Podcasts about Bodhisattva

In our world today we can chase after certificates and degrees to prove who we are and what we know. In this talk Mary reflects on the words of Ajahn Chah who says that these are only "appendages". "We think they are real and we carry them around with us" to prove who we are. Instead, we are invited to turn inwards and allow our inner wisdom to arise. This takes effort, a dedication to the practice, and seeking the advice of those who have walked the path, but, as the Buddha said, we can find our own way with these teachings.Recorded July 19, 2025 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.

All sentient beings are caught in the trap of suffering in the realms of existence. Bodhichitta is a mind that wishes to free beings from suffering and bring them to the state of enlightenment. A bodhisattva is a person who has that bodhichitta mind, is a practitioner of the enlightenment thought which is the aspiration to achieve complete enlightenment as a perfect Buddha for the benefit of oneself and all other sentient beings. Love and compassion are the forces that motivated all activities of Bodhisattvas. Love is a strong wish that aspires to attain happiness for all sentient beings and compassion is the state of mind that wishes each being to be freed from all sufferings or sorrows, great compassion is the root wisdom. In all the Buddhist teachings, there's so many of them, it seems such a vast number of teachings, the key thing I think we find difficult is to put them in some kind of framework, to understand how all the teachings relate to each other. When we study any body of knowledge, we know that's what we do, when you're studying anything, you know where it fits, if it's a more advanced teaching you have to understand the relationship to the earlier teaching, this makes sense, it's really logical. But we don't think of spiritual teachings like that. I can't stress it enough, what work we need to have done on ourselves in order to have compassion for others. We can discuss the qualities of compassion, what they are and how you get them. But if we haven't done enough work in the earlier part of the practice, it's impossible, it's like a joke, we don't understand it. Especially the teachings here, on how to be a Bodhisattva. It's a Sanskrit word, the loose equivalent you could say - a saint. If you sit there as a Catholic and listen to the teachings on how to become a saint, it sounds ridiculous doesn't it. It sounds too high! It seems impossible. Buddha's view is, we've all got this extraordinary potential, the wisdom wing is all the work you do to develop your qualities, it's about you, you are the beneficiary of those practices. The very first level of practice, you abide by the laws of karma, you have discipline, you live in vows, you stop harming others. Why? Because you don't want future suffering, because everything you think and do and say, produces the person you become. Then you go to the next level of practice and you start to unpack and unravel your mind, this is the key job. You really begin to have a deep understanding of Buddhist psychology, you know what the delusions are, you know what the positive qualities are, and you know how to distinguish between them. You are the beneficiary of this! You're turning yourself into a less neurotic, less angry, less attached, less harmful person. You're becoming a wiser, more relaxed, more fulfilled person. The practices are all related to how to turn you into a marvellous person. Now what this qualifies you to do, is enter into the compassion work. Now you keep working on yourself, that never stops, but now the reference point is how to help others. How to break down the barriers between the neurotic self and others. How to develop these profound levels of love, compassion, great compassion, that culminate in this outrageous approach called Bodhichitta. Centrul Budist White Mahakala, Romania, 8th September 2021 YouTube

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In Part 2 of this exploration of intuition, we dive deeper into what it means to develop this most essential human faculty. This episode challenges the common misconception that more information leads to greater wisdom, revealing instead how our constant mental chatter often blocks our connection to genuine knowing. The conversation explores the crucial distinction between knowledge (data) and knowing (direct experience of reality through the heart). The discussion examines how we've become trapped in what could be called "the matrix of the mind" - endless loops of thought about thought that keep us separated from direct experience. Rather than seeking more information to solve life's challenges, the path forward involves learning to quiet our mental constructs and develop what the ancient teachings call "the knowing faculty of the intelligent mystic." This isn't about becoming anti-intellectual, but about using the mind as a focusing lens rather than allowing it to dominate our perception. Central to this episode is the recognition that we are, in essence, "the grammar of God" - the way the creative force spells itself out in physical reality. This profound metaphor suggests that our role isn't to accumulate more facts about existence, but to become conscious participants in life's ongoing self-expression. The conversation reveals how intuition functions as our connection to this deeper current of being, allowing us to respond authentically rather than react from conditioned patterns. Perhaps most practically, the episode offers concrete ways to integrate this understanding into daily life - from handling road rage with heart-centered awareness to recognizing when we're reinforcing limiting mental loops. The ultimate message is both humbling and empowering: the more we truly know, the more we realize we don't know, and this recognition opens us to the vast mystery of existence that can only be known through direct, intuitive engagement with life itself. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

In this episode you will hear a Daily Reminder from Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim about the six Paramitas. In Buddhism, these are the so-called transcendent virtues that lead to enlightenment and why it is so important to attain them, especially in these times of great change.Thank You very much Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim,Hapchang,Yours in the dharma, Gak Duk

Jack shares stories and insights from a rare gathering with the Dalai Lama on what really makes a teacher, and how compassion—not titles—spreads the Dharma.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.This time on Heart Wisdom, Jack thoughtfully explores these themes & topics:Spring renewal at Spirit Rock & the wider Buddhist boom1,000 U.S. meditation centers — a movement far bigger than any one sanghaThe Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra on gathering “in harmony and concord”The Dalai Lama: compassion over conversion; students over titlesWhat really authorizes a teacher? (Hint: their students' freedom)“Spy on your teachers” — trusting slowly & wiselyThe scent-test of liberation: recognizing authentic peace“Bodhisattva off-duty?” — practice everywhere, even with late-night TV temptationsSpiritual life as engagement with, not escape from, difficultyInterdependence: why true emptiness embraces every creatureSpeaking out against spiritual misconduct & retraumatizationThe wounded student, the wounded teacher — bringing psychology into DharmaThis Dharma Talk recorded on 03/29/93 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.“The Dalai Lama said, ‘Nirvana has a wonderful scent—like flowers.' You can tell it when you're around someone connected with nirvana. You can tell it around places where there's that fragrance of peace, well-being, and liberation.” – Jack Kornfield“Deep down, what matters is only the spirit of compassion—only what benefits beings in every form, in every realm on this earth. Don't think about how to spread Buddhism. It doesn't matter if there are even one or two more Buddhists. The only thing that matters is the well-being of each person and the well-being of the earth that we live on.” – Jack Kornfield quoting H.H. the Dalai LamaPhoto via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack's entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.“Only the benefit you bring to others proves the depth of your own practice.” – Jack KornfieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week Mary offers a few reflections on suffering and patience and invites your comments and thoughts.Recorded July 15, 2025 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.

All sentient beings are caught in the trap of suffering in the realms of existence. Bodhichitta is a mind that wishes to free beings from suffering and bring them to the state of enlightenment. A bodhisattva is a person who has that bodhichitta mind, is a practitioner of the enlightenment thought which is the aspiration to achieve complete enlightenment as a perfect Buddha for the benefit of oneself and all other sentient beings. Love and compassion are the forces that motivate all activities of Bodhisattvas. Love is a strong wish that aspires to attain happiness for all sentient beings and compassion is the state of mind that wishes each being to be freed from all sufferings or sorrows, great compassion is the root wisdom. These next three weeks we're going to be talking about compassion. We've got the wisdom wing and the compassion wing. It's a wonderful analogy, it works brilliantly, it covers all the Buddha's teachings, and it's also very personal. The point of the entire path is to become this Buddha. So what is a Buddha? Buddha is a person who has completely rid their mind of all the rubbish, all the fears, all the dramas, all the suffering, which we all have got so much of. And they've only got what's left, which is this incredible wisdom, clarity, power, confidence, compassion and empathy. The Buddha's whole point, from the big picture point of view, is that's the nature, the potential of every one of us. It's quite an outrageous idea really! It sounds mystical. But this is one of the things that can really help us when we're having problems and dramas, when we're overwhelmed by the negativity, just to try and remember that we've got this marvellous potential. This negativity is true, it's right now, but it's not intrinsic to us. This is something that can be very powerful for our mind. The compassion wing, of this bird that needs two wings, is this enormous empathy with others, this connection with others, the seeing of others suffering, and this wish that they be happy which is love, and the wish they don't suffer and that's compassion. But that's contingent upon the wisdom wing. If you're overwhelmed by your own pain and suffering, you can't think of anybody else. It's not possible, your own suffering is so enormous. This is why we should have compassion for ourselves for a start. But certainly have compassion for others. It's obvious that to prepare yourself to be able to benefit others, you've got to know how to benefit yourself. It's really logical. We have enormously big hearts, we think what can I do to help, but we don't actually have methods to know that first I've got to put myself together. If you want to help other people with their problems, you can have incredible compassion for them, but what good is that compassion if you don't know how to help them. That's the wisdom wing. If you want to help other people with their problems, you've got to know your own. You've got to help yourself first, and that qualifies you to then help others. That's the logic of the whole path. So what's this wisdom? Learning about your own mind, and the way your mind works, the way the delusions work, the way we create karma. This qualifies us to help put ourselves together, then it qualifies us to go - oh my god, look at all this, everybody is in the same boat. We're all suffering. Questions include - how can we know that everybody wants to be happy, understanding that others want to be happy but some people don't deserve to be happy, is pity a low form of compassion or is it a sophisticated way of self cherishing, how to deal with bullying, how to transform aggression towards ourself and others into compassion, how can we overcome feeling overwhelmed by seeing all the suffering around, and only with shamatha and vipasana meditation can we find answers to all the questions? Centrul Budist White Mahakala, Romania, 1st September 2021. YouTube

