Podcasts about asanga

Rose Rouse is the editor of the social enterprise Advantages of Age and Now magazine on Substack, which we founded together back in 2016 to challenge the media narrative around ageing. She also happens to be one of my good friends.We share many of the same views on ageing, believing that getting older doesn't mean being "past it." We both enjoy wearing flowers in our hair from time to time, shopping sustainably, exploring out-of-the-way places, and generally being curious about life.However, when it comes to relationships, we're quite literally miles apart. I prefer the men I'm involved with to be within a 30-minute to one-hour proximity, while Rose has been in a decade-long relationship with a man who lives about six hours away. I'm not very monogamous, whereas she is deeply monogamous.I thought it would be fun to explore what it's like to have a "living together apart" (LTA) relationship and how Rose has managed to make it work for so long—especially when health issues arise, for example. We ended up diving deep into the topic, so much so that by the end she said to me, “And we didn't even get to the sex part!”That's true—we didn't. So, I suspect we'll have to revisit that in another episode. (I try to stick to 30 minutes to keep things engaging and prevent boredom from setting in.)You can follow and subscribe to Rose's own Substack, thespirited70something.00:00 Introduction to Unique Relationships01:12 The Beginning of Rose and Asanga's Journey06:19 Maintaining Emotional Connection11:22 Balancing Independence and Commitment15:06 Celebrating a Decade Together19:38 Navigating Aging and Future Challenges24:04 Family Dynamics and Relationship Growth25:11 Mature Love and Personal Growth27:24 The Decision to Share a Bed30:54 Conclusion and Future PossibilitiesThousands of people are finally talking about intimacy, desire and pleasure without shame. Join them - subscribe now and you'll receive my freebie - Top 10 Overlooked Secrets to Better Sex.If you'd like access to exclusive features like personal posts, my upcoming guide Getting Started with Sex Toys, a chat room, direct messaging for your burning questions, and Substack Live sessions with expert guests, consider becoming a paid subscriber!Annual membership is just £49.99 (a better deal than £9.99/month) and supports the work behind creating weekly podcasts, managing social media, collaborating with health professionals, and producing valuable resources. This isn't just a hobby—it's my passion and profession.Your subscription helps empower older individuals to feel sexually confident and access tools for pain-free, pleasurable intimacy.What others are saying:"I just finished listening to your podcast! I felt like I was sitting around the dinner table with friends, finally able to talk about what no one else does."“First of all, let me tell you how awesome I think you are and how valuable I think your Substack is.”“Your work is one of my new found joys. Thank you.” Get full access to Sex Advice for Seniors at www.sexadviceforseniors.com/subscribe

El Discípulo Maitripa Maitripa es una figura importante tanto en el budismo mahayanacomo en el vajrayana . Es a través de él que el trabajo crucial de Maitreya y Asanga sobre la naturaleza de Buda, el Uttara Tantra Shastra, fue ampliamente seguido en el Tíbet . También transmitió el aspecto esotérico de la naturaleza de Buda, encarnado en las enseñanzas del mahamudra, que tratan el tema de la mente con gran detalle y proporcionan una amplia gama de meditaciones progresivas y altamente refinadas. Fue llevado a su propia iluminación a través de mahamudra bajo Savari y, lo más importante, se convirtió en el gurú de Marpa, el antepasado tibetano del linaje Kagyu, y de Khyungpo Naljor, el fundador del linaje Shangpa. Se dice que había sido alumno de Naropa, cuando este último era director de la universidad monástica de Nalanda. Más tarde pasó un tiempo en Vikramasila, que disfrutaba de su cenit de fama . El gran Atisa fue su jefe de disciplina. A pesar de conocer la preeminencia de Maitripa como erudito y yogui, se vio obligado a expulsarlo cuando sus actividades yóguicas, relacionadas con el alcohol y una mujer; provocaron chismes.. Dominemos la explicación …

The Abhidharmakośabhāṣya (Treasury of Metaphysics with Self-Commentary) is a pivotal treatise on early Buddhist thought composed around the 4th or 5th century by the Indian Buddhist philosopher Vasubandhu. This work is a complete and systematic account of the Abhidharma, and is the peak of scholarship in the Fundamental Vehicle. It elucidates the Buddha's teachings as synthesized and interpreted by the early Buddhist Sarvāstivāda school. Vasubandhu (4th to 5th century CE) was an influential Buddhist monk and scholar from Gandhara or Central India. He was a philosopher who wrote commentary on the Abhidharma, from the perspectives of the Sarvastivada and Sautrāntika schools. After his conversion to Mahayana Buddhism, along with his half-brother, Asanga, he was also one of the main founders of the Yogacara school. Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakośakārikā ("Commentary on the Treasury of the Abhidharma") is widely used in Tibetan and East Asian Buddhism, as the major source for non-Mahayana Abhidharma philosophy. Vasubandhu is one of the most influential thinkers in the Indian Buddhist philosophical tradition. Because of their association with Nalanda university, Vasubandhu and Asanga are amongst the so-called Seventeen Nalanda Masters. In Jōdo Shinshū, he is considered the Second Patriarch; in Chan Buddhism, he is the 21st Patriarch.

Bright on Buddhism - Rhinoceros Sutra - Join us as we read and discuss the Khaggavisana Sutta, also known as the Rhinoceros Sutra. Resources: https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/StNp/StNp1_3.html; Rahula, Walpola; Asanga (2001). Abhidharma Samuccaya: The Compendium of Higher Teaching. Jain Publishing Company. pp. 199–200. ISBN 978-0895819413.; Salomon, Richard G.; Glass, Andrew (2000). A Gāndhārī Version of the Rhinoceros Sūtra: British Library Kharoṣṭhī Fragment 5B. University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-98035-5.; Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997). "Sutta Nipata I.3, Khaggavisana Sutta: A Rhinoceros Horn". Retrieved April 14, 2015.; Jones, DT (2014). "Like the Rhinoceros, or Like Its Horn? The Problem of Khaggavisāṇa Revisited". Buddhist Studies Review. 31 (2): 165–178. doi:10.1558/bsrv.v31i2.165. S2CID 56273378.; Norman, KR (1996). "Solitary as Rhinoceros Horn". Buddhist Studies Review. 13 (2): 133–142. doi:10.1558/bsrv.v13.i2.8762 Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by tweeting to us @BrightBuddhism, emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com, or joining us on our discord server, Hidden Sangha ⁠https://discord.gg/tEwcVpu⁠! Credits: Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brightonbuddhism/message

J.R. Jayewardene served as prime minister and then president of Sri Lanka between 1977 and 1989. Sri Lankan history, politics and society is dominated by tensions between two ethnic groups. Ethnic divisions are intrinsic to countless countries, including many covered on this podcast before. The key question the Sri Lankan experience raises though is this: in stoking ethnic tensions, what is more important: how the government works, or who runs it?Today's subject demonstrates that in the case of Sri Lanka, the latter is true. During his presidency, J.R. presided over the so called Black July riots, which saw the deaths of 5000 Tamils in a single month. But even when he saw the results of leaning into ethnic division - and there was evidence of the results of doing so long before Black July- he wasn't compelled to stop. For this reason, J.R might hold greater responsibility for Sri Lanka's ethnic strife and ensuing civil war than any other Sri Lankan. My guest today is Dr. Asanga Welikala. Primarily focusing on constitutional theory and commonwealth constitutional history, Asanga is a lecturer in public law at the University of Edinburgh School of Law. He is also a Research Associate of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. 

Through engaging, contemporary examples, Making Sense of Mind Only: Why Yogacara Buddhism Matters (Wisdom Publications, 2023) reveals the Yogacara school of Indian Buddhism as a coherent system of ideas and practices for the path to liberation, contextualizing its key texts and rendering them accessible and relevant. The Yogacara, or Yoga Practice, school is one of the two schools of Mahayana Buddhism that developed in the early centuries of the common era. Though it arose in India, Mahayana Buddhism now flourishes in China, Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. While the other major Mahayana tradition, the Madhyamaka (Middle Way), focuses on the concept of emptiness—that all phenomena lack an intrinsic essence—the Yogacara school focuses on the cognitive processes whereby we impute such essences. Through everyday examples and analogues in cognitive science, author William Waldron makes Yogacara's core teachings—on the three turnings of the Dharma wheel, the three natures, the storehouse consciousness, and mere perception—accessible to a broad audience. In contrast to the common characterization of Yogacara as philosophical idealism, Waldron presents Yogacara Buddhism on its own terms, as a coherent system of ideas and practices, with dependent arising its guiding principle.  The first half of Making Sense of Mind Only explores the historical context for Yogacara's development. Waldron examines early Buddhist texts that show how our affective and cognitive processes shape the way objects and worlds appear to us, and how we erroneously grasp onto them as essentially real—perpetuating the habits that bind us to samsara. He then analyzes the early Madhyamaka critique of essences.  This context sets the stage for the book's second half, an examination of how Yogacara texts such as the Samdhinirmocana Sutra and Asanga's Stages of Yogic Practice (Yogacarabhumi) build upon these earlier ideas by arguing that our constructive processes also occur unconsciously. Not only do we collectively, yet mostly unknowingly, construct shared realities or cultures, our shared worlds are also mediated through the storehouse consciousness (alayavijñana) functioning as a cultural unconscious. Vasubandhu's Twenty Verses argues that we can learn to recognize such objects and worlds as “mere perceptions” (vijñaptimatra) and thereby abandon our enchantment with the products of our own cognitive processes. Finally, Maitreya's Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Ultimate Nature (Dharmadharmatavibhaga) elegantly lays out the Mahayana path to this transformation. In Waldron's hands, Yogacara is no mere view but a practical system of transformation. His presentation of its key texts and ideas illuminates how religion can remain urgent and vital in our scientific and pluralistic age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Through engaging, contemporary examples, Making Sense of Mind Only: Why Yogacara Buddhism Matters (Wisdom Publications, 2023) reveals the Yogacara school of Indian Buddhism as a coherent system of ideas and practices for the path to liberation, contextualizing its key texts and rendering them accessible and relevant. The Yogacara, or Yoga Practice, school is one of the two schools of Mahayana Buddhism that developed in the early centuries of the common era. Though it arose in India, Mahayana Buddhism now flourishes in China, Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. While the other major Mahayana tradition, the Madhyamaka (Middle Way), focuses on the concept of emptiness—that all phenomena lack an intrinsic essence—the Yogacara school focuses on the cognitive processes whereby we impute such essences. Through everyday examples and analogues in cognitive science, author William Waldron makes Yogacara's core teachings—on the three turnings of the Dharma wheel, the three natures, the storehouse consciousness, and mere perception—accessible to a broad audience. In contrast to the common characterization of Yogacara as philosophical idealism, Waldron presents Yogacara Buddhism on its own terms, as a coherent system of ideas and practices, with dependent arising its guiding principle.  The first half of Making Sense of Mind Only explores the historical context for Yogacara's development. Waldron examines early Buddhist texts that show how our affective and cognitive processes shape the way objects and worlds appear to us, and how we erroneously grasp onto them as essentially real—perpetuating the habits that bind us to samsara. He then analyzes the early Madhyamaka critique of essences.  This context sets the stage for the book's second half, an examination of how Yogacara texts such as the Samdhinirmocana Sutra and Asanga's Stages of Yogic Practice (Yogacarabhumi) build upon these earlier ideas by arguing that our constructive processes also occur unconsciously. Not only do we collectively, yet mostly unknowingly, construct shared realities or cultures, our shared worlds are also mediated through the storehouse consciousness (alayavijñana) functioning as a cultural unconscious. Vasubandhu's Twenty Verses argues that we can learn to recognize such objects and worlds as “mere perceptions” (vijñaptimatra) and thereby abandon our enchantment with the products of our own cognitive processes. Finally, Maitreya's Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Ultimate Nature (Dharmadharmatavibhaga) elegantly lays out the Mahayana path to this transformation. In Waldron's hands, Yogacara is no mere view but a practical system of transformation. His presentation of its key texts and ideas illuminates how religion can remain urgent and vital in our scientific and pluralistic age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies

