Podcasts about Bodhisattva

Living with an undefended heart is not only a saying, but it is a practice that moves us toward liberation and away from greed, aversion and ignorance. In this talk Mary discusses her years-long practice and what an Undefended Heart is, and what it is not.Recorded Aug. 22, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

In this Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, physicist Adam Frank, PhD, admits he came to Buddhism hoping for the infinite cosmic power of his own enlightenment, and maybe more honestly, to face and resolve his own suffering. He stayed for something else entirely. Drawing on a year and a half spent with the Vimalakirti and Avatamsaka Sutras, he traces how these early Mahayana texts reimagined practice… Source

The Dalai Lama suggests that we check in with our spiritual practice every ten years or so. Using the 18th anniversary of teaching as a jumping off point, Mary checks in with where spiritual practice can lead and what it may look like. It's not about achieving a particular goal, but about how we show up in the world and recognize our shared humanity.Recorded Aug. 15, 2026 in the virtual worldBhikkhu Bodhi article: A Challenge to BuddhistsSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

[This episode originally aired on October 9, 2023]  The Mahayana path, the path of the Bodhisattva warrior of wisdom and compassion, has a great deal to do with how we relate to ourselves and to one another  •  what kind of others do we include in our world?  •  what kind of underlying feelings do we honestly have about the people in our lives and the people we encounter?  •  everybody is worthy of our attention, but usually we engage in a lot of picking and choosing: who is worthy of our attention and who is not  •  the practice I want to briefly introduce is the practice of exchanging oneself for others, which is the basis of tonglen practice — the practice of taking and sending  •  this practice is very simple: it's putting yourself in the shoes of another   •  you can do this for all sorts of possible scenarios, but a very common one is looking at how we relate to people we consider to be our superiors; how we relate to people we consider to be our inferior to us; and how we relate to those we view more or less as equal  •  when we can see situations from different perspectives, we can cultivate the ability to treat others respectfully and with the same regard, whether they're more powerful than us, whether they're less powerful than us, whether they're intimate friends, or whether they're strangers.

Using the teachings of Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Mary reflects on awareness, and how we find it in our lives. Recorded August 6, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

[This episode originally aired on Oct. 2, 2023]  The Mahayana, or open path, is the path of the Bodhisattva — the enlightened warrior of wisdom and compassion  •  at the core of the Mahayana path is an outrageous vow, called the Bodhisattva vow, where we vow to emulate the great Bodhisattvas of wisdom and compassionate action  •  the Bodhisattva vow, conventionally speaking, makes no sense at all  •  you vow to save all sentient beings as vast as they are throughout space and time  •  you might think, that's pretty darn presumptuous to make a vow like that; you might even call it absurd, impossible  •  nonetheless, you do it  •  it's crazy to think that you could save all sentient beings, or even hold that thought at all  •  but you keep going, and if you're fortunate, you might be able to save at least someone, or some being, from some level of suffering  •  the vow of the Bodhisattva is not dreamy or romantic; it is grounded in very gritty reality of life for sentient beings of all kinds who suffer greatly  •  but because you see this pattern so clearly, you also see the flip side  •  instead of saying, “Wherever there are sentient beings, there are conflicting emotions,” you could say, “And wherever there are sentient beings, there's wisdom, there's intelligence; there's love and kindness and compassion. There are efforts to help. There is a lessening of pain, sorrow, and suffering.” In approaching the Bodhisattva path, you recognize that both of these patterns are true.

