Finding Joy in Difficult Times | Being Well Podcast, James Baraz

Today on Being Well, @RickHanson and I are joined by James Baraz. James has been a meditation teacher for over 40 years, and is the cofounder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. He is the coauthor of Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to True Happiness, and leads the popular online course of the same name. He is also the guiding teacher of One Earth Sangha, a website devoted to expressing a Buddhist response to climate change.

Today we explore step four of James’ 10 steps to awakening joy: how to find joy in difficult times. We discuss how to balance a sense of equanimity with compassion for the suffering of the world, and how cultivating joy at an individual level can support healing at the collective level.

Key Topics:
0:00 Introduction
1:45 Why joy is important in Buddhism
5:05 James’ journey to prioritizing joy
11:40 How to practice awakening joy without turning away from suffering
17:20 Putting yourself back together after cultivating awareness of suffering
24:10 The 10 Steps of Awakening Joy
28:45 How people can use emotionally positive states in contemplative practice
32:00 Positivity in relation to the climate crisis and other collective challenges
38:05 Equanimity, compassion, including both sides of the river
43:35 The great perfection
47:10 James’ realistic hope for the next 25 years
49:30 Recap

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[gabyyoutube]

This interview really struck a personal note. The challenge of being truly mindful and present during difficult times, while not losing "hope" or joy, is something I've had to work through over the last few years. James Baraz's insights are perfectly timed and so resonant. Thank you for your always wonderful podcast.

[Susan-olys]

That was really really helpful thank you 🙏

[SoZen]

What a beautiful and essential teaching! Thank you. I've personally always felt that the always-seriious teachers are not really "it." Teachers such as Pema Chodron and the Dalai Lama, and many of my excellent Zen teachers can shine with joy and move into being with great suffering from one second to the next. I love this podcast. I've known joy is essential and this helps me get even more intentional about practicing and sharing joy, while also staying open to the immeasurable suffering. A little bird carrying enen one drop of water to the immense forest fire. ❤️

[katiescarett]

This is so wonderful for me, my two favorite teachers. Love you both, you've taught me so much!

[aguedagarciairizar]

So helpful, easy to grasp even for non- advanced meditators. James goodness and the peaceful atmosphere between the 3 of you made me feel thankful for so many simple things we tend to overlook (like understanding English!). Thank again

[bettinablumenbach]

Thank you for this conversation. It addressed so many questions I have! Truly grateful🙏

[juliajarvis]

Dear ones, I love you all and so appreciate what you are bringing to the world. AND as three white guys I wish you would have stated at the beginning of this podcast that you all are white men and you realize that the pain you have experienced is nothing compared to the pain BIPOC people have experienced. Please remember BIPOC peoples' suffering for the last many hundred years.

[mariusxmeier]

Forest Hanson? More like Forest Handsome, am I right? Cheers from a German with very good hearing

[miriamgreenberg]

O send a text to Jennifer Garden. This phone drives me cuckoo. I wrote this long note to you and it didn’t send it all though she said carry-on or whatever she’s really not so I’m in the car I know that’s well. I’m not driving right now super sleepy because I’m working at that and taking a while and I just really would love to see you and talk with you and your mom as well. Whatever works for you always really loved loved loved the curry very very fine you do such nice work OK so I’m sending you a big hug and did I say that already probably and I hope that we can get together going play some weird club and go out to have a dinner so extending my invitation I’d like to take the two of you out or you can come to my house because my pretty new table hutch would be lovely. I could get five restaurants. OK big big hug and laugh bye-bye.