Zen Stoic Path Show

Sidney is a mom and a mystic who has always been fascinated by the mystery of Life. The birth of her first child in the midst of a dark period catapulted her spiritual journey to new levels. She was guided down a path of feminine embodiment and the energy medicine of the Q’ero shamanic lineage taught by the Four Winds Society. Through this journey around the “medicine wheel” she honored her ancestors, healed generational patterns, learned rituals to connect with the wisdom of Mother Earth, and ultimately awakened to profound levels of love with her partner and children. She is now endeavoring to help other mama’s and families to heal their patterns, develop greater presence, and connect to the Earth.

Integral effort is about how to live a life of intention and presence. Integral Effort is about how we can walk a path of intentionality and presence in all we do. In this Episode, Victor explains how to live a life of presence and intention without burning out. The show also covers the Zen Stoic concept of embracing vs resisting reality and the principle of integral effort, which is being fully intentional in all actions. It teaches that effort is integral to being 100% intentional, seeking understanding and learning, prioritizing meaningful over expediency and being sincerely and wholeheartedly yourself. Subscribe to the show and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform!

Michael Ostrolenk is a resilience coach, relationship guide, transpersonal and somatic educator, human system optimization instructor and transpartisan social entrepreneur. Michael has been exploring the relationship between post conventional living, transformational leadership, optimizing health and regenerative paradigms his entire life. After receiving his master's degree in transpersonal counseling psychology from John F Kennedy University, he completed his post-graduate training in somatic psychology from the California Institute for Integral Studies with a focus on body oriented psychology. As a marriage and family therapist, he has served patients dealing with mental illness, neurological impairments, chronic and life threatening diseases and relationship problems. As a trans partizan social entrepreneur, Michael has consulted for Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics International Center of the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, Pentagon Budget Campaign and the Arlington Institute, among others, committed to excellence as a lifelong learner. He graduated from the SEAL Fits three week academy in 2009 and has completed SEAL Fit Coral Camp, where he has become a master coach and head instructor with the seal fit unbeatable Mind Academy. Michael is also the director of Human Resilience out of here, Enzo, where he works with medical and psychological staff in creating online and in-person programs seeking to transcend the limits of human performance and health.

Integral Livelihood is earning your living in a way that work becomes indistinguishable from play and we are able to feel genuinely fulfilled on a daily basis with our work. It allows us to operate at our highest level of contribution to provide exceptional value to others in a way that automatically meets our needs at a high level. In this episode we discuss the Zen Stoic view of money, the 7 Zen Stoic Human Needs, Ikigai (Japanese concept of life purpose), and the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success from the book "The Go Giver."

What if there was one skill that when mastered could transform your life? And what if that skill is something you already do every single day? The very skill I'm referring to is, communication. How we speak to ourselves and others has a profound impact on the quality of our lives. Integral Speech is all about speaking in a manner that allows a person to become liberated in their expression so that they could be their most authentic selves. When we use our words to champion our own sovereignty we increase the power of our own free will as well as our capacity to shape our world to what we seek to create. You will move in the direction in which you speak. The more precise and specific you are with the direction you seek to go, the higher the likelihood you will actualize your goals.

With over 20 years of direct experience in the personal transformation space, Stefanos understands peak human potential. He is a trained educator and relationship expert with a background in behavioral science. He is passionate about leading people closer to their highest potential and to each other. Stefanos’ philosophy merges the best of Eastern and Western methodologies to promote spiritual balance and empower people in life and love. From trauma release to navigating the at times murky waters of modern masculinity to helping women understand the men in their lives, he helps people escape negative patterns and cultivate a positive sense of self. Stefanos has also cofounded both a world-class coaching and education institute and global men’s empowerment movement and has been involved in multiple 8 and 9-figure startups. Stefanos has worked with thousands of men and women from all walks of life; special forces soldiers, Olympic gold medalists, elite fighters, and everyday people have relied on him to restructure and reframe their relationships with themselves and their loved ones.

Dr. Daniel L. Stickler is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Apeiron ZOH Inc. He is the pioneer behind systems-based precision performance medicine, a new paradigm that re-defines medicine from the old symptoms-based disease model to one of limitless peak performance and systems science in all aspects of life.

Personal development is always telling us the importance of taking action, but not all actions are created equal. What if there was a style of taking action that would always leave you feeling liberated every time?In Buddhism, the precursor to the path of enlightenment exists in The 5 Precepts. The 5 Precepts help one to reconcile their own morality and dissipate disturbances in their soul, caused by feelings of regret and tension. The precepts are not commandments, rules, or laws laid down by some cosmic authority. Rather, the precepts are vows, or ways of being that act as a foundation towards one’s liberation. There is an inherent morality that exists within human nature. Both Stoicism and Buddhism recognize this. Ignoring or violating the nature of our morality will thus make it impossible to create any sense of inner peace.The precepts contain both passive and active elements that prime one’s conduct in the world. The typical translations imply the passive side, but just as important is the active side to each. Right and wrong are much of the time, seen as very subjective. However in the spirit of the precepts, “right” is not achieved by the mere absence of wrong. To do right requires us to engage in both the passive and the active elements of our precepts. Simultaneously, only engaging in (or even obsessing about) the active elements of each precept does not absolve one of ignoring the passive side. Both must be taken into consideration in one’s practice. It is about finding a middle way, where both the active and the passive exist in a non-dualistic harmony. In Zen Stoic philosophy we refer to these not as precepts, but rather as The 5 Vows of Inspired Action. Dr. Wayne Dyer refers to the term "inspired" as being in spirit because when you are inspired you are living in line with your spirit, your true nature. Marcus Aurelius refers to acting in service of the common good many times in the book, Meditations because he realized that humans (being social animals) were made to cooperate with one another and that we are all interconnected. This is our nature, we survive and thrive because of our ability to cooperate. Thus when action is "inspired" is not only serves the good of the individual but also the good of the collective because it embodies the spirit of our true nature. All actions should be aimed at increasing choice, wholeness, and sovereignty of the self and others.Key Takeaways:• Lead with Love• Be The Source of What You Seek To Experience• Direct Your Passion Meaningfully • Communicate Sincerely and Expansively• Choose To Be Here Now

