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Have you ever caught yourself in a full-blown adult tantrum over something as trivial as a parking space? That moment of sudden awareness—when you realize you're behaving exactly like the child you just scolded for crying over where to place their shoes—might be your first encounter with the transformative power of Yom Gun, the Buddhist root of mindfulness.

In this fascinating exploration of wakefulness, Jan Ansonian and Dr. Ruben Lambert unpack how our innate capacity for awareness operates beneath our conscious mind like tree roots hidden in soil. While many spiritual seekers chase knowledge and philosophy, true transformation comes not from consuming concepts but from holding onto a single practice with unwavering attention—like a hen sitting on eggs or a person with hair aflame seeking water.

The conversation reveals how our modern lives leave us vulnerable to operating on autopilot, rendering us "cyborgs" who are biologically alive but mechanically programmed by habit. This automation creates suffering as we react unconsciously to triggers, falling into patterns that contradict our deeper values and intentions. Yom Gun interrupts this process, creating space between stimulus and response where new possibilities emerge.

What makes this episode particularly compelling is the practical approach to cultivating this awareness. Rather than presenting mindfulness as an abstract concept, Jan and Ruben offer vivid examples of how wakefulness functions in daily situations—from MRI machines to traffic conflicts—showing how consistent practice gradually seeps into our being like raindrops absorbed by roots. Just as first responders train extensively to remain clear-headed during emergencies, we must practice wakefulness until it becomes our automatic response even in chaos.

Ready to transform your roots into power? Subscribe now and join us for part three of this enlightening mini-series where we'll continue exploring the five roots that govern our lives and how to cultivate them for lasting transformation.

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Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org