Podcast 194: Mind Beyond Death with Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

Dzogchen Ponlop RinpocheIt truly was an honor to be able to interview Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.  His book entitled “Mind Beyond Death” is wonderfully written about the Buddhist culture and the levels of transition we make in preparation to death.  The Rinpoche speaks in this interview about the concept of the “bardo” which is the intermediary state and has become the catchphrase in Buddhist circles.  As the Rinpoche says this book is as much about life as it is about death.

There is a level of existence that is experienced between death and birth, and according to the Buddhist there are three levels: the existence of death, the existence of birth, and the existence  of what lies in between the two.  The Rinpoche encourages the readers to reverse their attachment to the appearances of this life and extract the most meaningful essence from their precious human existence.

I love the examples that the Rinpoche uses in the book, he explains that the moment we step outside our house and close the door, we begin to leave our life behind. We say goodbye to family and friends and to the familiar rooms and routines that we inhabit. We might feel regret mixed with excitement as we climb into the taxi and that will take us to the airport. As our vision of home recedes, we are both sadly parted and joyfully released from all that defines us. The further we go from home the more focused we become on our next destination.  We think less of home and more about where we are going. We begin to look at a new map; we start to think about where we will land, about the new people, new customs and new environment–the new set of experiences to come.
Until we reach our destination, we are in transit–in between two points.  One world has dissolved, like last nights dream, and the next has not yet arisen.  In this space, there is a sense of total freedom: we are free from the business of being our ordinary selves; we are not tied to the day-to-day world and its demands in quite the same way. There is a sense of freshness and appreciation of the present moment.

This interview with Rinpoche is an enlightening dialogue about life, death and the in between.  We discuss our fears, and how to learn to live in the moment without fear of our transition through death.

I know you are going to enjoy my interview with Rinpoche about his book entitled “Mind Beyond Death”  If you would like to learn more about his teaching you can visit the his website by clicking here or you can visit the website of the Nalanda West Center for American Buddhism where he teaches.

 

Podcast 193: Truth, Truimph and Transformation with Sandra Anne Taylor

Sandra Anne TaylorI had the recent honor of being able to interview Hay House Publishing author Sandra Anne Taylor about her most recent book entitled ,” Truth, Triumph and Transformation“.    In our interview together we explore the myths or what Sandra Anne states are the lies about the laws of attraction.

Truth, Triumph and Transformation separates the reliable facts from the confusing fiction that has built up around the Laws of Attraction. It offers a clear and balanced understanding of why things really happen, it empowers people to make changes without self-recrimination, fear and guilt. It also reveals a much more balanced approach to personal responsibility, examining the principles of consciousness creation in practical, action-oriented ways.

In our interview together we actually explore the lies that Sandra Anne has done such a wonderful job of revealing in the book. Sandra Anne explains truths such as consciousness-created reality are fundamental parts of the human experience. And although these concepts are complex they can empower us and provide many formulas to help us approach life in a healthy and self actualized way. When we bring our awareness to our everyday experiences, we can not only achieve greater happiness, we can deal with all the joys and difficulties along our path.

I encourage you to listen to this very revealing interview about the lies associated with the “Laws of Attraction”.  Sandra Anne Taylor in my estimation has hit the nail on the head as it relates to our misconceptions about these fundamental laws.  She clears up the mysteries and provides what seems like logical explanations to the misunderstandings.  If you would like to learn more about Sandra Anne Taylor she has a wonderful website with lots of resources and information about her many books.

Please click here to access her website, you can also listen to Sandra Anne Taylor on Hay House Radio she has a regular show. You can link to Hay House Radio by clicking here.

Podcast 180: Awakening Joy with James Baraz

James BarazI believe that everyone would like to have a little more joy and happiness in their lives.  In my interview with James Baraz we explore the 10 steps that James believes will help us in claiming our joy.

In James new book entitled, “Awakening Joy–10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness“, we explore the elements that are important to having more joy and happiness in life.  James states that you can decide to be happy.  For years, James’ online Awakening Joy course has offered participants from around the world the benefits of this simple but profoundly radical proposition.  Grounded in simple Buddhist principles but accessible to people of all faiths—or no faith at all–this concept provides the jumping-off point for a transformational journey toward a richer, more meaningful, more positive outlook on life.

Now readers everywhere can follow the same ten steps James teaches to his program participants.  In this down to earth guide, you will learn how to

  • make  happiness a habit by inclining your mind toward states that lead to well-being.
  • find joy even during difficult times and avoid the pitfalls that prevent you from achieving the contentment you seek.
  • cultivate effective practices for sustaining joyfulness, such as reclaiming your natural sense of wonder and finding joy in the midst of everyday life.