Brandon Wehn is a life coach, focusing on interpersonal relationships and communication skills. Having been raised by a spiritual direction counselor, coaching came naturally and he began a professional career as a coach in 2015. He has worked with hundreds of individuals, helping to improve their quality of life; starting with how they relate to themselves and working outward to all the relationships in their lives. After spending six years traveling the world with no more than a small backpack, he settled in Austin, TX.

https://unshakeablelife.com/Jessie Torres is a certified Master Peak Performance Coach and Life strategist, with additional masters certifications in Meditation, HeartMath Trainer, Reiki Practitioner and Domestic Violence Counselor. She has coached thousands of high performance people from all walks of life and various parts of the world that have achieved success and the highest level of fulfillment. Jessie is Founder of Fierce Grace Transformation, a course and coaching program that helps high performing entrepreneurs and Leaders, achieve passion, purpose and impact while, growing their businesses and maximizing their results in all areas of their world so that they can make not only their life extraordinary, but they also have a passion and conviction to love it forward and create impact in the world. She is driven to discover the truth of the client’s deepest potential and unlock the limitless opportunities that leave others in the dark ages! Bringing all levels of mindset, energy and strategy with an authentic, client driven approach. Jessie’s journey was one filled with child abuse, the loss of a brother to murder, and a marriage that left her (as she describes) completely apathetic, emotionless, and spiritually dead. This left her living a life filled with fear, limitation and the darkness of shame every single day. She turned her suffering and pain into purpose and passion, and now she helps men and women all over the world transform their narrative from "victim" to "victor", and find the courage to take the small steps they need and peel back the layers of fear, to realize their full potential, and live the big life of their dreams. With this as her driving force, She now lives a committed life of passion and purpose. She will do all she can to create the biggest impact in turning trauma to triumph and shifting humanity forever. https://unshakeablelife.com/

In this episode, we explore the four subconscious filters that can make or break your inner peace. We'll discuss how to identify these filters, and how to apply Integral Intention to keep them in check. This means understanding the meaning and purpose behind our every action.

Mark Divine is an entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, philanthropist, and one ofthe world’s top leadership and coaching experts.After a successful 20 year career as a Navy SEAL and SEAL Commander, Mark was hired bythe Navy to create a nationwide coaching and leadership program for the SEALs. The bold goalof this program was to give the SEALs the best leadership and mental-management tools in theworld – to help them forge unbeatable SEAL teams that achieve mission success in the moststressful, challenging environments on earth.Divine’s leadership and coaching program for the SEALs was so effective that it’s now beingused outside of the Navy by top CEOs, Fortune 100 companies, USA Olympics, eliteuniversities, major league sports franchises, celebrities, and successful individuals from all overthe world.Mark Divine is the author of 5 best-selling books, including his latest book Staring Down TheWolf: 7 Leadership Commitments That Forge Elite Teams. He hosts a #1-ranked podcast oniTunes (Mark Divine’s Unbeatable Mind) and he is the founder of 5 successful companies:Unbeatable Mind, SEALFIT, NavySEALs.com, USCrossFit, and the award winning CoronadoBrewing Company in California.Divine believes that any individual, team, or company can unlock 20X performance with the righttools and training. His company, Unbeatable Mind, helps millions of people achieve their fullpotential in life and business through their free training resources and advanced trainingprograms for leaders, corporate teams, coaching professionals, and high-achieving individuals.As a philanthropist, Mark Divine founded the Courage Foundation to help our woundedVeterans who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). Recently Divine and his CourageFoundation team set a world record by completing over 22 million burpees to raise awareness,support, and funding for our Veteran heroes.

Michelle Alderman (soon-to-be Michelle Dillard) is a certified Master Life coach, with additional masters certifications in Hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming and Quantum Time Technique. She is the co-founder of Richer Every Day, with her partner Mike Dillard, a course and coaching program that helps high performing entrepreneurs and employees reach new levels of success by re-training their brain's neurochemistry and subconscious programming when it comes to money and abundance. Michelle has coached over a thousand clients to improve their lives by observing their thought processes and teaching a simple framework that can be used in all areas of life. Michelle teaches that in order to improve your life, you must improve the quality of your thinking. Go to RicherEveryDay.com to learn more about the course and community.

