The Direct Path: A Conversation with Sam Harris

In this conversation, Sam and Stephan discuss the direct approach to self-realization, a path of awakening that draws from nondual wisdom traditions of Zen, Dzogchen-Mahamudra, and Advaita Vedanta, and bypasses elaborate belief systems or self-improvement techniques. 

They also discuss Stephan’s experience learning and teaching Zen meditation, becoming a monk, Stephan’s experience of awakening and integration thereafter, sudden vs. gradual awakening, common misunderstandings about the direct path, and the connection between meditation and ethics as it relates to student-teacher relationships.


Interview with Rick Archer of Buddha at the Gas Pump
on Spiritual Integrity

In this interview, Stephan and Rick explore some of the following topics:

  • What does spiritual integrity really mean?

  • The role and deeper meaning of ethical precepts

  • Understanding the power dynamics of the teacher-student relationship

  • How teachers abuse their sacred responsibility and act out of integrity

  • Why narcissists are drawn to becoming spiritual teachers

  • How students are taken in by misguided teachers

  • The crucial role of discernment on the path: “The true guru is inside you”

  • Sex in the forbidden zone: Wanderers, predators, and boundary confusion

  • Acknowledging and integrating the shadow

  • How to know when it’s time to leave a teacher

  • The future of the spiritual teacher-student relationship in the We


Q&A1
Deepening Practice
Deepening Practice description
Played

Q&A
Identifying as Awareness
Identifying as Awareness description
Played

Q&A
Impediments to Awakening
Impediments to Awakening description
Played

Q&A
Knowledge vs. Experience
Knowledge vs. Experience description
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Q&A
Measuring Progress
Measuring Progress description
Played

Q&A
Perfectionism
Perfectionism description
Played

Q&A
Practices in the Direct Path
Practices in the Direct Path description
Played


Q&A
Stephen's Awakening
Stephen's Awakening description
Played

Q&A
Stephen's Teachers
Stephen's Teachers description
Played

Q&A
Trauma and Awakening
Trauma and Awakening description
Played