Through engaging, contemporary examples, Making Sense of Mind Only: Why Yogacara Buddhism Matters (Wisdom Publications, 2023) reveals the Yogacara school of Indian Buddhism as a coherent system of ideas and practices for the path to liberation, contextualizing its key texts and rendering them accessible and relevant. The Yogacara, or Yoga Practice, school is one of the two schools of Mahayana Buddhism that developed in the early centuries of the common era. Though it arose in India, Mahayana Buddhism now flourishes in China, Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. While the other major Mahayana tradition, the Madhyamaka (Middle Way), focuses on the concept of emptiness—that all phenomena lack an intrinsic essence—the Yogacara school focuses on the cognitive processes whereby we impute such essences. Through everyday examples and analogues in cognitive science, author William Waldron makes Yogacara's core teachings—on the three turnings of the Dharma wheel, the three natures, the storehouse consciousness, and mere perception—accessible to a broad audience. In contrast to the common characterization of Yogacara as philosophical idealism, Waldron presents Yogacara Buddhism on its own terms, as a coherent system of ideas and practices, with dependent arising its guiding principle.  The first half of Making Sense of Mind Only explores the historical context for Yogacara's development. Waldron examines early Buddhist texts that show how our affective and cognitive processes shape the way objects and worlds appear to us, and how we erroneously grasp onto them as essentially real—perpetuating the habits that bind us to samsara. He then analyzes the early Madhyamaka critique of essences.  This context sets the stage for the book's second half, an examination of how Yogacara texts such as the Samdhinirmocana Sutra and Asanga's Stages of Yogic Practice (Yogacarabhumi) build upon these earlier ideas by arguing that our constructive processes also occur unconsciously. Not only do we collectively, yet mostly unknowingly, construct shared realities or cultures, our shared worlds are also mediated through the storehouse consciousness (alayavijñana) functioning as a cultural unconscious. Vasubandhu's Twenty Verses argues that we can learn to recognize such objects and worlds as “mere perceptions” (vijñaptimatra) and thereby abandon our enchantment with the products of our own cognitive processes. Finally, Maitreya's Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Ultimate Nature (Dharmadharmatavibhaga) elegantly lays out the Mahayana path to this transformation. In Waldron's hands, Yogacara is no mere view but a practical system of transformation. His presentation of its key texts and ideas illuminates how religion can remain urgent and vital in our scientific and pluralistic age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

Through engaging, contemporary examples, Making Sense of Mind Only: Why Yogacara Buddhism Matters (Wisdom Publications, 2023) reveals the Yogacara school of Indian Buddhism as a coherent system of ideas and practices for the path to liberation, contextualizing its key texts and rendering them accessible and relevant. The Yogacara, or Yoga Practice, school is one of the two schools of Mahayana Buddhism that developed in the early centuries of the common era. Though it arose in India, Mahayana Buddhism now flourishes in China, Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. While the other major Mahayana tradition, the Madhyamaka (Middle Way), focuses on the concept of emptiness—that all phenomena lack an intrinsic essence—the Yogacara school focuses on the cognitive processes whereby we impute such essences. Through everyday examples and analogues in cognitive science, author William Waldron makes Yogacara's core teachings—on the three turnings of the Dharma wheel, the three natures, the storehouse consciousness, and mere perception—accessible to a broad audience. In contrast to the common characterization of Yogacara as philosophical idealism, Waldron presents Yogacara Buddhism on its own terms, as a coherent system of ideas and practices, with dependent arising its guiding principle.  The first half of Making Sense of Mind Only explores the historical context for Yogacara's development. Waldron examines early Buddhist texts that show how our affective and cognitive processes shape the way objects and worlds appear to us, and how we erroneously grasp onto them as essentially real—perpetuating the habits that bind us to samsara. He then analyzes the early Madhyamaka critique of essences.  This context sets the stage for the book's second half, an examination of how Yogacara texts such as the Samdhinirmocana Sutra and Asanga's Stages of Yogic Practice (Yogacarabhumi) build upon these earlier ideas by arguing that our constructive processes also occur unconsciously. Not only do we collectively, yet mostly unknowingly, construct shared realities or cultures, our shared worlds are also mediated through the storehouse consciousness (alayavijñana) functioning as a cultural unconscious. Vasubandhu's Twenty Verses argues that we can learn to recognize such objects and worlds as “mere perceptions” (vijñaptimatra) and thereby abandon our enchantment with the products of our own cognitive processes. Finally, Maitreya's Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Ultimate Nature (Dharmadharmatavibhaga) elegantly lays out the Mahayana path to this transformation. In Waldron's hands, Yogacara is no mere view but a practical system of transformation. His presentation of its key texts and ideas illuminates how religion can remain urgent and vital in our scientific and pluralistic age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

Through engaging, contemporary examples, Making Sense of Mind Only: Why Yogacara Buddhism Matters (Wisdom Publications, 2023) reveals the Yogacara school of Indian Buddhism as a coherent system of ideas and practices for the path to liberation, contextualizing its key texts and rendering them accessible and relevant. The Yogacara, or Yoga Practice, school is one of the two schools of Mahayana Buddhism that developed in the early centuries of the common era. Though it arose in India, Mahayana Buddhism now flourishes in China, Tibet, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. While the other major Mahayana tradition, the Madhyamaka (Middle Way), focuses on the concept of emptiness—that all phenomena lack an intrinsic essence—the Yogacara school focuses on the cognitive processes whereby we impute such essences. Through everyday examples and analogues in cognitive science, author William Waldron makes Yogacara's core teachings—on the three turnings of the Dharma wheel, the three natures, the storehouse consciousness, and mere perception—accessible to a broad audience. In contrast to the common characterization of Yogacara as philosophical idealism, Waldron presents Yogacara Buddhism on its own terms, as a coherent system of ideas and practices, with dependent arising its guiding principle.  The first half of Making Sense of Mind Only explores the historical context for Yogacara's development. Waldron examines early Buddhist texts that show how our affective and cognitive processes shape the way objects and worlds appear to us, and how we erroneously grasp onto them as essentially real—perpetuating the habits that bind us to samsara. He then analyzes the early Madhyamaka critique of essences.  This context sets the stage for the book's second half, an examination of how Yogacara texts such as the Samdhinirmocana Sutra and Asanga's Stages of Yogic Practice (Yogacarabhumi) build upon these earlier ideas by arguing that our constructive processes also occur unconsciously. Not only do we collectively, yet mostly unknowingly, construct shared realities or cultures, our shared worlds are also mediated through the storehouse consciousness (alayavijñana) functioning as a cultural unconscious. Vasubandhu's Twenty Verses argues that we can learn to recognize such objects and worlds as “mere perceptions” (vijñaptimatra) and thereby abandon our enchantment with the products of our own cognitive processes. Finally, Maitreya's Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Ultimate Nature (Dharmadharmatavibhaga) elegantly lays out the Mahayana path to this transformation. In Waldron's hands, Yogacara is no mere view but a practical system of transformation. His presentation of its key texts and ideas illuminates how religion can remain urgent and vital in our scientific and pluralistic age. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Bright on Buddhism Episode 82 - What are the paramitas in Buddhism? How ought one cultivate them? How do understandings of them change over time? Resources: Bodhi, Bhikkhu (1978). The All-Embracing Net of Views. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.; Bodhi, Bhikkhu (ed.) (1978, 2005). Lopez, Donald S. Jr. (1988). The Heart Sutra Explained: Indian and Tibetan Commentaries. SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-88706-589-7.; Cantegreil, Mathieu; Chanana, Dweep; Kattumuri, Ruth, eds. (2013). Revealing Indian Philanthropy (PDF). Alliance Publishing Trust. ISBN 9781907376191. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2023-07-05.; Bodhi, Bhikkhu (2000). The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Saṃyutta Nikāya. Somerville, Mass.: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-331-1.; A Chanting Guide. Dhammayut Order in the United States of America. 1994. Archived from the original on 2009-03-06.; Nandisena, Bhikkhu (2000). "Khantivadi Jataka". El Centro Mexicano del Buddhismo Theravada. J 313. Archived from the original on 2000-06-21. Retrieved 2007-07-08.; Cowell, E.B., ed. (2006) [1895]. The Jātaka or Stories of the Buddha's Former Births. Vol. II. Translated by Rouse, W.H.D. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.; "Kakacupama Sutta: The Simile of the Saw (excerpt)". Access to Insight. Translated by Thanissaro, Bhikkhu. 1997c. MN 21. Retrieved 3 Jul 2007.; Federman, Asaf (2009), "Literal means and hidden meanings: a new analysis of skillful means" (PDF), Philosophy East and West, 59 (2): 125–141, doi:10.1353/pew.0.0050, S2CID 574336; Matsunaga, Daigan and Alicia (1974). The concept of upāya in Mahāyāna Buddhist philosophy, Japanese Journal of Buddhist Studies 1 (1), 51–72; Pye, Michael (1978). Skilful Means - A concept in Mahayana Buddhism. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-7156-1266-2; Snellgrove, David (1987). Indo-Tibetan Buddhism: Indian Buddhists & Their Tibetan Successors (2 volumes). Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Shambhala Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-87773-311-2 (v. 1) & ISBN 0-87773-379-1 (v. 2); Schroeder, John (2001) Skillful Means: The Heart of Buddhist Compassion. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-2442-3; Tatz, M., trans. (1994). The Skill in Means (Upayakausalya) Sutra. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass; Blo-gros-mthaʼ-yas, Koṅ-sprul; Taye, Lodro; Rinpoche, Bokar (2003). Śes bya mthaʼ yas paʼi rgya mtsho [Complete Explanation of the Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva and Vajrayana Vows – Buddhist Ethics]. Treasury of Knowledge. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications. ISBN 1-55939-191-X. OCLC 52906881.; Panchen, Ngari; Gyalpo, Pema Wangyi; Rinpoche, Dudjom (1996). Sdom gsum rnam ṅes [Perfect Conduct: Ascertaining the Three Vows]. Translated by Gyurme Samdrub; Sangye Khandro. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-083-6. OCLC 34669418.; Rinpoche, Bokar (1997). Vœu de Bodhisattva [Taking the Bodhisattva Vow]. Translated by Christiane Buchet. San Francisco: ClearPoint Press. ISBN 978-0-9630371-8-3. OCLC 42015705.; Rinchen, Sonam; Chandragomin (2000). Sonam, Ruth (ed.). Bodhisattvasaṃvaraviṃśaka [The Bodhisattva Vow]. Translated by Ruth Sonam. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications. ISBN 1-55939-150-2. OCLC 44026191.; Tson-Kha-Pa (1986). Asanga's Chapter on Ethics, with the Commentary of Tsong-Kha-Pa: The Basic Path to Awakening – The Complete Bodhisattva. Translated by Mark Tatz. Lewiston: Edwin Mellen Press. ISBN 0-88946-054-X. OCLC 605654078 Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by tweeting to us @BrightBuddhism, emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com, or joining us on our discord server, Hidden Sangha https://discord.gg/tEwcVpu! Credits: Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brightonbuddhism/message

