Joseph Goldstein | Meditating In A Pandemic

Mortality Awareness

Joseph Goldstein explores the profound topic of mortality awareness as a meditative practice. He emphasizes that understanding death as a natural part of life can be liberating, urging us to reflect on our readiness to face it. Goldstein shares a powerful perspective:

What's the cause of death? And they said, birth. That is the cause of death. And I find that for myself, I find that liberating.

--- Joseph Goldstein

This reflection, he suggests, should be part of our daily practice, helping us confront the fear of death and find peace with our mortality 1 2.

   

Compassion Practice

Goldstein discusses compassion practices that enhance empathy and resilience during crises. He introduces the Karuna practice, which involves visualizing someone in suffering and repeating the phrase, "May you be free of this suffering." This practice strengthens our compassion over time, allowing us to include ourselves in this compassionate field.

How can I be of help to myself now in order to be able to help others?

--- Joseph Goldstein

Goldstein highlights the importance of balancing empathy with compassion to avoid overwhelm, suggesting that compassion is empathy plus the desire to help 3 4.