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Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

Be Here Now Network

Joseph Goldstein has been a leading light for the practice of Insight and Loving Kindness meditation since his days in India and Burma where he studied with eminent masters of the tradition. In his podcast, The Insight Hour, Joseph delivers these essential mindfulness teachings in a practical and down to earth way that illuminates the practice through his own personal experience and wonderful story telling.

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#265
September 3 · 42 min
Ep. 265 – Reflections on Nibbana
Joseph Goldstein holds two meanings of Nibbana in equal reverence: unconditioned, unformed awareness and a transcendent state in which the mind is free from all defilements. Today's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein reveals: The Thai forest tradition of Buddhism Nibbana: Unconditioned awareness or transcendent awareness? The unconditioned mind and the power of zero Enlightenment and a mind that is free of defilements The analogy of ‘seeing the moon’ rather than the finger that points to it Why the experience of Nibbana is so important Seeing the intimate connection between wisdom and compassion The concept of nonself and our lives as constantly changing phenomena The dance between pleasure and suffering Check out this episode’s companion essay, Reflections on Nibbana, by Joseph Goldstein “One meaning of Nibbana is this unconditioned, unborn, unformed reality. The other meaning of Nibbana refers to the mind that has been freed of defilements—the mind that is free of greed, hatred, and delusion. We could describe the state of a fully enlightened being in which these defilements have been uprooted as Nibbana.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#264
July 30 · 38 min
Ep. 264 – Exploring Nibbana
Joseph Goldstein reveals how Nibbana differs from blissful meditation states and why true liberation lies beyond every conditioned experience. Today's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This week on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein discusses: How Nibbana has made its way into Western culture Expectation and striving versus having a healthy goal Having an aspiration and direction for our practice Using equanimity to differentiate beautiful experiences from true glimpses of Nibbana The Abhidhamma and understanding the factors of mind which color our consciousness The experience of Nibbana as the experience of zero, the stilling of all formations How Nibbana uproots the defilements in stages Check out this episode’s companion essay, Reflections on Nibbana, by Joseph Goldstein “Even exalted states of mind or great powers of mind do not imply purification of mind. That is the particular power of Nibbana.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#263
July 2 · 1 hr
Ep. 263 – The Certainty of Direct Experience: Q&A + Guided Practice
Touching into the selfless nature of experience, Joseph Goldstein explores uprooting the defilements through the clarity that comes from practice. Today's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein provides his perspective on: Engaging with mindfulness The radical uprooting of self and identification with experience Seeing a glimpse of the deathless in our practice versus the transcendent moment of the unborn Slowly seeing clearly over time with dedicated practice The emptiness within the defilements Taking all things as an invitation to explore rather than to believe A brief guided meditation with Joseph Moving our mental dialogue into a passive voice This episode is the 3rd and final part of a 3-part series. It was originally published on Dharmaseed and recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, a non-profit organization founded by renowned meditation teachers Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg to integrate Buddhist study and practice. To start at the beginning, check out Ep. 261 – Gradual Cultivation in Buddhist Practice. “If you put your hand in fire, do you know that it burns? Do you have any doubt about it? In the genuine experience of things being uprooted, there is that quality of certainty. It is very different than what you were saying about ‘Yeah, it looks to me that the defilements are uprooted.’ The experience that results in the uprooting, which is the experience of the unborn. It has that same immediacy and certainty as putting your hand in fire and knowing it burns.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#262
June 10 · 33 min
Ep. 262 – Letting Thoughts Dissolve
Joseph Goldstein investigates the not-so-obvious delight of seeing our own arrogance (Māna), and the balance of knowing ultimate truth while living with a functional sense of “I.” Help us celebrate 10 years of Be Here Now Network and support the next chapter of Ram Dass Here and Now. Gifts are matched dollar for dollar through June 30. Learn more and give here: BHNN 10th Birthday Fundraiser Today's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This week on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein discusses: Realizing the truth of non-self while still having an underlying feeling of ‘I am” The Buddhist concept of Māna, which can be translated as "pride", "arrogance", or "conceit" Our tendency to project the past into the future Recognizing Māna for what it is and letting the thoughts dissolve How the residue of ‘I’ and ‘self’ can fall away during practice Engaging the self just enough to live in the relative world This episode is the 2nd part of a 3-part series. It was originally published on Dharmaseed and recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, a non-profit organization founded by renowned meditation teachers Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg to integrate Buddhist study and practice. To start at the beginning, check out Ep. 261 – Gradual Cultivation in Buddhist Practice “These days, I am totally delighted when I see Māna arise in my mind…one of the reasons I am delighted is that I would much rather see it than not see it to recognize 'that’s Māna', instead of not recognizing it and being caught up and identified with that pattern. Just the seeing of it is freeing.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#261
May 8 · 41 min
