Michael Harding

I am Waiting

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

I looked for You in all the usual places.

In quiet rooms.

In late nights.

In that moment just before sleep

when people say You’re supposed to feel closest.

Nothing.

So I checked everywhere else.

In the glow of my phone at 3 a.m.,

scrolling past other people trying to make sense of things—

their grief, their questions, their small, bright distractions.

Still nothing.

They said You’re always there.

Closer than breath.

But some nights, even breathing feels like an effort

no one is helping you carry.

I said Your name once—out loud.

Not dramatic. Not holy.

Just… to see.

No answer.

And maybe that’s the hardest part—

not the silence itself,

but how everything keeps moving through it.

The world doesn’t pause.

People laugh.

Lights change.

Another day begins like nothing’s missing.

So here we are.

Still asking.

Still listening.

Still waiting—maybe.

Or maybe just learning how to live

in the quiet

where something used to be.

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Silence is the language

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 18:00:00 GMT

So this is it in a nutshell. Buddhist teaching says in a synopsis that the path is through Renunciation, Compassion, an a correct view. The first two are easy to figure out and map onto Christian practise quite perfectly. In this episode I'm going to delve into Correct View and how it maps onto christian faith.

in buddhist terms, the act of faith must avoid substantialism, ( like imagining the buddha as a literal fleshy manifestation, like a ghost in the room. ) and nihilism, ( like dismissing the story of the buddha as merely a story.)

And this too maps very well onto Christian experience. So for today, Good Friday and Easter Sunday it might be fun to reflect a bit on this mysterious balance.

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Help

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:30:49 GMT

Yes I know this is blunt. But I'm trying to ensure that the podcast continues, I know people like it and I love it. But lots of people listen but don't subscribe. so I'm asking , a few euros each month, to keep things going, and you get 4 hours per month of freestyle reflections and mediations from my heart to yours. You go to.

https://www.patreon.com/c/hardingmichael

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The Cross is the Architecture of Emotion

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:34:38 GMT

The mystery of our death is the mystery of that death on Calvary. The mystery of Calvary is the mystery of all death and all suffering and all pain. Here's how I see the architecture of this event and how it sustains me in my ordinary human life, and allows me to endure disturbing emotions with equanimity.

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Karma, Art, and God

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 17:19:25 GMT

Karma is a notion we associate with the east. Art is something that in modernity has liberated itself from religious devotionalism. But here I want to meditate on how all these things are unified. Liberation from Karma, attention devoutly to the great work of art, are unified in that God is a word for that which runs through all things, and all times, and all beings. God is a word we use as a cradle to hold the unnamable mystery of being. And there is no limit to this abundance even when we are exhausted by our own negative energies.

It is now the moment of the Equinox. I'm doing last night's podcast, and this today, and perhaps another one or two in the coming days to celebrate this fact. Because I've always been excited by the Equinox, the dramatic transition that we in Ireland experience from the dark brooding world of winter, to the dizzy light of Summer. And here we are, on the edge of lengthening days, long days, and summer days not far away not. Talk to you son.

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Find your own solitude

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:22:28 GMT

I did an episode during the week focusing on the Equinox. And then when I was cleaning out files and arranging all sorts of stuff on hard drives I seem to have deleted the episode. This I discovered at the last minute. And the only thing left in the folder was a podcast from September 22. Now that's the autumn Equinox. And now we're at the Spring Equinox. And I have a lot to say yet, so much to share with you. But I thought it suitable that the only episode I could get my hands on was this. So I'm going to put it out for now, for the weekend and then on Monday I'll be back again with one about the Spring Equinox. We're in the run up to Easter, and then we move towards midsummer. I'm working on a book entitled Midsummer, and I'll post a reading of the first draft also over this weekend. So that will be a new episode on Monday and somewhere in between a reading from my new book. And for now, enjoy this reposting of a mediation which is very personal and reflects on why I practice. Thank you for being here. Listen. Listen.

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A naieve boy, a lonely man and a dog chasing it's tail

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 19:00:00 GMT

You're trying to be authentic. But knowing you never will be is not failure. it's ok that you're not authentic. And where will that lead us. Well I begin the podcast today by reading a text, a memory from 18 years go. So let's begin there.

Now go listen to that podcast! And thank you for your support. And if you are one of the many folk who are enjoying the podcasts but don't subscribe, I'm really pleading with you, please, go to Patreon.com/hardingmichael and subscribe for about €7 a month. about 70% of followers don't actually subscribe, so if you can manage the monthly subscription you'll be helping me greatly to continue sharing these podcasts with the world.

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Clare of Assisi

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:47:35 GMT

Well as promised I've put together a meditation on this extraordinary woman of the 13th century. This is special, so I'm doing no explaining. Just trust yourself and delve right in and keep with it to the end. And enjoy the blessings of life in every minute of the day; or as we say nowadays, have a great weekend.

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When you find yourself awake at 4am

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:24:55 GMT

I'm here at the kitchen table, rather confused about who is here with me. And I"m wondering how do I contextualise this moment. Not as an ordinary or mundane wakening but as radiance. And how do I put that in a modern way. So it kind of dawned on me that there is one basic step, and one basic starting point for everything. And in coming episodes I'll be from time to time coming back to this; The spirituality of Saint Clare. I think it's amazing and easy to get your hands on. But she is from a different age, and her language is sometimes florid. Ok. So there's one place to begin. And it's here, now, in the presence of the divine being. Every spiritual path is complex, with lots of ideas. But only if you miss the first step. It's the access moment. And if you begin here, then all spiritual teachings will make sense.

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The Silence behind the hedge and the woman in Paris.

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:00:00 GMT

What links random events. How do we see the cosmos, at the surface or by what is beneath. If there are two hundred and sixty five lakes in Cavan, how many moons are there when the full moon shines. These and other questions will never be answered. But lovely to ponder them and let the silence inside the heart resonate with the wonder of it all. Come to my podcast and subscribe on patreon.com so I can survive and continue doing them. Please. Patreon.com. Michael Harding. Podcast. Do it.

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Be still with Yourself

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:53:12 GMT

Yes I am excited about this. I'm always looking for the bridge, or lens, or icon, that takes me from the mundanity of my own self to the ineffable beauty of God's presence. Is it not just amazing me that I could find such an instrument in the lens of a camera. So here's a new direction in my meditations. On the way of seeing the world we belong in.

“No matter how slow the film, Spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer It has chosen.” (A recurring favorite highlighting the idea of Spirit actively participating in the creative act.)
“Be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence.” (Often extended to emphasize capturing essence through receptive stillness and meditation.)
“One should not only photograph things for what they are but for what else they are.” (Core to his philosophy of equivalence and seeing beyond the literal.)
“To see through, not merely with, the eye, to perceive with the inner eye, and by an act of choice to capture the essence of that perception. This is the very core of the creative process.” (Emphasizing mystical perception and inner vision.)
“The state of mind of a photographer while creating is a blank… It is a very active state of mind really, a very receptive state of mind, ready at an instant to grasp an image, yet with no image pre-formed in it at any time. Such a state of mind is not unlike a sheet of film itself – seemingly inert, yet so sensitive that a fraction of a second’s exposure conceives a life in it.” (Describing the meditative, ego-less receptivity akin to Zen mindfulness.)
“When the photograph is the mirror of the man, and the man is the mirror of the world, then the Spirit might take over.” (Reflecting photography as a path to spiritual unity and transcendence.)
“I seek out places where it can happen more readily… get myself ready through meditation. Through being quiet and willing to wait, I can begin to see the inner man and the essence of the subject in front of me…” (On seeking solitude and meditative preparation to access inner essence.)
“While we cannot describe its appearance (the equivalent), we can define its function. When a photograph functions as an Equivalent we can say that at that moment, and for that person the photograph acts as a symbol or plays the role of a metaphor for something that is beyond the subject photographed.” (His concept of photographic equivalents as spiritual symbols.)
“I strive to undo my reactions to civilization’s syncopated demands and hope that inner peace, quiet, and lack of concern for specific results may enable a stance of gratitude and balance—a receptiveness that will allow the participation of grace.” (On cultivating receptivity and grace through inner peace.)
“I’m always and forever looking for the image that has spirit! I don’t give a damn how it got made.” (Expressing his relentless pursuit of images infused with spiritual presence.)

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What world was he born into?

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 14:06:15 GMT

Well this is finally up and available. Had great pleasure putting it together, but I needed to get a big picture and a sweep of history all covered in this little hour.

I wanted to call it Abraham, Buddha and the Ever Changing world.And I wanted it to be my complete take on Advent, because context is what I'm delving into here.

If I am to get any buzz out of Christmas at all I need to tune my heart into the wisdom that existed before Jesus is born. And this is the big picture, the context in which he was born, and with which we might ponder and meditate on the mystery of Christmas itself. But that is for next week. Talk then.