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Karunadhi explores the mythic and spiritual dimension of Bhante Sangharakshita's life and what the emotional significance of Going for Refuge. Through stories, poetry, and the image of the refuge tree, she reflects on his love for the Three Jewels, his connection to his teachers, and his dedication to the Bodhisattva ideal. Talk given at Tiratanaloka Retreat Centre as part of a series celebrating Sangharakshita's 100th birthday, 2025. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to the FBA podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Sati, or mindfulness is foundational to our practice and necessary for liberation. In this talk Mary discusses what mindfulness is and the Buddha's teaching on how we cultivate this vital practice and move towards awakening.Recorded August 1, 2026 in the virtual worldBooks mentioned: The Satipatthana Sutta by Bhikkhu AnalayoMindfulness by Joseph GoldsteinThe Noble Eightfold Path by Bhikkhu BodhiSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Dharma talk by Eran Junryu Vardi Roshi of Eiryu-ji Zen Center in Wyckoff, NJ, USA on 8/2/2026.

Art and Doc go deep on Big Vitamins. Is it just the red pill right hand supplementing the method blue left hand or are you actually supplementing yourself? Discover how you can supplement yourself the good old-fashioned Hippocratic way by letting your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food. They don't just talk about the damage. They actually dive deep into preventing and repairing. Find out how a patient cured is a patient lost in this episode with Art Stimmel and Doc Mike Witort. "Doc" Mike Witort of Chicago, IL is a Concierge Mobile Therapist. He won the right to practice medicine in 4 states. Serving jail time and forced to use his wealth to defend his name against the medical industrial complex he flows in the Bodhisattva vibe helping others for 8 decades. Contact Doc at 630-613-8537 or by email at wakeupwell1@gmail.com. Website: wakeupwell.org. (under obstruction) You tube, and linkedin. See What Makes Mikey Run: https://youtu.be/X1FWu82Sf4Q?si=eONvwmm2xrBfDr3LClickhearpodcast@protonmail.com 

So many things are coming at us these days, it can feel so overwhelming. In this talk Mary reflects on the grief we may be feeling about so much loss in the world, and how a path of radical kindness is a wise and skillful response for ourselves and others. Recorded July 25, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

In this episode, you'll hear a Daily Reminder from Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim about “the world of Gong.” You can come out of your negative karma.Thank you very much, Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim.Hapchang,enjoy,Gak Duk

Most people think of birthdays as a time for cake, gifts, and growing older—but Buddhism invites us to see them as something much deeper. In this inspiring talk, Rev. Kanjin Cederman explores how birthdays can become powerful moments of gratitude, reflection, and spiritual renewal. Drawing from the teachings of the Buddha, the Lotus Sutra, and Nichiren Buddhism, this lecture reveals why a human birth is considered extraordinarily precious, how impermanence gives life meaning, and how each birthday offers an opportunity to renew our Bodhisattva vow. Rather than simply celebrating another year of age, discover how to celebrate another year of awakening, compassion, and purpose on the path to Buddhahood.

The Buddha says the root of suffering begins with what he calls the three defilements, also known as the three poisons. These are greed, aversion or ill-will, and ignorance or delusion. This teaching is as valid today as it was almost 2600 years ago. In this talk Mary discusses how these poisons show up in our lives and how we can learn to let them go. She also touches on the three Buddhist personality types.Recorded July 16, 2026 in the virtual world Send me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

In this episode, you'll hear a Daily Reminder from Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim about Master Ho Am, who lived in Korea long time ago, and Kwan Se Um Bo Sal, Bodhisattva perceiver of the world`s sounds.Thank you very much, Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim.HapchangWith love,Gak Duk

In dieser Folge hörst du einen Daily Reminder von Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim , über den Meister Ho Am, der vor langer Zeit in Korea lebte und Kwan Se Um Bo Sal, die, die die Rufe der Welt erhört.Vielen Dank Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim.Hapchangalles Liebe,Gak Duk