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When we explore what intuition truly is, we discover that most of what we call "intuition" isn't intuition at all. This episode dismantles common misconceptions about intuitive knowing, revealing how we often mistake pattern recognition, emotional resonance, or psychic impressions for genuine intuitive understanding. The conversation moves beyond surface-level definitions to examine intuition as something far more profound: a direct channel to universal truth. The discussion draws fascinating parallels between ancient wisdom teachings and modern concepts like The Matrix, exploring how we live within self-created thought-worlds that obscure our connection to deeper reality. Rather than being trapped in these mental constructs, intuition offers a way to "unplug" from the limiting beliefs and fixed ideas that keep us separate from the living matrix of creation itself. This isn't about accessing more information, but about developing an entirely different way of knowing. At its core, intuition represents the soul's capacity for synthetic understanding - a comprehensive grasp of universality that temporarily dissolves the sense of separation. The episode examines how genuine intuitive knowing brings three distinct qualities: illumination (seeing clearly what is), understanding (not just mental concepts but true comprehension), and love (recognizing the fundamental unity that connects all existence). This isn't sentimental love, but the recognition of our essential interconnectedness. Perhaps most importantly, this exploration reveals intuition as life's way of conversing with itself through human consciousness. This requires building an instrument capable of receiving signals from the source of life itself - a process that demands genuine inner work, clearing away distortions, and creating the conditions for spirit and matter to meet within us. The result isn't just better decision-making, but participation in the ongoing creation of reality itself. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

In this episode you will hear a Daily Reminder from Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim about Sok Ga Mo Ni Buddha's hippocampus. You will hear about important hormones that make the mind comfortable.Thank You very much Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim.Hapchang,all my love,Yours in the dharma, Gak Duk

In dieser Folge hörst Du ein Daily Reminder von Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim über Sok Ga Mo Ni Buddhas Hippocampus. Du hörst etwas über wichtige Hormone, die den Geist angenehm machen.Vielen Dank Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim.Hapchang,alles Liebe,Deine Gak Duk

In diesem Teisho schildert Christoph Rei Ho Hatlapa die Entwicklung des Buddhismus vom rein monastischen Theravāda-Weg über das Vimalakīrti-Sūtra, in dessen Mittelpunkt ein auseinandersetzungsfreudiger Laie steht, hin zum Mahayana-Buddhismus, der das Ideal des Arhat in das des Bodhisattva transformiert. Letztere haben das Erwachen in ihrem Leben verwirklicht, verzichten aber auf den Eintritt ins Nirvana und stehen stattdessen allen fühlenden Wesen zur Seite, damit auch diese zum Erwachen gelangen. Im Koan 89 des Hekinganroku wird Avalokiteshvara erwähnt, der große Bodhisattva der Barmherzigkeit. Beim Zuhören erkannte er, dass dieser Prozess in das Abwesende eingebettet ist, als ein Feld des Mitgefühls, das alles miteinander verbindet. Indem sich Avalokiteshvara beim Zuhören darauf konzentrierte, ermöglichte er den Wesen, dem Klang ihrer eigenen Stimme zu lauschen und sich selbst zu verstehen. Dieses raumgebende Zuhören bezeichnete der Buddha als den besten Weg zur Erleuchtung. Dabei tritt Avalokiteshvara mit seinem ganzen Körper in einen offenen und wahrhaftigen Kontakt mit seinem Gegenüber, der immer auf der Verbindung mit dem Abwesenden beruht. Diesem Fluidum der Grenzenlosigkeit, aus dem wir alle hervorgehen und zu dem wir alle zurückkehren, nähern wir uns im tiefen Samadhi während der Zazen-Übung. Um für junge Erwachsene den Aufenthalt im ToGenJi zu ermöglichen, bitten wir um eine Spende: Sie finden die Kontodaten/Paypal auf unserer Website https://choka-sangha.de/spenden/ Herzlichen Dank

Reflecting on Ruth King's framing of the Three Characteristics, Mary discusses this wonderful perspective on meeting the world. We can make everything so personal and chase perfection or permanence, but to do so only leads to dissatisfaction. Learning to let go of our shoulds and have to's leads to freedom in each moment.Recorded July 5, 2025 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.

