Episode Description

For episode 247, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Joseph Goldstein. This series features intimate conversations with longtime dharma teachers about the early days of their practice and the most impactful moments with their own teachers. Hosted by IMS Online, this is the fifth episode in this series. Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and lovingkindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, where he is on the guiding teachers’ Founders Council. In 1989, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Joseph first became interested in Buddhism as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand in 1965. Since 1967 he has studied and practiced different forms of Buddhist meditation under eminent teachers from India, Burma and Tibet. He is the author of many books, including Mindfulness and Insight Meditation.

In this conversation, Sharon and Joseph discuss:

• The origin story of founding IMS

• Sharon and Joseph’s first meeting in India

• Joseph’s apartment in Boulder, CO

• How Joseph found Munindra, his first serious teacher

• What Joseph loves mosts about teaching

• Joseph’s first lovingkindness intensive

• Dipa Ma’s meditative life

• What inspired Joseph most about Dipa Ma

• Unifying confidence and humility in ourselves

• Working with the inner critic when teaching

• Learning how to say “I don’t know”

• Dudjom Rinpoche and re-incarnation

• Understanding the basis for our opinions

• Early challenges in Joseph’s teaching

• The popularization of meditation

• What inspired Joseph to pursue Buddhism

• Taking delight in being awake

• Approaches for self acceptance

• Advice for new retreatants

Additional Resources

You can learn more about Joseph’s work and many books right here and listen to his Insight Hour Podcast right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here.

Listen to Lily Cushman interview both Sharon and Joseph in Episode 199 of the Metta Hour or check-out some older conversations with Jospeh in Episode 110 and Episode 47.

Listen to the Metta Hour Podcast in the following places: