Awakening, Cessation, and Vulnerability, with Stephen Snyder

About this episode

Michael Taft speaks with Stephen Snyder about various paths to awakening and the role of vulnerability in spiritual practice.

Host Michael Taft speaks with Stephen Snyder Sensei about practicing the Pa Auk jhanas, the importance of vulnerability in finding authentic strength, his two paths for awakening: the Theravada cessation path and the Zen shikantaza path, how to balance psychological work with awakening, seeing the enlightened qualities of anger (and other difficult emotions), what are “protective” meditations, the three levels of shikantaza practice, koan practice, aloneness as a spiritual path, and the three factors he feels must be present for a true awakening. Stephen Mugen Snyder, Sensei began practicing daily meditation in 1976. Since then, he has studied Buddhism extensively—investigating and engaging in Zen, Tibetan, Theravada, and Western non-dual traditions. He was authorized to teach in the Theravada Buddhist tradition in 2007 and the Zen Buddhist schools of Soto and Rinzai in 2022. Stephen is a senior student of Roshi Mark Sando Mininberg and a transmitted teacher in the White Plum Asanga—the body of teachers in the Maezumi-roshi lineage. Stephen is the author of many books, including Trust in Awakening, Demystifying Awakening and Buddha’s Heart .  Stephen Snyder’s website…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Taft

Guest: Stephen Snyder

Topics covered

• awakening
• cessation
• vulnerability
• meditation
• Buddhism
• psychological work
• emotions
• shikantaza
• koan practice
• spiritual path

Keywords

• Pa Auk jhanas
• Theravada
• Zen
• protective meditations
• enlightened qualities

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Trust in Awakening, Demystifying Awakening, Buddha’s Heart

Books & works: Trust in Awakening, Demystifying Awakening

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