Doug joins the circle from a backyard, phone propped in the grass, raking leaves for an eighty-five-year-old piano teacher who can no longer garden. What follows is a teaching on sorrow — what it's for, how to hold it without gripping — and then a guided practice for letting personal pain become a blessing for others. Drawing on Richard Rohr's The Tears of Things, the Law of One, and the Christian Paschal Mystery, this episode moves from reflection into experience with the Sacrament of Solidarity, a heart-centered practice offered entirely under free will. In this episode The mundane is sacred. Why an ordinary evening of raking leaves is exactly the right ground for this teaching. Spiritual melancholia and clinical depression. Doug, a therapist, draws the line carefully: depressive disorders are real and deserve real treatment. Alongside them sits a spiritual sadness that works less like a malfunction and more like a gift. Gratitude for all that was; yes to all that will be. The Hammarskjöld refrain that anchors the evening, prayed over one member of the circle standing between a home she is leaving and a home she is entering. The Paschal Mystery. Loss and renewal. Learning to die well without gripping — or, as M put it more beautifully than any theology that night, learning to keep your hands open. Joy is not happiness. Happiness may be the opposite of sadness; joy is something else — the felt movement of life, available inside heartbreak wherever there is perspective and a sense of meaning. Everything laments. The phrase lacrimae rerum comes from Virgil; the wisdom of Rohr's book comes from the Hebrew prophets, whose arc runs from rage through sorrow into compassion. Lament as an archetype of release rather than revenge or repair. One body, one Earth. Humanity as the feeling, self-aware membrane of the planet — and what happens when the cells refuse to grieve. Ra's "quiet horror." Why a world where the positively oriented outnumber the negative can still feel so negative — and why it's the good ones who carry that particular ache. The Sacrament of Solidarity. The full guided practice, offered step by step. The practice, in brief A free-will meditation moving undirected energy up through the centers and out as directed blessing: Unite your heart with the others — you are not alone. Find the swirling red-orange sphere of sorrow and anger below the navel. Surrender the need to control the outcome; let it rise to the membrane below the heart. Watch it turn emerald green as it enters the heart, the seat of universal love. Ask, freely: Do you wish to use your pain to bless others? Let it settle behind the throat as a message of love, ready to be delivered. Open the indigo inner eye to those carrying heartache across the world. Release a violet ray from the crown, directed with will and faith: You are not alone. I am here with you. Your pain is understood. I will help you carry this. Breathe. Out: I wish you well-being and peace. In: I wish for myself well-being and peace. Return to the body with gratitude, and with the sense of having transmuted pain into blessing. Sources & references Richard Rohr, The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage (Convergent, 2025). Rohr's most personal book, which he has described as a summation of his teaching. See also his conversation with Oprah, and his Greenbelt Festival interview on how the title came about. On the title and its sources. The phrase lacrimae rerum — "the tears of things" — is Virgil's, from Aeneid I.462, where Aeneas weeps before a mural of the war dead. Rohr has said the phrase stayed with him from his Latin studies. The book's substance, though, comes from the Hebrew prophets — Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Jonah — whose writings move from rage and accusation into lamentation and, finally, compassion. Rohr calls this pattern "sacred criticism": confronting evil and injustice while holding the wholeness of history and the interconnectedness of every living being. Dag Hammarskjöld — "For all that has been, thanks; to all that shall be, yes." The Law of One (Ra Material): Session 17.23 — the Earth only seems negatively oriented; the appearance comes from "the quiet, shall we say, horror which is the common distortion which those good, or positively oriented, entities have towards the occurrences" of the present. Session 46.9 — anger as "the undirected, or random, energy." Ra teaches acceptance as the key to the positive use of catalyst, and control as the key to the negative — the same turn the practice asks for below the heart. The Paschal Mystery — the Christian pattern of death, letting go, and renewal. The Bodhisattva tradition — those who return to help humanity with its suffering by teaching us to lament well. Brené Brown — on "foreboding joy," the reflex to brace for catastrophe in our happiest moments. For reflection this week Hold one another in your hearts. If sadness or disappointment surfaces, don't fret it — it's an opening to transmute into shared blessing. That's the gateway back to joy. This episode touches on grief, despair, and suicidal pain. If you're carrying that kind of weight, please don't carry it alone — reach out to someone you trust or to a professional. The whole point of a sacrament of solidarity is that no one is meant to lament by themselves.