Ep. 261 – Gradual Cultivation in Buddhist Practice
Joseph Goldstein explores gradual cultivation, highlighting that even if we are suddenly awakened, we still must have an ongoing practice to work with hindrances and ingrained habits. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This week on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein discusses: The areas of life where clinging shows up most How clinging to sensory pleasures is so embedded in our culture Lightening up for enlightenment and not taking ourselves so seriously How a sense of humor can benefit our practice Unhelpful attachment to view and opinion The unity of clarity and emptiness (self-existing wakefulness) The Buddhist meaning of unborn/unformed Uprooting of the view of self with the understanding that there is still more work to do Having an ongoing, gradual cultivation of skillful means This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed and recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, a non-profit organization founded by renowned meditation teachers Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg to integrate Buddhist study and practice. “Very often, people can have genuine realization and have a really deep understanding, and then get attached to that as if everything is done. So very often these folks can get engaged in skillful behavior, thinking it’s all coming from their deep realization, it’s really coming from all the work that still needs to be done.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#260
April 9 · 40 min
Ep. 260 – The Union of Relative and Ultimate Truth
Continuing his exploration of selflessness, Joseph Goldstein helps listeners live in the balance of both relative and ultimate truth. This episode is a continuation of a talk that started in episode 259, "Selflessness, Dukkha, and Freedom." This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein discusses: The impersonal nature of experiencing peace Seeing with consciousness rather than with the subjective mind Reframing the language of experience with a passive voice Being fully present in the moment without identification Understanding death and dying as the natural flow of impermanence Having an easeful mind even when the body is afflicted Understanding both relative and ultimate truth The wonderful and joyful practice of generosity This episode was recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and originally published on Dharmaseed “We work to understand the dynamics of our conventional reality and all the challenges of it, even as we understand the essential selfless nature of it all. This is really the heart of a mature spiritual practice, the union of these two, not the separation." –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#259
March 13 · 47 min
Ep. 259 – Selflessness, Dukkha, and Freedom
Unpacking the Buddha’s notions of self and nonself, transience and suffering, Joseph Goldstein leads listeners into the heart of liberation. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein illuminates: Why the Buddha paid so much attention to the concept of self How a felt sense of self traps us in desire and attachment Seeing the term ‘self’ as a designation rather than something that exists in and of itself Slight adjustments to our language during practice: ‘the body breathes’ rather than ‘my breath’ Using the template of The Five Aggregates to describe experience Genuine experiences of momentary peace as a peak into Nirvana Taking an interest into the landscapes of our own minds Transience and the way that things are always becoming otherwise The ungovernability of the mind, the body, and all aspects of reality How selflessness can lead to both Dukkha and freedom This episode was recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and originally published on Dharmaseed "As long as we are caught up, identified, and entangled in the view of self, then we spend our lives defending it, gratifying it, grandiosing it, judging it; we have all these responses that come out of this felt sense of the self." –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#258
February 5 · 30 min
Ep. 258 – The Goal Without the Grasp: Aspiration in Buddhist Practice
Distinguishing aspiration from striving with ego, Joseph Goldstein gives listeners permission to have a sense of purpose along their spiritual path. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This week on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein discusses: Having a sense of purpose within the impersonal nature of all things Aspiration: understanding why we are practicing What the Buddha said about purpose and aspiration on The Eightfold Path Seeing the world objectively without reference to the self Being a great faith follower versus a dharma follower Resting in our practice and letting go of unhealthy striving Insight Meditation Society and its commitment to diversity Maintaining the right attitude and openness to all experiences This episode was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society Forest Refuge and originally published on Dharmaseed "The Buddha definitely laid out a goal. The Eightfold Path leads someplace—it's not just meandering around, not going any place. The Eightfold path is leading to awakening, to enlightenment. We can have that aspiration which sets the direction for our practice, we can say that is a sense of purpose, but we're seeing it not so much in terms of an egoful striving, but a realization of our values and what leads to the accomplishment of our values." – Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#257
January 8 · 32 min
Ep. 257 – Releasing the Knower: Equanimity and Awareness
Joseph Goldstein discusses equanimity and how to remove the self from the knowing, effectively freeing ourselves from identification with awareness. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein mindfully explores: Thoughts as passing phenomena that do not truly belong to anyone Seeing all experiences as the simultaneous arising of both knowing and object Letting go of our identification with knowing and awareness Shifting from active voice to passive voice as a mindfulness practice The near enemies of the mental qualities listed in the Brahmaviharas Equanimity and holding all things equally, seeing things for what they are The difference between impartiality and indifference, openness versus carelessness Navigating the complexity of our lives through the balance of compassion and equanimity Maintaining an interest in exploring rather than relying on our preconceptions about people and situations This episode was recorded at the Insight Meditation Society Forest Refuge and originally published on Dharmaseed “When you look for the mind there’s nothing to find and the not finding is the finding. It’s to see that there is nothing to find and when there is nothing to find, there is nothing to identify with.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#256