This week on the Mindrolling Podcast, contemplative scientist Cortland Dahl and Raghu Markus discuss the Tibetan Buddhist perspective of a healthy mind and how to transition from rumination to exploration.In this conversation, Cortland Dahl and Raghu chat about:Cortland Dahl's journey to mindfulness practiceYongey Mingyur Rinpoche and loving the worldBeing Human, meditation, and coping with anxietyEmbracing and Exploring the nature of our mindsLanguage Immersion and translating Tibetan textsThe story of Asanga and the Buddha NatureTransformation through compassionate actionWise-selfishness and looking at our motivationsTurning the narrative mind into a new directionGamma Oscillations and the ‘aha' momentThe practice of non-referential compassionIntersections between science and mindfulnessLinks & Recommendations From this Episode:Raghu and Cortland talk about the book: In Love with the World: A Monk's Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying by Yongey Mingyur RinpocheLearn more about Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on Tergar.orgCheck out The Center for Healthy Minds and discover the fusion of science and mindfulnessDownload the Healthy Minds app for a guide to well-beingWhy We Meditate by Daniel Goleman and Tsoknyi RinpocheAbout Cortland Dahl:Cortland is interested in exploring the interface between the body, mind and brain, and especially in the question of how various forms of meditation may help us cultivate positive qualities like mindfulness, compassion and resilience. His current work focuses on studying the psychological and neural mechanisms of different families of meditation practice. He is also the creator of the Healthy Minds program, a well-being training program that integrates insights from scientific research with a comprehensive path of contemplative training.Cortland has an eclectic background and has spent years studying and practicing meditation in Asia, including eight years living in Tibetan refugee settlements in India and Nepal. He has published numerous collections of translations of classic works on meditation and Buddhist philosophy from the Tibetan tradition. In addition to his work with the Center, Cortland is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Tergar International, a global network of meditation groups and centers.Learn more at hminnovations.org“Instead of ruminating about our stressful day, we're exploring the dynamics of our inner experience; and we just start to discover things the were always there, but we just hadn't seen. The narrative and the conditioning just hadn't been directed in that way.” – Cortland DahlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bright on Buddhism Episode 67 - What are the Pratyekabuddhas? What is their status in the canon? How ought we understand them? Resources: Kloppenborg, Ria (1974). The Paccekabuddha: A Buddhist Ascetic, Brill, Leiden, Netherlands; Anālayo, B. (2010). Paccekabuddhas in the Isigili-sutta and its Ekottarika-àgama Parallel, Canadian Journal of Buddhist Studies 6, 5-36; The Paccekabuddha: A Buddhist Ascetic A Study of the Concept of the Paccekabuddha in Pali Canonical and Commentarial Literature by Ria Kloppenborg; Solitary & silenced is the Pacceka-Buddha! by Samahita Thera @ What-Buddha-Said.net; Pacceka Buddha in Dictionary of Pali Proper Names; Piyadassi Thera (1999–2012), MN 116: Isigili Sutta "The Discourse at Isigili", as published on Access to Insight; Perrett, Roy W. “The Bodhisattva Paradox.” Philosophy East and West 36, no. 1 (1986): 55–59. https://doi.org/10.2307/1398508.; GRANOFF, PHYLLIS. “THE MIRACLE OF A HAGIOGRAPHY WITHOUT MIRACLES: SOME COMMENTS ON THE JAIN LIVES OF THE PRATYEKABUDDHA KARAKAṆḌA.” Journal of Indian Philosophy 14, no. 4 (1986): 389–403. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23445493.; Buswell, Robert E., ed. 2004. Encyclopedia of Buddhism. New York: Macmillan Reference, USA.; "pratyekabuddha." In The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, edited by Robert E. Jr. Buswell, and Donald S. Jr. Lopez. Princeton University Press, 2013. https://proxy2.library.illinois.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/prdb/pratyekabuddha/0?institutionId=386; Nakamura, Hajime. Indian Buddhism: A Survey With Bibliographical Notes. 1999. p. 189; Charles Eliot, Hinduism and Buddhism, 3 Volumes, London, 1922, I 344–5 "Pacceka Buddha".; Kloppenborg , Ria (1983). The Paccekabuddha: A Buddhist Ascetic A Study of the Concept of the Paccekabuddha in Pali Canonical and Commentarial Literature, The Wheel Publication No. 305–7, Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society; Ayacana Sutta: The Request (SN 6.1) translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu @ Access to Insight; Boin-Webb, Sara (tr). Rahula, Walpola (tr). Asanga. Abhidharma Samuccaya: The Compendium of Higher Teaching. 2001. pp. 199-200; Salomon, Richard; Glass, Andrew (2000). A Gāndhārī Version of the Rhinoceros Sūtra: British Library Kharoṣṭhī Fragment 5B. University of Washington Press. p. 10,13. ISBN 978-0-295-98035-5.; Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche, "Jewel Ornament of Liberation." 1998, pp. 51-53 Do you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by tweeting to us @BrightBuddhism, emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com, or joining us on our discord server, Hidden Sangha https://discord.gg/tEwcVpu! Credits: Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-Host Proven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brightonbuddhism/message

Vasubandhu was a 5th century Buddhist monk who, along with his brother Asanga formulated the teaching called Yogacara. It arose as means of finding balance between the two major paths of the Early Buddhist teachings and The Mahayana teachings. Vasubandhu and Asanga sought to bring harmony to the vast differences in these two practices, showing that both of them have very important roles in freeing us from suffering and delusion. This talk with be an introduction only...the Thirty Verses are complex; but more importantly, an eye opening into the nature of the Egoic birth and ultimately, its overturning.

In this episode of the Provoking Prosperity Podcast, host Miranda Mitchell talks about the significance of deconditioning and consistent practice in releasing emotions and patterns held in the body. She shares her own journey with Ashtanga yoga and pranayama as effective tools for deconditioning and highlights the importance of taking time to integrate information learned from sources like human design, gene keys ,and astrology. Miranda urges listeners to share their own deconditioning practices and extends her support to those who need it. Additionally, the episode provides a sneak peek into upcoming topics, including the significance of the conscious and unconscious aspects of the chart. As always, Miranda's insights and guidance are sure to leave listeners feeling inspired and empowered.   Timestamps: Deconditioning [00:00:58] Miranda talks about the importance of deconditioning and how it helps in stepping into authenticity. She shares her personal experience with Asanga yoga and pranayama as tools for deconditioning. Consistent Practice [00:03:06] Miranda emphasizes the need for consistency and repetition in deconditioning practices. She talks about the importance of slowing down and integrating the information learned from sources such as human design, gene keys, and astrology. Importance of the Unconscious and Conscious Aspects of the Chart [00:08:33] Miranda previews the upcoming topic of the importance of the unconscious and conscious aspects of the chart. She encourages listeners to share their own deconditioning practices and offers support for those who need it.   Want to connect with Miranda? Here is her info! FREE Resources) Free Human Design Chart & Video Link: https://www.miranda-mitchell.com/free-human-design-chart-video The 64 Prosperity Codes: How you feel most prosperous within each gate activation https://www.miranda-mitchell.com/prosperity-codes Free 15-minute Clarity Call - https://calendly.com/miranda-mitchell/clarity-call   Website -> www.miranda-mitchell.com,  Email-> miranda@miranda-mitchell.com Instagram -> www.instagram.com/mirandajmitchell    

Sri Lanka's descent into chaos has gripped the world's attention. With Gotabaya Rajapaksa fleeing the country and resigning in exile, this episode unpacks the events that led to the collapse of such a thriving and democratic nation. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel and Asanga Abeyagoonasekera as they dissect the lessons the international community can learn from such poor political and economic management. Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/ Follow DEEP Dive to stay up to date with each new upload.

African immigrants have contributed significantly to the growth and diversity of the overall Black population in the United States. As an immigrant, I know how hard it is for someone to come to the United States with nothing but a dream and work hard to see their dreams come to pass. That's the story of Leslie Asanga who is an entrepreneur creating solutions to some of the enormous problems we faced back home in Africa, Cameroon specifically. Join us now as we deep dive into his journey as an immigrant and entrepreneur.  Meet Our Guest : Dr. Asanga is a pharmacist and an entrepreneur with 10+ years of healthcare and entrepreneurship experience. He is the founder and CEO of Pills2Me - an on-demand prescription delivery service - which was launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also the co-founder and CEO of UrPharm (an easy way to search, find, and pay for medications in sub-Saharan Africa). He holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and an MBA from Roseman University of Health Sciences, Nevada, and a Master of Public Health degree from Yale University. He was the winner of the Thorne Prize at startup Yale - Yale University's annual entrepreneurship award for healthcare innovation. He is an innovator and very passionate about using technology to solve healthcare problems, especially in vulnerable communities. Contact Our Guest: Email: Leslie@pills2me.com LinkedIn: Leslie Asanga   Things You Will Learn in This Episode:  [00:01 – 03:00] Introduction Introducing our guest - Leslie Asanga [03:00 – 30:00] Leslie's Entrepreneurship Journey  Getting to know Leslie The founding of his two companies How his humble beginnings inspired his entrepreneurship journey The services offered by the companies Leslie founded Where to find Leslie businesses in Africa & America [30:00 – 1:00:00] Further Diagnosis & Treatment Life growing up in Cameroon The difficulties he had to deal with growing up His education and business ventures back in Cameroon The impact family had on him  Coming to America for studies Finding problems to solve Words of encouragement to the African community How to get in touch with Leslie [1:00:00 – 1:13:55] Final Words Leslie's final words Anyoh's final words   Tweetable Quotes “Our people have a lot of potentials but just don't explore them. people just boxed themselves into tiny boxes. They say - I'm doing this, I'm staying on this track, but I think there's a whole lot more that we can do if we just decide to explore, and not be afraid to fail.” - Leslie Asanga “Focus on the positive side of things, but believe that the negative side can happen so have a contingency plan, knowing that, this can happen, but I know the probability of that worst-case scenario happening is low and I know what do in case the worst-case scenario happens. So be positive all the time even when you have a negative fact.” - Leslie Asanga “What I will say to anyone is that chase your dreams! Right? I know, it's been said 1000 times before but you know, you don't let your guard down. Forget about the failure, forget about everything else and go chase your dreams!” - Leslie Asanga   LEAVE A REVIEW and tell us what you think about the episode so we can continue putting out the best content just for you! Connect with Living African Podcast: You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more. Connect with host, Anyoh: You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).

The 2019 finalists of the TDR Global Mentorship Contest for improving research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries joined us to share their experiences implementing their respective projects. We had: Dr. Ana Maria Aguilar also discussed the pivotal shift in her community-based mentoring project in Bolivia. Her project initially focused on creating a horizontal style, participatory community mentor program, but shifted to focus on meeting the needs of the community. They began working with a community that had used herbal packages as an approach to bridge the distrust between the health sector and the local community. Connect with Ana Maria on ResearchGate. Guest informationProf. Aguilar is a senior pediatrician. Currently a professor in child growth and development research at the Medical College at University Mayor de San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia. She has designed and implemented health and nutrition interventions for children under five years of age for the last thirty years. She also led the conformation of the Food and Nutrition Council in Bolivia and was the First National Coordinator of the Malnutrition Zero Program until 2012. Among many of her work and achievements, she has also authored and co-authored several articles, book chapters on nutrition and child health, description of the nutritional transition in Bolivia. About TDR GlobalTDR Global is a worldwide community of passionate scientists and experts who have been working with TDR on research on infectious diseases of poverty. TDR is the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training and Tropical Diseases, based at the World Health Organization.Resources Oppong, E., Bao, H., Tang, W., Mejia, M.I.E., Glozah, F., Asanga, N., Boinett, C.J., Aguilar, A.M., Valido, E., Lestari, T. and Tucker, J.D., 2021. A Global Crowdsourcing Open Call to Improve Research Mentorship in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Mixed Methods Analysis. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1(aop).AcknowledgmentsEditing by Cassandra SooResearch: Emmanuela Oppong & Alice MatimbaProducers: Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer).Host: Emmanuela OppongMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmesMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/ SponsorsWellcome Connecting Science: https://coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/Wellcome Sanger Institute: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/

I had Asanga Wimalasekera back on not just just talk politics but also just to play catch up. Yes, there is still political talk going on for most of the show but it's more laid back now. I wanted to do things differently now that he's out of college. You'll be hearing about Republican sexy orgies, Ben Shapiro's sister Abigail big titties and Madison Cawthorn cross dressing. Asanga talk about dating older women which is something we have in common. We're also both gamers and are waiting on prices drop graphics cards due to crypto mining. I tell Asanga meme about the meme stock stuff and the shady stuff in the markets. Oh don't worry we get into Elon Musk buying Twitter and so much more.