And just for those who are getting the podcasts free on various platforms, please go to patreon.com/hardingmichael and get the full series, all podcasts by subscribing a little over €5/month.

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Leonard Cohen died in November

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:32:39 GMT

I always think of him at this time and that he left an album behind called, You want it Darker. But yet there is nothing dark in his music. His ability was to layer the shadows with lyrics of power and hope and Alleluja. And I went walking to the beautiful graveyard of Tarmon, where the old monastery ruins are beside Lough Allen this week. And I stood at the graves of a few neighbours and thought about the same amazing mystery of life, and the gift it is to be alive in this present moment. Take comfort in your own being, in the wonder and mystery and beauty of who you are, for this short time. And believe that beyond what is you, lies the vast possibilities of love and that even in these shadows you are held and cherished and will be so forever.

No background music this week. let me know what you think in the comments; should I keep the background flute or not. Thanks.

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Alone in the House

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 18:20:00 GMT

Community makes you human. Joy is found in other people. So how is it that sometimes when the church is completely empty or when we are alone in the house we experience such peace and serenity. Who is there? Who is calling?

Enjoy.

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Halloween; Tricks, Treats and my mother's jug

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:53:52 GMT

There's something about the trick or treat and the horror film and the ghouls that stalk the shopping malls that reflect a strange satire on the medieval fear that people had of death. This does go back to Samhain, the Celtic festival,, when it was believed people returned from the dead, in disguise sometimes to demand offerings, and so the children wandering around the doors looking for sweeties and money as they stand and play tin whistles in masks resembling demons, is certainly a touch of nostalgia for that long ago Celtic Festival. And the lighting of ritual fires and the the games in the houses were all similar remnants of ancient days.

But that was a time when people believed in many gods, and feared that gods were not just multifarious but capricious and often not the best company for humans. it was a time when people didn't know what caused the storms and the changes in weather, the weakening sun in the winter sky or the death of children from disease they as yet did not understand.

But what I like about the Christian input into this festival is the sense that we are reassured that the universe is a singularity and that the ground of all being is a personal presence, a mysterious otherness that knows the hairs of our head before we were born and loves us. That the universe loves us is a wisdom that gathers not just us but those who have passed beyond this life into the shadow of death and allows us to hope in a place of refuge deep beyond this visible reality, a place where we and our loved ones are even now united in God's presence. That's a big hopeful idea underneath the darkness of winter. So for me this November is a time of sheltering. A time of hibernation and stillness. A time of paying attention to the peace that underpins all reality. my memory is of my mother in the kitchen on the eve of All Souls Day more usually, acting out a ritual of love and connection with her ancestors.

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Living astride the Grave, and the strange case of Nicodemos

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:15:03 GMT

Here I go with the final deep dive into the strange figure of Nicodemos in the Gospels. A man so like us in modernity that sometimes I feel it is me there in the moment where he stands. He opens a door for me. As if the story was a place I could live. This is sometimes like Lectio Divino a way of reading into the Gospels and pondering something single thing until it feels like someone is speaking to you. And I will round off the month of October next week with some fun reflections on Halloween in the long ago when I was young.

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Nicodemos - did I make that up or is he just a fragment of my psyche

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 18:00:00 GMT

For fun I am spelling his name like I imagine it sounds. and you might find this fellow in the gospel, or someone very like him. But there are characters like this, ghosts in my heart who have originated in the gospels but who now live inside me. And I can measure myself against them; against their successes or failures in the struggle to be human. So I think there is more to the gospels than people imagine; it's peppered with characters who are like vectors, compasses for our own life. And as I say; they are like ghosts inside me, fragments of my own psyche.

In fact I was going to call this episode Alone; With Christ Alone. But the reason for that will become clear in the second half of the episode.

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A letter on loneliness

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 20:00:00 GMT

I am involved in a beautiful project involving arts centres in Thurles, Longford and Roscommon. The process is that we exchange letters. I write to the group and they reply to me. Because it's personal and private I thought I'd share the first letter with my patreon supporters. And like every other time I sit down with an intention to explore a single topic, I find myself drifting, riffing, and meditating on other jewels of meaning that surface in my mind as I find calm abiding. Finding calm abiding, in stillness is one of the great secrets of the podcast. it's not that I'm sharing anything important with you in terms of content, whether it be about Buddha or Christ. I'm sharing a process, a way of being in the world where your heart opens to mystery. it's just that for me meditation is somethings becoming familiar with a subject by simply talking about it, reflecting on it. So there you go. We are here, we are present, which in itself is a mystery. But we know we are here and can feel the love as the universe envelops us; that's when we enter into the mystery and enter into love. Have a great weekend.

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 18:15:21 GMT

Thich Nhat Hanh

Just now

Show less

So this podcast I did just this time last week, and I wanted simply to remember Thich Nhat Hanh, the Vietnamese Zen master, who stands as a beacon of non-violence, embodying "engaged Buddhism" during the horrors of the Vietnam War.

One of the main things I struggle with at the moment is equanimity. I did a podcast on equanimity recently, but in the storms of rage and the noise of war that is at the moment enveloping so many parts of the world, I struggle to retain my inner peace, and detachment. I am driven by anger and rage, and it's so hard sometimes to just keep calm and serene and enter the room of the heart, when there is so much fury in the air.

But I don't think I'm avoiding politics. When I engage in non violence or peaceful mindful practises, I feel I am responding to the violence around me. I am offering a critical and radical alternative, and if there was a single person in the world of all the buddhist teachers that excelled in this wisdom of non-violence it was the great master Thich NhatHanh.

Exiled for his tireless advocacy for peace, he refused to side with any or either camp, instead founding the Order of Inter being to promote compassionate action amid conflict. His non-violence wasn't passive; it was a fierce, loving resistance born from deep awareness of suffering, as he taught that "nonviolent action... born of the awareness of suffering."He urged, "Peace begins with you," weaving activism into everyday mindfulness to transform anger into understanding.

This profound non-violence grew directly from his meditation practice. Through mindful breathing and walking, Thay cultivated inner peace—the foundation of interbeing, where all life interconnects. Meditation dissolved the illusion of separation, birthing compassion that naturally opposed violence; as he said, "Violent action creates more violence." From silent retreats emerged his global teachings, like Plum Village, where practitioners meditate to heal personal and collective wounds.

But there is no need to share his insights with you because his own words and voice are abundantly available on the internet. find him in Audiobooks, or You Tube, or Podcasts, or just google him. Listen prayerfully to him. You don't need me to add anything. And so what I share with you this week is simply my admiration of his life and the light and compassion that he holds out to the world.

His life inspires me endlessly: a person who faced bombs and exile yet smiled through it all, influencing leaders and everyday souls toward mindful peace. In a world of rage, his example calls me to pause, breathe, and act with kindness. And oh, that face—serene, eyes twinkling with joy—always brightens my spirit, a gentle reminder that true strength radiates from within.

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Equanimity

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:40:20 GMT

So this is the final in a series of 4 where I've been thinking about some beautiful ideas in the Buddhist tradition. There is a melancholic air in the garden now. not as much light as there used to be in August. WE've come to the turn of the year. so here we go again. But I'm so happy.

I'm so happy to be talking to you. this is a strange thing, I've never got over it; the mystery of talking to you. being present with you. Sharing at this level my faith.

My faith is like the wind. Like gossamer. It comes and goes. Except when you share it. And next week I begin the big journey into the winter. I love this and if you've been with me for winter on previous years you'll know I feel hugged and loved by the cosmos when the light fades. the tree outside my door is the cosmos. that's the tentacle that connects with me. and I too am the cosmos. and so are you. me and you and the tree are just the cosmos talking to itself. And when you get into that space you could stay there forever. and finally

maybe we are eternally there. or here. or together. Forever.

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ShantiDeva is the Man

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 18:00:00 GMT

I was thinking that if you're going to deepen your insights into Buddhist philosophy, you might need more than me. So I took a book, which is special and singular and crucial for me in my path towards Buddhist wisdom. It's got a title with a lot of syllables and authored by a person with a strange name for the Western ear. Nonetheless, this is like a figure similar to Saint Augustine or Thomas Aquinas though his thought is more concise and he uses less pages to compose his thoughts. Shanti-deva is the man in question and the name of the book is The

Bodhicaryavatara, or in English, A guide to the bodhisattva way of life.

You can get it on kindle, or amazon or in hardback online. I think it's a key text in Tibetan Buddhism. I think it's something you can dip into occasionally for many years with great benefit.

And so we must look at this notion of the bodhisattva; what is that. Well it's a person who is dedicated to developing Bodhichitta. That's about the simplest way to say it. And what is Bodhichitta; it's a very simple matter, which I have really enjoyed reflecting on in this episode.

