Joseph Goldstein – Insight Hour – Ep. 172 – Consciousness: The Power of Mind

Taking a journey into the vastness of the mind, Joseph Goldstein explores the creative power of consciousness.

“The Buddha talked of how this mind, this force or power of consciousness, can be our worst enemy or the most benevolent friend.”  Joseph Goldstein

In this episode, Joseph Goldstein elucidates:

  • Consciousness as the creator of our inner and outer worlds.
  • The suffering that can come from an uncultivated mind
  • Mental illness, obsessions, addictions and thought-loops
  • Being a prisoner of our own untrained mind
  • Impermanence, empowerment, and the potential of the inner Buddha
  • The Mahamudra and taming the mind
  • Staying mindful during defilement

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.

“What’s most helpful to remember, in this part of the process where we become so aware of these defilements of the mind, is that they are visitors. They are not the nature of the mind itself. And because they are visitors we don’t have to judge ourselves, and we don’t have to judge them.” – Joseph Goldstein

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.