In this talk, Mary reflects on the famous story of Milarepa and the demons who take over his cave. It's a wonderful reflection on our spiritual journey of aversion and delusion to being intimate with our deepest experiences.Recorded July 11, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Case #105 of Dōgen's Mana Shobogenzo (Koun Franz; June 18, 2024):Yunyan asked Daowu, “How does the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion [Avalokiteśvara] use so many hands and eyes?”Daowu said, “It's just like a person in the middle of the night reaching back in search of a pillow.”—from The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen's Three Hundred Koans, by John Daido Loori and Kazuaki TanahashiYou can support Thousand Harbours Zen and learn more about our practice by visiting thousandharbourszen.com; talks are also available on the Thousand Harbours Zen YouTube channel.Post-production by Tod Nyokai.

This teaching was given by Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Lama Tsonkhapa Institute in Italy as part of the Ganden Lha Gyama retreat between September 3-30, 2004.00:00:00 Lama Zopa Rinpoche leads the motivation for the practice of Confession of a Bodhisattva's Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas.00:10:45 Rinpoche does the practice of Confession of a Bodhisattva's Downfalls to the Thirty-Five Buddhas with students.Find out more about Lama Zopa Rinpoche, his teachings and projects at https://fpmt.org/

This talk was given by Matthew Brensilver on 2026.07.08 at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. ******* Video of this talk is available at: https://youtube.com/live/D1oKuPGoRyE. ******* For more talks like this, visit AudioDharma.org ******* If you have enjoyed this talk, please consider supporting AudioDharma with a donation at https://www.audiodharma.org/donate/. ******* This talk is licensed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License

St. Francis of Assisi invited us to wear the world as a loose garment and in this talk, Mary discusses how this is an invitation to equanimity. How do we turn towards the world without rigidity, yet with a willingness to stay present and meet life where it is?Recorded July 4, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Ji Kwang In dieser Folge hörst Du einen Daily Reminder über den Sozialen Buddhismus, der uns ermuntert jeden Tag die Lehre Buddhas als großes Führungslicht zu nehmen.Vielen Dank Dae Poep Sa Nim,hapchang

In this episode, you'll hear a Daily Reminder about Social Buddhism, which encourages us to take the Buddha's teachings as our guiding light every day.Thank You very much, Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim,hapchang

One of the things we release on the journey to awakening is our attachment to fixed views. These are the stories that have become rigid and that we believe about ourselves and the world. This practice invites us to pause and take a look at our views and ask if they're even true. Freedom lies with our letting go of shoulds and opening to this moment as it is.Recorded June 27, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

In dieser Folge hörst Du einen Daily Reminder von Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim über 100 Prozent Glück und eine erfolgreiche Existenz. Wie bekommen wir dies?Vielen Dank Dae Poep Sa Nim,Hapchang,Deine Gak Duk

In this episode, you'll hear a Daily Reminder from Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim about 100 percent happiness and a successful life. How do we achieve this?Thank you very much, Dae Poep Sa Nim,Hapchang,yours in the dharma, Gak Duk

In order to move on the path of liberation, we need to see what gets in the way. The Buddha's teaching of the Five Hindrances is a helpful way to recognize these sometimes subtle obstacles and learn how to release them so we can continue towards freedom.Recorded June 20, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

The Bodhisattva called 'Never Direct' saw the Buddha in everyone, yet his practice of bowing received a mixed response. Drawing on themes from the White Lotus Sutra, Aryadasa delves into how different framings of the spiritual life can profoundly change our understanding of Buddhism and its practice. Excerpted from the talk entitled A Bodhisattva On His Knees given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2025. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