Stuart Sovatsky, Ph.D., has been a practitioner of kundalini yoga for twenty-four years and is the director of two psychotherapy clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. A former presenter at the World Congress on Sexology in India and the International Kundalini Research Network, he teaches at JFK University and the California Institute of Integral Studies.In this episode Stuart shares profound stories of his work over the last 50 years. He's helped people from all walks of life transform their lives through Admiration Therapy with over 40,000 hours of experience. He's had the honor of working with leaders of countries and even had the opportunity to work with the Dalai Lama!This episode is packed with some truly profound wisdom! Enjoy!

We all want to be successful, but sometimes we just don't know how to get there. In this episode, I'll introduce you to the Integral View – this includes 3 mental frameworks that are the foundation of success and fulfillment.

Most people believe change is difficult or even impossible! The reason being is because they're often missing 1 or more of The 3 Pillars of Change.In order to change our lives for the better, we need three things: wisdom, action, and focus. In this episode I talk about how each of these three pillars can help us achieve our goals and create the life we want to live.

How to end self suffering? It's a question that has been asked by people throughout history. In this episode, I explore part 3 of The 4 Noble truths, "The Truth of Nirvana" (the end of suffering).This is all about the art of letting go and learning to be comfortable in the paradoxes of life.

In this episode, we explore the root of all suffering and how to overcome it. Detachment is one of the most important concepts when it comes to freeing yourself from suffering. We explore the 5 ways the soul degrades itself (and how to avoid them) according to the teachings of Marcus Aurelius.

Do you ever feel like your struggles are getting in the way of your success? In this special series we explore the Zen Stoic rendition of, The 4 Noble Truths of Buddhism. I explore how to transcend suffering and use it to fuel our goals. Discover how to deal with frustration, ego, and impermanence understand the importance suffering plays in the role of in achieving our dreams.

In this episode, I'll share the story of how one of my clients turned a seemingly negative obstacle into over $10,000 in revenue he didn't even realize existed! Most people allow obstacles to define them. This client applied "the obstacle is the way" in real time to generate a massive result! As Epictetus once said "To me all omens are lucky, if I will. For whichever of these things happens, it is in my control to derive advantage from it."

We all have our share of imperfections. But if we learn to live in harmony with them, they can become some of our most precious assets. In this video I discuss the Stoic concept of Memento Mori and the Zen concept of Wabi Sabi. Both concepts combined show us not only how to appreciate the beauty in life's imperfections, but also bring gratitude to each day, no matter how imperfect!Click The Link Below To Get Access To Our “3 Day Micro Meditation Journey” https://www.liberation.so/lp/micro-meditations-series

Life is full of obstacles. But the Stoics showed us that these are actually opportunities in disguise. In this episode, I talk about how to use anticipation and knowing the road ahead to turn any obstacle into a chance for growth and progress. In order to achieve our worthwhile goals in life, we sometimes need to silence our fears and trust our intuition. This is what separates the greats from the rest on the road to success!

In this episode, we explore the power of metaphor. Metaphors can be used to help us understand complex concepts, or to communicate more effectively with others. But they can also be used to trap and deceive ourselves into less than we're capable of. We cover how to use metaphors strategically to intensify positive experience and dim negative experience.

Are you in a season where you keep running into challenge after challenge with no end in sight?It's easy to feel lost and overwhelmed when looking for answers. But the Stoics believed that everything we go through in life is an opportunity for growth and learning. In this episode, I'll share some of the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and the true meaning of "the obstacle is the way" and why it's crucial for our growth. I explain how to use challenges and obstacles to create freedom and liberation in your life.

Words have the power to liberate or enslave us. In this episode, we explore how we can use language to empower ourselves and find our true selves. This episode is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about using words in a positive way!Click the link below to join the Liberated Life Community:https://community.liberation.so/s/community/

Meditation is a great way to improve your focus, increase your self-awareness, and achieve inner peace. But like anything else, it's easy to make mistakes. In this episode I share three of the most common meditation mistakes and how to avoid them. We finish this episode with a guided meditation that gives you a powerful training experience in mindfulness!Click The Link Below To Get Access To Our “3 Day Micro Meditation Journey” https://www.liberation.so/lp/micro-meditations-series

Raj Jana is the founder of JavaPresse, a lifestyle brand that transforms ordinary coffee rituals into extraordinary daily experiences. He's been mentored by some of the world's most inspiring leaders and hosts the weekly show, Stay Grounded, to help listeners achieve more happiness in daily life.

Making decisions can be hard. Especially when there's a lot on the line. But with the right mindset, you can make bulletproof decisions that will help you achieve your goals. In this episode, I talk about how to achieve inner peace through total conviction in your choices - no matter what life throws your way.Click the link below to join The Unshakeable Goal Setting Workshophttps://community.liberation.so/c/unshakeable-goal-setting/day-3-live-unshakeable-goal-setting-workshop

In a world that's constantly changing, it can be hard to know how to prepare for the future. But with the right mindset, you can enjoy life while being prepared for anything. That's why I've started practicing the warrior mindset – Zen Stoic Philosophy shows us how to find peace in the face of adversity.In this episode I'll discuss how to become the "warrior in the garden" and share some tips on how you can start living a liberated life with unshakeable inner peace.Click The Link Below To Join The Unshakeable Goal Setting https://community.liberation.so/c/unshakeable-goal-setting/day-2-live-unshakeable-goal-setting-workshop

