Podcasts by The Zen Thinking Podcast
A podcast from Brian Thompson, Zen vegan poet, living on a mountain by the sea, writing about our common state of being, non-duality & infinity—author of Sparks to Awaken.
Featuring discussions on mindful living, inner awakening, transformation and transcendent awareness — with a new episode every Thursday.
The Zen Thinking Podcast shares teachings and experiences of Zen wisdom, Non-Duality, Taoist and Buddhist philosophy—in an informal manner—through an awakened personal narrative, to help you understand the nature of your true self so that you can live peacefully in the present moment.
Links to any of the writings featured in the podcast can be found at: http://www.zenthinking.net/podcast.
? If you enjoy my work become a patron: http://www.patreon.com/zenthinking ?
Further podcasts by Brian Thompson
Podcast on the topic Religion und Spiritualität
All episodes
Episode 76 - All is Well from 2017-08-11T00:45:40
This week's episode is entirely spontaneous without any planned topics and without any featured readings.
I didn't know where this "go-with-the-flow" talk would take me, but I ended up dis...
Episode 75 — The Freedom of Realizing Yourself as Consciousness from 2017-08-03T21:19:10
In this week’s episode, I discuss the importance of observing the activities of mind, as they happen, and not reacting to its illusory mental projections.
The mind is never satisfied. It c...
Episode 74 — Return to Zero from 2017-07-13T18:22:50
I’m back!
I took an unexpected couple of months off from writing and podcasting, but here I Am… and hopefully the pointings I have to share are even more clear and precise than before.
Episode 73 — A Quiet Contemplation of Self-Inquiry from 2017-04-28T17:48:59
Join me in a meditation of Self, an inquiry into understanding the true nature of this knowing presence that you are and that I am.
Self-Inquiry, otherwise known as atma-vichara in Sanskri...
Episode 72 — Seeing through the Dream of the Personal Self from 2017-04-02T01:10:51
In this week's new episode I share some pointers to help awaken you to your true nature, which is a peaceful presence of pure consciousness, free from the mind's dream-like influence.
Our ...
Episode 71 — Noticing the Silent Stillness of Self from 2017-02-24T01:45:50
This week's podcast is an exploration of Self.
Join me in this quiet meditation—a contemplation of your aware presence—to reveal the changeless aspect of your being which has always been....
Episode 70 — I Am the Watcher of I from 2017-02-03T02:10:36
This week's episode focusses on becoming aware of the subtle quality of "noticing" that enables every experience to appear.
Underneath every sensation and perception rests your presence of...
Episode 69 — The Formless Presence of Being from 2017-01-21T01:01:10
Underneath every concept of yourself and the world, there exists a still and silent presence of Being which is ever-present.
This is your true Self—a pure and unconditioned Presence.
...
Episode 68 — The End of Desire from 2017-01-06T02:18:54
This week's new episode discusses how happiness is synonymous with the end of desire.
Surrender all desires to your awareness of them—including your desire for happiness itself. If there i...
Episode 67 — Know Your Self as Infinite Presence from 2016-12-08T19:54:29
This week's episode points towards the aware presence of your true Self.
Ever since you were young you were taught that you were that face in the mirror—that "that" image is you!
...
Episode 66 — Awaking to Unconditioned Presence from 2016-11-18T03:14:21
This week's podcast focusses on recognizing all of the things which condition you—in other words, whatever causes you to emotionally react.
As you observe yourself and become aware of your...
Episode 65 — Self-Inquiry: To Whom Do These Thoughts Come? from 2016-11-10T20:00:57
In this week's new episode I use the technique of Self-Inquiry to zero in on the stream of "I-thoughts" that seem to pervade every perception and experience.
It is the I-thought that creat...
Episode 64 — Abiding within awareness, rather than thought from 2016-11-05T19:14:24
In this week’s new episode, I discuss being mindful of your knowing presence. After all, your sense of knowingness is your Self. Unfortunately, however, we are continually distracted from it by tha...
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Episode 63 — You are Your Only Problem from 2016-10-14T00:06:54
In this week's episode I discuss how the only thing that you suffer from is your own self-concept.
It is what you believe "You" are (or aren't) that is the cause of all your problems, and ...
Episode 62 — I Am Consciousness, Dreaming from 2016-09-29T22:55:32
This week's episode is a little different.
It begins with a slow and meditative exploration into the nature of being. It's an inner-contemplation that examines the presence of awareness th...
Episode 61 — You are Reality, Experiencing Itself from 2016-09-24T00:44:20
This week's episode zeroes in on the true experience of what it means to be alive—that we are 'reality', experiencing itself.
We are not separate from reality, reality IS what we are. In f...
