Out of Our Minds Out of Our Minds Bi-weekly, 15-minute spirituality podcast focusing on Nonduality and the "Direct Path" traditions (Advaita Vedanta, Zen Buddhism, Jnana Yoga, etc.)
Eric speaks from direct experience and understanding, but borrows upon Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, HWL Poonja, Adyashanti, Eckhart Tolle, Alan Watts, and many others.
| "I found your podcasts quite interesting. I like your thoughts. Thanks Eric for making my journey tonight some valuable time for some valuable thoughts." ~ Volker B. (United Kingdom) |
| "I enjoyed this Eric. Very clearly spoken teaching." - regarding Nonduality & the Mobius Strip ~ Jerry K. (Nova Scotia, Canada) |
| "I wanted to thank you for your podcasts. I find them very enjoyable and your energy very supportive of my enlightenment process. I always look forward to your next installment. You are doing great work." ~ Damien H. (Australia) |
| "In less than 15 minutes you show the pathless path in a way that is clearer than I have ever heard. It dissolves so much confusion about how the enlightened state can be reached." - regarding Effortless Enlightenment ~ Roeland D. (Netherlands) |
| "I'm glad I found you. It was inspirational to listen to your first 5 podcasts." ~ Maxeem K. (Albert Lea, MN) |
"Remember, no one is in their right mind."
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Time Is Just a Concept #24 (15:35) Aug 03, 2008 |
What is time? If time is a concept, how did it come about? In this episode, we will ponder time and look at if from perspectives that perhaps have never been considered. Time in reference to dreams, deep dreamless sleep, and without reference points. |
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Beyond the Three States Is the Self #23 (15:57) Jul 21, 2008 |
The three states are waking, dreaming, and deep dreamless sleep. By investigating and pondering these states, we are able to gather insight into the Self...and what is non-self (characteristics of the temporary form and also mentally created self image). Through this we can then abide as Self. |
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Thought and Emotion Have No Basis In Reality #22 (14:48) Jul 04, 2008 |
We are typically caught up in the life story and believe our thoughts and emotions have validity, but our emotional reactions and thoughts are a product of our own minds and not based on reality. Eric will be covering two stories and a thought experiment to delve into this subject. |
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The Importance of Satsang #21 (16:22) Jun 24, 2008 |
What is Satsang? Why is it important? These are two questions I am sometimes asked. These questions and the details about whether it is a transmission or resonance are covered. As well as the related benefits of keeping company with saints and sages. |
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Who Am I? #20 (16:12) Jun 07, 2008 |
Discovering or realizing who and what we really are, is what enlightenment is. This is the grand question...a turning inward, rather than looking elsewhere. Our normal conception of who and what we are is a false self. What many people see as themselves is not their true selves, but self image. Who would we be without our self image? |
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Equiminity and Dispassion for the World #19 (15:22) May 24, 2008 |
When all things are truly seen as equal, there is no passion for one thing or another...and therefore dispassion. Is there a real difference between a piece of gold and a broken piece of pottery? Is there anything outside the mind and the world game it has created that should cause a passion for the gold? |
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Mindfulness and the Quiet Mind #18 (15:12) May 13, 2008 |
What quiets the mind? What is Mindfulness? These two questions are intertwined. For mindfulness itself brings about a quiet mind without trying to control or quiet the mind...and therefore mindfulness can not be a mental activity. Let us explore mindfulness and find out why mindfulness quiets the mind. |
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Understanding is All #17 (14:31) Apr 27, 2008 |
The first of the Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path is often translated as Right View, but instead of View I would translate it as Understanding. How does Right Understanding related to the rest of the Eightfold Path? Can the Eightfold Path be condensed into the First? Is complete understanding all that is needed? |
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The "I" Can Not See Itself #16 (14:18) Apr 13, 2008 |
The eye can not see itself, fire can not burn itself, the sword can not cut itself, the mirror can not reflect itself...can Awareness (that which we are) be aware of itself? What does the back of the eye look like to the eye? When people say they are aware of the Self...what is it that they aware of? |
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Embracing Vulnerability #15 (14:26) Mar 27, 2008 |
Is there such a thing as safety and security? A child relies on a security blanket to make the child feel safe, but every adult knows the blanket can do nothing to protect the child. Is any other thing we look to for security any different? What is it we are worried about? |
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Giving Up the Search #14 (15:41) Mar 15, 2008 |
Spiritual seekers continually look elsewhere and to some point in the future when they will find Liberation, Enlightenment, Nirvana, Self-Realization, etc., but can we find these anywhere other than here and now? Can we give up the search and realize what we have been looking for has always been present? |
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No One to Liberate #13 (15:14) Feb 29, 2008 |
