Two Meditations on Emptiness with Dr. Jan Willis #181

Two Meditations on Emptiness with Dr. Jan Willis #181

Author: Scott Snibbe January 14, 2025 Duration: 22:08

Esteemed Buddhist teacher and scholar Dr. Jan Willis leads two meditations on emptiness in this episode. One focuses on the emptiness of the I, this pronoun, this belief that we have that we exist, that there is an I who is Jan Willis. And the other meditation is about  the nature of the mind itself. 

She shares the analogy that the mind and the nature of the mind is like the sky.  And this "I" is an adventitious, delusional, negative and harmful cloud in that sky.  But we need to be able to notice it and notice where it exists and whether or not it exists in a solid way that we think it does.

Episode 181. Two Meditations on Emptiness with Dr. Jan Willis

This Earth Day, I’ll be sitting down with one of the most inspiring voices on climate and the future—author Kim Stanley Robinson—for a live online conversation hosted by UC Berkeley’s School of Journalism.

We’ll explore how his work offers real hope in the face of the climate crisis—a chance to imagine not just what could go wrong—but what could go right.

It’s free, April 22nd at 5:30pm Pacific. Sign up here to watch on Zoom.

If you’d like to practice with others and bring these ideas into your life, join our weekly meditation community with Scott.

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In a world that often equates busyness with purpose, How to Train a Happy Mind offers a different path. Host Scott Snibbe guides conversations that explore a secular, practical approach to well-being, drawing from a rich tapestry of sources including modern psychology, science, and contemplative traditions. This isn't just about sitting quietly; it's an active training of our innate capacities for intelligence and emotional resilience. Listeners will find a podcast dedicated to actionable techniques that move beyond basic mindfulness, engaging our imagination and compassion to reshape our inner experience and outward relationships. Each episode, often featuring insightful guests, breaks down complex ideas into accessible practices aimed at building genuine, lasting happiness from the inside out. The discussions naturally weave through themes of mental fitness, spiritual inquiry, and physical health, reflecting a holistic view of what it means to live meaningfully. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful workshop for the mind, where abstract concepts become tools you can use in your daily life to foster personal peace and contribute to a kinder world. Scott’s grounded perspective helps demystify meditation, presenting it as a trainable skill for modern life challenges, making the pursuit of a happy mind both a practical and profound journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 322

How to Train a Happy Mind
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