We all want inner peace, but sometimes we sabotage our own efforts. There are five ways the soul degrades itself, according to Marcus Aurelius. I share five ways we do this and offer some tips for overcoming them. Click Below To Join Our Unshakeable Goal Setting Workshop:https://community.liberation.so/c/unshakeable-goal-setting/workshop-unshakeable-goal-setting-c9994b

In this episode, we explore what it means to live an authentic life. Many people view ego as their enemy, but is that really accurate? Can ego actually be a helpful tool when it comes to personal growth?You'll discover the power of ego and how to use it for your own benefit. So if you're interested in living a more authentic life, make sure to check out this episode! Have you ever been told that your ego is your enemy? Or been accused of having too much of an ego?So many spiritual teachers/ influencers through the years attempt to validate the efficacy of their teachings through the lack of their ego or claiming that they do not have an ego or that their teachings can help you rid yourself of your ego.Spiritual egotism is the attempt to use what is of a higher nature to fulfill the desires of that of a lower nature. To think you are somehow more spiritual or awakened than another person because of what you practice, is in itself self diminishing as anything spiritual.The ego is important and necessary to have an individual experience. You couldn’t say, “I’ve gotten rid of my ego” without an ego. “I” would be a meaningless concept without the ego. The ego or “I” is merely a measuring of your individual conscious experience. It is about as real as the equator or the earth. The equator is real in the sense of having a way to divide the hemispheres of the earth, but it doesn’t physically exist as a line we can see, it exists through social institution, as an agreement we share to indicate the midpoint of the earth’s northern and southern hemispheres. This doesn’t mean it is wrong or invalid. The ego is the same in the sense that it is just a word, a symbol to describe an experience.When you are operating through the “ego” or have “too much ego” it simply means you are over invested in the measuring device of individual experience rather than the experience itself as a whole. Similar to mistaking the dinner menu for nourishment or money for wealth.

Do you ever feel like life is throwing too many challenges your way? It can be tough to stay positive and motivated when everything seems to be going wrong. But with the right mindset, you can turn any challenge into an opportunity for growth. We turn to ancient Stoic philosopher, Epictetus about how to grow in spite of difficulty. If you're looking for some wisdom that will help you stick to your goals, then you don't want to miss this!

Key Takeaways:“Defeat is a state of mind; no one is very defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality." - Bruce LeeThe present moment is the convergence point where everything can change. The past is a memory and the future is just speculation. Concluding what something will mean is a product of the mind, it is not reality. Things can always change.We think bringing closure to reality makes us feel safe through knowing what will be, but the reality is, that it blinds us. The way towards truly knowing is first acknowledging that you don't with full embrace.

“My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary, still less conceal it—all idealism is mendacity in the face of what is necessary—but love it.” -Friedrich Nietzsche Rules may give us guide rails to move towards goals, but they will not create fulfillment of what we most desire. Zen is not about following a set of rules or doctrines, but instead it is to be perfectly and simply human, wholeheartedly without having to keep an eye on one’s self. “When your philosophy becomes about philosophy, it becomes a pompous and lifeless shell. Philosophy becomes fully alive when it is about being human and truly living.” -Victor Pierantoni We never hold onto actual realities of events in our lives but rather abstract memories of what occurred. Carrying abstract memories weighs us down and doesn’t allow for us to move forward. Everything changes. Life ultimately exists in a state of impermanence. The more we attempt to cling to what was and pursue insoluble problems as a means to validate our identities, the more we will perpetuate our own suffering. Love your path! All of it, the good, the bad, pleasant, and unpleasant. It is the path you chose. You must play the hand of cards life gave you. You don’t play any better by looking at the cards of others or wishing your cards were different. You play best when you don’t just play your cards, but love and embrace the hand you got!

Sal is a well renowned and sought after hair stylist in Los Angeles, who seeks to find the meaning of life in all that he does. He creates magic in the “hair chair” by using his experiences of his spiritual practice and philosophy to transform his clients to express themselves fully, one hair cut at a time.Sal moved to the United States from Mexico at 13. He touched his first pair of shears shortly thereafter and hasn't stopped since. He graduated from Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy and began working at the esteemed Sally Hershberger Salon then at Ramirez Tran Salon in Beverly Hills.Sal continues pushing himself into being a better artist. He has had the pleasure to work with many celebrities & artists as well as children, teenagers, moms & grandmas. His focus is to create quality work and let it speak for itself. After four successful years in Beverly Hills, three at Ramirez Tran, most recently Salon Benjamin, working in New York City, San Francisco, and Mexico City, Sal is now creating all-new outpost in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles.