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The Weave of the Buddha

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Last week I was reflecting on the Prayer for the Dedication of Merit. it's a pathway into the vast and wonderful world of Buddha experience. But here is another path, or link. it's the link between how Buddha wisdom is woven into the fabric of faith in Christ. This is not to say the two are the same. Not at all. But yet how mysterious it is that every pathway leads to the same space of inner peace. All the different fingers point to the same moon.

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Sending Love

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 19:00:00 GMT

It's a tricky subject; we say we're sending you vibes, sending you love, sending you best wishes. Praying for you. thinking about you. And so I wanted to pinpoint what I think is a key idea and a key prayer in the Buddhist Tradition which for me is the door into a Buddhist Pathway. One single prayer that opens up so many aspects of Buddhist practise.

The trouble is that it's a complicated enough thing to reflect on, so forgive me if I'm just talking around what is a big mystery; the mysterious of how we find happiness by praying for others.

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August 15; the turn of the season.

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 10:38:56 GMT

Our hearts are disconnected from the language of faith. But it's not impossible to dive into the wonderful narratives of hope that are contained in the Christian tradition and discover enormous resources for the human heart and mental well being. Today on the feast of Mary, Assumed into Heaven, or as it is called in the east, the Dormition, I'm beginning a three part meditation on the wonders of this feast. So let your rational mind relax and take hold of these lovely musings with your heart, and then ask yourself how much better you're feeling.

This is Part One. Part Two next weekend and Part Three on the last weekend in August.

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Autumn Harvest

Sat, 23 Aug 2025 10:33:47 GMT

Gathering Grace in old age. Going to sleep in the corner. Her soul lifted into paradise. This is not mere folklore. it's theological poetry. The children grown and gone. friends departed. the world moving on without us. Mary transforms this isolation into solitude. that fertile ground where God speaks most clearly.

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Oliver Plunkett

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 15:52:33 GMT

Someone suggested I do a podcast about Oliver Plunkett. And to be honest I found a lot out by doing it. In this podcast I tried to use John the Baptist as a template. John is the guy who comes before Jesus, ,appears in the wilderness and is called the forerunner in the Orthodox tradition. I recorded this a few weeks ago so it's not synched with current feast day. I'm trying to get around to making an episode on the Transfiguration soon. Maybe next weeks episode. Anyway here is Oliver for today; I hope you enjoy.

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Dzogchen Beara -

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 18:21:22 GMT

It's like Skellig in a way. It's a rugged cliff on the edge of the Atlantic, and a great refuge of serenity and peace. Join me now as I look out on the Atlantic and ask myself the question, what is the meaning of a Retreat. You can notice by my voice that I was slightly under the influence of a cold, but even that didn't interfere with the powerful effect of just being there..

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Dzogchen Beara

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 09:26:51 GMT

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In the Hush of this Prayer Room

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 08:51:00 GMT

I'm just back from Dzogen Beara, the Tibetan Buddhist Centre in west Cork. An oasis of serenity in this mad world. So let me begin with a prayer. And then in an hour or so I'll be dropping the weekly podcast. But this is a shared prayer. Join me. Maybe it's a new idea we could develop.

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When you were possessed by God

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Amazing to think that long ago in your childhood moments of joy and bliss that you were in fact not alone but that God was rattling your bones with ecstasy of his presence. Amazing to think that such moments are still available in memory, as portals into the timeless love of God.

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Lonesome Me

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:00:00 GMT

This week I talk about a lonesome mood that mantles our old age. And how we cross the bridge of tears alone at the end of life. It's a sombre meditation. But fuelled by the sense of love that exists in old age. Listen in quietude and find in the dark clouds the flickering of light.

So.....sharing three meditations in this episode. Two of them focus on love between elderly couples. The final one is about the lonesome path towards death. That final one is a solitary journey no matter how much we are loved. It's a bridge we cross alone, leaving loved ones behind. But maybe that final bridge is a journey into something beautiful, a relationship of so much love that we can't comprehend it on this side of the bridge.

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My Garden on a sunny morning in July

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 19:18:42 GMT

You know it was so lovely this morning at 7am that I sat down to do the podcast with the intention of just talking about the Garden outside my window. But of course like always I ended up talking about how the invisible is made visible, and how the Garden is a love story.

I hope you enjoy. And if you're listening to this for free, you are welcome, but please consider going to Patreon.com/micahelharding and subscribing; it will help me keep the podcast going. Thank you.

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Forgiveness

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 16:01:03 GMT

Such a radical idea! Yes. And in every religious tradition it comes up as the swift path to enlightenment. Let's have a look at it.

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John the Forerunner; a short poem

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:06:07 GMT

A short poem like meditation I did at the weekend. IT's a kind of dream landscape. Hope you like it. More of this coming at the weekend.

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In the Shadow of your Room

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 16:53:10 GMT

So I got some really good feedback on the past three weeks so I thought I'd continue on the same subject for another week or so. Here I'm taking about two great dudes from the time of the early church. A guy called Origin, and a guy called John Chrysostom. What these early theologians say about things like the Trinity is a key to getting inside the Christian path of faith and a lot of people don't really discover them. So here is some of my humble take on all that; just remember I'm no scholar. I'm just trying to express faith as I experience it. And at the end of the day, I offer you the riches of the religious path not because of some substantial truth that I have the keys to, but simply because in my experience it's a great psychotherapy, and a super good pathway for a healthy mind. If you come up against some difficult ideas, just don't give up or stumble. Listen slowly and savour the idea and it will sink into your heart. Be well.

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You're here I'm here, so it must be Friday

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:29:42 GMT

Join us on Faith Woven: Threads of Wisdom, a weekly podcast where writer Michael harding shares his personal journey through faith, drawing from the rich tapestries of Christian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Each episode weaves together timeless reflections, sacred stories, and insights from his own writings to inspire listeners to explore faith within their own spiritual paths. With warmth and curiosity, [Michael delves into the universal truths found in these traditions—whether it’s the contemplative depth of Orthodoxy, the communal heart of Catholicism, or the meditative clarity of Tibetan Buddhism. This podcast isn’t about conversion; it’s about connection, inviting you to reflect on your beliefs through the lens of diverse wisdom. From ancient liturgies to modern mindfulness, Faith Woven offers a space to pause, ponder, and grow. Perfect for spiritual seekers, avid readers, and those curious about the intersections of faith, this podcast blends storytelling, scripture, and personal anecdotes to illuminate the beauty of belief. Tune in weekly to discover how faith, in all its forms, can light the way to a deeper, more meaningful life. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE FOR WEEKLY EPISODES ON PATREON.COM/HARDINGMICHAEL

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A room with a Candle

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:11:13 GMT

So someone wanted me to talk about the Holy Trinity. And someone wanted me to talk about the Agnostic. But strange as it may seem these two can be linked as complimentary. So here is a very unusual meditation, be prepared to imagine yourself in a room with a candle and we will contemplate all the mysteries.

And just a reminder. if you are not a subscriber, please please go to Patreon.com and subscribe for about €6 a month so I can keep doing this. If I don't get some more subscribers soon I'll be off air. Please help if you can. Thank you.

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Pentacost Part 3

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 10:39:50 GMT

I promised two extra podcasts this week so here is the final one. yes I'm two days late, I meant to get it dropped by Sunday last, but no matter. it's here. My final take on Pentacost. Lots to talk about here; my granny, and love, and how we are all brothers and sisters. Sometimes I forget the nuances of love in every christian feast day and then I talk about it and realise that the dynamic of faith in life is not just good for mental health but maybe very necessary for keeping sane and happy in a world of so much anger. Take care. Be blessed. And we'll talk next week end again.

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The cosmos is just one thing and time and moment. it's happening here and now.

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

The cosmos is just here now I this moment. That's it. The entire 14billion years is in the click of your fingers. And the end is the beginning and the beginning is the ending. And it happens in every second of time. the entire thing from beginning to end happens now. And always now. And so if we take the Christian story we begin to see how it works as a meditation. We fall into a state of contemplation. It's not about understanding anything and certainly not God. Because there is no god, there is no understanding possible, and there is only this present moment here and now and one very useful handle on it is to tell ourselves the remarkable story of the man who became god because the god became man.

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Buddha or Holy Spirit

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:31:07 GMT

This five years of podcasting has been a journey. in the beginning I didn't know where it was going. It's also a story. The story of my faith adventure. And this weekend I'd like to share a lovely focus on what we used to call Pentacost. So here is part one, which I hope you like. A kind of introduction. And this evening or in the morning I'll drop the second part, a reflection on those simple and amazing words; I believe in God. Which I translate as - I am aware of God, when the cosmos sits down beside me.

