Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation is now available as a six-week audio course!
Build a seated practice. With guided meditations, insightful talks, and a detailed course guidebook, you'll have everything you need to establish the foundations of a mindfulness practice at your own pace.
In this rich conversation, I welcome meditation teacher Jonathan Foust to explore his remarkable 50-year journey of practice and teaching. Enjoy this deep dive at the intersection of meditation, mindfulness, and the evolving path of spiritual awakening.
Jonathan offers listeners an inside look at a life-long path of self-awareness and transformation. He reflects on childhood experiences of disconnection and belonging and shares how living in an ashram for 24 years profoundly shaped his spiritual path. Jonathan also provides practical advice for those balancing a meditation practice with the demands of everyday life.
The episode delves into somatic inquiry, exploring how tuning into bodily sensations can reveal profound insights and contribute to healing. Jonathan encourages a flexible and adaptable meditation practice grounded in sincerity.
Episode Highlights
Jonathan’s Evolution of Practice: From childhood experiences of disconnection and longing to 50 years of deep meditation and spiritual practice, including 24 years living and teaching at Kripalu.
Somatic Inquiry and Body Awareness: Exploring how the body holds emotions, thoughts, and beliefs, and how tuning into these sensations can offer healing and insight.
Balancing Daily Life with Deep Practice: Advice for integrating mindfulness into everyday life, emphasizing the value of sincerity, fluidity, and adaptability.
Meditation and Self-Discovery: Using meditation to bring unconscious patterns into awareness, as described through Joseph Campbell’s metaphor of the conscious and unconscious mind.
The RAIN Technique: Jonathan discusses the power of Recognize, Allow, Investigate, and Nurture (RAIN) to address pain, cultivate compassion, and transform inner experiences.
Collective Energy in Spiritual Practice: Reflections on the power of community, collective meditation, and the energy generated through shared spiritual practices.
Resource Links
To learn more about Jonathan and his offerings, visit Jonathanfoust.com.
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Shawnparell.com - Check out Shawn's website to sign up for 5 free meditations, join Shawn’s email list for monthly field notes and music alchemy, and learn more about her work and upcoming events.
Stay connected with Shawn on Instagram @ShawnParell for live weekly meditations and prompts for practice.
Moving the Line