Real Life: A Journey Towards Authenticity with Sharon Salzberg

Features host Steve Stein in conversation with Sharon Salzberg, who is the author of several books on meditation and mindfulness. The episode delves into Salzberg’s journey towards authenticity, and her approach to meditation as a means of achieving this.

Salzberg’s latest book, titled “Real Life”, is a practical guide that includes meditation instructions, engaging stories, and ways to incorporate the practice of mindfulness into everyday life.

During the episode, she talks about her initial hesitations about using the word “happiness” in the title of her previous book after realising that happiness has become a vague and problematic concept in our modern world. However, she explains that she later embraced the word as long as it is understood that happiness is not a constant state, but rather a fleeting feeling that comes and goes like other emotions. Salzberg shares her experiences in the pandemic, including health concerns, teaching online classes, and how the pandemic has shifted our relationships with others. Salzberg emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and inclusive space for people to participate in online events, as well as the benefits of online accessibility to people who may not have been able to attend in-person events otherwise.

She also highlights the importance of resilience and self-compassion in everyday life, sharing the advice that she has received from her meditation teachers about focusing on the practice of recovery and how to come back to meditation after the mind wanders instead of judging oneself harshly for it. Salzberg encourages people to cultivate qualities such as gratitude and loving-kindness, which she notes can increase energy and lead to a strong impulse to pay it forward. She argues that by being kind to ourselves and others, we can create a more positive and fulfilling reality for ourselves and those around us.

Throughout the episode, Salzberg also touches on various topics, including negative emotions such as fear and jealousy, the benefits of online experiences, and how to change habits without falling into shame or self-judgment. Overall, the podcast episode creates a thought-provoking and inspiring discussion. The conversation between Steve Stein and Sharon Salzberg is comfortable and engaging, and Salzberg’s insights on cultivating self-compassion and creating a more authentic life are both helpful and inspiring for anyone looking for ways to improve their lives.

The episode is a great listen for anyone interested in meditation and mindfulness practices, as well as those seeking to be more authentic in a world that often rewards conformity.

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