Ep. 261 – Gradual Cultivation in Buddhist Practice

About this episode

Joseph Goldstein discusses the importance of gradual cultivation in Buddhist practice and the ongoing work required even after moments of awakening.

Joseph Goldstein explores gradual cultivation, highlighting that even if we are suddenly awakened, we still must have an ongoing practice to work with hindrances and ingrained habits. 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 week on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein discusses: The areas of life where clinging shows up most  How clinging to sensory pleasures is so embedded in our culture Lightening up for enlightenment and not taking ourselves so seriously  How a sense of humor can benefit our practice  Unhelpful attachment to view and opinion The unity of clarity and emptiness (self-existing wakefulness) The Buddhist meaning of unborn/unformed  Uprooting of the view of self with the understanding that there is still more work to do Having an ongoing, gradual cultivation of skillful means  This episode was originally published on Dharmaseed and recorded at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies , a non-profit organization founded by renowned meditation teachers Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg to integrate Buddhist study and practice. “Very often…

People in this episode

Host: Joseph Goldstein

Topics covered

• Buddhist practice
• gradual cultivation
• clinging
• enlightenment
• self
• skillful means
• humor in practice

Keywords

• Buddhism
• cultivation
• clinging
• enlightenment
• self-view
• attachment
• humor
• practice

Sponsors

BetterHelp

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dharmaseed, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies

More episodes of Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

• Ep. 262 – Letting Thoughts Dissolve · June 10, 2026 · 34 min
• Ep. 260 – The Union of Relative and Ultimate Truth · April 9, 2026 · 40 min
• Ep. 259 – Selflessness, Dukkha, and Freedom · March 13, 2026 · 48 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