The DPO Project

Honoring Time, By Master Zi and Vindesh

Death can be a great teacher.  Delving deep into the topic of life and death, Zi shares a meditation he learned from his time studying with the Yoga Sadhus in India.  Thinking about death could be the key to living life.  If you were to lose someone tomorrow, what might you say them?  Sharing the story of losing his brother, Zi opens up about how that event helped him to become more openhearted.  

Dwelling In Relationships, By Master Zi and Vindesh

 

As the quarantine continues, so does the global rise of divorce rates.  This week Zi and Vindesh discuss the relationship dynamics that this pandemic is revealing.  Now that we are no longer glued together by familiarity, we are facing challenges in some our closest relationships.  How do you manage a healthy dialogue with your partner with out compromising your own form of expression? Going into yourself and doing an honest assessment of your relationships is the hardest thing to do, but there can be harmony.  You can hear it when surrendering to the stillness.  The beginning is near.  

 

Our Feral Nature, By Master Zi and Vindesh

A few weeks in and we're still trying to make sense of this pandemic.  One day the dow is up, the next it plummets along with our plans and ideas to navigate this.  Many of us have had to readjust to the new normal.  Gratitude is an anchor in the chaos.  This week Zi and Vindesh discuss why mind is one thing worth controlling. 

 

 

The Reset, By Master Zi and Vindesh

It's been a few weeks since we have hit the reset button.  Still under quarantine, we have had to cancel travel plans, events to celebrate life's milestones, and our entitlement to think we were guaranteed those things.  Time is an endless taskmaster, but for now in this moment, we get a second to pause.  Zi and Vindesh discuss what we are gaining collectively through this pandemic.  They explore the practical ways to navigate the "new" normal.  

Critical Thinking, By Master Zi and Vindesh

Continuing the conversation of the world's response to COVID-19, Zi and Vindesh question the cost of herd mentality.  Special guest David Nik joins the podcast and discusses how martial arts philosophies are a good tool in developing critical thinking skills.  As a society, we've thrown critical thinking out of the window.  This is still an opportunity.  With objective analysis of any situation, solutions can be found as long as we don't take them for granted.  

Pathology of a Pandemic, by Vindesh and Master Zi

Don't let a good crisis go to waste.  This week Zi and Vindesh dive deep into the pathology of pandemics and how the cultural landscape has become a ground zero for viral rumors.  The response to COVID-19 is like a dress rehearsal for when another mass event occurs.  So this is an opportunity.  It's an opportunity to step back and assess our resources, relationships, and mental health.  Self-care is a term used a lot in the wellness world, and Zi discusses the benefits of looking after yourself first.  

The Madness of the Crowds, By Master Zi and Vindesh

We've set ourselves up for this. Being disconnected from nature and shifting narratives to support our individualistic perspective of the world has not been sustainable. Zi and Vindesh break down the signs and patterns in our society that have led to the madness of the crowds. Normalizing unhealthy behavior has compromised our immune systems. Zi describes techniques to improve your immunity as well as your mental wellbeing.

Being Offended, Part 2 by Vindesh and Master Zi

We all understand there can be consequences to our speech, but not every offense is an assault.  Without contemplation and humility, we lose opportunities to better ourselves.  Seeking knowledge becomes arduous if it does not meet our expectations.  Zi and Vindesh discuss the difference between an offense and a threat.  Accept that people may you see in the way you don't see yourself. The irony of the current cultural landscape is in our attempts to not offend others, we suppress ourselves.  

Being Offended, by Vindesh and Master Zi

 

On this episode of a two part series, Zi and Vindesh discuss what it means to be offended.  One word too far in a performance, and a comedian is no longer booked.  The professor treads politics in order to avoid getting fired.  Our words become lawsuits held against us, but what is really behind offensiveness? Zi talks about coming to terms with yourself and observing what happens when you feel offended.  When we have no challenges to overcome, everything becomes too hard.  

The more you seek comfort, the more elusive comfort becomes.

 

Duty, by Vindesh and Master Zi

Words are powerful, malleable, and are modified each generation.  When we think of duty or being of service, we immediately feel burdened and tasked with too much responsibility.  It's not my job.  I don't feel like it.  I'll do it when I'm in the mood.  This narrative begins to impact every area of our life.  Our biggest responsibility is to be dutiful to ourselves, so that we can nourish our relationships.  When we extend our efforts to people without expectations, we are in alignment with the nature of life.  Seasons come and go, but we remain.  Duty is something you do mindfully and in exchange you achieve the life you want.