The 2019 finalists of the TDR Mentorship Contest for improving research mentorship in low- and middle-income countries joined us to share their experiences implementing their respective projects. We had:Dr. Ezra Valido who shared his Getting Research To Work (G.R.O.W) for people project in the Philippines, focused on bringing local-non academic organisations, practitioners, and local experts together to collaborate as a small community of practice that can mentor, support and learn from each other. He highlighted some advantageous steps he took, including working with local societies that had the resources he needed. He also discussed some challenges he faced implementing his project during the COVID pandemic, including difficulties gaining funding to navigate the dynamics of mentoring people within different stages of their career. Connect with Ezra on LinkedinGuest informationDr. Ezra Valido is both a biologist and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of the Philippines. He also holds a Master's degree in public management and public health, and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Lucerne and Swiss Paraplegic Research. He is broadly interested in infectious disease and designing, scaling, and implementing public health programs related to them, focusing on health systems and development and in public health concentrating on tropical medicine. He worked previously as a primary care physician and was employed in the medical affairs units of Sanofi and Novo Nordisk in the Philippine affiliate handling endocrine, cardiovascular, and renal therapeutic areas.ResourcesOppong, E., Bao, H., Tang, W., Mejia, M.I.E., Glozah, F., Asanga, N., Boinett, C.J., Aguilar, A.M., Valido, E., Lestari, T. and Tucker, J.D., 2021. A Global Crowdsourcing Open Call to Improve Research Mentorship in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Mixed Methods Analysis. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1(aop).AcknowledgmentsEditing by Cassandra SooResearch: Emmanuela Oppong & Alice MatimbaProducers: Emmanuela Oppong (Producer), Alice Matimba (Senior Producer), Isabela Malta (Producer), Christine Boinett (Creator and Executive producer).Host: Emmanuela OppongMedia and Marketing: Catherine HolmesMusic: https://freesound.org/s/477388/ SponsorsWellcome Connecting Science: https://coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/Wellcome Sanger Institute: https://www.sanger.ac.ukSESH: https://www.seshglobal.org/

Uzair talks to Asanga Abeyagoonasekara about the ongoing political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Things have gone from bad to worse in the island nation, which is now suffering shortages of essential goods. Asanga explains how things spiralled out of control and the way out. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera is Senior Fellow at the Millennium Project and an international security analyst from Sri Lanka. He has led two government think tanks providing strategic advocacy in Sri Lanka and was the Founding Director General of the National Security Think Tank under the Ministry of Defence in the country. He is the author of Sri Lanka at Crossroads. Reading Recommendations: - The Long Game by Rush Doshi - On Thermonuclear War by Herman Kahn - The Fateful Triangle by Tanvi Madan

Tune in for the first episode in our In-Depth series on Democracy in Decline. This week, Rhiannon chats to Associate Professor Tom Daly and Asanga Abeyagoonesekera about how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting democracy around the globe. Tom is the Deputy Director of the University of Melbourne's School of Government. He's also the Director of the research platform Democratic Decay and Renewal. His research focuses on the future of liberal democracy and how it's been tested by the pandemic over the past 18 months. Asanga is an international security and geopolitics analyst, as well as a strategic advisor from Sri Lanka. He has almost 2 decades of experience in the government sector, working in foreign policy and defence think tanks. Asanga is an expert in Sri Lankan geopolitical security. We discuss how politicians have used Covid-19 as a distraction to consolidate power and the interplay between certain political systems and democracy in the Covid-19 era. We look at Sri Lanka as a case study, focusing on how the Rajapaksa dynasty has used the pandemic to concentrate power. Get in touch with Tom Daly via his Twitter page or LinkedIn. Check out Asanga's work and get in touch with him on Twitter and read his article on the Rajapaksa regime here. FOLLOW US: Follow Global Questions on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more content! Find more about Young Diplomats Society on our website. CREDITS: This episode is produced by the Young Diplomats Society on the lands of the Wurundjeri/Gadigal people. We pay our respects to the traditional custodians of the lands upon which we operate and live.

We've had a year of unprecedented data usage since the start of the pandemic and the hybrid working model is here to stay. So fast, reliable broadband in every room has never been more important. And this week we announced that we're the first major ISP in the UK to offer the award-winning Amazon eero 6 and eero Pro 6 routers to our Future Fibre customers. Using the power of Wi-Fi 6, Amazon eero works hand in hand with Future Fibre to deliver TalkTalk's fastest, most reliable connection yet, with greater Wi-Fi coverage across the entire home. This means our connection can blanket your home like never before! Commercial Director Asanga Gunatillaka tells us what this brand new partnership means for the business and our customers, in this new ‘eero' for TalkTalk. Presented by Dominic Laurie.

Most of us have watched the online ads on youtube and Facebook about making Money online .Some us have even tried it and ended up getting ourhands burnt. Can you really Make money on amazon? Heard of FBA? Fulfilled by amazon, this episode I sit down with an old friend and dentist Dr Abieyuwa Asanga and discuss how she is dong FBA and is profitable . we discuss her journey the challenges along the way , and also her exercise routines . If you would wan to learn more about FBA , she runs an online academy - https://smartselleracademy.com/ click on the link to learn more and enrol now if you would like to learn about FBA. Dont forget to subscribe to the podcast and if you love the podcast consider leaving a review !!

After years Asanga returned to the show. We talked about policy in this almost 2 hour long episode. We talk about COVID-19 and how we manage to stay safe. We talk about what we have in common. I told Asanga how my friends listen to black Conservative but not his black friend. We touched on the Summer of Protest and so much more in this one folks.

Dr. Christina Madison, PharmD & Dr. Leslie Asanga, PharmD, MBA, MPH talk about the mission of delivering public health with advance technologies embracing mobile applications, pharmacist's oversight, and collaboration with physicians.  About Dr. Christina Madison, PharmD Dr. Madison is a past President of the Nevada Public Health Association who has been asked to share her clinical public health and infectious disease expertise with Local, State, and International Media outlets and NGO's. She has an intimate knowledge of the impact public health messaging, policy, and legislation can have on communities. A trusted and valued health care professional with 13 years of experience in Public Health and 16 year's experience as a pharmacy professional. She has received multiple awards and recognitions including recent recognition by Pharmacy Times' as a “Pharmacy Hero” in May 2020 for her patient education and pharmacy advocacy during COVID19. She has also been recognized for her patient counseling skills and public health/vaccine advocacy and leadership including Silver Syringe Awards in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2015, Public Health Leader of the Year 2014 from the Nevada Public Health Association, One to One Patient Counseling Award by Pharmacy Times in 2012 and 2014, and most recently being inducted as Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy for her sustained contributions to the organization and profession of pharmacy.  Dr. Madison is currently an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Roseman University of Health Sciences (RU).   She completed a pharmacy practice residency at the New Mexico VA Health Care System in 2005, she obtained board certification in ambulatory care pharmacist (BCACP) in 2011, has been credentialed with the Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVP) since 2013, and was elected Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (FCCP) in 2018. She maintains two active clinical practices with Huntridge Family Clinic, which focuses on the LGTBQ community and is one of the largest providers of HIV prevention and gender affirming care services in the State of Nevada as well as Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN) where she offers immunization and communicable disease care. Dr. Madison actively participates in both state and national pharmacy and healthcare organizations to facilitate awareness of healthcare policy, education, and advocacy. She is the Founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist, PLLC a public health consulting firm. Currently she is helping individuals and businesses navigate the COVID19 global pandemic, providing Public Health PR Plans for getting businesses back in action and prepared for the next hurdles. Advocating for change to improve the health and wellness of vulnerable populations and the underserved is her passion and mission.   https://www.thepublichealthpharmacist.com/about  About Leslie Asanga, PharmD, MBA, MPH  Dr. Asanga is an experienced pharmacist and recently graduated from Yale University with a Master of Public Health degree. While at Yale, he took courses in Public Health Entrepreneurship, Startup Founder Studies, and Sustainable Innovations in Healthcare at the Yale School of Management. He is the CEO and co-founder of UrPharm which won the Thorne Prize at Startup Yale 2020. He also holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Roseman University of Health Sciences and an MBA with more than five years of healthcare experience. He is an innovator and passionate about creating healthcare ventures that create impact in vulnerable communities. https://www.pills2me.com/#/team  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Christina Madison, PharmD & Dr. Leslie Asanga, PharmD, MBA, MPH talk about the mission of delivering public health with advance technologies embracing mobile applications, pharmacist's oversight, and collaboration with physicians.  About Dr. Christina Madison, PharmD Dr. Madison is a past President of the Nevada Public Health Association who has been asked to share her clinical public health and infectious disease expertise with Local, State, and International Media outlets and NGO's. She has an intimate knowledge of the impact public health messaging, policy, and legislation can have on communities. A trusted and valued health care professional with 13 years of experience in Public Health and 16 year's experience as a pharmacy professional. She has received multiple awards and recognitions including recent recognition by Pharmacy Times' as a “Pharmacy Hero” in May 2020 for her patient education and pharmacy advocacy during COVID19. She has also been recognized for her patient counseling skills and public health/vaccine advocacy and leadership including Silver Syringe Awards in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2015, Public Health Leader of the Year 2014 from the Nevada Public Health Association, One to One Patient Counseling Award by Pharmacy Times in 2012 and 2014, and most recently being inducted as Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy for her sustained contributions to the organization and profession of pharmacy.  Dr. Madison is currently an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Roseman University of Health Sciences (RU).   She completed a pharmacy practice residency at the New Mexico VA Health Care System in 2005, she obtained board certification in ambulatory care pharmacist (BCACP) in 2011, has been credentialed with the Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVP) since 2013, and was elected Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (FCCP) in 2018. She maintains two active clinical practices with Huntridge Family Clinic, which focuses on the LGTBQ community and is one of the largest providers of HIV prevention and gender affirming care services in the State of Nevada as well as Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN) where she offers immunization and communicable disease care. Dr. Madison actively participates in both state and national pharmacy and healthcare organizations to facilitate awareness of healthcare policy, education, and advocacy. She is the Founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist, PLLC a public health consulting firm. Currently she is helping individuals and businesses navigate the COVID19 global pandemic, providing Public Health PR Plans for getting businesses back in action and prepared for the next hurdles. Advocating for change to improve the health and wellness of vulnerable populations and the underserved is her passion and mission.   https://www.thepublichealthpharmacist.com/about  About Leslie Asanga, PharmD, MBA, MPH  Dr. Asanga is an experienced pharmacist and recently graduated from Yale University with a Master of Public Health degree. While at Yale, he took courses in Public Health Entrepreneurship, Startup Founder Studies, and Sustainable Innovations in Healthcare at the Yale School of Management. He is the CEO and co-founder of UrPharm which won the Thorne Prize at Startup Yale 2020. He also holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Roseman University of Health Sciences and an MBA with more than five years of healthcare experience. He is an innovator and passionate about creating healthcare ventures that create impact in vulnerable communities. https://www.pills2me.com/#/team  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Christina Madison, PharmD & Dr. Leslie Asanga, PharmD, MBA, MPH talk about the mission of delivering public health with advance technologies embracing mobile applications, pharmacist's oversight, and collaboration with physicians.  About Dr. Christina Madison, PharmD Dr. Madison is a past President of the Nevada Public Health Association who has been asked to share her clinical public health and infectious disease expertise with Local, State, and International Media outlets and NGO’s. She has an intimate knowledge of the impact public health messaging, policy, and legislation can have on communities. A trusted and valued health care professional with 13 years of experience in Public Health and 16 year’s experience as a pharmacy professional. She has received multiple awards and recognitions including recent recognition by Pharmacy Times’ as a “Pharmacy Hero” in May 2020 for her patient education and pharmacy advocacy during COVID19. She has also been recognized for her patient counseling skills and public health/vaccine advocacy and leadership including Silver Syringe Awards in 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2015, Public Health Leader of the Year 2014 from the Nevada Public Health Association, One to One Patient Counseling Award by Pharmacy Times in 2012 and 2014, and most recently being inducted as Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy for her sustained contributions to the organization and profession of pharmacy.  Dr. Madison is currently an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Roseman University of Health Sciences (RU).   She completed a pharmacy practice residency at the New Mexico VA Health Care System in 2005, she obtained board certification in ambulatory care pharmacist (BCACP) in 2011, has been credentialed with the Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVP) since 2013, and was elected Fellow of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (FCCP) in 2018. She maintains two active clinical practices with Huntridge Family Clinic, which focuses on the LGTBQ community and is one of the largest providers of HIV prevention and gender affirming care services in the State of Nevada as well as Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN) where she offers immunization and communicable disease care. Dr. Madison actively participates in both state and national pharmacy and healthcare organizations to facilitate awareness of healthcare policy, education, and advocacy. She is the Founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist, PLLC a public health consulting firm. Currently she is helping individuals and businesses navigate the COVID19 global pandemic, providing Public Health PR Plans for getting businesses back in action and prepared for the next hurdles. Advocating for change to improve the health and wellness of vulnerable populations and the underserved is her passion and mission.   https://www.thepublichealthpharmacist.com/about  About Leslie Asanga, PharmD, MBA, MPH  Dr. Asanga is an experienced pharmacist and recently graduated from Yale University with a Master of Public Health degree. While at Yale, he took courses in Public Health Entrepreneurship, Startup Founder Studies, and Sustainable Innovations in Healthcare at the Yale School of Management. He is the CEO and co-founder of UrPharm which won the Thorne Prize at Startup Yale 2020. He also holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Roseman University of Health Sciences and an MBA with more than five years of healthcare experience. He is an innovator and passionate about creating healthcare ventures that create impact in vulnerable communities. https://www.pills2me.com/#/team  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

02-03-2020 Maitreya/Asanga: Mahayanasutralamkara by Lion's Roar Dharma Center

Lama Yeshe Jinpa discusses Rober Thurman's translation of Maitreya / Asanga's Mahayanasutralankara (Universal Vehicle Discourse Literature)with a group of students who are reading the text under his direction.

