Working with a teacher: what the relationship is for, how to find and evaluate a teacher, lineage and its limits, and how real teaching happens between people.
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 »A Conversation with Wystan
A Conversation with David Godman June 18, 2025 - Host Michael Taft talks with author David Godman about the sage Ramana Maharshi and his nondual view of the world, whether he considered taking sannyasa (renunciation) to be necessary to… Read More »A Conversation with David Godman
Transgression with Erik Davis December 31, 2023 - Host Michael Taft speaks with author and journalist Erik Davis about the power of partaking in the forbidden and the loss when formerly forbidden things become normalized, particularly in the… Read More »Transgression with Erik Davis
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 Magic of Vajrayana with Ken McLeod Transcript
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 »Vajrayana as a Living Practice with Ken McLeodEvolving Ground with Rin’dzin Pamo and Jared Janes – Transcription November 10, 2020 - From this episode of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast Transcribed by Tanner Holman Michael: Welcome to Deconstructing Yourself, the podcast for metamodern mutants interested in meditation, hardcore dharma, emptiness, Zen poetics,… Read More »Evolving Ground with Rin’dzin Pamo and Jared Janes – Transcription
Vajrayana, Compassion, and the Importance of the Teacher, with Ken McLeod April 22, 2020 - < Writer, translator, teacher, and business consultant, Ken McLeod speaks with host Michael Taft about Coronavirus, social distancing, nature doing what it does, overcoming cultural conditioning, enlightenment as a "system… Read More »Vajrayana, Compassion, and the Importance of the Teacher, with Ken McLeod
Why Do Narcissists Become Spiritual Teachers, with Stephan Bodian March 21, 2020 - Nondual teacher and psychotherapist Stephan Bodian and host Michael Taft discuss how and why narcissists rise to the top of spiritual organizations, the ways that nondual traditions like Zen may… Read More »Why Do Narcissists Become Spiritual Teachers, with Stephan BodianVajrayana, Engineering, and Jiu Jitsu, with Rin’dzin Pamo—Transcript September 16, 2019 - A Transcript of the Podcast Interview You can listen to the original interview here. Michael: Rin’dzin, welcome to the Deconstructing Yourself podcast. Rin’dzin: Hi Michael, it’s great to be here,… Read More »Vajrayana, Engineering, and Jiu Jitsu, with Rin’dzin Pamo—Transcript
Vajrayana, Engineering, and Jiu Jitsu, with Rin’dzin Pamo August 13, 2019 - 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… Read More »Vajrayana, Engineering, and Jiu Jitsu, with Rin’dzin Pamo
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 »Feminism, Sexual Misconduct, and the Guru in Buddhism: An Interview with Chandra Easton 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 »DY 027 – “Feminism, Sexual Misconduct, and the Guru in Buddhism” with Chandra Easton
Why Good Teachers Go Bad – with Shinzen Young May 18, 2018 - In this special one-year anniversary episode, Shinzen Young talks with host Michael W. Taft about becoming a meditation teacher, the unrealistic paradigm about what meditation delivers, Shinzen’s codependency disaster, Bill… Read More »Why Good Teachers Go Bad – with Shinzen Young
DY 017 – “Popping the Bubble of Projection” – with guest Daniel Ingram April 2, 2018 - Daniel Ingram talks with Michael W. Taft about teacher-student models, graduate school models of practice, creating meditation peer groups, working with "co-adventurers" on the spiritual path, overcoming projection as a… Read More »DY 017 – “Popping the Bubble of Projection” – with guest Daniel Ingram
How to Find a Mindfulness Teacher April 9, 2014 - Mindfulness meditation is a life-changing practice that everyone should have access to. While you can learn the basics on your own, in the long run, having a teacher is extremely… Read More »How to Find a Mindfulness TeacherTeaching Mindfulness June 6, 2012 - By Jessica Graham I’ve recently had the wonderful experience of a student of mine beginning to teach. He has a very unique and compelling voice to share with his students.… Read More »Teaching Mindfulness