And on Sunday evening I'll send out the final third part of this meditation to celebrate the great wonders of faith as a very useful strategy for wellness and well being. Enjoy. This is part one. Part Two later today. Part Three on Sunday.

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Hanging out with old friends Teresa and John for the Ascension

Fri, 30 May 2025 17:43:57 GMT

This is my final song about the ancient and magical feast of Ascension. Try it out.

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Entangling the Heart

Sat, 24 May 2025 13:53:40 GMT

Was listening to Bono on the radio this morning speaking eloquently about his father, himself as a father, and the Father in heaven. And here is my take on the path; from illness to bliss, and using conventional practices to get find the way. You know when I'm sharing these podcasts I'm not trying to say anything intelligent. I'm just sharing who I am. Cos there is this unnameable secret in us all, this yearning for the awesome mystery at the heart of the world and we're all just trying to get there. So sharing this is like what a story teller should be doing, if this is the story; and this IS the story.

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WE are all friends

Fri, 16 May 2025 22:37:02 GMT

Rushing this on a warm evening in Ennis where I'm on stage having a great time with book. But here is a bit of joy for May 16th. Blessings.

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Easter Part One

Fri, 02 May 2025 14:51:00 GMT

Mixing ideas about Easter with a Buddhist notion here. How these two traditions dovetail just amazes me all the time. But this is only my take. My imaginal ramblings. Hope you enjoy them. Part Two coming in an hour.

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The Crucified God ( part one of three.)

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 13:16:57 GMT

I've never tried to do this before. it always feels beyond my ability to talk about the finer points of theology but here we go. It's the Good Friday moment. And that's the first of three moments. The second is Holy Saturday. The third is Easter Sunday. So in this series of three, I'm dealing with them in sequence. Today I reflect on Good Friday, in the next podcast I will explore the one we rarely think about and that is Holy Saturday, and finally I'll try to share what really belief in Easter means for me. So this is part one of three.

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Lough Derg and a small history of some Buddhist things

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 11:12:29 GMT

New

16 hours ago

Well I began with a reflection on Lough Derg where I went last Easter with a friend for holy water, and then I couldn't resist rambling on about some amazing Buddhist history. I hope you like it, mingling dream, fantasy, faith, and two religions as we approach Easter. Let your faith be fun, and a fuel for your imagination. Or maybe that should be let your imagination be fun and a fuel for your faith. Happy weekend !

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Gods Will is not something I can explain.

Sat, 05 Apr 2025 10:17:13 GMT

Maintaining faith in a God gets difficult in the world we live in. We seem to be facing chaos and darkness and suffering everywhere we look. So I'm delighted to share my personal strategy on it, and why I would bother holding on to this thing called faith. I suppose what perplexes me is Evil and the sense that God could hardly wish all this suffering of War Disease and Death to be inflicted on sentient beings.

I find that true, and I have no answer. Unless I change the focus and turn my attention to love as it exists in the universe. Then everything changes.

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Falling in love with a Concertina

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 18:00:00 GMT

Yes. Something very different today. (And in a way a little homage to philosophies of "embodiment, " especially that of Merleau-Ponty. )

A simple story of how much my concertina matters to me even though I can't play it. I see it as a secret object, used in rituals whereby beautiful sounds come into the world.

The absurdity of developing a relationship with a musical instrument and the theology behind it. Even though I can't play it.

If you're not on Patreon, please consider going to Patreon.com and become a paid subscribe to the Michael Harding podcast. Unlimited access to hundreds of reflections for the price of a coffee. Every week. Go on, you can do it !

Body

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A meditation approaching Easter

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 11:11:59 GMT

I know it's a few weeks away yet, but there was always two things that defeated me in the Christian tradition. One is the empty tomb. And the other is the heartbroken cry of Jesus as he died. One concerns a belief that defies science. The other is a cry of despair that defies faith. How do I reconcile them. How do they actually contain the real secret of faith.

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From a car in the Car Park.

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:24:12 GMT

I couldn't find anywhere else to do this. So it's recorded in the car which is why it sounds a little like it was recorded in a car. I wanted to explore if it was possible to meditate in the car. And it is. So I'm delighted to present the results. Have a great weekend.

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After The Storm

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:53:17 GMT

A couple of trees fell and they got me thinking of how the landscape around me always changes and how nothing is permanent. I hope you survived the windy weekend and that you are ready for Imbolg. That's the new name for St Brigid's day. I prefer saint Brigid's Day. But never mind. Please enjoy this meditation on impermanence and stand by for an extra podcast early next week to make up for the lapse which happened during the storm. I'm going to say a few more words about Buddhism. It's such a rich well of wisdom and we haven't been there In a while and Brigid's day is a good day for going to the well. And there's no well more holy than the well of Buddhist wisdom contained in the Tibetan tradition. That's next week. IN the meantime enjoy my reflections on the storm and have a great weekend.

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the Ups and Downs of the time after Christmas Day

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 16:12:15 GMT

A good Christmas was had by all. And now where are we. Me moving more deeply into Christian faith, cos I know now that this Christ is for me. Cosmic and personal, this transformed universe is had to believe in when you look at the politics of our age. But Christmas is the moment when you can feel that Cosmos awakening again in your heart.

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Christmas Episode - thank God

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 19:45:22 GMT

A friend came visiting recently and the story is at the end of the episode. The rest is just one beautiful idea; Be grateful in every moment

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The Place where you stand

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 17:43:03 GMT

Can I share with you how special you are. And one of the ways you are special is that the earth knows it. The ground beneath you knows you, and cherishes you. Don't be alarmed. I'm not off my head. It really makes sense, and this idea opens the door to a sense of being more and more deeply in relationship with the earth we live on. This is the root of what might be called Sacred Space. Sacred space is where we find our deepest connection with the cosmos. And here's the amazing thing; it's where you are standing right now.

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End of November, End of Year

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMT

You're going to love this. End of year in the Christian calendar with the Christmas music starting on Sunday. So chill out, and relax and just enjoy this moment. The year is over. Be loved. Be calm. Be your deepest self. and if you're listening on platforms for free please please go to Patreon.com/Michael Harding and subscribe. just give me the price of two coffees per month and I bring you four hours of heart felt meditations. Ah go on. Thanks and blessings.

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Be Still and stop Fidgeting

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:40:48 GMT

Stop fidgeting, as the teacher used to say in primary school. Be still and pay attention. And here I am 65 years later still trying to be still and stop fidgeting.

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Be Still and Stop Fidgeting

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:29:29 GMT

Stop fidgeting, as the teacher used to say in primary school. Be still and pay attention. And here I am 65 years later still trying to be still and stop fidgeting.

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November and the Preciousness of Life

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:01:04 GMT

This is part one of a two part reflection on the fundamental preliminary teaching in Tibetan Buddhism - The precious of human life. The second preliminary is that all actions have consequences. These two ideas together are the foundational ground of all teachings. And they make total sense in terms of the Christian remembrance of all souls in November. So I put the two together this week, and I've also made a plea for subscribers. If you get these podcasts on platforms where they are free, and you can afford to subscribe please go to Patreon.com/ Michael `Harding and make a subscription which will help the podcast continue and will also help those who can't afford to pay. You are supporting me, and you are supporting people who want to listen for free by your subscription. So thank you for that and enjoy the podcast.

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Nicodemus and the Spider

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:00:00 GMT

There's a spider that makes an appearance at the beginning of this, and it led me to think about non-violence, and by the end of the meditation I was back with Yeshua, and I'm particular that dark night when he was approached by Nicodemus, an affluent chap who had a few questions for the Rabbi. But in essence it's another meditation on being in the present moment and how religious practises, whether they be Christian or Buddhist or something else, have a propensity to generate happiness. I hope you like this small song in praise of religious faith on this the Feast of All Saints.

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Icons and Imprints in the month of November

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 18:39:10 GMT

The end of October is a midway point between the Autumn equinox and mid Winter. It's the beginning of our Celtic winter time. From now until St Brigid's day I wish you a journey of peace and joy and happiness. That you may find it all in the icons of your faith, the imprints of your loved ones that linger in your heart. There is no more wonderful time of year that this coming month of twilight and remembrance. I hope you enjoy

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Narratives that Divide

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 16:37:23 GMT

This was an important podcast and I was very pleased with it and dropped it last week, late on Friday night after doing a public event in Nenagh Arts Centre. But it seems I pressed a wrong button and dropped the previous podcast. So you've got the same podcast last Friday as went out the previous Friday. Someone of course brought it to my attention and I am grateful for that. (I'm not great on the technical side of things.) ........................so now.........here's the real podcast from last Friday. Hope you enjoy. Blessings. Michael.