In this episode we dive into the third aggregate of the Zen Stoic Rendition of the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path: Meditation/Concentration.We discuss how to live in a meditative state through practicing the 3 components of the Meditation/Concentration Aggregate: Integral Effort, Integral Awareness, and Integral Concentration.**Integral Effort:** Here we discuss how to find the sweet spot of effort. Following the stereotypical motivational advice of going 110% all the time is a trap!It seems as though we’ve become obsessed with speed and the idea of “getting there”Whether it’s the dream of finally becoming successful, meeting the love of your life, reaching financial freedom, getting your Instagram model bodyHave you ever noticed though, the faster you want something to happen, the longer it feels and further away it feels?**Integral Awareness:** Here we discuss how to ACTUALLY feel our emotions rather than finding creative and righteous ways to avoid them. We also go into how to use our pain as a guide to healing our traumas and creating breakthroughs.The reality is that pain is a great teacher. The real problem to solve is “what is the pain trying to teach me.”What if your pain held a sacred message for you? One that would set you free if you were able to fully acknowledge it. Imagine what the world would be like if you were able to welcome pain and negative emotion with presence and calm, knowing that it had something to share with you.**Integral Concentration:** Here we discuss how to live in a state of flow by truly living in the present moment.

In this episode we continue with part 2 of our 3 part series of the Zen Stoic rendition of The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. We discuss the aggregate of morality and conduct. This is based on our outlook on life, how we treat one another, and how we go about sustaining our lives. This aggregate includes the components of: Integral Action: This is related to how we conduct ourselves in the world and with others in a manner that is optimal for our liberation. Living a life with a sense of morality that is oriented around our humanity is key to aligning with our nature, without creating excessive or unnecessary suffering.Integral Speech: This is related to how we express and communicate with ourselves and others. Words are our symbols for reality. We filter everything through our word choice. How we speak will either enhance or diminish our ability to live a liberated life.Integral Livelihood: This is related to how we earn our living. We all need to accumulate food, resources, and shelter to live. HOW we do this matters. Are you earning your living in a way that supports or conflicts with your own liberation?

In this episode, we dive into the Zen Stoic rendition of the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. The path is the way of liberation for a person to end their suffering. The Buddha’s Path has 3 Aggregates: Wisdom, Morality, and Meditation. This episode covers the Wisdom Aggregate which contains 2 components: Integral View and Integral Intention. We discuss how to have a complete view of life, self, and circumstance. Oftentimes we suffer because we are viewing life with a limited view, and having an Integral View solves this. In addition to having an Integral View, we also break down how to live with Integral Intention. From a Zen Stoic perspective, one of the most crucial elements between ourselves and our inner peace is having delusional intentions in life. No matter how much we do and say the “right” things, we can never hide our own intentions from ourselves, and in this episode, we discuss exactly how to reconcile our own intentions and create inner peace. We dive deep into The 4 Intentions and 4 Delusions of Zen Stoic Philosophy and how to apply them in your own life.Highlights:“There are things we KNOW and things we DON’T KNOW. What you do not know is an opportunity for understanding and curiosity.”“Humans are mortal. Remember your own mortality. It is what gives life meaning. It is what gives every individual a sense of priority in which to focus attention.”“At times the path may become foggy or riddled with obstructions. Absent the path, this is the path. The path is always now. The path is where the present moment and free will meet.”Reference Links:- Alan Watts - Buddha The Man Who Woke Up: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWAqyFl-QDM&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWAqyFl-QDM&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=5)- Alan Watts The Real Eightfold Path: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0axKhWgv0&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0axKhWgv0&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=4)- The Noble Eightfold Path: [https://www.existentialbuddhist.com/tag/noble-eightfold-path/](https://www.existentialbuddhist.com/tag/noble-eightfold-path/)- Fundamentals of Buddhism: The 4 Noble Truths: [https://buddho.org/buddhism/#the-truth-of-the-way-that-lead-to-cessation](https://buddho.org/buddhism/#the-truth-of-the-way-that-lead-to-cessation)

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek” - from Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung. This episode we discuss championing the journey of the individual by first embracing the flaws and imperfections of our lives. Includes turning the pain of our past into something beautiful that contributes to the development of our character as well as discovering how to lift the limits of our identity that were the basis of much of our pain in the first place. I discuss methods of how you can train yourself to become a “warrior in the garden,” so that you can be prepared for the inevitable storms and battles life will bring and simultaneously enjoy your highest ideals and those that you love.References:Kintsugi: The Centuries-Old Art of Repairing Broken Pottery with Gold: https://mymodernmet.com/kintsugi-kintsukuroi/ EASTERN PHILOSOPHY - Kintsugi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBUTQkaSSTYFrom Broken To Beautiful: The Power of Kintsugi: https://concreteunicorn.com/blogs/journal/from-broken-to-beautiful-the-power-of-kintsugiJordan Peterson: 5 Hours for the NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8e_dvbXoCQ&t=4500sAlan Watts - Buddha The Man Who Woke Up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWAqyFl-QDM&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=5Alan Watts The Real Eightfold Path: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0axKhWgv0&list=PLUtpVD4eyUYe47RpZqyo-6IWrimlMAUMK&index=4

Are you setting goals for yourself but can’t seem to finish them? In this episode, we explore one of the major reasons why we can’t seem to finish the task we started, the concept of decluttering and creating space in your life to achieve your state of Zen. Don’t miss this episode!

In today's episode, we will be interviewing stand-up comedian Brendon Lemon who is also a proponent of Zen and Stoic philosophy. Don't miss this episode!

Are you someone who has a packed schedule yet feels like you're not really "doing" anything? Do you purposefully wear your "busyness" as your badge of honor? In this episode, we will discuss the importance of finding clarity and direction because if we don't know where we're going, no matter which direction we put our sails, no wind is favorable.