When we examine the impulse for revenge through a systems perspective, we discover something profound: the very act that promises to restore balance actually perpetuates the imbalance it seeks to correct. This episode explores the fundamental difference between revenge and justice, revealing how one traps us in endless cycles while the other opens pathways to genuine resolution. The conversation moves beyond theoretical frameworks to examine the practical reality of how revenge operates in our daily lives - from family dynamics to global conflicts. Rather than dismissing the desire for retribution, we explore why it emerges and how it functions as a feedback loop that prevents evolution and growth. The discussion reveals how traditional concepts of justice have evolved, and why Gandhi's insight that "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind" remains more relevant than ever. Central to this exploration is the recognition that we are all interconnected parts of one living system. When we truly understand this principle of unanimity - that we belong to each other - the very foundation for revenge dissolves. The episode examines how sub-personalities within us can hijack our responses, leading to reactions that reflect our past conditioning rather than our highest wisdom. Perhaps most importantly, this conversation offers a practical framework for transformation: shifting from a courtroom mentality (what happened, who's guilty, how do we punish) to a classroom approach (what happened, what did we learn, how will we do things differently). This isn't about becoming passive or accepting harm, but about finding the higher synthesis that allows for genuine healing and evolution - both personally and collectively. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

In dieser Folge hörst Du ein Daily Reminder von Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim darüber, dass sich alles ständig verändert, es von daher keinen Anfang und kein Ende gibt.Vielen Dank Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim,hapchang,Deine Gak Duk

To live with an undefended heart is a cornerstone of Mary's practice and teaching. However with all the challenges in today's world, does it still make sense. In this talk Mary discusses what it means to live this way and how it is more important than ever right now. Keeping our hearts open is the path to freedom and allows us to be fully present for each moment - whatever it brings.Recorded June 28, 2025 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.

At first glance, "obedience" might trigger our inner rebel. After all, most of us grew up questioning authority and carving our own paths. But what if everything we thought we knew about obedience was backwards? This episode explores a radical shift happening in spiritual development - one that moves away from blind following toward conscious choice. Rather than being told what to do, we're being invited to tune into something far more sophisticated: the GPS of our own soul. Like any navigation system, it offers routes and suggestions, but the choice of which path to take remains entirely ours. The conversation reveals why the old model of master-disciple relationships is evolving. No longer are spiritual teachers taking karmic responsibility for their students' choices. Instead, they're offering opportunities and truth, then stepping back to let each person discover their own authentic path. This isn't spiritual abandonment - it's spiritual maturation. Perhaps most intriguingly, the discussion touches on "occult blindness" - the idea that we're spiritually protected from seeing too much too fast. Like a fuse protecting electrical equipment from overload, this natural safeguarding allows us to grow at a pace we can actually handle. The goal isn't to see everything at once, but to develop the capacity to hold increasing levels of light and love. The bottom line? True obedience isn't about following someone else's rules. It's about responding to the call of life itself - and that call always sounds like love. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

In dieser Folge geht es um einen König, der mit einem Bodhi-Geist seinen Thron aufgab, um Mönch zu werden.Er hatte 48 große Gelübde abgelegt, von denen ein paar hier aufgezählt werden. Du hörst dazu ein Daily Reminder von Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim. Aber, wer war Poep Jang Bighu in Wirklichkeit?Vielen Dank Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim,hapchang,love, Gak Duk

We talk often about the practice being a path to liberation, but what do we actually mean when we say that? In this dharma reflection, Mary investigates what liberation, freedom, awakening all mean in the various schools and lineages of Buddhism. Although the ideas may vary across the teachings, they are all grounded in compassion, wisdom and clear seeing. Recorded June 21, 2025 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. 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.

