Joseph Goldstein – Insight Hour – Ep. 151 – No Self, No Problem with Ram Dass

In this unique offering from the Love Serve Remember Foundation archives, Joseph Goldstein joins Ram Dass for a conversation around love, emptiness, soul, the notion of self, and much more.

“And let’s not forget joy. In you is joy. In you is compassion. Peace. Emptiness. And love. Those are all in you. In you. Now, manifest them in your behaviors. And your thoughts.” – Ram Dass

In this episode:

  • Joseph and Ram Dass reminisce about the early days of their friendship and how their relationship has evolved over the years
  • They respond to a question about whether there’s a relationship between love and Tao, exploring the concepts of self (and no self), emptiness, and soul
  • Ram Dass asks Joseph about the concept of dharma and they discuss the way of nature
  • The conversation veers into karma, free will, and whether or not everything is predetermined
  • They touch the mysterious forces at work in the universe and the power of imagination
  • Joseph and Ram Dass respond to a question about developing compassion amidst intense polarization
  • Ram Dass ends with a brief guided meditation
Spring Washam and Lama Rod Owens discuss reconciling with ancestral roots in The Spirit Underground Ep. 2.

About Joseph Goldstein:

Joseph Goldstein has been leading insight and loving kindness meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. He is a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, where he is one of the organization’s guiding teachers. In 1989, together with several other teachers and students of insight meditation, he helped establish the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

Listen to more from Joseph:

In the search for liberation, we must explore the nature of our existence. Joseph investigates the wisdom of impermanence in Insight Hour Ep. 2.
There are deeper levels of truth about reality. Joseph explores different ways of freeing the mind by understanding the habits of preference and the emptiness of thoughts in Insight Hour Ep. 41.
There are many nuances to the concept of Right Effort. Joseph explains how that effort can help us build real momentum in our spiritual practice in Insight Hour Ep. 83.
It’s possible to smile at the antics of one’s own mind. Joseph offers responses to questions about selflessness, shame, cravings, and more in Insight Hour Ep. 111.
Metta practice can penetrate deeply. Joseph explores how love, kindness, gratitude, and friendship can revolutionize our lives in Insight Hour Ep. 117.