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The book is launched

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 22:05:10 GMT

An amazing week for me, in Cork, Nenagh and next Tuesday in Galway, launching the book. I loved him from the day he died. And here is what is in my heart at this moment. I hope you enjoy.

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My sore tooth and a story about the general and the purification of you tube

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:52:24 GMT

My sore tooth and a story about the general and the purification of you tube

My sore tooth, the purification of the television, and how I nearly decapitated my teacher are all jumbled up here in an over excited author on the eve of the book launch. Hope you enjoy this meditation which is ultimately about actions and consequences, or karma as they say in Cavan, and hope you find a copy of the book next week in your bookshop.

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Whiskey, Underwear and the Cosmic Christ

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 08:46:34 GMT

I know it's a strange chain of thoughts but such are the ways of my mind. I drift from fun to a place of peace all the time, as simple as a berry falling into the pool. Because everything is the one thing. It's all gravity, or the love of electrons for what they are attached to. In this episode I talk at the latter end about the cosmos being like the murmuration of starlings. It's an idea I got from a monk who lived in the 3rd century. I forget his name but that too is ok. My new book is coming out on October 10. Stay with the podcast to keep up to date on events. Thanks for your support.

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Something very different today - the art of writing

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 17:04:38 GMT

I use some columns here to discuss what bits of craft I use to write. It's all about story and story is all about one sentence after another. So here I delve into the sentences, and the images, and it may all sound a bit mad, but then that's the storytellers craft. Whether you're into writing or reading or none of those, I still. hope you like it and enjoy the way I reveal how a column gets written every week for The Irish Times. Thanks for being here.

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Why would I say that religion still matters to me.

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 17:03:02 GMT

Why would I say that religion still matters to me. Why do I cling to religious faith. I've thought about these questions today. and happily I came up with some answers.

Find the door to the room where he lives. Find where the Presence that is beyond you is waiting for you. Religion is the boat, and it offers a passage way towards Transcendence for the mind.

Is it delusional or true or real. Who knows. But I'm my experience it brings me peace. And it feels very very human and natural.

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The Gates of the Convent, the Door of the Heart, and the Joy in the Shadows.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:45:32 GMT

I have a new book coming out in October. I was in Dublin recording the audio this week. And I was so busy with all those worldly things that I needed some quiet time. So did I find a convent door? No. It found me. Sometimes life happens. Things unfold. It's very reassuring.

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A very Still moment at the end of August

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:21:56 GMT

I'm in Clane on Saturday August 31 in the Suaimhneas Centre. Here's what they publicity people say -

Michael will come and speak to us about his life and work and all things faith, prayer and spirituality from his broad perspective.

The event will commence in The Suaimhneas Centre, Main Street, Clane at 10.30am and BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL.

So I thought I'd do a very quiet and slightly shorter reflection today, on the eve of the talk and maybe on Sunday I'll post a further report about how it went and what I talked about.

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The Upper Room

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 17:14:00 GMT

I'm enjoying working on these mediations in the days after easter, and will be walking the camino from Tui to Santiago between April 27 and May 5. What does it mean that I am here. What does it mean that you are here. What does it mean if the clock ticks or doesn't tick.

Let's explore that today. My walk on the Camino will coincide with the Orthodox period of Holy Week. Looking forward to it. Might send you random dispatches on the road.

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Good Friday

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 14:14:00 GMT

This is a day we carry with us. We can enter this moment at anytime of the day or season. Good Friday is a psychic space. And the core of it is Holy Thursday. Holy Thursday is a ritual that presents us with the architecture of heaven. The full realisation of divine light in a single moment, a single tiny ritual. That's the floor and ground of Good Friday. Taken together they are a marking of exquisite human truth and beauty. Use it like a well that we can return to again and again, especially in times of sorrow.

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Follow your heart. And trust the young

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:42:42 GMT

First there was the story of how I became a writer. And then the story of why I became a full time writer. And who were some of the people who really helped and changed my life by having confidence in me.

I didn’t believe I could even be a writer, so it’s amazing that I’m now in my 409th year of full time writing and still surviving.

But talking about how these two people changed my life by having confidence3 in me brought me to think of young people nowadays and

I just wanted to add something about young people. To say how I believe in them. How praising them works, even if they’re not quite doing what you want them to do. It’s. A matter of trusting in the future, that all will be well. And that is very like trusting in god.

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The Rosary - Yep, I think it needs a mention.

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:00:38 GMT

This could be the worst or best podcast I have ever done. I don’t know. Because it’s almost impossible to talk about this mystery of prayer. What is it. What is happening in prayer. Why is it different from meditation.

And yet for some reason I wanted to share this today. Maybe because I heard a story about Daniel O Donnell giving a rosary beads to Charlie Bird at the late late show. It was Daniel told it on radio during the week. And it just got me all excited about the Rosary and I thought I’d like to share my muddled thoughts with you.

So if it makes any sense to you that’s grand. And if not, don’t worry and be assured I’ll be onto more concrete territory next week. Next week I’ll be talking about Blindboy and Lough Derg.

One way or another thank you once again for being here, for being present, and have a special Patrick’s Day.

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Childhood Dreams and Trauma

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 14:02:09 GMT

Was at an amazing event, a beautiful evening last night, about mental well being and just wanted to share it. And I was in the middle of writing a piece about a man who had a great influence on me when I was young. so this morning I put both together to make this podcast which I'm very very happy to share with you.

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Granny, Pushkin, Hairdressers, and a herring in a fur coat

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:40:32 GMT

I see my granny watching television and me as a child thinking granny was on the television. But it was the pope. it's just that they looked like each other. He was a big fat face behind round spectacles. She was the same. He was on the screen. She was on the armchair. I'm a confused child.

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Old woman, dead pheasants and hovering hawk

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 18:35:55 GMT

A definition of shared faith. We're all loved. We're all right. We're all on the one road. The creed is a tai chi dance; it's not a collection of ideas. it's a necklace of mantras to shake the bones with joy.

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The Circuit Court, the Bell and embodiment.

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 18:31:17 GMT

I love the bell. I have a Tibetan bell in the room. I use it. a Chime comes out of it. A tingle that is so beautiful and it draws me into eternity.

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A buddhist practice for January

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 09:54:45 GMT

This is the third of three podcasts for Nollaig na mBan. And here is something extra special and personal. I'm sharing something about how I get through this part of the winter, and how I use both Christian and Buddhist faith to hold myself together. Christmas is the transformation of the universe and it can happen in me. That's where I begin, on Nollaig na mBan. But then in the buddhist bodhisattva dedication prayer I find a path towards action.

I go for refuge to the Buddha, The Dharma, The Sanga, until I am enlightened; and by the positive potential that I create by practising generosity and other far reaching attitudes, my I attain buddhahood not just for myself but in order to benefit other sentient beings.

Well you know it's only therapy if it works for you. And it's as simple as learning to sing. So happy new year. Soon we will get across the desert of January with wonderful surprises and find sustenance at the well of Brigid.

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The Piper and the Priest

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Just a spontaneous podcast as an extra for Nollaig na mBan. I got talking about a song, and that led me to the piper in the song and that led me to history, oppression, bardic poetry and the suppression of joy by the clergy. I know, I was rambling. But by the end of it I saw that I had a good shape of how to write a play. And glad to share it with you.

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Trump, the General, and the ATM machines

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 18:00:00 GMT

And loads more stories to end the Christmas Season and reflect on the new year coming.

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Happy 2024

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 08:41:32 GMT

I wanted to do something quiet and sleepy for these days in-between Christmas and New year, so I chose a meditation on Angels. It's a memory that I shared on Sunday Miscellaney for today. You'll get the recording on the RTE programme for this morning. But in this podcast I tried to delve deeper into the possibility of Angelic presence in my life. And in your life. It's a particularly lovely subject to reflect on at this time of change after the Solstice. The light in your life. The light in the sky. The light in a room in the morning. The light of angels. Thank you for being here, and looking forward to sharing January meditations and stories with you.

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In the wake of Shane MacGowan

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:59:31 GMT

A personal meditation on ancestors, and the silence of death, which I'm delighted to share with you on this special day. December 8.

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Snow in Poland, Carrots in Sligo and Mars on my computer.

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:19:44 GMT

All linked with the lovely metaphor of Christmas. it's darkness and midwinter coming, so defiantly we hold a light in our hearts. It's war but we hold to peace. Enjoy.

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Steeped in Ballyvourney Part 2

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:45:18 GMT

in the background you can hear the amazing music of the choir in Cuil Aodha, Ballyvourney. The CD Go mBeannaitear Dust is available from Gael Linn.

darThese musicians, and their director, Peadar O Riada are a gift to their church, community and society. Listening to their CDs all week I was moved deeply by the sense of the sacred in their work and it inspired me to do another meditation on Liturgy and communal prayer. I hope it brings you joy. And look out for the music of Peadar O Riada and the music of Cor Chuil Aodha

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Driving Home by the back of Errigal

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:11:10 GMT

Here is an introduction to the podcast this week. it's a kind of meditation on the meditation. But all will be clear when you listen, if you listen to this one first.