In our hyperconnected age, we find ourselves witnessing humanity's interconnectedness like never before - everyone's opinions, emotions, and reactions flowing through our devices in real-time. Yet paradoxically, authentic communication appears to be breaking down precisely when we need it most. We're experiencing what might be called a "malignant malaise of selfishness" where parts of the system attempt to dominate the whole. This episode explores the intersection of personal responsibility and collective healing, examining why the one system we truly have agency over - the ecosystem of self - becomes the crucial starting point for broader transformation. We delve into how individual patterns of reactivity, unprocessed trauma, and defensive communication create blockages in the larger human system, much like restricted blood flow creates numbness in parts of the body. Drawing from both ancient wisdom and contemporary challenges, we discuss what it means to become a "spiritual warrior" in the tradition of the Bodhisattva - one whose battle is with inner delusions rather than external enemies. We examine how techniques like "steel manning" arguments can lower our internal temperature and create space for genuine dialogue, even with those we strongly disagree with. The conversation touches on why waiting for external rescue misses the point entirely - we're in a collective classroom facing what the wisdom traditions call the "first initiation." This involves moving from ego-centric to soul-centric living, where the natural outpouring of the heart serves the health of the whole system. As we explore, the garden of humanity isn't complete without each person's unique contribution. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by current events or seeking practical approaches to conscious living, this episode offers perspectives on how individual transformation creates the foundation for collective healing - because ultimately, we are the blood that needs to circulate freely through the entire system. Meditation Mount and HeartLight Productions are pleased to present Musings from the Mount – a weekly podcast with host Joseph Carenza and guests in conversation exploring a range of topics drawn from the Ageless Wisdom teachings. New episodes every Monday. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider donating at MeditationMount.org

In this episode you will hear two Daily Reminders from Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim about physical exercises in the morning and how important they are. Among other things, it is about the effect of Ki Song on our health and the teachings of Buddha.Thank You very much Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim,enjoy,Yours in the dharma, Gak Duk

A Dharma Conversation about sacred activism and environmental justice as a Bodhisattva practice with Rev. Chelsea MacMillan and Matthew Menzies  Chelsea MacMillan is an interspiritual minister, the Senior Organizer at GreenFaith, and founder of Brooklyn Center for Sacred Activism. Between 2019-2021, she led direct actions and facilitated regenerative culture with Extinction Rebellion. You can find her writing in Order of the Sacred Earth by Matthew Fox, and at revchelseamac.substack.com. Matthew—born in Harlem in ‘93, by way of Belize, Central America—is an indigenous Yucatac Mayan Activist-Organizer. Through his spiritual animist roots, formal training in Soto Zen Buddhism, past experiences working on our local farm market food distribution systems and the NYC Compost Project, to most recently focusing non-violent civil disobedience campaigns with Extinction Rebellion NYC, Matthew finds his life purpose, on lenapehoking: to live for the benefit of all beings, and preserve the Earth's animals, soils, and waters for the future generations to come.

The Buddha created the sangha, or community, of monastics, but his teaching spread to every level of society and we can each be part of a sangha. In this talk Mary discusses the ethical foundations of such a community and how we can create a wise and supportive community where we are. Recalling the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's idea that we "are tied together in a single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable net of mutuality" and Thich Nhat Hanh's idea of Interbeing, Mary invites us to reflect on community or sangha in our own lives.Recorded June 14, 2025 in the virtual worldBhikkhu Bodhi: The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony Larry Yang: Awakening TogetherSend 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.

In dieser Folge geht es um eine Meditation, die nützlich ist und strahlende und klare Weisheit scheinen lässt.Du hörst dazu ein Daily Reminder von Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim.Vielen Dank!Viel Freude,Deine Gak Duk

This episode is about a meditation that is beneficial and allows radiant and clear wisdom to shine.You will hear a Daily Reminder from Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim.Thank You very much!Much joy,Yours in the Dharma, Gak Duk

Mary reflects on how often we look for reality or truth somewhere else, when there really is nowhere else. We're invited to recognize how our mind struggles to create different stories to suit what we want but freedom lies in being able to stay right where we are. Recorded June 7, 2025 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 will hear a Daily Reminder from Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim about a special breathing before meditation that is helpful to make the mind comfortable and wide, for vigorous health and improving the quality of life.Thank You very much Ji Kwang Dae Poep Sa Nim,hapchang,Gak Duk

Sara Campbell closes out our first official training ango with a flash fiction final - a brief loving study of our favorite Buddha and Bodhisattva archetypes.

