In celebration of the paperback book release of Sharon’s latest book, Real Change, in November of 2021, the Metta Hour is releasing an anthology of interviews exploring the themes from the book.
These interviews originally aired on the podcast in 2020, with Sharon speaking to various teachers and activists about the intersection of mindfulness and lovingkindness practice with social action. For Episode One of the Real Change Anthology, the Metta Hour Podcast explores the theme of “Agency in Action” with interview clips featuring Jack Kornfield, Sylvia Boorstein, and Yung Pueblo. They each share their unique experiences as activists and how that work intersects with their spiritual life.
Sharon hosts an 8-Day Real Change Challenge Dec 6-13th, featuring daily lessons, meditations, & calls to action. Register at SharonSalzberg.com
The paperback edition of Real Change is available Nov 30th: Preorder Here
Jack Kornfield
Our first clip is from Episode 135 of the Metta Hour, featuring Jack Kornfield, originally airing September 28th, 2020. Jack trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. He is one of the co-founders the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, along with Sharon, and Joseph Goldstein, and a co-founder of Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, CA. Jack’s books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies. In this clip, Jack speaks with Sharon about the common misconception that spiritual practices, such as mindfulness or meditation, do not include social engagement or civic duty.
“The whole notion that somehow spiritual practice is a withdrawal from the world, I think it’s now getting shifted in our imagination, to realize that we can’t separate, and that we tend ourselves, and in doing so we quiet the mind and open the heart. And then that gives us the ability to move through the world and bring benefit to it.” – Jack Kornfield
For the full podcast of Sharon & Jack on the intersection of spirituality & social change, tune to Ep. 135 of the Metta Hour
Sylvia Boorstein (9:58)
This next clip is from Episode 131 of the Metta Hour, featuring Sylvia Boorstein, PhD; originally airing August 31st, 2020. Sylvia Boorstein has been teaching Dharma and mindfulness meditation since 1985. She is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center, a psychotherapist, wife, mother and grandmother. She is the author of five books including “It’s Easier Than You Think: The Buddhist Way to Happiness” and “Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life.” In this clip, Sylvia speaks about her life as an activist, and how she sees social action as part of her spiritual path.
“When people say, ‘I should be out, I should be doing more, and here I am just sitting on my Zafu praying and just making good-will intentions for the whole world…I’m not doing anything…” I think, ‘Who knows? We are at least changing our own hearts.” – Sylvia Boorstein
Dive deeper into activism and the spiritual path with Sylvia and Sharon, on Ep. 131 of the Metta Hour
Yung Pueblo (22:02)
Our last clip is from Episode 132 of the Metta Hour, featuring Diego Perez, widely known by hispen name, Yung Pueblo. It originally aired September 7th, 2020. Diego is a meditator, writer, and speaker. His practice of Vipassana meditation, as taught by S.N. Goenka, has given him a deeper understanding of liberation and inspires him to reach hundreds of thousands of people online every month through his writing. He is the author of several books, including Clarity &Connection, released in April 2021, instantly becoming a New York Times bestseller.In this clip, Diego speaks with Sharon about his history as a young organizer, and how that engagement has shaped his creative life, and meditation practice.
“When people move together in mass movements, that really changes history, but what’s gonna make that work even stronger is the individual work that we do to find our healing tools to make progress in our development of our personal happiness of letting go all our past wounds or the heaviness we’re carrying; just figure out a way to allow more clarity, creativity, and joy to emerge from our minds.” – Yung Pueblo
For more Sharon and Yung Pueblo on meditation and social engagement, check out Ep. 132 of the Metta Hour
