http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/Many things interest me: music, astrophysics, human history, philosophy, psychology, spiritual aspiration and attainment, movies, TV, fiction of all sorts ... many things. But pertaining to the perplexing matter of the nearly universal human dissatisfaction with life, only two things hold my interest: the fear of life, and the simple act of inward looking that snuffs it out. enFri, 10 Feb 2012 11:04:09 PSTTypePad http://www.typepad.com/All rights reserved.Religion & Spirituality/Buddhismjohnsherman@johnsherman.orgJohn and Carla ShermanJohn and Carla ShermannoIf you will try just once, with your whole heart, to bring the beam of your attention in direct contact with the reality of your nature, you will snuff out the fear of life, which is the first cause of all human misery, and with it the perception of your If you will try just once, with your whole heart, to bring the beam of your attention in direct contact with the reality of your nature, you will snuff out the fear of life, which is the first cause of all human misery, and with it the perception of your life as a problem to be solved, a threat to be destroyed, or the hiding place of a secret treasure that will bring fulfillment and satisfaction. You will go sane. It's that simple.http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2012/02/open-house-meeting-february-8-2012.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:55:30 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c88340167621bb6c3970b"When people approach this looking and they're still trying to keep one foot in the realm of spiritual aspiration so as to reconcile what I am speaking about here with these ancient teachings, that just makes the course of recovery much longer and the confusion much deeper. What I advise people to do is to put down the spiritual books, just for a while. Don't look them. Don't think about the matters that are the concern of meetings in satsang. Not because they're wrong, but just because they have nothing whatsoever to do with what we're doing here." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on February 8, 2012. MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) Length: 59 min File size: 28.56 MB All of our meetings and events are always free of charge....no"When people approach this looking and they're still trying to keep one foot in the realm of spiritual aspiration so as to reconcile what I am speaking about here with these ancient teachings, that just makes the course of recovery much longer and the conJohn and Carla Sherman"When people approach this looking and they're still trying to keep one foot in the realm of spiritual aspiration so as to reconcile what I am speaking about here with these ancient teachings, that just makes the course of recovery much longer and the confusion much deeper. What I advise people to do is to put down the spiritual books, just for a while. Don't look them. Don't think about the matters that are the concern of meetings in satsang. Not because they're wrong, but just because they have nothing whatsoever to do with what we're doing here." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on February 8, 2012. MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) Length: 59 min File size: 28.56 MB All of our meetings and events are always free of charge....http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2012/01/how-to-look-at-yourself.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:56:44 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c88340167606b2c53970b"I'm going to try and show you directly how to rid yourself of the incessant background murmur of anxiety that ruins life for most of us once and for all, and where to find the treasure of abiding satisfaction with life using a simple act of inward looking that is very easy to perform. I would be grateful if you would follow closely what I'm about to say, even if you have been with us for a long time, and even if you have direct personal experience of the effects of the looking. I would also be grateful if you would put aside anything else you are doing now other than following what I am saying here and trying to do what I am suggesting. It won't take long – 10 to 15 minutes at the most." John Sherman A message form John Sherman recorded on November 7, 2011. MP3...no"I'm going to try and show you directly how to rid yourself of the incessant background murmur of anxiety that ruins life for most of us once and for all, and where to find the treasure of abiding satisfaction with life using a simple act of inward lookinJohn and Carla Sherman"I'm going to try and show you directly how to rid yourself of the incessant background murmur of anxiety that ruins life for most of us once and for all, and where to find the treasure of abiding satisfaction with life using a simple act of inward looking that is very easy to perform. I would be grateful if you would follow closely what I'm about to say, even if you have been with us for a long time, and even if you have direct personal experience of the effects of the looking. I would also be grateful if you would put aside anything else you are doing now other than following what I am saying here and trying to do what I am suggesting. It won't take long – 10 to 15 minutes at the most." John Sherman A message form John Sherman recorded on November 7, 2011. MP3...http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2012/01/a-worldwide-meeting-december-10-2011.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:57:02 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c88340168e51a77a0970c"All that needs to be done is to, right this moment, look with your mind's eye at the actual experience of what it feels like to be just you (what you call 'me'), and this one look will snuff out the fear of life. Its effects will begin to unravel, and the life will begin to heal, with nothing more needed to be done or undone." John Sherman Complete recording of a Worldwide Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on December 10, 2011. MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) Length: 1 h 35 min File size: 45.24 MB All of our meetings and events are always free of charge. We also offer ebooks, mp3 downloads, video downloads and much more — always free of charge. The money needed to make all this available comes from spontaneous donations. If you can,...no"All that needs to be done is to, right this moment, look with your mind's eye at the actual experience of what it feels like to be just you (what you call 'me'), and this one look will snuff out the fear of life. Its effects will begin to unravel, and thJohn and Carla Sherman"All that needs to be done is to, right this moment, look with your mind's eye at the actual experience of what it feels like to be just you (what you call 'me'), and this one look will snuff out the fear of life. Its effects will begin to unravel, and the life will begin to heal, with nothing more needed to be done or undone." John Sherman Complete recording of a Worldwide Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on December 10, 2011. MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) Length: 1 h 35 min File size: 45.24 MB All of our meetings and events are always free of charge. We also offer ebooks, mp3 downloads, video downloads and much more — always free of charge. The money needed to make all this available comes from spontaneous donations. If you can,...http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2012/01/open-house-meeting-december-21-2011.