Wellness + Wisdom | Episode 746 Are you ready to reconfigure your past and reimagine humanity's future through the power of outrageous love? Visionary Philosopher Marc Gafni joins Josh Trent on the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast, episode 746, to guide you from mythic narratives of soul mates to the co-creative vision of whole mates: evolutionary partners in service of the cosmos. Learn how the gift of suffering becomes the pathway to transcendence, why raising children is a spiritual act of embodiment, and how solving humanity's value crisis can spark a galactic awakening. "Soulmate relationships don't work. They're insufficient. If a couple is not looking at a shared horizon and they are only looking deeply in each other's eyes, it will not work. Whole mates are not just looking deeply in each other's eyes. They're first looking at a shared horizon, a shared mission. They're looking at the whole. They're in a relationship to the whole. And then from there, they turn back and look at each other." - Marc Gafni In This Episode, Marc Gafni Uncovers: [01:20] Outrageous Love Marc Gafni Why 'I love you' is our sacred creed. How facing death puts us in our visceral truth. Why we've lost connection to the meaning of 'I love you.' The difference between ordinary love and outrageous love. How love allows us to give our unique gifts. When we're in love, we feel welcome in the cosmos. Why reality is not a fact but an outrageous love story. How reality is generated. [09:50] What Is Evolution? Whole Mate by Marc Gafni The three levels of knowing. How we get lost in the complexity, which blocks us from seeing the depth. Every place we've been, we needed to be. Why every detour is part of the destination. How reality has mathematical, musical, molecular, metabolic, moral, and mystical values. Why reality is movement towards transformation. Evolution is love in action in response to need. How becoming what reality intended us to be, divinity experiences self-recognition through us. If we don't have the experience that we matter, our mind, heart, and body break down. [20:20] The Three Faces of God Why the God we don't believe in doesn't exist. The importance of the word 'God.' Why outrageous love is not a response to another person but the love that moves through us. The three faces of God: first, second, and third person. Neil deGrasse Tyson How religions show the faces of God. [29:50] New World Why we're in a time between worlds. How 40% of AI researchers believe that AI could destroy all humanity. 692 Paul Chek | Spirit Gym: How To Find The Truth of Your Soul + Live Your Dream How we can create a new story of values for the world. [35:45] Divine Loneliness Why God is lonely. How we need separation to create intimacy. What it means to be lonely. How Marc's son made him see the human singularity. The importance of knowing our soul print. How we cover up our emptiness by getting our attention hijacked. Why we need to sit in loneliness in order to fill up with our soul print. The divine is being, spaciousness, and becoming. Why evolution is a love story of the universe. How wholeness comes from brokenness. [47:25] Pseudo-Eros + Shame Why pornography is pseudo-Eros. How pornography is explicit sexuality taken out of the context of a story. Why our relationship to essence is always sensual. How our shame tells a story that we're wrong. Why a great saint makes new mistakes. The meaning of the word 'hallelujah.' [56:10] From Soul Mate to Whole Mate Why soulmate relationships don't work. Evolution of Love from Quarks to Culture by Marc Gafni, Zak Stein + Elena Levin Why reality is evolution, relationships, and the evolution of relationships. How crisis drives evolution, and the movement is an evolution of relationships. The evolution from role mate to soul mate to whole mate. The Boy Crisis by Warren Farrell + John Gray How each one of us has a role within a relationship in order to survive and thrive. Love Story (1970) [01:11:50] How Movies Tell The Story of Reality How the Matrix movie displays a whole mate relationship. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman Why Mars and Venus Collide by John Gray Getting The Love You Want by Harville Hendrix How love replaced our values. Why sexuality is not personal but universal. The importance of having a shared vision as a couple. Social Physics by Alex Pentland Why most children don't believe in love anymore. Sapiens by Harari Yuval Noah [01:30:35] Raising Children As Whole Mates 744 Debra Silverman | Your Pain Has a Pattern… and Astrology Reveals It All (This Isn't Random) What embodiment feels like. Why raising children is more than a role mate part. How we can serve the larger whole. Phenomenology of Eros by Jonna Bornemark + Marcia Sa Cavalcante Schuback The reason why most relationships don't work. Why monogamy is a practice. Why relationships are the basic structure of reality. How most couples therapists don't address the issue of not having a shared vision. [01:42:15] Our Deepest Desires Our Divine Desires Why God is the intimate infinite. How creating a new intimacy creates a new God. Why spirituality and religion must come together. How our desire to become more intimate comes from God. [01:48:55] The Purpose of Evolution Why the purpose of evolution is the evolution of love. How the evolution of love is the evolution of God. Why whole mates are evolutionary partners. An atom is a new value of intimacy. How we move from matter to life. Why power gives us pleasure and dignity. How we can impact the whole world. Why we're never powerless. Enlightenment means to know the nature of reality. [01:58:55] Reconfigure Your Past What creates a capacity to transform. How we can get beneath time. Why we can undo our mistakes. How transforming our will transforms our deeds. [02:07:10] New Humanity + Existential Risks How we can practice love in the moments of pain. Why the universe feels love. How outrageous lovers commit outrageous acts of love. Why war is not inevitable. We can create a new human and a new humanity. How the cosmos is moving towards more goodness. What existential risks we're facing as humanity. Reimagining Humanity's Identity: Responding to the Second Shock of Existence by Marc Gafni + Zachary Stein Why evolution doesn't stop. [02:17:05] Solving Value How the process of getting deeper is our joy. First Principles and First Values by David J. Temple Why there are different qualities of love. How the new age community doesn't do the deep work. Why we need to solve the value to create a change in the world. [02:25:30] What Is Value? How the source code is corrupted because the story of value has gotten lost. Why we need to go to the source code to clarify our values. What makes us question ourselves. How reality desires to evolve the source code. Why we're on the edge of a galactic moment. Avatar (2009) Leave Wellness + Wisdom a Review on Apple Podcasts