  Vasubandhu lived in northern India and Nepal in the 4th century CE. He was a renowned teacher in the Sarvastivadin School of Buddhism but later converted to Mahayana Buddhism under the influence of his brother Asanga. In this talk Kulaprabha introduces us to a work of his dealing with the conditions necessary for the arising of the Bodhicitta - here translated as Bodhi Resolve. In particular, she compares and contrasts Vasubandhu's Four Factors as they are described in this text with Sangharakshita's description and evocation of them in his book 'The Meaning of Conversion in Buddhism'. The Four Factors are: 1. Contemplation of All Buddhas 2. Contemplation of the Faults and Perilous Aspects of the Body 3. Seeking the Most Supreme of All Fruits of the Path 4. Kindness and Pity for Beings From the talk Vasubandhu's Treatise on Generating Bodhi Resolve given at the London Buddhist Centre, September 2009 *** Help keep FBA free for everyone! Become a supporter today.  Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast - bite-size pieces of Dharma inspiration, two times a week! Follow our blog for news and new Dharma FBA on Twitter FBA on Facebook FBA on Soundcloud  

In this archive recording from the Force For Good class “The Buddha Soul, Nature, Essence, Element, or Womb” Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the secular nature of Buddhist meditation and mantra practices. Recording opens with discussions of: mindfulness of the breath, instructions on mantra recitation, a history of Zen on Chan Buddhism and an introduction to the Bodhisattva Maitreya’s “The Sublime Continuum Super-Commentary with the Sublime Continuum Treatise Commentary” published by AIBS, Tibet House US and Columbia University Press. Robert A.F. Thurman provides a quick fire summary of the historical Buddha’s core teaching of The Four Noble Truths, an introduction to Buddhism’s messianic figure of Maitreya, Asanga and his brother Vasubandhu, and a humorous perspective of the film “Death Becomes Her”. Includes an extended re-telling of the story of Asanga and the Dog, an in depth discussion of the Three Jewels of Buddhism and an exploration of the Buddhist perspective on the soul, death and the existence of both heavenly and hell-like realms. Buddha Soul – Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo Young Monks studying by Tenzin Chojeor via www.dalailama.com. This talk was recorded during the “The Buddha Soul, Nature, Essence, Element, or Womb” Force For Good Class at Tibet House US in New York City, October 2017 with Robert A.F. Thurman & is apart of the THUS Member Archive. “When we really feel that there is some need to change, then our minds can change. Wishing and praying alone will not transform your mind, but with conviction and reason, reason based ultimately on your own experience, you can transform your mind. Time is quite an important factor here, and with time our mental attitudes can certainly change..” H.H. Dalai Lama To watch the full recordings from this + other past events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. Learn about joining the Tibet House US Membership Community with a monthly tax-deductible donation by visiting: www.tibethouse.us. ‘

In this archive recording from the Force For Good class "The Buddha Soul, Nature, Essence, Element, or Womb" Robert A.F. Thurman gives a teaching on the secular nature of Buddhist meditation and mantra practices. Recording opens with discussions of: mindfulness of the breath, instructions on mantra recitation, a history of Zen on Chan Buddhism and an introduction to the Bodhisattva Maitreya’s “The Sublime Continuum Super-Commentary with the Sublime Continuum Treatise Commentary” published by AIBS, Tibet House US and Columbia University Press. Robert A.F. Thurman provides a quick fire summary of the historical Buddha’s core teaching of The Four Noble Truths, an introduction to Buddhism’s messianic figure of Maitreya, Asanga and his brother Vasubandhu, and a humorous perspective of the film “Death Becomes Her”. Includes an extended re-telling of the story of Asanga and the Dog, an in depth discussion of the Three Jewels of Buddhism and an exploration of the Buddhist perspective on the soul, death and the existence of both heavenly and hell-like realms. Buddha Soul - Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo Young Monks studying by Tenzin Chojeor via www.dalailama.com. This talk was recorded during the "The Buddha Soul, Nature, Essence, Element, or Womb" Force For Good Class at Tibet House US in New York City, October 2017 with Robert A.F. Thurman & is apart of the THUS Member Archive. “When we really feel that there is some need to change, then our minds can change. Wishing and praying alone will not transform your mind, but with conviction and reason, reason based ultimately on your own experience, you can transform your mind. Time is quite an important factor here, and with time our mental attitudes can certainly change.” H.H. Dalai Lama To watch the full recordings from this + other past events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. Learn about joining the Tibet House US Membership Community with a monthly tax-deductible donation by visiting: www.tibethouse.us. ‘A Force For Good’ is a Tibet House US course to further the Dalai Lama’s contemporary world initiatives, from His Holiness’ American Institute of Buddhist Studies and Mind & Life Institute science dialogues (Universe in a Single Atom) and His creation of Abhidharma 2.0 through the “Science for Monks” programs, his “secular ethics” (Ethics for the New Millennium and Beyond Religion), His nonviolent approach to conflict resolution, including His Nobel Peace Laureate activities to seek dialogue and a win-win reconciliation with China in the face of the ongoing ethnicidal policies in Tibet (Freedom in Exile and Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of Tibet’s Dalai Lama) & along with his emphasis on positive activism (A New Reality: Charter of Universal Responsibility). This on-going series was inspired by Daniel Goleman’s ‘A Force For Good: The Dalai Lama’s Vision for Our World‘. To learn more about this year’s Force For Good Series please click the image above or visit: www.tibethouse.us. The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.

Whatever an enemy may due to an enemy, Or haters, one to another, Far worse is the harm From one's wrongly directed mind.”                                                     - Buddha,           The Dhammapada, verse 42 Buddha must have known there would be haters one day, and “haters gonna hate hate hate.” It is hard when people criticize us or don’t like us. I remember my mother saying to me when I was little, “If you want someone to like you, like them first.” That is sage advice. Do you want someone to like you? Then like them first. This is the essence of this verse: first, we remove harm from our own heart. This is one of the most pivotal points in Buddhism--harmlessness. People talk about this concept with different words, non-harm, harmlessness or non-violence. In the 4th Century, Asanga said this, “What is harmlessness? It is compassion which forms part of the absence of hatred. Its function is non-harming.” Asanga explained compassion as the foundation of removing harm from our mind. Also, the function of non-harm is to prevent us from harming others. How do we get this mind to arise? First, we have to start being aware of when we’re harming other people. Sometimes we have to discover the subtle ways that we harm others. If the foundation of non-harm is compassion, it is two-fold. The foundation of removing harm from our heart is compassion for others as well as compassion for our self. To examine harmfulness in Buddhism, we also think about the law of karma. The law of karma says that everything that we do to others, we are doing to ourselves-- because it is literally going to come back to us. If we cause someone to feel a certain way, we will experience that same feeling in the future. The meditation is in three parts. First, we exchange self with others by imagining going into their mind and developing compassion for them. Second, you go back into your own body and ask yourself, “do I want to experience this harm that I cause them in my future?” Finally, you come up with a plan to change. Compassion, I believe, arises naturally from deep understanding. If you understand what they're going through compassion will rise naturally. However, if you're going to restrain yourself from doing something harmful this week, you need to make a plan that you're going to change your behavior when you see them next time. You plan to restrain yourself and you plan to try to generate compassion. Please join in the discussion on Instagram or Facebook at fb.me/Buddhismforeveryone   References: The Dhammapada, by Buddha. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. Shambala, Boston and London, 2011, pp. 9. Abhidharmasamuccaya, The Compendium of the Higher Teaching (Philosophy) by Asanga. Originally translated into French and annotated by Warpola Rahula. English version from the French by Sara Boin-Webb. ASIAN HUMANITIES PRESS, Fremont, California, jainpub.com, pp. 8-10.

In this episode we look at how to improve our consideration for others. Consideration for others is defined as a distinct mental factor that avoids actions that harm others for their sake. It enables us to restrain from harmful physical, verbal and mental actions. Consideration for others acts as the basis for maintaining pure ethical conduct, prevents others from losing faith in us, and causes joy to arise in others’ minds. Meditation Imagine the people you live with or in your close family sitting close to you, facing you. Person by person, imagine looking at each one and contemplating how you could practice consideration for this person. Then imagine looking at a few people you work with or go to school with; looking from face to face, contemplate how you could practice consideration for them. Finally make a determination to practice consideration for others this week, avoiding ways that you harm others. We studied verse 37 of The Dhammapada, a book containing the words of the Buddha spoken on various occasions and written down by his followers: “Far-ranging, solitary Incorporeal and hidden Is the mind. Those who restrain it Will be freed of Mara’s bonds.” References: The Dhammapada. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. Shambala, Boston and London, 2011, pp. 9. Abhidharmasamuccaya, The Compendium of the Higher Teaching (Philosophy) by Asanga. Originally translated into French and annotated by Warpola Rahula. English version from the French by Sara Boin-Webb. ASIAN HUMANITIES PRESS, Fremont, California, jainpub.com, pp. 8-10.  

“Those who harbor the wish to harm others are no followers of mine” --Buddha. In this episode JoAnn Fox teaches about the virtuous mental factor “sense of shame”, also sometimes translated as “self-respect.To practice this virtuous mind is to begin by examining our life with the question,  “Is there something that I’m doing that is causing harm to others or to myself?” We then develop a sense of shame, thinking: “I should not do this; this is harming others.” Alternatively, we might practice self-respect or a sense of shame after we caused harm or acted in a way that is harmful to ourselves by developing the intention: “I should not have done that. I will not do this again.”  A sense of shame is like a bright gaudian in world; guarding you from great suffering in the future. The meditation practiced in this episode is a purification meditation to help us purify our negative karma. This purification practice functions based on the generation of regret, reliance, opponent action, and promise.   The verses of the Dhammapada, by Buddha, we study in this episode are from Chapter Three “The Mind”, verse 36:   “The mind, hard to see Subtle, alightling where it wishes-- The sage protects. The watched mind brings happiness.”   References: The Dhammapada, by Buddha. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. Shambala, Boston and London, 2011, pp. 9. . Abhidharmasamuccaya, The Compendium of the Higher Teaching (Philosophy) by Asanga. Originally translated into French and annotated by Warpola Rahula. English version from the French by Sara Boin-Webb. ASIAN HUMANITIES PRESS, Fremont, California, jainpub.com, pp. 8-10.  