In the book, "Dancing With Life", Phillip Moffitt writes about the three insights associated with each of the Four Noble Truths: Reflecting, Experiencing and Knowing. This is a wise way to look at his core teaching and Mary offers a summary of Phillip's teaching. She calls these insights a journey of awareness from the head to the heart.Recorded June 13, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Khemasuri introduces the Bodhisattva Ideal, central to Mahayana Buddhism, by describing the training of the novice Bodhisattva and the arising of the will to Enlightenment. Excerpted from the talk entitled Becoming a Bodhisattva given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre, 2012. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 3 Growth and Development of the Psychic, pp. 89-90This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/06/10/the-psychic-being-and-progress/Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net  The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo's writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com#Sri Aurobindo #The Mother #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #soul #psychic being #rebirth #spiritual progress #Bodhisattva vow

The 5th precept is more than just an admonition not to drink or use drugs, but is an invitation to look at our consumption and how we may numb ourselves and become lost in delusion. It's from this deluded place where we can cause the most harm to others and to ourselves.Recorded June 6, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, The Psychic Being — Soul: Its Nature, Mission and Evolution, Section 3 Growth and Development of the Psychic, pg. 84This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/06/06/the-psychic-being-works-to-gain-experience-and-independence-and-upgrade-the-instruments-of-body-life-force-and-mind/Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net  The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo's writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com#Sri Aurobindo #The Mother #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #Bodhisattva vow #soul #psychic being #rebirth

Held in the shadow of Mary's husband's illness, this talk is a simple reflection on life's realities and the sentiment, "Very sad, no problem," as a path of equanimity. Sadness, joy and everything else does not need to be a problem. Instead, it's simply reality and we can choose how to show up.Recorded May 30, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

What is the Buddhist perspective on boundaries? In Buddhism, we're encouraged to cherishing others more and deepen our compassion. Some may wonder if there is a contradiction between these heart-opening practices and having healthy boundaries, a more modern Western concept. But here is the truth: even the Buddha set boundaries. In the texts, the Buddha frequently chose who to engage with, when to enter noble silence, and how to protect himself so he could serve the world effectively. In fact, true compassion requires boundaries. Sometimes the kindest thing to do for another is to set a strong boundary. In this episode, JoAnn Fox explores the concept of boundaries through a Buddhist lens. We look at how creating a boundary isn't an act of anger or separation; it's an act of wise compassion for ourselves and others. According to the American Psychological Association, healthy boundaries are not "walls" to keep people out, but rather "gates" that allow you to manage your energy and safety. Buddhism offers perspectives to help us find the sweet spot between "porous" boundaries that leave us depleted, and "rigid" boundaries that keep us isolated or limit our growth. " All the happiness in the world arises from wishing others to be happy All the suffering in the world arises from wishing ourselves (alone) to be happy." —Shantideva, Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life   Shantideva (1997). A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. Translated by Vesna and B. Alan Wallace. Shambala Publications.    Find us at the links below:  Our Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/BuddhismForEveryone Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone Private Facebook Group:: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/ Website: Buddhismforeveryone.com Instagram: @buddhism4everyone X: @Joannfox77 TikTok: @buddhism4everyone YouTube: @Buddhism4Everyone To learn more about the new Wednesday evening drop-in classes on Zoom, visit https://buddhismforeveryone.com/meditation-classes-for-peace Interested in an online Study Program, visit https://buddhismforeveryone.com/ongoing-buddhist-study-program To learn about Buddhist Coaching with JoAnn Fox visit www.BuddhismforEveryone.com or email JoAnn Fox at joann@buddhismforeveryone.com

Dogen said that enlightenment is an intimacy with all things. Mary reflects on this thought and it's similarity to equanimity and an undefended heart. How do we show up for the reality of the moment with complete openness. It is a journey and all we can do is begin with right now.Recorded Mary 23, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

