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 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, CLICK HERE to start at the first episode.

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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

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Joseph Goldstein explores the simplicity of lovingkindness (metta), reminding us that this innate quality within each person requires patience and steady practice to truly cultivate.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 42nd part of an in-depth 48-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 week’s exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Buddhist teacher Joseph Goldstein discusses:

• The cultivation of goodwill and lovingkindness as a foundation of mindfulness practice
• Beings who radiate a powerful field of love, like the Dalai Lama and Dipa Ma
• Offering unconditional love without expecting anything in return
• Metta as the gateway to an open and compassionate heart toward self and others
• Realizing that our emotional state is shaped by our own perceptions
• Understanding the confusion between genuine love and personal desire
• Pausing during practice to reconnect with the felt sense of lovingkindness
• Integrating metta into everyday life by extending kindness to strangers
• How societal conditioning influences our understanding and expression of love
• Reconnecting with our natural capacity for altruism and spontaneous kindness
• Focusing on the good in others as a powerful metta meditation
• Reflecting on whether we are still holding grudges deep in the heart
• The patience and resilience required to train the heart and mind over time

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

“I can simply start doing metta for everyone that I pass, for everybody on the street. May everyone here be happy. May everyone here be peaceful. It's amazing the change that happens in a moment. Instead of walking down the street being disconnected, all of a sudden, our hearts and our minds have expanded and become inclusive. It's like we gather everyone up in our field of goodwill.” – Joseph Goldstein

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Joseph Goldstein explores the Buddha’s teachings on renunciation from the Satipatthāna Sutta, showing how the practice of letting go of craving, ill will, and cruelty leads to deep inner freedom, clarity, and lasting peace.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 41st part of an in-depth 48-part weekly 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 lecture from Buddhist teacher Joseph Goldstein:

• Consciously reflecting on if our thoughts are for harm or for good
• How desire is more difficult to uproot than ill will and aversion
• The dangerous disguise of sense-desires as pleasurable and seductive
• How to practice the “wisdom of no”
• Renunciation as mental freedom, not repression
• How right thought conditions right action
• The Buddha’s own practice as a model for ourselves
• Accepting that desire is addictive because it momentarily feels good
• Renunciation as freedom from addiction, not deprivation
• How the joy of letting go must be experienced, not just believed
• The power of both small and large acts of renunciation
• The mental habit of our addiction to wanting
• How mindfulness reveals freedom in transition moments
• The progressive act of letting go

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

Join Buddhist Teacher David Nichtern and Duncan Trussell for a conversation about finding our own voice, our own expression, and our own way of connecting with people. Learn more about this FREE online gathering - AUTHENTIC PRESENCE: FINDING YOUR OWN VOICE

“Renunciation is not about deprivation. It’s about non-addiction. It’s about freedom.” - Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.