EPISODE 11 RECORDED 10.18.18 Buddhist Psychology   Buddhist Teacher JoAnn Fox explains how the mind creates every moment of consciousness. By understanding the way the mind works we can learn to control our own mind. We can create a beautiful, happy world for ourselves, even if our world is currently dark or painful.   The five all accompanying mental factors (feeling, discrimination, intention, contact, attention) work together with the eyes, ears etc. to create our experiences. Intention for example, moves our mind to the object we choose to pay attention to. Intention functions to create our karma. The mental factor feeling, on the other hand, functions to experience the results of our karma. By understanding how each mental factor works, we can change one of these factors, like our intention, and our feelings and experience will change.     The verses of the Dhammapada, by Buddha, we study in this episode are from Chapter Three “The Mind”, verse 33-35: “The restless agitated mind, Hard to protect, hard to control The sage makes strait, As a fletcher the shaft of an arrow.   Like a fish out of water, Thrown on dry ground, This mind thrashes about, Trying to escape Mara’s command.   The mind,hard to control, Flighty, alighting where it wishes-- One does well to tame. The disciplined mind brings happiness.”   References: The Dhammapada, by Buddha. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. Shambala, Boston and London, 2011, pp. 9. . Abhidharmasamuccaya, The Compendium of the Higher Teaching (Philosophy) by Asanga. Originally translated into French and annotated by Warpola Rahula. English version from the French by Sara Boin-Webb. ASIAN HUMANITIES PRESS, Fremont, California, jainpub.com, pp. 8-10.

This in depth teaching on the practice and performance of visualization during meditative states Robert A.F. Thurman provides a practical roadmap for those from any religious, cultural or economic background to apply the tools from the esoteric traditions of Buddhist tantra to understand and reduce suffering on all levels. Opening this week’s teaching with an introduction of the subtle energy systems found in Vajrayana Buddhism and Hindu Shaivism Professor Thurman details the transformational power of imaginative visualization when guided by an experienced, qualified teacher. Continuing the discussion begun in last week’s episode on Buddhist Psychonauts this episode includes an overview of Nine Point Breath Meditation as taught by Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, introductions to Buddhist Tantra, the Karma Sutra, the history of Theravada and the diverse meditation traditions of India, China and South East Asia, and a frank presentation of so-called “crazy wisdom” by Robert Thurman shedding much needed philosophical light upon the ethical lapses which occur due to milsleading teachers’ and misled students’ misunderstandings of the nature of ultimate and causal realities described by the Buddha and his great successors. The second half of this week’s episode begins with a short explanation of the Mādhyamaka Centrist or Middle Way perspective and the experiential methods of teaching of emptiness, compassion and relativity found in the writings of Tsongkhapa, Asanga and Nagarjuna. This week’s poetry segment Gary Gach reads the poetry of W. S. Merwin.

Buddha taught that our mind creates our reality. Our mind creates our life and whether we are happy or unhappy. In this episode, we delve deep into HOW our minds create our reality. Here we begin the study of the Dhammapada, the oldest text in the Buddhist canon. It is a collection of things Buddha actually said 2600 years ago, written down by his followers. The mechanics of the creation of every moment of your consciousness involve the five all- accompanying mental factors. Contact - making contact with an object Feeling - a mental factor that experiences a pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral feeling. * Feeling functions to experience OUR karma Discrimination - identifies the object Intention - Moves our mind to the object. Function to CREATE karma Attention - Focuses on specific attributes of an object. We either focus on something with "appropriate attention" that gives rise to peace, or inappropriate attention that gives rise to suffering. An example of the creation of a moment of suffering is this: We experience an unpleasant feeling (due to our karma), but we discriminate the person in front of us as the cause of the pain and as "bad". Then we focus on the faults of the person with inappropriate attention, which generates our anger. Anger causes us to have the intention to harm that person because we are feeling upset.  If we continue to dwell on the faults of the person (aka inappropriate attention) will continue to be angry and feel bad. No fun! We also learned three methods to create a happier reality for ourselves, particularly in a very difficult situation or in regards to a person that cause us pain or frustration. The meditation and daily practice is as follows. Step 1: Bring to mind a situation that regularly causes you pain. Or bring to mind a person that causes you pain, irritation, or frustration. Step 2: Try to think about this situation or person with gratitude for a few minutes. What are you grateful for? Try to think of at least five things you are grateful for. Step 3: Are there good qualities about this situation or person? Please contemplate at least a few good qualities you sincerely observe. Step 4: Try to generate compassion for the person, or for yourself. Compassion is a mind that really sees the suffering that is there, and, out of love, Wishes to take that suffering away so happiness remains. Remember that happy people don't go around making other people unhappy. Unhappy people inadvertently cause other people to suffer.  Step 5: Choose which of these three methods (gratitude, contemplating their good quailiteis, or compassion) that most moved your mind toward peace. Determine toput this method into practice in the coming week; let it be like a swaord of mindfulness, cutting through pain. Step 6: Make a strong determination that, whenever unpleasant feelings start to arise in this partilcar situation, you will put your chosen method into practice. Generate this determination and hold it in your heart for a few moments. Daily Mindfullnes Practice: Whenever unpleasant feelings start to arise about this partilcar situation, remember the method you chose and put it into practice. Feel compassion for the person, contemplate their good qualities, or try to feel gratitude. You can do it! Let me know how it goes...Leave a message, question, or comment and I'll try to respond via: Facebook Twitter Instagram www.JoAnnFox.net In this episode we study Chapter One, Verse 1 - 2 of the Dhammapada: “All experience is created by mind Led by mind, Made by mind. Speak or act with a corrupted mind And suffering follows, As the wagon wheel follows the hoof of an ox.   All experience is created by mind Led by mind, Made by mind. Speak or act with a peaceful mind, And happiness follows Like a never-departing shadow.”        -Buddha, The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations, by Gil Fronsdale  Other References:  Abhidharmasamuccaya (The Compendium of Higher Training) by Asanga. Originally translated into French by Warhol Rahula; translated from French into English by Sara Boin-Webb  

This podcast extra by Robert A.F. Thurman includes an extended basic mindfulness practice instruction and a guided “Developing the Spirit of Enlightenment or the Mind of The Bodhisattva” meditation. Guided Mindfulness Meditation Professor Thurman leads a traditional Buddhist mindfulness meditation using the breath and mantra as one’s focus along with basic instruction of one’s physical posture during practice sessions taken from the Wisdom Academy Course “Sutra and Tantra: The Profound and Miraculous“. Developing the Mind of the Bodhisattva / Spirit of Enlightenment Meditation This meditation includes the eleven steps to compassion, love and happiness including “The Seven fold Cause and effect Precept of Mother Recognition” from Maitreya and Asanga and “The Exchange of Self and Other” Precept from Manjushri and Shantideva, a discussion of how physics and the Buddhist Inner Sciences intersect, how anyone can imagine having infinite past and future interconnected lives, of Pretans or hungry ghosts and Thomas à Kempis’ imitatio christi (Imitation of Christ) teaching. Mindfulness + Developing the Mind of the Bodhisattva Meditations – Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives Collage by How to be a Bodhisatva via www.lionsroar.com. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was thanks Wisdom Publications and was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. Mindfulness + Developing the Mind of the Bodhisattva Meditations – Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives is an excerpt from the online course presented by Wisdom Publications with Robert A.F. Thurman. To learn more abut this ongoing online offering please visit: www.wisdompubs.org Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us. The song ‘Dancing Ling’ + ‘Trance Tibet’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.

This podcast extra includes an extended basic mindfulness practice instruction and a guided “Developing the Spirit of Enlightenment or the Mind of The Bodhisattva” meditation. Guided Mindfulness Meditation Professor Thurman leads a traditional Buddhist mindfulness meditation using the breath and mantra as one’s focus along with basic instruction of one’s physical posture during practice sessions taken from the Wisdom Academy Course “Sutra and Tantra: The Profound and Miraculous“. Developing the Mind of the Bodhisattva / Spirit of Enlightenment Meditation This meditation includes the eleven steps to compassion, love and happiness including “The Seven fold Cause and effect Precept of Mother Recognition” from Maitreya and Asanga and “The Exchange of Self and Other” Precept from Manjushri and Shantideva, a discussion of how physics and the Buddhist Inner Sciences intersect, how anyone can imagine having infinite past and future interconnected lives, of Pretans or hungry ghosts and Thomas à Kempis’ imitatio christi (Imitation of Christ) teaching. Mindfulness + Developing the Mind of the Bodhisattva Meditations – Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives Collage by How to be a Bodhisatva via www.lionsroar.com. This week’s episode’s of the Bob Thurman Podcast was thanks Wisdom Publications and was brought to you in part through the support of the Tibet House US Membership Community and Menla Retreat and Dewa Spa in Phoenicia, New York. Mindfulness + Developing the Mind of the Bodhisattva Meditations – Podcast Bonus RAFT Archives is an excerpt from the online course presented by Wisdom Publications with Robert A.F. Thurman. To learn more abut this ongoing online offering please visit: www.wisdompubs.org Listen to more archive recordings from from past Robert AF Thurman teachings + public events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. To learn about the benefits of Tibet House US Membership please visit: www.tibethouse.us. The song ‘Dancing Ling’ + ‘Trance Tibet’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.

Opening this week’s podcast with a discussion of mindfulness of the breath as it relates to the practice to reciting mantras Professor Thurman gives instructions from the Zen Buddhist tradition before introducing the root text from the 2017 Force For Good Class Series: Dr. Bo Jiang’s translation of Bodhisattva Maitreya’s “The Sublime Continuum Super-Commentary with the Sublime Continuum Treatise Commentary” published by AIBS, Tibet House US and Columbia University Press. In this two part podcast Robert A.F. Thurman provides a quick fire summary of the historical Buddha’s core teaching of The Four Noble Truths, an introduction to Buddhism’s messianic figure of Maitreya, the future Buddha before going on a deep dive into the history of the 4th Century Indian Author Asanga and his brother Vasubandhu, co-founders of the Yogacara school of philosophy and a humorous perspective of the film “Death Becomes Her”. Podcast concludes a re-telling of the story of Asanga and the Dog, an in depth discussion of the Three Jewels of Buddhism (The Buddha, His Teachings and the Community of practitioners of his philosophy known formally as The Sangha) their relationship to mindful bliss, clear light, the subtle body and the death process. Buddha’s Mindful Bliss + The Sublime Continuum – Episode #168 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo of Hotei Buddha with Asanga and Vasubandhu by Ryan via www.flickr.com. This talk was recorded during the “The Buddha Soul, Nature, Essence, Element, or Womb” Force For Good Class at Tibet House US in New York City, October 2017 with Robert A.F. Thurman & is apart of the THUS Member Archive. “The Dharma doesn’t Belong To Buddhism.” H.H. Dalai Lama To watch the full recordings from this + other past events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. Learn about joining the Tibet House US Membership Community with a monthly tax-deductible donation by visiting: www.tibethouse.us. ‘A Force For Good’ is a Tibet House US course to fu

Opening this week's podcast with a discussion of mindfulness of the breath as it relates to the practice to reciting mantras Professor Thurman gives instructions from the Zen Buddhist tradition before introducing the root text from the 2017 Force For Good Class Series: Dr. Bo Jiang’s translation of Bodhisattva Maitreya’s "The Sublime Continuum Super-Commentary with the Sublime Continuum Treatise Commentary" published by AIBS, Tibet House US and Columbia University Press. In this two part podcast Robert A.F. Thurman provides a quick fire summary of the historical Buddha's core teaching of The Four Noble Truths, an introduction to Buddhism's messianic figure of Maitreya, the future Buddha before going on a deep dive into the history of the 4th Century Indian Author Asanga and his brother Vasubandhu, co-founders of the Yogacara school of philosophy and a humorous perspective of the film "Death Becomes Her". Podcast concludes a re-telling of the story of Asanga and the Dog, an in depth discussion of the Three Jewels of Buddhism (The Buddha, His Teachings and the Community of practitioners of his philosophy known formally as The Sangha) their relationship to mindful bliss, clear light, the subtle body and the death process. Buddha's Mindful Bliss + The Sublime Continuum - Episode #168 of the Bob Thurman Podcast Photo of Hotei Buddha with Asanga and Vasubandhu by Ryan via www.flickr.com. This talk was recorded during the Final #ForceForGood Class at Tibet House US in New York City in 2016 with Krishna Das & Robert AF Thurman & is apart of the THUS Member Archive. "The Dharma doesn't Belong To Buddhism." H.H. Dalai Lama To watch the full recordings from this + other past events please consider becoming a Tibet House US member. Learn about joining the Tibet House US Membership Community with a monthly tax-deductible donation by visiting: www.tibethouse.us. ‘A Force For Good’ is a Tibet House US course to further the Dalai Lama’s contemporary world initiatives, from His Holiness’ American Institute of Buddhist Studies and Mind & Life Institute science dialogues (Universe in a Single Atom) and His creation of Abhidharma 2.0 through the “Science for Monks” programs, his “secular ethics” (Ethics for the New Millennium and Beyond Religion), His nonviolent approach to conflict resolution, including His Nobel Peace Laureate activities to seek dialogue and a win-win reconciliation with China in the face of the ongoing ethnicidal policies in Tibet (Freedom in Exile and Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of Tibet’s Dalai Lama) & along with his emphasis on positive activism (A New Reality: Charter of Universal Responsibility).   This on-going series was inspired by Daniel Goleman’s ‘A Force For Good: The Dalai Lama’s Vision for Our World‘. To learn more about this year’s Force For Good Series please click the image above or visit: www.tibethouse.us. The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.  

