80. IBP: Tina Rasmussen PhD Concentrating on Practice

Tina Rassmussen is one of our first meditation teachers on in a long while. Well, being a practice based series, this was inevitable. Tina was co-author of a book on jhana states and concentration that I have had on my shelf for a long time. Concentration is not the topic of our conversation, however. Here are some of the themes we explored; • Compatibility issues between neo-Advaita and Buddhism • Generational conceptions of practice; from Boomers to Millennials • The need to evolve our understanding and ways of thinking about and describing awakening/enlightenment • The phases and stages of a practising life • Roadblocks, hurdles, maturation; limitations • Critiquing the language we use to talk about self, ego, awakening • The way belief shapes practice, perception, expectations and the contours of subjectivity Enjoy the spring everyone and let’s all wish a swift end to this pandemic. https://luminousmindsangha.com/