Sharon sat down with the fabulous Tim Ferriss for his podcast The Tim Ferriss Show to talk about meditation, teaching and much more. Tim has been listed as one of Fast Company‘s “Most Innovative Business People” and one of Fortune‘s “40 under 40.” He is an early-stage technology investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ others) and the author of four #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, including The 4-Hour Workweek and his latest, Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers.

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“Do the good that’s in front of you, even if it feels very small.”
– Sharon Salzberg

Show Notes

• Sharon tells us about the string of experiences early in her life that helped chart her course. [07:02]
• How did Buddhism enter Sharon’s life? What impact did it have on the suffering she had known since such an early age? [10:31]
• What priceless guidance did Sharon receive from Buddhist meditation master Chˆgyam Trungpa before traveling to India? [13:09]
• Sharon explains how this guidance played out during her travels. [14:44]
• How Emotional Intelligence author Daniel Goleman helped Sharon find her way. [15:57]
• What happened when Sharon went to Bodh Gaya. [17:07]
• Sharon’s advice for anyone going into an intensive ten-day silent retreat. [18:46]
• How would Sharon guide a room full of type A personalities who are convinced meditation won’t “work” for them? [21:50]
• Mental frameworks helpful for beginners to keep in mind as they’re trying to establish meditation as a regular practice. [24:58]
• Self-compassion as a secret ingredient. [27:11]
• Does Sharon believe there’s a “minimum effective dose” when it comes to meditation? [28:55]
• For a beginner, what would the format of twenty minutes of daily meditation look like? [32:22]
• Have I been practicing what Sharon considers loving kindness? [35:25]
• Reframing the lens through which we look at our daily experiences. [39:47]
• How does Sharon suggest we think about the word “love” at a time when it’s almost lost its meaning through overuse? [42:04]
• How can someone defuse or divert a drift toward anger? [45:15]
• Why you may want to avoid email if you’re trying a fast for the first time. [48:10]
• On self-assessment after meditation (or medication) has become part of one’s routine. [48:37]
• Some love is 50/50. Here’s a story where it’s 100/100. [54:17]
• How does Sharon define success? [56:51]
• What are Sharon’s biggest challenges at the moment? [58:53]
• How does Sharon make progress with her own desired behavior changes? [1:01:20]
• Overcoming a time of despair and reestablishing connection. [1:01:49]
• Do the good that’s in front of you. [1:06:01]