When we don't pay attention to our thoughts, we're often acting from habits that have been strengthened over the years, and which can be difficult to break. The Buddha's teaching on liberation and awakening, the Eightfold Path, also offers us a path to freedom from these habits.  When we intentionally use this path as a roadmap for how we move through the world, we are building a foundation that is strong and serves us in all aspects of our lives. It's a foundation that offers freedom greed, aversion and ignorance.Recorded May 31, 2025 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.

06/01/2025, Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, dharma talk at Green Gulch Farm. Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler takes up the theme of “Becoming Yourself,” the title of a new book of talks by Suzuki Roshi, by reflecting on two lines from the book.

This is a short reflection on the arising of insight from knowing and sensing and the calmness that allows us to meet each moment as it is. The world is on fire and developing the capacity to be present for ourselves and others is vital. Insight meditation practice offers us a way to meet the moment.Recorded May 24, 2025 in the virtual worldBhikkhu Bodhi's Commentary in Lion's RoarSend 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 given by Lama Matthew Palden Gocha, May 25, 2025. Music by Barefoot Bran Music.

ORIGINALLY RELEASED Feb 17, 2025 Dr. Rory Dickson is a professor of Islamic Religion and Culture and author of several publications on Sufism, the mystical path within Islam. He joins Breht to have an incredibly deep conversation about the Sufi poet Rumi, his life and work, Rumi's relationship to his teacher Shams of Tabriz, the concepts of fana (annihilation of the self) and baqa (subsistence in God), the spiritual practices of Sufism, non-duality and perennialism, "dying before you die", Buddhist enlightenment, the Quran, Serving the People in politics and religion, the role of Divine Love in spiritual transformation, transcending the ego, Bodhicitta and the Heart of the Bodhisattva, the counter-cultural aspects of the historical dervishes, The Masnavi  (aka the "Persian Quran"), Christian Mysticism, the evolution of human consciousness, the linguistics of translation, and much, much more! Check out Rory's book "Dissolving into Being: The Wisdom of Sufi Philosophy" Recommendations for Further Exploration: Rumi's World: The Life and Work of the Great Sufi Poet The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi Check out our related episodes with Dr. Adnan Husain: Sufism: Islamic Mysticism and the Annihilation of Self in God St. Francis of Assisi: Patron Saint of Ecology & Brother to All Creation ------------------------------------------------------------ Outro Music: Something's Out There by Neva Dinova Support Rev Left and get bonus episodes on Patreon Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Learn more about Rev Left HERE

With every ending there is a time to reflect before the beginning, but we often neglect this time in our haste to be on to the next new thing. The Buddha's teaching of impermanence or anicca, reminds us that all things come to an end whether we're ready or not. Citing William Bridges' work in The Way of Transition, Mary reminds to be present with the time between endings and beginnings, and to tend to the experience in the time of not-knowing.Recorded May 17, 2025 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments!Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

05/14/2025, Myogen Kathryn Stark, dharma talk at Tassajara. In this talk, Myogen Kathryn Stark talks about Shantideva, his work on the Way of the Bodhisattva, and how we apply this to our own lives.

