here and listen to his Insight Hour Podcast right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. Listen to Lily Cushman interview both Sharon and Joseph in Episode 199 of the Metta Hour right here or check-out some older conversations with Jospeh in Episode 110 and Episode 47. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 246, Susan Cain makes her first appearance on the Metta Hour! Susan is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Quiet, and Bittersweet, which was also an Oprah Book Club selection. She has spent the last twenty years exploring a particular realm of human nature: the quiet, the sensitive, the thoughtful, the bittersweet. Susan’s record-smashing TED talks have been viewed over 50 million times and she the host of the Quiet Life online community. In this conversation, Susan and Sharon discuss: How Susan approaches writing VIA character strength test Does great art have to come from great pain How suffering brings us together Susan embracing her “differences” The Quiet Life Community Why sadness is a bridge to connection The Dalai Lama the Darwinist Moral elevation Dipa Ma telling Sharon she would teach Leonard Coen as Susan’s patron saint Beauty in the broken world Never be ashamed of your suffering The history of the word “loser” Susan learning Lovingkindness meditation Lovingkindness and boundaries Chocolate and Brussels sprouts Susan closes the conversation with a guided reflection. You can Susan’s Quiet Life Community right here. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For episode 245, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Guy Armstrong. This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, the fourth episode in this series. Guy Armstrong has been leading insight meditation retreats since 1984 in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. His training included living as a monk for a year in the Thai forest lineage. Guy is a member of the Spirit Rock Teachers Council and a guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society and is the author of Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators from Wisdom Books. In this conversation, Sharon and Guy discuss: Guy’s first encounter with meditation  How Sharon reached her first retreat  The mystery of being drawn to practice  The three characteristics of existence Guy’s introduction to Emptiness  Mahasi Sayadaw noting technique Mental Noting Technique  Insights of anattā (Emptiness) The path Guy has taken since 1976 The importance of relaxation What advice Guy would give his younger self Goenka’s directive to sit two-hours a day Thai Buddhist monk Ajahn Buddhadasa The year that Guy was a monk in Thailand Burmese Theravāda monk, Pa Auk Sayadaw The episode closes with some questions from the audience on Emptiness, Dzogchen practice, Tsoknyi Rinpoche Handshake practice, the spectrum of Emptiness, “where is mind,” and the Jhanas.  You can learn more about Guy’s work right here and get a copy of his book, Emptiness: A Practical Guide for Meditators, right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. Listen to Guy’s first episode on the Metta Hour, Episode 90, right here from 2019. See at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.