In this episode I am once again joined by Stephen Snyder, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of several books including ‘Buddha’s Heart’, ‘Trust in Awakening’, and his up-coming release ‘Soothing the Longing Heart’.

Stephen talks about the importance of working with one’s personality material especially after awakening. He points to an idealisation of the Buddha and other blindspots in Buddhism that he believes have led to the various behavioural scandals that have surrounded so many famous Zen masters.

Stephen discusses how to work with fear and anger, how to heal one’s core wound, how to convert the superego into Absolute guidance, and reflects on the pros and cons of American culture’s interaction with the Buddhist religion.

Stephen also reflects on how he approaches leading meditation retreats, why he does not enforce strict Zen schedules, the deleterious effect of electronics on concentration power, and the subtle power of taking a dharma name.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep242-soothing-the-longing-heart-stephen-snyder

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:07 - Stephen teaching in-person retreats in 2024 in Europe and the US

03:53 - Relaxed vs rigorous retreat approaches

06:10 - Treating students like adults

08:23 - Why Stephen cooks for his retreats

10:00 - Reworking the precepts

11:40 - The damaging effect of electronics on concentration power

13:03 - Stephen’s interview schedule on retreat

13:37 - Receiving full Zen dharma transmission to be recognised as a sensei

17:00 - Combing Zen with Theravada practice

18:10 - Post-awakening problems with personality issues

19:06 - Examples of post-awakening triggered behaviour and the core wound

23:08 - Working with anger and fear

27:42 - Quickly resolving karma

29:09 - Do meditation peak experiences heal the personality?

29:30 - Blindspots and scandals in Zen Buddhism

31:41 - Going beyond cultural bias

33:52 - How much cultural transfer is necessary in Buddhist practice?

35:36 - Stephen’s experimental teaching approach

38:00 - America’s contribution to Buddhism

40:57 - British class system

42:23 - Indian caste system

43:53 - How Buddhism assimilates indigenous cultural and religious forms

45:28 - Gregorian style Zen chanting

46:50 - The importance of your dharma name

47:49 - Working vs wallowing in emotional material

52:16 - What is your core wound?

54:52 -The personality as a shield

56:44 - The tyranny of the superego

01:00:39 - Transforming the superego into Absolute guidance

01:02:07 - True vs false

01:04:32 - Common compassion misunderstanding

01:06:12 Parenting mistakes around compassion

01:08:08 - Should we tell stories of awakening?

01:09:47 - The importance of doubt and trust

01:11:59 - Stephen’s advice to practitioners

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Previous episode with Stephen Snyder:

- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=Stephen%20Snyder

To find our more about Stephen Snyder, visit:

- https://awakeningdharma.org/

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- www.guruviking.com

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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James