Wednesday Wake-Up with Gregory Maloof

This week we explore the relationship between individual liberation and cultural transcendence. We discuss this dilemma from several perspectives: What exactly is the relationship between personal awakening and the awakening of those around us? How do we strike a balance between working on our own freedom and serving those in need? And, is awakening truly a gift to others?    ABOUT HOST GREGORY MA...

In this week's episode we explore how to successfully balance our practice between meditation time on the cushion and engaged activity in the world. Specifically we frame this discussion in light of the Buddhist idea of skillful effort, beginner's mind and the universal question of how we determine our ethical responsibility to other human beings as we grow in our own inner liberation.    ABOUT HO...

What personal, spiritual and psychological change can we expect from meditation practice and how long will it take to get there?  Is the Dharma designed to heal things like acute trauma, formal mental health conditions and systemic suffering? What is the difference between Dharma and therapy and is it helpful to use both? In this week's episode we discuss several frameworks for understanding the p...

Why is it that mindfulness practice and spiritual development can be so challenging? What is it about the human heart-mind that makes giving up harmful habits so difficult. Why is it that we struggle to let go of unhealthy relationships and harmful ways of being even when we know they are not good for us? This week we explore the foundational nature of human behavior in order to gain the wisdom ne...

This week we go through several practical exercises and guided meditations around labeling sensations and emotions as they arise, we take a look at sense door perception, we revisit verbal fabrication, and chat about the benefits of cultivating curiosity in your meditation practice. ABOUT HOST GREGORY MALOOF Gregory Maloof is a western Dharma teacher from the Ruth Denison lineage. If you have been...

When the Buddha reflected on his awakening, he recalled the ability to use mindfulness to notice when his thinking was imbued with sensuality, ill-will, anger, hatred, and cruelty.  Conversely, he was able to discern when his thoughts were imbued with the heart-mind qualities of letting go, good will and harmlessness. In this episode, we explore the positive and negative impacts of our inner dialo...

This is a guided meditation on bodily fabrication. ABOUT HOST GREGORY MALOOF Gregory Maloof is a western Dharma teacher from the Ruth Denison lineage. If you have been receiving benefit and want to support Gregory Maloof as a teacher directly, please donate  HERE Follow Gregory on Instagram  @gregorymaloofdharma To learn about retreats, news, and classes first, CLICK HERE to keep in touch and get...

This week we explore how the heart-mind unconsciously creates a sense of self through the interaction between awareness, body posture, breath, and energy movement. We then practice how to engage in the Buddhist practice of Bodily Fabrication to gain insight into how we can use body awareness for healing, self-compassion and release from stress and discontent.    This talk includes a guided meditat...

This week we discuss the incredible creative power of the heart-mind to bring together the raw material of the present moment in order to give us a sense of self, a sense of the world, and the feeling of becoming. The Buddha refers to this creative act as fabrication or Sankhara. One of the primary goals of insight meditation is to gain a deeper understanding of this creative process so we can un-...

This week we explore one of the most important distinctions between these two practices- what is the balance between Engagement and Equanimity? How do we know when to bring a calm, equanimous, non-reactive mind to the present moment versus a mind that curiously engages present moment reality to gain deeper wisdom? Understanding how to approach these two heart-mind qualities is one of the keys to d...

In this week's episode we begin a series exploring the similarities and differences between the ancient Buddhist practice of Insight Meditation and the modern version of  Mindfulness Meditation.  In particular we explore an overview of the many biases we bring to meditation practice that hinder our understanding of insight practice and prevent us from gaining the most important fruits of the medit...

This week we conclude our 3-part series focused on using the stress, fear and trauma of the past year as an opportunity for healing and awakening. In this episode we unpack the nature of stress and discontent and consider how generosity, precepts and skillful effort can allow us to bring our best selves to the most challenging times in our lives.  ABOUT HOST GREGORY MALOOF Gregory Maloof is a west...

