Ep361: Living Awakeness - Stephen Snyder

In this episode I am once again joined by Stephen Snyder, Buddhist meditation teacher and author of several books including “Living Awakeness: Embodying Your Awakening”.

Stephen compares Theravada to Zen in terms of difficulty and depth, explains why 30 minutes of cessation is his minimum to achieve Theravada stream entry, and shares why he believes cessation has a feminine energy.

Stephen discusses the writing practices that have made him such a prolific author, reflects on how spiritual experiences can change one’s reading habits, and reveals his opinion on academic histories of Buddhism

Stephen also discusses false awakenings and ego inflation, whether enlightenment eliminates all negative emotions, and considers the controversial relationship between enlightenment and political engagement.

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Video version: guruviking.com/podcast/ep361-living-awakeness-…



Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.


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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Stephen’s secrets for writing so prolifically
04:51 - Writing routine
05:57 - Influence of law career on writing style
07:32 - Does Stephen read fiction?
08:00 - Does awakening change reading preferences?
10:03 - Does Stephen read Buddhist history?
12:14 - Stephen’s new book, “Living Awakeness”
12:34 - Patterns in students with deeper awakening
13:30 - 8 levels of consciousness
18:22 - Are desire and anger eliminated by awakening?
20:32 - The Buddha was angry
21:19 - How does awakening affect emotion?
22:59 - Stored karma in the 8th level of consciousness
24:31 - Awakening vs self improvement
27:07 - Meditation as stress reduction
29:26 - Why not just teach the brahmavihārās?
30:45 - Yogic origin of Buddhist practices
31:18 - Different ways to practice brahmavihārā
34:13 - Theravada vs Zen awakenings
34:54 - Theravada awakening is in danger of being lost
37:00 - Which is more difficult: Theravada or Zen?
37:58 - Fear of extinction
39:34 - Cessation is a feminine energy
41:06 - Which awakening should you get first: Theravada or Zen?
41:54 - 30 min cessation minimum for stream awakening
44:56 - False awakenings
45:11 - Cessation vs falling asleep during meditation
45:38 - “Awakening” is used to generically
46:10 - Interrogating awakening experiences
47:18 - Ego inflation after transcendent experiences
49:09 - Post awakening perspectives
53:07 - Awakening and political engagement
57:21 - Bernie Glassman’s Auschwitz retreats
59:52 - Does awakening change one’s politics?
01:03:01 - Origin of enflamed political engagement

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Watch previous episodes with Stephen Snyder:
- guruviking.com/search?q=Stephen%20Snyder

To find our more about Stephen Snyder, visit:
- awakeningdharma.org

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com

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Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James