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:57:22 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c88340168e4efb037970c"The experience of the body occurs in the mind and is mediated by the neural pathways in the brain. The course of recovery also occurs within the mind and it often affects the body. Many report intense bodily experiences in the context of the recovery from the fear of life. It is the psychological structures that determine how the recovery will be experienced by each individual. And it's all idiosyncratic and unpredictable." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on December 21, 2011. MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) Length: 1 h 8 min File size: 32.3 MB All of our meetings and events are always free of charge. We also offer ebooks, mp3 downloads, video downloads and much more — always free of charge. The money needed to make all this available...no"The experience of the body occurs in the mind and is mediated by the neural pathways in the brain. The course of recovery also occurs within the mind and it often affects the body. Many report intense bodily experiences in the context of the recovery froJohn and Carla Sherman"The experience of the body occurs in the mind and is mediated by the neural pathways in the brain. The course of recovery also occurs within the mind and it often affects the body. Many report intense bodily experiences in the context of the recovery from the fear of life. It is the psychological structures that determine how the recovery will be experienced by each individual. And it's all idiosyncratic and unpredictable." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on December 21, 2011. MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) Length: 1 h 8 min File size: 32.3 MB All of our meetings and events are always free of charge. We also offer ebooks, mp3 downloads, video downloads and much more — always free of charge. The money needed to make all this available...http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2012/01/open-house-meeting-december-14-2011.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:57:49 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c88340162feeb9918970d"The first attempt to look at yourself often results in what seems to be nothing at all. I think this is because looking inward is unnatural to the mind. The natural role of the mind is to watch out for danger and promise to me, none of which can be found inward. Only I am inward." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on December 14, 2011. Length: 56 min File size: 26.95 MB MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) All of our meetings and events are always free of charge. We also offer ebooks, mp3 downloads, video downloads and much more — always free of charge. The money needed to make all this available comes from spontaneous donations. If you can, please make a small donation so we can continue offering this...no"The first attempt to look at yourself often results in what seems to be nothing at all. I think this is because looking inward is unnatural to the mind. The natural role of the mind is to watch out for danger and promise to me, none of which can be foundJohn and Carla Sherman"The first attempt to look at yourself often results in what seems to be nothing at all. I think this is because looking inward is unnatural to the mind. The natural role of the mind is to watch out for danger and promise to me, none of which can be found inward. Only I am inward." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on December 14, 2011. Length: 56 min File size: 26.95 MB MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) All of our meetings and events are always free of charge. We also offer ebooks, mp3 downloads, video downloads and much more — always free of charge. The money needed to make all this available comes from spontaneous donations. If you can, please make a small donation so we can continue offering this...http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2011/12/open-house-meeting-december-7-2011.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:58:00 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c88340168e4b27b29970c"Confusion often follows the first clear success in the attempt at getting a taste of what it feels like to be you. What happens in the aftermath of the act of looking is a chaotic restructuring of the entire psychology, a reconstruction the entire psychological apparatus of intuitions, understandings, insights, relationships, ideas of what's right and what's wrong, etc. All of that begins to disintegrate and there can be difficult times. This is what we have come to call the period of recovery. But this is not always the case with everybody. There is a wide range of recovery modes that people experience. In some cases, the recovery is very quick, and in other cases, it can be characterized by a huge melodrama." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on December 7, 2011. MP3 File (Right-click and click on...no"Confusion often follows the first clear success in the attempt at getting a taste of what it feels like to be you. What happens in the aftermath of the act of looking is a chaotic restructuring of the entire psychology, a reconstruction the entire psychoJohn and Carla Sherman"Confusion often follows the first clear success in the attempt at getting a taste of what it feels like to be you. What happens in the aftermath of the act of looking is a chaotic restructuring of the entire psychology, a reconstruction the entire psychological apparatus of intuitions, understandings, insights, relationships, ideas of what's right and what's wrong, etc. All of that begins to disintegrate and there can be difficult times. This is what we have come to call the period of recovery. But this is not always the case with everybody. There is a wide range of recovery modes that people experience. In some cases, the recovery is very quick, and in other cases, it can be characterized by a huge melodrama." