Guided meditation lasting approximately one hour, focused on noticing how all sensory phenomena go from being solid objects, to vibratory activities, to vast spacious awareness. Self and world dissolve into the void. 1:01:00 – Dharma talk. How do nondual practices and vipassana practices integrate (if at all)? Michael introduces his four stage model of vipassana practice. Then shows where nondual …
The World as Dream
A guided meditation led by Michael Taft. Meditation starts at the beginning and lasts for about one hour. Followed by dharma talk and Q&A. (Warning: the audio quality on this video has some bad spots.) In the Diamond Cutter Sutra, the Buddha describes how to regard sensory experience: “This is how to contemplate our conditioned existence in this fleeting world: …
Vajrayana, Engineering, and Jiu Jitsu, with Rin’dzin Pamo
Host Michael Taft speaks with Vajrayana teacher Rin’dzin Pamo about Vajrayana meditation practice currently, adapting practices for our times, their practice of The Mind Illuminated, the role of the guru in practice, how meditation practice is like engineering (and Jiu Jitsu), and much more. Rin’dzin Pamo (also known as Charlie El Awbery) is a British born Vajrayana practitioner living in …
The Fox Wedding
Guided meditation by Michael Taft, lasting approx one hour. Begins with a long session of deep, belly breathing (about 15 min). Then we contact vast, spacious awareness, going very deeply into it. We then center awareness in the heart. Then from here, at the source of awareness, we observe sensory phenomena coming into awareness. The emphasis here is on the …
Why Metadharma?, Pt. 2, with Vincent Horn
Why Metadharma? is an unusual episode of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast, in that it’s Part 2 of a joint interview between Vince and Michael Taft. Part 1 appeared on the Buddhist Geeks podcast recently, and they continue the conversation here. The topic of these discussions is a subject that both speakers are actively developing, called “metadharma.” In brief, metadharma refers …
Nondual Metta Practice
Typical metta practice is done from the dualistic position of being the doer of the metta. Here, we contact vast spacious awareness and (in a guided visualization) connect with the source of everything. It is the source (i.e. awareness itself, when pictured as a “thing”) which then does the metta, channeling the energy of compassion through us to the universe. …
Just Let Go — Surrender Everything in Meditation
Sometimes the best meditation practice is simply to surrender. This post is about how to let go. For many years, I took my meditation practice very seriously. I dedicated a significant portion of my life to daily sitting and occasionally going on long retreats, which over time proved to be very helpful. This dedication to putting in the time really …
Mahamudra Vipshyana on the Moving Mind – Guided Meditation
Michael Taft teaches this guided meditation called Mahamudra Vipshyana on the Moving Mind. Once we contact vast, spacious awareness clearly, it is possible to observe the arising of thoughts from this (non)perspective. We witness thoughts surfacing clearly, brightly, vibrantly, sharply, spontaneously and simply observe them. If at any point we become entangled with the content of the thoughts, we notice …
Meditation, Emotions, and the Bio-Emotive Framework with Douglas Tataryn
Host Michael Taft speaks with clinical psychologist and life coach, Douglas Tataryn, Ph.D. about meditation and psychology. Topics include his work with meditation teachers such as Culadasa, the “wake up, clean up, grow up, and look around” model, Wilber’s integral model. working with trauma and the dark night, and his system of emotional processing known as the Bio-Emotive Framework. Douglas …
Awareness Aware of Awareness
One hour guided meditation by Michael Taft on contacting vast, spacious awareness. Ends at 1:00:54 Then dharma talk and Q&A. This is a variation on the age-old technique created by Dogen (1200–1253 c.e.) called eko hensho in Japanese. This means “turn the light around” or in other words to look at awareness using awareness. When attempting to talk about awareness …
Guided Sleep Meditation – Relaxation
Listen to this guided sleep meditation. It will help you to enjoy relaxed, natural sleep without drugs or medication. Guided by meditation teacher Michael Taft. Here is the audio-only version of the same meditation: Download audio using Right Click here. Duration: 33:53 Play this audio when you want to …
Loch Kelly on Awareness, Freedom, and Effortless Mindfulness
Host Michael Taft speaks with Loch Kelly on nondual practices, contemporary forms of ancient awareness techniques, dzogchen, mahamudra, advaita, the role of psychotherapy in awakening, the need—or not—for a guru, open-hearted awareness, internal family systems therapy, and more. Loch Kelly is an author, meditation teacher, psychotherapist, and founder of the non-profit, Open-Hearted Awareness Institute. Loch teaches in a non-sectarian lineage …
Dissolving into Vast Spacious Awareness
One hour guided Nondual Meditation by Michael W. Taft. Begins with breath awareness, then contacting vast, spacious awareness, then dissolving into awareness with each exhale. Finally, noticing the vivid and shocking quality of sensory display. Ends at 1:02:45 Followed by a talk about the differing philosophies of the three Buddhist vehicles, and Q&A.