In this episode, we're going to be discussing the Chinese proverb "If you are always giving, then you will always have." I will be telling the story of how a homeless man named Paul taught me one of the greatest lessons of my life.

Important Quotes:“We are a meaning-seeking species. We tend to process events in light of what they mean to us. We make a value judgment: Is it good or bad in the context of my life? And it is a human habit to infer deliberate intention to events in self-referential ways.” - Ralph Lewis“Our guilt festers and turns into shame. It becomes something horrifying and gross and must be concealed and defended from anyone who would otherwise expose it. And it’s this hiding that ultimately hurts us. Because what this hiding looks like in real life is a deflection of responsibility. It looks like passive aggression. It looks like manipulation and unwillingness to trust. It corrodes and poisons our relationships and destroys our ambitions. And as any addict will tell you, overwhelming amounts of shame can slowly murder us from the inside-out." - Mark Manson“You (hopefully) don’t go around sleeping with your friends’ partners and shitting in supermarket aisles because you fear social punishment. And that is a healthy fear—that threat of feeling ashamed keeps you, your genitals, and your bowels in check. While shame functions to keep you from doing stupid or awful things, guilt similarly motivates us to right our wrongs. When we feel guilty about something, we often set out to make it right. We apologize and in some cases, we offer ways to fix it. This feels bad. But this is also healthy. Expressing guilt for our transgressions and setting a course of corrective action shows others that:1. We know the rules and we know we broke them, and2. We care about others in the group enough to try to fix things.In short, shame and guilt solve a big problem inherent to living in larger social groups: they help regulate the behavior of the entire group at the level of the individual." -Mark MansonKey Takeaways:Guilt often can arise from making promises we know we cannot keep just to appease someone.It is our own guilt that haunts our minds and makes us seek out confirmation in our environment.References:Banishing A Ghost: https://truecenterpublishing.com/zenstory/ghost.htmlComing to Terms With Coincidence: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/202002/coming-terms-coincidenceThe Best Way to Resolve Your Shame: https://markmanson.net/shame

Important Quotes:"All the difficulties you have in zazen should not take place outside your mind. Your efforts should be kept within your mind. In other words you have to accept the difficulty as not being other than what you are." -Shunryu Suzuki Roshi“Dogen Zenji was enlightened when he heard his master strike and say to the disciple sitting next to Dogen, "What are you doing? You have to make a hard effort. What are you doing?" That effort is Zen. That effort is to observe the precepts. If we make our best effort on each moment with confidence, that is enlightenment. When you ask whether your way is perfect or not, there is an insidious idea of self. When you do your best to observe the precepts, to practice Zen, within the Big Mind then there is enlightenment. There is no special way to attain enlightenment. Enlightenment is not some certain stage. Enlightenment is everywhere. Wherever you are, enlightenment is there. Whatever you do with your best effort, enlightenment follows. This is very important for our Zen practice and for our everyday life. We should make our best effort in our everyday life as well as in practice of Zen.” -Shunryu Suzuki Roshi“In today’s standard, hustle culture can be defined as the state of overworking to the point where it becomes a lifestyle.” -Afrina ArfaKey Takeaways:Imagine a what your day would look like in flow. Would it be all work and no play, or all play and no work? You’ll find the answer is neither. There is a harmony between the two that occurs when you’re in flow. A harmony between purpose driven thinking, and a purposeless ease of just being. If you swing the pendulum towards all things being purposeful and productive, you’ll fall prey to overworking or overtraining. If you swing the pendulum towards all things being pleasurable and fun, you’ll eventually run into the existential crisis of meaninglessness. Aim at the sweet spot that respects the value of both in your life.Too much of a challenge leads to perfectionism and fear of failure. To easy of a goal leads to apathy.Failure in a serious and rigid state, feels painful. It sucks to be wrong when you give too much significance to anything. When you fail in a playful state, you laugh, you learn, and you move on.References:Joe Rogan - How To Workout Smarter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fbCcWyYthQ&t=669sThe Flow Model: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/flow-model.htmAlan Watts - How To Create Without Forcing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhNRpiY1Lc0Right Effort in Practice: http://www.chzc.org/SR6.htmWhy Are Young People Pretending to Love Work?: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/business/against-hustle-culture-rise-and-grind-tgim.htmlThe Truth About the Hustle Culture: https://university.taylors.edu.my/en/campus-life/news-and-events/news/the-truth-about-the-hustle-culture.htmlEvery Inspirational Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSYJ5Ehbo3U

