In this episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues, I had the pleasure of speaking with author Andy Chaleff about his latest book, "Dying to Live."

We explored the shadowy and rewarding themes of death and the fear of mortality, discussing how these experiences have shaped our lives. Andy shared personal stories and insights from his journey, and we delved into cultural perspectives on death and the transformative power of facing our deepest fears.

This conversation was a thoughtful exploration of life's ultimate certainty and the liberation that can come from embracing it.

Andy's book, Dying to Live is published by Meaningful Relations.
You can also check it out on The Dewdrop's Bookshop page.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Death and Its Cultural Perception

05:41 The Journey of Writing About Death

11:08 Personal Experiences with Death and Fear

16:04 Cultural Perspectives on Death

21:38 Reflections on Life and Maturation

27:24 Holding Space for Others in Their Final Moments

32:54 Experiences with DMT and Altered States of Consciousness

34:49 Control, Surrender, and the Fear of Death

38:55 Engaging with Death: Personal Reflections

43:24 Preparing for Death: Acceptance and Mindfulness

Gaylon Ferguson and Vanessa Able discuss Gaylon's new book, Welcoming Beginner's Mind: Zen and Tibetan Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature. The conversation explores the ten images of the ox herding sequence and their progression from seeking the ox to returning to the world. Gaylon also introduces Welcoming Practice and talks about the influence of Zen on the Shambhala tradition. Gaylon shares his personal journey with the ox herding pictures and how he abandoned the project of writing a commentary on Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. The conversation also touches on the importance of beginner's mind, the challenges of not doing anything, and the power of sitting with difficult emotions.

In this podcast episode, Vanessa chats with Susan Murphy, the author of "A Fire Runs Through All Things, Zen Koans for Facing the Climate Crisis." Susan discusses the inspiration behind her book, stemming from her experiences during the devastating 2019-2020 Australian wildfires. She relates these experiences to Zen teachings and practice with koans, illustrating how these notions can help navigate the current ecological and climate crisis.

The discussion includes the impact of community in crisis situations, with Susan emphasising the importance of communal support during the fires and the regenerative nature of the affected landscapes. The conversation further explores the interconnectedness of all beings and the concept of "not knowing," a state of open-mindedness and curiosity essential in Zen practice , as well as in facing global challenges.

Susan also touches on her earlier book, 'Minding the Earth, Mending the World,' noting the changing public perception of climate change over the decade. The conversation concludes with Susan sharing the impact of indigenous wisdom on her thinking and the importance of reconciling with the Earth to heal various societal rifts.