Joseph Goldstein On: Karma, Rebirth, And Other Planes Of Existence

We explore the intellectual and practical aspects of these mystical and esoteric concepts.

Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening, A Heart Full of Peace, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Insight Meditation and The Experience of Insight: A Simple and Direct Guide to Buddhist Meditation. Joseph has studied and practiced meditation since 1967 under the guidance of eminent teachers from India, Burma, and Tibet and he leads Insight Meditation retreats around the world.‍

In this episode we talk about:

• Why Joseph has become more comfortable talking about these concepts as he’s gotten older
• Why karma should not be seen as a deterministic principle that rules every aspect of our lives
• The connection between karma and past lives
• What he thinks about the concept of free will and how it relates to karma
• And why skeptics would do well to adopt a mindset characterized by the “willing suspension of disbelief”

Additional Links:

Joseph’s Dharma Seed Talk: Understanding Karma

Dipa Ma: The Life and Legacy of a Buddhist Master

Free Will by Sam Harris

IMS’s Forest Refuge Program

The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies

Related Episodes:

• Click here to listen to the previous episodes in our tenth anniversary series.

• Nirvana | Joseph Goldstein

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