Devon and Craig Hase join Raghu to talk tangible mindfulness, finding authenticity through meditation, and dismantling racism in spiritual communities.
Devon has been committed to meditation since 2000, spending years in retreat in the Insight and Vajrayana traditions, and has been mentored by Joseph Goldstein, Tara Brach, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Craig began intensive meditation training in 1994, living in a Zen monastery for six years before getting his Ph.D. in counseling psychology. Together they are teachers and mentors in the spiritual community, and they just released their new book, How Not To Be A Hot Mess. You can find about more their offerings at DevonandCraigHase.com
Mindfulness & The Path
Reveling at the amazing karma that they must have had to find spirituality at such young ages, Raghu asks Devon and Craig to trade stories about the personal sparks which lifted them onto the spiritual path. Their catalysts may have been different, but each was potent enough for them to devote their lives to sharing the Dharma and teaching mindfulness in a tangible way.
“Mindfulness, this sense of coming back and reinhabiting the body, is a super big win for people, maybe in particular people at this historical moment who are overcharged with crazy amounts of information and stimulation.” – Craig Hase
Check out Devon and Chase’s friend and fellow teacher, Joseph Goldstein as he and Sharon Salzberg elucidate the topic of mindfulness on Ep. 110 of the Metta Hour
Expectation & Authenticity (17:16)
Sharing Sharon Salzberg’s meditation advice of, “Getting up, sitting down, and getting real,” Raghu asks Devon to help expand on the topic of moving past lofty expectations in meditation and getting to a point of simply being a good human. Devon discusses the common sense wisdom of being real and honest in our practice, outlining the guidelines to authenticity.
“We have these tools like mindfulness of the breath, like considering what generosity might feel like, like really looking at what it feels like to be a jerk, or what it feels like to actually be kind; and with that clarity that’s built through mindfulness we get to experience a more authentic experience of who we truly are.” – Devon Hase
Watch the latest Ram Dass Documentary film on Becoming Nobody on Gaia.com. The Gaia.com library supports you with transformational content. See it for yourself and go to Gaia.com/BeHereNow and check out the Be Here Now Playlist curated just for you. Visit Gaia.com/BeHereNow to start your free trial today.
Dismantling Inequality (23:40)
In their new book, How Not To Be A Hot Mess, Devon and Craig share a great deal on dismantling inequality and racism, not only in the world at large but also where it is hidden unconsciously in the spiritual community. Raghu asks them to share on the subjects of racism, privilege, and unconscious bias, outlining solutions based on their experience with the topics.
“Mindfulness can dismantle white supremacy.” – Devon & Craig Hase
Check out Craig’s dissertation on inclusion and exclusion in the meditation community: Inclusion and Exclusion in the White Space
