The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern

Ep. 156 - The Myth of (Conditional) Freedom


Listen Later

Ethan is back with a solo episode to discuss the Buddhist experience of liberation and (moksha) and how we can glimpse an experience it in our awareness and meditation practice. He also discusses the related question of the collapsing American mythology of "freedom." In the discussion, he highlights several categories of freedom, first "conditional" freedom versus "unconditional" freedom. Then he discusses individual, or personal freedom versus "collective" freedom.

Please support the podcast via Substack and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Additional links and show notes are available there. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, extra podcast episodes and more! The Thursday Meditation Group happens each week at 8am ET on Thursdays, and a guided audio meditations are released monthly. Another bonus podcast for paid subscribers discussed a mindful take on the These are all available to paid subscribers. You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (Apple, Spotify,Ethan's Website, etc).

Find out about the 2026 Yearlong Buddhist Studies program at this link! Check out about upcoming free live events like a panel on Mindfulness and Holiday Stress Nov 12, a live talk with Ethan and Dan Harris December 10, and a live talk with Ethan and Roshi Joan Halifax January 6th!

Ethan's most recent book, Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life's Eight Worldly Winds was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can visit Ethan's website to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive.

Find out about the 2026 Yearlong Buddhist Studies program at this link!

Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor Dharma Moon, including a free webinar with David Nichtern on the new Advanced Teacher training on November 20. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as The Three Marks of Existence, are also available for download at Dharma Moon.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Road Home with Ethan NichternBy Ethan Nichtern

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

130 ratings


More shows like The Road Home with Ethan Nichtern

View all
Tara Brach by Tara Brach

Tara Brach

10,524 Listeners

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast by Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast

263 Listeners

Tricycle Talks by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review

Tricycle Talks

359 Listeners

The Wisdom Podcast by The Wisdom Podcast

The Wisdom Podcast

328 Listeners

Ram Dass Here And Now by Ram Dass / Love Serve Remember

Ram Dass Here And Now

2,601 Listeners

Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield by Be Here Now Network

Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield

1,470 Listeners

Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg by Be Here Now Network

Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

711 Listeners

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein by Be Here Now Network

Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

958 Listeners

On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

On Being with Krista Tippett

10,166 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,746 Listeners

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus by Be Here Now Network

Mindrolling with Raghu Markus

499 Listeners

Living Myth by Michael Meade

Living Myth

983 Listeners

Deconstructing Yourself by Michael W. Taft

Deconstructing Yourself

403 Listeners

Emergence Magazine Podcast by Emergence Magazine

Emergence Magazine Podcast

496 Listeners

The Way Out Is In by Plum Village

The Way Out Is In

1,323 Listeners