Master meditation teacher Robert Beatty walks us through: the basics of meditation, how to start a meditation practice, principles of mindfulness, understating the roots of suffering, how concentrating on the breath can lead to insight, and healthy vs unhealthy coping.  Listen on: iTunes Spotify Stitcher Guest Bio: Robert Beatty is co-author of Mindfulness for a Happy Life as well as founder and guiding teacher of the Portland Insight Meditation Community. He has worked with thousands of students and, as a practicing therapist, has created a unique synthesis of Buddhist methods of awakening and healing and those of western psychotherapy. Episode Sponsor:  Today’s episode is sponsored by Stages Cycling, makers of industry leading cycling computers, power meters, heart rate monitors, and indoor studio bikes. When I say industry leading I’m talking about last year's Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar uses a Stages power meter and cycling computer. They are legit! Stimulus listeners get 20% off your order of all Stages outdoor products (excepting the SB20 Smartbike which is awesome, just no discount). Use this link to go to Stagescycling.com and your 20% discount will be applied at checkout.  We discuss: When starting a meditation practice, the importance of knowing what your ‘fantasy’ is about meditation [06:50]; Why having a meditation teacher is essential and how Ruth Denison influenced Beatty’s practice [08:30]; The paradox of 2 truths:  skillful effort to restrain unwholesome mental states and the effort to bring into being wholesome mental states [12:30]; Beatty’s guided meditation for the novice [15:00]; What it is in mindfulness that we’re actually being mindful of [25:10]; Driving a car The Headless Way [28:50]; Why it is almost universal in meditation practices to use the breath as the primary meditation object [30:15]; Beatty’s opinion of meditation apps [35:37]; How intentionally letting go of your thoughts and concentrating on your breath can lead to deep insight [38:38]; The 3 characteristics of existence and how they provide spiritual insight [42:30]; Using meditation as a purification process to help you let go of stuff (or people) that cause negative emotions [48:50]; A skillful way to come back to your meditation object that is not self-criticizing [51:30]; The metaphor of the two arrows and how it can be applied in daily life [54:50]; Healthy vs. unhealthy coping mechanisms [01:00:00]; The reasons people come to meditation [01:06:00]; Beatty’s aspirations [01:09:30]; Why ‘should’ is such a violent word [01:10:00]; And more. For complete and detailed show notes, previous episodes, or to sign up for our newsletter: https://www.stimuluspodcast.com/ If you like what you hear on Stimulus and use Apple/iTunes as your podcatcher, please consider leaving a review of the show. I read all the reviews and, more importantly, so do potential guests. Thanks in advance! Interested in sponsoring this podcast? Connect with us here Follow Rob:Twitter: https://twitter.com/emergencypdx Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stimuluswithrobormanmd Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/emergencypdx