In this time of global uncertainty, Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman call us to rise with fierce compassion and become Bodhisattvas of the Great Turning.Join Jack's Free New Course, Stand Up For Compassion: A Free Course and Resource for Navigating Uncertain Times. “You become the imaginal cells in these times. Things fall apart, but in you is the understanding that compassion is big enough to hold all of this, that the heart is big enough to hold all this, that the Dharma is big enough to shine through empires, changes, crisis, and beauty. That's what we have—the Bodhisattva can carry on liberating beings from suffering, however long it takes.” – Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack and Trudy mindfully explore:How you can pick all the flowers, but you can't stop the springNavigating fear politics and the cultural media machineLetting go of fear, blame, shame, and ending systemic divisionUsing this time of “The Great Turning” as an opportunity to create a more loving worldAjahn Chah and living the truth of uncertaintyHow to face the big problems of the world with even bigger loveMeeting the world through the Bodhisattva VowsHow loving people and feeding people connects with enlightenmentThe path and practices of loving awareness and compassionInclining the heart towards kindness and generosityHow caterpillars change to butterflies through Imaginal CellsThe world-changing power of true communityLearning how to respond mindfully to any trigger or circumstanceBecoming a make-weight of hope to tip the scales of humanity to love and balanceThe spiritual wisdom of Passover and EasterLetting go of tension and flowing into relaxationThe Pagan Goddess of DawnCommunity as the antidote for lonelinessCrying, letting the tears come, and seeing what happensHow to interact with people who are highly anxious or avoidantSaying hello to the people around you“Tears feel endless, bottomless, when they don't have a chance to fall. When they get to fall, they fall and fall, but they stop because tears too are impermanent, they cannot fall forever. It's really like this with all the intense emotions we are afraid will flood and drown us in some way.” – Trudy Goodman"What we're experiencing, Joanna Macy calls, The Great Turning. It's the breakdown of the exploitive late-stage capitalist model where we get as much as we can, and the harbinger of the possibility of interdependence. When it breaks down, that turning says, ‘We will use this time to turn this world into something better, to care for one another. The possibility starts with us." – Jack Kornfield This episode was originally recorded for the InsightLA Sunday livestream on April 20, 2025.Photo via WirestockAbout Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack's entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mary discusses the idea of Skillful Means which Joseph Goldstein says is "for liberating the clinging mind from suffering."  Using the wisdom, discernment and compassion that has arisen from our practice, we can navigate life skillfully while being fully grounded in the Buddha's teachings. Being fully present in the moment allows us to respond to everything wisely and skillfully. We let go of what doesn't serve us anymore as we develop new and wholesome, or skillful, ways of being in the world.Recorded May 10, 2025 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments!Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

During these days when greed, hatred and delusion are running rampant, the Buddha's teachings on nonviolence and compassion are extremely relevant. Mary offers some examples from the suttas and points out the similarities to other world traditions who are deeply grounded in love.Recorded May 1, 2025 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments!Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Genjo Marinello Osho presented this Teisho during the May 4, 2025 Zazenkai, held at Chobo-Ji. This talk explores how we are all the very hands and eyes of the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

In this closing talk from the last day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, the faculty of the practice period weave together final reflections on the vows and actions of true bodhisattvas. Sensei […]

In this second full day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Shinzan explores the Four Bodhisattva Vows as expressions of what Suzuki Roshi described as an “inflexible determination to carry out one's will […]

In this third full day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Monshin explores the concepts of beneficial action and identity action from Dogen's Bodhisattva's Four Methods of Guidance. She identifies beneficial action as “skillfully […]

In this talk during the fifth full day of Spring Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Cynthia Ryotan explores the fourth of the bodhisattva's methods of guidance: kind speech. She fames the importance of […]

ORIGINALLY RELEASED Feb 16, 2023 Breht gives a moving speech on the topic of dialectial materialism, Buddhism, and Marxism. After explaining the philosophy of dialectical materialism in depth, he uses it to unite core insights from Buddhism and Marxism, arguing that their combination offers a potent path toward inward and outward liberation. He ends by advancing the archetype of the Bodhisattva Revolutionary, asserting it as a uniquely well-rounded and profoundly deep path for revolutionaries interested in radical transformation.  Huge shout out to the ASU Zen Devils and MECHA for inviting Breht out to Arizona to give this speech, meet listeners, and visit the Sonoran Desert for the first time!   Learn more about MECHA here: https://linktr.ee/MECHAdeASU ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio HERE Outro Beat Prod. by flip da hood