Dec 11, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep. 256 – The Experience of Consciousness: Question About Cultivating Awareness & Focus On the Buddhist Path
Joseph Goldstein responds to questions on spiritual craving, mental focus, and what it truly means to become aware of awareness. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein mindfully explains: Bringing your daily life into your spiritual practice Mindfulness of seeing: focusing on the seeing itself rather than on what we are looking at Resting in open, non-reactive spaciousness The cognizing power of emptiness and realizing that there is nothing to know Keeping the mind steady and how concentration deepens insight Understanding both relative and ultimate reality Defining dukkha as the inevitability of unwanted experiences How to not waste suffering: taking an interest in the shadows of our own minds Having agency over our own minds during difficult experiences Mindfulness of anger and other negative emotions This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed “How do I become aware of awareness? Where is it? How can I put my finger on it? When we realize that there’s nothing to find, and yet the knowing is happening, then we relax back into the mystery of consciousness, and you’re very aware of the capacity of the mind to know.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#255
Nov 20, 2025 · 1 hr
Ep. 255 – Emptiness, Luminosity, Responsiveness
Defining the nature of Bodhicitta, Joseph Goldstein explains that enlightenment is inevitable when compassion and emptiness coexist. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein thoughtfully articulates: Bodhicitta: the heart-mind of awakening and working for the benefit of all beings Living in the world while still remembering the truth of non-self and impermanence The beauty of selflessness embodied through Dipa Ma’s life and teachings Regularly reflecting on impermanence as both a reality check and a spiritual practice The nature of the mind as intrinsically empty and naturally radiant Coming out of our mind-drama and entering into the empty luminosity of the present moment Compassionate responsiveness to the needs of others Forgiveness as one of the most profound ways to respond with open-hearted compassion This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed “This responsiveness is compassion, not as a meditative stance, but rather it is the responsiveness of an open heart, of an open mind. It can show itself, this compassionate responsiveness, in so many different ways. It can manifest very beautifully as forgiveness.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#254
Oct 31, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep. 254 – The Mystery of Consciousness
Responding to a variety of dharma questions on meditation, effort, and impermanence, Joseph Goldstein explores the mystery of consciousness. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self This week on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein responds to questions on: The benefits of doing walking meditation versus traditional seated meditation Cutting through our conceptual overlay and simply having raw experiences Passive voice construction: removing the self as subject when narrating the world around us Changing “let it go” to “let it be” when we are struggling to let go Being in the flow of changing experiences, the natural arising and passing away of all things The fine line of wholesome energy/effort versus striving and struggling Realizing the emptiness of thoughts and the suffering they bring to us The first experience of nirvana, ‘the zero’, and uprooting the view of self This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed “This is the mystery of consciousness. There’s nothing there tangible to find; no color, no form, it can’t be found. Yet, the knowing is happening. It’s this union of emptiness and knowing.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#253
Oct 10, 2025 · 58 min
Ep. 253 – No Foothold: Integrating Relative & Ultimate Truth In Our Lives
Illuminating different ways to free the mind, Joseph Goldstein integrates relative and ultimate truth, revealing the emptiness of thoughts. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein discusses Integrating the elements of both relative and ultimate truth in our lives The natural compassion that emerges when we let go of self-identification Why our perception of reality isn’t always reliable or accurate Our attachment to the pleasant and aversion to the unpleasant Considering if the mind can remain unafflicted while the body is suffering Shifting awareness from what we want to how the wanting mind feels Our capability to train the mind in a way that leads to greater freedom Letting thoughts arise without interference or judgment Developing nonreactivity through seeing how quickly thoughts arise and pass Realizing that the past and future are only constructs of the mind This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed “Our only experience of the past and future is as a thought in the mind. This is tremendously liberating to see because most of us carry the concepts of the past and future as a huge burden in our lives. All the worries, anxieties, hopes, fears—all of those are arising because we’re not seeing that they’re just concepts.” –Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#252
Sep 19, 2025 · 34 min
Ep. 252 – Equanimity: A Direct Path to Liberation