Episode 60 — Being Self-Aware of Your Assumptions from 2016-09-09T21:56:29
Today's episode focuses on the importance of being aware of your assumptions.
In most cases, our assumptions are subconscious. Since we are unconsciousness to them, they appear to be real ...
Episode 59 — Understanding the Nature of Experience from 2016-09-01T18:52:15
In this week's episode I investigate the nature of experiencing, which shapes the very nature of our sense of being.
I discuss how the conditioned mind interacts with the processing of per...
Episode 58 — Being Immune to False Projections of Mind from 2016-08-19T01:20
In this week's episode I discuss the many different false projections of mind that distort our perception of reality, and what you can do to ignore them and become immune to them—transcending them ...
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Episode 57 — Transmuting Suffering Into Awareness from 2016-08-05T22:49:13
This week's episode is about understanding the nature of pain, no matter if its physical or emotional, and why we suffer from it.
Pain happens. But suffering? That's a choice.
To ...
Episode 56 — Revealing the False Within from 2016-07-28T19:08:36
This week's episode is about realizing our true self-nature, that is always ever-present, by revealing all that is false within.
By continually questioning our perceptions of the world, an...
Episode 55 — Understanding Your Own Aware Presence from 2016-07-21T18:33:45
In this week's new episode I investigate the nature of what it means to exist, using the Advaita practice of Self-Inquiry (or, Atma Vichara).
Through self-inquiry, the idea of the personal...
Episode 54 — The Blissful Emptiness Of The Don't-Know Mind from 2016-07-14T23:26:49
In this week's episode I discuss using a practice of self-inquiry to empty the mind of its mistaken beliefs to reveal the bliss of the don't-know mind.
When the ego is silenced and the min...
Episode 53 — Using Self-Inquiry To Quiet The Mind from 2016-07-07T19:12:52
In this week's new episode I discuss how everything we experience in life is filtered through our own beliefs, memories and conditionings.
No matter what we perceive, it's always shaped by...
Episode 52 — Reality Is Not A Concept (It Is The Absence Of Concepts) from 2016-06-23T23:49:47
In this week's episode I discuss the only reality there is, the one that is here, now.
Most people overlook the truth of reality because they're lost within the dream of conceptual thinkin...
Episode 51 — You Are Already Self-Realized from 2016-06-16T22:06:29
In this week's episode I discuss how spiritual enlightenment isn't a special state-of-being to be acquired, it's already your true nature.
All that's required to wake up is to surrender y...
Episode 50 — Transcending The Concept Of Me from 2016-06-09T19:27:09
This week's episode is about transcending the concept of "Me"—which is, the personalized sense of a body/mind self that you believe yourself to be.
All problems, confusion, suffering and e...
Episode 49 — Seeing Through Our Stories & Concepts from 2016-06-02T19:10:44
In this week's episode I discuss how our perception of reality is continually distorted by whatever concepts we happen to believe in and by whatever stories we're presently telling ourselves.
<...
Episode 48 — Realizing Your Own Beingness from 2016-05-26T18:53:11
This week's new episode is all about realizing your own beingness.
When you bask in your own presence, without any distraction, and you allow all thought to settle... what is the nature of...
Episode 47 — The Peace Of Inner Silence from 2016-05-05T18:26
This week's episode is a little different from previous ones, in that much of it is a stream-of-conscious discussion regarding the peace of being that can only be found in inner silence.
I...
Episode 46 — The Breath Of Pure Presence from 2016-04-22T18:41
In this week's episode I discuss one of the fundamental teachings in non-duality—you are not the 'doer', you are the witnessing presence to things being done.
Your true self is not the sub...
Episode 45 — Awakening to the Stillness of Our Nature from 2016-04-15T19:51:37
In this week's episode I discuss the stillness of our true nature and how, by simply abiding in its innate quietness, we find the happiness we've always sought.
I also discuss how objects...
Episode 44 — Your Problem Is Your Person from 2016-04-07T18:34:36
This week's episode is about revealing the false self that you perceive yourself to be—that you lovingly refer to as, Me—as the false perception that it truly is.
Your person is your probl...
Episode 43 — Awakening To Awareness from 2016-03-31T19:07:21
In this week’s episode I’m joined by special guest, Carmella Whitehead, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, for a conversation that explores the nature of consciousness in our day to day live...
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Episode 42 — Does Free Will Actually Exist? from 2016-03-17T22:57:30
In this week's episode I explore the illusion of free will, revealing that all of our actions are almost entirely predetermined, shaped by the conditioning of our consciousness and minds.
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Episode 41 — The Wordless Wisdom Of Awareness from 2016-03-10T20:21:37
This week's episode is an inquiry of sorts into Awareness, which is the source of the "I" we refer to ourselves by.
