Ep. 259 – Selflessness, Dukkha, and Freedom

About this episode

Joseph Goldstein explores the Buddha's teachings on selflessness, suffering, and the path to freedom.

Unpacking the Buddha’s notions of self and nonself, transience and suffering, Joseph Goldstein leads listeners into the heart of liberation.  This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self. This time on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein illuminates: Why the Buddha paid so much attention to the concept of self How a felt sense of self traps us in desire and attachment Seeing the term ‘self’ as a designation rather than something that exists in and of itself Slight adjustments to our language during practice: ‘the body breathes’ rather than ‘my breath’ Using the template of The Five Aggregates to describe experience Genuine experiences of momentary peace as a peak into Nirvana Taking an interest into the landscapes of our own minds Transience and the way that things are always becoming otherwise The ungovernability of the mind, the body, and all aspects of reality How selflessness can lead to both Dukkha and freedom This episode was recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and originally published on Dharmaseed "As long as we are caught up, identified, and entangled in…

People in this episode

Host: Joseph Goldstein

Topics covered

• buddhism
• selflessness
• suffering
• freedom
• mindfulness

Keywords

• Buddha
• self
• nonself
• Dukkha
• Five Aggregates
• Nirvana
• transience
• attachment
• mind

Sponsors

BetterHelp

Mentioned in this episode

Products: BetterHelp

Books & works: Insight Hour, The Five Aggregates

Places: California

More episodes of Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

• Ep. 262 – Letting Thoughts Dissolve · June 10, 2026 · 34 min
• Ep. 261 – Gradual Cultivation in Buddhist Practice · May 8, 2026 · 42 min
• Ep. 260 – The Union of Relative and Ultimate Truth · April 9, 2026 · 40 min
• Ep. 258 – The Goal Without the Grasp: Aspiration in Buddhist Practice · February 5, 2026 · 31 min
• Ep. 257 – Releasing the Knower: Equanimity and Awareness · January 8, 2026 · 33 min
• Ep. 256 – The Experience of Consciousness: Question About Cultivating Awareness & Focus On the Buddhist Path · December 11, 2025 · 1h 5m