The Power of the Heart with Stephen Snyder

The Power of the Heart with Stephen Snyder

From Deconstructing Yourself by Michael W. Taft

January 29, 2026 · 46 min · Episode 109

About this episode

Michael Taft speaks with Stephen Snyder about the significance of heart-based practices and various spiritual concepts.

Host Michael Taft speaks with Stephen Snyder Sensei about the two “missing” brahmaviharas, Innate Goodness practice, heart wisdom vs. mind wisdom, the magic of the “group heart”, the paradox of the Heart Sutra, learning to become receptive, God and the nondual, entities, bodhisattvas, deities, the three types of forgiveness, and the “terrible importance” of heart-based practice. 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 .  You can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at…

People in this episode

Host: Michael Taft

Guest: Stephen Mugen Snyder

Topics covered

  • brahmaviharas
  • Innate Goodness practice
  • heart wisdom
  • mind wisdom
  • group heart
  • Heart Sutra
  • receptivity
  • God
  • nondual
  • entities
  • bodhisattvas
  • deities
  • forgiveness
  • heart-based practice

Keywords

  • Buddhism
  • Zen
  • Tibetan
  • Theravada
  • Western non-dual traditions
  • meditation

Mentioned in this episode

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

Books & works: Trust in Awakening, Demystifying Awakening

Places: California

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