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Driving home by the back of Errigal

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 18:09:26 GMT

Here is an introduction to the podcast this week. it's a kind of meditation on the meditation. But all will be clear when you listen, if you listen to this one first.

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Steeped in Ballyvourney

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 11:31:37 GMT

Am living now in a kind of eternity, standing on the same ground that ancient monks stood on.

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St Clare Behind the Hedge

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 06:00:00 GMT

it's true. I was ten. And she spoke to me. But just one word.

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The Light of Heaven

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 17:07:00 GMT

This is part one of two. I'm must very focused now on the Christian thing that I thought I'd go after two big ideas. The first is heaven. Thinking like this is really helpful for the journey through grief. Love sharing it with you.

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Remembering a Neighbour

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 08:49:04 GMT

Thinking about a lovely woman who passed away got me reflecting on the great mystery of life and eternity, if there is such a thing. And dwelling on the loveliness of someone brings me to the conclusion that everyone is the buddha. Or the Beloved as Rumi might say. I hope you take pleasure from this memory

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The Joy Within

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 18:25:50 GMT

Decided not to put any notes with this one.

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The Angel Micheal

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 16:00:00 GMT

That happens to be today's marker; Feast of. And I live under his wings. So I was all excited again about how faith and myth are life rafts in a darkening world. How in life they have been my refuge. And how different faith words are houses of the same light.

And I was thinking too about Newgrange and Lough Crew, and all those ancient monuments that hold light in the darkness. We are told that their significance is enormous for science, and the precision with which ancient peoples understood astronomy. But there's something else happens there; in the darkness of winter when the light comes in. The chamber is filled with the glory of the sun. It fills the room. And that I think is what we're missing about such buildings. They were metaphors that tell us about the relationship between humans and gods.

We are houses of light.

So all those ideas were sitting there on my tongue and I couldn't resist sharing them. Hope you enjoy. (By the way I love the idea of using The Angel Michael as a title for something. A book maybe or a podcast. What you think?)

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Equinox Alert

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:00:00 GMT

How I love this time of year. The turning into the dark. And embracing the winter with a relaxed heart, a sense of being enfolded in tenderness. And it all begins with my cats, who invite me to cross the threshold, and let go for a while of my human cares. Hope you enjoy my meditations for this moment in time.

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Whistle, Sari, and John Moriarty

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 18:32:24 GMT

Here's a way of thinking about stories. Their memories. They bring people together. Then go deeper and they become your own mythic narrative. And that's when you realise that you are not telling the story. the story is telling you.

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Birr, Nostalgia, and Living in the moment.

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 16:55:26 GMT

Someone said we were having an Indian summer. I don't know why I associate that with all things Edwardian, but suddenly I thought of Birr, and a visit I made there ten years ago. So here goes. A light diversion for you on what is in Ireland an extraordinary day. But then every day is extraordinary.

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Mystical Theology

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 14:08:22 GMT

If you missed this about two weeks ago, then here's another chance to hear it. It's complex I suppose, but I'm only following the searingly luminous work of Vladimir. Losskya remarkable Russian theologian of the 20th century. Have a go at it and see does it work for you. This weeks audio will be available this evening as usual.

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Mary in Heaven

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 18:00:00 GMT

I love this time; Harvest. The cusp of Autumn. And I'm thinking not just of the great luminous mystery of Mary being assumed into heaven, of Mary going asleep in the Lord, all that stuff, but I'm reflecting here on the the other side of all that joy; the space where we feel abandoned.

So hope you enjoy. I'm putting up two podcasts this week, as I did last week, which will leave two weeks blank, but I will be posting intermittently between August 18 and 31 from the roads of Galicia as I walk the Camino. So I'll keep you in touch with that in the second half of August, and in the meantime I hope you enjoy last weeks double on Transfiguration and today's double on Mary in Heaven.

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Another Mary

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 17:00:00 GMT

This is the second half of Mary in Heaven. Sometimes festivals like the Assumption, which are so magnificent and replete in their joy send me in the opposite direction, just for contrast, to reflect on abandonment. And the belief that even in the darkest of times, the brightest moment is deeply buried. Be well. Look out for dispatches from the laneways of Galicia at the end of August as I walk the way towards Santiago.

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Angels and Transfiguration

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 16:37:53 GMT

Get ready for big ideas. I'm going to tackle two big things in August. Transfiguration and Assumption. And I'm doing two podcasts on both subjects. So this week there will be two meditations on the Transfiguration of Christ, a feast that falls on the 6th of August. For me both these feast days are very special and there is enormous riches in meditating on them even if your mind is as chaotic as mine. Don't expect coherence in these meditations. There is an intuitive link between one thing and the other. They circle the mystery. They are just pathways to bring me closer to experiencing the mystery. Enjoy. Two parts this week on the Transfiguration of Jesus. And next week two parts on the Going to Sleep of Mary

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Soul on the Streets

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 06:52:35 GMT

Good Morning Dear friends.

I suppose all life is an accident. All life is an encounter. All stories are acts of remembering. All remembering is best done in a spirit of gratitude.

So here's the last of the summer stories. August coming with lovely Christian festivals; Transfiguration, and Assumption. Crazy stories to play with, engage with and relish.

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On Tuesdays I'm a Buddhist

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 07:28:18 GMT

Tis shocking weather in Ireland this weekend. And Europe is so hot that there is no one who doesn't worry now about Climate Change. And if you missed a podcast last weekend you should find there are two this weekend. So I hope you enjoy.

For me, It's been a long and wonderful pathway, since I gave up using psychological language. Since I went back to the language of faith, which has poetic power for the storyteller.

Let me share some of that now.

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Talking To Strangers

Sat, 15 Jul 2023 07:25:15 GMT

And the story of how I found paradise in the hills above Lough Allen. I hope you can listen to the end and let me know what you think. To let go of the narrative of who you are, and go deeper.

Prayer is meditative alertness in which the cosmos becomes so real it begins to penetrate you. The pulse of reality before you behind you above you and below you is worth finding, and all you need to do is sit still. Then you've found paradise

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All the Things I didn't say last week

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 15:01:36 GMT

Wow! Is this an extra podcast for this week. Yes and no. It's last weeks podcast which some people didn't get, so I'm reposting it here. Hope you enjoy. I'll be reading more as the summer progresses from all the memoirs.

Staring at Lakes is next. Then Hanging with the Elephant. Talking to Strangers. On Tuesdays I'm a buddhist. Chest Pain. What is beautiful in the sky. And all the things left unsaid. Phew. Join me for a summer of memories.

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Thinking of a monk, on St John's eve.

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 14:57:47 GMT

It's about a Tibetan monk in Mongolia. That's from Staring at Lakes, and as promised the summer weeks are for readings from various memoirs. I'm starting to day with Staring at Lakes.

But this is much more as well. Please listen to the end, even though it's long, I think you'll enjoy, especially if you're in a relaxed and meditative mood.

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Enjoy Yourself; it's later than you think.

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 17:41:31 GMT

So here's something I wanted to share because it's the 9th of June, the feast of Colmcille, and for some reason I love the psychic energy of that monk.

He became a crucial part of my story in 2018 when I was dreaming of Donegal. And why the title?

Well it's what the cardiologist said to me when I survived the drama and escaped with only a stent. I asked him what I should do to keep healthy.

Enjoy yourself he said; it's later than you think.

That's the phrase this story ends with. It's an excerpt from the book Chest Pain and tells how I sought for a connection with Donegal just after having a heart attack in 2018. I'll read the second half in the next podcast tomorrow.

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The Blizzards - and the blizzard of love

Fri, 19 May 2023 16:58:35 GMT

A memory from 2022 and then into the meditation again. This is number three for this week. Listen in the morning. Maybe before 5am if you're able. And walk in the garden or down the street and kiss the dawn and let the blackbird rinse your ear and then this; just be here now. Relax. Enjoy. Have a great weekend.

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Walking Sticks and Candles

Fri, 19 May 2023 16:56:56 GMT

Just pretend you're up early and it's a may morning in Ireland and the may bush flower is full and the blackbirds are singing. Enjoy.

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Bees, Waking Early and Karma

Fri, 19 May 2023 16:55:30 GMT

This is a meditation for 6am in the morning in the month of May. I'm so glad to be here now. To be alive in this moment.

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Four walls and a room. And the Month of May Coming.

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 19:31:43 GMT

Oh how I love doing this podcast. Sending you this big long personal meditation on the eve of the month of May.