In part 2 of this Q&A session, Joseph Goldstein explores how to reach equanimity through investigating our mental states, recognizing when to let go, and approaching suffering skillfully. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self In this episode, Joseph Goldstein offers his perspective on: Letting go of obsessive thoughts through insight and investigation How the seven factors of enlightenment work together to support awakening Knowing when to let go and when to investigate experiences for deeper wisdom Staying open to emotions while avoiding unskillful reactivity Social activism on the Buddhist path and engaging with the world in a skillful way Finding inner balance in the midst of turmoil, conflict, and suffering Maintaining a deep historical perspective on the rise and fall of all civilizations Remembering how small our concerns are in the face of the stars and the vastness of all things How equanimity enables us to be peaceful, to connect with suffering, and to offer compassion Considering if we can approach daily life with a motivation to help others and the world Going into the depths of non-self and allowing our life to be a representation of compassionate action This talk was recorded at Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center and distributed by Dharma Seed “In the midst of everything that’s going on, to come back to some greater place of equanimity, one way is just a deep historical perspective on things. This stuff has been going on forever. It’s not new to this time. It’s just part of the long historical unfolding and is inevitable. It’s not an aberration, this has been happening, always.” – Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#251
Aug 30, 2025 · 39 min
Ep. 251 – The Selfless Path to Happiness
In part 1 of this Q&A session, Joseph Goldstein gives Buddhist-flavored insight on accepting impermanence, developing our practice, and loving selflessly. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self In this episode, Joseph Goldstein offers his perspective on: The path from accepting impermanence to happiness Letting go of clinging and becoming attuned to the truth of change The stages we go through in Vipassana meditation practice Understanding meditation experiences—why difficult moments don’t mean a “bad” practice How developing a regular practice helps us approach life more equanimously Feeling the whole mind-body process within practice and how this helps us let go of our sense of self Walking meditation as an effective tool for immediate selflessness The challenge of engaging with the world without getting lost in it Seeing the clear possibility of loving without attachment and with pure generosity of the heart This talk was recorded at Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center and distributed by Dharma Seed “On a conceptual level, being afraid of impermanence is like being afraid of gravity. It’s the way things are. The more we can see that and open to it, we get over that conditioned fear and we’re just in the experience and the acceptance of the flow. It’s actually quite easeful.” – Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#250
Aug 7, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Ep. 250 – Why Meditate?
Renowned meditation teacher, Joseph Goldstein, shares timeless insights on the mind, suffering, and the heart of why we meditate. This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self In this episode, Joseph Goldstein offers his perspective on: The many reasons why we meditate How we all filter our experiences through our own particular conditioning and background Unpacking the Dhammapada’s teaching: “Mind is the forerunner of all actions” Using meditation to understand the patterns and nature of our own minds Strengthening mental stability and inner resilience through practice Cultivating present-moment awareness instead of being swept away by emotions Considering what qualities of heart and mind are being cultivated in all that we do A powerful reminder: Don’t waste your suffering—transform pain into wisdom Deepening insight into the impermanent nature of all experiences The difference between attachment and commitment The Buddhist concept of nonself and freeing our minds from identification This recording from Spirit Rock’s April 2025 Insight Meditation retreat was originally published on Dharmaseed. “We meditate to come out of confusion, to come out of all our habitual reactions into a space of greater wisdom, of greater clarity. We begin to see much more clearly what actually is going on in our experience rather than being lost in it. We begin to see what it is that’s shaping our lives.” – Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#249
Jul 24, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Ep. 249 – Right Effort, Mindfulness & Concentration, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 46
Looking into the samadhi section of the Eight-Fold Path, Joseph Goldstein clarifies how we can free the mind with right effort, mindfulness, and concentration. The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the FINAL part of an in-depth lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience! In this episode’s exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein explores: The clearest, most practical definition of Nirvana: freedom from greed, hatred, and delusion Cultivating spiritual urgency as a wholesome motivator on the path to awakening Uprooting latent defilements that are buried in the mind Five methods for dispelling unwholesome thoughts and mindsets, according to the Buddha How restraint and delayed gratification support inner discipline and lasting success Right mindfulness as the key to all other factors of enlightenment Suspending all judgments and interpretations; simply noticing events as they occur Stabilizing our attention on a single object or mindfully watching as objects change The three characteristics of impermanence, unreliability, and selflessness Different concentration practices, such as reflecting on the Buddha-Dharma-Sangha or on peace Exploring the nature of all phenomena once we have achieved a clear mind This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed. Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE and check out the other mentioned book from this episode, Kinship with All Life “It's not so much a question of doing, it's a question of undoing all the habit patterns of proliferation, judgement, evaluation, interpretation, can we undo that, and simply come back in the most simple way to be aware of whatever it is that’s arising? It's only six things, whichever arise - sight, sound, smell, taste, sensation or an object of mind. It's like we’re listening to a six-piece chamber orchestra.” – Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#248
