Episode Description

For episode 254, we are continuing the Fireside Chat Series on the Metta Hour with guest Ruth King. 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, the sixth episode in this series. Ruth King is the Founder of Mindful of Race Institute, LLC, and is a celebrated author, educator, and meditation teacher. She teaches mindfulness meditation retreats worldwide and develops meditation practitioners at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, and the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. Ruth is the author of several publications including her most recent, Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism From The Inside Out.

In this conversation Ruth and Sharon discuss:

• Ruth’s first invitation to meditation

• First hearing Jack Kornfield teach

• The deep calling to teach

• Initial misconceptions about meditation

• Ram Dass giving Joseph Goldstein his first teaching job

• Sharon’s first teaching retreat

• Ruth first teaching in the DC area

• Ruth’s life as a writer

• Artistry and mindfulness

• Ruth’s BIPOC teaching & online academy

• The season of eldership

• The process of downsizing and moving

• Letting go versus not holding on

• Nothing is permanent, perfect or personal

Additional Resources

The conversation includes with some questions from the audience on living with chronic pain, thoughts on consciousness versus awareness, accepting caregiving from a partner, and Ram Dass learning how to accept help.

This episode closes with a guided meditation by Ruth.

You can learn more about Ruth’s work and the Mindful of Race Institute right here. Get a copy of the Mindful of Race book, right here. Learn more about IMS Online right here. Listen to Ruth’s first episode on the Metta Hour from 2018, Episode 87, right here.

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