If you are seeking more joy and happiness in your life, and would like to understand some very valuable steps that can assist you in claiming the joy that is your right, then I highly recommend that you read James’ new book, “Awakening Joy–10 Steps That Will Put You on the Road to Real Happiness“.  You will thoroughly enjoy our interview, while learning more about the steps toward joy.  Please go to James’ website by clicking here for more information on his workshop, book and videos.

By the way here is a link to a video that James’ mother did that is just downright hilarious. She speak about how her son the author James ruined her life because he Awakened her to Joy in her life.  A great video for those who love Jewish mother humor.  Click here to watch the video.

Podcast 177: A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook by Elisha Goldstein Ph.D

Elisha GoldsteinI thoroughly enjoyed my interview with Elisha Goldstein the co-author with Bob Stahl of, “A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reductions Workbook“.  This new book is a wonderful guide and playbook for anyone who is seeking to understand the how’s of mindfulness.

Elisha Goldstein and Bob Stahl don’t just write about why the practice of mindfulness is beneficial for you, they really instruct you on the how’s and the benefits of mindfulness.

This book is designed for the person who really wants to integrate the practices of mindfulness in their life.   As the title states if you are having any symptoms of stress such as feeling anxious, irritability, muscle tension, burnout, apathy, restlessness, headaches, fatigue, stomach stress, difficulty in concentration, worry, overwork, substance abuse, smoking, eating problems, sleep disturbances, or feeling overwhelmed, this workbook will definitely help.   I don’t think that there is a single soul reading this blog entry that has not had at least one of these symptoms.

The authors define “mindfulness” as, the practice of cultivating nonjudgmental awareness in day-to-day life.  What a perfect definition, the key is creating nonjudgmental awareness.   This book will certainly assist anyone who wants to cultivate more joy, peace and fulfillment in the experiences of every day life.

Today mindfulness has expanded beyond its spiritual roots and even beyond psychology and mental and emotional well-being.  Physicians are prescribing training in mindfulness practices to help people deal with stress, pain and illness. Mindfulness has entered the mainstream in the West and is becoming a very popular practice.

If you would like to learn from the masters, then this book is a great place to start.  I highly recommend this book for both the beginner and the experienced practitioner alike.  You can also learn more about Elisha Goldstein by clicking here to be taken to his website.

Please enjoy this wonderful interview with a true master teacher in the field of mindfulness.

Podcast 174: Awakened Wisdom with Patrick Ryan

Patrick Ryan My recent interview with Patrick Ryan the author of, “Awakened Wisdom,” was very enlightening.  I am certain if you read his book you to will walk away with a new perspective on who you can become in this world.

Patrick’s message is about awakening the wisdom within, and he provides the reader with insights and glimpses on what is to like to live a life fully awakened.  He says to image a life through which you managed to rise above the fears and concerns that always linger faithfully in the background, haunting us with their song of intended safety, always with the purpose of keeping the status quo.  Imagine a life without those messages you tell your Self about what you can’t do, or those messages that diminish the brilliance of who you are in any way.

The author takes you on a journey and shows you how to release the grips of fear and to embrace the freedom to respond to the yearning of your heart that knows that more is possible.   He says that there is a wisdom that can be found through every beat of our heart, through every thought of inspiration and through your body that responds to the world around you as a drum responds to the vibration of the room.

Awakened Wisdom is about letting go and trusting in your own divine magnificence to show up.   The reality is that your magnificence is always present, we all just need to learn how to awaken to is guidance, insight and wisdom.

Please listen to your inner drummer, take that risk and live your life in ways that will amaze you and the loved ones around you.  Patrick Ryan’s new book is a must read for anyone who has a knowing about what is available, but for some reason has not been able to overcome the inner doubt and fear of trusting in that place of knowing.  Believe me it is easier to write about this than it is to live it in every moment. Awakened Wisdom shows you how to be present and live with this trust in every moment.

Enjoy my interview with Patrick and purchase a copy of the book, and read the words of wisdom from someone who really knows.

Patrick has a website loaded with additional insights and wisdom, please visit it by clicking here and enjoy this interview with a special man who is filled with so much insight, wisdom and love.

 

Podcast 161: Your Body Speaks Your Mind with Deb Shapiro

Deb ShapiroI have had the wonderful pleasure of being able to interview Deb Shapiro again.  My first interview was with Deb and her husband Ed about their new book entitled “Be The Change”.

In this podcast I will be speaking with Deb about her new book entitled, ” Your Body Speaks Your Mind“.  This new book address the mind body connection, and the role that our mind plays in your overall well being.  Wellness is primarily a state of mind, and your emotions play an important role in how you feel.

Dis-ease manifests itself in various ways within our bodies and what Deb Shapiro outlines in her book is the importance of understanding our mind/body connection.

She utilizes real life stories to help the reader understand the various ways that our body reacts to our mental conditions.  She states “As you think so you become: your thoughts and words are like seeds that germinate and grow. Your state of health shows how you have been thinking: the seeds take root and begin to influence the shape the cell structures of your physical body.  When you think of illness–or life–as being out of your control, or as an obstacle that you cannot overcome, then none of your physical energy will be directed toward healing, as no “living” message will be sent to your body.”

When illness–or living is seen as a learning experience, an opportunity to deepen your relationship with yourself, then healing is possible. The most common blocks are negative attitudes that a lot of people carry around all the time.  Deb states in order to become healed, a person has to throw out hatred, envy, jealousy and other destructive attitudes and feelings.  Although such factors start within the mind, they quickly manifest in our body, becoming a stiff shoulder, a sluggish liver, cancer or other illnesses.

If you want to better understand the mind/body connection then I encourage you to listen to this wonderful podcast with Deb Shapiro.  You can also get all sorts of useful information by visiting her website by clicking here.

To your good health!!!!!

Podcast 157: Think Or Sink with Gina Mollicone-Long

Gina Mollicone-LongIf you don’t think you are in control of the choices you make in life, then you best listen to my interview with Gina Mollicone-Long.  Gina’s new book entitled, “Think or Sink“, focuses on the choices we make in life, and how you can turn these choices into our advantage.

As Gina states, the paradox of any challenge or crisis is that it is also an opportunity.  It might seem crazy at first, but in Gina’s new book she will show you how to turn your adversity into your advantage. During challenging times many people look for the focus on what is wrong.  Not only is this perspective harmful because it doesn’t bring about any solutions or relief, but it is also the very thing that ensures the continuation of the crisis itself.

Gina states that her entire book is based on an important premise: everything in our life that happens to us is just feedback.  At the most basic level, this means that you get out of your life what you are willing to put into it.  Your circumstances will always reflect exactly where you are at in your life and what you are putting into it. The real power is learning how to interpret the feedback so you can use it to your advantage. Instead of judging your circumstances, you can learn to assess your circumstances so you can learn from them and leverage them to create a life that you love.

Life is a series of feedback loops.  We want something (input), we do some behaviors (process) and we get an outcome (output).  Gina reminds us in her new book that we are all energy, and that all energy is fluid.  Always moving into form, through form or out of form.  The universe holds the potential energy for an infinite number of expressions to matter.  True power derives from the ability to harness the unformed potential energy so that we can have what we want in our physical experience.

Please listen to my podcast with Gina, and visit her website by clicking here for a wealth of content on how to “Think or Sink“.  Enjoy this podcast.

Podcast 153: Leap Before You Look with Arjuna Ardagh

Arjuna ArdaghArjuna Ardagh is the author of this new book entitled, “Leap Before You Look“.  He is probably best known for his personal opus work entitled, “The Translucent Revolution“.

In his new book Arjuna provides the reader with insight and practices that help you get out of your mind and into the moment.

Arjuna writes that when we are willing to exchange our life of preoccupation with  “me” and “my needs” for a life given in the service of love itself, of that presence itself, we are faced with an interesting paradox.

On the one side of the paradox, we recognize that everything is perfect just as it is. When the chatter of the mind recedes just a little bit, when the smells, colors, and textures of the world become more immediately felt, we recognize the grace of running through it all. Even in conflict, or in the midst of what we call suffering, if we are really in touch with the pulse of life itself, we can feel the beauty of it all.

On the other side of the paradox, we realize that everything is continuously evolving.  Our human condition, as it is now, is flawed with unconscious habits, addictions, and compulsions. In seeing the gap between who we are today and who we could be, seeing the trickle of gifting that’s coming through us relative to the latent torrent that we intuit, we bow to humility.

In Arjuna’s new book the author guides the reader through practices that open up your consciousness and create an awareness of how we can really be in the world.

Our interview together is enlightening, and Arjuna actually takes me through a practice that created a breakthrough in my own life.  I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to slow down, create greater awareness and become awakened to the gifts that life provides us in each and every moment.

If you would like to learn more about Arjuna Ardagh and the Awakening Coaching Training please click here for more information. His website is loaded with resources for the inquisitive mind.

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