Jul 9, 2025 · 55 min
Ep. 248 – Right Action & Livelihood, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 45
Rearticulating the moral foundation that makes happiness possible and honors our kinship with all living beings, Joseph Goldstein explores Right Action and Right Livelihood. The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 45th part of an in-depth 46-part lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self In this episode’s exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein discusses: Navigating cultural changes with mindfulness, integrity, and personal responsibility Right Action: cultivating clarity and strength of mind to abstain from actions that cause harm to self or others The Buddha’s teachings on non-harming, non-killing, and cultivating a deep sense of kinship with all living beings Desiring the welfare of all sentient beings– even something as small as a mosquito or an ant Facing ethical dilemmas with awareness, avoiding the trap of rationalizing harmful or selfish actions Understanding karma and consequences as directly linked to the intensity of our defilements How non-stealing and generosity foster trust, harmony, and a universal sense of safety Living mindfully by not consuming or taking more than we truly need, contributing to global economic and ecological balance Becoming mindful of the power of sexual energy, refraining from sexual misconduct, and keeping the sangha beautiful Seeing Right Livelihood as a crucial aspect of the path, given how much of life is devoted to work Applying right livelihood into any profession by infusing our role with service, ethics, and awareness Understanding wealth as a blessing when rightfully earned and used for the benefit of many beings This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed. Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE and check out the other mentioned book from this episode, Kinship with All Life "It’s possible to develop an attitude of service in whatever work we do. Are we simply doing a job to support ourselves, or, are we watching the attitudes in our mind as we do our work? Do we work with care, attentiveness, and a genuine desire to be helpful? It’s not only what we do, but how we do it.” – Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#247
Jun 26, 2025 · 56 min
Ep. 247 – Right Speech, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 44
Honing in on Right Speech and maintaining harmony, Joseph Goldstein encourages listeners to develop a commitment to telling the truth and refraining from slander. The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 44th part of an in-depth 46-part lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self In this episode’s exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein reviews: Practicing Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood with the same dedication as meditation The influence of our speech on our lives (our relationships, minds, karmic outcomes) Truthfulness as the most basic concept of right speech in Buddhist ethics Investigating the deeper motivations behind what we say and how we say it The harmful ripple effects of lying on trust, connection, and societal cohesion Insights from the Buddha: why truth must be spoken at all times, regardless of a perceived advantage Lies of omission and the subtle ways we distort or avoid truth Cultivating the courage and mindfulness required to speak honestly in daily life Refraining from gossip and slander in order to avoid disharmony Examining the emotional tone of speech—choosing words that are gentle, compassionate, and unifying How harsh language does not serve good communication Transforming the divisive world we live in through right speech How we listen as an equally important component of right speech This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE "This doesn't mean that there should be a suppression of what we're feeling. It's not a papering over of the truth of our emotions, but rather, it's to be mindful enough that we can communicate what we're feeling in a way that promotes connection rather than promotes divisiveness. This is a practice. Right speech is a practice." – Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#246
Jun 6, 2025 · 47 min
Ep. 246 – Compassionate Responsiveness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 43
Joseph Goldstein explores how we can make compassionate responsiveness our default state through the clear dichotomy of skillful and unskillful actions. The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 43rd part of an in-depth 46-part lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self In this episode’s exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein discusses: The mass madness and destruction caused by cruelty—on both global and personal levels How subtle, unnoticed moments of cruelty can live within us without our awareness The spiritual and emotional challenge of keeping our hearts open in the face of immense suffering Transforming consciousness to make compassion and empathy our natural, default response The gift of mindfulness: seeing things as they truly are Empathy as a foundational practice and the essential first step toward compassionate action Releasing anger by opening ourselves to the suffering behind it Two paths of compassion: compassionate action and compassion as a motivation to awaken Planting seeds of compassion for the benefit of all beings Naturally flowing compassion from a heart free of ego and self-reference "The more we practice and grow in our wisdom, the wisdom of understanding selflessness, the more compassion manifests spontaneously—compassion is the activity of emptiness." – Joseph Goldstein This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE “Our practice is really about the transformation of consciousness in such a way that makes compassionate responsiveness the default setting of our lives. Can we really open in such a way and understand things in such a way that it simply becomes the way we are—it becomes our natural response.” – Joseph Goldstein See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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