Gregory talks skillful speech with NVC facilitator and fellow Dharma teacher Doyle Banks. About Doyle: Doyle Banks is an authorized Dharma teacher in the lineage of Ruth Denison and the vipassana (Insight Meditation) tradition of Buddhist meditation. He is also a mindfulness-based personal transformation trainer and coach. Doyle regularly offers live online and in-person classes on Compassionate C...

A special guided meditation for your morning sits.  Recorded on retreat with Gregory. Gregory Maloof is a western Dharma teacher from the Ruth Denison lineage. If you have been receiving benefit and want to support Gregory Maloof as a teacher directly, please donate  HERE Follow Gregory on Instagram  @gregorymaloofdharma To learn about retreats, news, and classes first, CLICK HERE to keep in touch...

In this episode we look at the political, environmental, and societal upheaval that took place in the United States and around the world in relationship to the Buddha’s invitation to use the stress in our lives as a gateway to freedom. In this talk we clarify what the Buddha really meant by the ‘acceptance’ of suffering and how the universality of the fickleness and unpredictable nature of our wor...

In this week's episode we explore the various ways the heart and mind can hide and flee from facing the stress and struggles of human existence. We talk about how adept the mind is at protecting itself using the habits of suppression, denial, and repression. Conversely, we discuss how Buddhist psycho-spiritual practices are designed to give us the tools and mindset for overcoming our deepest wound...

This week we concluded our 3-part journey exploring the history, psychology and practical application of the ancient practice of taking refuge in the triple gem. In this episode we explore the need for skilled mentors and supportive community on the path and the importance of establishing balance in our practice. We also discussed some of the shadow elements in spiritual community and the risk of...

This week we explore the traditional instructions related to taking refuge while clarifying some common misunderstandings. We also discussed how taking refuge in Dhamma can lessen doubt, and the historical importance of having awakened beings in 'Ideal' Sangha.  Gregory Maloof is a western Dharma teacher from the Ruth Denison lineage. He follows the traditional Buddhist practice of not charging fo...

In this week’s episode we explore both the history and practical aspects of the ancient ritual of taking refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. We discuss how this ritual evolved out of pre-Buddhist culture and then supported meditators for several thousand years. We also consider how this practice shows up in present day American Buddhism and continues to offer us encouragement, protection and sust...

This was a unique week for our podcast as our live meeting occurred on the day the United States Capitol was besieged during the voting confirmation for our president-elect. Several people were killed and representatives had to be evacuated. We spent the evening sharing our present moment experience and talked about how we can reduce struggle and stress by transforming the way we relate to it thro...

This week we continue our exploration of generosity and gratitude by directing our attention to the shadow side of opening our hearts to others. This often-ignored topic is extremely important for a skillfully engaged Dharma. Whether you are caring for a family member, supporting a social cause or just lending a kind compassionate ear, using mindfulness to attune to the very process of generosity...

In this week’s talk we explore why the Buddha declared generosity to be the cornerstone of spiritual practice. We discuss some of the inherited bias we have concerning generosity and how recalling the goodness in the world that lives alongside the suffering in our lives can lead to greater well-being, deep personal growth and profound awakening.  Gregory Maloof is a western Dharma teacher from the...

This week we use the celebration of Bodhi Day as an opportunity to explore the significance of the Buddha’s enlightenment from a historical, psychological, and personal perspective. What do you imagine when you think of the word ‘enlightenment?’ What does spiritual awakening mean to you and do you consider it to be a worthy pursuit? What would it mean for you to show up each day with an unwavering...

In this week’s episode we explore why learning to celebrate the goodness in ourselves and the world is important in facilitating personal growth and awakening. We discuss the relationship between celebration and the cultivation of gratitude and look at the similarities between how both Buddhism and Western Psychology encourage celebration as a form of psychological integration, skillful means and...

In this week's talk we explore some basic differences between Buddhist frameworks and Western psychology when it comes to understanding the nature of thoughts and emotions. In particular, we draw attention to how Buddhist frameworks emphasize process and causality and invite us to consider our inner world as a dynamic heart-mind dance rich in wisdom for our awakening.  Gregory Maloof is a western...