Devotion - Deconstructing Yourself

A Conversation with Wystan April 28, 2026 - Host Michael Taft interviews meditation teacher Wystan about teaching awakening outside a strict lineage framework, cultural translation of Buddhist practice, why awakening does not “come with a Buddhist label,” the… Read More »

Talking about Deity Yoga with Peter McEwen August 29, 2025 - Host Michael Taft talks with meditation coach Peter McEwen about devotion in meditation practice, the need for stability in groundlessness, the ontological status of deities, common failure modes of practice,… Read More »

Aghora, Deities, and Devotion with Dr. Robert Svoboda January 15, 2025 - Host Michael Taft continues a lively discussion with author and ayurvedic physician Dr. Robert Svoboda about the Aghora method of transmutation, alignment with nature, deity yoga, deities as a co-creation… Read More »

Invocation and Shadow with Charlie Awbery December 12, 2024 - Host Michael Taft talks with Vajrayana teacher and author Charlie Awbery about the meaning of their practice name Rin'dzin Pamo, Tantra, curiosity, new developments in the Evolving Ground community, the… Read More »

Tantra, Aghora, and Death, with Dr. Robert Svoboda November 10, 2024 - Host Michael Taft talks with author and ayurvedic physician Dr. Robert Svoboda about the cemetary practices of the radical nondual Aghora sect, the story of his mentor Vimalananda’s initiation into… Read More »

Embodying the 21 Taras with Chandra Easton March 5, 2024 - Host Michael Taft speaks with meditation teacher Chandra Easton about her new book Embodying Tara: 21 Manifestations to Awaken Your Innate Wisdom, the background of Green Tara, why there are… Read More »

The Magic of Vajrayana with Ken McLeod, Part 2 Transcript November 14, 2023 - My name is Michael Taft, your host on the podcast, and in this episode, I'm speaking, once again, with Ken McLeod. Ken McLeod began his study and practice of Buddhism… Read More »

The Magic of Vajrayana with Ken McLeod Transcript October 24, 2023 - My name is Michael Taft, your host on the podcast, and in this episode, I'm speaking once again with Ken MacLeod. Ken MacLeod began his study and practice of Buddhism… Read More »

The Wisdom and Compassion of Avalokiteshvara June 12, 2023 - ow breathing in, take the image of Avalokiteshvara into your heart. Breathe Avalokiteshvara directly into your own heart where the image plugs in and begins to radiate powerfully from your… Read More »

The Magic of Vajrayana Part 2 with Ken McLeod February 27, 2023 - Join host Michael Taft as he continues his talk with translator, author, and teacher Ken McLeod about Ken’s new book: The Magic of Vajrayana, and issues around receiving initiations and… Read More »

The Magic of Vajrayana with Ken McLeod February 13, 2023 - Join host Michael Taft as he talks with translator, author, and teacher Ken McLeod about the subject of Ken's new book: The Magic of Vajrayana, particularly the tripartite practice structure… Read More »

The Boundless Sky of the Mind November 21, 2022 - And the image of the goddess and the image of the moon dissolve into the sky and we simply rest as awakened mind, liberated mind now, simply open sky. We're… Read More »

Vipashyana on the Origin, Location, and Destination of Thoughts April 26, 2022 - https://youtu.be/S7_SeJOLt2M Guided Nondual Meditation with Michael Taft Streamed live on November 11, 2021 So let's begin our meditation now. What I'd like you to do is to set up your… Read More »

Eco-Aesthetics and the Poetry of Longing, with Rick Jarow November 30, 2021 - What can ancient Sanskrit poetry of love and longing teach us about our own deepest spirituality? Join host Michael Taft as he explores this question with professor, author, and teacher… Read More »

Vision, Visualization, and Vajrayana, with Chandra Easton October 31, 2021 - Host Michael Taft speaks with Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton about her recent work with the 21 manifestations of the Goddess Tara, some aspects of Green Tara, and especially the role… Read More »

Vajrayana as a Living Practice with Ken McLeod July 20, 2021 - Host Michael Taft talks with teacher and author Ken McLeod about his insights into Vajrayana, spiritual practice as "choosing a way to live," the Tibetan idea of lam khyer, the… Read More »

Learning the Mandala Visualization May 13, 2021 - https://youtu.be/2u3a91NW8Wc The mandala (the word is Sanskrit for "circle") is an ancient symbol of wholeness. Virtually every culture worldwide has at some point used a mandala to illustrate some aspect… Read More »

Mandala Meditation October 30, 2020 - https://youtu.be/yri5D9Xnuqw Guided Vajrayana Meditation with Michael Taft A mandala is a circular or square diagram used in meditation.In this meditation, we begin with the usual two-part opening: shamatha with an… Read More »

Vajrayana and Deity Yoga with Chandra Easton September 21, 2020 - Buddhist Teacher and author Lopön Chandra Easton talks with Michael Taft about Vajrayana, her own pilgrimage and experiences in India, the struggle to bring motherhood, sexuality, the feminine, and the… Read More »

Feminism, Sexual Misconduct, and the Guru in Buddhism: An Interview with Chandra Easton November 22, 2018 - (This is a transcript of a podcast interview. If you notice any mistakes, please let me know.) Chandra Easton and Michael Taft talk about gender and sexual misconduct in Buddhism,… Read More »

DY 027 – “Feminism, Sexual Misconduct, and the Guru in Buddhism” with Chandra Easton October 10, 2018 - Chandra Easton and Michael Taft talk about gender and sexual misconduct in Buddhism, why compassion must be a part of spiritual practice, and the place of the guru in modern… Read More »

Christian meditation: ‘Less self-centered, more God-centered’ December 19, 2013 - By Christina M. Gray for Catholic San Francisco Christian meditation may not be part of every Catholic’s spirituality, but in church halls throughout the archdiocese parishioners are meeting in small… Read More »