The Hidden Truth I Learned as a Monk About Teaching Mindfulness

When I first started teaching mindfulness, I thought I had to sound wise, calm, and enlightened — like a “real” teacher.

But one unexpected moment — in a tiny community room in Berkeley — changed everything I thought I knew about guiding others in mindfulness.

In this episode, I share the hidden truth I discovered after years living as a Buddhist monk in Thailand and training more than 30,000 mindfulness teachers around the world:that teaching mindfulness is actually much simpler than most of us realize.

You’ll hear:

🪶 The surprising moment that transformed the way I teach mindfulness

🪶 A profound lesson from my Thai Forest teacher that changed how I see presence

🪶 The biggest mistake new teachers make — and how to avoid it

🪶 Why your humanity and imperfection are your greatest teaching tools

If you’ve ever wondered, “Who am I to teach mindfulness?” — this episode is for you.By the end, you’ll see that mindfulness teaching isn’t about perfection… it’s about presence.

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About the Podcast Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life. Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work. Each episode offers a mix of: • Practical mindfulness and meditation teachings • Conversations with respected teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchers • Real-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregivers • Gentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or change Rather than chasing peak experiences or spiritual bypassing, this podcast emphasizes embodied practice, ethical teaching, and mindfulness that meets people where they are—messy, human, and alive. If you’re interested in: • Mindfulness meditation for everyday life • Trauma-sensitive and co...