Relaxing the Self with Stephen Snyder

04.05.2021 - By Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson Play

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How can we bring useful qualities of contemplative practice into our normal, everyday lives as people living in the real world? Senior meditation teacher and author Stephen Snyder joins us to explore that overarching question, alongside a variety of topics related to “not-self,” the true nature of the self, and self-transcendence.

About our Guest: Stephen is a senior meditation teach who has been practicing meditation since 1976. He’s the author of three books, including Buddha’s Heart. Stephen is also a lawyer by trade, and has practiced law on behalf of a number of Zen masters and Buddhist organizations.

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Key Topics:

2:35: Stephen’s background in Buddhism.

6:30: A brief background in types of Buddhist practice.

10:30: Bringing practice into our work life.

14:00: Why do contemplative teachers behave badly?

17:50: Personality and the self.

20:00: “Not-self” and the end of suffering.

23:20: Why would we want to “transcend” the self?

26:10: Maintaining practice during a normal life.

29:45: Do we have a “self,” and the fear of emptiness.

33:30: Suffering attached to the self.

35:30: What do we get out of practice?

39:30: The purpose and limitations of meditation.

41:45: The threat of change.

44:10: The “brahmavihārās,” and Buddha’s Heart

47:00: Practices for self-development.

52:30: What’s ‘in’ a self-transcendent experience?

56:30: Ways to experience self-transcendence.

1:02:10: Recap

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