Important Quotes:“Buddhism is about liberating the mind. To accomplish this, the Buddha taught his path of morality (sīla), concentration (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā).”“A life grounded in morality is a life free from restlessness and remorse as a result of regret.”“Just as in the entire Buddhist path, when it comes to the precepts the Buddha emphasises the underlying intention. This does not mean that you can invoke ignorance or inattention to justify misconduct. You cannot say that you knew well or did not know better and that it was moral. Much more it means that your consciousness is the forerunner of your actions and that the consequences of your actions follow, as the Dhammapada (verse 1) nicely states:‘Mind is the forerunner of all things, mind is their leader, they are made by the mind. When someone speaks or acts with impure thoughts, suffering follows, like the wheel follows the hoof of the ox.’ “ -Editors at Buddho.org “When your mind becomes demanding, when you long for something, you will end up violating your own precepts: not to tell lies, not to steal, not to kill, not to be immoral, and so forth. If you keep your original mind, the precepts keep themselves.” - Shunryu Suzuki“We should be very grateful to the rigid formal way of practicing Zen and Zen precepts. You may think these precepts are useless if we cannot observe them perfectly. But they are the traces of human efforts based on the great mercy of Buddha.” -Shunryu Suzuki“Lies make you weak and you can feel it. You cannot get away with warping the experience of being.” -Jordan Peterson“Men have come into being for one another; so either educate them or put up with them.” -Marcus AureliusKey Takeaways:The 5 PreceptsNot to destroy lifeNot to take what is not givenAbstain from exploiting my passionsAbstain from false speechAbstaining from intoxicationThese are not commandments or moral law laid down by some kind of cosmic law giver.They are vows. They are not going to make you into a good person, they are not intended to be sentimental.Imagine what the world would look like if we put our best effort forth to observe and practice these precepts. What would it be like if we all adopted Marcus Aurelius’s attitude of fellowship?The best way for us to get things done and get the most out of our experiences is to work together. The foundation of the quality of our efforts towards meaningful ends begins with our own morality with how we treat ourselves and others.References:Alan Watts: The Real Eightfold Path: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0axKhWgv0&t=684sBuddhism and Morality: the Five Precepts: https://buddho.org/buddhism-and-morality-the-five-precepts/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5oiMBhDtARIsAJi0qk2dD52I2KLW7l7ZqKj0XY5EiJ9WHXmzjquusXDIcSCV7cW2fETpStYaAqEkEALw_wcBRule 8: Tell The Truth or At Least Don't Lie | Jordan Peterson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53HmC1zxVcMarcus Aurelius on Overcoming Anger and Developing Empathy: https://donaldrobertson.name/2013/02/25/marcus-aurelius-on-overcoming-anger-and-developing-empathy/Right Effort in Practice: http://www.chzc.org/SR6.htmMarcus Aurelius’ Ten Commandments to Himself: https://medium.com/stoicism-philosophy-as-a-way-of-life/marcus-aurelius-ten-commandments-to-himself-681a775fae84Dave Chappelle: Chip The White Guy Part 2: https://youtu.be/MkQGRup3E8M

Important Quotes: "The goal of practice is always to keep your beginner’s mind. Our original mind includes everything within itself. It is always rich and sufficient with itself. You should not lose your self-sufficient state of mind. This does not mean a closed mind, but actually an empty mind and a ready mind. If your mind is empty, it is always ready for anything; it is open to everything." -Shunryu Suzuki“There is another way—a middle way, between too much and not enough confidence. This Goldilocks zone of confidence is where rational beliefs meet reality. It is fundamentally based on truth and good sense. It is built on beliefs that can be justified by evidence and honest self-examination. It steers between the perilous cliff of overconfidence and the quicksand of underconfidence. It is not always easy to find this narrow path; it takes honest self-reflection, level-headed analysis, and the courage to resist wishful thinking. This middle way is not the path to mediocrity—far from it. It is exceptionally rare to be well-calibrated in one’s confidence.[10] It requires that you understand yourself and what you are capable of achieving. It requires that you know your limitations and what opportunities are not worth pursuing. It requires that you act confidently based on what you know, even if it means taking a stand, making a bet, or speaking up for a viewpoint that is unpopular. But it also requires the willingness to consider the possibility that you are wrong, to listen to evidence, and to change your mind. This is a rare combination of courage and intellectual humility, which leads to actively open-minded thinking. It takes just the right amount of confidence.” -Don A. Moore“When you must write something to your friend, grammar will tell you what words you should write; but whether you should write or not, grammar will not tell you. And so it is with music as to musical sounds; but whether you should sing at the present time and play on the lute, or do neither, music will not tell you. What faculty then will tell you? That which contemplates both itself and all other things. The rational faculty; for this is the only faculty that we have received which examines itself, what it is, and what power it has, and what is the value of this gift and examines all other faculties” -Epictetus Key Takeaways:Being intentional requires the use of the rational faculty. To point back to your own humanity and find inner peace requires intentionality and mindfulness Closing ourselves off to learning intends a sense of control.Even in areas we have achieved mastery in, we are all beginners in an unexplored context. Seek understanding through curiosity. Control will close our minds and stunt our development. It can be scary to examine your intentions for doing things, to let go of control, and be a beginner again. Have compassion for yourself, it’s okay to be scared and feel that way sometimes. Those who most realize their potential in any endeavor are those who always maintain a beginner's mind.References:Overconfidence The mother of all biases: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/perfectly-confident/201801/overconfidenceConcentration: http://users.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/concentrate.htmlThe Zen Archer: https://www.margiesmessages.com/zenarcher.html