Your "I" gives you the sense of "I am", which is the very presence of b...
Episode 40 — Being Free From Delusion from 2016-03-04T00:50:20
This week's episode is about recognizing the mistakes in our perceptions that create a dreamlike world of ignorance and delusion—a world that leads to nothing but suffering.
When we see th...
Episode 39 — Perceiving Our Perceptions from 2016-02-26T00:46:25
In this week's episode I discuss perceiving our perceptions and being cognizant of the false duality that arises when we believe ourselves to be the perceiver, or rather, the subject to which exper...
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Episode 38 — Accepting Death, Grief & Impermanence from 2016-02-12T02:34:07
In this week's episode I discuss the natural law of impermanence and how its presence underlies all things.
From our thoughts and feelings, to our possessions and way of life, to the ones ...
Episode 37 — Empty Your Thoughts Into Being from 2016-02-04T21:08:44
This week's episode is about getting rid of our preconceived notions, opinions, beliefs, and judgements—both about ourselves and the world around us—so that we can just BE.
When we choose ...
Episode 36 — The Knowing Of The True Self from 2016-01-28T20:28:48
In this week's episode I discuss the knowing that is our True Self, Awareness.
There's an incredible spiritual breakthrough that's available to anyone, simply through realizing that "you" ...
Episode 35 — Understanding Consciousness from 2016-01-21T23:45:16
This week's episode is about understanding consciousness and understanding how we experience our own experiences.
What is the nature of our moment-to-moment experiencing? What is it compo...
Episode 34 — Observing & Questioning Thought from 2016-01-14T19:52:43
This week I discuss how simply observing and questioning our every thought and can lead to a freedom we've never before experienced.
Once we recognize and realize the subjective futility o...
Episode 33 — All Is Mind from 2016-01-07T19:19:55
In this week's episode I discuss how everything within our experience is mind.
Everything.
All of our beliefs, all of our opinions, all of our worries, all of pleasures and pains,...
Episode 32 — The Undivided Formlessness Of Being from 2015-12-18T00:38:23
In this week's episode I explore the formless nature of consciousness permeating all of our perceptions, that forms the emptiness of awareness that all manners of subjectivity exist within.
Episode 31 — The Non-Duality Of The Infinite True Self from 2015-12-10T20:31:25
In this week's episode I discuss the infinite, non-dual nature of our unlimited Awareness (our True Self).
When we place restrictions on our pure-Self through false projections of a mind t...
Episode 30 — Becoming Empty Of Self from 2015-11-27T01:02:07
This week's episode is about becoming empty of self, or rather, becoming empty of the false perceptions that have come to shape your life, your experiences, your world view, and all of your emotion...
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Episode 29 — Challenging The Ego In Search Of Truth from 2015-11-19T20:28:21
This week's episode is about challenging the ego to a life or death duel in search for truth.
Most of what we perceive in the world—including our universe within—is a fabrication of mind....
Episode 28 — The Emptiness Of Words from 2015-11-12T20:56:56
In this week's episode I talk about the empty nature of words and language, and how they are entirely unable to express the true nature of direct experience.
It is the words that echo insi...
Episode 27 — The Virtual Reality Of Life from 2015-10-30T19:48:34
In this week's episode I discuss how our perceived sense of self is created (and maintained) by all of the things we identify with, which then goes on to create the virtual reality we exist within....
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Episode 26 — Waking Up From The Dream Of Life from 2015-10-15T18:36:56
This episode is all about waking up.
It's about seeing through the veil with which we've shrouded our reality in—a veil of conceptual thought.
When we're able to recognize that al...
Episode 25 — How Mindfulness Boosts Mental Health, With Guest Kimberley Blaine from 2015-10-01T23:16:33
This episode is available in both video and audio.
This week I’m joined by special guest Kimberley Blaine, a licensed therapist and a mindfulness and empowerment thought leader.
J...
Episode 24 — Answering The Question, Who Am I? from 2015-09-25T20:53:22
In this week's episode I explore the question, Who Am I?
To those investigating non-duality and Advaita Vedanta and who are on the quest of self-realization, this is probably the single m...
Episode 23 — Our Separate Sense Of Self from 2015-09-17T23:26:58
This week's episode discusses our sense of self (that personal concept of identity that we've come to believe about ourselves) and how it separates us from the beauty and freedom that comes through...
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Episode 22 — Deconstructing Moments & Things To Find Their True Nature from 2015-09-03T19:10:03
In today's episode I break apart the origin of our moments (to find their true source), I disassemble the process of learning (to realize the nature of our true understanding), and I tear words int...
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Episode 21 — The Comparisons We Define Ourselves By from 2015-08-28T19:21:52
This week's episode dives into the source of much of our unhappiness and suffering — living life through the lens of constant comparison and competitive analysis.
