Awakening Together, Relaxing into Happiness with William Cooper, Master of Theology, Licensed Professional Counselor

In her review of our last podcast, "167 - Why Do People See The World So Differently?" Catrin writes, "Thank you William, for this helpful and clarifying talk.  However, what to do then? I mean, to change to a more harmonious and sustainable living on this planet, I think especially now on the environment and all the wars and conflicts, we really need to find ways to work together,...

William Cooper reflects on the surprise and division surrounding recent U.S. presidential elections and uses them to explore why people can hold such different views despite living in the same society. He introduces psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of six stages of moral development, which range from avoiding punishment and pursuing self-interest to following universal ethical principles. C...

Many of you are familiar with the ancient Hawaiian practice for healing, Ho'oponopono.  The literal translation of Ho'oponopono is "to correct a mistake" or ""make it right".  This simple, heart based practice releases negative emotions and negative karmic patterns.  Experientially, it opens us up.. Simply repeat silently, "I am sorry, Please forgive me, Tha...

This podcast offers encouragement when so many of us have and are experiencing the heart break of losing those close to us.  One listener has shared how difficult it was for her when her mother passed. Recently her heart broke when her 24 year old step daughter also passed. She reached out with a beautiful request, "Please speak more about what happens after we die, based on what you gathered...

Listener comments and questions made this truly a Magical Q&A! We discussed the power and art of Flow as the key to Awakening, Enjoying the Journey, Hurry Sickness, Nature of "Evil", Experiencing Love, Death, Stuck in the Story, Are we the sky or the clouds...or both?, Grieving, being pulled into emotions, the wisdom of going slow....baby steps, melting troubles, etc. This recording...

This second meditation for rapid stress relief and deep relaxation also helped my mother dramatically. It can be helpful for all kinds of stress and tension. Sometimes life can be so intense. We just need to rest our nervous system and "Get out of the pounding surf". Awakening is a process, and today resting is what you may need. Listening to yourself when it is time to rest is being &qu...

Take refuge in the Buddha, your inner Self.  Stop, Breathe, Reflect (Be Aware of what is going on inside and out), and Choose to respond.  Choose to Flow rather than react.  The flight, fright, or freeze Limbic (reptilian) part of our brain only knows to protect us. It knows speed not Happiness.  When we are caught in reactivity we are in our reptilian brain, reacting rather than responding.  As a...

Sometimes life can be so intense.  We just need to rest our nervous system and "Get out of the pounding surf".  Awakening is a process and today resting is what you may need.  Listening to yourself when it is time to rest is being "Aware".  My mother asked me to make this guided meditation when she was under a lot of stress and her blood pressure was very high.  Though everyone...

If the first step in Purifying the mind is enjoying Beauty, the second step in Awakening is to let everything else go until all that remains inside is Beauty. Please enjoy this brief and simple reminder. If you are new to these podcasts, it could be helpful to know that the previous podcasts offer practical "How To" open up and let go into Awakening. These podcasts are meant to supplemen...

In this Q & A we looked at Awakening in terms of Knowing vs believing and faith in context of the 23rd Psalm. How do we develop the deep trust experience by the lamb for the "Shepherd"? Then, we discussed the inner movements of Awakening based on one listener's practice of the "Awakening Meditation" and her unexpected experience in a crystal shop. Also, the experience...

Awakening is about flow.  Flow of love, peace, happiness, ease, relaxation, joy, etc.  Awakening is about being who you truly are.  Tension is about blocking your self from who you are.  Cut off from your Flow of Happiness and Peace you experience Anger, Hurt, unfulfillment, Fear, Anxiety, etc.  Flow responds and dances with life.  Contraction and tension react against life because it all hurts. ...

In this Q & A we enjoyed a great discussion about the direct experience of Light streaming from our body, the Happiness & Power flowing through us, the creative and destructive power of stories, how to not be attached to stories, how to withdraw our senses, how to navigate negative energy coming from others, do we lose ourselves when we dissolve into Light?, giving burdens to our higher po...

This is a very personal story about when I felt so alone.  Depressed and anxious I felt so unloved.  Abandoned by the universe and all in it.  It was around 1978, and I had just escaped from a Christian cult.  I was enrolled in a 4-year Master of Theology program looking for answers.  I was, also, taking refuge.  My life was upside down.  Perhaps you have felt despair, anxiety and depression.  May...

In this Q & A we noted that 11/21 is United Nations World Peace Day celebrated all over the world. When we are at peace within we see and experience peace all around us.  Gandi wrote that "If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change." Peace within flows into the world. How did Jesus and Buddha feel? One listener asked about her procrastination, another...

The practice of Awakening is that of saying Yes to your Self and letting everything else go.  When you experience the qualities of your Being, i.e., Love, Peace, Joy, Fulfillment, Happiness, etc. for any reason during your day, say Yes and let Your energy flow.  When anything other than these qualities of your Being comes up, let them go.  Let them expend their energy, unwind, start to release, lo...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness. Wonderful discussions on Awakening and various traditions as all describing the Infinite as expressing through us, how neurobiology is affected by the path of growth and awakening, neurons that fire together wire together and when they don't they don't. the brain can always heal and change...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness. Because much of these podcasts follow the jnana path of clarity, they are most powerful when listened to in sequence.  However, in this discussion we started with the path of devotion and one of prayer.  We discussed that Ramana felt that Jnana (clarity) and Devotion were two equally important paths...

In this Q & A, questions and discussion covered how to experience a glimpse of awakening now for encouragement, How to remain in our core Being in difficult circumstances, How to be in touch with our guru nature and let problems go from there, Cycles and Awakening, Our Inner Light, Accension and Awakening, etc. This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length,...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness. We discuss how to identify your core essence, engage with stillness, and embrace the simplicity of being happy while letting go of life's troubles.  Enjoying who you truly are involves peeling back layers of distractions to reveal the light within. Discovering the light within that shines like...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness.  This episode dives into the core concepts of humility and awakening, contrasting true humility with false pride. We, also, explore the balance between Bhakti and Jnana yoga. We discuss letting go, self-awareness, and embracing both the light and shadow within ourselves as we navigate our unique spi...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness.  Great discussion in this Q & A. Topics included 3 doable practices when days are busy, an 84 yr old remarked how for the first time she has felt helped significantly and attributed it to these podcasts, non-attachment, letting go, relationship vs single, achievement vs stillness, value of chaos...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness. Discovering the essence of being in the world but not of it permeates our exploration of spiritual awakening. We discuss how we create internal obstacles that block our joy, why letting go is essential, and practical steps to reconnect with our fundamental state of happiness.  • Exploring the meanin...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness. Topics discussed include: The Light of Holy Days represent your Light, seeing and dissolving assumptions, use of visualization to dissolve blocks, we exist on many levels, Is it possible to be addicted to spirituality, I love my life and it's issues, how to experience self acceptance, etc. Thes...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness. Topics discussed include: Kindness and self care, Hurry Sickness, triggered by family, gratitude journaling, Lack of trust is directly proportional to separation from Self, Awareness of Awareness, loneliness and codependency, teaching children self trust vs wisdom in a dangerous world, letting go, i...

This is a recording of a Live Q & A which has been edited for clarity, length, and helpfulness. Topics discussed include: Giving yourself grace, how to let distress melt out of us, how not to freeze problems within us, Experiencing who we are - Awareness of Awareness, Unforgiveness, healing our core wounds, etc. These podcasts are meant to supplement your personal path of awakening whatever th...