Steve James interviews Stephen Mugen Snyder, Sensei and Mark Sando Mininberg, Roshi about the new Anatomy of Awakening Course. The Anatomy of Awakening course is a series of in-depth interviews with leading spiritual teachers, exploring what it means to awaken, and the skillful practices used to do so.
The interview premiered on Wednesday May 28, 2025.
From the description:
In this episode I host a dialogue between Stephen Snyder, meditation teacher and author, and Mark Mininberg, Zen master and dharma heir to Bernie Glassman.
Stephen and Mark discuss their new podcast interview series, “Anatomy of Awakening”, in which they engage in peer-to-peer trialogue with other teachers of enlightenment.
Stephen and Mark reveal why they chose the teachers they have featured, the degree to which various claims to spiritual attainment played a part in their selection, and how they navigated conversations with teachers from other Buddhist sects.
Stephen and Mark reflect on the increase in meditation teachers who claim spiritual awakening, recall their own trainings in Zen communities in which discussion of enlightenment was taboo, and emphasise the need for rigorous training under an experienced guide.
Stephen and Mark also warn about teachers who overestimate their abilities, offer suggestions to aspiring gurus, and emphasis the whole body commitment required to truly attain Buddhist awakening.