How do you get used to being Enlightened? What happened to the Buddha in the weeks after his breakthrough experience? Kamalashila explores these questions in two ways - using the framework of our System of Meditation to shed light on the process that unfolded in the Bodhisattva's mind and body as Enlightenment dawned; and connecting us imaginatively with the symbolism and image of Muchalinda, the great serpent, coiling his body protectively round the meditating Buddha. This talk was given on the Triratna Buddhist Community's International Retreat, 2008. Kamalashila passed away in October 2024, to learn more about him and his contributions to Triratna, visit https://kamalashila.co.uk/ *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB

In this talk, recorded at Insight Community of the Desert, Mary discusses the Second Precept. It's often just referred to as not stealing, but this precept is about recognizing all the different places that craving and greed show up and how to let go of that. Additionally, the cultivation of generosity is an important step in freedom from craving and a way to live in harmony with others and in contentment with ourselves.Recorded May 17, 2026 at ICD in Palm SpringsSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Perception has many depths, heights, and qualities depending upon its level of conditioning. The more conditioned our perception, the greater our limitations and suffering; the less conditioned it is, the more alert, clear, and free our state becomes. By eliminating mistaken ways of seeing and experiencing life, we clarify our ability to discern the fundamental reality of all things: a state of liberated cognition devoid of a "self," yet one that embodies the true characteristics of wisdom and enlightened compassion. Discover this through a final exploration of Shantideva's masterpiece. This journey examines the philosophical conundrums of inherent and selfless existence, the dangers of nihilism and eternalism, the insidiousness of desire, and the way service to humanity serves as the highest ideal and purpose of emptiness. It further delves into Buddhist analyses of emptiness in relation to mind and body; the laws of interdependence, relativity, impermanence, causality, and space; the problems of the analytical mind; the exercises of self-observation and self-remembering; and the inherent limitations and impediments of the mind according to Samael Aun Weor. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/wisdom-selfless-realization-through-direct-perception

Andrew Feldmar has been guiding people through psychedelic journeys for over 50 years. He trained directly with R.D. Laing in London, worked with Stanislav Grof at Esalen, practiced at Hollywood Hospital when LSD was still legal medicine, and took part in the first MAPS Canada MDMA research for PTSD. A Hungarian-born psychotherapist who fled the 1956 revolution alone at 16, he has spent a lifetime refusing to pathologize normal human suffering. With the President signing an executive order to fast track psychedelics through the FDA, this conversation could not be more timely. Andrew explains why medicalizing these medicines is a grotesque category mistake, what gets lost when ceremony and relationship are replaced by sterile hospital protocols, and why the source only opens up between people. His new book, Radical Adventure: An Inquiry into Psychedelic Psychotherapy (Karnac Books, 2025), is a quiet act of resistance against the venture capital takeover of sacred work. If we're going to talk about psychedelics in 2026, we need to talk to someone who knew what they were before the industry came for them.

The Buddha taught the Five Remembrances as a way to normalize our relationship to the human condition. We we all grow old, get sick and die, yet some of us fight tooth and nail against, especially in our Western culture. But when we truly greet this reality there is quite a freedom - we no longer have to hide or try to change our reality. Become a friend to this teaching and find some ease.Recorded May 2, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Oftentimes when things are especially awful, we think that joy may be inappropriate and that we must stay focused on the difficulties. But this is not the case. Bhikkhu Bodhi says that cultivation of joy is important to regulate despair. In this talk Mary discusses what gets in the way of joy and how to allow it into our lives. Equanimity means being present for everything that shows up, even the good.Recorded April 25, 2026 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Given by Shosan Victoria Austin at City Center on April 22nd, 2026 Shosan Victoria Austin, in this Earth Day lecture, invites us to contemplate how practicing ethics protects both us and the world.

As humans face the darkness of fear, violence, and division, something else is also stirring: an awakening field of courage, care, and connection.  This talk explores the primitive survival strategies that keep us in trance and the evolutionary currents of awakening that return us to belonging. Through reflection and practice, we are invited to nurture the river of love and justice moving through our world, and to step forward—together—into beloved community.   Our introduction music is from "Opening" by Adrienne Torf, © 2025 ABT Music