Insight Hour with Joseph Goldstein

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 237 – Continuity of Mindfulness, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 34 Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Focusing on awareness of the breath, Joseph Goldstein explores what the Buddha said about continuous attention.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the thirty-fourth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

This week on Insight Hour, Joseph elucidates:

The Buddha’s instructions for concentration
Not judging ourselves or our practice
Why morality is the basis of concentration
Good and bad memories that arise during practice
Simple awareness of our inward and outward breath
Learning the patterns and tendencies of the mind
The natural arising of concentration out of tranquility of mind
Lessons from Upasika Kee Nanayon, a renowned Thai Buddhist teacher and laywoman
How the knowing of the breath can open us up to the whole range of changing experiences
Thought as a vehicle for deepening our wisdom

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

“It’s mindfulness which actually notices that a thought is present. Without mindfulness, we don’t know. It’s continuity of mindfulness, many moments of mindfulness in a row, that strengthens the steadiness of mind and the factor of concentration. Concentration arises from continuity of mindfulness.” – Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 236 – An Intro to Samadhi, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 33 Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Joseph explores Samadhi, the Buddhist quality of concentration, and explains how we all have the capacity to develop a well-trained mind.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the thirty-third part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

This time on Insight Hour, Joseph dives into:

Why Samadhi, aka concentration, is so important
The quality of a non-wavering mind
Fixed object concentration and training our minds to focus on a singular object
Momentary concentration as a continual focus on changing objects
Jhana and the many levels of Samadhi
Concentration which leads to meditative insights
Understanding concentration as a pleasant abiding here and now
The attainment of knowledge and vision / using the divine eye
How concentration is a necessary precursor to wisdom
The easefulness that comes as we strengthen Samadhi

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

This episode is brought to you by Dharma Moon. Join Buddhist teachers David Nichtern and Professor Robert Thurman for a free online event on Tuesday, March 4th at 6pm ET. Together, they'll explore the power of lineage, tradition, and the evolution of mindfulness practices. They’ll also discuss Dharma Moon’s renowned mindfulness meditation teacher training program. Visit dharmamoon.com/lineage for more info and to reserve your spot for the free online event with David Nichtern and Professor Robert Thurman!

“This is the first development of concentration: understanding that it is a pleasant, abiding, here and now. This is not something to be avoided or feared; it’s a skillful state. It’s a wholesome state.” – Joseph Goldstein

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Ep. 235 – Reaching Tranquility, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 32 Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Sharing the crucial role of tranquility on the path of liberation, Joseph Goldstein explains how calmness leads to sincerity and happiness.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the thirty-second part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.

Continuing the discussion on the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph shares:

A clear path towards awakening and cessation of suffering
Understanding the factors that cause suffering
Moving from book knowledge to direct experience
Actively following the Buddhist precepts
Living out the practice rather than just doing it
Calmness as a central factor on the path of liberation
How tranquility brings about sincerity
Remaining unattached to the factor or tranquility
Being mindful of when calmness is present vs. not present
Tranquility and insight as elements of clear knowing
What happens when the mind is calm and free of desire

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

This episode is also brought to you by Dharma Moon. Join Buddhist teachers David Nichtern and Professor Robert Thurman for a free online event on Tuesday, March 4th at 6pm ET. Together, they'll explore the power of lineage, tradition, and the evolution of mindfulness practices. They’ll also discuss Dharma Moon’s renowned mindfulness meditation teacher training program. Visit dharmamoon.com/lineage for more info and to reserve your spot for the free online event with David Nichtern and Professor Robert Thurman!

“This is the enlightenment factor of calm…it’s the soothing factor of mind that quiets down disturbances. It manifests in the mind as peacefulness or coolness; it manifests that way both in the mind and in the body. It’s like sitting down in the shade of a cool tree on a hot sweltering day.” ” – Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 234 – Happiness and the Mirror Within, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 31 Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

Distinguishing merit that leads to mundane happiness from merit aimed at liberation, Joseph Goldstein describes sources of dharmic joy.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the thirty-first part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.

Continuing his lessons on the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph discusses:

Making a heart connection with the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
Reflecting on our commitment to non-harming
Contemplating what it feels like to give and receive generosity
Celestial happiness and beings in higher realms of existence
Merit aimed at mundane happiness vs. merit aimed at liberation
The karmic results to our volitional actions
Cultivating faith, generosity, and wisdom for a source of dharma joy
Reflecting on peace and freedom from the defilements
Tasting momentary freedom and knowing what peace of mind means

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“Aș we cultivate faith, sila, generosity, and wisdom, the merit of those wholesome actions in the mind cannot be measured. Just reflecting on this becomes a tremendous source of dharma joy, of rapture in the mind.” – Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 233 – Passion For Practice, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 30 Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

Priming the pump of mindfulness, Joseph Goldstein explains rapture, the joyous fourth factor of awakening.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the thirtieth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

This week, Joseph brings to our attention:

Rapture, aka joy, delight, and pleasurable interest
The arousing, anticipatory energy of rapture
The positive feedback loop of the factors of awakening
Five grades of rapture according to the Buddha
Luminosity of mind and the sensory experiences of joy
Bringing in right view and investigative wisdom
Recalling the impermanence of all delightful states
Putting teachings into practice and putting full effort into each moment
Not overly concerning ourselves with progress
Boredom as a lack of attention and arousing interest in our current state
What the Buddha, dharma, sangha means for each of us

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“The energy that arises from continual mindfulness and investigation leads to rapture. We could call it a dharma joy or a dharma happiness. This happiness inspires us to investigate further and as we investigate further the mindfulness and the energy gets stronger and there’s more rapture. It’s just a wonderful spiral leading towards awakening, leading towards liberation.” – Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 232 – Applying Our Effort Skillfully, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 29 Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

Considering how right effort drives our achievements and potential for happiness, Joseph Goldstein teaches us more about the dhamma.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the twenty-ninth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

In this episode, Joseph lectures listeners on:

Energy as the root of all achievement
How energy can be associated with both unwholesome and wholesome states
Putting our energy to wise use
Taking the opportunity to challenge ourselves and extend our limits
Getting caught in efforting and in the result of an action
Investigating our own minds
Reflection on death and using our time wisely
The possibilities of every happiness

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“Right effort is not an ambitious striving. Skillful effort is the effort to be present for what is already here.” – Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 231 – Inner Investigation, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 28 Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

Joseph Goldstein shares how unremitting mindfulness and continuous investigation of our mental states will lead us to liberation.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the twenty-eighth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

This time on Insight Hour, Joseph pursues these topics:

Establishing unremitting mindfulness
Investigating and examining our mental states
How truth discerning wisdom liberates the mind
The three universal characteristics of experience
Cultivating wisdom through investigation of the dhamma
Looking at the motivation behind our actions of body, speech, or mind
The two kinds of happiness according to the Buddha
Investigating ourselves when we are in a storm of emotions
How clear recognition can be enough to help us let go
Discerning the difference between the knowing and the object
How a single moment of truth-discerning wisdom can change us

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“By understanding that it is wisdom that illuminates what is true, and that we cultivate wisdom through investigation of the dhamma, we can begin to appreciate the very broad range of skillful means and methods that are in different Buddhist traditions for accomplishing this inquiry.“– Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 230 – The Factors of Awakening, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 27 Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

Outlining the crucial importance of the Buddha’s seven awakening factors, Joseph explains the promise of our practice.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the twenty-seventh part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

This week on Insight Hour, Joseph provides wisdom on:

The seven treasures, or factors of awakening, of the Buddha
How the factors of awakening act as anti-hindrances
Mindfulness, wisdom, energy, rapture, calm, concentration, and equanimity
The promise and purpose of our practice
Priming the pump of the enlightened mind
A deeper dive into the first factor of awakening: mindfulness
Calling to mind what is skillful and what is not
Bare attention and clear comprehension
Knowing the purpose behind an action, and if it is beneficial

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“The Buddha called these factors anti-hindrances because they counteract those forces in the mind that keep us in delusion. It’s sort of like anti-freeze; anti-hindrances, they keep our minds from getting congealed or frozen.“– Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 229 – Freedom From Our Mental Shackles, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 26 Dec 27, 2024

Show notes

Teaching listeners to become masters over their perceptions, Joseph Goldstein describes the four great hallucinations of the mind.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the twenty-sixth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

In this episode, Joseph helps listeners understand:

The latent tendencies of the mind which condition our perceptions
How basic sense impressions can be mistaken
The four great hallucinations of perceptions as outlined by the Buddha
Taking what is impermanent to be permanent
The root of suffering
Taking what is not self to be self
Having mastery over our perceptions
Ways of perceiving that lead to liberation
How moods deceive the mind

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“A good feedback for us for when we’re lost in this hallucination of perception, taking what’s impermanent to be permanent, is whenever we notice clinging or attachment. When there’s clinging or attachment what that means is that in those moments we are not seeing clearly and we are not experiencing deeply the truth of change, the truth of impermanence. We are diluted into thinking that a particular experience in some way is worth holding onto.“– Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ep. 228 – Suffering And The Senses, Satipatthana Sutta Series Pt. 25 Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

Cutting the chain of dependent origination, Joseph Goldstein teaches wise attention and freedom from defilement as the antidote to suffering.

The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the twenty-fifth part of an in-depth 48-part weekly lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best self.

This time on Insight Hour, Joseph continues exploring:

The timelessness of the dhamma
How fetters of the mind arise and how to remove them
Preventing the future arising of mental fetters
The coming together of sense base, object, and consciousness
Desire as the automatic response to pleasant feelings
Aversion as our conditioned response to aversion
Neutrality and how it can lead to delusion
The necessity of wise attention to avoid suffering
Cutting the chain of dependent origination
Being mindful of what is actually arising moment to moment
Reinforcing our understanding of the impermanence of desire
Taking responsibility for our own minds

Grab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE

This talk was originally published on Dharmaseed

“Coming to the end of suffering means that we learn how to work with and understand and free ourselves from the force of the fetters in the mind. What’s amazing about this teaching is that it’s ultimately, completely empowering because it’s all up to us. Our suffering is not due to other people. We can take responsibility for our own minds.”– Joseph Goldstein

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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