We're always measuring an...
Episode 20 — The Reality Of Now from 2015-08-20T20:55:46
This week's episode circles around the topic of the ego and our false sense of self, our perceptions and how they trick us into believing there to be struggles where there are none, and the ultimat...
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Episode 19 — The Isness Of Our Being from 2015-08-14T17:29:43
In this week's episode I discuss what I call the "Isness of our Being", that somewhat mystical and non-dual essence of our true Self that sits underneath all of our mental formations.
The ...
Episode 18 — Understanding The Duality Of Our Perceptions from 2015-07-31T16:50:41
This week I dig deeper into understanding the duality of our perceptions so that we can live a more freeing life without so much stress, unhappiness and suffering.
If you use the phrase, ...
Episode 17 — Self-Realization & Awareness from 2015-07-23T18:04:38
In this week's episode I talk about self-realization and being aware of our own awareness.
Thanks for listening, I hope you enjoy the episode.
? If you enjoy my work, become a pat...
Episode 16 — Moving Beyond Our Perceptions To Reveal True Awareness from 2015-07-16T18:20:54
This week I poke holes into the nature of our thoughts so that we can see the truth that awaits on the other side.
I dig into the impermanence of our passing perceptions, the harm they ca...
Episode 15 — Indifference & Selfishness from 2015-07-09T18:27:09
In this week's new episode I discuss the disease of indifference and selfishness. Both are symptoms of the ego which cause us to needlessly struggle through every facet of life.
Learn wha...
Episode 14 — Getting To The Roots Of Zen from 2015-06-18T18:54:22
In this week's episode I attempt to get to the roots of Zen in an effort to expose its true meaning as best I can.
I also explore some of Zen's most profound teachings such as non-duality...
Episode 13 — Perceiving The World In Us And Around Us from 2015-06-12T18:45:11
This week's episode is about perceiving our perceptions.
It's about perceiving the world that's both in us, and around us. It's about becoming aware of our own awareness and observing the...
Episode 12 — Finding Freedom In Our Search For Clarity from 2015-06-05T19:10:11
This week I discuss how searching for clarity in our lives helps us discover the very source of freedom itself.
When we observe our own actions and behaviours, when we're mindful and witne...
Episode 11 — Not Taking Things For Granted from 2015-05-28T19:22:41
This week's podcast circles around the theme of not taking things for granted.
When we take things for granted we create an attitude of complacency within us. We become less able to fully ...
Episode 10 — Listening To Your Inner Self from 2015-05-21T18:33:18
This week's episode is on listening to and tapping in to the wisdom that's within your inner self.
When we slow down and tune in to the true nature of our bodies and minds, the answers to...
Episode 9 — What Do You Define Yourself By? from 2015-05-15T18:35:47
What do you define yourself by?
By your work, by your beliefs, by your thoughts, by your knowledge, by your posessions, by your style, by your experiences, or by your friends and family?<...
Episode 8 - Taming Your Mind To Find True Happiness from 2015-05-07T18:25:18
This week's episode is on taming the mind to create a space of quiet and stillness, where true happiness is able to blossom from freely.
When we quiet our minds and let go of our attachem...
Episode 7 — Moving Beyond The Stories We Tell Ourselves from 2015-04-30T18:00:06
This week's episode is on all of the stories we continually tell ourselves, and how if we learn to move beyond them we can find greater calm and happiness in our lives.
We all have a habit...
Episode 6 - Are You Learning From Your Frustrations? from 2015-04-23T17:29:42
This week's episode is all about noticing the nature of our energy and how it creates the very world we live in.
We all have certain habits and styles of thinking — it's this predictable ...
Episode 5 - Observing the Mind and the Insight It Reveals from 2015-04-16T18:48:02
In this week's episode I discuss a few recent pieces I've written that all reflect a similar theme: self-awarneess and personal insight.
The more we observe our mind, the more we'll learn ...
Episode 4 - Interview with Guest Bryant McGill From Simple Reminders from 2015-04-09T14:30:14
This week I'm joined by special guest, Bryant McGill from http://www.SimpleReminders.com, a Best-Selling Author, Speaker, Activist and Social Entrepreneur.
This special episode is availabl...
Episode 3 - The Tyranny Of Our Opinions from 2015-04-02T18:07:06
Tune in every Thursday for an all-new episode.
In this week's episode I talk about how the very nature and energy of our minds creates the world we live in — from our dreams to our fears, ...
Episode 2 - Each Moment Shapes The Next from 2015-03-26T18:54:55
In this week's episode I discuss the nature of cause and effect, otherwise known as karma, and how we are in absolute control of our happiness through the quality of our ongoing thoughts and action...
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