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A reflection on non-violence

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 20:06:11 GMT

So delighted to share this. A prayerful meditation I did early this morning in a hotel room in Limerick. I'm on the road touring with the show. You might need to have you eyes relaxed and be sitting in a meditative posture to enjoy it fully

On the other hand, it could help you fall asleep which would be a very good thing also.

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The Last Word on Good Friday

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 18:22:26 GMT

April 14 2023 is Good Friday in the Orthodox Tradition. It's given me a chance to say one final thing about this amazing day of reflection. And a chance to read another section from What is Beautiful in the Sky.

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Let Go; it's finished.

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 14:24:58 GMT

Whether it's your obsession, hobby, work, or relationships, Good Friday is the moment to let go. Something good opens up in the silence when we stop speaking. Leaping into the abyss of non being. Let go of all that you hold on to.

This is just for the small things. The grass cutting, the house cleaning, the burdens of improving your life. Stop. Let go. Be still. Listen. That's a Good Friday.

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Patricks Day; The Deer's Cry

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:11:20 GMT

Hope you like this meditation for the feast of Patrick. It's not that we have the truth in a text. But we do the truth in the way we live. Patrick sums up the embodiment of truth in his famous poem, the Deer's Cry.

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Feile Brigid Part 1

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 18:02:24 GMT

The universe as a multi causal flower opening from the heart of god. Meditation as the threshold beyond which is the peace of prayerful attention to the mystery of being. All this is best at dawn, sunset, or in seasonal terms, at the turn of each season. So here we are, at the turn, the beginning, the magnificent moment to embrace in the flowering of Spring the root of all being, the mindful singularity who whispers to us in the woodland and assures us of love, even in the darkest night. That's my Brigid, whether she be pagan or Christian or Buddhist deity. So blessings to you all and thank you for your support. Love ya.

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You can't control what happens in life.

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 18:06:00 GMT

Yes, and I'm so chaotic that I can't control what happens in podcasts. But here is another personal meditation on how surrender, and acceptance and confusion have been my life's journey. A plan for life is great, but sometimes just responding to what arises is also useful. Surrender, Ahimsa, Acceptance.

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A quick little podcast

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 18:59:50 GMT

Did this on the phone just to let you know what's happening. Had a hectic week, and beginning the huge adventure of touring with the book - starting tomorrow. But all this work led to some stress, and stress led to ...........well I'll explain on the phone message.

The main podcast for this weekend will be on the site before the weekend is over I hope. Blessings. Michael.

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White Privilege and Magical Thinking

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 06:00:00 GMT

A new theme here folks. By tracking through my adventures in India 25 years ago, I can dig deeper into the danger of magical thinking, and how we sometimes think we are exceptional in that God seems to care for us, while all around us is terrible suffering.

So let's dive into this reading from Staring at Lakes.

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Stories for the End of Time

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 17:55:47 GMT

Tomorrow is New Years eve so here's three more memories and some special reflections for this year; for New Years Eve of 2023. I'm looking forward to January, when I"ll be reflecting on new beginnings, and how to be comforted when the days of January are dark and melancholic.

Thank you for another wonderful year of blessings. And may your God bring you abundant more blessings in the year to come.

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White Horse Dark Night

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 17:22:42 GMT

Here's a few more stories and reflections from the years gone by, but here too is a reflection from the heart; my heart to your heart, which sums up for me everything I hold dear about the wonderful powerful mid winter festival of Christmas.

Hope it lifts you up and the you have a wonderful Christmas. Blessings. And thank you for your support during the year.

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Stories for Advent, week Two

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 10:01:14 GMT

Sometimes it's such a pleasure to be doing these stories for you. Time of year. Darkness and Christmas lights and the coming of the Solstice. But I know it's because I'm half healthy and grateful for health. So I hope you are well. And Please enjoy these winter stories; I think these four are my favourites from all the columns of the last six months. Enjoy.

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Long Life Prayer for the Dalai Lama

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 08:29:42 GMT

Yes, it's a prayer for the man himself. Enjoy.

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Getting ready for the Finale

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:00:00 GMT

It's the end of October, and to bring our Buddha Corner meditations to a close we have three special audio packages this weekend. This is the first. Prepare yourself for the unspeakable

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The General sells a pony at the Balinasloe horse fair

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 10:07:42 GMT

For full access to hundreds of podcasts please subscribe at Patreon.com

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Little Buddha Corner

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 18:00:00 GMT

Here is the final reflection on Lam Rim Tibetan Buddhist teachings. Thank you for your subscription on Patreon.com.

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Where the Podcast is going in October

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 08:16:25 GMT

New Audio will be available this evening. This is just to outline the kind of reflections and meditations that will be coming in October on a weekly basis. Hope you enjoy.

And the new book, ALL THE THINGS LEFT UNSAID is available to pre order at Easons and Hachette Ireland, and I'll be at the RED Line Festival in Dublin on October 16, with lots of radio and television interviews that week, so the podcast will keep you in touch when I'm on the road.

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From A Hotel Room

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 21:19:44 GMT

I'm delighted to share the madness. In a hotel room recording the audio version of the new book, and doing podcast that comes to the very edge of my faith. Bewilderment. Happy to share it. Mad as ever. Will talk more about it next week. Have a lovely weekend. Thank you for your support.

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All the Things Left Unsaid

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 18:08:22 GMT

Just got the final pdf today, and wanted to share it with you. Forgive my stumbling read. I hope you enjoy this flavour and the book is in the shops in October. I'll talk more about it later. Thanks for your support on Patreon.com

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Pudden Priest and Alice the Angel with a cow called Rabbit

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 06:00:00 GMT

A pudgy priest was in my childhood dark, and Alice was an angel on the ditch who had a cow called Rabbit. Yes this is my song about the value of confessing and confessions. The joy and liberation it is to accept one's failures and confess them to someone.

I have failed. I am forgiven. What could be more releasing.

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Finding Time

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 16:00:00 GMT

Another opportunity for me to sit back and just share my soul and heart and bewilderment. And then hope you enjoy. Because I'm just a storyteller. Blessings and have a great weekend.

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August 6th - part two.

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 18:00:00 GMT

And I'm not a philosopher. Just a storyteller. And this is just my take on the big ideas. My personal meditation on the wonder of being alive. And sending you love, and hope you're life goes well.

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A different take on faith. These are my personal reflections because it's my story.

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 04:46:08 GMT

This is part one for August 6, 2022. Very personal reflections on the beautiful journey from mindfulness to prayerfulness. I'm not a teacher. Just a storyteller. Enjoy

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Islam - August Bank Holiday Meditation

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 19:26:24 GMT

Much joy in bringing you this reflection. A horse that kicked the Virgin Mary in the tree, and the strimmer that lacerated the wee frog

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Drumshanbo, Birmingham, Islamabad

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 17:20:26 GMT

I love sharing stories from my columns. This podcast is part one, a kind of introduction to the big meditation on Islam. All to mark the Bank Holiday August. love this month.

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Men on their own.

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 18:00:38 GMT

Men on Their Own

Men on their own.mp3

Itchy feet, shaving things that ought not be shaved, and other unspeakable aspects of the solitary male.

This is just for fun, and to celebrate the coming of my new book, I thought I'd read from an earlier book, Hanging with the Elephant, opening section, and

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Say Sorry

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 16:03:37 GMT

So glad to share this. Simple practical idea, a practise in every faith tradition. It's called saying sorry. It's common sense.

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Silence !

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 11:10:33 GMT

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Silence.

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 18:00:00 GMT

Zen kind of topic for today's meditation. Hope you enjoy. Blessings. Michael

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Walking over the Cliff and the Lap of Hay

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 18:18:32 GMT

It's the 1st of July and I feel I'm in holiday mode. Following on from the art of memoir last week, I thought I'd read something special. Hope you like.

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The Art of Memoir

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT

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The Cosmic Flower

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 18:00:00 GMT

It's like a kiss. This moment. Cosmic Flower. You at the centre. Mentor deity being your lens to enter that otherness. Go over that threshold. Experience that kiss. It's a connection thing. it's poetry. It's love. So that's just one single thing for this week. The Cosmic Flower. And I also begin with reflections on my current column in The Irish Times. Hope you enjoy.

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The bathroom and the confession box; where I was locked in

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 19:00:00 GMT

I'm back. I've escaped. I"m here. if you're here too, please enjoy and then go to Patreon.com and subscribe. Please. An hour a week for the price of a coffee. Have a great weekend.

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The Blizzards.

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:04:49 GMT

Great fun. Have a listen. Go to Patreon and subscribe. Please.

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Dawkins as God

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:03:45 GMT

No, I don't agree with him. But I find it's useful to familiarise myself with his arguments. I can't be talking about God and avoid someone so distinguished who is asserting that God is a Delusion. But the thing is Dawkins has it upside down. I'm not a scholar but here's my reaction to him.