We have put ourselves in imaginary chains and now struggle to become free. It is a trap created by the mind, the mind is trapped in it, and the mind struggles to get free. So in this episode we look and inquire about the chains and the "me" who is chained. For there is no way out...struggling will only make the chains more real. We are only left with looking deeply at what is right now. |
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Being in the Present Moment #12 (15:15) Feb 17, 2008 |
What does living or being in the present moment mean? What are some of the benefits of being in the present moment? We will answer these questions and others as we delve into being in the present moment. This is one of the essentials and basics for all other spiritual practice...or realization and awakening. |
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The World as a Drama: Another View of Maya #11 (15:17) Feb 02, 2008 |
Sometimes the world is referred to as play. In this episode we will view the world as a drama and as play (as in children playing). This is not only seeing the world as a wonderful thing...full of mystery, drama, and color; but also not taking life so seriously and losing sight of what a great thing our life is...both the good and the bad. |
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Nonduality and the Mobius Strip #10 (13:34) Jan 19, 2008 |
We think we are separate from the world...that we have what is inside us and what is outside us, but in reality we are akin to a mobius strip. Because we have not realized the "twist", we do not recognize that there is no outside. There really no separation, which would require a barrier with more than one side. Nonduality is the idea that there is no other and the mobius strip is something with no other side. |
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Everyday Beginner's Mind #9 (14:36) Jan 06, 2008 |
The Beginner's Mind is how the Awakened (Enlightened) see the world everyday. It is our accumulated knowledge that blinds and filters our perceptions. When was the last time you really looked at a tree or an orange? The mind tends to overlook what is familiar and does not seem to change, but there is a rich experience we are missing. Empty your cup and see things anew. |
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No One Ever Becomes Enlightened #8 (15:20) Dec 22, 2007 |
This classical phrase holds a truism. In this episode we will break down the phrase and understand deeper implications. In doing so, also understanding Enlightenment and what "becoming Enlightened" means. |
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The Essence of Mind is Intrinsically Pure #7 (14:49) Dec 08, 2007 |
The essence of mind is like the white screen at a movie theater. With all the images and drama, although the movie is not long, we quickly forget about the white screen and it is the images that seem real. Likewise, our essence of mind has been forgotten and we take all the mental content and thought as real. We do not need to purify the mind, but remember the unborn essence of mind. |
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The Art of Meditation #6 (14:47) Nov 25, 2007 |
Meditation is an ever popular topic for discussion groups, classes, workshops, etc. Eric talks about a very simple, yet powerful way to meditate. It requires that we do nothing at all. If we are doing anything at all, as Eric says in the program, it is not really meditation. |
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Effortless Enlightenmet #5 (14:45) Nov 09, 2007 |
Enlightenment is our "natural state." Any effort, on our part, only pushes us away or causes deviation from the "natural state." There is no technique that will bring about Enlightenment. In this episode we cover the effortless nature of Enlightenment. |
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Renunciation and the Householder Yogi #4 (14:52) Oct 27, 2007 |
For whatever in life we want, we must give up other things. What would you give up for Liberation and Enlightenment? This program covers renunciation, detachment, and the householder yogi. In a summary, the balloon of consciousness can not reach great heights nor is ever free as long as it is tied down to the ground by the strings of attachment. |
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Be As a Child #3 (15:44) Oct 13, 2007 |
Matthew 18:3 "...unless you...become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Just as children, those Awakened are curious, questioning, innocent, not judgmental, and enjoy the mystery of life. In this program we explore what we have lost as adults that is regained...and how this Biblical quote is insightful of Enlightenment. |
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Reincarnation - a nondual perspective #2 (16:15) Sep 29, 2007 |
Reincarnation is a common discussion topic, but often not understood from a nondual or advaita perspective. In this episode, we delve into how there is no "self" that migrates from life to life...and yet reincarnation still happens - including past life memories, past tendencies and samskaras, etc. How is this paradox resolved? |
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Life Is But a Dream #1 (15:05) Sep 15, 2007 |
In this first podcast, we cover the illustration and analogy of a dream for life, self, and enlightenment. Some sages, swamis, and yogis have said Enlightenment means realizing this world is a dream...and Eric Putkonen goes into some of the details. |
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Introductory Podcast #0 (02:49) Sep 01, 2007 |
Introductory podcast covering what we are doing here and why...as well as my contact information and the invitation to contact me. |
Out of Our Minds by
Eric Putkonen is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Special thanks (credit) to subatomicglue for the song feline from the aeonblue album from which I remixed/created my opening and ending theme song. Their work is published under Creative Commons license. The resulting theme music is under the same lincense and rights...Theme Music.
