What’s New

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.… Continue reading Guru Viking Interview on the 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. Awakening is what happens when we discover who we really are in the deepest spiritual sense. Awakening can happen to anyone, but for most of us… Continue reading Anatomy of Awakening Course

At the Practicing the Jhānas retreat in Beaverton, Michigan in April 2025 a new retreat cookie was introduced. Practicing the Jhānas was a concentration meditation retreat using breath awareness meditation to access and enter the deeper states of concentration with the potential of absorption/jhāna. Jhāna (absorption) concentration is the highest level of meditative concentration possible.  In… Continue reading New Retreat Cookie!

In this podcast Jimmy Wightman & Stephen Mugen Snyder Sensei discuss the reality of authentic awakening, also known as kenshō or satori. In this context, awakening refers to an event that happens in consciousness that reveals the non-dual truth of reality. It’s a dramatic shift that goes right to the locus of identity, opening to… Continue reading Jimmy Wightman Interviews Mugen

Liam Hartery, host of the Simply Inspired podcast, interviewed Mugen saying: Stephen Mugen Snyder Sensei is an esteemed and world-renowned Buddhist teacher and practitioner across multiple traditions; an author of five books and co-author of Practicing the Jhānas; has been practicing meditation for around 50 years (in the Zen tradition for around 20 years, the… Continue reading 50 Years a Buddhist: Liam Hartery Speaks with Mugen about Zen, Tibetan, Theravāda & writing

Mugen spoke recently with the host of the Guru Viking podcast, Steve James, to discuss his latest book release,  Liberating the Self: Buddhist Practices for an Authentic Life as well as: You can view recording below or stream audio here: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep298-liberating-the-self-stephen-snyder Related See Programs and Meditation Retreats for related mentoring programs and meditation retreats. See… Continue reading Mugen’s interview on Guru Viking with Steve James on his new book, Liberating the Self

I am delighted to share my new book, Liberating the Self: Buddhist Practices for an Authentic Life, is now available for purchase. I wrote Liberating the Self to provide a method for students working with difficult personal emotions like envy, greed, and anger. Additionally, this book will offer assistance to those predisposed to reacting to… Continue reading New book by Stephen Snyder: Liberating the Self: Buddhist Practices for an Authentic Life

Michael Taft, host of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast, interviewed Stephen to discuss: You can listen to the recording here: https://deconstructingyourself.com/awakening-cessation-and-vulnerability-with-stephen-snyder.html Related

Todd Mushin Lisonbee, a student, interviews Stephen Mugen Snyder, Sensei, who shares his journey into meditation, his experiences with various Buddhist traditions, and how he became a teacher. He emphasizes the importance of heart practices in spiritual awakening and the integration of psychological understanding in spiritual practice. The discussion also touches on Stephen’s books and… Continue reading Todd Mushin Lisonbee Interviews Stephen Snyder

Wystan interviews Stephen Mugen Snyder, Sensei and Mark Sando Mininberg, Roshi about Zen, Koans, and Awakening.