The Spirit Underground with Spring Washam and Lama Rod Owens

Discussing the systemic breakdowns in America, Lama Rod Owens and Spring Washam urge renewal through solidarity with marginalized cultures.This time on Spirit Underground, Spring and Lama Rod chat about:The systemic breakdowns happening in our countryBalancing on a thread in this current election cycleDeath / Renewal in nature as an example of what may need to occur in AmericaHaving deep solidarity with the cultures who have been dominated and occupiedLetting go of expecting the world to be different than it isThe human urge to be comfortable even at the cost of discomfort for other groupsColonization as an intense dissociation and disconnection from our heartsBecoming embodied and adjusting to our own cultural narrativesTrauma, loss of memory, and controlHow the patriarchy has systemically limited the ability for deep emotional laborFear of death as the root of all fearHow crisis can give rise to collaboration and graceConsidering the gifts we can offer to the world"Everyone needs to be free. Everyone needs to have access to the resources they need to be well, safe, and happy. You don’t have to earn a right to be fed and housed and cared for and clothed. This isn’t about the nature of your character, this is about the fact that you are human living in culture and society, and as a society we should care for one another.” – Lama Rod OwensSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Navigating the complexities of justice and freedom, Spring and Lama Rod discuss choosing the hard work of liberation over comfort.In this episode, Spring and Lama Rod have a conversation about:Choosing liberation versus comfort and stabilityGetting to the root of suffering and the root of who we areMoving deeper into our current predicaments instead of bypassingThe intense labor of liberation and choosing freedom in an unfree worldTransforming suffering into wisdom and clarityPain as our guide and teacherBuilding communities that can hold the nuances of justice and freedomFinding a teacher with experience in all pathsThe tension between enlightenment and humanityBridging conventional reality with the ultimateAbout Lama Rod Owens:Lama Rod Owens is a Black Buddhist Southern Queen. An international influencer with a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School with a focus on the intersection of social change, identity, and spiritual practice. Author of Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation through Anger and co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation, his teachings center on freedom, self-expression, and radical self-care. Highly sought after for talks, retreats, and workshops, his mission is showing you how to heal and free yourself. A leading voice in a new generation of Buddhist teachers with over 11 years of experience, Lama Rod is highly respected among his peers and the communities that he serves. From these intersections, he creates a platform that’s very natural, engaging, and inclusive.About Spring Washam:Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA. She has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. She is a member of the teacher’s council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in northern California where she was trained for over a decade.In addition to being a teacher, she is also a shamanic practitioner and has studied indigenous healing practices since 2008. She is the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a one-of-a-kind organization that blends indigenous healing practices with Buddhist wisdom in South America. Her writings and dharma teachings have appeared in many online journals and publications. She currently teaches meditation retreats and leads workshops, and classes worldwide.“I’m not interested in your comfort, I’m interested in your freedom. Because if you’re always trying to prioritize comfort in this work then you’re going to be really disappointed. You won’t grow.” – Lama Rod OwensSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Radically telling his personal truths, Lama Rod Owens talks with Spring Washam about his upcoming book, The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors.Click HERE to preorder your copy of Lama Rod Owens’ book, The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual WarriorsThis week on the Spirit Underground, Spring and Lama Rod dive into:Heartbreak, fear, and the freedom of honestyLama Rod’s method of opening up in his upcoming bookInspiration from James BaldwinEmbodying the path of liberation and trusting the processA contemporary understanding of sainthoodRethinking the Bodhisattva traditionHow the idea of being good may mean suppressionTuning into our own needsThe modern love of radical truthThe tough work of spiritual awakening and processing our traumasRecognizing when someone is bypassing their painLama Rod Owens’ dedication to the Black, Queer, and Trans communitiesImpacting the world through personal transformation“When you choose to do the work, you will experience liberation. You will experience the space, the fluidity. You’ll come to understand yourself in a really different way, in such a way that’s full of potential and expansive and generative.” – Lama Rod OwensSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Expanding their conversation on embodied sexuality, Spring Washam and Lama Rod Owens offer fresh perspectives on liberating ourselves from the bonds of shame and reclaiming pleasure.Be sure to listen to Ep. 6 of The Spirit Underground Podcast for the first part of this conversation!“We think that exploring and investigating and having these experiences with others is the goal, but really it begins with ourselves. Like I have to figure out who I am; I have to figure out what I find pleasurable. For me, pleasure is just this really awakening energy and experiencing of space.” – Lama Rod OwensLearn more about Lama Rod's newest book, The New Saints, and pre-order your copy today: The New SaintsIn part two of this liberating series on sexuality, Spring and Lama Rod talk about:- Understanding what it means to embody sexuality- The capacity to talk about sexuality in our culture- Power and the doctrine of do no harm- Self-discovery and authenticity- Collaborating to experience pleasure- Wholeness and healing in the realm of sexuality- Balance, dharma, and tantric practice- Negotiating our bodies and boundaries- Meeting needs and helping others- Monogamy and different types of relationships- Using meditation and intuitive tools to understand the self- Reclaiming the word pleasure- Removing shame and resting in liberation- Finding freedom to be open about our identities- How friendships help us move out of contraction and be ourselves- Celibacy and evaluating where we put our energy“It’s heavy stuff cutting through the societal baggage with our bodies, with queerness, with identity, and then going back to that word pleasure. How can pleasure be in service of awakening?” – Spring WashamSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.