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It’s episode 60! A perfect place to reach a summation of my new book, Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics which posits that meditation is not about becoming a better version of yourself. It is a spiritual practice that opens you to the three qualities of the awakened mind: wisdom, compassion, and power. How do these qualities arise from sitting there, doing “nothing”? All I know is that millions of practitioners over thousands of years have reported that it is so.  

In this episode, we look at the seven principles of living as a mystic, hiding in plain sight. 

In this episode:

• Why meditation is a spiritual path, not a self-help project
• A common misconception about meditation and how it keeps people from practicing
• How your everyday life provides the perfect gateway to magic
• An introduction to a Buddhist teaching, the three kāyas, and how it all relates to the magic of meditation
• Sensing what is under the surface is just as “real” as whatever is on the surface
• How meditation helps us relate to ourselves, others, and the world

Music

This episode closes with "Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground" by Blind Willie Johnson, a recording that seems to come from somewhere else. 

Send your questions or reflections via Instagram DM or through our form — I’d love to include them in future episodes.

My new book is now available

Inexplicable Magic: Meditation for Mystics, is available for purchase. Explore the spiritual path through 7 principles which run counter to conventional wisdom on mindfulness. 

Learn more and buy your copy here.

Watch this episode on video
If you’d like to watch the podcast, the video version is here.

New course: 30 Days of Dharma

For 30 days, beginning September 13th, I’m offering a chance to practice all of this together with a small group of people who want to take the dharma off the cushion and into ordinary life. We'll create a personalized daily routine, meditate, study the teachings, and look at how wisdom, compassion, and power actually show up at home, at work, and in our relationships. Every participant will have one-on-one time to consult with me and my co-teacher, Crystal Gandrud, about your practice before, during, and following the program. You don't need to be a Buddhist. You only need a willingness to begin where you are and be yourself. Space is limited. Learn more here.

Proclaiming Basic Sanity: Living the Bodhisattva Path Retreat 

Let’s practice together in person at Drala Mountain Center, up in the Colorado Rockies, for a retreat on the bodhisattva path: what it takes to live with real courage and an open heart in the middle of our ordinary, chaotic, beautiful lives. We'll talk honestly about how to recognize and rouse basic sanity right where we already are. Everyone's welcome, and you don't need any prior meditation experience. Learn more and register.

If you enjoyed this episode:

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Produced by Citizens of Sound

Music by: Derek O'Brien

©Open Heart Project