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Dawkins and a Donegal Beach

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 11:59:20 GMT

I'm back. Lots new stuff here if you missed any in the last four weeks; all will be published here in the coming days . .

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Is the world Real ?

Fri, 20 May 2022 17:47:12 GMT

It's my favourite theme for meditation and for life. What's real ? The surface or the depth; or both. Have a beautiful weekend.

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At the Ocean

Tue, 10 May 2022 17:59:04 GMT

As a companion to the Tuam podcast, which is very much a meditation on crucifixion I thought I'd share this with you; a joyful meditation by the shore of the ocean.

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Is it a lonely room or a room where you embody love

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 18:00:00 GMT

Love for who. And where does that start. Well it begins with the mentor Deity. I'm alone in the room and I use an icon or some Buddhist image to open and embody one side of the relationship. The other side is coming from the mysterious depths of time and space.

This is the dynamic of faith in a modern world. The art of faith. Embodying the relationship with a mentor deity with words and with gestures.

And by the way, in the last quarter of the podcast I got into what is called the Seven Limbed Prayer which is a fantastic and wonderful pattern of mind training in Buddhist Tibet. If you like this section I can do much more on it in a separate podcast. Let me know. and thank you for listening and have a great weekend.

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Mindfulness is not enough

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 07:10:00 GMT

It's the story that matters in the end. Surfing the time, is embodying the story. And sometimes meaning falls apart, and you just want to live in the joy of the day. Today, a new spring, equinox coming, blue skies over Lough Allen, and the inspiration that is coming from the courage of Ukraine. So many different things make us human. Please enjoy this rambling meditation on the cusp of the spring equinox. And have a lovely week end.

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The Art of Memoir Part one of Two

Sat, 26 Feb 2022 13:20:19 GMT

Make all practise one practise. How is writing a book or making a play the same as cooking the dinner or sitting in a church. How do all the diverse practises we have, become one single practise. And how can old age be a journey into bliss. Some of the questions that arise up in this meditation on my life as a writer.

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Telling Stories shows you who I am.

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 18:00:00 GMT

I wanted to do a reflection on the year of podcasting; what am I doing. Am I trying to say something or teach something or explain anything. No. I'm just telling stories. And I love it. I hope you do too.

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Seven Ghosts for Halloween

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 18:00:00 GMT

What is a ghost. Someone who has gone to the other world? Maybe. or maybe just an old friend that you always remember and who is a ghost in your life. In my life there are many people who were so pivotal that I call them guides. Moments of no consequence when I bumped up against someone and felt they had changed me; their presence altered how I thought about the universe. Some of them are still on earth and some of them are gone to the realm of all souls and saints. Those are my ghosts for this Haloween. I hope you enjoy meeting them.

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Meercats, Mother and Anachy Gordon

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 09:41:04 GMT

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The Flies, the Moon and Ryanair

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 16:36:49 GMT

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A quickie read from the book What is Beautiful in the Sky

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 15:40:45 GMT

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The General

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 08:54:39 GMT

Don't forget to find me on Patreon.com to subscribe and support the Michael Harding Podcast. Thanks

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Glangevlin; cherishing the memories

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 18:45:14 GMT

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The Wonders of Leitrim

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 13:57:11 GMT

To be up to date with weekly podcasts join subscribers at patreon.com

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John the Baptist, Bone Fire Night, and Sausages.

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 13:55:52 GMT

Join me on patreon.com and be a subscriber. Audio every week to get you through the day

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Jesus ascending like a poem by Rumi

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:21:28 GMT

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The Light in the Woods

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 14:19:55 GMT

The moment when my depression turned to hope

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The Accident of Faith.

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 20:17:19 GMT

For June 4.

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Listening to Waves. On the Beach.

Mon, 31 May 2021 18:16:16 GMT

June begins tomorrow. Today I am on the beach in Donegal. Listening to waves.

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Filling the Canvas; talking too much.

Thu, 27 May 2021 15:39:50 GMT

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Silence Completes Us

Thu, 27 May 2021 15:38:00 GMT

Find more on patreon.com

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Faith is opening the Heart

Thu, 27 May 2021 15:34:30 GMT

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It's May; a big long podcast for last weekend

Tue, 04 May 2021 14:26:30 GMT

Sorry if you missed this last weekend. Hope you enjoy.

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Love in Ballycotton, or near enough

Mon, 03 May 2021 11:11:07 GMT

May 1, 2021

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Fracking, Covid and other things will pass

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:27:08 GMT

More coming, but for full access go to Patreon.com.

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Lunch in Mullingar, Mother in Cavan, Trees in Leitrim

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 15:54:04 GMT

Best place to find the weekly podcast is on Patreon.com

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A show podcast on time passing

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 12:00:34 GMT

Chocolate for desert, fracking, and the impermanence of live. Living in Leitrim and growing in love as the body declines. Leitrim as a place of subtle and understated beauty.

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Like a Wet Rag

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 13:25:52 GMT

Here's an extra little reflection. it's in real time with long silences, and it just came to me suddenly this morning and I couldn't resist sharing it immediately. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. More audio next Friday.

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Good to be Home

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:03:09 GMT

`Yes I'm home and delighted, and thinking home and what it means to me. I have lived 25 years in the one place. `I lack experience of other places. But there's something very special about living in the same place for a long time, and watching the same view and the same trees and the same mountain, day after day for so many years.

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After Hospital

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 16:57:41 GMT

I'm just out of hospital. Two weeks, one operation, and I'm thrilled. it was a learning curve. To feel the sorrow at the surface, and yet the joy that kept me going in the heart. A story in here about the fiddler who had fairies dancing inside him when he played his music. And lots more.

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Good Friday in Hospital

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 14:07:12 GMT

Ah sure look! I've been two weeks in Beaumont so the podcasts are all over the place. Thank you for staying with it, and I'll be sorting out the audio posts in the next week or two and be back to normal. in the meantime here's another little secret dispatch from the hospital corridors. Happy Easter

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They're all languages

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:03:25 GMT

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The Cat in my Dream and the Clown in my Heart

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 14:06:37 GMT

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My Room

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 18:00:00 GMT

The story of my room. Building it and being in it. Do you have a room like this. Some corner of the earth where you are alone, and where you can write, make art, create, or just sit and stare at the world. Your room is my room. My room is your room. We're all in the one space. And it's timeless. Heaven is not elsewhere. Heaven is simply the way you inhabit the room.

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A professor dies and the fairies take my socks; Mythology the root of every story.

Sat, 02 May 2020 12:45:53 GMT

I'm just having fun sometimes, reflecting on memories of people. Here there's two men, each one lonely in different ways and there's a bit about fairies, and at the end, I tiny reflection on myth. Because I love the mythic nature of every story, especially in the ultimate stories about gods, goddesses and all the fairies. Have a great May. Look out for the hawthorn in a week or two.

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India

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 19:04:22 GMT

A little mediation on the silence of. India and in particular some memories of Mumbai and Juhu beach.

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John Moriarty

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 18:57:28 GMT

Remembering an extraordinary man. His books are published by Lilliput.

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The Lone Ranger in Mullingar

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 11:26:05 GMT

It wast halloween in Mullingar, and I was inside the door with the lights off.

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Phil Bernard, the great jazzman of Glangevlin

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 10:41:20 GMT

Many will still remember the extraordinary Phil Bernard. I met him in the mid seventies. And For all the Glangevlin people and West Cavan people around the globe, I thought I'd say a few words about him. So here it is. Thanks for listening. Thanks for being here.

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Mullingar; remembering the courthouse, the cinema, and boys with no maps; the hoodies.

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 15:16:04 GMT

Continuing a few reflections on Mullingar, when I first went there in 2006, here's a few words about life there. Just opposite the Mullingar Arts Centre is the Courthouse. I used to think there was an ironic contrast between the two; on the one hand, the Arts Centre was a theatre of music and joy. and across the road the Circuit Court provided a very different type of theatre for different audiences.

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What's a Michael Harding Podcast like

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 16:49:50 GMT

The answer is I don't know until I try it. But as a writer of books, plays and columns I've decided to have a go. I many not be very technically competent, and I have no plan, other than to share stories,

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Bumble Bee, and other issues.

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 14:49:53 GMT

Hello. Thanks for listening. Best Wishes. Michael.

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Remembering Mary McPartlan

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 11:31:32 GMT

This is a reflection from the studio this morning on what Easter means to me, and remembering an old friend Mary McPartlan who died recently.

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Episode 1 - Easter Monday. April 13th. My first podcast. Don't really understand the technology. But here goes.

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 17:59:10 GMT

Will post every Saturday, 20min audio podcast.

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