In this podcast Robert AF Thurman discusses the history of Nālandā & why the Dalai Lama of Tibet identifies Tibetan Buddhism as well as himself as heirs to the university whose ruins are located in modern-day Bihar, India. Founded under the patronage of the Gupta King Chandragupta II Vikramāditya in the 5th Century then Destroyed in 1203 by Turkish Muslim invaders, Professor Thurman illustrates how Nālandā University brought together the greatest minds of India, Persia, Indonesia, China & Tibet finding it’s highest expression in the seventeen greatest Pandits of Nālandā Monastery, whom the Dalai Lama celebrates in his famous eulogy. Podcast includes an overview of the most influential of the “Great Seventeen” Mahayana Buddhist yogi scientist sages (Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Buddhapalita, Bhavaviveka, Chandrakirti, Shantideva, Shantarakshita, Kamalashila, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Dignaga, Dharmakirti, Arya Vimuktisena, Haribhadra, Gunaprabha, Shakyaprabha & Atisha) known for their middle-way centrist perspective & the popular Stages of the Path (lam-rim) teachings. “I am the longest guest of government of India for the last 58 years and am now paying back for that gesture by becoming the messenger of Indian culture. In fact, I consider myself a son of India. A few years ago, some Chinese reporters asked me why I identified myself as India’s son. I told them that my mind and each part of my brain are filled with the knowledge and thought of Nalanda. Besides, in last 50 years this body survived on Indian dal, chapati and rice. That is why both physically and spiritually, I am a son of India. Buddha himself stated my followers should not accept my teaching out of faith or out of devotion, but rather thorough investigation and experiment, the scientific way of approach. So all the Nalanda masters like Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Asanga, Chandrakirti, all these great masters of Nalanda, even Buddha’s own words, they carry investigation whether Buddha’s statement is acceptable or not. So they are always based on logic and experiment so, therefore, I follow that pattern, tradition.” HH Dalai Lama from www.huffingtonpost.in. This podcast is an excerpt from “Why does the Dalai Lama say he is “Son of Nālandā”? a talk given in October 2017. Photo by Abhishek Sundaram via www.flickr.com. To listen to more recordings from past programs with Robert AF Thurman at Tibet House US in New York City + Menla in Phoenicia, New York in the Catskills please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member. The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by

In this podcast Robert AF Thurman discusses the history of Nālandā & why the Dalai Lama of Tibet identifies Tibetan Buddhism as well as himself as heirs to the university whose ruins are located in modern-day Bihar, India. Founded under the patronage of the Gupta King Chandragupta II Vikramāditya in the 5th Century then Destroyed in 1203 by Turkish Muslim invaders, Professor Thurman illustrates how Nālandā University brought together the greatest minds of India, Persia, Indonesia, China & Tibet finding it’s highest expression in The seventeen greatest Pandits of Nālandā Monastery, whom the Dalai Lama celebrates in his famous eulogy. Podcast includes an overview of the most influential of the "Great Seventeen" Mahayana Buddhist yogi scientist sages (Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Buddhapalita, Bhavaviveka, Chandrakirti, Shantideva, Shantarakshita, Kamalashila, Asanga, Vasubandhu, Dignaga, Dharmakirti, Arya Vimuktisena, Haribhadra, Gunaprabha, Shakyaprabha & Atisha) known for their middle-way centrist perspective & the popular Stages of the Path (lam-rim) teachings. “I am the longest guest of government of India for the last 58 years and am now paying back for that gesture by becoming the messenger of Indian culture. In fact, I consider myself a son of India. A few years ago, some Chinese reporters asked me why I identified myself as India's son. I told them that my mind and each part of my brain are filled with the knowledge and thought of Nalanda. Besides, in last 50 years this body survived on Indian dal, chapati and rice. That is why both physically and spiritually, I am a son of India. Buddha himself stated my followers should not accept my teaching out of faith or out of devotion, but rather thorough investigation and experiment, the scientific way of approach. So all the Nalanda masters like Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Asanga, Chandrakirti, all these great masters of Nalanda, even Buddha's own words, they carry investigation whether Buddha's statement is acceptable or not. So they are always based on logic and experiment so, therefore, I follow that pattern, tradition.” HH Dalai Lama from www.huffingtonpost.in. This podcast is an excerpt from "Why does the Dalai Lama say he is "Son of Nālandā"?: The inaugural ISAS-VSB Lecture on Religion in the Modern World" A Talk given in October 2017. Photo by Abhishek Sundaram via www.flickr.com. To listen to more recordings from past programs with Robert AF Thurman at Tibet House US in New York City + Menla in Phoenicia, New York in the Catskills please consider becoming a Tibet House US Member. The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.

Stories from Tibet

Stories from Tibet

Todayand#8217;s FBA Dharmabyte features Dhammarati on the topic of Going for Refuge. In Mind and the Nature of Commitment he talks about setting the mind to purified intention and making correction after failure and#8211; crucial aspects in cultivating a committed Buddhist practice. From the talk and#8220;A System of Trainingand#8221;.

As in the three fold space meditation, where we are trying to view space from the perspective of rigpa, here in Asanga's method we are trying to attend to the object from the perspective of the substrate. The substrate illuminates but does not enter into the object - no grasping. So we attend to the tactile field and within that field the sensations of the flow of prana correlated with the breath but without grasping. Alan also explains stage four of the nine attentional states leading to Shamatha. Here coarse excitation has stopped but the problems of medium excitation and coarse laxity are present. Meditation starts at: A silent meditation session at 5:58, not recorded.

We immediately go into the guided meditation. After the meditation, merging the mind with space, Alan shares and comments on various quotes from Asanga and Tsongkhapa on the implosion of the five senses while practicing Shamatha. After that, he tells a story about a yogi and his attendant travelling from Kham to Lhasa, finallizing in an elaboration on why there are so few people realizing Shamatha in the world today. Meditation starts at: immediately

Teaching: All the teachings are included in settling body, speech, and mind in their natural state. According to Asanga, sensations of the breath become increasingly subtle until prana dissolves into space. Conceptualizations diminish further and further until mind slips into non-conceptuality. Keep it simple. It’s the nature of the practice. Meditation: Mindfulness of breathing preceded by settling body, speech, and mind. 
1) settling body, speech, and mind. Let your awareness illuminate the non-conceptual space of the body. Settle the body in ease and comfort. Settle the speech in silence. Let the breath flow in its natural rhythm. With every out breath, relax more and more deeply without losing clarity, utterly release the breath and let go of rumination, so your are especially silent and present at the end of each out breath. The in breath comes of its own accord. Release all thoughts of the past and future, and settle awareness in stillness in the present.
2) mindfulness of breathing. When the in breath is long, know that it is long. When the out breath is long, know that it is long. When the in breath is short, know that it is short. When the out breath is short, know that it is short. Let your awareness illuminate the space of the body and whatever tactile sensations arise therein, without distraction, without grasping. Awareness is not fused with the space of the body and its contents. Mindfully breath in and out, attending to the whole body. Q1. In equanimity, does it mean we should react with satisfaction and contentment with things as they are? 
Q2. In formal and semi-formal shamatha retreat, should we hold the view between sessions by visualizing oneself as the deity and the environment as a pure land? If so, should we recite the mantra as well? 
Q3. As for the dying process, how can we help? How can non-buddhists prepare? 
Q4. How is remote viewing possible without dependence on the visual cortex? 
Q5. Returning to a socially engaged way of life, the qualities of relaxation, stability, and vividness will decline. Should we do intermittent short/long retreats for upkeep? 
Q6. According to the Madhyamaka, rigpa and buddhanature are also empty, suggesting nihilism. Rigpa and ultimate reality are in some sense real, but if we say they are real, that may be construed as eternalism. Nihilism is more prevalent in the modern world, and of the two, eternalism appears less dangerous.
Q7. How should we plan practice at home? Should we maintain a weekly structure as we have here, or do whatever we feel like? Practice shouldn’t be just limited to shamatha. Meditation starts at 5: 35

Teaching pt1: Alan continues with verses 104-105 of Ch. 9 of Shantideva’s Bodhicaryavatara. Since awareness cannot precede, co-occur, nor follow the object of awareness, awareness is not inherently real. Similarly, no phenomenon comes into (inherent) existence. Inherently existent phenomena cannot causally interact with anything. Only conventionally does awareness arise in dependence on an object. 
Alan talks about the entry point of the 5 paths and 10 bhumis as outlined in Asanga’s Abisamaya Alankara and summarized into the 4 yogas of Mahamudra in Karma Chagme’s Union of Mahamudra and Dzogchen. Shamatha is the first step on the yoga of single-pointedness. The 4 applications of mindfulness brings you from earth-like bodhicitta to gold-like bodhicitta. Shamatha is the on-ramp to the bodhisattvayana. Meditation: Mindfulnes of the mind preceded by awareness of awareness. 
1) awareness of awareness. Settle the mind in the immediacy of the present moment. With every out breath, release awareness into space without an object. With every in breath, awareness converges on itself for an unelaborated experience of being aware. There is nothing to think about. Just taste it continually.
2) mindfulness of the mind. While you may have the sense that mind is empty, how about awareness which seems really there? Does awareness have attributes? Is it static? Does it have the quality of knowing? Luminosity and clarity? Is awareness still? What is the nature of awareness with these attributes? What is the distinction between awareness and non-awareness? Awareness and appearances? Rest non-conceptually in knowing emptiness of awareness—emptiness by nature luminous, luminosity by nature empty. Teaching pt2: Alan describes the development of ESP and other paranormal abilities. In the Theravada, paranormal abilities require realizing the dhyanas for each element. In the Mahayana, paranormal abilities appear in the first two paths through the union of shamatha and vipasyana on the nature of awareness. meditation starts at: 55:00

Teaching: Continuing from Asanga’s Shravakabhumi, Alan gives the detailed explanation of the 4th thorough training by way of the 16 phases: 1) long breath, 2) short breath, 3) the whole body, 4) refining the bodily formation, 5) joy, 6) well-being, 7) formations of the mind, 8) wonderfully refining formations of the mind, 9) experiencing the mind, 10) bringing exception joy to the mind, 11) concentrating the mind, 12) liberating the mind, 13) impermanence, 14) eradication of obscurations, 15) freedom from attachment, 16) cessation of the aggregates. Each practice is appropriate at certain stages, and involves vipasyana knowing coupled with the in and out breaths. 
Alan outlines the 3 shamatha practices in healing the body and mind using different entry points: 1) mindfulness of breathing whereby we can watching healing via the body, 2) settling the mind whereby we can watch healing via the mind, and 3) awareness of awareness whereby we go straight to the center, without watching the body and mind sort themselves out. Meditation: shamatha practice of choice with vipasyana.
1) Shamatha. Based on the shamatha practice of your choice, 
2) Vipasyana. When you’ve settled into the flow, use vipasyana to discern its nature. Know that the body, mind, or awareness is not self nor owned by the self. Experience body, mind, or awareness as it is. Q1. Is it possible for technology to aid in the development of shamatha—e.g., neurological signatures of various states and using neural feedback especially in the beginning? Do you see any major issues?
Q2. In Asanga’s mindfulness of breathing, I have a question about the interim inhalation and exhalation. Does it feel like a pause? 
Q3. You mentioned discursive lamrim meditations as antidote for laxity/dullness. For those of us who aren’t familiar with the lamrim, what is the essence of Atisha’s advice? How does lamrim fit into a healthy diet of spiritual practices? Is the lamrim necessary?