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on December 7, 2011. MP3 File (Right-click and click on...http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2011/12/a-worldwide-meeting-november-5-2011.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:58:20 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c883401675f9c9364970b"The looking is medicine. The things that plague you, the things that make you think that there's something wrong with you or with your life, the ideas and thoughts about those things... little by little, they simply stop showing up. In the meantime, keep looking at yourself." John Sherman Complete recording of a Worldwide Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on November 5, 2011. MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) Length: 1 h 48 min File size: 51.06 MBno"The looking is medicine. The things that plague you, the things that make you think that there's something wrong with you or with your life, the ideas and thoughts about those things... little by little, they simply stop showing up. In the meantime, keepJohn and Carla Sherman"The looking is medicine. The things that plague you, the things that make you think that there's something wrong with you or with your life, the ideas and thoughts about those things... little by little, they simply stop showing up. In the meantime, keep looking at yourself." John Sherman Complete recording of a Worldwide Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on November 5, 2011. MP3 File (Right-click and click on Save link as... to download the file) Length: 1 h 48 min File size: 51.06 MBhttp://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2011/11/open-house-meeting-november-23-2011.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:58:55 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c8834015437989079970c"For the Buddhists, the primary goal of the practice of mindfulness meditation is to acquaint us with the insanity of our minds, with the 'monkey mind,' so that we get a feel for how crazy we are. But we already know how crazy we are, we've lived in that swamp for all of our lives. I encourage you to do mindfulness meditation so that you can acquaint yourself with the fact, which may not be so obvious, that you can by will and by choice focus your attention on some object of your choosing and move it from one object to the other. And to give you some practice with what focusing and moving attention feels like. You can use that same beam of attention, which is your mind's eye, to get a direct, immediate, unmediated, just a heartbeat of experience of what it feels like to be you, which...no"For the Buddhists, the primary goal of the practice of mindfulness meditation is to acquaint us with the insanity of our minds, with the 'monkey mind,' so that we get a feel for how crazy we are. But we already know how crazy we are, we've lived in that John and Carla Sherman"For the Buddhists, the primary goal of the practice of mindfulness meditation is to acquaint us with the insanity of our minds, with the 'monkey mind,' so that we get a feel for how crazy we are. But we already know how crazy we are, we've lived in that swamp for all of our lives. I encourage you to do mindfulness meditation so that you can acquaint yourself with the fact, which may not be so obvious, that you can by will and by choice focus your attention on some object of your choosing and move it from one object to the other. And to give you some practice with what focusing and moving attention feels like. You can use that same beam of attention, which is your mind's eye, to get a direct, immediate, unmediated, just a heartbeat of experience of what it feels like to be you, which...http://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2011/11/open-house-meeting-november-2-2011.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:59:10 PSTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c8834015392e66505970b"Just look for a tenth of a second at what it feels like to be you (what you call 'me'). If you try it once, you will continue to do it. With time, you will find yourself sane, secure and profoundly satisfied with your life as a human being." John Shermanno"Just look for a tenth of a second at what it feels like to be you (what you call 'me'). If you try it once, you will continue to do it. With time, you will find yourself sane, secure and profoundly satisfied with your life as a human being." John ShermanJohn and Carla Sherman"Just look for a tenth of a second at what it feels like to be you (what you call 'me'). If you try it once, you will continue to do it. With time, you will find yourself sane, secure and profoundly satisfied with your life as a human being." John Shermanhttp://www.johnsherman.org/john_sherman_podcast/2011/11/open-house-meeting-october-19-2011.htmljohnsherman@johnsherman.org (John and Carla Sherman)Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:57:16 PDTtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e55019e12c8834015436980c5a970c"Just do this simple act. This one, simple act of trying to get a direct, immediate experience of what it feels like to be you. There's no need to believe in it, there's no need to understand the reason for it or the way it works or why it works. There's no need to abandon your existing understandings, there's no need to believe in anything, and no need to stop believing in anything. All that's needed is to take this simple, absolutely harmless act of inward looking. That looking does all the work -- and it always works. It just requires the doing of it, and everything turns out right." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on October 19, 2011. MP3 File Length: 1 h 1 min File size: 14.66 MBno"Just do this simple act. This one, simple act of trying to get a direct, immediate experience of what it feels like to be you. There's no need to believe in it, there's no need to understand the reason for it or the way it works or why it works. There's John and Carla Sherman"Just do this simple act. This one, simple act of trying to get a direct, immediate experience of what it feels like to be you. There's no need to believe in it, there's no need to understand the reason for it or the way it works or why it works. There's no need to abandon your existing understandings, there's no need to believe in anything, and no need to stop believing in anything. All that's needed is to take this simple, absolutely harmless act of inward looking. That looking does all the work -- and it always works. It just requires the doing of it, and everything turns out right." John Sherman Complete recording of an Open House Meeting with John Sherman broadcast live from Ojai, California on October 19, 2011. MP3 File Length: 1 h 1 min File size: 14.66 MBAll rights reserved.John and Carla Shermannonadult