Important Quotes:“The Buddha compares being afflicted with bodily pain to being struck by an arrow. Adding mental pain (aversion, displeasure, depression, or self-pity) to physical pain is like being hit by a second arrow. The wise person stops with the first arrow.” -Bhikku Bodhi“When we’re upset we tend to make events seem more harmful or threatening. Cognitive therapists describe this as “catastrophizing”. The Stoics question how unbearable pain is by asking themselves whether they’re capable of enduring worse.” -Ryan Holiday“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” - Joseph Campbell “Your pain is a teacher. Resist it no more. Allow it to be the very catalyst that deepens your personal insight and wisdom. Let your pain become the focus of your meditation.” -Brian ThompsonKey Takeaways:Life long Zen meditation practitioners requires a significantly higher level of painful stimulation to feel the same amount of pain to age matched non meditators.Indifference may prevent excessive or unnecessary pain, but it is self love and compassion that allows you to recover from itReferences:- All In The Stance: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/wellness/2003/08/26/all-in-the-stance/6a9f6db1-454c-401e-9af1-a0886b58fbeb/- Stoicism and Pain Management: 4 Techniques Practiced By Marcus Aurelius: https://dailystoic.com/stoicism-and-pain-management/- The Zen of Dealing with Chronic Pain: http://www.zenthinking.net/blog/the-zen-of-dealing-with-chronic-pain- Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain: https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Free-Revolutionary-Stopping-Chronic/dp/0553379887/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=0553379887&psc=1- Egoscue Method: https://www.egoscue.com/- A Different Approach To Pain Management: Mindfulness Meditation | Fadel Zeidan | TEDxEmory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLQJJDrbj6Q&t=292

Important Quotes:“For can you find me a single man who cares how he does what he does, and is interested, not in what he can get, but in the manner of his own actions? Who, when he is walking around, is interested in his own actions? Who, when he is deliberating, is interested in the deliberation itself, and not in getting what he is planning to get?” -Epictetus“Hear Epictetus: No one can rob us of our free choice. We must, says he, hit upon the true science of assent and in the sphere of our impulses pay good heed that they are with a “reserve clause”; that they have in view our neighbour’s welfare; that they are proportionate to a thing’s value. And we must abstain wholly from inordinate desire and show avoidance in none of the things that are not in our control.” - Marcus Aurelius“That which holds the mastery within us, when it is in accordance with Nature, is so disposed towards what befalls, that it can always adapt itself with ease to what is possible and granted us. For it is wedded to no definite material, but in the pursuit of its aims it works with a “reserve clause”; it converts into material for itself any obstacle that it meets with, just as fire when it gets the mastery of what is thrown upon it.” -Marcus Aurelius“Though a man may in some sort hinder my activity, yet on my own voluntary impulses and mental attitude no fetters can be put because of the “reserve clause” and their ability to adapt to circumstances. For everything that stands in the way of its activity is adapted and transmuted by the mind into furtherance of it, and that which is a check on this action is converted into a help to it, and that which is a hindrance in our path goes but to make it easier.” -Marcus Aurelius“If your impulse is without an “reserve clause”, failure at once becomes an evil to you as a rational creature. But once you accept that universal necessity, you cannot suffer harm nor even be thwarted. Indeed, nobody else can thwart the inner purposes of the mind. For it no fire can touch, nor steel, nor tyrant, nor public censure, nor anything whatsoever: a sphere once formed continues round and true.” -Marcus Aurelius“The cool thing about dopamine is that it’s very subjectively controlled. We can all learn to secrete dopamine in our brain in response to things in a purely subjective way. If you can reward the process, the brain circuits that are associated with building subjective rewards and dopamine get stronger.” — Andrew Huberman“A practicing Stoic would put all of his strength in reaching the goal — not because of the outcome, but because taking the action is the right thing to do, it goes well with Virtue. The outcome, for a Stoic, is in fact secondary. Which does not change the fact, that the outcome is also a preferred indifferent.” -Rafał Albiński“Most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities.” ~Dalai Lama“The “reserve clause” is a way of overcoming emotional pain and as the perfect Sage cannot, by definition, be happy (eudaimon) if he is distressed, then he must act at all times according to this rule.” -Donald RobertsonKey Takeaways:Drivers Seat Goals Vs. Passenger Seat GoalsIf you aim at nothing, you hit nothing.Embrace what is in your control by using it resourcefully, while simultaneously letting go of what you cannot control. Pursue with sincerity of deriving your aims from within. Approach with discipline in HOW you take your action. Measure your success on intentionality not outcome. Keep your mind open by seeking understanding when things don’t go your way.References:Donald Robertson- The Reserve Clause: https://donaldrobertson.name/2013/02/02/action-with-a-reserve-clause-in-marcus-aurelius/Stoic Philosophy Practice: The Reserve Clause Exercise: https://steemit.com/philosophy/@brado/stoic-philosophy-practice-the-reserve-clause-exerciseRethinking the Stoic Reserve Clause: https://medium.com/stoicism-philosophy-as-a-way-of-life/rethinking-the-reserve-clause-b03027cbb1dfThe Secret That High Performers Use to Accomplish Whatever They Want: https://medium.com/swlh/the-secret-that-high-performers-use-to-accomplish-whatever-they-want-9fa577c101bcChange Your BRAIN By Using These Hacks to Increase Your DOPAMINE | Dr. Andrew Huberman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLORsLlcT48Letting Go of Attachment: From A to Zen: https://tinybuddha.com/blog/letting-go-of-attachment-from-a-to-zen/