Teaching: Alan talks about the fourth of the five obscurations excitation and anxiety. Excitation is associated with restlessness and agitation. Anxiety is also known as guilt, remorse, shame, or regret. Bliss and joy are the natural antidotes. But since these qualities cannot be called up at will, discursive meditation on the pros and cons of the practice (in this case, shamatha) can be helpful. As long as we have not achieved shamatha, we are subject to the 5 obscurations characterized as being: 1) sensual craving = indebted, 2) ill-will = sick, 3) laxity/dullness = bondage, 4) excitation/anxiety = enslaved, 5) uncertainty = lost in a desert tracked. Achieving shamatha is the ultimate retreat, makes both body and mind supple, places the 5 dhyana factors at our disposal, and allows us to truly help others. It also greatly facilitates the realization of bodhicitta, vipasyana, and for buddhahood in one lifetime according to Dudjom Lingpa, threkchö and thogyal. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing per Asanga. If needed use oscillation as in awareness of awareness until your mind comes to rest in the center. As you breathe in, focus your attention from the nostril down to the navel, and without visualization, as you breathe out. Note the 4 stages: 1) inhalation, 2) pause at the end of inhalation, 3) exhalation, 4) pause at the end of exhalation. Note the end of the in and out breaths. With each out breath, total, complete release. With each in breath, just take in whatever presents itself. Meditation starts at 30:14

Teaching: Continuing from Asanga’s Shravakabhumi, Alan introduces the 4th thorough training by way of the 16 phases: 1) breathing in, 2) breathing out, 3) the whole body, 4) tranquilising the bodily activities, 5) joy, 6) happiness, 7) formations of the mind, 8) tranquilising formations of the mind, 9) experiencing the mind, 10) gladdening the mind, 11) concentrating the mind, 12) liberating the mind, 13) impermanence, 14) eradication of obscurations, 15) freedom from attachment, 16) cessation of the aggregates. 
Alan elaborates more on sukkha and joy which may arise from engaging in the practice.
Alan addresses the sudden enlightenment of the Buddha’s disciples. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing per Asanga followed by mindfulness of phenomena (aggregates).
I) Mindfulness of breathing per Asanga. Know exactly when the out breath ends, how long the interim out breath is, when the in breath starts, when the in breath ends, how long the interim in breath is, and when the out breath starts.
II) Mindfulness of phenomena (aggregates). 1) recognize form as form (pure perception), 2) observe feelings as feelings arising in the body and mind, 3) with recognition, not that you are discerning, 4) direct attention to the mental formations in the space of the mind, 5) draw awareness to consciousness itself. Release awareness into all 6 sense fields and the events arising therein. Q1. Does prana have the same quality in the in and out breaths?
Q2. Because body and brain decline with age, is age a factor to consider in achieving shamatha? 
Q3. In Asanga’s mindfulness of breathing, I’m not sure what to do with the awareness of all 6 sense fields? It seems so busy.
Q4. In Asanga’s text, why is there so much emphasis on breathing? 
Q5. In awareness of the body, there’s a sense of bliss. What insight is there to be derived from bliss pervading the body? 
Q6. In Asanga’s text, these 16 phases which include shamatha and vipasyana may offer a bridge to Tibetan lamas who don’t seem to place much importance on practicing shamatha. 
Q7. Asanga explains the causes of breathing as being propelling karma and space. Is this the cause for our involuntary breathing or is that caused by something biological? 
Q8. Why are men more prominent in buddhism? Women multi-task better, so perhaps that’s a disadvantage to achieving shamatha? Meditation starts at 20:53

Teaching: Continuing from Asanga’s Shravakabhumi, Alan introduces the 3rd thorough training by way of dependent origination. Asanga begins by attending to the breath which is dependent upon the body and mind which are in turn conditioned by the life faculty (subtle continuum of mental consciousness and prana) which is in turn dependent on previous compositional factors (samskara) which are in turn dependent on ignorance. The antidote to ignorance is wisdom which leads to the cessation of ignorance and so forth. Alan briefly sketches the 3rd thorough training by way of the 4 Noble Truths which involves contemplating them repeatedly. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing per Asanga followed by mindfulness of phenomena (aggregates).
I) Mindfulness of breathing per Asanga. Let awareness rest at the space of the navel, and observe sensations of prana coming to fill that space and flowing out again like at a train station. Observe the body breathing without inhibiting the exhalation or pulling in the inhalation.
II) Mindfulness of phenomena (aggregates). For each of the aggregates, view them as being impermanent, devoid of self, and having no owner: 1) see form as form, 2) feelings arising in the body and mind, 3) observe recognition of the space of the mind, 4) observe the compositional factors in the space of the mind, 5) direct awareness to the experience of being conscious. Open awareness to the realm of all phenomena. Q1. What stage of shamatha can we reasonably expect to achieve while living in the modern world?
Q2. At times, part of the mind is wandering while part of the mind is still on the object. What should I do? Should I multi-task? Meditation starts at 26:55

Teaching: Alan talks about the third of the five obscurations laxity and dullness. Dullness occurs when attention is no longer fully engaged with the object. It is experienced from stages 1-4, whereas laxity is experienced between stages 4-5. Its antidote is coarse investigation (aka applied thought) whereby you just check it out. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing per Asanga. Allow your body to breathe itself as your respiration settles into its natural rhythm. Let the mind come to stillness in the present moment. Shine the spotlight of your attention on sensations of the respiration as prana flows down to the navel, and keep your attention there single-pointedly. Note the end of the in and out breaths. Note the beginning of the in and out breaths. Arouse attention at every in breath as the navel cavity fills with prana. Maintain the flow of mindfulness throughout the entire breath cycle. Meditation starts at 6:12

Teaching: Continuing from Asanga’s Shravakabhumi, Alan introduces the second thorough training by way of the aggregates. Asanga begins by explaining the characteristics of achieving shamatha—i.e., 1) pliancy in the mind, 2) pliancy in the body, and 3) single-pointedness taking delight in the object. Having achieved shamatha, we return to the desire realm in an expedition to gain insight into the five aggregates: 1) form in terms of mindfulness of breathing, 2) feelings (positive/negative/neutral) arising with the mindfulness of breathing, 3) recognition associated with the mindfulness of breathing, 4) volition associated with the intention to sustain mindfulness of breathing, and 5) mind as composite. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing followed by mindfulness of phenomena (aggregates). In the first half of the session, practice the mindfulness of breathing practice of your choice. In the second half... 1) know the domain of the body as aggregate of form, 2) recognize feeling associated with mindfulness of breathing, 3) recognize your recognition of the qualities of the breath, 4) recognize that volition which impels the practice, 5) direct attention to awareness itself amidst mindfulness of breathing. Open your eyes, and let awareness flood the 6 domains of experience, illuminating all 5 skandhas. Q1. If my main practice is awareness of awareness, what should I do in between sessions?
Q2. In mindfulness of aggregates that we just did, do we practice mindfulness of breathing and mindfulness of the feelings associated with mindfulness of breathing? In the final instruction to expand awareness to the 5 sense domains, what exactly is the object?
Q3. Are aggregates and skandhas the same thing? 
Q4. Some contents in the mind appear to be more obvious than others. Is this due to grasping? Meditation starts at 30:05

Teaching: Alan talks about the second of the five obscurations ill-will. As shamatha dredges the psyche, it is normal for ill-will to arise in response to memories, etc... The antidote is sukkha or well-being. You are experiencing sukkha when you enjoy and get into the flow of the practice. Sukkha comes through shamatha. Further support for the antidote comes from mudita or empathetic joy. On the spiritual path, we need to make a gentle transition from 100% dependence on hedonic well-being to genuine happiness. Find interest in the breath. Find interest in the quality of awareness. The latter will come in handy through the various bardos. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing per Asanga. Release the mind into the present. Utterly release yourself into the breath. Let your awareness observe the space of the body and in particular, the flow of the breath between nostril and navel. Relax deeply all the way through. Let the mind be especially calm at the end of the in and out breaths. With every out breath, release long-standing habit of rumination. Be right there for the beginning of each in breath. Meditation starts at 16:45

Teaching: Alan elaborates on some points from his translation of Asanga’s explanations for mindfulness of breathing, as advice for people with heavy rumination. Asanga mentions 4 stages in mindfulness of breathing: 1) inhalation, 2) pause at the end of inhalation, 3) exhalation, 4) pause at the end of exhalation. He notes 1) overly lax or 2) overly forceful engagement. Asanga also presents training in counting as support: 1) counting individually (at end of inhalation/exhalation), 2) counting pairs (at end of exhalation of 1 breath cycle), 3) counting forwards (either practice in ascending order), and 4) counting backwards (either practice in descending order). The point of this training is to cultivate an ongoing flow of knowing, covering all 4 stages of one breath cycle. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing per Asanga. Settle respiration, by releasing deeply without preference nor control. Set the mind at ease, without concerns of the 3 times. Let your awareness be still, illuminating the space of the body. Be aware of the space of vital energy (prana), in particular as it flows between the nostril and navel. Mind should be especially still at the end of each out breath. Experiment with counting if you wish. Monitor posture and mindfulness with introspection. Q1. You mentioned that we should view the space of the body from the perspective of the substrate. Since we do not have direct access yet to the substrate, do you mean from the coarse mind?
Q2. This mindfulness of breathing practice per Asanga is required more attention than usual, in particular catching the pauses. What the difference between awareness and attention? Is it true to say that only attention moves and that awareness does not? My idea of oscillation in awareness of awareness means that something is moving. 
Q3. In observing the space of the mind with eyes open, forms are present. Is this clarity of mind? 
Q4. In settling the mind, you gave the analogies of a scientist and a movie critic. 
Q5. I find it hard to be focused on the space of the mind between sessions. Either I am disengaged from the environment or I’m not focused on the mind at all.
Q6. In this mindfulness of breathing practice per Asanga, please explain the interim breath. Are vital energies equivalent to the tactile sensation of the breath moving throughout the body? If Asanga does not mention the acquired sign nor the counterpart sign, how is shamatha achieved? 
Q7. In awareness of awareness, we should be focused entirely on awareness, yet appearances of the other senses still arise. Meditation starts at: 29:06

Teaching: Alan introduces some points from his translation of Asanga’s comprehensive explanations for mindfulness of breathing. While Asanga does not mentions following the breath at the tip of the nostril, he does mention following the flow of vital energies from nostril to navel, noting 4 stages: 1) inhalation, 2) pause at the end of inhalation, 3) exhalation, 4) pause at the end of exhalation. Asanga also presents several counting methods as support when needed: 1) counting each inhalation/exhalation, 2) counting each complete breath cycle, 3) counting forwards, and 4) counting backwards. Meditation: mindfulness of breathing per Asanga. Set the mind at ease, without concerns of the 3 times. Let your awareness be still, illuminating the space of the body and in particular, the flow of the breath from nostril to navel. Note the energies at 1) inhalation, 2) the pause at the end of inhalation, 3) exhalation, 4) the pause at the end of exhalation. With each out breath, relax and release any rumination. Experiment with counting if you wish, but keep it very staccato. Meditation starts at: 6:04

Asanga!Weikala, PhD Candidate, School of Law, University of Edinburgh gives a talk for the OTJR trinity term 2012 seminar series.